Arc-7 Ch-10

“I will accompany you to the elf village as well. Of course, the children will come too.”

“Huh?”

For several seconds, I failed to process the meaning of the words that had come out of Angie’s mouth. My thoughts simply stopped.

After taking a slow, deep breath, I asked again.

“…Sorry, Angie. Could you say that one more time?”

“When Leon goes to the elf village, I will accompany him, and I intend to bring the children along.”

“…I’m sorry, but I still don’t understand.”

In the few days since returning to the territory, I had managed to deal with all urgent matters for the time being.

Meetings with influential members of the commercial guild, reports on the current condition of the feudal army and inspections of their training, dinners hosted for neighboring lords, and then reviewing the backlog of pending cases one by one while listening to Angie’s reports and approving them. All of it had been exhausting.

Thanks to Angie preparing everything in advance, I was able to clear the troublesome work in the shortest possible time. Even so, keeping up with such a tightly packed schedule without faltering was no easy task.

Now that my duties as lord had finally settled down, I could at last turn my attention to the troublesome investigation mission. The longer I postponed it, the longer my rotten connection with Jilk and the intelligence agency would drag on. On top of that, I would continue being pestered by that ball to hurry up.

All right, let’s get this over with. Just as I was about to begin, I checked in with Angie, and this was what she said. At times like these, I never quite know how I am supposed to react. Since it was Angie, she surely had not spoken without thinking it through.

“I was planning to go alone. Why are you coming too?”

“The problem lies precisely in the fact that Leon intends to go alone. Do you even understand the current situation in the elf village?”

“It’s a tourist destination, though in a different sense from ours. There are many people who come to see the beautiful elves, as well as adventurers aiming for the ruins near the village.”

“That is correct. By law, employing elves and other demi-humans as slaves is prohibited. At present, the village sustains itself through the money spent on lodging by visitors who come for the elves, as well as adventurers targeting the ruins.”

“Then it should be fine if I enter the village as an adventurer.”

“Do you believe that a feudal lord of Earl rank, a noble at that, visiting the village without any retainers would not raise suspicion?”

When Angie put it that way, my confidence wavered. Up until now, I had taken on numerous dangerous jobs across many regions. Most of the time, I handled them alone, or with that ball as my companion. That ball is a deeply unsettling fellow whose voice seems to echo from nowhere. Setting aside his foul mouth, however, his information-gathering and scouting abilities far surpass those of the kingdom’s official scouts.

If he were present, investigating the village would be over quickly. If any trouble involving missing items arose, he could handle that as well.

I had planned to proceed the same way this time. Angie, however, clearly disliked how I always relied on that ball.

“I have also obtained information about the village from Dorothea. In the past, very few humans entered or left the village, and there were no particular restrictions. However, after the laws concerning demi-humans were amended, visitors increased rapidly, and public safety deteriorated for a time. Troubled by this, the village leadership changed their policy. Visitors are now required to present proof of identity before being permitted to stay. Even nobles are subject to strict limits on airship size and the number of accompanying personnel.”

“Then all the more reason for me to go alone.”

“Leon, nobles other than adventurers also visit the elf village. Especially you. With your achievements over the past few years, your face is widely known throughout the kingdom. If the Earl Bartfort, who enjoys the royal family’s favor, were to appear in the elf village all by himself, do you not think people would suspect an ulterior motive?”

“Such as visiting the ruins in the village for adventure.”

“What is a man who values the vegetables in his garden more than unknown lands saying?”

“Then perhaps I could claim I came to see the beautiful elves.”

“Oh? So you are more interested in elf women than in me?”

“Perish the thought.”

That was close. Saying anything unnecessary and souring Angie’s mood would be disastrous.

Still, she was right. I needed a plausible reason. There was no chance I would be allowed to stay if I openly admitted that I was conducting an investigation. Blending in with other visitors and slipping into the village was not a bad idea. However, if something unexpected happened and escape became necessary, having an airship that I could freely use would be essential.

At times, acting openly was less suspicious than sneaking around. If anything, using my status to pose as a noble on vacation might be the safer approach. Even so, involving Angie and the others felt wrong.

