Chapter 91
[Translator – Angel Dust]
[Proofreader – Prototype]
Chapter 91
You know how some families are really devout in their religion and try to force it on their future son-in-law or daughter-in-law? And if the fiancé or fiancée is of a different faith, or no faith at all, and refuses, the family throws a fit, saying things like, ‘No marriage to our child unless you convert!’
Surprisingly, even though religion is a much bigger deal in this life than my past one—to the point where divine blessings and whatnot actually exist—that kind of thing rarely happens here.
The reason is pretty simple—other religions are just too insignificant compared to the Goddess of Light. Most citizens of the Empire have long since embraced the Light.
Anyway, I wasn’t worried about the religious aspect, even though I’m not exactly a devout follower of the Light. One way or another, I do believe in it, and there’s no other religion to speak of.
‘But my girlfriend’s grandfather is a devout follower of a religion that calls me a benefactor and a noble person?’
This was completely unexpected. I hadn’t even considered this possibility. So, as I headed to Selena’s family home at the invitation of the former Marquis Nafplion, I felt quite uneasy.
“…This feels like I’m going to meet the parents.”
“Well, it’s kind of like that. Why? Are you nervous?”
“It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t. But, well… it’s something I have to do eventually, so I guess it’s good timing. It’s nice that I’ll get to meet your grandfather too.”
No matter what, in the eyes of Marquis Nafplion, I’m the guy who’s stealing his daughter.
Not in a bad way, but in the way all fathers see their future sons-in-law at first. A father’s love for his daughter is the same everywhere.
So, to win over my future father-in-law, it’s best to start by winning over the people around him.
My girlfriend’s siblings are a good start, but the best person is, of course, my future mother-in-law. Honestly, how many men can withstand the wrath of their wives?
And then there’s the former head of the family, my father-in-law’s father. If I can win him over, it’s a done deal. A grandfather’s love for his granddaughter is just as strong as a father’s love for his daughter. Having him on my side? That’s unbeatable.
‘Come to think of it, recovering the sacred relic for the Church was… a real stroke of luck, wasn’t it?’
I’ve definitely earned some points beyond that. In fact, I’ve earned way more than enough.
First of all, I saved Selena’s older brother, the heir to the Marquis of Nafplion. Honestly, I didn’t even know about this. I wasn’t aiming for it, but it just happened.
To be honest, I didn’t even know about this. I definitely didn’t plan it, but that’s just how it turned out.
And as a bonus, I even received the Medal of Honor for it. A son-in-law who’s received that medal twice? As an Imperial noble, that’s pretty hard to ignore.
Plus, my family isn’t too shabby either. The County of Friedrich is doing quite well, and now that my older sister is the Crown Princess and future Empress of the Empire… wow. Just thinking about it is overwhelming.
Anyway, even though Marquis Nafplion might see me as a thief at first, I don’t think he’ll see me as a bad guy for long.
Honestly, it would be weird if I lost points. There’s no one else in the world like me, the perfect son-in-law—
‘…Ah.’
Oh, crap. Right. Grad school. I forgot. Selena chose to go to grad school because of me.
That thought made all the points I thought I’d accumulated vanish into thin air.
The culprit who sent his daughter to grad school for three years? Even I wouldn’t be able to forgive that.
“Karl? Karl!”
“Huh? Oh, Selena. Did you call?”
“We’re almost there. Is everything okay? You seem distracted.”
Ah, about that, Selena. You see…
“…What did the Marquis say?”
“Huh?”
“When you told him you were going to grad school because of me.”
“Ah, not that again. I told you, Karl. My father said he understands.”
Right. I’m sure he did. But facing him in person is a whole different matter.
Putting everything else aside, if I were him and thought my son-in-law sent my daughter to grad school, I’d want to grab him by the collar at least once, you know?
* * *
There are a few things that are considered more important than anything else in the aristocratic world: age, lineage, and above all, status.
The status here doesn’t simply refer to the distinction between commoners, nobles, and royalty. Even within those ranks, a person’s position and role are crucial.
In that sense, even though they have passed on their titles, the former heads of noble families still hold considerable influence. They are great figures who are impeccable in terms of age, lineage, and status.
Therefore, the current Marquis of Nafplion was both pleased and quite surprised and tense by the sudden appearance of his father, the former Marquis of Nafplion, who had emerged from his seclusion.
“You’ve finally arrived. How was your pilgrimage to the holy land?”
“Climbing the stairs was quite a chore, probably due to my old age. Huff, huff.”
The former Marquis of Nafplion, Selena’s grandfather, Roem, scratched his white hair and looked at his son.
“More than that, I apologize. It’s not right for an old man who has already passed on his title to suddenly use the family name like this.”
