CH 7.1

Thus, the Makina-named,, Operation Image Enhancement! has started.

As the first step, we took action…

“Greeting your parents? Well, it’s starting to look like we’re engaged, isn’t it?”

In the guest room we were shown, Makina muttered to herself. We were now visiting Char’s family home in the Duchy of Mersenne.

The first person that comes to mind who might be on Char’s side in this situation is the …… Duchess Oya.

Although my dad and Char’s parents have already talked to each other about my fiancé’s situation, they decided that now that it’s official, it would be better for me to go and see him.

In addition, we need to talk to them directly and assure them that they are on our side.

Above all, it’s a duchy. As an ally, there are few places as reassuring as this.

“You know my father, don’t you, Al?”

“Well, not really acquainted, but …….”

As we were talking, the door to the guest room opened and a large man walked in.

It was apparent that underneath his clothes, he was carrying muscles that must have been forged by pushing himself hard. Combined with his physique, he reminded me of a bear with sharp claws.

He was Marvel Mersenne.

He is the current head of the Mersenne family and Char’s father.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t greet you, and I kept you waiting, Alfred.”

“No, I’m the one who barged in without an appointment. If you want to apologize, it should be me. Please look up …… as usual ······, please.”

After the formalities were completed, His Excellency the Duke of Mersenne chuckled.

“Ha-ha-ha! I see! Thank you for your consideration.

With a pleasant chuckle, His Excellency the Duke of Mersenne sat back in his chair.

“I’m not much of a formal person myself.”

“You’re right. As usual, neither of us is suited to our current positions.”

“Not at all.

Charu was watching the exchange between me and His Excellency the Duke of Mersenne, rolling her eyes.

“Um, ……, Father. You seem to be very close to Al. ……”

“I’ve been hiding in the palace a lot.”

“Hiding?”

“I was just providing a refuge for those who couldn’t stand the stuffy atmosphere anymore.”

“And you’ve been good company, too! Ha-ha-ha!”

The duke of Mersenne laughed again, this time pleasantly.

He’s a big guy who gives off a bleak vibe when he’s stiff, but in his element he’s friendly and vivacious.

“I didn’t know. ……”

“I’m not sure if it’s out of respect for Leor. I was told not to say anything by Master Alfred. …… Well…Looks like I won’t have to do that in the future.”

His Excellency the Duke of Mersenne looks over at us once again. I straighten my posture once again under his gaze.

I’m here to greet you as Charlotte’s fiancé.

“That’s not all, is it? I’ve already heard about your match.”

Of course, they saw right through me. I had no intention of hiding it, though.

“As you may have guessed, that’s what this is about. Depending on the outcome of your game, the position of Charlotte and I may be in jeopardy. Of course, I will try to persuade her, but …… in that case, I would like the Duke to intervene. I’m sure you’ll be able to help us in any way you can.”

“So, you want me to join Master Alfred’s faction, right?”

“I’m glad you’re talking so quickly.”

“It’s for a pretty girl. If you ask me to come in, I’ll come in. I owe Alfred a debt of gratitude for saving my daughter, and he is now Charlotte’s fiancé. ……”

A relieved air flows from Charu, who is sitting next to me.

She was probably worried because she had been betrayed by her fiancé, Leor. Inwardly, she must have wondered if her parents would really stand by her until she actually heard their words.

“……..I would have said”

His Excellency, the Duke of Mersenne’s voice tightened the air that was about to become slack.

“It’s not so easy to accept.”

“Father, ……?”

I urged Char to calm down with my hand as she revealed her astonishment.

“May I ask why ……?”

” This child is gifted. She is so gifted that she was destined from birth to support the king. …… But she is still our precious daughter. It is as if she is an irreplaceable treasure. Even though it was my duty, I entrusted my daughter to the royal family because they were reliable.”

His Excellency the Duke of Mersenne’s eyes sharpened sharply.

“But our trust has been betrayed.”

The eyes of a strong man, who is said to have achieved a great success together with the king in his younger days. The pressure that leaks out is like that of a demon god.

“And now you want me to make my daughter the betrothed of a member of the royal family again. If that is the king’s order, the Duchess of Mersenne will obey. However, if it’s anything more than that, it will be different.”

“Even if …… my brother Leor sentences Charlotte to deportation?”

“Then we will do all we can to save only Charlotte.”

What you are saying is reasonable. No matter how much they try to fix it, the dukes are still betrayed by the royal family. Of course. It’s like having an innocent daughter exposed. and then having her engagement unilaterally annulled, even though the other side made the proposal. The anger is justified.

“……His Excellency the Duke of Mersenne—-“

“—- Father.”

Just as I was about to open my mouth, Char stood up next to me.

“I became Al-kun’s fiancée because I wanted to. It is my own wish. This is.”

His Excellency, the Duke of Mersenne, gives his daughter a merciless stare as she stands up.

“Charlotte. You have been betrayed by the royal family.”