“Lionel and Ariel have been assigned a long-term vacation report on dungeons by the academy. That could serve as a reason.”

“What is that? Does the royal academy truly assign such dangerous homework to young noble lords and ladies?”

“It’s not unusual. When I was enrolled, dungeon exploration was part of the curriculum.”

“The values of Holfort Kingdom’s nobility are utterly incomprehensible.”

“You are already a high-ranking noble yourself. It is about time you grew accustomed to it.”

Over the past few days, Angie’s expression, which had seemed faintly displeased, now shifted into one of amusement. Regardless of rank or age, most people in the Holfort Kingdom admire adventurers and, at least once, dream of claiming glory at the edge of the unseen blue sky.

As someone who grew up helping with chores in a poor household and left home at fifteen to work as a soldier in the kingdom’s army, I could not relate to that desire. Still, several of my children also harbored admiration for adventurers.

It was likely because I spent too much time away from home, leaving Angie to handle their upbringing alone.

“…Indeed, if a high-ranking noble family visits, it would allow us to bring soldiers and weapons to some extent under the pretext of VIP protection.”

“Exactly. Dungeon exploration has personnel limits, but if we calculate one guardian per child for touring the village, that makes six people. Including our family and the guardians, an airship carrying fourteen people would be of considerable size and less likely to arouse suspicion.”

“If we plan it well, we could even load armor. Since the expenses will be covered by the royal family, there is no need to worry about ammunition either.”

“Stop that. Are you planning to wage war, Leon?”

Angie frowned and shot me a glare, but I deliberately ignored it. Strictly speaking, the request from the capital was merely to investigate the strange circumstances occurring in the elf village. If it was only a matter of confirming missing persons and assessing the villagers’ condition, excessive arms and armor were unnecessary.

Even so, my instincts told me that thorough preparation was the wiser choice.

I had survived battlefields where most of my comrades had fallen, and missions where capture meant certain death, precisely because I was cautious. I was not a hero overflowing with confidence or talent. For someone like me, careful preparation and steady progress offered the highest chance of success.

With the royal family covering the necessary funds, my only burden was mobilizing personnel.

“I am opposed to involving you and the others at all. Please accept at least this much as a compromise.”

“…Am I less useful than a lost item?”

“The most important thing to me is my family. If Angie believes it is wrong for me to want to keep you all away from danger, then we are speaking about something else entirely.”

A husband protects his wife, and a father protects his children. Those were the words my father drilled into me time and again. It was the duty of a man with a family. After I became a noble, it was Angie who taught me that a lord governs his territory and commands his people, and that the head of a household must prioritize the continuation of the family above all else.

For me, the highest priority is the lives of my family. Even if that conclusion means I am unfit to be a noble, this is one point on which I will never yield. If forced to choose, I would abandon my title and territory for the sake of my wife and children. Keeping them as far from danger as possible is what it means to be a man.

“During the operation, you will follow my instructions. If you cannot do that, I will not allow you to accompany me. Keep that in mind.”

“So the day has come when Leon gives me orders.”

“This is not a game. It is an official mission ordered by the kingdom. I cannot entrust my back to someone who charges ahead out of ambition and causes trouble for others, no matter how many lives I have.”

“…………”

“Your answer?”

“…Understood. I will follow Leon’s instructions.”

I let out a quiet sigh of relief as Angie swallowed her dissatisfaction and agreed. In truth, Angie, who harbored a rivalry toward that ball, might push herself too hard in an effort to prove her usefulness. I had no intention of making her do anything reckless. Even if she were not useful, she was still my beloved wife.

My words had been harsh, but compared to indulging her wishes and exposing the entire family to danger, it was far better to be hated and return alive. Being hated by my precious family still hurt deeply, all the same.

For the time being, I decide to hug Angie with all the gratitude I can muster. Ever since returning to the territory, our marital relationship has remained delicate. We sleep together in the same bed, yet we no longer exchange morning kisses or goodnight kisses, and marital intimacy has been absent for quite some time.

