Homosexuality.

In the Valkyria Kingdom, no, in the entirety of Yggildos, neither the word 'homosexuality' nor its concept existed. No, this was wrong. Maybe its concept did exist. It was just that it was kind of a taboo subject. No, this was also incorrect. It was that nobody talked about that subject openly. Well, why should they? A person's love life was a private matter. It was not as if people who happened to love the same gender were a problem for society or anything like that. So the general view of the population in Yggildos was that there was no need to talk about one's sexuality. To each their own.

Well... that was for the common folk.

For the nobility, it was a different story. After all, it was vital for aristocrats to always have an heir in their main family, to keep their bloodline going. It went even double if those families had innate abilities and talents that could be passed on to their offspring.

The Dragonherz family, for example, was one of them, as most of their family members were able to cast magic with their mouths. Of those with magical abilities, ninety-nine percent could only use their hands for the Loading Phase. Therefore, the end of the Dragonherz bloodline meant that the forces of humanity would lose people with very special abilities.

So, as the head of the Dragonherz family, Eric had the responsibility to keep his bloodline alive. That was why the current topic of the conversation between him, Lauren, Fran, and Arland was bad news.

Deep in his mind, however, Eric had an inkling that it was no news to him. From his daughter's behaviour, he already suspected that Clara belonged to those who loved the same gender. But he didn't want to see it as the truth. He couldn't allow it.

So he questioned Fran about her statement concerning his daughter. “Can you explain what you mean by Clara being more dangerous than Rina in that regard?”

Fran was unsure whether it was her place to tell him about his daughter's feelings. She doubted that Clara would mind it since Clara wasn't exactly subtle in her approaches to Rina. No, not only that. Fran was sure that even an outsider with more than two brain cells could instantly see Clara's feelings for the red-haired girl.

The only one who didn't see through Clara's feelings was probably the girl in question, Rina. No, maybe Rina knew but just chose to ignore them. That story, however, was for another time.

Back to the topic at hand, Fran looked at Lauren, who just nodded in return. It meant that Lauren agreed to have Clara's feelings told to Eric. Therefore, Fran did just that. “Then, Lord Eric, I'll spell it out for you.”

“...”

“Your daughter is head over heels in love with her maid. Period.”

“... I see” Eric turned to his wife. ”Lauren, did you know?”

“Of course.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Anyone who looks at her a little would know.”

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“...” Eric had no response to Lauren's words, so he could only clench his fists. After all, reading between the lines, his wife had just implied that he didn't see his daughter for who she was at all.

Fortunately, Lauren saw Eric's anguish. So, she explained her words a little more. “To this day, Clara had never practised dancing with anyone other than Rina.”

“W-well it's not uncommon for girls to have dance lessons with their personal maid.”

“Clara also never allowed Rina to practise it with anyone but her.”

“...” Again, Eric was speechless.

“Furthermore, when they danced together, our daughter always took the male part. In fact, from what I heard from her dance teacher, Clara mastered the male part before the female one.”

“You don't have to say more. I already understand it.”

“... Dear...”

“Lady Fran, Arland, thank you for answering my questions today. You are dismissed, for now.”

At these words, the elf and the guard captain got up and left the room. Before closing the door, however, Fran turned to Eric. “Whatever you decide to do with Rina, Lord Eric, please remember her capabilities. I can only repeat myself. She is vital to our forces in the fight against the demons. Losing her to the likes of Lumiére or any other selfish noble family is something I won't allow. Please keep that in mind.”

After uttering what sounded like a threat to the head of the noble Dragonherz family, Fran stepped out of the room and closed the door, leaving the couple behind.

“It's still kind of hard to believe,” Eric spoke up as soon as he was alone with his wife.

“What do you mean?” Lauren tilted her head at her husband's words.

“I know that both girls are very intelligent... too intelligent, in fact, that it's even scary. But aren't they still children? Even though our daughter will be an adult next week, Rina still has to turn ten if I remember correctly. When I was her age, I was absorbed in playing as a knight and so on. It's kind of hard to believe that they already have such... you know... feelings.”

“Fufufu, yes, you're right. At that age, all you could think about was playing with your sword, so you didn't even notice my advances at all~.”

“...” Eric couldn't say anything to counter these words. To make matters worse, he could even feel his face heating up with embarrassment.

Noticing his reaction, Lauren couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. “It depends from person to person, but most girls at that age tend to be more mature than boys in that regard than you might think. And I can safely say that both girls fall into that category,” she said, sliding closer to him on the couch and leaning her head on his shoulder.

And so, the couple just sat there, enjoying the comfortable silence together.

It was several minutes later that the silence was broken again, as Eric spoke up weakly, having finished his thoughts on the matter with his daughter and the maid. “Lauren...”

“What is it, dear?”

At the sound of his wife's soft voice, Eric clenched his fists and faced her. “As the head of our family, the right decision would be to banish Rina. From what I've heard today, I'm sure that Clara won't be able to fulfil her duties as the first daughter of a noble, as long as that girl is around.”

“Yes, your assessment sounds right.”

“If I do, she'll probably hate me to death.”

“Yes, she will.”

“But as her father, I'm sure that she will then fulfil her duties, even though she has to bury her own wishes.”

“...”

“I knew it all along. I just didn't want to realise it. The same day Clara brought the girl here, I knew it wasn't purely out of goodwill. It was probably love at first sight, don't you think so, Lauren?”

Lauren chuckled at his confession. “Fufu, yes that's probably the case.”

“What do you think we should do? What is the right thing to do here?”

“... Dear... You are the head. Whatever you decide to do, I will follow. There is no right or wrong here.”

“I see...”

“But let me tell you something good.”

“Hmm? What is it?” Eric looked at his wife with a puzzled expression.

“There is an obvious way to solve the problem that you have as the head of our family.” With these words, Lauren snuggled even closer to her husband and placed her hands over his. “It is a very simple solution in my opinion~.”