"It's not much, but eat your fill."
"Thank you for the hospitality."
Matthew, Heckenroze, and Butlerh sat in the banquet hall on the first floor of the castle.
Butlerh, seated at the head table, immediately tore into a massive chicken leg that resembled a turkey.
Matthew, too, modestly sliced some chicken and popped it into his mouth.
"The flavor's so unique—it's delicious."
"I'm glad it suits your taste. About what happened this morning... I apologize once again."
"It's fine. It's something that happens all the time."
"Father, there's something I want to discuss about that."
"Hm? What is it."
Heckenroze looked at Matthew as she spoke.
"A couple of days ago, Matthew caught a massive wolf."
"A wolf?"
"Yes. It wasn't part of a pack, but it was huge—an unusual one. He had quite a time hunting it down and hauling it back... Maybe that's when the scent got on him."
"Hmm."
Butlerh stroked his chin.
It wasn't an entirely implausible theory.
The demons were at war with the human Empire, and some had infiltrated its borders, lurking in the shadows.
If one of those demons had tampered with the wolf somehow, it wouldn't be strange for a faint trace of their scent to linger.
"Do you still have the wolf's pelt?"
"I was in a rush to return, so I didn't take it."
"We'll have to assemble an investigation team to check it out."
"Yes, and... there's something else I need to tell you."
"What."
Heckenroze's eyes quickly scanned the surroundings.
No one else had been allowed into the banquet hall besides the three of them.
Normally, vassals would be invited, or at least one or two knights stationed.
But at Heckenroze's request, they'd all been sent outside.
"I believe someone orchestrated this bandit attack."
"I heard that much in your room, too."
"It's not just a hunch. I..."
Heckenroze's voice lowered.
"I think one of our vassals hired the bandits."
"A vassal, you say."
Butlerh fiddled with his chin.
The Atlante family might be in the remote North, but it was still a ducal house.
Like other ducal houses, it had servants, vassals, and knights under its command.
Heckenroze was pointing the finger at vassals who devoted themselves to the territory's welfare.
"What evidence do you have?"
"The bandit leader said as much."
Heckenroze clearly remembered what the bandit leader had said to Matthew.
—Who sent you, you bastard?
—...Pardon?
—Lorelline? Black Plate? Red Raven? Which one is it?
"Lorelline?"
"It's the Lorelline you know, Father."
Lorelline was a vassal serving as the Atlante family's Prime Minister.
He handled logistics and taxes primarily, making him one of the territory's key figures...
"If it's Lorelline, that's a different story."
"Prime Minister Lorelline is the head of the Moderate Faction, after all."
The North's vassals were broadly divided into two factions.
The Radical Faction, who despised the demons and advocated aggressive warfare.
And the Moderate Faction, who were passive about the war with the demons or pushed for a truce.
"It's suspicious that Lorelline's name came up first, but Knight Commander Philip's didn't."
Philip, the Knight Commander leading the Atlante Knights.
He was a hero who had guarded the North alongside Butlerh for over thirty years as a knight.
The problem was that he led the Radical Faction.
"Mentioning Prime Minister Lorelline but not Knight Commander Philip—I think that's the key."
"How is that a key?"
"He mentioned Philip first to rule him out, because Philip was the one who hired him."
"!"
When asked where the bandits came from, he'd only named Lorelline.
Naming Lorelline meant he knew the family's political landscape.
Yet Philip's name hadn't come up...
"Heckenroze, are you saying you think Philip hired the bandits?"
"...Yes."
Because the bandits had been hired by Philip.
No ordinary person would suspect their own employer of interference.
Butlerh let out a low groan and sank into thought for a moment.
"Is that how it is..."
"We can't dismiss this lightly. If I'd fallen into their hands, it might not have ended with just a ransom demand."
"They would've killed you?"
"...That seems most likely. To shake up the political balance."
Heckenroze, more interested in administration than combat, belonged to the Moderate Faction.
If she'd been eliminated in this incident.