Not being able to sleep together is painful, but even when we do share the same bed, the absence of conversation makes it lonely in its own way. I take a step forward to embrace Angie, but she steps back by exactly the same distance. I take another step forward, and once again, Angie retreats.

In the end, she sits down in the chair beside the office desk, making it unmistakably clear that she is refusing my attempt to hug her.

At this point, even I cannot press the matter further. More than anything, I want to avoid turning persistence into something that would make her hate me even more.

“…I apologize for the way I spoke earlier. But could you please stop being upset now?”

“I am not angry with you, Leon. Since the plans have been decided, we should move quickly to make the necessary arrangements. If we are leaving the territory unattended, we should complete as much work as possible beforehand.”

“I see. Then I will take care of my own preparations as well.”

“How many days will you need?”

“Let me think. Including detailed meetings and equipment maintenance, three days. If we want to be thorough, then about four.”

“Hurry and get started. I want the troublesome matters finished quickly so that Leon can properly fulfill his duties as lord.”

“That is precisely why we should not cut corners in our preparations. As for equipment maintenance, I will ensure it is done carefully and with ample margin.”

Since the age of fifteen, I have participated in sky pirate subjugations as a common soldier, and even after becoming a lord, I have fought dozens of battles against the Principality of Fanoss. This is my own rule of thumb as an ordinary man, but not a single battle has ever unfolded exactly as planned.

No matter how carefully you think things through, unforeseen circumstances always arise. It is not unusual for a battle that should have been an easy victory to turn into a disastrous rout due to the weather on the day or a sudden collapse in morale.

In such moments, the only thing you can rely on is preparation. Well-maintained firearms and properly adjusted armor dispel panic and restore composure. This time, Angie and the others are involved. No amount of preparation can truly be considered excessive.

“Still, rushing things and doing sloppy work would be even worse. Come on, let’s eat lunch first and then begin.”

“…No. I will continue until I reach a good stopping point. Please eat lunch with the children.”

Angie is cold. Being rejected so clearly makes me feel like crying.

Normally, this would be the moment to say, “I will help you too,” and earn some points as a good husband. However, I have recently been completely occupied with work in the capital, leaving territory management entirely to Angie.

If I offer help carelessly now, I might only end up interfering with her work. Perhaps because I have been away for so long, even the children feel distant toward me. It cannot be helped. Quietly complying here will likely lead to the best outcome. I lightly touch Angie’s cheek as she sits in the chair, savoring the warmth of her skin, then gently press a kiss to her forehead.

Since returning to the mansion, we have not exchanged morning or goodnight kisses even once. I was reaching my limit. I worried that she might get angry, but Angie seems to accept it. Her faintly flushed face is irresistibly beautiful.

“…Well then, I am going to eat with everyone. Come if you feel like it, Angie.”

“Yes. Understood.”

After quietly closing the office door, I walk down the hallway and hear the children’s voices. Judging by the sound, it is Roxanne, Melanie, and Dylan. I head toward the voices and arrive at Melanie’s room. I knock lightly and open the door. Roxanne is reading a picture book to Dylan, while Melanie sits beside them, drawing illustrations for the story.

After marrying Angie and becoming a father, I finally understood how precious ordinary daily life truly is. What is wrong with a monotonous routine of waking up, eating meals, working, bathing, and going to sleep?

Compared to my childhood as the third son of a poor noble family, where the lord himself had to till the fields or we would starve, this feels like heaven. If my children can live in a peaceful era, remain healthy, avoid being dragged into war, and attend the academy, then I am more than willing to nearly die on the battlefield and carry scars on my face.

“You three, it is about time for lunch. Let’s go to the dining hall.”

“Ah, Father.”

“Is it already lunchtime?”

“Are the other three in their rooms?”

“Ariel, big sister, and Leah, big brother, are outside.”

“Again? They should come back once it is lunchtime.”

“And Lionel, big brother, went to the viscount’s house.”

“My brother’s place?”

“He probably went to visit Theresia.”

“I see.”

Despite it being a rare long vacation and our return to the mansion, it feels as though Lionel and Ariel have been avoiding me the entire time.

