The Sword Master’s Son-in-Law

– Declaration of Engagement (2)

‘Phew, just in time.’

He’d wanted to wash up, relax a little.

And yet….

“I’m concerned, all the same.”

He overheard Retid, the commander, muttering to himself.

Concerned.

The word stirred a certain curiosity within him.

“What troubles you so, Captain?”

“Ah… it’s you. Your face is remarkably different now…”

Captain Retid let out a soft murmur of admiration at my cleansed face.

Then, he continued.

“It’s just that…”

Captain Retid hesitated for a moment, seemingly reluctant to speak.

He wrestled with the decision of whether to reveal what weighed on him.

Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, his expression brightened slightly.

“Come to think of it, you are Miss Asia’s betrothed, aren’t you?”

Captain Retid, recalling my status, pressed on.

“It seems Baron Waltz intends to commit a discourtesy towards the young lady.”

“A discourtesy, you say?”

“Baron Waltz is attempting to pair his son with her, apparently.”

“Pair?”

“Well, there’s no real chance of them being truly matched, but still, I suspect it will greatly annoy the young lady. Knowing she would simply endure it quietly, unable to risk offense… *huu*…. It vexes me.”

“I see.”

In a word, it was a problem I could resolve.

‘The gall of the Baron’s son, with me, her betrothed, standing here!’

News of a man making advances towards one’s intended.

To play the part of a true fiancé, such a thing could not be tolerated.

From the start, the Sword Saint had sent me to prevent just such occurrences.

I hurried toward the dining hall where Asia would be.

And, with a determined air, flung open the doors.

“Ah, you were here!”

I surveyed the scene within.

First, a table laden with lavish dishes.

‘Noble fare is indeed extravagant.’

A touch of envy flickered through me.

My usual meals were simple – roasting whatever game I could hunt, rather than such exquisitely prepared creations.

Next, my gaze drifted to Asia.

‘She seems quite flustered?’

Apparently, my sudden arrival had caught her off guard.

Then…

‘Woah… what a spectacle?’

Two men, clearly father and son.

A middle-aged man with a delicately styled mustache and a plump pig of a son, his flesh wobbling.

Their faces, slick with oil, shone, practically proclaiming their familial bond.

“How dare you intrude upon a noble’s meal. Are you mad?”

He could at least finish chewing before shouting.

His spittle flecked the luxurious dishes spread before him.

I offered belated greetings, belatedly remembering my manners.

“Ah, apologies for the late introduction.”

First, directing my words to the wealthy man whose name escaped me.

“My name is Arthas. I am a disciple of the Sword Saint, and…”

My gaze shifted towards Asia.

Our eyes met.

I offered a fleeting smile.

“I am Asia-ssi’s fiancé.”

Silence descended upon the dining hall.

The portly son, clearly flustered, stammered a question to Asia.

“A-Asia-ssi, is this…is this true?”

“Yes…”

Asia replied, begrudgingly nodding her head.

*‘Thank heavens. It would have been troublesome if she had denied it.’*

Maintaining an air of composure, I took the seat beside Asia.

It seemed my actions were not to Asia’s liking.

She sharply turned her head away from me.

*‘Well, it’s an embarrassing, unwanted situation, I suppose.’*

A fiancé appearing during a meal, as if to rescue her.

It felt like a scene straight out of some cheesy drama like “Boys Over Flowers.”

And Asia wasn’t acknowledging our betrothal.

Hence, her subtly prickly reaction.

Still, it couldn’t be helped.

*‘If I can’t even prevent a situation like this, the old man will scold me.’*

If news like this were to reach his ears, promise or no promise, he might well come and seize me.

“Hmph, so the reason you rejected Prince Il’s proposal…was because you already had someone.”

The mustachioed Baron stated, glaring at me.

Then, he began to scrutinize me from head to toe.

As if trying to ascertain my identity.

“Ahem!”

The mustachioed Baron cleared his throat.

Then, he inquired.

“Perhaps, Arthas…what family do you hail from, young master…?”

“Ah, I have no family.”

The mustachioed Baron wore a knowing smile.

As if he had already won.

“Aha, I see.”

His tone had already grown less formal.

The portly son beside him was also wearing a smug smile.

He, too, seemed to believe he had prevailed.

“The Sword Saint must have lost his eye. To accept a commoner as a fiancé, of all things.”

“…”

The difference in status.

Truly, the difference in status was immense.

A Count’s daughter and a commoner.

The current Messiah Count only had one child, Asia.

