Chapter 25
“Give me your daughter.”
The moment those words left my mouth, the atmosphere in the private room turned frigid—as was only natural.
The chief steward, Allet, flushed red with anger, and the maid Sheryl covering the tea service covered her mouth in shock.
It was an outrageous request.
Stern’s gaze sharpened, and I hurriedly added an explanation.
“Of course, I don’t mean to hold a wedding immediately. I’m speaking of engagement—of being recognized as a fiancé.”
“…Hoo…”
At my words, Stern let out a long, quiet sigh instead of exploding as he had in the prison before.
After a moment, surprisingly calmly, he spoke.
“It isn’t that surprising. I had more or less expected this.”
“……”
“You made the same request the first time as well, Reygan.”
With a wry smile, Stern moistened his dry throat with tea.
“However, I would like to know why you want my daughter. What exactly about my daughter, Rienia, made you insist so strongly?”
“……”
Stern’s violet eyes swept over my face as if trying to pierce through it.
“Rienia may be of age, but honestly, she’s still quite young. Still barely able to take care of herself. And you are young as well. There doesn’t seem to be any urgent reason for you to rush into marriage. So why do you want her so much?”
“…Hmm.”
I hesitated for a moment.
As the silence stretched, Stern cautiously—but sharply—pressed again.
“Reygan, did that woman who gave you the pendant order you to bind yourself to Rienia? To use the influence of the Benheim family?”
“That is not the case.”
I answered immediately.
Even in my previous life, Rienia never told me to “take her.” She only told me to survive. Nothing more.
I let out a long breath and spoke as if exhaling my thoughts.
“I just… fell in love at first sight.”
It was better to leave it vague here.
A reason like that was more than enough for a hot-blooded teenage boy.
“…Hah.”
In truth, it wasn’t entirely a lie.
The moment I met her on that battlefield, I had been captivated by Rienia’s eyes when she spoke to me.
For someone like me—who had lived my entire life as a wandering mercenary—it was Rienia who gave me a place to settle, and a chance to change my future.
If that was the case, then wanting her again even after returning to the past wasn’t something so wrong.
“…I see. I understand.”
Stern studied my expression. Whatever he saw there, he seemed to realize my words weren’t mere adolescent infatuation.
“Reygan, you saved Rienia from kidnapping and uncovered the mastermind behind it. And in this hunting festival, you once again contributed greatly. You are more than qualified to be taken in as a son-in-law. No one would object.”
Stern stroked his chin.
“But that is from the perspective of a lord. From here on, I speak as a father.”
“Please.”
“I have no intention of making my daughter a sacrifice for political marriage. My child’s happiness is more important than the interests of the family. So as her father, I must ask for Rienia’s own will. In matters of marriage, her opinion is the most important. If she refuses, I cannot approve this. I hope you understand.”
“I understand.”
I nodded.
Stern of Benheim was indeed a good father.
“In that case, why not ask her directly right now?”
“Now?”
Stern frowned.
I knew Rienia’s personality. She hated it when information she didn’t know about was circulating behind her back.
She was the type who placed surveillance magic like a spiderweb throughout the camp—and that same vigilance was what allowed them to prevent enemy attacks.
So…
“Sheryl, could you open the door?”
I spoke, and Sheryl sighed before opening it.
Creak—
“A-ahaha…”
In the hallway stood Rienia, who had been leaning against the door and lost her balance as it opened.
“…Rienia, were you eavesdropping again?”
“N-no… I wasn’t eavesdropping, I just… um…”
Her eyes darted around desperately. When her gaze met mine, she quickly looked away. Then her eyes landed on Stern holding a teacup.
“I-I was just… checking if the tea got cold…”
A terrible excuse.
Anyone could see she had been listening.
Stern rubbed his forehead with a sigh.
“Very well, Rienia. It seems you’ve heard everything… so I’ll ask you directly.”
He looked older than a few moments ago as he spoke.
“Rienia, what do you think about becoming engaged to Reygan here? If it’s too much pressure, you can take your time. There’s no rush. You may think slowly and decide later.”
Perhaps Stern had hoped for a refusal.
But Rienia’s violet eyes turned to me without hesitation. Then her eyes curved like a crescent moon.
“I… like it.”
She smiled brightly.
A shy but firm answer.
“…I-I see.”
Stern’s expression looked as if he had chewed on poison.
After Rienia and Reygan left, Stern remained in the room, drinking tea like it was alcohol.
The conversation still echoed in his mind.
“The tea is bitter, Sheryl.”
“Shall I bring sugar?”
“No need.”
With a small sigh, Stern looked out at the rain over the Benheim estate.
The hunting festival had allowed them to purge the rot within the family. A high-ranking elder had turned out to be a black mage, and now the council could no longer oppose Stern’s authority so easily.
The family had grown stronger. His authority was firmer than ever.
And yet, why did his chest feel as if a thorn had been driven into it?
“…Rienia.”
It was obvious. It was about his beloved daughter.
He had just approved her engagement.
“She’s of age… but making the decision is another matter. Now I understand why my father went mad when my sister married.”
Allet spoke cautiously.
“If you still wish, it can be revoked, my lord.”
“Revoked…”
“No matter how great his achievements, entrusting your daughter to someone of unknown origin is improper.”
Allet’s voice was heated.
But Stern shook his head.
“That boy is not after money or status. If he wanted gold and jewels, he would have asked for the treasury immediately.”
“That is…”
“By the way, Allet. Have you finished investigating Reygan?”
Allet hesitated, then produced a report.
“Yes. Through intelligence from the Rune Surveillance Unit, we traced his past. He spent years as a low-level porter in a third-rate mercenary group called ‘Black Fang,’ before suddenly knocking out the leadership and vanishing with their funds.”
“That is all?”
“Yes.”
“He then appeared near the Benheim territory, where he rescued Lady Rienia. After that, everything unfolded as you witnessed.”
“Clean,” Stern muttered.
A man who had only carried baggage for a mercenary band suddenly changed overnight.
Even more strange was everything after that—saving Rienia, defeating Arno, altering an ancient mana core technique, exposing hidden black mages, and excelling at the hunting festival.
He even replicated the sword technique of House Lucen after seeing it only a few times.
And then—
“…He cut down Elder Beron’s wrist with it.”
Even Beron, though weakened and old, was still far above Reygan’s supposed level.
“…It can only be explained as if someone guided him.”
Allet nodded.
“Reygan received a pendant from someone tied to the future. There is no other explanation.”
Stern narrowed his eyes.
“Falling in love at first sight… a lie.”
He could see through it.
But—
“At least his feelings toward Rienia are real.”
That much was undeniable.
“He will protect her. Even if it costs his life.”
He had done so during the kidnapping incident and again at the hunting festival.
“…That is enough.”
Stern stood up.
“Prepare to announce it.”
“My lord…”
“Reygan von Benheim is now the son-in-law of House Benheim. Anyone who objects will be treated as defying the authority of the house.”
The decision was made.
