Chapter 4
VOL . 2 CHAPTER 04: ASHBATON FRONTIER COUNT
Although I didn’t do anything special, I was able to avoid starting a war between the Kingdom of Balshine and Remrest . This was a relief because I really didn’t want us to get caught up in a war for the neighboring country’s throne succession .
Now that we’ve done our job, let’s go home… I thought I wasn’t ready to meet his parents . I also heard that the second prince’s faction is popping up in our country as well, but that doesn’t matter now .
We came here to say hello to Count Ashbaton, or in other words, Patrick’s father, who might become my father-in-law . I shouldn’t show any disrespect or lack of common sense . So far I’ve only dived from the sky with Ryuu, so I guess I’m still safe .
When Linus was gone and the three of us were alone in the tent, I cleared my throat, pinched the ends of my skirt and bowed . I’m confident in my good posture because my physical ability is unnecessarily high .
「Greetings once again . My name is Yumiela Dolknes and I’m the current Count Dolknes . 」
Patrick’s gaze is painful . It’s an expression when you look at a child who did something reckless, knowing that it will be a valuable experience . After freezing for a moment, the Count turned his troubled face to Patrick .
「…Uh, what is this?」
「It’s just a greeting . Yumiela is still trying to go the normal daughter route . 」
Come on, Patrick, don’t give away my plan . It’s been perfect so far . From any perspective, I was a perfect lady . Falling from the sky is also very girly and nice…………kind of .
「Ahh, I see it now . I finally understood what Patrick was saying . She’s a good girl… Welcome to the Ashbaton territory, Miss Yumiela… or should I call you Count Dolknes?」
Yosh! The mission seems to have succeeded . My father-in-law smiled softly at me . Patrick doesn’t smile like that often, so it’s a refreshing change of pace . I wonder if he will be like this when he gets older .
「You can call me Yumiela, I won’t mind . 」
「…Is it okay calling you like that so normally?」
「What do you mean by that? I don’t understand . 」
「Yumiela, stop, I’m getting chills . You’re not gonna deceive Father anymore . 」
Apparently, the mission was a failure . But calling it deceiving sounds bad . I want you to make up for it . Still, it’s bad for my image .
It was a little awkward to think that my cover was blown from the beginning . As I swept my eyes, the Count started speaking first .
「Patrick, please prepare to pull back . I’m going to transfer the army’s command to you temporarily . 」
With an immediate reply, Patrick walked out of the tent . Hold on, don’t leave so suddenly, the awkwardness just multiplied with just the two of us inside the tent .
But apparently I’m the only one who thinks so and the Count gave me another soft smile . When he was on the battlefield, he seemed to be a fearless commander, but now he looks like a gentle father .
「Miss Yumiela… is it all right? You have always been taking care of my son . 」
「N-no! Patrick-san has been taking care of me than I have been to him . 」
Then, with my waist bent at a right angle, I replied . Patrick had sent a letter to his parents’ house explaining how I was doing . Whether Patrick was dying or injured, the Count will know . There’s no way out of this but to ask for forgiveness .
「You don’t have to be so stiff . But I apologize for making you travel all here, I’ll be staying here for a while . There’s still a chance Remrest could still send reinforcements . 」
「Do you still want to destroy them?」
「Stop it, when Miss Yumiela is the one who says it, it doesn’t sound like a joke . 」
The Count’s facial expression and atmosphere as he stopped me were just like Patrick’s . I think I’ve had a similar exchange with Patrick before… multiple times .
「Did they ever come to attack you?」
「Skirmishes are common . But never on this scale for over a decade… I’m glad that Miss Yumiela is here and help us . 」
So it was then years ago? It was surprising that Patrick’s hometown was in such a danger .
I heard the Count would be stationed on the front line for a while . Was it good or bad timing that we were here?
「Should I come back later? Um, etto… I came to talk about something . 」
「Oh, are you talking about the engagement?」
「…Ah, yes . 」
The engagement or marriage agreement still hasn’t happened yet . I do not doubt that Patrick and I are lovers . Wait . Can someone please tell me the definition of a lover?
「Since you are already living together, it’s a good time to talk about it . 」
「No, it’s not like that, Patrick just followed me on his own . 」
And then it hit me, to my horror, Patrick and I were living together .
From my research, many couples break up after living together . Because when you live together, you can see what kind of bad habits your partner has .
Well, it’s not that we live in a one-bedroom together, so I’m sure I’m not revealing much of my living habits… I guess .
I didn’t use the wind pressure from running to dry my hair and I didn’t alternate between the main course and dessert even though they’re going in my stomach anyway ever since Patrick arrived .
Uh, my head is about to explode . In addition, my face is burning with shame . Yumiela is about to blow up into an explosive flame of shame . It’s all because of the bombshell statement that Patrick’s father said in front of me .
He said, full of concern .
「It’s all right, I know that Patrick was intruding on your hospitality . I approve the engagement, you’re more than welcome . 」
「That’s right… EHH?!」
Should it be that easy to decide? I thought it was something that was going to be put on hold, so I checked to make sure .
「Is that okay? It was a rather quick decision . 」
「I’ve been hearing about this from Patrick for a while now . 」
Patrick is making too much progress behind the scenes . Is he going to remove every obstacle in his way? He wouldn’t run away from it in the future, would he? .
Thus, I became Patrick’s official fiancee . It’s felt too easy and I don’t really feel anything .
「I can’t entertain you right now but both of you should take your time before going back . 」
「Hai, thank you . 」
Feeling relieved, the Count says something scary to me .
「Just be careful with my wife . 」
Patrick’s mother… is she dangerous?
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