Episode 8: Decline and Deal
[Characters]
- Kai (Toudou Toudou Kai)
Protagonist. Black hair, black eyes. Reincarnated in this other world as the eldest son of a poor noble family, retaining memories from his previous life. He still feels bewildered by the inverted standards of beauty and ugliness in this world.
- Kanade (Higashikujo Kanade)
Imperial family. A beautiful girl with black hair featuring white highlights and golden eyes, who is a boyish I-cup beauty. She is two years younger than Kai but is a classmate in military school. She holds the second-highest position in the imperial succession line.
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In the private room of our family, which belongs to the viscount, I was sitting alone on the bed, adjusting the magic stone within the communication device.
The walls of the room are adorned with decorations, but stains deepened over time are spread throughout, and a dusty carpet is laid on the floor.
In the past, there must have been a grandeur befitting a noble's house.
"Hello? Kai, Kai, can you hear me?"
"Yes, hello. I can hear you."
After hearing a sound that matched the frequency, the voice of Princess Kanade began to come through the speaker.
Her voice was slightly trembling.
"Hey Kai, I heard about your mother's situation... is everything okay over there... maybe?"
My mother, who raised me single-handedly, died in battle.
It was said that he was hit by a stray bullet during the suppression of a rebellion in the colony where she was assigned.
Upon hearing the news of my mother's passing, I took a bereavement leave and hurried back from military school to the estate of the Todo family.
"Thank you for your concern. There are various things to prepare for the funeral and other matters... but for now, there are no particular issues."
"But I heard that your family... it's just your mother, right?"
In this world, there is a gender ratio imbalance.
According to a demographic study I read before, in this world... regardless of region or generation, there are between 2.5 to 3 women for every man.
Therefore, in the "Empire," polygamy is common, and through the marriage relationship with one man, women from multiple noble families have connections with each other as wives, creating a peculiar social structure.
However, my mother lost her husband early on, so she couldn't build relationships with other families through polygamy.
Therefore, despite the Toudo family's status, their connections in aristocratic society were weak, and there were hardly any other aristocrats from different families who would consult with us.
"If it's okay with you, I'll help with anything. Please feel free to consult me about even the smallest things."
Kanade's gentle yet sorrowful voice lingers in my ears.
I glance for just a moment at the "contract" lying on the small table next to the bed.
The words almost come out. "Actually, the head of the family, my mother, has died, and this house is on the brink of bankruptcy."
Thanks to the virtue of our matriarch, our family has somehow managed to postpone and transfer our debt payments until now, but it seems the time has finally come to pay the piper.
Right after my mother passed away, a middle-aged female merchant came to visit.
According to that merchant, the Toudou family is in a state of being unable to manage their debts, which far exceed my imagination, scattered all over the place.
"Take a look at this," the female merchant said, unfurling something like a scroll and showing it to me.
There was a long record of the family's debts.
Without changing her expression, she continued, "At this rate, your younger brother will be sold as a male prostitute, and your younger sister will be sold as a mine slave."
The moment I heard those words, my vision wavered.
The businesswoman ignored my confusion and calmly moved on to the next topic. It was about the "contract."
It was written that there is a family that said, "We will cover all your debts on the condition that you marry into our family."
However, there was a condition that the family name could not be revealed until just before the marriage.
"It's an exceptional deal," the merchant says. Indeed, it is.
In this world where beauty and ugliness are reversed, even a plain-looking guy like me is treated as a national beauty.
That said, there aren't many people in this empire who could prepare such a large sum of money on the same day just to welcome me as a son-in-law.
Whether it was a grand noble or the head of a conglomerate... I figured a significant player was involved.
Having been asked for a response within a week, I stared at the contract, deep in thought.
Even though I was reborn and came to another world, being forced to marry someone whose face I don't even know is still unpleasant.
From the desire to marry the girl he likes, he started on the elite course at military school.
However, on the other hand, I want to avoid causing Kanade any trouble.
She is indeed from the imperial family, but she is still a student.
If Kanade moves a large amount of money for me, a friend, it could damage her political standing by using imperial funds for personal matters.
To consult about such a debt, it must be unforgivable.
Above all, I like Kanade. As a woman and as a person.
It's not just that she is beautiful. She radiates a light of cheerfulness that warmly envelops me.
Within Kanade, there exists a natural and approachable demeanor that does not convey a deep sense of responsibility or high status.
I could never bother someone like her. That's for sure.
"Um, of course, I'm feeling down because my mother passed away... but it's not a problem. I appreciate your concern, Kanade-san."
"...Got it. But if any problem arises, even a small one, don't hesitate to contact me. I'll help with anything."
Thank you very much.
After cutting off communication with Kanade, I left the room and headed down to the dining hall on the first floor.
Until recently, antique tables and chairs passed down through generations were arranged in the dining room.
However, now almost everything has been seized, and I am currently using a simple wooden box as a desk.
Even so, as a place where the family gathers, the dining hall continues to maintain its warmth.
In the dining room, my younger brother and sisters were waiting for me to return with solemn expressions.
"Brother, regarding that debt, is there anything I can do to help?"
The eldest sister, Sachiko, with her strong-willed eyes, shows concern for me.
From behind Sachiko, the other younger sisters and the youngest brother are glancing at me with worried expressions.
For the still young siblings, it is already difficult enough that their only parent has died, and on top of that, they are being made to suffer due to the family's troubles.
Seeing their expressions, an indescribable emotion overwhelms me.
At first, when the memories of my past life resurfaced, my interactions with my new family in this world felt somewhat unreal.
However, as I spent the past few years living with them, they transformed from mere relatives into precious beings that I must protect.
"There's nothing to worry about at all. We've found a place that can provide financial support, so don't worry. Leave it to your big brother."
I firmly resolved while ruffling my younger siblings' hair.
(I'll accept the marriage proposal. Well, if the partner turns out to be really terrible, I can just blow them up with magic and take my siblings to the 'United Kingdom' or somewhere and seek asylum there...)
I was somewhat escaping my anxiety about the future by thinking about somewhat unrealistic and disturbing things.