I Don’t Run a Romance Fantasy Horror Consultation Office
CHAPTER 67………………………………..
“Then, the reason you’ve been staying in the mansion all this time wasn’t because you like me.”
“Yes, it was because of my health… …The Viscount called me, so I must go.”
Laseil quickly ended the conversation and left.
The Count seemed somewhat shocked, but it wasn’t Laseil’s concern.
“Sir Jaen, could we talk for a moment?”
He had run into Ortega as soon as he returned to Yujire’s office.
“I wanted to discuss something.”
“Is it related to the Count?”
“You could say that.”
A faint smile appeared on Ortega’s face.
“Actually, I’ve been worried about Miss Alisa.”
“Miss Alisa?”
“…She seemed like she wanted to get out of the mansion.”
Summarizing Ortega’s explanation:
As everyone already knew, Alisa had stayed in the mansion her whole life due to a chronic illness she was born with.
Her health improved greatly after becoming an adult, but she still had difficulty going out.
This was largely because of the excessive concern from the mansion staff and the Count.
“She must have felt stifled in that environment.”
Even when she did go out, she couldn’t stay outside for more than half a day.
Whenever she went somewhere, she was always accompanied by at least three maids and a knight.
Even activities within the mansion could be harmful if they were too stimulating.
“Moreover… Miss Alisa doesn’t particularly like the Count.”
She had realized that what she once thought was protection as a child was actually control.
Now, even just being in the mansion made her feel suffocated.
“She must have struggled a lot, since there was no proper way to gain independence.”
Having lived her entire life inside the mansion, there were few things she could do.
The only things she could do were writing or reading, none of which were useful for earning money.
“Is that so?”
Laseil paused, thinking.
Perhaps the matter could be solved more easily than expected.
‘The invitation will come soon.’
After all, he had already completed the task entrusted by the Count.
That could serve as a useful means.
[Lecean Ducal Knights – To Anyone]
It looks like I’ll go to the capital for a while. My dress is still there, right?
I received an invitation to a social gathering hosted by the Gielea Counts.
There’s not much time to have a new dress made. I don’t really want to go through all that effort.
Since foreign nobles will attend, the dress I had made last year should suffice.
I want to focus only on guarding the lady, so I don’t know why I keep getting dragged into these things.
[Dear Ella]
Why do you always write “to anyone”?
You know I’ll be the one to receive it anyway, being the vice-captain.
I got the letter. I’ll have the dress ready.
But remember, you’re always the one to throw down the gauntlet first.
Try to look at yourself objectively.
You’re always far more famous than you think.
You’re in a strange situation with Sir Sieren, the Swordmaster of the Empire, even though you’re also a Swordmaster.
[Lecean Ducal Knights – To the Vice-Captain]
I only threw down the gauntlet because the situation called for it.
And how long are you going to keep using the childhood nickname?
Besides, Sir Sieren isn’t interested in me.
Of course, I’m not interested either.
[Laseil, Ella, Jaen, or Miss Blueberry Cupcake]
I wrote all the titles because they seemed to bother you.
Doesn’t it bring back memories from your childhood?
You were truly cute when you were only as tall as my knee.
I understand your thoughts well enough, so tell me who your partner for the tea party is.
We need to coordinate our outfits, don’t we?
But wasn’t there no one suitable as a partner except the Viscount?
[To Vice-Captain Berua, Lecean Ducal Knights]
This is Laseil Jaen, Commander of the Lecean Ducal Knights.
The partner has been decided as Sir Irenes Sieren. Sending this letter to inform you.
That is all.
[To Laseil]
Got it. Don’t be too angry. I won’t tease you anymore.
But your partner is Sir Sieren? It’s not a ball, it’s a social gathering.
Are you joking?
You said you weren’t interested!
“Why are you acting like this lately?”
“What do you mean?”
Yujire responded casually to Luzea’s question, giving the impression he didn’t intend to answer.
“You keep passing things off to Laseil.”
“That’s because there’s a lot of work.”
And there were few people capable of reading and handling the documents.
Luzea felt there was more to the reason than that.
“It seems like you want him to keep interacting with other nobles.”
“You caught me.”
Yujire answered playfully, though the observation was not playful at all.
“I can’t help it. Laseil has a title.”
“Are you teasing me right now?”
Luzea also had a knightly title, placing her in the lower nobility.
She also inherited a minor barony from her father.
The fact that both ranks were “minor” was somewhat of an issue.
“You know that’s not it.”
“Anyway… it hasn’t been like this before. Why the change now?”
“Well, I think Sir Jaen might fully inherit the viscountcy soon.”
Until recently, Laseil’s attitude toward the surname “Oria” was almost contemptuous.
He even hated seeing the characters in writing.
But recently, that attitude had softened considerably.
At least he no longer wanted to abolish the viscountcy itself.
“Even aside from that… it’s better to build connections among nobles.”
Laseil had spent nearly all his time in the Lecean Ducal house.
Naturally, he had few opportunities to interact with other nobles.
The only nobles he knew were Irenes and Elian.
His personality wasn’t exactly suitable for noble society.
“So… he’s been fine without connections until now.”
“We don’t know how long he’ll stay in our knights.”
Laseil was a skilled swordsman, and questioning that was nearly impossible.
That was precisely the problem.
‘Such talent would be wasted.’
If tied only to the Lecean Ducal house, his opportunities were naturally limited.
It would be a waste to bind his talent to the house.
“Wouldn’t it be better for him to have a higher reputation?”
This was a judgment as a friend, not as a viscount.
It was something he had thought since becoming a Swordmaster.
“Does it bother you that he seems tied to the Lecean house?”
Luzea asked casually.
The word “tied” carried a hint of malice.
“Tied? That’s harsh.”
“You think that way anyway.”
“…I suppose it could be seen that way from a certain perspective.”
Frankly, Laseil had had no chance to see a wider world.
One could even say he had no opportunity to desire it.
“Perhaps he’ll realize that someday.”
Maybe in time, he’ll want to leave the house.
The Lecean house would respect his opinion, but the problem comes afterward.
It would be difficult to establish connections with him at that point.
It’s better to let him form connections now.
“But it doesn’t seem like Sir Jaen intends to leave.”
Luzea murmured.
Her voice was playful but sounded somewhat comforting.
“You never know what will happen with people.”
“Hmm… what about me?”
“I thought you’d be in the Lecean house for life.”
Yujire paused while handing over the documents, looking somewhat displeased.
“Are you planning to go too?”
“Of course not.”
Luzea laughed, having gotten the answer she wanted.
“You get lonely so easily, my lady. I should stay by your side for life.”
“…That’s never happened…”
“I can see everything with my eyes.”
Anyway, Yujire’s sudden behavior made sense.
He was likely bothered by the developing relationship between Laseil and Irenes.
‘It would be troublesome if they got engaged.’
The commander of the Lecean Ducal Knights getting engaged to the second son of the Sieren house?
Gossip was inevitable.
‘It’s a bit different from just any noble with a viscountcy.’
He might even point out that she was once a servant of the Ducal house.
It didn’t make sense, but those who want to cause trouble find issues in anything.
