Chapter 5: Ties from a Previous Life (3)

“A bakery, you say?”

Ranieri could not quite understand what Simon was getting at.

It was not even one of the city bakeries that supplied the Marquis House, but some bakery in a country village, one whose name was not even clear. Why should he go and investigate such a place?

“You look unconvinced.”

“Nothing of the sort, but I am curious. Whatever sudden whim has come over you?”

“It is a place tied to me by fate.”

“There is an Arcturus Family villa there, yes, but to my knowledge, you have never visited Minor Village, Young Master.”

Having an intelligent strategist could be frustrating in moments like this. He never let anything slide.

“Ranieri. Have you contracted some disease that prevents you from doing things without all the extra commentary?”

“No such illness has been medically documented.”

“…….”

Pushing up his glasses, Ranieri spoke with complete seriousness.

“I believe it is a reasonable question. Minor Village is quite far from here. Expense is one matter, but it will also take time. It is not easy to understand why you would be interested in a place to which you have no connection.”

“Then do not go in person. Send a carrier pigeon and have someone else handle it. Find a way. Put in some effort, would you?”

Though he still looked unconvinced, Ranieri lowered his head slightly.

“As you command. But might this involve something impious? A rebellion, perhaps…….”

“I said it was a place tied to me. One does not describe a pack of traitors with the word ‘tie.’ At least, by any sane person’s standards.”

“Mm, understood.”

In truth, he wanted to mount a horse and ride there himself. Lua was there.

But he could not leave his post now.

Because Princess Mercedes, another tie from his previous life, was on her way here. If he left now, he would be adding the crime of insulting the Imperial House to the list.

“Look into it thoroughly. Especially who is working there.”

“Do not worry. But, Young Master.”

“What?”

“I have heard that you have not been eating properly lately. Is it true?”

Simon tilted his head.

“I have been eating properly. Who has been saying that?”

“I heard it from a servant who works in the dining hall. They said you have not come even once since seeing His Lordship that day.”

“Ah.”

A small laugh escaped him.

“Do you know what food tastes best?”

“Bourgogne’s cooking, I should think. Even the Imperial House knows of his fame. He traveled across the continent from a young age, building up practical knowledge of ingredients.”

“No.”

“Then Jameson’s seafood dishes would certainly rank among the finest delicacies.”

“Not that either.”

“Then what is it?”

“Food eaten while lying comfortably in bed.”

As the very thing he had feared came to pass, Ranieri looked thoroughly appalled.

“Please move about a little. I had heard that you had been doing nothing but lying in bed lately, and it seems it was true.”

“I do not want to.”

“At this rate, you will grow fat.”

“Getting fat is something for brats like you to worry about, the kind who know nothing of martial arts and cannot even use aura.”

“……I think I am beginning to understand why you said you were giving up the heir’s seat.”

“What do you mean?”

Ranieri cast Simon a sidelong glance, then left the room without answering.

This is delightful. Far too delightful.

The smile would not leave Simon’s lips. When he had first realized he had regressed, he had felt only despair, but now it was becoming enjoyable instead.

There is nothing as pleasant as trading jokes with an old friend.

In his later years, he had not even been able to joke anymore. Every word that left his mouth had carried the weight of law.

I will savor this chance to the fullest.

Only now did the room finally feel somewhat peaceful.

Just as he was about to throw himself back onto the soft bed, a maid came hurrying in. It seemed something had happened.

“His Lordship asks for you at once.”

“At once?”

A bad feeling came over him. Simon got out of bed and headed for Marquis Deneuve’s study.

“Father, it is Simon.”

“Come in.”

The marquis sat on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other, smoking a cigarette. The thick smoke rising around him made his expression difficult to read.

“Sit.”

“Yes.”

It did not look urgent in the least. After exhaling a long stream of smoke, the marquis spoke.

“A few days ago, I clearly told you that the Imperial Princess would be coming. You have not forgotten, have you?”

“I remember.”

“Then why have you done nothing at all? Do not tell me you intend to stay buried in bed until the Imperial Princess arrives at the estate.”

There was a quiet anger in his voice.

Word that Simon scarcely left his bed had clearly reached the marquis’s ears.

More than that, it must have exasperated him that his son, fully aware that Princess Mercedes was coming, had made no preparations whatsoever.

But Simon was not flustered.

His body and mind might have grown young again, but his soul was no different from that of a wily old serpent that had lived a hundred years.

“There is one thing you have forgotten, Father. I am disappointed.”

“And what could possibly disappoint you so much? If we are counting disappointments, mine is surely greater. The son I trusted to entrust the Family to has chosen to defy me.”

“I suffered a burning fever.”

“So in the end, all you can say is ‘burning fever’? It seems that fever robbed you of your creativity as well.”

“I was tormented by a raging fever so severe it nearly killed me. You know as well that I fell into a coma, so why are you insisting that I go out to receive her? No matter that the other party is the Imperial House, there is no need to bow our Family’s honor. One should take one’s advantage where one can.”

What he meant was simple: he was ill, so there was no need for him to go out personally. It was a reasonable argument, and the marquis merely looked at his son in silence.

If anything, he was confused.

His son was supposedly suffering from aftereffects, and yet he was displaying such keen intelligence. It even made the marquis wonder whether Simon had truly meant what he said about not succeeding as head of the Family.

“Since we are alone, let me say one thing more. I will be leaving this place before long.”

“Leaving? For where?”

“I am looking for a place to stay. I intend to go somewhere as quiet and secluded as possible.”

He had expected his father to sigh.

