“You will tutor Frida. Three months would be just right.”

“Brother Vissel! You’re being so selfish…”

“I’d like to see if Marquis Veil’s daughter’s claim is true. Will Frida truly not refuse?”

Apparently, Vissel had been listening from there. But before Listeard could complain, Sufia bowed her head.

“Thank you, Prince Vissel.”

“Lady Veil, well done for seducing the Imperial Brother to clear your name.”

“Brother! I was the one who brought up—”

“—I’ll do my best.”

Sufia smiled softly, showing a magnificent display of ladylike behavior. After bowing gracefully, she left the room. Even the act of closing the door was impeccable.

Vissel snorted at the stunned Listeard.

“Are you foolish? Did you forget that she accused her own father? She’s trying to restore the honor of the fallen marquis family. It’s obvious how thick-skinned she is. If not, she’d have relinquished her title long ago and settled down. Hades didn’t understand that and overlooked her.”

Vissel glared at him, but Listeard could see his point.

“You tried to deceive me and Hades.”

“I wasn’t. I merely postponed the explanation. It’s the same as when you proposed to her.”

“It’s not the same! You’re just justifying your actions!”

“Had you been more responsible, it’d have worked out. Listen, you’ll have to take responsibility. Go to Veilburg right this second.”

Taken by surprise, Listeard was flustered.

“I-I promised Lady Veil that I’d wait for her reply.”

“I don’t care. Bring your private Dragon Knights—which you’re so proud of—and hurry. I’ve already contacted that guy named Hugo, who is in charge of the Northern Division.”

“…You’re leaving the Northern Division in my hands?”

“Isn’t that why you proposed to Lady Sufia? Kratos has already invaded that place once. We can’t let them do it a second time. There are rumors that Lady Sufia’s stepmother is meeting with some shady people. Sneak in and gather information?”

“Easier said than done! Think about my position as the one proposing to Lady Sufia…!”

“That’s none of my business. In the first place, my intentions will determine the outcome of your proposal.”

“…This is why your engagement is rocky, Vissel.”

The nasty look on Vissel’s face vanished. Listeard laughed.

“I heard that if you don’t follow Hades, she threatened to break off your engagement and strip you of your status, reducing you into a traitor. Apparently, now you can’t get in touch with her? You’ve never even met her, and yet she threatened you with just a piece of paper.
“In the first place, it’s impossible to strip you of your status. After all, your fiancée is the daughter of the former Imperial Brother. To us, she’s like a cousin. She also has the backing of Duke Fairert.”

“…I commend you for having the foresight to sniff around my surroundings. But your information is inaccurate, outdated, and biased. It’s not that my fiancée hasn’t contacted me. She became a fisherman and went off the grid.”

Listeard blinked, while Vissel laughed gently.

“From what I heard, recently, she has been engaged in a fishing battle near the border with Kratos. She’s using a fishing boat under the protection of the Saber family. She even sent me a tuna as a thank you for making her dream come true.”

“…Won’t that make Hades happy?”

“Indeed. Well, in return, I sent her some processed tuna. For some reason, I started receiving tuna every month. Along with evidence of official corruption and all that… How on earth did she get that? I don’t understand… Anyway, we’re getting sidetracked.”

Vissel gazed off into the distance. He had blurted out his true feelings.

“I changed my mind. She suits you.”

“No way, I refuse! I’ve decided to capture my fiancée the moment she comes ashore and break off the engagement! I’m just letting her go now!”

“This is the first time I’ve heard your grievances, Brother. This is amazing.”

“Really? Well, I’ll let you in on something then. This is information from my fiancée. There are currently movements in Kratos for Princess Faelis to ascend the throne.”

It was so sudden that Listeard failed to grasp his words for a moment.

“If that is true, then we don’t know how much value Prince Geraldo has as a hostage. I don’t know how cunning he is, but I have a feeling that something is afoot in Leyca. Well, I’ve entrusted that to the Dragon Empress. Nevertheless, having a goddess as a queen is something that has never happened in Kratos’ history. I don’t know how things will develop.”

Listeard, who finally caught up with him, took a deep breath and shouted.

“YOU SHOULD’VE SAID SOMETHING LIKE THAT SOONER! IDIOT!”

“That’s why I told you to take control of Veilburg!”

“Then why don’t you be a little more positive and encourage me instead of accepting tuna!”

“Stop bringing that up, it’s gross! Do you know what it feels like to dream about a tuna every night?!”

“Of course not! Get stabbed by a damn harpoon!”

“You dare say that to your brother!?”

“—Are you guys fighting?!”

The door to the office opened with a bang. It was Elynsia. Both Listeard and Vissel froze at the same time. Elynsia cracked her knuckles and tilted her head.

“Hades isn’t here? How unusual. Well, that doesn’t matter. You guys really haven’t learned your lesson!”

“No, uhm, Sister, we weren’t fighting, it was just a heated discussion—ugh!” (Listeard)

Listeard was hit in the stomach and fell to his knees. Vissel suffered the same fate.

“Geez, why can’t you just talk it out?”

After solving the issue with violence, she said what a real sister would say. Then, she abruptly left. …She really entered just to hit them. How terrible.

“…Hey, come to think of it… Shouldn’t our sister get married already?”

“If there were a willing suitor… I’d have married her off already…”

As his brother groaned on the floor, Listeard sighed, agreeing.

---

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