Seated at the long dining table reserved for nobles, Hayashi Maki lifted a piece of steak with knife and fork and savored it slowly.
The three Vallière sisters were seated as well. Across from Hayashi Maki sat Éléonore and Cattleya; Louise sat beside him. At the head of the table was a lady in a violet gown with long pink hair—Duchess Karin of Vallière, mother of the three.
The duchess ate with elegant composure, eyes seemingly straight ahead, cold as frost—yet she was appraising Hayashi Maki from the corner of her eye. He was, after all, a duke personally created by Henrietta, with a rank nearly equal to her husband's.
The fact that Her Majesty had pushed it through over objections—and that other nobles had agreed—spoke to Hayashi Maki's power. And he had another identity as well: a man from another world, summoned by her youngest daughter.
After the meal, Lady Karin dabbed her lips and invited her daughters and Hayashi Maki to sit in the drawing room.
"Duke Hayashi Maki, I hear you've cured my second daughter Cattleya's illness. Is that true?"
"Yes—though further treatment will take a few days," Hayashi Maki replied with a smile.
Thinking of the "treatment," Cattleya's cheeks flushed on their own. Sitting by her mother, she smiled. "Mother, I already feel much better. I'm not coughing anymore, and that constant pain is gone."
It practically felt like a complete recovery. Hayashi Maki had said more treatments were needed; she had no reason to doubt him.
Lady Karin stroked her second daughter's hair fondly, then bowed to Hayashi Maki.
"Whatever else, I won't forget this favor, Duke Hayashi Maki. As a benefactor of House Vallière—if there is anything you want, we will do our utmost to grant it."
In theory, as Louise's familiar, what was his was Louise's—but a man of Hayashi Maki's power and rank couldn't be measured by common rules.
Faced with the duchess's question, Hayashi Maki didn't stand on ceremony.
"Indeed, my lady, I want only one thing: your leave to become engaged to Louise. You may understand—though she summoned me from another world, the pact between us is not a familiar's contract but a retainer's contract."
"In other words, from the moment we signed, until death, we are bound as family."
"I'm a man with a strong sense of possession—I won't allow Louise to marry anyone else. I hope you'll consent to our marriage."
"Ah! Idiot, what are you saying? W-who's marrying you?" Louise flushed on the spot and went full tsundere.
Éléonore shot Hayashi Maki a sour look; it stung a little. Although she was relieved her sister had a man to rely on, the memory of her own broken engagement made her heartsore.
Hayashi Maki's lips curled as he glanced at Louise's not-so-truthful fluster. "In any case, you can only be mine," he said, then looked to Lady Karin. "My lady—what say you?"
Karin looked at her youngest daughter's rosy face, then at Hayashi Maki's serious expression—and decided at once.
"I have no objection. Given your strength and station, you are more than suited to marry my daughter. But the duke has not yet returned—you'll need to speak to him as well."
Louise lowered her head, twisting her skirt in her hands, and said nothing. Basically, if Mother had decided, Father wouldn't oppose it.
"In that case," Éléonore jumped in at once, "I see no need for Louise to return to the academy. She should focus on learning to be a bride."
Louise snapped to attention. "No! I still have to serve Her Majesty. How could I just sit at home?"
"Serve Her Majesty? You, 'Louise the Zero'? Do what, exactly? You're still relying on Hayashi Maki," Éléonore said, striking straight at Louise's pride.
"I'm not relying on him! I can carry out Her Majesty's orders on my own!" Louise balled her fists and glared back. "And anyway—shouldn't the eldest daughter, Éléonore, be the one to marry first?"
"Louise, stop—this isn't the time…" Cattleya hurried to keep the little sister from fanning flames.
But Éléonore had already blown her stack.
"Little runt Louise, your courage has grown—now you're mocking your sister?!"
"Eh? I wasn't mocking you, Éléonore…" Louise shook her head quickly; she was still afraid of her big sister.
Éléonore ground her teeth and stood. "The engagement's been called off! He canceled it!"
Louise's eyes widened. "Eh—why?"
She'd never imagined her big sister would be jilted. Éléonore crossed her arms, seething. "Who knows—he said he 'couldn't take it anymore'…"
"Enough—no fighting," Karin said wearily, cutting in. "We're discussing Louise's marriage. As for Éléonore…"
At the mention of her jilted eldest, the duchess's head throbbed again. There weren't many young, promising nobles left; the last fiancé had been the best fit. Now Éléonore's betrothal was broken and her reputation stained—she might be left to wed an older aristocrat.
Seeing Louise's guilty face and Éléonore's puffed-up anger, Hayashi Maki spoke with a smile:
"I don't think there's any need for Éléonore to be so upset. If he couldn't see your worth, he's blind. With your excellence, Miss Éléonore, you'll find someone better sooner or later."
"…You've got good eyes," Éléonore muttered, mollified; she even looked at Hayashi Maki more kindly.
Hayashi Maki smiled and continued, "As for my engagement to Louise, I leave it to you and the duke, my lady. Let's set it first, then plan the rest. And I think Louise should keep studying at the academy. I have ways to help her learn magic—and I'll keep her safe."
With that, Éléonore had no further objections. Karin was satisfied, too—but since the youngest had finally come home, she had much to say to her. And no one knew Hayashi Maki better than Louise; as a mother, she needed to understand her daughter's thoughts. So she had Louise and Hayashi Maki settle in for now, and return to the academy after some days.