488 – The sun is hot, the sky is high, and the plants are green – 1
The last school trip of my life has ended.
In fact, during the school trip, rather than visiting tourist attractions, I was stuck in a villa, but wouldn’t that be a trip in its own way? I could feel with my whole body why the word ‘hotel vacation’ was created.
The only thing that bothers me is Rize and Rin, who were neglected due to the closure of Trixie and I’s villa, but fortunately, they say they enjoyed a fruitful trip while we were away. It is said that even the retainers treated Rize and Rin like Trixie’s family, not just guests, so it must have been a good memory for them.
Yes, objectively or subjectively, it was a school trip that ended perfectly. You can be so confident.
But it wasn’t until the very end that something happened.
“This is wine produced in Servet, and the one next to it is an artifact made by His Excellency the previous Duke. Behind it is a weapon made by craftsmen in Servet, boasting a quality worthy of being delivered to the imperial family.”
I stared blankly at the items as the head deacon pointed out and explained them one by one. When he said he was going back to the academy dormitory, he suddenly came packing all kinds of things.
Then he begged me to please accept it. I even received a gift from His Excellency my husband, and even desperately tried to persuade me that, as a vassal, I could not let him go empty-handed.
So what should we do? Regardless of the fact that the gift has been transformed into a gift, you should accept it obediently because it is obvious that if you refuse it for no reason, you will be in mourning in the future.
‘It’s more than what was given.’
Still, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly as I listened to the deacon’s endless explanations.
The gift I had already given… No, items that far exceeded the value of the gift popped out. In the central region of the empire, including the islands, Servet wine is treated on the same level as boyar wine, artifacts made by the previous Duke of Servet over 100 years ago, weapons made with great care by the duchy’s top craftsmen, etc.
It’s amazing. I can’t believe I got this in exchange for only 100 furs.
‘The tribute trade wouldn’t be like this.’
Honestly, if we give out this much in tribute, the country will be ruined.
“And that is—”
“That’s it. Thank you for the wonderful gift.”
The servants hastily interrupted the butler who was trying to explain the new item they had brought.
I don’t know what it is, but I can’t take that with me. I came to show my face to the vassals who managed the duchy on behalf of Trixie, not to rob the Catovan family. It’s not even a pillar room, what is this?
“I will receive the rest as a gift at the wedding.”
Of course, the head deacon would not be convinced if he simply refused, so he added an appropriate justification.
“Then I have no choice. I will keep it safe until then.”
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The effect was clear. The owner’s expression, who was about to retort, quickly softened and he nodded his head calmly.
They say that humans are animals of adaptation, and this seems to be true. You can gradually take advantage of the deacon’s loyalty, which was embarrassing at first.
“Now, let me tell you about the gifts I have prepared for Lady Louise and Lady Irina.”
‘Ah.’
I think I’m less used to it.
I didn’t know that you had prepared a gift for someone else at this timing.
When I arrived at the academy accommodation, I saw students boarding the carriage one by one.
Besides, the closest one was Erich. I had some business to run, and it went well.
“Hey.”
“Huh, bro?”
At my call, Erich, who was getting into the carriage with Sarah in his arms, turned his head.
There were a lot of things I wanted to ask, but I held back. Just like me and Trixie had a great time, I guess a lot happened between those two during the school trip. It is not polite to pry into other people’s private lives, even if they are family members.
“Put this on the wagon too. It’s yours.”
Anyway, I unilaterally passed the goods on to Erich.
A silver-colored sword and two small boxes. Erich had no free hands since he was already holding Sera, but Sera noticed her and held it instead.
“What is this? A souvenir? This is your first time seeing a sword like this?”
Erichi, who was quite a warrior, expressed his admiration as he looked at the silver sword.
It’s definitely something you’ve never seen before. It is a sword produced only in quantities to be delivered to the imperial family, but it is said that a surplus was made specifically this time.
“A gift from the Catoban family. Trixie’s master and sister-in-law also came, so they gave it to me.”
I burst into laughter while saying that. In addition to me, Rise, and Rin, the head deacon also brought gifts for Erich and Sarah. Even those belonging to Zenobia, who is not here. I thought that one must have that level of attention to detail to be a deacon.
And Sarah, who was absentmindedly holding the gift, quickly looked away as soon as she heard that it was her sister-in-law. To be exact, towards the small box he was holding along with the sword.
“Then these are mine and Zenobia’s?”
“Uh. Do you have any more sisters-in-law besides you?”
Sera smiled brightly at my confirmation. It was only natural that she had suddenly acquired the incredible title of being the wife of Duke Erich.
Therefore, she quietly turned her body and left her position. For now, it would be right to be considerate so that Sarah can fully feel her joy.
“Half ring?”
Not long after, she closed her eyes in sorrow at the sound of Sarah’s voice coming from behind her.
It is a pity to think that my karma has also hit her younger brother and sister.
***
Resting is essential during long distance travel. No matter how good the carriage is, shaking cannot be completely eliminated, so it must stop once every few hours to be considerate of the passengers.
