Chapter 7: Olivié Alwei’s Reasons 1

After about 15 minutes travel from the school by horse-drawn carriage, we reached a residential area in the center of the capital city.

“This is where Olivié-sama (オリヴィエ) and Madam live, an Alwei (アルウェイ) ducal house’s secondary residence. Please do enter.”

I felt a little carsick, but entered as Treiné said. (トレーネ)

It’s not uncommon for a duke to have a secondary residence, but this is clearly smaller than my Baron family home. Passing through the unguarded gate, there was a well-kept garden. The flowers characteristic of this season were in full-bloom, and the sweet smell tickled my nose. Same as the courtyard, the mansion is small and is only two stories tall.

It’s a simple building with no luxury, despite being a duke’s villa. By comparison, a merchant’s home is quite large and flashy.

Treiné opened the front door and beckoned me inside.

“Ara ara~, do we have a guest?”

With those words, a woman who looked mid-thirties, with wavy blond hair gathered in a barette, was smiling with a bouquet.

“Ha, Hannelone-sama!” (ハンネローネ)

“–eh?”

Treiné calls the woman’s name and rushes to her, snatching the bouquet.

“Didn’t I say not to touch the flowers!?”

“But Treiné-chan seems to be so busy lately, so I have been taking care of the flowers. Since you can’t attend to the garden very often, this old lady took it upon herself to take care of it.” <She uses Watakushi, a feminine way to say “I”>

“I will prepare a cup of tea, so please rest in your room!”

“Mou~, so fussy.”

Treiné’s expressionless face didn’t change, but I noticed her cheeks were cramped. That said, my cheeks slightly cramped too.

Because — Hannelone Alwei is Duke Alwei’s wife. In other words, she is Olivié’s mother.

Although she looks like a beautiful woman in her mid-thirties, she has a twenty-six-year-old child, so she’s probably ten years older than she appears.

Even though she’s acting like a child towards Treiné, she has an adult daughter.

“Treiné-chan, won’t you introduce me? If I’m not mistaken that blue uniform means he’s a student of the Royal Academy, no?”

“This is Jared Murphy-sama. Olivié-sama’s fiancé.”

“I’m pleased to make your acquaintance. My name is Jared Murphy.”

I could not get on my knees because this place was too small, but I bowed my head deeply so as not to be rude.

“Please raise your head. Since Olivié’s fiancé will become my son, I want you to think of me as a real mother and feel comfortable.”

“But … well, okay. Thank you very much.”

“I was asking my husband to find Olivié-chan a partner, and at last we’ve found one. I was worried that child would never marry, but with a magician like you my daughter is in good hands. I will have to write a letter of thanks to my husband soon. ”

Smiling delightedly, she waved at me and walked back upstairs.

I felt troubled. Hannelone called me a magician.

“How did she know I was a magician, but didn’t know I’m only a candidate to be Olivié-sama’s fiancé?”

“No, that’s a misunderstanding. Hannelone-sama knows nothing about Jared.”

“No, but she called me a magician just now-”

“But she didn’t know your name. Hannelone-sama can see magic power.”

“–! That’s a pretty amazing ability, isn’t it?”

’Of course,’ Treiné proudly boasts.

“Hannelone-sama is not only able to see another’s magic, but also clearly understands the quality of that magic. I don’t understand why she can see it, but Hannelone-sama can see it regardless of who it is. Perhaps she could see Jared-sama’s character through your magic, and on that decided you were fit to be Olivié-sama’s partner. ”

“It seems that Hannelone-sama does not know that Olivié-sama has had multiple fiancé’s until now.”

“… Olivié-sama has never had a fiancé before. They have all been fiancé candidates, so there was no need to inform or introduce Hannelone-sama.”

“I’m also a fiancé candidate, though?”

“Regarding that, please ask Olivié-sama. I will guide you.”

Treiné stops talking and quietly walks ahead. She refused to tell me anything more, but apparently Olivié will explain. I continued following Treiné.

It might be impolite of me to gawk at the house, but although the decorations are minimal it never feels poor. The interior of the house is decorated with a small number of high-quality items, and gives a rather elegant impression.

