The Sword Master’s Son-in-Law

– Anxieties of Life

Upon returning from the outing with Asia, I was immediately summoned by Count Messiah.

I already knew why I was being called.

The outing with Asia.

There could be no other reason.

‘H-how should I apologize?’

The thought of apologizing consumed my mind.

Asia might not realize it, but this was the Count Messiah I had observed.

A doting father.

He despised anything that might tarnish his daughter’s reputation.

So much so that he wouldn’t allow a broken engagement, even a fabricated one, because of the stigma it would leave.

‘…Asia might be right, and Count Messiah might be hiding his pain with such a pretense.’

But from my perspective, his feelings seemed genuine.

His aversion to his daughter carrying the mark of a broken engagement.

I could understand why Count Messiah was reacting this way, to some extent.

It was simply unavoidable, wasn’t it?

I am but a fiancé-candidate.

A station that does not allow me to roam with Asia as I have.

Why?

Because, in truth, I am only a candidate.

‘As a betrothal and a marriage differ, so too does a candidate and a formal.’

Thus, going out alone, just the two of us, like lovers, was strictly forbidden.

After a long moment of consideration, I found myself before the patriarch’s chamber.

I tensed, and pushed open the door.

“I heard you summoned me…”

A sharp, biting aura filled the entire chamber.

And at its heart.

Count Messiah sat.

“…I’ve heard such… curious reports.”

“What reports…?”

I feigned ignorance, attempting to gauge his intent.

Perhaps it wasn’t what I feared.

*Crack.*

The pen in Count Messiah’s hand snapped in two.

His anger was blatant.

Testing the waters, it seemed, was unnecessary.

The reason for this summons was, indeed, the reason I suspected.

‘It’s because of the outing with Asia…’

The killing intent permeating the room spoke volumes.

I bowed deeply, immediately.

The art of the apology.

First, a brief expression of remorse.

Then, a clear and detailed explanation of what one is apologizing for.

“I apologize profusely for failing to report my outing with your esteemed daughter, Count!!!”

A clean apology, if I do say so myself.

I surreptitiously glanced at Count Messiah’s expression.

Nigh-neutral.

No, his brow was slightly raised.

Still angered, then.

But there was nothing more I could offer.

So, I quietly awaited Count Messiah’s reply.

“…You are a fiancé-candidate.”

“I am, sir.”

“That is to say, not a formal fiancé.”

“As you say, Count!”

A fiancé candidate, rather than an official fiancé.

Count Messiah rose from his seat.

And slowly approached me.

“So… you’re acting almost like a proper fiancé.”

“I have nothing to say.”

I didn’t offer the excuse that Asia had coaxed me.

Spouting such things would only further incite his anger.

Frankly, had I known I’d be caught so easily, I would have refused.

Or at least, concealed my presence a little better.

I’d blithely assumed the Count wouldn’t know about my outing with Asia.

“It seems I must inform you of a code of conduct.”

“A code of conduct… you say?”

“Yes, a code of conduct for a fiancé candidate, outlining what not to do.”

Count Messiah began to lecture me about this code of conduct.

First, do not be alone with Asia in confined spaces.

Second, physical contact is forbidden.

Third, avoid the eyes of others as much as possible.

It was this third point that caused me to question.

“But wasn’t it decided to publicly announce the fact that I am a fiancé candidate?”

There seemed no reason to avoid the eyes of others.

Showing us together would naturally have a promotional effect…

“I detest it. The thought of Asia being seen with you by others.”

“Ah… yes.”

If Count Messiah, the potential future father-in-law, disliked it, there was nothing I could do.

“Those are the three basics. I might add more in the future, but I’d prefer that there be no need.”

As he spoke, Count Messiah’s gaze held an unsettling intensity.

And so, I nodded my head, pledging.

“I will endeavor to ensure that such a thing does not happen!”

“Endeavor?”

“No, I will absolutely make sure it doesn’t happen!!!”

Looking at the current situation.

A thought suddenly occurred to me.

‘I pity the man Asia will actually marry.’

To have such a father-in-law.

If that day ever came…

I would silently pray for the future husband.

‘Future fiancé… it seems you’re in for quite the hardship.’

*

And the next day.

As always, Asia came to my room.

At the same moment…

‘Ah, the code of conduct.’

The first rule came to mind.

My room wasn’t exactly cramped.

But it wasn’t exactly spacious either.

‘I’ve already broken a rule…?’

This won’t do.

I spoke to Asia.

“It seems it would be best if you ended our study sessions here from now on.”

“Why?”

Asia narrowed her eyes, glaring at me.

