Chapter 656
20-06 The Randle Family
Back in time to November 17th, in the evening, at the Rankenhaus, the underground mansion in Karltz Village, Showro Empire.
“Elsa, welcome back. I’ve heard you’ve done quite a remarkable job!”
Her cousin Reinhard welcomed Elsa, who had arrived using the teleportation gate Warp Gate.
“Elsa-san, that’s truly amazing. I have the utmost respect for you,” Reinhard’s wife, Bert, also offered her sincere praise.
“Thank you… But it’s all thanks to my brother, Jin. Without him, I couldn’t have done it.”
Elsa modestly replied while blushing slightly, and Reinhard gently patted his cousin’s shoulder.
“Well, in any case, let’s go upstairs.”
“Yes, I’ll prepare some tea.”
The group moved from the underground chamber to the sitting room. The maid automaton Bellah brought tea.
“I’ve finished my work for today, so let’s take our time to hear your story,” Reinhard said, taking a sip of tea and encouraging Elsa to begin.
“Alright. First, I heard from His Majesty about the declining health of the King of the Klein Kingdom…”
Then, for a good hour, Elsa shared her story. Reinhard and Bert occasionally interjected, but most of the talking was done by Elsa.
“…And that’s the situation.”
After thoroughly explaining everything, her mouth and throat parched from the lengthy discourse, Elsa finished her story.
“…I see. They offered to establish the Randle Viscount House… No, the Count House. That’s quite impressive.”
Reviving a family that had once been abolished was a rare occurrence. Disbanding a n.o.ble house was a severe measure.
“Yes…”
But when Reinhard saw Elsa looking a bit unhappy, he seemed to sense something.
“Elsa, if something is troubling you, why don’t you tell us?”
“Rai-niisan…”
“You’ve spent a lot of time with me, Elsa. I can tell from your face that something’s bothering you. So, go ahead and tell us.”
“Elsa, if you have any concerns, please share them,” Bert added.
“Thank you… To be able to revive the family is something I should be happy about. But that means I’ll be even more tied to the country than I am now.”
“I see.”
Reinhard nodded once and gestured for Elsa to continue.
“Jin-nii is a free spirit. He’s a person who should be free. I don’t want to become a burden to Jin-nii, who values his freedom.”
“So, that’s what’s bothering you?”
“Yes.”
Reinhard and Bert exchanged a knowing glance.
“Elsa, I see what you mean,”
After moistening her dry mouth and throat with tea, Elsa concluded her lengthy explanation.
“Hmm, so they offered to establish the Viscount Randle House… No, the Count Family House. That’s quite impressive.”
Reviving a family that had been abolished once was indeed a rare accomplishment, as disbanding a n.o.ble house was a severe measure.
“Yes…”
However, when Elsa looked down and didn’t appear particularly happy, Reinhard seemed to sense something.
“Elsa, if you have concerns, why don’t you share them?”
“Big brother, Rei…”
“You’ve spent a lot of time with me, Elsa. I can tell from your expression that something is troubling you. So, go ahead and tell us.”
“Elsa, if you have any concerns, please share them,” Bert added.
“Thank you… To be able to revive the family is something I should be happy about. But it means I’ll be even more tied to the country than I am now.”
“I see.”
Reinhard nodded once and gestured for Elsa to continue.
“Jin-nii is a free spirit. He’s a person who should be free. I don’t want to become a burden to Jin-nii, who values his freedom.”
“So, that’s what’s bothering you?”
“Yes.”
Reinhard crossed his arms and closed his eyes, appearing deep in thought for a while.
During this conversation, Bert asked Elsa a question.
“Elsa, you don’t want to be a burden to Jin-sama, right?”
Elsa nodded.
“But you still want to be by his side.”
Elsa blushed slightly and nodded.
“You like Jin-sama, don’t you?”
Elsa remained silent in response, but her blushing face made her feelings quite evident.
“Oh my, how adorable.”
At that moment, Reinhard spoke up.
