“Sea… No, I understand. Grandmother.”
Yeah. This was a good scene, one that brought across their bonds as family… or so I thought.
“Hee hee hee. So, Juna, that means you and I are equals now.”
…What was that? Had I imagined that she’d stressed the word “equals” there?
Also, when she heard the word “equals,” I thought I noticed a vein rise on Juna’s temple. “…Hee hee hee. Whatever do you mean by that, Grandmother?”
“You see, the key to not getting tired with a life that goes on for too long is to always take an interest in someone or other.”
“Is it now?” Juna asked. “By the way, do you have an interest in His Highness?”
“He’s the first hero we’ve had since the first king, after all. I find him fascinating.”
Excel was smiling. But I sensed a strange pressure behind that smile. Juna was responding with a similar smile of her own.
…What was this atmosphere? I really wanted to get out of there.
“A-Anyway, do you mind if we go inside?” I suggested. “There’s no need to stand out here, surely.”
“Hee hee! I’m sorry about that,” said Excel. “Please, come right this way.”
In any case, with the formalities (?) out of the way, we were led into the building.
Inside it was like a classy Western-style manor. The furniture on display wasn’t excessively gaudy, instead melting into the relaxed atmosphere. Even I, who was by no means artistic, could appreciate Excel’s good aesthetic sense.
Eventually we were led to a room bearing a plate that identified it as the parlor.
There was already one person in the parlor, standing at attention.
That tall man, who was wearing the uniform of a non-commissioned officer in the Friedonia National Naval Defense Force, had bat-like wings and a lizard-like tail. The man saluted me, then began preparing tea.
Even once we had seated ourselves and he’d finished distributing tea to everyone, that man continued to stand behind Excel, waiting for orders.
I massaged my temples. “If he’s just going to stand there, it’s going to bother me too much not to think about it.”
“I did tell him he could just act like normal,” Excel said with a wry smile.
The man standing behind her was Castor. He had formerly been one of the three dukes and the General of the Air Force. He was also Carla’s father.
Having been held responsible for defying his king and stripped of his post, he had been forced to retire and leave the family headship to his young son Carl, while he himself had been put in Excel’s custody.
Incidentally, the one acting as Carl’s aide was, at the man’s own request, the former steward of the House of Vargas and current General of the National Air Defense Force, Tolman.
Anyway, from what Excel had told me, she was working Castor hard as a rank and file soldier of the National Naval Defense Force.
Perhaps becoming a defeated general had stripped him of his stubborn pride and made him more meek. Or perhaps he was simply making a show of acting only as a rank and file soldier of the National Naval Defense Force out of stubbornness.
If he met them on the streets, he bowed even to those who had been ranked far beneath him until just recently, and when it was his day on cleaning duty, he cleaned all of the toilets on the ship.
I thought this about Carla, too, but the members of his bloodline tended to be far too loyal to the positions they found themselves in.
“…This is an order,” I said. “Sit down, Castor.”
“Yes, sir! Pardon me, sir!” Castor finally took a seat.
Good grief.
“Also, it kind of creeps me out, so drop the excessive formality,” I added. “Unless we’re in public or there are other subordinates around, I want you to talk normally when it’s on a personal basis. That’s an order, too.”
“Yes, sir… But…”
“Castor, does a non-commissioned officer defy his king’s orders?” Excel demanded.
“…Understood.” Castor reluctantly acquiesced.
Whew… Now we can finally have a relaxed talk, I thought.
“Anyway, it’s been a while, Castor,” I said. “How’s life in the Navy treating you?”
“Quite well, sir. I have already grown accustomed… I’ve gotten used to the smell of the sea. Also, um…”
“Hm? What’s up?”
“How is Carla doing?” He seemed concerned for his daughter who was now my slave. Well, he was her father, after all.
“Relax. Carla is… Uhh, she’s getting along fine.”
“What was that pause?! What was that ‘Uhh’ for?!”
“No, I’m sure she’s doing great and all, it’s just…”
If I recalled, back in the castle right now, Carla would be…
Meanwhile, in the studio back in Parnam Castle…
“Bwahahahaha! Silvan, today I end you! Get him, Wheel Monster Dialgon!”
“Dialgoooon!” (Moltov had taken over playing the monsters from Aisha.)
“Curse you, Miss Dran and Dialgon! I will protect peace in this country!”
“…Yep. She’s (probably) doing fine. Physically, she’s the very picture of health. I know she’s a slave belonging to the Royal House, but I haven’t laid my hands on her or anything like that.”
Now, as for her being mentally fine, I wasn’t so sure. I mean, Serina was always toying with her…
“You haven’t done anything to her… When I hear that, I’m actually more worried.”
“Hm? Why does that make you look so depressed?” I asked.
“Because if you had laid your hands on her, I’d think that would make Carla safer.” Castor let out a little sigh. “I’ve heard from Duchess Excel. You’re the kind of man who values his family, and you’d do anything to protect them. In the time since I was left here, I’ve come to hear rumors of what you do, and… I hold the same opinion. That’s why I figure that if Carla became pregnant and you recognized her as family, nothing could make her safer.”
Not so that he could become a relative of the Royal House, but so that his daughter would be safe. It made me think about how complicated a father’s feelings were.
But…
“I have zero intention of taking Carla as my queen.”
He was silent.
“Still, Liscia would be upset if anything happened to Carla,” I said. “I’d rather not have to see Liscia sad. I can guarantee you I won’t do anything too bad to her.”
“You won’t…? I’m relieved to hear that. Please, I ask that you take good care of my daughter.” Castor bowed his head deeply.
I’m sure he took on that more formal tone at the very end because it was a sincere, heartfelt request. With the way Excel had been treating him, maybe it had helped him to grow somewhat as a human being. (Well, as a dragonewt, actually.)
I looked over to Excel. “So, Excel, do you think we can use this guy?”
“Hee hee! I’ve prepared him well. As you would expect from a man who once led armies, he learns quickly. The way things are going… I’d say it’s possible.”
“I see… Well, let’s go then.”
Having finished that exchange which only the two of us understood, Excel and I rose to our feet. When they saw us suddenly stand up, Juna and Castor’s eyes went wide.
“Um, sire? Where are we going?” Juna asked me with a blank look.
I smiled wryly. “Did you forget already? Our plan for the day is to survey a military facility, remember?”