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I thought it was about time, so I invited a guest to the mansion.

Although the invitation said to come for tea, he probably knew the real reason I called him. The proof was that instead of replying, he came directly to the mansion.

“May…!”

Gale Wolfbert recognized her at a glance and strode over.

It was surprising how quickly such a large man could move.

“May. You’re really alive…”

“Gale…”

Was the name on the tombstone in Tangmar “May”? I thought it was a pseudonym, but it seems it was also a nickname.

“I missed you…”

The two embraced.

After a long time, they finally reunited.

Although they had to meet at the Ruelberta Mansion because Maible was wanted, that didn’t matter to them.

For them, just meeting like this was nothing short of a miracle.

“…Sniff.”

Helga’s eyes turned red, moved by her parents’ reunion.

Though I didn’t show it, I was a bit moved too.

The impossible love between a navy officer and a pirate. Could there be anything more touching than this moment when two people, separated by fate, reunite after many twists and turns?

Moreover, it was a reunion I had orchestrated.

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t proud.

I watched their reunion from a few steps away with Helga.

In this mansion, the fact that they had reunited wouldn’t leak.

“You’ve lost a lot of weight since I last saw you.”

“Haha… Look who’s talking. You’ve aged so much. It’s heartbreaking.”

Seeing how much they had changed over the years, both of them felt a lump in their throats.

There must have been so much left unsaid.

I should probably leave them alone now…

“May. Where have you been all this time? I’ve been looking for you-”

“Wait. Before that, Gale…”

“Hmm?”

A chilling aura made Helga and me look at them.

It should have been a touching atmosphere, but why this killing intent?

The sudden source of it was Maible.

“Bite this.”

“?!”

It happened in an instant.

Maible’s kick landed squarely on Gale’s jaw.

Considering the difference in their sizes, a punch might not even reach, but her kick drew a perfect arc and cleanly struck Gale’s jaw.

“Ugh!? Maible?! What are you doing?”

“What am I doing? You don’t know why I’m asking? What did you do to Helga!?”

Huh?

Maible pointed at Helga and shouted.

“Are you insane? You made her eyes like that and still have the nerve to show your face in front of me?”

“Mo-mother…! I’m fine now…!”

Helga couldn’t hide her confusion at Maible’s sudden anger.

But regardless, Maible exploded with the anger she had been holding back.

“I asked you to take care of my only daughter, and what did you do? If you were going to do this, you should have just sent her to an institution! That might have been better for her.”

“No, that’s not…”

Indeed…

Now I understood why Maible was so furious.

According to her, Maible had entrusted young Helga to Gale. It must have been too much for her, being chased herself. But Gale’s excessive Spartan education caused her beloved daughter to lose an eye… No wonder Maible was furious.

“I can’t live like this!”

“May! What happened back then was my fault. I’ve already taken enough hits from Helga. So…”

“You haven’t taken enough from me!”

“Ugh!”

With a dull sound, Maible’s fist sank into Gale’s stomach.

Though she looked weak, her punches were threatening. She was a natural genius in martial arts.

Seeing the great Gale unable to hold back a groan, it must have really hurt.

“Calm down and listen to me first. May!”

“Talk after you take this kick!”

“Guh!”

Maible didn’t seem to have any intention of talking.

Seeing this, it was clear she was Helga’s mother. Once angry, she showed no mercy.

On the other hand, Gale couldn’t bring himself to fight back and only defended.

He must have felt guilty for his mistakes.

Even Gale had his pride, but being beaten by a woman in front of Helga and me was pitiful.

But Maible seemed intent on completely crushing Gale’s pride.

“Gale. If you don’t want to get hit anymore, thank the Count.”

“…What?”

“If it weren’t for the Count, I wouldn’t have been able to return here, and our Helga wouldn’t have grown up healthy. I don’t think someone like you would thank others.”

Accurate.

Though I hadn’t paid much attention, Gale hadn’t directly thanked me.

His pride wouldn’t allow it.

Of course, I didn’t particularly want his thanks either, so I let it slide…

Gale grumbled in dissatisfaction.

“May. I agree that thanks to the Count, we could bring you back. But saying he raised my daughter healthily is a bit of a stretch.”

“You like stretches, huh? It seems the Count did a better job as Helga’s father than you did.”

“No!”

“No way!”

At that, not only Gale but even Helga beside him got upset.

“Our Count isn’t my father! He’s my husband!”

