Ch 20: Betrothed

"A former noble's slave?" Leyfia asked Ryan.

"No, but in Charlotte's previous residence, last names or family names are common." Ryan shook his head in denial and explained to Leyfia.

"Hello...! Nice to meet you, Lady Leyfia!" Charlotte said it with a warm smile.

"Nice to meet you too, Charlotte..." Leyfia replied with a smile in return.

Then they ate together, and after finishing, Leyfia looked at Ryan, who had already finished his meal.

"Ryan, I heard you went to the city?" Leyfia said it with a slight smile.

"... Yes." Ryan nodded his head.

"Why didn't you tell me? I would have gone with you." Leyfia then spoke again.

"I just wanted to go without strict escort and see the city up close; after all, in the future, I will become the next Grand Duke Blackstar, so I need to get to know Starsteel City before I rule this city in the future." Ryan explained, providing a captivating rationale.

"... You just needed to say that you wanted to go for a walk without me; there was no need for such a long explanation." Leyfia said, smiling widely at what Ryan had said.

"... Alright, that's true, I just wanted to walk alone, but Ellina still came with me."

"I know, and from what I've heard... you helped an orphanage?"

"Yes, I helped the only orphanage in Starsteel City."

"Did you know that's the only orphanage in Starsteel City?"

"Yes, I know about that."

"Interesting, so why do you know about that orphanage...?"

Ryan did not answer but fell silent for a moment, as right in front of him, the system screen reappeared.

[Side Mission: Say that you are looking into the orphanage because you think it would be a good place to find promising soldier candidates!]

[Points: 100]

"I just wanted to find someone with good talent who could join the Blackstar family's army." Ryan said it with a flat expression.

This surprised Leyfia, as well as Lyana, who looked at Ryan with a confused expression.

"Is that so... Is that all?" Leyfia asked with curiosity.

"... The woman named Iva, who is the caretaker of the orphanage, is a good person; she has taken care of those children very well, so I just wanted to help her a little, nothing more... If anything, perhaps... because that woman is very interesting..." Ryan said it in a strange tone before finally looking at Leyfia.

"... Do you like that woman?" Leyfia then spoke in a strange tone.

"... That woman is quite nice, so yes, I do like her a bit." Ryan nodded his head.

"Does that mean you want to marry her?" Leyfia suddenly asked something surprising, and Ryan looked at Leyfia with a confused expression.

"You know... Father and Mother have chosen to betroth you to the first princess, but that doesn't mean you can't have a concubine, even if that woman is much older, with a few years' age difference, it's fine if you want to take her as a concubine." Leyfia said it with a wide smile.

"... Mother, what did you just say?" Ryan asked with a shocked expression, which immediately surprised Leyfia and Lyana, as it was the first time Ryan showed an expression other than calm and confused—namely, a shocked expression.

"You can have a concubine?" Leyfia asked cautiously.

"No, the part before that." Ryan shook his head.

"Ah, you will be betrothed by Father and Mother to the first princess!" Leyfia said with a happy smile, thinking that Ryan might really like the first princess.

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