“But it’s also true that the royal family saved me.”

It was intimidating, even deadly. Even so, Charu was not intimidated and glared back at him.

“I have a dream. I have a dream, a dream of a country where everyone can get along and work hand in hand. To make that dream come true, I want to support the royal family.”

“That’s a beautiful thing.”

“It’s always been the beautiful challenges that have made the world a better place.”

I remembered those words. It was the same words I had given to Char that day …….

“What if Master Alfred betrays you this time?”

“I have faith in you, Al.”

“Betrayed by the one you thought was, wasn’t he? Isn’t he also a member of the royal family? Deep down, he might be planning to betray you, you know?”

“Even if that is the case, …… no matter how many times I am betrayed, I will continue to believe.”

“Why? Even Master Alfred is a human being. Even if he’s on your side now, won’t he cut you off when the time comes if he’s actually punished? That’s the weakness of human beings…”

“Trust. Because that is what I think is beautiful. Not believing in the person who saved me and continuing to doubt. Such weakness… I don’t need it.”

Charles took a breath and

“And Al-kun is not as weak as your father thinks he is. How can someone who saves others while cutting himself be weak?”

Makina, who was standing beside me, she looked at Charu with eyes that seemed to say, ” Well done, Lady Charlotte..”

“…… Master Alfred. How will you respond to the trust my daughter has placed in you? As a member of the royal family, how will you repay this trust?”

Thus, the Makina-named,, Operation Image Enhancement! has started.

As the first step, we took action…

“Greeting your parents? Well, it’s starting to look like we’re engaged, isn’t it?”

In the guest room we were shown, Makina muttered to herself. We were now visiting Char’s family home in the Duchy of Mersenne.

The first person that comes to mind who might be on Char’s side in this situation is the …… Duchess Oya.

Although my dad and Char’s parents have already talked to each other about my fiancé’s situation, they decided that now that it’s official, it would be better for me to go and see him.

In addition, we need to talk to them directly and assure them that they are on our side.

Above all, it’s a duchy. As an ally, there are few places as reassuring as this.

“You know my father, don’t you, Al?”

“Well, not really acquainted, but …….”

As we were talking, the door to the guest room opened and a large man walked in.

It was apparent that underneath his clothes, he was carrying muscles that must have been forged by pushing himself hard. Combined with his physique, he reminded me of a bear with sharp claws.

He was Marvel Mersenne.

He is the current head of the Mersenne family and Char’s father.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t greet you, and I kept you waiting, Alfred.”

“No, I’m the one who barged in without an appointment. If you want to apologize, it should be me. Please look up …… as usual ······, please.”

After the formalities were completed, His Excellency the Duke of Mersenne chuckled.

“Ha-ha-ha! I see! Thank you for your consideration.

With a pleasant chuckle, His Excellency the Duke of Mersenne sat back in his chair.

“I’m not much of a formal person myself.”

“You’re right. As usual, neither of us is suited to our current positions.”

“Not at all.

Charu was watching the exchange between me and His Excellency the Duke of Mersenne, rolling her eyes.

“Um, ……, Father. You seem to be very close to Al. ……”

“I’ve been hiding in the palace a lot.”

“Hiding?”

“I was just providing a refuge for those who couldn’t stand the stuffy atmosphere anymore.”

“And you’ve been good company, too! Ha-ha-ha!”

The duke of Mersenne laughed again, this time pleasantly.

He’s a big guy who gives off a bleak vibe when he’s stiff, but in his element he’s friendly and vivacious.

“I didn’t know. ……”

“I’m not sure if it’s out of respect for Leor. I was told not to say anything by Master Alfred. …… Well…Looks like I won’t have to do that in the future.”

His Excellency the Duke of Mersenne looks over at us once again. I straighten my posture once again under his gaze.

I’m here to greet you as Charlotte’s fiancé.

“That’s not all, is it? I’ve already heard about your match.”

Of course, they saw right through me. I had no intention of hiding it, though.

“As you may have guessed, that’s what this is about. Depending on the outcome of your game, the position of Charlotte and I may be in jeopardy. Of course, I will try to persuade her, but …… in that case, I would like the Duke to intervene. I’m sure you’ll be able to help us in any way you can.”

“So, you want me to join Master Alfred’s faction, right?”

“I’m glad you’re talking so quickly.”

“It’s for a pretty girl. If you ask me to come in, I’ll come in. I owe Alfred a debt of gratitude for saving my daughter, and he is now Charlotte’s fiancé. ……”

A relieved air flows from Charu, who is sitting next to me.

She was probably worried because she had been betrayed by her fiancé, Leor. Inwardly, she must have wondered if her parents would really stand by her until she actually heard their words.

“……..I would have said”

His Excellency, the Duke of Mersenne’s voice tightened the air that was about to become slack.

“It’s not so easy to accept.”

“Father, ……?”

I urged Char to calm down with my hand as she revealed her astonishment.