“I’m not your husband.”

“Ah, should I call you my lord instead?”

I was about to ask what the difference was, but Gale reacted with a rare look of anger.

“What?! Count, you dare to take my daughter without my permission- huh?!”

“Shut up and thank him quickly.”

Maible struck the back of Gale’s neck and spoke.

“I’d like to make you bow your head, but I’ll hold back. If you want to talk to me, thank him first.”

“Ugh…”

Under Maible’s pressure, Gale finally surrendered.

“…Thank you, Count.”

“Hmm.”

Though it was a showy apology, it was meaningful to me.

Among the nobles aligned with the Emperor, Gale led the Imperial Navy. At least while he commanded the navy, he wouldn’t openly oppose me.

With Helga and Maible by my side, he couldn’t sincerely raise his sword against the Ruelberta family.

At least, I wouldn’t be stabbed in the back by the Imperial Navy.

Gale offered me a handshake.

“I swear on the name of Wolfbert. I will never forget the debt I owe you.”

“…Do as you please.”

Though I answered curtly, I also shook his hand.

If Gale were still the head of the Wolfbert family, it would have been no different from forming an alliance between our families.

But then, Gale’s grip tightened.

“However, don’t even dream about my daughter.”

“Oh…?”

A terrifying force gripped my hand, threatening to break it.

I wanted to pull my hand away from the pain, but my “pride” wouldn’t allow it.

“What if I refuse?”

“I’ve warned you, Count. Not in my lifetime.”

“Then I’ll just have to wait until you’re in the ground.”

“Huh?!”

With that, Maible threw a clump of dirt at Gale’s face.

Whether Gale sat down holding his eyes or not, she smiled at me.

“I approve, Count. Please take good care of our beautiful daughter.”

“Mo-mother…”

Helga choked up, on the verge of tears.

Maible gently patted her back.

“Stop crying. Our daughter, when would be a good time for the wedding?”

“Sniff… I could do it today…”

They’re joking. They’re definitely joking.

I almost blurted that out loud.

Watching the two of them talk without even asking the person involved was so ridiculous it was almost infuriating.

Beside them, Gale was brushing dirt off his face and shedding a few tears, as if imagining Helga’s wedding.

They looked like a perfect family.

*

“Ah, hello! Count…!”

The next day, an unexpected face appeared in my study.

“…Back already?”

“Yes! Rian has completed all her training with Aslan and has returned to you, Master!”

Rian smiled brightly and saluted.

Wearing a black beret and a modified Aslan uniform similar to Helga’s, she looked full of energy.

Just as I had transformed by losing weight in Tristan’s body, Rian had also returned looking quite dignified.

Though to me, who had been in the military in real life, she looked like a fresh recruit…

Anyway, it was a good thing.

“Was the training difficult?”

“Ah, no! The training was fun! If anything was hard, it was the food, but I endured it well! The ‘education’ you and Helga gave me really helped!”

“…Well done.”

I wanted to show this to Helga, but unfortunately, she was on vacation. Though her vacation was just staying in a small villa on the mansion grounds with Maible and Gale…

“Then, what should I do now?!”

Rian asked me eagerly.

It would be good to give her a role.

What kind of job would suit a vampire like her?

After a moment of thought, I decided to ask her first.

“Rian.”

“Yes!”

“Do you have something you want to do?”

“Um… I’m fine with just working under you, Master!”

“Specifically?”

“Anything under you, Master! Ah! How about I lick your shoes every day?! Or maybe clean your nails…”

“…Both rejected.”

“Ah! That’s right, that would be a bit much, wouldn’t it? How dare someone like me even think of licking your nails… Maybe your toenails… I’m really sorry.”

“……”

I don’t know what she learned in Aslan, but while her loyalty to me increased, her self-esteem hit rock bottom.

Or maybe… she got beaten up too much by Helga, and it had some side effects.

There’s no way to know now.

Knock knock.

“Count. A letter has arrived.”

“Ah! I’ll get it!”

Rian quickly opened the door and took the letter from the maid.

Seeing her like this, she might do well as a bodyguard in Helga’s absence…

“Who’s the letter from?”

“Ah… well… There’s no sender’s name…”

Rian said, looking troubled.

No sender?

Who would send such a letter…

“Rian. Give me that letter.”

“Ah, yes!”

The letter she handed me bore a familiar seal, as I expected.

“The Emperor…”

It was a letter about the second bet.

 

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