The Meeting is Taking Longer Than Expected, What's Going On?

The meeting between Marquis Sugoella and Baron Landmark was dragging on longer than Ryu and the elf Leanne had anticipated. Grandfather Kamiza, also participating in the meeting, had kept Ryu and Leanne waiting in the anteroom.

"Isn't it taking a while?"

Leanne, unfamiliar with the situation, expressed the most reasonable impression.

"I see. Was there some king of disagreement?"

"I don't fully grasp the situation, but since Uncle Kamiza saved his life, there shouldn't be any reason for a dispute, right?"

"That's true, but just talking about gratitude shouldn't take hours."

As Ryu and Leanne exchanged similar remarks for the umpteenth time, the door to the waiting room opened.

"Ryu, Leanne. The meeting is over; let's go home."

Father Farza, with a tired expression, called out to them.

""Yes.""

Finally, they were released from the opulent room where it seemed hard to catch a breath.

Inside the carriage on their way back to the inn.

"Dad, why did it take so long?"

"… The Marquis proposed the promotion of the Baron to a Viscount by His Majesty,"

Ah, since they had just declined a direct offer to become a Viscount, it must have put their father in a difficult position.

Besides, this matter had nothing to do with the country, and he apparently refused because he didn't want to be promoted.

"This time, he also expressed the desire to employ Jiro. It's still early, and Jiro might be favored by His Majesty and the Prime Minister, so it was challenging to refuse."

"Didn't Jiro-nii-san want to attend the same school as Tauro-nii-san?"

"That's right, but who knows. It's difficult to reject when recommended by His Majesty and the Prime Minister."

Farza sighed.

It must be a parent's heart to want to send Jiro in the direction he desired.

"The Marquis recommended his granddaughter to be Jiro's partner, considering Tauro's situation. It's difficult to respond to this as well."

"The Marquis was sulking at this stage. Wahaha!"

Grandfather Kamiza added information to Farza's explanation from the side.

"There was also talk of adopting Ryu as a son-in-law, right?"

Grandfather Kamiza teased Ryu.

It seemed that Marquis Sugoella had made various proposals to become relatives in order to repay the Landmark family, who were his lifesavers.

There was also talk of making his 7-year-old sister Hanna the Marquis Sugoella's grandson's fiancée, but Farza strongly rejected this too, as the Marquis's grandson already had a fiancé from a young age, and he didn't want to involve her in a complicated situation.

In this world, if you are wealthy, it was not uncommon to have multiple wives, but Farza, who was devoted to his wife Cecile, resisted the idea.

Since he was no longer the ruling power, he had to obtain permission from the royal capital to transfer his lands, which was not practical.

In this situation, it seems that the talk of Ryu becoming a son-in-law with the least impact as the third son was becoming prominent, but Marquis Sugoella was not very enthusiastic about it.

He heard about the reputation at school, Jiro's reputation being highly praised by the king and prime minister, but Farza predicted that he might not know much about Ryu or interpreted him as mediocre.

That hurts though...!

Ryu was unexpectedly hit by a stray bullet.

Then, Leanne said.

"Ryu, aren't you expecting much? I wonder if I'll be okay from now on."

Then, she followed up with a blow.

Ugh!

Internally, it felt like coughing up blood.

"I-I'm fine! I'm working hard just like my older brothers."

"But if you don't have talent, effort is in vain, right?"

Ugh!

Was Leanne intentionally adding insult to injury?

Ryu thought so, but since she seemed to be serious, it was a poor quality.

"My skills are Gokudo, Jack of all Trades and Appraisal..."

"Jack of all Trades!? ... Ryu, it's okay not to pretend. Gokudo? I don't know about that, but just having Appraisal is still hopeful. I'll try not to abandon you as much as possible."

Leanne seemed visibly disappointed in Ryu, so he thought that relying on her promise not to abandon him as much as possible might not be reliable, but he planned to surprise her later.

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