“Hey, hey, Bert. Don’t act all superior just because it’s only a one-year difference. Look at Elsa.”
“Oh my.”
Elsa was blushing deeply while looking down.
“Sorry, Elsa. I didn’t mean to tease you.”
Even with those words, Elsa continued to look down. Seeing her like that, Reinhard gently addressed her.
“Elsa, do you think Jin would give up his freedom so easily?”
“Uh?”
“He possesses knowledge from another world, and that knowledge is not something any single nation should monopolize. I’m quite certain His Majesty doesn’t even know that Jin is from another world, so restricting Jin would be absurd.”
Elsa remained silent.
“So, Elsa, you should do what makes you happy. Does that sound unsatisfactory to you?”
Elsa, still looking down, only raised her eyes to meet Reinhard’s gaze while retaining her blushing cheeks. Her eyes revealed her dissatisfaction with his advice.
“Well, there’s one more thing. If you love Jin, then be a good daughter to your mother.”
Elsa raised her face with a slightly puzzled expression.
“What do you mean?”
Reinhard proceeded to explain.
“First of all, your family has been disbanded. That’s the first premise.”
“Yes.”
“In a general n.o.ble family, girls are considered to be fulfilling their duty by marrying into another n.o.ble family. That’s the second premise.”
When Elsa heard the second premise, her face frowned slightly.
“In the laws of the Shouro Empire, there’s a provision that states, ‘In the event there are no heirs left after the daughters of hereditary n.o.bles marry into other families, the successor can be chosen from close blood relatives.’ That’s my piece of advice.”
Elsa took a moment to digest Reinhard’s words, and as she understood the implication, a smile formed on her face.
“Reinhard, does that mean… for example, as a close blood relative, it could be Moritz-niisama?”
“Correct,” Reinhard replied with a warm smile. Bert also smiled beside him.
“To be a good daughter means,” Reinhard continued, “you, Elsa, can reestablish the Randle family, and when you become the head, you can choose Moritz as your successor if you ever marry into another family. That way, the Randle family can continue.”
Elsa’s face, once full of concern, now brightened up.
“I understand, Reinhard. Thank you.”
Her face had transformed from the time she first visited, and she now wore a joyful expression.
But when Reinhard mentioned “under Jin,” Elsa once again turned beet red and looked down in embarra.s.sment. Seeing her reaction, Reinhard gently spoke.
“It’s getting late today. You should stay the night here. I’ll escort you to your family’s home tomorrow.”
“Alright, Reinhard. Please.”
By the way, Reinhard hadn’t noticed due to Elsa’s clever concealment, but Bert was the only one who noticed the ring on Elsa’s left ring finger.
The following day, Elsa visited her family’s home once again, accompanied by Reinhard.
“Mother, it’s been a while.”
“Aunt, it’s been a while.”
Elsa’s stepmother, Marlene, greeted the two of them with a healthy complexion. It seemed that her health had improved since Elsa’s treatment.
“Reinhard-sama, I hear you’ve become the Count. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
After exchanging pleasantries and greetings, Elsa conveyed the words of the Empress to Marlene.
“Well, they’re offering to make you a viscount and establish a family. It’s truly wonderful…”
Marlene’s eyes welled up with tears. However, her next words were more composed.
“So, Elsa, what do you want? Do you want to reestablish the Randle family, or do you want to start a new family with a different surname?”
But Elsa’s answer to that question was already determined.
“I want to reestablish the Randle family. I am Elsa Randle von Razzura.”
“I see… Thank you, Elsa. Thank you, Reinhard-sama.”
It seemed that Marlene had understood Elsa’s feelings, and she also seemed to have a vague sense that Reinhard’s advice had played a role in her daughter’s decision.
“Congratulations, Elsa. In that case, I’ll be on my way, dear aunt. Elsa will stay a while, right?”
“Yes. Thank you, Reinhard.”
“Well, then, I’ll come to pick you up the day after tomorrow… the day before the deadline. Until then, take your time.”
With that promise, Reinhard left, and Elsa remained behind with her family.