And in the meantime, she quietly got off the carriage and called her maternal grandmother. She’s embarrassed that I haven’t been able to contact you for the past few days.
– Are you Trixie?
As soon as I activated her communication device, her maternal grandmother, who received the call, looked at my face with a worried expression.
Then she smiled softly, sighing in relief.
– That’s good. Suddenly, I was worried that something had happened because I hadn’t heard from him in over five days.
With words that make your conscience tingle.
It was a warm voice, but her head lowered of its own accord. She had been contacting her maternal grandmother at least once every three days since the start of her academy, but the third day was the day she went into her villa. From that day on, she was so busy spending so much time with Karl that she couldn’t hold her communication port, so she couldn’t raise her head in front of her maternal grandmother.
– It doesn’t seem like anything happened, have you been very busy at the academy?
“Oh, yes, I was a little busy.”
After thinking briefly, she nodded. I came to Servet because of the academy schedule, and it is true that I was busy thanks to coming to Servet. There is no detailed explanation, but it is not a lie.
– Yes, thank you for contacting me despite your busy schedule. As expected, this old lady only has our Trixie.
But the successive smiles made my conscience hurt so much that it couldn’t have been worse. She doesn’t even properly contact her maternal grandmother, who cherishes and loves me as her only blood relative. Is this immoral or something else?
“Well, grandmother. There is something I really want to tell you.”
– To me?
That’s why she barely opened her mouth and changed the topic. She felt that her conscience would not be able to endure if she did not tell her grandmother the good news.
“I have decided on a wedding location. I plan to have it first at a villa on my estate, and then at her maternal grandmother’s house.”
– Marriage…
Her grandmother’s eyes widened for a moment at my words, and she looked a little confused.
I understand. Although she is my maternal grandmother who acknowledged that I have human blood and am a member of the human world, my maternal grandmother lived with an elven way of thinking for hundreds of years. From her maternal grandmother’s perspective, she couldn’t help but be shocked to hear that her granddaughter, who is just over 100 years old, is getting married.
Nevertheless, seeing him smile so quickly makes it seem like he is trying to conform to human common sense.
***
Just as I was about to close my eyes for a moment, I heard a familiar voice.
– Are you getting married soon?
In fact, I opened my eyes again to a voice I hadn’t heard in a long time. She had been quiet ever since she transferred her divine energy to the World Tree (scheduled for promotion), but I didn’t expect her to suddenly start talking.
‘Yes, we plan to conduct it this summer.’
First of all, I calmly answered the question about the eternal blue sky. Because there’s nothing to hide.
‘But how did you know?’
– The elder boasted. I guess your wife told you first.
‘Ah.’
I was convinced by the words about the eternal blue sky that followed. As soon as the carriage stopped, she disappeared somewhere and was apparently in contact with her maternal grandmother.
– Anyway, congratulations. It seems like you got married recently, but this is already your second marriage. As expected, human time is difficult to adapt to.
She instinctively closed her mouth at the muttering.
Unfortunately, my marriage cycle is not short by God’s standards. Even by human standards, getting married once every six months is crazy fast.
Of course, there was no need to correct the misunderstanding of the eternal blue sky. If I find out the truth, I think I’ll make fun of you whenever I’m bored.
– …Hey, but wouldn’t it be okay to postpone it to fall or winter instead of summer?
‘Yes?’
In the meantime, a suggestion came out of nowhere and I ended up questioning it.
Honestly, I prefer fall or winter rather than getting married in the hot summer, but fall is difficult because it is during the semester, and winter is busy due to the end of the year and New Year’s wedding. Plus, after the New Year’s wedding, I have to get married to Rize for the third time, so I just can’t find the time.
‘I don’t think it will work?’
– Yeah, right? But. It’s hard to suddenly change your wedding schedule, huh?
I had some doubts about the slightly dejected muttering. He often made tearful remarks and actions to say that the eternal blue sky was God, but he never said anything meaningless. No matter how bad things are, God is God.
‘Is there anything happening in the summer?’
So, I quietly asked a question. One fortune teller, Naburangi, said, ‘Avoid getting married on that day.’ It feels uncomfortable to say that, but God himself mentioned the postponement of the wedding. It would be even weirder if it didn’t bother you.
– That’s…
At the direct question, the eternal blue sky hesitated for a moment and whispered carefully.
– It looks like the world tree will be completely revived in the summer…
‘… ….’
I quietly closed my eyes after hearing those words.
– Why, why is everyone only targeting me…!
When I heard Constantina’s voice a few months ago, I remembered the sobs of the eternal blue sky.
In the end, I burst out laughing. They’re blocking it because they’re afraid that if the World Tree is revived during my wedding, I will be taken away by Constantina.
‘To begin with, I am a member of the Dawning Church.’
– Oh, I know! But you can still be my priest the second time!
I burst into laughter again at the cruel protest.
No matter how open the times are these days, it is a bit difficult to double major in religion.