Not only would Butlerh's lineage end, but the Moderate Faction's position would be jeopardized.
"So, you should dangle some bait about this incident in front of Knight Commander Philip and gauge his reaction—"
"You've gotten too deep into political games, and now you're jumping to conclusions."
Bam!
Butlerh slammed down his metal wine goblet hard.
His snarling face was filled with displeasure.
"Drop this prejudice that everyone schemes politically like you do."
"That's not it. I'm just saying it's the most likely scenario..."
"You have suspicions but no hard evidence. Philip isn't the kind of man who deserves your slander. And he's certainly not the type to hatch such filthy plots."
He dismissed Heckenroze's claims outright.
Butlerh had stood back-to-back with the Knight Commander for many long years.
He couldn't start doubting based solely on some bandit's word that his daughter had been attacked.
"If you understand, then don't bring it up again."
"...I'm sorry."
"I'll prepare a new carriage soon, so head to the capital. Don't you need to go to the Academy?"
Gulp, gulp.
Butlerh downed his wine refreshingly and grinned.
"Bring back a useful fellow from there as your husband. A man worthy of succeeding the Northern Archduke."
"..."
"I trust that clever head of yours understands."
"Yes..."
Grip.
Heckenroze clenched her fist under the table.
Even after his daughter was attacked, he merely reminded her of her 'purpose.'
Going to the Academy to find a suitable son-in-law to succeed the Northern Archduke.
That was the role assigned to the chess piece called Heckenroze.
'Even if I died... Father wouldn't bat an eye.'
She'd bluffed to the bandits that he'd turn the North upside down hunting them if she died...
But her position in the family was low.
The reason was her lack of combat prowess against the hordes of magical beasts pouring in.
Heckenroze hated that fact with every fiber of her being.
"Oh! I heard your destination was the capital, but you're enrolling in the Imperial Academy?"
"...Pardon?"
A bright, innocent voice that clashed with the mood.
Matthew was beaming at her.
"The Academy! I'm so jealous. I've heard the rumors. It's where the Empire's finest talents enroll, regardless of status or race!"
"..."
"You'll surely enjoy your youth there. Man, I'm envious."
Matthew kept chattering on, undeterred by Heckenroze's sullen expression.
...As expected, Matthew was an oblivious airhead.
"Are you interested in the Academy?"
"Yes, very much so."
"Hmm... If you want, I could pull some strings to get you in alongside my daughter."
"Ooh! Really?"
"Father!"
Heckenroze shot to her feet at the sudden turn.
"What do you mean? Enrolling Matthew?"
"Why so surprised? It's good for both of you."
"What do you..."
Butlerh spread three thick fingers.
"First, you can repay the man who saved my daughter's life. For you, Heckenroze, it's like assigning solid protection for the trip to the capital."
"That's..."
"And lastly."
He folded all his fingers and smirked.
"A man who dodged my Serpentine Spear Art without a scratch? I think he qualifies."
"!!"
"Of course, I'd need to watch him more if he's to become a son-in-law. Kahahaha!"
He laughed heartily and tore into his meat.
Taking Matthew as a son-in-law?
Heckenroze's mind went blank for a moment, leaving her speechless.
'Matthew... as my husband?'
Until now, she'd hated that she couldn't inherit a title or territory herself.
Even going to the Academy had been forced upon her.
All because of her father's order to scout a young man worthy of being a son-in-law.
But if Matthew became her husband...
"Sorry, I got caught up in the food and missed the conversation. What do you mean by 'qualifies'?"
Butlerh burst into laughter at Matthew's question.
"Kahaha! Just think of it as qualifying for the Academy."
"Oh! I see. I've heard enrollment fees are steep... I'd be grateful for the opportunity."
"Fees are no issue, of course. If you're that thankful, how about a light spar after the meal?"
"Sounds good! Haha."
"..."
Her father advancing the conversation on his own...
And Matthew smiling innocently, oblivious to it all.
'Husband, husband...'
Meanwhile, Heckenroze's mind was filled to the brim with the word 'husband.'