Dear Diary,
After the explosion, Claud was sent to the hospital to treat his injuries. His arm isn't going back to normal but he assured me that it would someday.
On Claud's insistence, the surviving rebels were pardoned. They had gotten brainwashed by a bad person from another country. An altar boy named Quentin follows us around now. I was worried at first but he takes care of Claud's arm carefully everyday.
Privately, Claud received a medal from the army as a reward. For successful infiltration, disbandment of a rebel group, gathering intel on foreign forces and eliminating a high risk threat to the country. I thought they would have him go on stage to receive it. I guess now's not the right time to celebrate. A major resistance group was destroyed, and a lot of the fighting has stopped. But there's still the matter with the Blostmfell... We haven't received any news on it.
"What are you writing, Sophie?"
-Claud Branford's Willpower: 23/24-
"Eh? I'm just... I'm writing down my thoughts to organize..."
I guess all that's left to do is what we came here to do.
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When Claud was discharged from the hospital in the evening, we went to my home.
The house looks pristine. The violence could not spread deeper into the inner circles of the city. The inner city is guarded by the heavy stone gates after all. And the checkpoints all have guards.
The butler delivered the notice of our arrival a few days in advance while Claud was in the hospital. There's no way for Mother to have known about our arrival beforehand otherwise. But I still think she'll be upset with me. Only a few weeks after going to the academy, and I've already returned home...
Claud's beside me and Mr. Butler's following close behind us. I have to be brave.
Mother and Father walked down the stairs to greet us.
"Mother, Father, I, Sophie Auguste have returned."
"Who is this... boy? What is he doing here?"
Eh? I thought the butler informed her of our arrival? Why..? Mother is furious with me. She's barely hiding it.
"This is my friend from the academy, Claud Branford."
I did it! I didn't stutter in front of Mother.
"I came here to request your daughter's hand in marriage."
-Claud Branford's Willpower: 22/24-
"Branford... that Count family."
I was expecting Mother to lose her temper. But she looks happy?
"Madam, if I may approach. Here is a letter from the head of the Branford family, asking for your daughter's hand in marriage."
After Mother finished glancing through the letters, I asked.
"Mother, Father. Will you give us your blessings?"
"Of course, dear~ We should hold a banquet to celebrate~ For our dear Sophie's marriage to the Branford family."
The family...
I'm getting married to Claud, not his family...
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Hmm. I can tell the kind of people her family are at first glance.
Garbage parents. The father is a useless fool and the mother's an overbearing witch controlling the household. By observing the way they acted, I could see it. The father never stepped in front of the wife while walking, he stares at the floor, doesn't say a word and seems disinterested. Meanwhile the mother is leading the conversation happily but her expression when we first got here...
'Who is this boy? What is he doing here?'
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Looking down on me... But the moment she heard I was from a Count family, her attitude completely changed to being hospitable. I'm glad I told the butler to keep our identities secret.
"So dear, how did you get to meet the young son of the Branford's household?"
"We met during the entrance examination. We were part of the same team."
"Ah I see... Were you able to pass the examination because of his help?"
Fucking bitch. Watch your mouth. Sophie's looking downtrodden again.
-Willpower: 21/24-
"Sophie fought well. She defeated three goblins by herself."
They both looked at me as if they weren't expecting me to interrupt. Sophie smiled a little.
Well actually she beat three with assistance but I can't help myself exaggerating a little. I can't let this woman dishearten Sophie.
"I see. Well done, Sophie dear."
Her mother didn't look convinced.
"Ah.. thank you, Mother."
Sophie wasn't happy to hear the unenthusiastic praise either.
Awkward...
If I weren't here, Sophie would probably be harangued non stop. At least she's got enough sense to put on an act in front of guests. But her snide remarks are getting on my nerves.
"Do you think my daughter is suitable for the battlefield, Young Branford?"
What the hell is that supposed to mean? Is she asking for her child's report card or something? Sophie looked worriedly at me.
-Willpower: 20/24-
"Sophie understands instructions in battle well and executes them flawlessly."