“Olivié-sama is waiting for you here.”

Stopping in front of a room, Treiné signals me with her eyes and then knocks on the door.

An unmistakable voice responds.

“I will prepare tea, so Jared-sama please enter alone”

“Y- Yes, I understand. Thank you.”

Thanking Treiné, I entered the room where Olivié was waiting.

“I am Jared Murphy. Thank you very much for inviting me.”

” ‘It’s been a long time’ – I suppose not, but welcome. I’ve been waiting. Please, sit.”

The room was not a reception room but Olivié’s room.

A bed with a canopy, a mirror stand, a closet, a sofa and a table are arranged neatly.

As instructed, I sat down on the sofa across the table from Olivié.

“Congratulations on being selected as a court magician candidate”

“Thank you very much. Umm, may I ask?”

“Ara, what might it be?”

“I learned about becoming selected yesterday and received the announcement formally today, but you knew. Why?”

To be clear, it doesn’t matter to me if that information is leaked. It’s just a matter about knowing. I only asked Olivié out of curiosity because the candidates are supposed to be secret.

“That’s a secret, but… The power of a duke, will you be convinced with that?”

“I have no choice but to be convinced.”

“Then that’s that”

Olivié, who has a pleasant look on her face now, gives a different impression than when we first met. At that time, I was uncomfortable because it felt like I was being appraised, but it is not so now.

I was nervous that she would be difficult to deal with, but I don’t get that feeling from Olivié now.

Yesterday Olivié was dissatisfied and irritable, but now she’s not.

I relaxed my shoulders a little.

“I’m surprised. I felt it was a stretch for anyone to become a court magician within two years, but merely a day later you became a candidate. How vexing. ” <Olivié uses Watakushi as well>

” ‘How vexing’ huh… as I thought, you are not thrilled with the engagement?”

“Isn’t that a matter of course! Imagine if you were told that your father suddenly chose a fiancé, and when you investigate them, it turns out they’re a virgin boy ten years younger than you! ‘Not thrilled’ is merely the start of it!”

There are unbefitting words such as ‘virgin boy’ coming from this noble daughter’s mouth, but I’ll pretend I didn’t hear them. I’ll hide my annoyance deep in my heart.

She’s not as bad as the rumors say, but it seems there was some basis to them.

“Well, you must feel troubled for being engaged to a ‘left-overs’ woman like me. Baron Daum seems to be pretty close to my father, so the Baron couldn’t just refuse the engagement. I’m sorry, you must have gotten the short end of the stick as well. ” (Olivié)

“I was amazed since I only heard about it yesterday. As you might know, I was going to be an adventurer and travel the continent, so all my future plans were thrown awry with that. That said, it was a pleasant surprise to hear that I became a court magician candidate. ” (Jared)

“I’ve checked your achievements as a magician. What can I say, I was surprised. Even a court magician couldn’t defeat that demonic beast (魔獣) alone and the knights order would have to be dispatched. I don’t really understand because I don’t have even a fragment of magic power, but I’ve heard that you hold a special power even among magicians.” (Olivié)

“That’s right. The composite attribute of Earth (地), Fire (火), and Water (水) attributes form my ‘All-encompassing’ attribute (大地). To further explain –”

“Ah, I’m fine without details. I’m fine just hearing that much.”

‘You bastard…’ — I’d like to praise myself for not voicing those words out loud.

If you aren’t interested why make it seem like you are. Even if you are not in the least interested, would it hurt to listen to me for a little while?

“There are a lot of things to talk about, but there’s something I absolutely need to hear from you now. May I ask?”

“I don’t mind, please.”

“Then speak frankly. Jared Murphy, do you really want to marry me, Olivié Alwei?”

Translator’s Corner:

大地 literally means ‘Great Earth,’ but is closer in meaning to ‘the vast land’, hence ‘All-encompassing’. It was translated as ‘Great Earth’ before, but with this chapter’s explanation it seems to be an All-attributes type. If someone has a better name please post below!