---

The night of the succession ceremony.

As the guests gathered in one place, the vast hall quickly became crowded with people.

“Haah…”

And Ariel, who could be considered the protagonist of this gathering, was outside the hall trying to calm her particularly racing heart today.

“It’s surprising to see you so tense.”

“Right? I think it’s a bit weird too.”

Ariel responded to Edgar with a wry smile, nodding vigorously in agreement.

She wasn’t someone who never felt nervous, but generally handled big and small matters with a bold attitude.

However, perhaps because today was her first public appearance after inheriting the title of head of the family, even the formidable Ariel Robeheim felt the weight on her shoulders.

After all, from today, her face would be the face of the Robeheim Family, and it was true that she had to be careful with her words and actions.

“Look at this. Our daughter is really suffering.”

“She did well during the succession ceremony, so what’s the big deal this time?”

“Ah… Father, Mother.”

Just as Ariel was taking a deep breath, the Robeheim Couple suddenly approached her.

Especially Yulken had a much lighter expression than usual, and Edgar assumed it was due to the freedom that came with stepping down from the position of head of the family.

“Don’t worry too much. Although nobles love to gossip about others, it’s not like only that kind of people are around.”

Since Yulken had gone through the same process as Ariel, he understood her feelings.

However, contrary to her worries, it would be a big misunderstanding to think that only haughty types who criticized others were present.

When people gather, there are bound to be various types, just like there are among commoners.

And among the nobles Yulken had dealt with, there were certainly many who forgave minor mistakes and looked at newcomers with kind eyes.

This was especially true for those who had taken on the role of head of their families, as they believed that it was only natural to empathize with those experiencing growing pains.

“That’s right, your father is right. Besides, now you’re the master of the Robeheim Family, aren’t you? No one will speak ill of you behind your back.”

“My honor is fine. But I don’t want to disgrace the family because of my mistakes.”

Ariel was not the type to be overly concerned if someone judged her from behind.

In fact, she was the kind of person who wouldn’t even care if bugs chirped or beasts barked.

But when it came to her family, it was different.

She was someone who cherished and loved the Robeheim Family more than anyone, and because of that, she felt the weight of the position she had taken on very seriously.

For her, it was an absolute no-no for her mistakes to tarnish the family’s reputation.

“Hehe, your mindset is even better than mine was in my younger days. That alone will be enough. If the younger me saw you now, I’d be too embarrassed to show my face.”

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

Ariel, unable to comprehend her father’s words, stared wide-eyed in confusion.

At this, Yulken glanced subtly at his wife’s direction and smirked before beginning to recount his reckless youth.

“I still remember when I had my succession ceremony. On that day, unlike now, I arrived at the venue first and greeted the guests.”

“Hehe, I was right there beside you.”

At her husband’s words, Helene felt her own memories flooding back and chimed in.

“While talking with various guests alongside your mother, I suddenly heard strange noise.”

“I mean, noise…?”

“Well, it’s not something to speak of here, but you could say it was gossip about your mother. Being clever like you, I’m sure you understand what I mean.”

“Ah…”

It was not Ariel but Edgar who let out a sigh at Yulken’s words.

He was perhaps someone who understood Helene’s position better than Ariel did back then.

Whether that was a trivial matter to brush off as mere “gossip,” one thing was clear: it was certainly something that could twist Yulken’s mood in an instant.

“What do you think I did at that time?”

“… I imagine you would have pretended not to know while later giving a word of caution or punishment?”

At least from what Ariel had seen, Yulken was not the type to reprimand someone publicly in front of many people.

Even though he had done so to her long ago, it was an exception rather than the norm.

Thus, when she cautiously ventured a guess, Yulken and Helene exchanged knowing glances and smirked.

It was as if they had expected her response.

“I immediately drew my sword and aimed it at the man’s neck. If it were up to me, I would have loved to separate his head from his body, but your mother was a step quicker.”

“Wha…?”

Not believing it, Ariel blinked in disbelief and then turned to Helene, as if asking if it was true.

“Yes, your father did such a thing.”

Although he was now the solemn head of a family, back then, he was quite the reckless man.

One could even say he was more self-absorbed than Ariel is now.

“It was a somewhat rash action, but I have no regrets. Even now, I think it was the right thing to do.”

Certainly, that may have been somewhat of a light response for someone in the position of head of a family.

There are also considerations for the other family in question, and no matter how noble the duchy is, it wouldn’t be good to make enemies.

Yet, he went ahead and did it.

And Yulken had no regrets about the way he dealt with it at that time.