Flawlessly. You hear that. You've got nothing to pick on her for.
"Hmm... really? I was wondering whether I should withdraw her from the academy. These are dangerous times after all. Perhaps after getting married, she would be safer here at home instead..."
Withdraw?! Sophie and I kept glancing at each other. I did not predict this turn of events.
"M-mother..."
"Young Branford's arm is covered in gauze. You must have sustained serious injuries during the train accident... Maybe both of you should stay here. "
What is this woman getting at? You sent your daughter to die for compensation money but now you want to keep her stored away safely at home? And you want me to stay too? If both of us stay home all day like an old married couple, this world is going to end!
"Don't you think so as well, Young Branford? Reading the letters from the head of Branford, it seems that the Count wants his future daughter-in-law and his son to remain safe."
He said that? I'm uncertain whether that's true. I don't know enough about the man. Regardless, I don't know what this woman wants, only that she's got an ulterior motive for wanting us to stay.
"And since both families have approved, we can have you two wed right away~"
"But Mother, I don't wish to leave the academy-"
"Hush dear. We're talking about your futures right now. I'm sure Claud agrees as well that it would be safer for you to remain home. There isn't a need for you to attend the academy anymore."
Don't call me by my given name, you cheap imitation of a mother. Dropping the title and formalities all of a sudden... Gross.
"Look at the degree of his injury and consider the current state of the outside world. You should settle down together, here in Eindall."
"B-but Mother-"
"It's okay if you both want to stay in this residence~ I'm sure your Father and I wouldn't mind."
I can't disagree. If we were to return to the capital city without the train, it would be a long, dangerous journey back. But I doubt she's sincerely worried about our safety. She has an ulterior motive for wanting us to stay.
"I want to stay in the academy with Claud..."
"That is enough, young lady. You cannot make these decisions on your own. Have you ever stopped to think about Claud's feelings on the matter? How would you even return to the academy without the Continental Train? It would be incredibly arduous and you would only be a bigger burden on his already injured body."
Damn it. Why'd you have to call her a burden?
"I-I'm not a burden! I'm strong!"
That hit her sore spot.
"Sophie August! Lower your tone when speaking, young lady!"
Sophie was hastily glancing at me for support then back at her mother. I can't reprimand your mother or support you here, sorry. If this marriage falls through, both of us are in trouble. I'll work something out after.
-Willpower: 19/24-
"Ma'am, Sophie and I will have a talk. We might consider staying."
"Claud? N-no! Claud, you actually want to go back to the academy too, right?"
Calm down, Sophie. It's just pretense. I said 'consider', didn't I? I didn't confirm we would stay here.
"That is enough, Sophie Auguste! To show such disrespect in front of a guest. As my daughter, it is not your place nor your right to speak about this. You've ruined the atmosphere!"
I can hardly believe it. This person, this thing... is a mother? Even my parents who abandoned me at the orphanage probably had more love for me.
"Now, getting back to topic. Our Sophie is a rash child as you have seen. With the rising difficulties in the world, I'm worried that she'll inevitably cause trouble in the future. You're injured, returning to the capital city would be a dangerous undertaking. And our Sophie's a lonely child, so she needs a reliable partner like you beside her... Claud?"
I must relax. Show a smile. I can't antagonize her now.
-Willpower: 18/24-
"I think this will need to be discussed further. But not over a celebratory dinner. We should enjoy ourselves tonight."
What a load of bullshit.
I kept a pleasant expression throughout my answer. But maybe that might have been more unnerving than if I had shown a surprised reaction.
"Ahaha.. I suppose you are right."
-Willpower: 17/24-
"Sophie, it's okay. I don't intend on staying here forever. Just for a little while, alright?"
"Hic.. Okay..."
I should've comforted her before she had an outburst. But I couldn't whisper while the Matriarch was engaged in conversation with me... That was annoying.
The rest of dinner went extraordinarily quietly. The only thing I could hear was Sophie breathing, trying to hold back her tears.
Golden goose, you've got terrible parents.
Maybe she would be happier without them.
It is fortunate that this world hasn't progressed far in forensic science.