“May I ask why ……?”

” This child is gifted. She is so gifted that she was destined from birth to support the king. …… But she is still our precious daughter. It is as if she is an irreplaceable treasure. Even though it was my duty, I entrusted my daughter to the royal family because they were reliable.”

His Excellency the Duke of Mersenne’s eyes sharpened sharply.

“But our trust has been betrayed.”

The eyes of a strong man, who is said to have achieved a great success together with the king in his younger days. The pressure that leaks out is like that of a demon god.

“And now you want me to make my daughter the betrothed of a member of the royal family again. If that is the king’s order, the Duchess of Mersenne will obey. However, if it’s anything more than that, it will be different.”

“Even if …… my brother Leor sentences Charlotte to deportation?”

“Then we will do all we can to save only Charlotte.”

What you are saying is reasonable. No matter how much they try to fix it, the dukes are still betrayed by the royal family. Of course. It’s like having an innocent daughter exposed. and then having her engagement unilaterally annulled, even though the other side made the proposal. The anger is justified.

“……His Excellency the Duke of Mersenne—-“

“—- Father.”

Just as I was about to open my mouth, Char stood up next to me.

“I became Al-kun’s fiancée because I wanted to. It is my own wish. This is.”

His Excellency, the Duke of Mersenne, gives his daughter a merciless stare as she stands up.

“Charlotte. You have been betrayed by the royal family.”

“But it’s also true that the royal family saved me.”

It was intimidating, even deadly. Even so, Charu was not intimidated and glared back at him.

“I have a dream. I have a dream, a dream of a country where everyone can get along and work hand in hand. To make that dream come true, I want to support the royal family.”

“That’s a beautiful thing.”

“It’s always been the beautiful challenges that have made the world a better place.”

I remembered those words. It was the same words I had given to Char that day …….

“What if Master Alfred betrays you this time?”

“I have faith in you, Al.”

“Betrayed by the one you thought was, wasn’t he? Isn’t he also a member of the royal family? Deep down, he might be planning to betray you, you know?”

“Even if that is the case, …… no matter how many times I am betrayed, I will continue to believe.”

“Why? Even Master Alfred is a human being. Even if he’s on your side now, won’t he cut you off when the time comes if he’s actually punished? That’s the weakness of human beings…”

“Trust. Because that is what I think is beautiful. Not believing in the person who saved me and continuing to doubt. Such weakness… I don’t need it.”

Charles took a breath and

“And Al-kun is not as weak as your father thinks he is. How can someone who saves others while cutting himself be weak?”

Makina, who was standing beside me, she looked at Charu with eyes that seemed to say, ” Well done, Lady Charlotte..”

“…… Master Alfred. How will you respond to the trust my daughter has placed in you? As a member of the royal family, how will you repay this trust?”

His Excellency the Duke of Mersenne’s eyes have not yet faded.

The same amount of intimidation that had been directed at Charles was directed at me.

“Well, to tell you the truth, unlike …… Char, I don’t really care about this country.”

I can’t say anything half-baked. Don’t say it

.

You can’t run away from this man.

“All of them.They can call me an abomination or whatever they want to call me. I know they’ve been talking about me behind my back. I know they don’t like me.I know they’re creeped out.”

For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt the way people look at me.

Obviously, i was seen as sinister, avoided, and disliked.

“……, but my family was different. They accepted me for who I was. They didn’t care about my hair, my eyes, or the color of my magic.”

So …… my old brother Leo was kind. I admired his back. So I loved my brother Leo.

“So I don’t care about the people in my country. What I want to protect is my father, my mother, all my siblings, and my men, including Makina. …… The only people I care about are the people closest to me that I can reach. I don’t care what happens to the rest.”

I look at Char sitting next to me.

“It’s the same for Charu. She was within my reach. An important person. That’s why I defied Brother Leo back then.”

?…………?

I’ll protect Char. I protect only the people I care about, because that’s what Alfred Berg Leyoure is.”

I’ve made my intentions known. From here on, it’s up to them.

“Protecting only those within reach …… of you, huh? That’s not a good sign for a prince.”

“I don’t think I’m cut out for this.”

“No doubt. But ……”

His Excellency, the Duke of Mersenne, lost his intimidation and smiled.

“I don’t promise things that are beyond my control. You can trust me on that. …… is good. Alfred. The Mersenne family will do everything in our power to help you. Please take care of my daughter.”

When I said that, His Excellency the Duke of Mersenne hung his head.

“And …… I’m sorry, Master Alfred. I was testing you.”

“…… Well, I had a feeling.”

That’s why I told him my own intentions without any lies.

“I would have rejected you if you had lied to me here, or if you had made some convenient false claim that you could not make. I am ready to be punished for doubting you. At your service.”

“There is no need for punishment. It is true that you have been betrayed by the royal family, and you have every right to be suspicious.”

His Excellency the Duke of Mersenne turned a grimace on his face.

“I knew you would say that.”