“What else is there to do here?” Shiro muttered.

“Apparently, Matilda will have to get her father’s permission first before we can cross the border. If things don’t go well, you’ll have to speak up big bro,” Risa bit into a cookie.

“I know that.”

“I just realized something. Linux is our guide right? Will she catch up in time?” Sequencee asked.

“Oh right. We forgot about her didn’t we?” Risa turned to glance at Shiro lazily.

“I think she’ll arrive on time.” Linton said, following Risa’s example of stuffing cookies into his mouth.

“We’re leaving tomorrow though..?”

“She chased me till the end of the world, I’m sure she’ll make it,” Linton said.

‘That.. sounds about right, maybe?’

“Iona.. you marked her position right..”

“She’s on the way, most likely.”

‘Most likely..’

Everyone arrived by air. Linux was the only who they left to take the road.

Sequencee glanced at Linzy who was staring at the cookie which Shiro had half-bitten. Risa, taking notice of it, quickly plucked it out of his hands. Linzy froze up, Risa tossed it into her mouth and showed her a triumphant smile.

A killing intent spread inside the room.

Cold beads of sweat ran down Shiro’s face.

Just when things were about to escalate, his life savior entered the lounge.

“Shiro, come with me.”

“Yes..!”

“Excuse us,” said Matilda as she left with Shiro.

When the door shut, Linzy and Risa turned to each other.

“Risa..”

“Linzy..”

“I’ll kill you!”

“I dare you!”

A cat fight between the hero and the little alpha ensued.

Iona stood up, grabbed both the scruff of both their necks. Sequencee saw the door open for a brief moment before their presence was completely wiped off the radar of his spatial magic.

Sequencee turned to Linton. “Does this.. always happen..?”

“Yup,” he nodded.

===

“Is there some trouble with persuading your father?” Shiro asked.

“No. Father consented. The only condition being that we must stay here tomorrow. We are to leave the day afterwards.”

“That.. makes things convenient.”

“Convenient?”

“We forgot our guide, apparently.”

Matilda showed Shiro a dubious expression. She understood what he meant.

“Where are we going?”

“My mother wants to see you,” saying this, Matilda looked away.

“O-Oh..”

They approached the office. The butler who stood outside waiting bowed courteously and allowed them to enter. It was a clean space, the room smelled like paper and wood.

Seated on one side of the couch was the duke and duchess. Shiro was surprised how similar Matilda was to her own mother. Blonde hair, blue eyes, but with a softer countenance.

Her eyes sparkled when she saw Shiro.

“My greetings to you great hero,” Marilyn stood up and bowed.

“Likewise, I extend my greetings to you, Duke Greg, and Duchess Marilyn.”

The duchess’s cheeks puffed up in excitement. She couldn’t calm down, her eyes sized him up from head to toe, she looked like a kid who had just seen her idol.

‘What is.. this..’

“He really has black hair.. and his appearance is not too bad.. the only thing lacking is his body. If only he had more muscles..” she began muttering to herself.

Matilda’s frozen expression twitched. Duke Greg bore down on him with dead eyes.

Shiro got the impression that if he made a wrong move here, he’d be a dead man.

“Matilda.. you’re close to him right? Right?”

“Moderately.”

“O’ Great hero, may I know your name?”

“Ah.. it’s, it’s Shiro, Your Grace.”

“Hero Shiro!” She grabbed both his hands in a fervor, the duke’s eyes sharpened. “I grant you my blessing. You must marry our daughter!”

‘Huh?’

“Huh?”

Matilda’s befuddlement coincided with Shiro’s inner monologue.

“Mother, what kind of nonsense are you..”

“My daughter has always been like this. Don’t you worry one bit. Though she may look cunning and cold outside, I’m sure she had a warm and cheerful personality on the inside. Don’t you agree that she’s a beauty? Her silky smooth blonde hair and bright blue eyes, oh, how great it would be to have you as my son-in-law~”

‘.. this development is..’

Shiro wanted to say something, but nothing would come out of his mouth. Everytime his lips parted, her innocent eyes would pierce him where it hurt. The words naturally flowed back down into his stomach.

“Mother!”

“Matilda. How long have you known him for? I imagine that you two have had some wonderful encounters have you?”

Her cheeks began to turn a shade of red.

“It’s not like that mother, hero Shiro and I..”

“Dear me, look at that. You two look like a perfect match,” Marilyn took a step back and admired the two side by side. Her hands were on her lips, a blissful expression on her face.

“Mother! Listen to me!”

“I think I can die peacefully now..” she was melting.

“Matilda.. just play along for now..” Shiro whispered.

“S-Shut up! The decision isn’t even mine! I will choose who I marry in the future!” Matilda stammered.

“Oh dear, they’re bickering already,” Marilyn giggled, her body squirming in delight at the scene before her.

Shiro felt a shudder down his spine. The duke was eyeing him– it didn’t matter if the person was the hero, he was resolved to kill whoever touched his daughter.

‘I didn’t do shit I swear!’

“Hero Shiro,” his deep voice seemed to reverberate deep in his soul.

“Yes!” he responded stoutly.

“If you ever do that to my daughter I’ll personally–” he made a gesture of sliding his hand over his own neck.

“Stop making random assumptions!! The hero and I aren’t in that kind of relationship!” Matilda shouted.

“Oh?” the duchess’ eyes narrowed sharply.

“Hmph,” the duke folded his arms.

“S-She’s correct. There’s nothing between us. We’re just a party..” Shiro followed up to support Matilda.

“For now,” the duchess corrected.

===

“...”

“...”

The duke had to attend to the issues at the border, so he left soon after. It was dinner. Everyone besides the duke and the eldest son was present.

The youngest son, Taylor, was seated just across Risa. Under the table, he kept fidgeting with his fingers.

As they were in a noble’s home, Risa had no choice but to care for her own appearance to an extent. She was wearing an embroidered elven dress. The fabric was dyed using traditional dyes from the elven kingdom, and had many intricate motifs which decorated places where the different fabrics inter-layed.

Risa thought that elven clothes resembled those ancient clothes found in Japan, Korea and China, so she was rather fond of it. Leticia was the one who first introduced her to this type of fashion; now she owned a whole wardrobe of elven dresses in her [Blessing: Inventory].

Even without any makeup, Taylor couldn’t help but find her figure ravishing. He was younger than her by around a year, though that didn’t mean he didn’t stand a chance– so he thought.

On the other camp meanwhile, Shiro and Matilda were silent. They dare not even look at each other, afraid that it may lead to another case of misunderstanding from the home matriarch who was eyeing them like a hawk.

It was a weird feeling sitting in a room like this.

‘I can kind of guess what’s going on yet not.’

The mood was tense yet somewhat light. Sequencee couldn't explain the phenomenon happening before him except by using the word ‘fate’.

‘It’s a nice change of mood I guess.’

Realism was thrown out the window when you were with the heroes.

But such a thought concerned him.

If this were true, then it meant that Schwii’s words carried some truth. That war which will inevitably happen– not because two countries were in conflict, but because it was part of an unavoidable fate.

Sequencee sliced the soft apple pie before him and brought it to his mouth.

The taste washed away his thoughts. He could taste a hint of alcohol from it, a weird note in taste complimenting the dish.

Meanwhile, Linzy was keeping a close eye on Matilda, Linton was focused on his food, Iona was contemplating something with her eyes closed.

‘I wonder what’s changed since the last time I visited Dianne’s Territory?’