TL: Dragox
"You guys. It is no good if you play with others with the same roughness as you play with Albert."
"Hahaha, she was full of blood with just a bit of play-biting. Media still lacks training."
After treating Media's wounds, I was preaching the dragons in the mansion's courtyard.
for my subordinates it can be considered a form of training, but it would be bad if one of the foreign nobles that come to visit me ends up being play-bitten.
... Was that really play-biting? At least it is so in Albert's eyes.
"Albert, do not think on your standards. Even black knights will be hurt if they are attacked by the dragons"
"Your Excellency, that's a matter of the past. Now, most of the recruits have mastered body strengthening, so they will not be injured so easily."
"Is that so, I guess it is safe then... Huh?"
"Therefore, the black knights have mastered the magic of physical strengthening. It is not as good as mine, but if it is to the degree of a dragon's play-biting they will be unscathed."
Albert starts saying something dreadful.
In the empire's army strengthening magic is considered standard only at general class.
This is something that I learned after some time... this was the first magic that master taught me.
This isn't at the level of spartan training anymore.
Such a terrible master, really...
"I-is that so? Everyone is truly doing their best."
"Yes, I'm arranging a corps unit of "Dragon Knights"1 with people selected by the dragons. If give the order, they will show you that they can bring sown one or two cities by themselves!"
Albert was telling me this while making a smug face.
"How reliable. I'll be having high expectations."
"I'm thankful for your words!"
I decide to return to my room, leaving Albert who is sanding still in a saluting pose.
Having such an excess of war potential, it goes without saying that it won't lessen my headache.
I will get an earful from His majesty again...
...
"Thank you for your hard work, Master."
When I return to the office, Suu welcomes me.
It is the evening... No, it's right to say that it is already night.
"It's almost time for 'that' right? Let's finish work for today."
"It's the eve of the ceremony, Master. The preparations are underway, please go take a bath and change your clothes."
Let´s obey and head to the bath.
It will be frightening to defy female-based events.
For no reason will I go against it.
The maid wash my body in the bath, but I'm no longer embarrassed by it.
It's amazing that I've gotten used to it...
...
"Oh? That was quite fast. Fufu, master is also looking forward to it, huh?"
"Yes. This seems to be an important event for female nobles. The maids were talking with passion about it."
I went back to my room and was called by Sue who was waiting.
The maids who helped me with bathing firmly spoke about the importance of tonight's ceremony.
Although it's only done by upper aristocracy, it seems it is something they yearn for.
"Since it is a form of yearning for noble women, so everyone is interested in it."
"I see. Nevertheless, why aren't you in sleepwear?"
That's right... I was expecting to see Suu in her pink pajamas.
She usually wears man clothings except for her pink nightwear... which isn't
there.
"I am a steward, master. My first priority is serving the household. Of course I will also participate."
"Is that so... "ell, sorry for the trouble"
When she told me that, I apologized without thinking.
It wasn't because i was surprised by her menacing looks.
Unexpectedly, it was because it caught me off guard the nice odor coming from Suu who also just got out of the bath, and i was afraid of becoming too excited.
"There's no need to apologize. Now, lets go"
"O-Oh, I see."
Suu will not be the only one... Tonight's fight will be a long one...
Wait, There should only be Tsubaki, and Kachua! That should not be exciting!
I opened the door while thinking so, and was welcomed by the maiden troops in pajamas
"Fufufu2, it is the beginning of a fun night."
Suu was laughing while saying this, but her eyes weren't
...Yeah, let's run away after all... that's what I swore in my heart.
"So, what happened after that?!"
"Err... then prince Mars said 'I love you' and the pendants..."
""""KYA~~!""""
It's something like that.
The night before the ceremony is a girls' party who become noisy disregarding social status.
... I'm completely out of place.
Tsubaki is telling stories to everyone, I'll just quietly suppress my presence.
If I get dragged, not even my bones will remain
"So that's the case. The words of an experienced person are certainly a good reference."
"Yeah, age doesn't matter in love, right? I have to work hard."
"Isn't it alright for Suu? Aren't there many men that wish to marriage you were you not a steward?"
"Tsubaki is still above me in this... getting a prince."3
They have already disregarded any kind of polite speech.4
More and more, I feel at a disadvantage... let's move gently to the corner of the room.
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"Experienced, huh... Lets see, I would like to hear stories of papa!"