I cannot recall doing anything wrong, yet being treated like a nuisance by my eldest son and eldest daughter twins is painful. Is this what people mean by adolescence or a rebellious phase?

“Father.”

“What is it, Dylan?”

“Where is Mother?”

“Angie said she has work to do.”

“You are not making Mother work without letting her eat lunch, are you?”

“Father is a demon. A devil. An inhuman knight.”

“That is not true. Angie told me to eat with you all out of consideration for me.”

“Father.”

“What now?”

“Please get along with Mother.”

“Do not worry. Father and Mother get along very well.”

“But ever since you came back, you and Mother have been fighting all the time. Everyone in the mansion feels tense.”

“That is not true.”

“That is absolutely true. Right, Melanie?”

“Since Father returned, we have not seen the two of you talking at breakfast.”

“Well, that is because…”

Thinking back, it is true that I usually talk with Angie and the children during meals. Recently, however, the atmosphere at the table has been awkward. We also used to share our schedules during breakfast, yet today I do not even know Lionel’s, Ariel’s, or Leah’s plans.

At this rate, it is no wonder the children see me as a failed father. Being lectured by Roxanne and Melanie, and urged by Dylan to reconcile, feels entirely justified.

“Listen carefully. Your cool father and beautiful mother are not avoiding each other because our marriage is failing.”

“It certainly looks that way.”

“Rather, it is because we get along well that we can speak freely and exchange opinions without restraint.”

“If you get along well, you would not say things that anger the other person.”

“That is not necessarily true. People think they understand themselves, but surprisingly often they do not. The me I see, the me Angie sees, the me you all see, and the me the people of the territory see are all different. It is almost as if they are separate individuals.”

“I understand Father’s argument, but it does not explain why you are fighting with Mother.”

“I am not very clever, so Angie always devises solutions for me. However, due to budget limitations or lack of time, things often fail. No, more often than not, they do.”

“So that is why you fought?”

“We discuss what went wrong and why, then Angie and I talk it through and think about how to improve next time. We have always resolved things amicably as a couple.”

“Mother is wise. Would it not be fine to leave everything to her?”

“It is true that Angie is smarter than me. But she has things she is bad at as well. We support each other with our strengths and cover each other’s weaknesses. Reporting what needs to be reported and asking when we do not understand are important, especially in work. Remember that.”

“Even if Mother resents you for it?”

“I believe Angie loves me. This time, the issue is simply more difficult than usual, so our opinions are not aligning easily, and the argument is dragging on.”

Our marriage was not harmonious from the very beginning. When I first met Angie, she was an insolent young lady who irritated me endlessly, and we clashed countless times over territory development policies.

Even so, the reason we have lived together until now and raised so many children is because of our compatibility and the trust we have built.

This time, with the schemes of those in the capital and that ball involved, I cannot come up with a plan that fully convinces Angie, and so the argument continues.

“You will all understand someday when you get married, whether you want to or not.”

“Then Father, please introduce excellent fiancés for us as well.”

“No, that is…”

“That is exactly why your words lack persuasiveness.”

“You children are too harsh…”

“Father.”

“Yes?”

“Please make up with Mother.”

“You truly show no mercy.”

Because I am away from the mansion so often, all the children are merciless toward me. I am not trying to be disliked, yet 

everyone sides with Angie and no one supports me.

I am the head of this household. I am their father.

I do not want this anymore. I want to cry.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※

I ended up angering Leon.

As I curse my own hopeless stupidity, a dull ache forms in my head. Still, everything is the result of my own actions. No matter how much I reflect on it, my mood refuses to clear.

It is true that I once had experience handling logistics in preparation for war before the conflict with the former Fanoss Principality broke out. However, when it comes to military matters themselves, I am little more than an amateur.

It should have been obvious that a woman with no battlefield experience would only irritate Leon, who possesses outstanding military talent, by presumptuously interjecting.

Moreover, using the fact that Lionel and Ariel are required to submit reports for their long-term vacation assignments from the royal academy as justification to bring them along was completely losing sight of myself.