That meant anyone seeking to marry Asia would unconditionally have to enter as a son-in-law.

‘Of course, if the other party were royalty, they might subjugate the Count to the royal family instead.’

In short, the next Count.

Or, if Asia were to ascend to the Count’s position, the Count’s consort.

For that to be a commoner, it was only natural to be scorned.

‘The nobles are sticklers for bloodlines, after all.’

Even if the commoners might praise it like a novel.

“Well, it’s best for engagements to be between… similar! beings.”

The mustachioed Baron spoke, alternating his gaze between Asia and his son.

The mustachioed Baron’s words, indirectly stating that engagements should be between those of the same nobility.

Knowing I was a commoner, he’d become openly rude.

To utter words denying the engagement in front of the person involved.

‘Tch, this is why I despise authoritarianism!’

However, even if they treated me rudely, there was nothing I could do.

Because I was a commoner.

I couldn’t raise my voice at a noble without consequence.

Even that could become a crime of insulting nobility.

But…

“Similar beings, you say… is that truly the case?”

A voice devoid of any emotion.

The owner of the voice was Asia.

She even seemed to be angry.

“Huh?”

The mustachioed Baron, with a blank expression, questioned Asia’s words.

“Did you know? Among the past emperors of the neighboring empire, there were commoners too?”

“Ahaha, are you perhaps referring to the Mur Empire next door?”

“Yes.”

“You’re still young and don’t know much, it seems… That is an empire where beast-people, driven by instinct, are at the center. So, like beasts in heat, they don’t pay heed to status when choosing a spouse. That’s how the misfortune of a commoner becoming emperor occurred.”

The mustachioed Baron’s remark, seemingly dismissing the neighboring empire.

But it wasn’t strange.

In the Detiosk Kingdom, that is.

Being surrounded on both sides by countries of beast-people, they harbored ill feelings towards each other.

But… Asia didn’t change her mind.

“An interesting story. Beasts in heat, you say… And yet, it’s quite strange. Even beasts in heat choose only one mate… While humans…”

Asia didn’t finish her sentence.

But everyone present knew.

Polygamy.

Only humans possessed a system that allowed them to have multiple wives.

Asia’s words seemed to be asking, in short, if humans weren’t just more rutting beasts.

The mustachioed Baron looked rather embarrassed by Asia’s remark.

“Hmph! It seems the Lady Asia is perhaps not well-informed… humans chose polygamy for the sake of mutual benefit.”

“Hmph… I see. Well, I shall heed those words, coming from the Baron Waltz, who has three wives.”

“…Ahem! It seems we have all finished our meals, so let us depart.”

And so, the luncheon ended.

Not on good terms, of course.

But not in complete disaster, either.

Asia had certainly uttered something that sounded like an insult aimed at the mustachioed Baron.

But she had justification, so it was alright.

‘Because he disregarded me, his betrothed.’

Still, even with justification, I hadn’t expected Asia to get so riled up.

‘Perhaps the first impression recovered somewhat?’

The mustachioed Baron and his son left the dining hall first.

Only Asia and I remained in the dining hall.

I glanced around.

No servants, just Asia and I.

A private space free of any gazes.

The timing was perfect.

“Betrothed… I have news to convey.”

“…It wasn’t for you.”

“Pardon?”

“My grandmother was a commoner.”

“Ah, I see.”

Her reaction to the Baron’s words wasn’t for my sake, but for her grandmother’s.

‘She must have felt he was insulting her grandmother.’

Come to think of it, in this short amount of time, Asia’s first impression wouldn’t have recovered enough for her to act for my sake.

“And…”

“And…?”

“Stop calling me ‘betrothed.’ Just call me Asia… or Lady Asia.”

“Yes. First, I wish to tell Lady Asia about why the Sword Saint sent me here…”

I hadn’t been able to say anything until now, with all the eyes around.

So, this moment was just right.

The reason the old man sent me.

And the reason she didn’t need to reject me so vehemently.

“Are you aware of the false betrothal?”

“It’s the kind of thing that happens often in novels, isn’t it?”

“I intend to write that novel in reality.”

“What does that mean?”

“I will act as your fiancé until the Young Lady Asia finds someone she favors. That is why the Sword Saint sent me.”

Upon hearing my words, Asia’s pupils trembled as if struck by an earthquake.

I added words regarding the duration of this charade.

“Five years. This act will end, at the very least, after five years have passed. By then, the Sword Saint will surely have returned to the family.”