“Not at all, father. And besides, he’s dating Lenny, isn’t he? I had to meet him in person someday to thank him for saving my son.”
“…Right. That’s true. The one who saved our grandson, our heir, is also the Blessed One.”
Blessed One. Since when did those who follow the Goddess of Light start calling Karl that?
Some call him a Medal of Honor recipient, others a war hero, and still others a savior. And now, the Blessed One.
It seems like his future son-in-law is becoming more and more impressive, but Marquis Nafplion didn’t mind.
No, it was actually a good thing. It meant that his daughter had also found an extraordinary partner.
‘But to the point where she has to endure grad school… Ugh. Lenny, that girl. Can she really handle it?’
Selena had already secured her graduation with top honors, proving her academic prowess.
Even though his son and heir, Deonik, had assured him that she would do well in grad school, Marquis Nafplion couldn’t shake off his uneasiness.
“Your Grace.”
At that moment, the butler quietly approached and informed them that the two main guests had arrived.
“Father, please wait a moment. I’ll go and—”
“No, let’s go together.”
“Father?”
“He’s my granddaughter’s fiancé, my grandson’s savior, and the Blessed One of the Church. As a father with a son and daughter, who follows the Goddess of Light, it wouldn’t be right for me to just sit here and wait because I’m old.”
He didn’t add that they should treat him with respect because he was a Medal of Honor recipient or a hero of the Empire. That was something his son, the current Marquis of Nafplion, should do.
The Marquis, well aware of this, didn’t try to stop his father any further.
“Grandfather!”
As they came downstairs, Selena ran to Roem with a bright smile and hugged him.
It seemed she had always been doted on by her grandfather, as she acted affectionately towards him.
“Oh my, our granddaughter. You’ve become even more beautiful in the past year.”
After patting Selena’s back, Roem slowly turned his head to the side.
There stood the young man who would one day become his grandson-in-law, visibly tense as he opened his mouth to speak.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Grandfather. I’m Karl Adelheit of the County of Friedrich.”
“I am Roem Ifrit. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Blessed One.”
“Please, don’t be so formal. I’m not comfortable being addressed with honorifics by Selena’s grandfather.”
“Hahaha. Alright, alright. But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re the Blessed One. A young hero.”
That’s enough for now. There was so much I wanted to say, but it was time to yield to my son.
He was the Marquis of Nafplion and Selena’s father. He would have far more to discuss with Karl than me.
“Welcome, Karl.”
“Thank you for your warm welcome, Your Grace.”
The two of them started chatting right away, even though they weren’t in the drawing room yet.
Roem watched them for a moment before turning his gaze to his granddaughter standing beside him.
“Our granddaughter has a good eye for men.”
“Right?”
“He’s well-mannered, handsome… He’s perfect for our granddaughter, perfect.”
“Oh my. It’s not that far yet…”
“Hmm? You’re not thinking about marriage?”
Selena’s face flushed red at Roem’s question.
“Th-that’s not it…”
“If that’s not it, then you should start preparing now, Lenny. Opportunities don’t come to those who wait, they come to those who constantly strive for them. In this old man’s eyes, this is an opportunity you must seize.”
[PR/N: Wise words!]
As a grandfather with a lovely granddaughter, as the former head of the Ifrit family, and as a devout follower of the Goddess of Light, Karl Adelheit was the perfect son-in-law.
His past actions showed that he would never mistreat his wife. That was the first pass.
His looks were a perfect match for our granddaughter, who was the most beautiful woman in the Empire. That was the second pass.
He was the first person in the history of the Empire to receive the Medal of Honor twice, and while still alive, so his honor and fame alone were a gift to the Ifrit family and the Marquis of Nafplion. That was the third pass.
‘And finally, he performed miracles for the followers of the Goddess of Light. That’s the final pass.’
Roem was already determined to persuade his son, the current Marquis of Nafplion, if he showed any signs of opposition or hesitation.
This marriage had to happen, for the sake of his daughter and the family.
Of course, it was a shame that Selena was going to graduate school, but that was her own choice.
Besides, it was a good thing for her to get a master’s degree. It would be another source of pride for the Ifrit family.
“Hahahaha!”
Well, it seemed like the old man’s worries were unfounded.
Marquis Nafplion, who had been talking to Karl, burst into laughter and was already putting his arm around Karl’s shoulders.
I didn’t know exactly what they had talked about, but it was a positive reaction. As far as I knew, my son wouldn’t laugh like that unless he was genuinely happy.
‘This must also be the will of God. He has given us this marriage as a gift, touched by our family’s faithfulness.’
He wanted to marry them off right away, but he decided to be patient. His son-in-law was still a student at the academy, and his granddaughter would be busy with graduate school.
[Translator – Angel Dust]
[Proofreader – Prototype]
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