Volume 1 Chapter 37 Genderbend Female Knight, Running Around
"Indeed, excellent conditions."
"My apologies for troubling Lord Baron, but I kindly ask you to consider it."
Eleonora bowed to Baron Vidilva and pleaded for him to accept Roberta as an adopted daughter and for the marriage alliance with Merchant Guild Guccini.
The Baron feigned hesitation, but it was merely a performance.
Italy, too, observed the negotiation—or rather, the deal-making.
They had essentially decided to accept the proposal from the moment Italy introduced them, but it was a form of posturing and a formal ritual.
"I trust your character and wish to accept, but what about the girl? I haven't met her, so I can't judge."
"While I favor my own subjects, she is diligent, intelligent, and never complains about her work."
"I see," the Baron murmured, taking a sip of water.
"Lady Kamitafira, I'd like to meet the girl at least once. Then, we'll decide how to proceed with this matter."
"Thank you very much, Lord Baron."
The plan was for the Baron and Italy to meet Roberta, be pleased with her, and accept her as an adopted daughter.
It was cumbersome, but such a storyline was necessary for a commoner to be adopted into a perpetual noble family.
"Then, let's discuss Lady Kamitafira's share."
"Yes..."
"I've used some of these before, but I'll transport still-usable weapons and armor to you. Here's the inventory."
When the Baron handed over the sheepskin parchment, Eleonora examined it.
"Six bows, seven swords, five shields, and two brigandines, is that correct?"
She was about to say it was too much, but the Baron stopped her.
"I repaid my gratitude for the previous matter with a shield, and this is a concrete gesture of my desire to maintain friendly relations with Lady Kamitafira. I hope you'll accept it."
"If you insist."
After receiving the inventory and exchanging a bow, a satisfied smile appeared on the Baron's face as he stood up.
"I'd also like you to participate in the meeting. You can act as your parents' representative from your hometown."
"Then I shall attend the same table."
Eleonora bowed once more, feeling a headache at the thought of negotiating under such circumstances without prior agreement with the other party. But she steeled herself, knowing it was something she had to do.
And the negotiation would take place on the next rest day.
There were no school lessons, and originally, she would have been wearing hemp clothes and swinging a wooden sword, but this was an important matter regarding her adopted daughter.
Unable to do so, she donned the school uniform and headed toward the Vidilva residence.
* * *
(What is this..., this...)
Miguel was at a loss for words at the door. The woman before him was at least two heads taller than him, her towering muscles a complete mismatch with the female uniform.
If she had been wearing plate armor, he would have thought she was a renowned warrior.
Instead, she was the woman introduced as the master of the marriage candidate for his son, the Acting Knight of Kamitafira.
"I would like to apologize on behalf of my household for the inconvenience caused by our people."
"Ah, no, that's..."
What should he say? If he were to formally grant a noble title, he would be superior, but for now, he was a commoner.
They were both in an ambiguous relationship, neither officially a lord, but he was certain that if he offended her, he would be strangled to death.
"Well, standing and talking isn't very polite. Shall I have some tea prepared?"
The Baron's invitation was appreciated. Having been involved in business for so long, he had never encountered such an unusual individual.
"First, we will welcome Lady Kamitafira's maid into our family as an adopted daughter, but considering her age, it seems unlikely that marriage would be immediate. If we consider enrolling her in the academy in two years, I believe it would be best to marry after graduation."
"My foolish son will also be enrolling next year, so I believe there will be no problem with a one-year difference..."
As they drank the tea that had been brought, they began discussing the path to marriage, but Lady Kamitafira remained silent.
He wondered if it was out of consideration for the Baron when the Baron spoke.
"I recommend that you value the bond born between you and Lady Kamitafira, Lord Guccini. She will become someone great."
"As for me, I am nothing more than a temporary acting head until the official succession to my younger brother. I want to guide the benefits of the domain toward him."
As she said this, Lady Kamitafira stared directly into his eyes.
(Ah, indeed, she has the potential to become someone great.)
The intuition from his previous business dealings, where he had seen many people, whispered this to him.
"Recently, in my territory, we've started brewing honey wine. If it's alright, could you add it as a product?"
"Honey wine, you say."
He hears it's made in the north, but in warm Tyria, wine is more common.
Certainly, there's no problem adding it, but if the territory is far away and a ship has to be dispatched, transportation costs will increase.
It's a bit of a dilemma, that was the proposal.
"Could I have a moment of your time───"
"Master!"
Just as he was about to reply, someone tasked with driving for Merchant Guild Guccini was stopped by a Vidilva household member but raised his voice outside.
"The young master has stolen the carriage!"
"What!? Why!?"
"He said he was going to pick her up, but where he went is..."
Yoash Guccini, he is probably a kind man.
But his view was too narrow.
Miguel Guccini, he was a man living in the grey areas.
But still, he wanted his child to lead a happy life.
If it's just a matter of misunderstanding, that's as far as it goes.
Still, it's also their mutual responsibility that it came to this.
Runaways only exist in a bard's stories.
"Roberta!"
Eleonora tried to run, but the Baron stopped her.
"Wait, Lady Kamitafira. You don't know where the other went."
"Roberta is off today, so if you look in the town, you might find her."
"What if the other finds her first?"
Eleonora tore at her hair and raised her voice.
"──It's always such trouble! Just stay quiet and wait!"
"Lady Kamitafira, is there something wrong?"
The angry voice caught Italy's attention as she opened the door and entered, but no one had the leisure to scold her.
"Italy, actually—"
When her father, the Baron, explained the current situation, Italy thought while resting her chin on her hand.
"Then, I think that might be useful."
After a while, Theodore was called out, trembling, and placed the crystal ball he brought on the table.
"[Clairvoyance][Current][Yoash Guccini]."
The magical words to find lost items or missing persons are chanted while magical power flows from both hands into the crystal ball.
A vague shadow appeared in the crystal, gradually becoming clearer.
It depicted Yoash controlling a carriage and Roberta clinging to his arm, shouting.
"Damn! Has she been kidnapped already!"
"Hey, where are they trying to go now?"
"C, [Clairvoyance][Future][Yoash Guccini]."
What was projected as if sliding to the next scene was a mountain range. Eleonora did not recognize the scenery, but the answer was given by Miguel.
"This is... the border pass with Loriengita."
"If they pass through here, they can also reach the Papal States."
Eleonora stood up straight, and Italy spoke to her.
"Are you heading there?"
"For the sake of the people."
"Impossible! There's no way humans can catch up to the carriage on foot!"
Eleonora shook her head to deny it.
"They're heading to the border pass. If I reinforce my legs regardless of their shape, there's a chance I can set an ambush."
Eleonora muttered as she concentrated all her magic into her thick, log-like legs.
"Sigh... Tomorrow's going to be sore muscles."
The ground burst, the wind was torn apart, and Eleonora ran.
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