“Don’t tell me it’s because you suddenly don’t feel like studying, a pathetic reason? I thought better of you…”

“No! Absolutely not! It’s just that I received a slight reprimand from the Count about yesterday….”

“A reprimand? And what about yesterday?”

Huh?

Was Asia not summoned separately?

Then that code of conduct, it was only required of me?

“…He said I should not be alone with a young lady in such a confined space.”

“Confined space…”

Asia hesitated for a moment, considering.

Suddenly, her face flushed crimson and she raised her voice.

“W-what does that even *mean*?!”

“It doesn’t ‘mean’ anything, it’s just as it sounds… And I didn’t say it…”

“Confined space… Oh! Could it be…?”

Asia crossed her arms protectively over herself.

Discarding the context, she was lost in her own bizarre thoughts.

I wanted to say one sincere thing to Asia.

‘You lack the allure for anything like that to ever happen.’

Asia was undeniably beautiful.

But she was only sixteen.

She held no interest for me.

More like a younger sister.

That’s all she seemed to be.

‘Perhaps the feeling is closer to watching an idol…?’

Well, I couldn’t actually say any of that out loud.

“It’s a misunderstanding. Count Messiah informed me of the rules I should observe when I am to be with the Lady Asia. One of those rules being…”

I was in the middle of explaining in detail, when

Footsteps approached from outside the door.

Thud-. Thud-.

I thought first, of Melia, Asia’s exclusive handmaiden.

She was the only one who knew about this hour.

Except the footsteps sounded far too heavy to be hers.

Like a man of enormous build.

Say… similar to Count Messiah.

‘Impossible?’

I quickly shoved Asia beneath the desk.

“What do you think you’re…!”

And hurriedly clamped my hand over Asia’s mouth, gesturing for silence.

Naturally, Asia tried to resist.

But the voice from beyond the door stilled her struggles.

“…I’m coming in.”

It was Count Messiah’s voice.

So, the footsteps *were* Count Messiah’s.

His footsteps.

Thunk.

The door held firm.

Expected, of course, as it was locked.

But –

Crunch.

Something shattered.

Screech-.

And the door swung open.

‘…He broke the door?’

Count Messiah hadn’t even bothered unlocking it, simply destroying it.

Count Messiah’s face appeared through the slightly open door.

Count Messiah wore an expression of fury.

He scanned the space around me through the opening.

Then he flung the door wide, his gaze sweeping across my entire chamber.

“Hmm… a false report, perhaps.”

“Excuse me?”

“Never mind.”

I felt a cold sweat prickle my skin, but I somehow managed to suppress it.

Lest he seize upon even that as cause for reprimand.

I forced a casual expression and inquired,

“What business brings you here?”

“Hm… None you need to know. More importantly, the code of conduct… you haven’t forgotten it, have you?”

“No, sir.”

“Then, that is all.”

With that, Count Messiah turned and departed.

A moment later.

“…I understand now why you did that, so suddenly.”

Asia, wearing a pout, emerged from beneath the desk.

My impulsive action.

Asia knew the reason.

“First, I apologize.”

“Hmph… I shall forgive you.”

“Thank you.”

Thankfully, she forgave my rudeness.

To lay hands on a noble lady like that, so carelessly.

Asia was apparently a more benevolent person than I’d thought.

“In any case, it’s clear you’ll have to study alone from now on.”

“Yes, it seems so.”

If situations like this continued, there would be no atmosphere conducive to studying.

It hadn’t been like this the entire past week.

*Messiah, the Count, has been watching with eyes ablaze since his outing, has he?*

Of course, I could continue studying while evading Count Messiah’s gaze.

But I couldn’t shove Asia under the desk every time, either.

So, this should be the last study session with Asia, for both our sakes.

“…Still, I’ll visit you from time to time.”

“I would be grateful if you would.”

The truth was, studying with Asia had been quite helpful to me.

It would be fortunate if she would help me even occasionally.

“Then, I’ll be going now.”

Following Count Messiah, Asia also left the room.

Left alone in the room, I sank into thought.

*Someday, this farce will come to an end.*

The end of the farce.

That is, the return of the Sword Saint.

Then, I won’t have to play the fiancé anymore.

In a word, freedom.

So, what should I do after that?

This fantasy world I had dreamed of.

Well, ‘dreamed of’ might be an overstatement.

Just a world I wanted to experience at least once.

And now, I had actually come to such a world.

*What kind of life would be a good life to live?*

Until ten years ago, I was too busy just surviving to even consider such things.

But now, I had the power to live as I pleased,

and I would have time to spare from now on, too.

So, what life awaits me once this charade concludes?

“Unlike a novel, my life isn’t some story with a predetermined end.”

What kind of life I should live, I pondered long and hard for quite a while.