This is all Dorothea’s fault.

If that woman had not provoked me, none of this would have happened.

If Dorothea had not boasted to me, who was enduring the loneliness of sleeping apart from my husband, saying things like, “When I had my fortune told in the elf village, they said my compatibility with Nicks-sama is the best♥ They even said we are destined to be bound together in our next lives♥,” then none of this would have occurred.

From now on, I should refrain from inviting Dorothea to tea parties while Leon is away. Being forced to listen to her unrestrained boasting about how wonderful her marriage to my brother-in-law is makes me extremely uncomfortable.

Still, the timing is unsettling. Immediately after Dorothea bragged about the elf village fortune-telling results, Leon ended up being ordered to investigate that very village.

Driven by my foolish competitiveness with Dorothea, I rattled off one flimsy excuse after another to justify accompanying Leon, completely souring his mood in the process.

In recent years, Leon has been recognized by many and recommended for various posts, resulting in him staying in the capital far more frequently. As a result, the Bartfort territory has largely been entrusted to me.

Whether court nobles or feudal lords, there are countless people seeking connections with Leon. He is acknowledged by the Holfort royal family as a capable young talent, and after marrying me, he became the son-in-law of the Redgrave ducal house. Because of that, I am not a wife capable of cheerfully tolerating the fact that he spends more time in the capital than governing his own territory.

Even if, from a noble standpoint, it is considered ideal for a wife or daughter-in-law to competently manage the household while the husband or son is away. To begin with, this is also Leon’s fault for being overly considerate. He does not even touch my body in bed, all to avoid upsetting me.

Why does he not simply force himself on me and take me?

He is usually bold, yet he becomes timid in the strangest situations, which only frustrates me further.

…This is not good. My thoughts are clearly stagnating. In that case, I should have eaten together with Leon and the children. I need to change my mood somehow.

I leave the office and head toward the dressing room. I deliberately refrain from calling any servants and proceed quietly on my own.

With me, my mother-in-law, and three daughters, the number of dresses we require has increased significantly. The original room was renovated, and now dozens of dresses are stored there.

Perhaps because it is mealtime, I reach the dressing room without encountering anyone. As I open the door and step inside, the scent of insect-repelling incense lightly tickles my nose.

In one corner of the room is the wardrobe containing my personal clothes. Inside it lies the dress I am looking for.

“…Hmm.”

The dress seems to have been waiting patiently for me, tucked away in the depths of the wardrobe. Having it regularly maintained was the right decision. The vivid crimson remains unfaded, exactly as I remember.

The crimson dress is an adventure dress passed down among the women of the Redgrave ducal house. Strictly speaking, it is a meticulously crafted replica.

Its design could easily be mistaken for an evening gown. Even so, it is a masterpiece created without restraint, utilizing the full wealth of the ducal house. The fabric itself is woven from special fibers, granting it exceptionally high resistance to cuts and bullets while also offering excellent breathability.

Furthermore, magic runes engraved by skilled magicians provide the dress with strong resistance to magical attacks. When I was young, I dreamed of wearing this dress and embarking on adventures. Unfortunately, that opportunity never came even once.

After Leon became a lord and I was quickly engaged to him and married into a remote territory, my father took pity on me. As a wedding gift, he had this dress made using the same techniques as the original, tailored precisely to my figure.

After marriage, I only had the chance to wear it during light explorations with Leon alone. This time, however, it should finally fulfill its intended purpose. As I think that, my heavy mood begins to lift. I remove my indoor dress, leaving only my underwear, and lift the adventure dress to confirm its texture.

The last time I wore it was before Dylan was born. That means it has been roughly six years. 

Back then, I was still in my twenties. I handled work with far more vigor and occasionally went out with Leon alone.

…This is not good. Nostalgia is a sign of aging.

For nobles, the thirties are the age of maturity. I have always maintained my body with moderation, and it should be no inferior to my body in my twenties. If I wear this and accompany Leon, he will surely rekindle his passion for me. As that thought crosses my mind, a grin spreads across my face. If the servants were to see me like this, they would surely whisper behind my back, saying, “Has the madam gone mad?”