Undeniably, even if he had taken the head of the man who was speaking ill of his wife, his feelings would not have changed.

“While it’s unbecoming for someone merely wielding the power of the duchy, if one can wield it appropriately, then that is indeed the right thing to do. Do you understand, Ariel?”

“… Does that mean it’s somewhat okay to act on your own sometimes?”

Seeing her daughter hesitatingly ask that question, Yulken quietly nodded, gently stroking her head.

“Exactly, just like you did at the succession ceremony.”

“Ah, Father…!”

It was an inconsiderate action on his part to remind her of the several times she had kicked off the blanket just moments ago.

As Ariel raised her voice in embarrassment, Yulken clarified that his point was in the gentle way.

“Please take good care of her. She’s clever, but she’s in a precarious position, so I ask for your guidance in many ways.”

“Yes, I will keep that in mind, Your Highness.”

“Come on now. Just call me comfortably.”

He was no longer referred to as “Your Highness.”

Edgar suddenly realized that and was trying to organize his words when Helene discreetly interjected with her usual smile, offering a suggestion.

“Hehe, how about you just call him Father? Or maybe Father-in-law?”

“… Huh?”

In an almost comically bewildered response, Edgar scratched his cheek, making Ariel nudge him playfully.

“Don’t hold back now. You can call him that from now on.”

She added, ‘Of course, if Father agrees,’ and glanced at Yulken.

Yulken, as if to say how could he not agree, smiled and nodded heartily.

“That’s something I would welcome. It’s perfectly fine starting today.”

“Ah…”

Edgar scratched his cheek in embarrassment, yet thought it was quite a good opportunity.

He was looking towards a distant future with Ariel, so if Yulken and Helene allowed it, he wouldn’t mind calling them that.

“So… may I call you Father?”

“That sounds good. Very good. While we’re at it, why not call my wife the same?”

“Oh my, are you really going to call me that?”

Surprised by the unexpected response, Edgar could sense that Helene had secretly hoped for that.

After all, she had always insisted that Edgar should think of her as his stepmother since childhood, even if it was just Aunt.

Yet, Edgar never dreamed that such a day would come, because life’s events rarely go as predicted.

“There’s nothing difficult about that, Mother.”

“…..”

Helene, who had been watching him blankly for a moment after his quiet word, suddenly pulled out a handkerchief and pretended to wipe her eyes.

Of course, she wasn’t actually crying, but it was an expression of how moved she felt.

As the one who had watched the two over the longest time, it felt like she was finally witnessing the fruit of their relationship.

“I never thought this day would come so quickly… I assumed it was too late when Ariel was still undecided about her feelings for you back then.”

“Mother…! What did I do…!”

Suddenly hearing her name brought up, Ariel shot forward, flustered.

While she wasn’t without her own moments of shame, all she could do was hope her mother would keep quiet.

Unfortunately, that seemed impossible.

Helene mercilessly pulled up stories of Ariel’s more reckless days in the past.

“Don’t you remember? You used to ask me, ‘Is there no chance I’ll go to ArdeNum?’ every other day.”

“Ahhhh-!”

Ignoring the gazes around her, Ariel let out a scream and lunged at Helene, trying desperately to silence her.

Although thwarted by Yulken, it all ended with a whimper.

“And yet, you told your mother you had no interest in Edgar… But if he wanted to, you’d consider it…”

“Mom! Why do you keep doing this in front of Edgar!”

“See, you got flustered, so you slipped back to your old speech pattern?”

Helene seemed to have a lot of pent-up stories, and now that she had the chance, she started unloading tales from Ariel’s reckless past.

The attack was so fierce that even Edgar, instead of teasing, was patting her shoulder to console her.

“Stop it, Mom! I need to go with Edgar now…!”

“Are you trying to run away? Don’t worry, there will be plenty of chances, so we can talk tomorrow or the day after…”

“Ed! I think Mom is tired, so let’s go in alone!”

Eventually, abandoning the attempt to calm Helene, Ariel seized Edgar’s hand and strode into the hall.

Even though she was the mistress of a great family making a grand entrance, the back view she displayed showed no dignity or grace, making the Robeheim couple smile wryly.

“Still, do you think she’ll do well? My dear.”

“Of course. She’s my daughter with you.”

Yulken wrapped his arm around his wife’s shoulders and moved towards the opposite end of the corridor.

Since the night’s main protagonists were those two, it wouldn’t hurt for the supporting characters to make their entrance later.

So, until that time, he wanted to spend a comforting moment with his wife to ease the fatigue of the day.

 

---