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I coolly told my father to leave it me, but I cannot think of anything at all.
Coming up with measures to counter someone like the prime minster is hard, and my head just stopped thinking completely.
To escape reality, I invited Vain to fish with me.
“What’s wrong?” (Vain)
“I do — it’s like the time with Iris” (Vain)
Oh, he got it right.
Iris and I both have been having a terrible summer vacation.
The thought of the Prime minster coming made my stomach hurt.
It’s only on this kind of day that the fish seem to bite.
“Got another bite.” (Kururi)
“ Another one? That’s the fifth one.” (Vain)
I didn’t remember being this good at fishing.
I am looking since I came here to fish.
“Oh, another bite.” (Kururi)
I am overwhelming the nature kid Vain.
What is it, I wonder; I have been having good luck with winning against strong people.
I sure have, haven’t I?
It is not like I celebrate victories all the time.
In the end, I caught 10 fish.
The day of judgement finally came.
Me and my dad — both of us — our stomachs were in a bad condition on that day.
Since I did not want to cause trouble for Iris and Vain, I told Lotson to take them to another town away from the mansion.
The servant told us, father and son, that the guests have arrived. This sentence felt like a death sentence to this father-son combo.
And, finally, the prime minster walked into the room.
The person had a very slender body and had sharp eyes like Eliza. They are, after all, parent and daughter.
He was a very attractive person, and, now that he had aged quite well, I could say with full confidence that he was an “elderly dandy” kind of person.
The person behind him was Marl. His arrival just ruined the atmosphere in the room. He was rubbing his hands together like a merchant making a sale. He did not have the same attitude as before, but his face was still the same pig face.
“Welcome. Please, have a seat.” (Toral)
Both of them sat down before my dad finished speaking.
Eliza’s dad had a big attitude, but had elegance as well. He did not make me feel uncomfortable at all.
Marl was grinning like hell, and was inelegant as usual.
“Toral Helan, it has been awhile, hasn’t it? We have met several times in the capital, but this is the first time we have spoken face to face since school, isn’t it?” (Ayan)
My dad got completely absorbed by the atmosphere and gave them the upper-hand.
Though, it is not like I could say anything either. I was also absorbed by the atmosphere and did the same thing. We may already be losing this battle.
At this rate, we will agree to anything they say.
“However, when I see the domain of your Toral, it is beautiful like always. The reforms and advancement you have made as lord of this domain are truly impressive. You are the perfect example of what a lord should be and one I would like to have the other lords follow in example.” (Ayan)
“Oh, no, I have done almost nothing. My son is the one leading the reforms and advancements in our domain. He truly is the jewel of my heart.” (Toral)
“Yes, I am Kururi Helan, your excellency.” (Kururi)
Due to him suddenly addressing me, I accidently named myself.
He is glaring at me for some reason.
He continued to glare at me. If glaring at me is going to change your mind, please continue.
But if it will not change your mind, please stop. My stomach is starting to hurt.
“My daughter Eliza and Kururi are classmates. Thus, I have heard a lot about him.” (Ayan)
He heard a lot from Eliza….Oh, we lost.
So he heard about that incident huh?
Well, our family is done for now. I truly sorry dad!
“Um, senior can you please move on to the main topic?” (Marl)
Marl changed the topic back to the main event.
I swear to god, when I get the chance, I will make him rue this day.
I had that kind of feeling coursing through my veins.
“Oh, yes, I am not that free right now. I would like to bathe in your famous hot springs, but I still have work to do in the capital.” (Ayan)
“The main point?” (Toral)
My dad and I gulped.
I can feed my family as a blacksmith.’ With this kind of thinking, I was able to keep calm.
“ I heard that you hit my junior the other day, Toral.” (Ayan)
My dad got up and bowed his head to Ayan. Upon seeing my dad like that, I also bowed my head to him.
“Now, now, do not be violent Toral, you are not young anymore. We all are from the same school and know each very well. Sometimes it is fine to settle things in a fight, but those kind of days are over now.” (Ayan)
“ Yes, the times of when we were students have been long over now. If I could talk with my fist right now, I would, but since we are all in positions of power, we must take care to not create conflict between us. Now, please apologize to Marl and pay for the medical expenses. (Ayan)
“Good. That is the right attitude to take with me. Now, since it was just one punch we will let bygones be bygones.”
Marl, the pig, is grinning, because he is currently standing beside a lion.
The fact that I have to lower my head to this guy is disgusting, but if it saves my family, I will do it.
It is frustrating, but I lower my head hoping this is all it will take to appease the prime minster.
“Since Toral has apologized, we are done with this case right Marl?” (Ayan)
“Yes, senior you are always so dependable” (Marl)
Marl rubs his hands again. I hope he burns his fingerprints off.
“Ok, so I will now go back to the capital Marl.” (Ayan)
He really is light isn’t
his hands are….. [Ed. Note: ??]
“EHHHHHHH!!!!!” (Marl) (Toral) (kururi)
All three of us voiced a question.
the three other people in the room, Marl, dad and even me.
We were all surprised by the statement the prime minster said.
The question all of us had was the same:
We are done? This is all we had to do?
The first to voice a complaint was the culprit of the this incident, Marl.
“Senior, what do you mean, ‘the end’?” (Marl)
“Why? This discussion is not over yet, senior. If it ends here, then my having called on you would be meaningless.” (Marl)
“ No, senior. I never cared about the apology. I do not care for honor or things like that. I only care for….” (Marl)
Marl stopped speaking as the expression on Ayan Deauville changed.
The atmosphere in the room changed completely to an atmosphere filled with hostility and anger.
As expected of the person who climbed up to the highest position a person can attain without being royalty.
The atmosphere created by him caused all three of us to stop moving.
“Think of my position.” (Ayan)
“No, there is someone higher” (Ayan)
He pointed his index finger skyward.
Ayan Deauville made a very stern face and made Marl shut up completely.
Marl, since he could not do anything anymore leaves as well.
Me and my dad stared at the door for a while.
We both felt as though storm came and left without doing any damage at all.
We looked at each other and began laughing our heads off in relief.
“Do you want go see them off?” (Toral)
I agreed with my dad’s idea and went to see them off.
When I left the mansion, both carriages had already left. I went to a place where I could see both carriages still and, thus, see them off.
It seems that we, father and son, are more alike than I thought.
“They have gone.”(Toral)
“Do you think the domain is safe?” (Toral)
“Kururi, can I go relax at the hot springs?”(Toral)
“Yes. Of course, dad.”
This time I see my dad off in his carriage, and breathed another sigh of relief.
As I was returning to the mansion, I saw a figure of person who should not be here in the garden.
She had tough eyes that I found cute in contrast to her appearance.
She waved at me as I went to her.
“Eliza.” (Kururi)
“Long time no see.” (Eliza)