The sailors and workers of the Bradford barony's port gathered today. Many were talking about it.
"Hey, didn't we just have a meeting?"
"He usually holds them at the end of the month, but the boss is doing it twice now."
"Could it be they're going to fire us?"
The murmurs fell silent when Walt stepped out onto the highest point of the port's main building.
"Huhhh. I'm glad to see you all so energetic today. I know we already had a meeting to say Rudel won't be part of the territory's decisions, but there's something more important now."
"Introduce yourself."
Walt stepped aside and Bram, who was sweating profusely, stepped forward.
"My son Lyle has secured a future wife. The daughter of a Count, so he will be the heir. Rudel is not an option and Paula is too young."
"Therefore, the right person to take on the role of the family's future Baron is my second son, Bram, who has also secured a wife: a Viscountess."
Marceline took a step forward and took his hand to reinforce their relationship in front of everyone.
"She is Marceline Van Langland. Her territory is rich in resources to exploit, but they need manpower. Since it will become part of my territory, some of you will go there, but we won't decide that today, only when the paperwork is done."
The workers began to murmur again.
"Young Master Lyle is marrying a Countess?"
"But Lyle has been here with us since he was a boy."
"Did Young Master Bram at least receive the proper education? The work of the port and the territory is serious business."
Bram could hear the workers' murmurs. He understood they didn't trust him, and he couldn't deny it.
He never participated in a foremen's meeting like Lyle did since childhood.
He never accompanied his father to sell tools to other territories.
He never set foot in here even once, even though Rudel built it two years ago.
He understood he wasn't someone prepared to bear such responsibility, and especially because the workers were almost all his father's age.
Having an inexperienced youngster give them orders would greatly demoralize them.
Marceline, seeing him sweat, touched his cheek.
"Bram-sama, I am here to help you. Remember, a wife is the extra hands of a marriage."
Marceline believed in him; he couldn't back down now.
Bram took a breath, remembering his fight to save Ada. He paled at first, but then composed himself with a strong tone of voice.
"Everyone, please listen carefully!"
The workers stopped murmuring and focused on Bram.
"I understand your discomfort. A young man who never lived among you is going to give you orders."
"I was never the heir until today, and I understand your doubts and fears about the territory's future."
"We are a small place, but we manage to get ahead."
"That's why I want to make an effort."
Bram's eyes were alive with a resolve visible to everyone.
"From now on, I will study hard to manage the territory and the port."
"I will spend from dusk until dawn learning the basics of the trade you conduct here."
"I will go to every meeting the foremen and masters have."
"I will make sure to be a feudal lord you can feel proud of."
"I will be even better than my father, and I promise not to disappoint you. So I ask you: as you trusted in Rudel..."
"...Trust in me. Disappointment is not in my vocabulary or my thoughts."
The workers were amazed by Bram's words. He didn't hesitate; his serious gaze was the evidence they needed to place their trust in him. He was young, but the seed of a prosperous future was already planted in him.
Since the port workers accepted him, Bram sighed and fell to his knees when they entered the office.
"That was exhausting. My mental fortitude was at zero points."
Marceline came closer to hug him.
"Well done, but you were wrong."
"It's not 'I will not disappoint you,' it's 'we will not disappoint you.' You forgot that I am also here?"
"I'm so sorry. I was only thinking about my position. I'll go back out now and name you."
Marceline stopped him.
"It's not necessary. Your willingness to do things is all I need."
Seeing the good atmosphere between them, Walt left, closing the door without them noticing.
"Thank you very much for your support, Marceline-san."
"May."
"Sorry?"
Marceline placed her fingers on Bram's mouth.
"My family called me May. My mother loved that name."
"And since I will be your wife, you must call me that."
"Understood. May-san."
"May. Just say it like that."
"May..."
"Well done."
Marceline—May leaned in to give Bram a kiss. But the door opened: it was Ada, who entered crying.
"Bram-sama! Marceline-sama! There's trouble!"
"What's the trouble?"
"Allen-kun said he hates me because I asked him if we could sleep together tonight!"
Bram and May burst out laughing after seeing Ada's tear-stained face. It was another peaceful day for the Bradford family.
◇◇◇
A group of sailors were talking while loading boxes onto a ship.
"Hey, did you hear that news?"
"Which one of all?"
"They say Young Master Lyle got a wife."
"Huh? Him? Really?"
The young sailor was surprised; he was the same age as Lyle but was taller and stronger from his work.
"I really can't believe it. Who's the lucky lady?"
"They say she's a Countess and very beautiful."
"I won't believe it until I see it."
"Why not?" said the old sailor, who stopped halfway. He seemed annoyed. "You don't believe Young Master Lyle can get a wife?"
"Well, not exactly. He's not Young Master Rudel, who already has a long history of conquests."
"What are you talking about?"
A new sailor joined the conversation; he was the same age as his incredulous companion.
"The old man says Lyle has a wife."
"Huh? Lyle? Really?"
"Hey idiots, more respect. Remember you're at work, and you can't treat the boss's sons like your drinking buddies."
"Relax, old man, we know that. But they're not around, so there's no problem forgetting formalities."
