Chapter 74: Impact
After the fierce battle, Lou and Zeimon’s battle came to an end.
Both bowed to the spectators.
Perhaps it was because of Lou’s Healing Magic that the injuries Zeimon had sustained seemingly diminished.
He then hurried back into the mansion to perform his duties as the steward.
Meanwhile…
Along with the other spectators, Fran, who also watched the match, stepped forward to offer her congratulations to Lou.
“Well done, Lou! Zeimon seemed satisfied with his performance as well.”
“Yeah. I’m glad I was able to receive Zeimon-san’s technique too.”
Lou replied with a smile, but just then…
Leonard and Giselle, the father and daughter, approached.
“You seemed in a lovely mood, Your Grace.”
Fran gracefully curtsied…
Leonard did not speak a word to her, but gazed at her as if he was overcome by some feelings.
Because in this beloved daughter Fran, he saw the image of Adelaide, the ‘Dance Princess’, as she had been in her youth.
“Enough, Father! It’s rude to keep staring like that!”
As Giselle tugged on her father’s sleeve in exasperation, Leonard finally snapped back to reality.
“Oh, I apologize for drifting off like that. Please forgive me.”
Despite being the second wife…
Fran knew that her own mother had caught Leonard’s eye.
But with Giselle right in front of her, she could only smile silently.
With a wry smile, Leonard managed to shift his focus and looked at Lou.
“I see. After watching the recent match, it’s understandable that my daughter lost in the previous contest. Oh, pardon me. I am Leonard Carpantier, Giselle’s father,” he introduced himself.
“Nice to meet you, Your Grace. I am Lou Brandell, ” Lou replied, kneeling and bowing to greet him. Leonard observed him as if assessing his worth.
Although it was already a rude act in itself…
He didn’t have any malicious intentions behind his actions.
As evidence of his intentions…
From his next words, it was possible to discern Leonard’s true intention.
“Lou, it’s natural for you to be a magician…”
“…”
“I’ve heard that you’re amazing at using magic.”
“…”
“If you’re interested, would you like to join the Royal Capital Knight Corps as a special recruit?”
Leonard was also Count Calvin Ryan’s superior.
Within his authority over personnel matters, there was a special recruitment quota for knights that could be filled by individuals who were not nobles.
However, Fran interjected.
“I apologize, Your Grace. Lou is an important teacher at the Girls Magical Academy and the most precious person to me…
Upon hearing Fran’s refusal, Leonard’s expression turned puzzled.
The most precious person?
That nuance seemed a bit different from the report he heard from Calvin.
As a subordinate, Count Ryan had already reported to him.
In a terrifying attack by grotesque monsters, five knights who were escorting Fran had died.
And it was this man named Lou who barely saved Fran from the brink of death…
Furthermore, considering Fran’s position as the Acting Principal of the Girls Magical Academy, where Giselle also attends….
Rumors had circulated she had hired Lou as a temporary teacher at the academy and even made him a servant.
Just then.
A gust of wind blew…
Fran brushed her dishevelled hair away from her face.
Casually glancing at Fran’s left hand, Leonard noticed…
A silver ring adorning her ring finger.
“Whoa! Francesca, could it be that you and him…?”
“Yes! We are engaged. My mother is overjoyed and supports our union.”
“C-Congratulations!”
Leonard swallowed the question: ‘Why to a commoner like Lou?’
He had no choice, but to offer his sincere congratulations.
“Ughhhh…”
Suddenly, Giselle let out a pained groan.
She bowed her head, breathing heavily.
“Hey, G-Giselle, what’s wrong?”
“…I-It’s nothing, Father!”
“You look like you’re in pain.”
“I-I said it’s nothing!”
When Giselle became defensive and started to argue, Leonard was taken aback.
Just them, someone appeared before them.
The steward, Zeimon, who had been having a match with Lou earlier.
“Your Grace, Giselle-sama, please come this way! The dining hall is ready for your meal.”
“Steward. That was an impressive match earlier, but unfortunate.”
Leonard commented, but Zeimon smiled calmly.
“Please call me Zeimon, Your Grace.”
“Then, Zeimon, are you hurt at all?”
“No, thanks to his… No, thanks to Lou-sama’s magic, I’m perfectly fine.”
For the first time, Zeimon, the loyal steward of the Countess Dumer’s household, addressed Lou with an honorific.
When he heard that Lou had become Fran’s fiancé…
He had decided that once this match was over, he would acknowledge Lou as his master and serve him.
Watching Lou and Fran together again, so close and affectionate—
He offered his blessings in his heart not only to Adelaide, but also to his late master, Count Frederick Dumer.
After a bow, he guided the Carpantier father and daughter toward the grand hall with a courteous, “This way, please.”
Once the father and daughter were headed for the hall, he turned back to Lou and Fran.
“Lou-sama, Fran-sama, my lady is calling for you.”
Thus, he conveyed Adelaide’s summons.
◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
At the Grand Hall of the Dumer Manor…
Today’s meal was arranged in a buffet-style setting.
The banquet began the moment Leonard arrived with his daughter Giselle.
However, neither Viscount Ernest Charlois nor his daughter Nadia were present.
Only a few girls, apparently students of the Magic Girls’ Academy, were there.
“Zeimon, where are Viscount Charlois and Nadia-dono?”
“Oh, the two of them are with my lady. Lou-sama and Lady Francesca-sama are with them as well.”
With the Dance Princess?
And in her room, Lou and Lady Francesca were there too?
Why?
“Uuuuuuuu…”
Upon hearing Zeimon’s words, Giselle started groaning again.
—Around the same time
This was Adelaide’s study, where she had summoned all the ‘parties involved.’
Adelaide, Lou, and Fran were present. Nadia and Ernest made five in total.
What!
Ernest had just heard a shocking confession from his beloved daughter.
“W–w–what did you say!? Nadia! Th–that wish you spoke of… y–you meant that!?”
Ernest was so stunned that…
His mouth opened and closed like a goldfish gasping for air.
“That’s right! The promise I asked Father earlier was about that.”
“H–hey! Nadia!”
“Hehe. Father wouldn’t go back on a promise, right?”
Nadia smiled brightly.
Seeing the radiant smile of his beloved daughter, and remembering the promise from moments earlier—
Ernest found himself unable to say a word.
“I will become Lou-sensei’s, no, Lou-sama’s wife.”
“Uhhhhh….”
“Sorry for the suddenness, Father.”
“Hmmmm…”
“As for how things turned out this way, everyone here already knows the circumstances. Now I’ll explain them to you too.”
Saying that…
Nadia fixed her gaze on Ernest and slowly began to speak.
Peek-Aboo 
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