But unexpectedly, Marquis Deneuve remained calm. He extinguished his cigarette and fixed Simon with a cold stare.

“You speak as though your heart were wholly at ease, Simon. All without even looking at how unsettled the vassals who follow you are.”

“Their hearts are like reeds. In the end, they will turn toward the stronger man.”

“…….”

That line, at least, carried weight.

His son, not yet even twenty, was assessing the vassals as naturally as if he had once served as head of the Family already.

Ordinarily, he should have been desperate even to borrow their strength.

“Very well. I permit it.”

Simon had not expected permission to be granted so easily.

But that was not the end of it.

“There is a condition. When the Imperial Princess arrives, devote yourself to her with complete sincerity. Yes, that would do. It would be good if the subject of an engagement ceremony were raised. After all, the two of you cannot go on sharing only feelings forever.”

“An eldest son who will not inherit the Family can hardly be to Her Highness’s liking.”

“If the engagement is concluded, things will not go according to your wishes.”

“Surely the Imperial House would not interfere in the affairs of our Family?”

“And is there some law saying they may not?”

Only then did a smile touch Marquis Deneuve’s lips.

From the Imperial House’s point of view as well, if they were going to marry off the Imperial Princess, it was more profitable to send her to the heir. In the end, it was the nobility who upheld the Empire.

He would use the Imperial House to settle the succession.

Indeed, it was the thinking of a true lord of the Arcturus Marquis House.

“Very well. But I, too, would like to make a proposal.”

“Speak.”

“If the Imperial Princess herself says that she wishes to call off this marriage, I will gladly look elsewhere.”

“Very well. I allow it.”

“That is not all. Whoever the other person may be, you must give your permission.”

Simon spoke as though he already had someone in mind.

Marquis Deneuve hesitated for a moment.

But he did not think such a thing would ever happen. From the Imperial House’s perspective, and from the princess’s as well, it was an arrangement from which they had absolutely nothing to lose.

“I promise.”

“Thank you, Father.”

Simon left the study with a lighter heart. Now he needed to find a way to turn Mercedes’s heart.

***

That afternoon, a visitor he had briefly forgotten came to see him.

“Is it really true? That you have another woman in mind, Young Master?”

“Debianne.”

“What?”

“It has been a while. Should you not at least ask how I have been first?”

Debianne Lloyd.

The second daughter of House Lloyd, a baronial house, and presently serving as a lady’s maid to Hera, the lawful wife of Marquis Deneuve.

It was the result of the head of the Lloyd Family exerting himself to secure their footing within the Arcturus Family.

Come to think of it, I used to spend all my time with this girl when we were young as well.

Debianne had been close not only to Simon, but to Ranieri as well.

On the surface, she would grumble that he was a bad man who made women cry, but underneath it all, the two of them respected each other.

At some point, we lost contact. When was that again?

The hazy memory brought a pleasant smile to Simon’s lips.

When Simon suddenly smiled, Debianne, flustered, caught the edge of her dress and gave him a formal bow.

“My greetings, Young Master.”

“Where did you hear that story?”

“From His Lordship.”

“So it was.”

Marriage was a major matter for the Family. There was no way he would not have shared it with Mother.

She had probably overheard it while attending her.

“So even Father makes mistakes sometimes. He ought to dismiss the maids before speaking of such things.”

“Is it not rather the opposite?”

“The opposite?”

“He said it would all go the way he said in the end. Perhaps it was his way of saying that an immature son needs to be thoroughly embarrassed before he comes to his senses.”

Simon snorted a laugh.

“I did not know you were so interested in my marriage.”

“Of course I am! If you marry the Imperial Princess, then I can apply to serve as her maid.”

“So that was your motive after all.”

“My father worked himself to the bone raising me, you know. I have to go to the imperial capital and make something of myself. So please marry quickly. No, do it.”

“Anyone hearing you would think you were asking me to marry you.”

At that, Debianne’s pretty face flushed red.

“W-who said anything about marriage! You must not say such things!”

“Your face is red.”

“It is because it is hot. Hot! Goodness!”

Fanning herself with her hand, Debianne barely managed to compose herself. Simon asked,

“How did Mother react?”

“She was extremely ang— no, ahem. Please pretend you did not hear that. She said very calmly that she trusted her son.”

“I can picture it without seeing it.”

“But do you really have someone else in your heart?”

“It is not you, so do not worry.”

“Ugh, that gives me chills!”

Then, all at once, something occurred to him—questions he had never asked in his previous life.

“Debianne. Why did you become a maid?”

“For the sake of my family. We could not go on forever as a mere baronial house. We may be called a baronial house, but judging by our finances, we are little different from some petty little title.”

“Are you happy?”

Debianne blinked. It took her some time to grasp the intent behind the question.

“In my own way… I am happy, I suppose? My lady takes good care of me, and I do rather enjoy the way everyone else treats me so cautiously.”

“What a materialist.”

“I will take that as praise. But why are you asking?”

“Just because.”

With that, Simon turned his gaze toward the window. The sunset was beautiful.

“That fever really must have been frightening. To think it would make you sentimental like this.”

“There is not the slightest problem with me as a man, so spare yourself the worry.”

“Oh, Lord. Have mercy upon our poor young master…… no, no, that is not right! Perhaps being struck by lightning would bring you back to your senses faster?”

“Hahahaha.”

It was an easy, refreshing laugh.

The sight of it felt a little unfamiliar to Debianne, yet she did not dislike it. Somehow, it made her feel as though they had returned to childhood.

“Do not try to slide past it. Who is it, really? Who is this person you have set your sights on!”