I steel myself and slip into the dress.

Dresses made from special fabrics are usually harsh on the skin, but this one, crafted with Redgrave wealth, is an exception among exceptions.

“…………Ah!”

…It is tight.

My chest, waist, hips. In short, every part encased by the dress feels constricted, making it hard to breathe.

No, this is impossible.

It is true that this dress was originally tailored when I was a teenager. Nearly twenty years have passed, and I have given birth six times. My figure may have changed. Even so, I have led a life involving almost no physical labor, paid close attention to my diet, and actively incorporated moderate exercise during breaks from work.

The dress I could still wear before Dylan’s birth should fit me now. There is no way my figure has changed that much.

With trepidation, I approach the full-length mirror standing in the corner of the room. Sweat pours from my body, both from the breathlessness caused by the dress and the anxiety tightening my chest.

I am terrified to see my reflection.

Even so, I steel myself, slowly open my eyes, and confront the woman reflected before me.

…It is fortunate no servants are present. If anyone saw me like this, it would tarnish the reputation of the Bartfort earl house. Overall, my body has clearly gained volume. The change is especially noticeable around my chest and hips. From the gaping neckline, it is obvious that my breasts are being forcibly compressed. The lower hem is slightly distorted by my hips. Is this the result of no longer becoming pregnant and focusing solely on work since entering my thirties?

Small, daily changes accumulated without my noticing, and I apparently gained weight without realizing it. Leon never complains no matter how much he holds me, and when I look in the mirror, I usually only see my face above the neck or my figure in formal social dresses. Trying it on now was the correct choice. If I had done this the day before departure, after nagging Leon so much, I would have revealed this humiliating state.

Even if I tried to lose weight now, it would be impossible to properly wear this dress in just a few days. In that case, having it altered would be faster. However, the fabric is specially processed, and verifying whether repairs would interfere with the magic runes would require a specialist artisan.

Should I prepare a different adventure outfit?

No. There is virtually no adventure attire superior to this one commissioned by the Redgrave ducal house. Above all, Leon would suspect something. Rather than living with the shame of having gained so much weight that I cannot wear it, biting my tongue and dying with my noble pride intact would be preferable. My panicked mind refuses to organize itself. I take a deep breath and cross my arms, forcing myself to think.

Riiip!

The unmistakable sound of tearing fabric echoes, and a chill runs down my back. I slowly reach behind me and feel my sweat-dampened skin exposed.

The zipper must have broken.

I want to scream, but I cannot expose this pitiful state. I carefully begin removing the dress, taking great care not to tear it further.

“As for equipment maintenance, I will have it done thoroughly with plenty of margin.”

“On the other hand, rushing too much and making the work sloppy would be bad.”

Leon was right.

I am forced to painfully realize my own foolishness once again, courtesy of that margin.

Afterward, I somehow manage to remove the adventure dress, change my clothes, and hurriedly contact a specialist artisan.

The skill fee required to handle the specially processed fabric, the material and processing costs for the repairs, and the rush fee to prioritize my adventurer dress add up to a considerable sum, significantly reducing my personal assets.

This, too, is because the people in the capital gave Leon unnecessary work. I will absolutely list the repair costs for this dress as necessary expenses as well.

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Authors Note

┻━⁠━━━━⁠━━⁠━━━⁠┻

The appearance of Angie in her thirties is based on ReiN-sama’s illustration

Pixiv

Caution: adult content.

Angie’s adventure dress conforms to the setting of the Redgrave Avenger dress depicted on the back cover of comic volume 8.

A steamy scene featuring plump Angie and Leon will come again someday. From the next chapter onward, we finally head to the elf village. There will be illustrations, so please look forward to them.

Addendum: Thanks to the requester, illustrations were commissioned from Kame-sama and Mochi-sama. Thank you very much.

Kame-sama- Skeb

Caution: adult content.

Mochi-sama- Pixiv

Caution: extensive exposure.

I would greatly appreciate your opinions and impressions to serve as motivation going forward.