Chapter 17
She’s My Mother-in-Law, but I Don’t Want Any In-Law Drama
Maybe it was a feature of their stunning appearances, but their way of speaking and overall demeanor didn’t differ much from humans.
“The Count recommended you. He said you’d give very frank feedback on the celebration.”
“Frank… feedback?”
“Yes. Apparently, he values your honesty.”
Nata looked unsure whether to take that as a compliment.
“I want this celebration to be a success. If you can give me some good ideas, I’ll reward you.”
It wouldn’t be anything grand, but perhaps a cash bonus or some vacation days.
The Frontier Duke didn’t seem to find me unpleasant, so he’d likely go along with a request like that.
At the mention of a reward, Nata’s eyes turned more favorable.
“I think the celebration needs more than just good food and performances—it needs something interactive.”
“Interactive?”
“Yes. Events the soldiers and knights can actively participate in.”
In short, not just passive spectatorship, but something they could enjoy together.
“Dancing… probably not.”
“Some knights might’ve learned sword dances, but soldiers generally haven’t learned to dance.”
“Then… something like an arm-wrestling competition?”
My suggestion seemed unexpected—Nata’s eyes widened.
“They’d probably enjoy that.”
“Hmm.”
A competitive event might be best.
I recalled the soldiers wrestling at the drill yard earlier. A little rough, but something with competition seemed more fitting for them.
Arm wrestling feels too plain. We’re still a ducal house; there should be some dignity.
Something formal enough, flashy, but still a competitive event that soldiers would enjoy…
“What about sparring? Like a martial arts tournament?”
Nata didn’t hesitate for a second before shaking his head.
“No, I like it. It’s more like we’ve just never had the chance.”
“Don’t they spar a lot anyway?”
“Sparring in front of an audience is different. Only the most confident gather here—they’d love a chance to show off.”
Nata assured me that if I set the stage, they’d come running with swords in hand.
A martial arts tournament… sounds fun, but still feels like it’s missing something.
Maybe flair? Or a bit of theatricality?
Since it was an event hosted by a ducal house, I wanted to make it truly memorable for the participants.
While I was deep in thought, Nata sighed and mumbled, “I guess I can’t participate.”
“Hm? Why not?”
I hadn’t intended to limit participation to only certain ranks. Seeing my confusion, Nata looked conflicted.
“…It’s my face.”
“Ah.”
“I wouldn’t be able to fight at full strength.”
It was a short answer, but both Anna and I instantly understood the issue.
Nata’s appearance was on par with Helene, the so-called flower of western high society.
There would be some who’d give the annoying excuse that they were “too distracted by his looks to fight properly.”
Feeling guilty about her earlier reaction, Anna gently asked, “Do you often… experience discomfort because of your appearance?”
“It’s not all bad. Sometimes it helps, like when using seduction tactics on enemies.”
“Se-seduction? That’s… actually used?”
Nata frowned slightly, as if puzzled by Anna’s surprise.
“If it leads to victory, I’ll do anything. My pride is worth less than my allies’ lives.”
Clearly, Nata’s sense of chivalry was a little different from most knights.
His beauty might be a nuisance to him, but it was also a symbol of his willingness to use anything to win.
Still… I didn’t expect actual seduction to be part of the toolkit.
Then again, this world is more old-fashioned. Maybe I’m the outdated one.
…Wait. Not fighting properly because of familiar faces?
Now that I thought about it, if the participants in the martial arts tournament all knew each other, there’d be plenty of issues.
If someone had to fight their direct superior, or a comrade they admired, wouldn’t that hold them back?
Not just Nata—other participants might struggle too.
Then why not hide their identities?
An idea with a ridiculous title flashed through my mind.
A competition where everyone fought anonymously.
Elaborate masks, flashy costumes, exaggerated nicknames—the kind of ridiculousness you’d see in a variety show.
“How about a masquerade… I mean, a masked martial arts tournament?”
Anna and Nata both asked what that was, so I slowly explained the concept.
By the time I finished, Nata grasped my hands, his face bright with excitement. Maybe it was the fairy blood—his hands tingled with a strange kind of energy.
“P-please! Let’s do it! I want a chance to prove myself too!”
Seeing his reaction, I had a gut feeling this celebration was going to be fun.
Afterward, the Frontier Duke returned from his errands and joined our conversation.
I explained the concept of the masked martial arts tournament in detail.
At first, he looked a bit taken aback, but then he nodded with interest.
“Sounds fun. It might be uncomfortable to fight in masks and costumes, but since it’s a celebratory event… at least we won’t have that barbaric wrestling match image.”
Of course, part of me thought it’d be more fun if it was a bit barbaric and sweaty—but I kept that to myself. The Duke already found me odd enough as it was.
While working out the details, I arranged for practice weapons and first-aid supplies from the ducal estate and borrowed a few soldiers to help set up the tournament grounds.
“Nata, go gather a few idle hands to help.”
“Yes!”
Nata saluted the Duke, bowed to me, and left the dining hall. His steps were quick and light—completely different from when he first walked in.
“I didn’t expect him to be that happy.”
“Hmm. As soon as I heard ‘masked martial arts tournament,’ I thought it was the perfect event for Nata. I must say, your insight is remarkable, Madam.”
Not really mine—credit goes to Korean variety show producers.
But I just gave a small smile instead of explaining.
“Nata’s unique race and appearance make it hard for him to work smoothly with other knights. I hope this helps ease some of that.”
“It was that bad?”
The commander’s words made it clear Nata’s time as a knight hadn’t been smooth.
“Yes. The military is… a rigid organization. It’s hard for someone unique to thrive. But if you try to make them conform, it damages unit cohesion.”
That was a hard idea to accept from a modern perspective, but given the era, I couldn’t disagree.
“No retirement date means he’ll need a new liege soon… It worries me.”
“Retirement? Knights retire too?”
I’d heard of soldiers retiring, but knights? Wasn’t that a lifelong position?
The Duke calmly explained.
“Typically, knights pledge lifelong loyalty to their liege. But Nata’s case is different. His rank was granted by the army. So after retirement, he becomes a free knight.”
In this world, free knights were essentially wanderers. A knight’s title only had meaning with a liege to serve.
“So they either find a new master or remain in service…”
“You want Sir Nata to find a new lord.”
“Yes.”
The Duke nodded bitterly. It wasn’t because he disliked Nata—it was out of concern for his future.
“How skilled is he?”
“Exceptional. In terms of one-on-one combat, he’s among the top.”
The Duke’s army was said to be the strongest in the west.
If someone like Nata wasn’t recognized by his peers, no wonder he felt frustrated.
“Understood. I’ll let my men know to look forward to the celebration. The event’s next weekend, right?”
“Yes. Please help narrow down the list of participants.”
Food prep wouldn’t be a problem, and I already had ideas for the costumes.
With the conversation wrapped up, Anna and I exited the dining hall toward the barracks entrance.
“Anna, can you call the carriage again?”
“Yes!”
“Hm? No carriage?”
The Duke, about to return to his duties, tilted his head at our conversation.
I didn’t feel like explaining everything, so I just brushed it off with a vague smile.