"He's right. Although, if we're talking about respect, the one who gets it by default is Young Master Rudel."
"Why do you say that?"
"Are you joking?"
"Two years ago this place was nothing, and today we have all this thanks to him."
"He's a national hero who saved the country and even defeated foreign powers. Don't you think it's amazing someone from here did that?"
The old sailor couldn't help but agree.
"Certainly. I remember Young Master Rudel when he used to come to the port dragged by his brothers."
"That kid who was covered in mud and cried about everything has become a great man. This old man still has a lot to see in his lifetime."
"I understand. For someone from a small family to have done so many amazing things is admirable, but I admire him for another reason."
"What is it?"
The young sailor whispered to both of them.
"The beauties he has around him."
"They're all lovely and on a level above all the girls here."
His companion agreed.
"You're right. My favorite is the Duke's daughter. She looks like she could kill you with that gaze, but I always see her all lovey-dovey when they walk around the port."
"That's a very good observation, but you forget the commoner girls. She has an angelic aura that makes you want to protect her."
"Let's not forget the two girls who came with him. The one who looks like a princess, the short-haired one."
"I thought the princess was the one in the wheelchair?"
"Did you hear the rumor about that?"
"The one that says they did it so hard it left her sore until now?"
"That's the one. I can only feel envy for him. All those girls are beautiful, with bodies that would put your wife to shame, and all for one man. What envy I have."
"The only way to have something like that would be to be reborn in another life and wish for his luck."
"Hey, fools, you know you're talking about the women of your boss's son, right?"
"Old man, please. It's normal guy talk; let us fantasize."
"That's right. Besides, we can't see women that pretty every day."
"These disrespectful youngsters nowadays."
The old man shook his head in denial. He stared in a certain direction and said to them both.
"Hey, fools, you, how do you think Young Master Lyle's wife is?"
"Well, being him, she's probably normal."
"If she's real, that is. Like Bram's."
"Look over here, fools, and tell me again if you want to be reborn in another life."
The sailors looked in the direction the old man pointed, and the boxes they were carrying fell from their hands.
Approaching and greeting them were Lyle and Elaine.
"Hello, sir."
"Good morning, Young Master Lyle. Who is the lady beside you?"
"This is Elaine-san, my future wife."
"Nice to meet you, I'm formally getting to know the port."
Elaine greeted them with a cheek-to-cheek smile; her beauty dazzled the place.
If they said Alicia and the others had bodies that could make the territory's women envious, Elaine was not far behind.
"Lyle, don't stop, keep moving."
Bram was greeting him from the other side; next to him were Ada and May.
"We'll let you work, goodbye."
"It was a pleasure to meet you."
Elaine's long, silky hair left a fragrance in the air that still lingered even though she was already far away.
The sailors were still in shock.
"They say they can't get women if they're not like their younger brother?"
"Like the ones who stopped a foreign invasion?"
"And you still want to be reborn? Ha! Keep dreaming. Only workers get things like that."
The young men immediately picked up the boxes.
(If that's the reward for those who break their backs working hard, I want some of that!)
That's what they thought as they worked hard. For some strange reason, from that day on, every time Elaine went to the port, she was received as if she were a queen, and the sailors bowed before her.
◇◇◇
The Knightdom Holloway. A country known as the "Sword Country." Founded by knights and ruled by them. It is a country that considers itself "The freest of all, the bravest of all," since, during the First and Second World Wars, they instilled fear in neighboring countries with their fierce knights.
In the royal castle lay an old man.
"Your Majesty, this letter arrived for you."
A servant handed him a letter wrapped in a velvet envelope used only for important communications that must be read by a country's king.
The king, whose name was Adalbert, read the letter's contents while eating a biscuit. He stopped chewing and gripped the letter firmly. His eyes widened as he neared the end.
"Your Majesty, is something wrong?" asked the servant, seeing the king's panicked expression.
King Adalbert stood up.
"Where is 'he'?"
"He is in the usual place, Your Majesty."
"Summon the Rounds this instant."
"All twelve?!"
"Yes. Now!"
The king ran through the castle until he reached a secret garden known to only a few people. The place was a beautiful garden near a cliff. There, in the middle of that vast garden, was a person gazing at the blue sky.
Their silver hair seemed to reflect the sky itself. In their hand was a flower, which was placed on a grave.
That person turned, and their beautiful, radiant blue eyes looked at him fixedly. Their voice was carried away by the wind, but they said:
"Your Majesty, what has happened for you to come here personally?"
The king answered while calming his heart; he was a man of nearly 80, so he shouldn't run.
"...The Sacred Kingdom, part of the Ten Powers... has fallen to the kingdom."
That person also showed astonishment at what the king said.
"You were right."
"That demon king of the kingdom did it again."
"Now, more than ever, we need you and your knowledge of the 'game'... Sky Knight."
The Sky Knight, known as the strongest, the most fearsome, and the one who does not exist among the twelve members of the Round Table, will enter the Altfode Academy due to a national emergency.
________________
This time, the fanservice is for May, whose nickname I finally revealed. The link you shared doesn't contain textual description that I can translate or comment on in depth, but it appears to be a reference image for the character.
https://danbooru.donmai.us/posts/9182002