"Oh, that's right, Your Excellency... No, Zest, do you have any stories?"
"Fufufu, today it's not rude."
"I'd like to hear dear foster father's stories about his secret married life."
It seems it's finally come.
I'm flanked by war maidens on each side, and get dragged like a prisoner... over to the bed.
"Come now, papa. Resistance is useless!"
"Where did you fall in love with Beatrice?"
"Is the origin of Wis' name truly from your world?"
"Are you interested in Suu? You are always with such a cute girl."
Women keep coming up at me.
Honestly, there's a nice smell, it's soft, I wonder if it's actually a very happy situation.
... At least if I wasn't bombarded with questions.
However it seems that I can't just refuse and just keep being an observer.
Then, shall I answer carefully while keeping certain things to myself?
"Alright... Do you really want me to speak? Between Bea and me there's more than common love! You better not draw back even if you listen, absolutely don't!"
"KYA--!"
"Such a bold man"
"I wonder if it's true he carries Suu's panties around."
"Huh? Was Zest a Kemonobito?"
Like this, the public execution began.
The battle against Bea's suitors.
Toto's birth, and Tsubaki's engagement.
While trying to make it vague, Suu comes and explains in detail... you are too meticulous...
"It is not allowed to speak lazily at the eve of the marriage ceremony. You should firmly tell the actual facts. Besides, it is custom to keep secret the conversation in the eve of the marriage ceremony until the graveyard. There's no need to worry."
Is that so... Is it useless...?
But if it is meant to keep it confidential... Lets tell them everything! I've already made up my mind.
Due to my frank speech, the shrills and screams continued until morning...
"Good morning, foster father."
"Oh, good morning. You look tired. Come, I'll cast healing magic."
It seem that Tsubaki fell asleep at some point.
I never want to attend such a ceremony again, but I want to participate when it's for Wis... Would Bea accept? I need to consult this.
Kachua... will she be able to get married? leaving that aside, today is Tsubaki's wedding.
It will be bad if the main person of the wedding ceremony has dark circles in her eyes.
I stroke her head while applying healing magic.
"Well, Tsubaki. If you are ever unhappy yo can go back. If you send me a letter, I will come to pick you up on a dragon."
"Ufufu, foster father, is that a thing to say in the wedding day? I am fine."
Tsubaki, whose head I had been stroking for a while even after the magic light went off, softly bowed her head.
"Thanks to foster father, Ican marry prince Mars. Really... Thank you very much."
"There were various things, but it was fun. You are my daughter. You can rely on me if something happens, alright? Become happy."
"Yes...Yes..."
Tsubaki starts shedding tears, but time doesn't wait for the bride.
The maids come to pick her up in a hurry
"Here, I treated your eyes again. Now go and dress up beautifully."
"Yes, thank you for the help."
While I see Tsubaki off after bowing deeply her head, I feel like I start to understand a bit of my parents' feelings.
Since Tsubaki is adopted, When I am with Wis, I'm confident of going mad.
"After master finishes crying, you should also get ready and change clothes. The bride's father is also busy, right?"
"I'm not crying. Get ready my change of clothes."
"...I got it. I will help you."
I don't have with me the usual maids, but i finish changing with Suu's help.
I did not sleep at all, but one sleepless night won't be a problem.
It will be alright somehow.
"Today the wedding is scheduled..."
After changing clothes, Suu reads the schedule after arriving at the office.
It is the familiar beginning of a day.
I listen to her voice while drinking tea.
"Because it is a wedding for ten days from today... there are not other plans. That's all."
Apparently, I'm still sleeping.
I drink the rest of the hot tea at once
"I'm sorry, repeat that again."
"Yes. I said that the wedding ceremony will last for ten days from today. Elves are a long lived race... For them this seems like a moment."
"Suu... will it go on the whole day? won't that be too much?"
She took a glance at her documents once more and answered with a smile.
"That's right. It seems to be the greatest disgrace to leave on the way, so please be careful."
Elf style wedding...
At the royal wedding ceremony, the event which is said someone exits as a corpse each time began...
Notes:
1. Who still remembers that these ones were actually hinted in past chapters?
2. I really like this Japanese way of laughing, I'm unable of translating it no matter how much I try to put my mind on it
3. Should I write in a parenthesis who (if it's from the character list) says what here?
4. This line says that they're attaching -chan to their names, but this novel was never translated with honorifics anyway :p