The Main Family Is About to Die Out, so I, from a Branch Family, Am a Seed Provider (WN): Chapter 22

 

Episode 22: Events at my Parents' House 2

 One day, some time after the exchange with Viscount Fabian.

 Unlike the usual conflicts along the borders, a large-scale war in which the major nobles of the kingdom gather together required a certain amount of preparation time.

 Moreover, this time everything had to be done smoothly and speedily, and therefore, only about half a month was expected to secure preparations for the expedition, no matter how long it would drag out. By then, they have to decide on the number of troops and forts to be used on the frontlines, the procurement of supplies, and the method of transportation.

 The head of the Fregrance family even went to the trouble of coming to my parents' house at this time when the whole house is so damn busy.

 ......I was surprised when he came to the house and said, "My daughter was taken care of in the royal capital."

"......Did you come to inspect us, as we are being late in preparing?"

"No, I knew that you would be late for the war."

"You know...?"

 Incidentally, right now, the head of the Fregrance family and I are talking alone in his room at the guest house.

 Did he already know that we were too busy and late in preparing?

 As I looked at him with a dubious expression on my face due to the unexpected answer, the head of the Fregrance family, sitting in his chair, muttered in a quietly angry tone.

"...You've done it, you bastard."

"What?"

 A sharp look pierced me. And I involuntarily take a step backward, seeing an angry atmosphere of the master that I have never seen before.

"Um, what are you talking about?"

 The head of the Fragrance family snorted at my retort, leaned back in his chair, and glared at me.

"Don't be so careless. After what you did to Prince Lim, after what you did for Ritia at the prince's birthday party, and, though this is not the Royal Capital, after what you did to the viscount here recently."

 Apparently, the master is angry about the series of interactions, or rather, the things I've done from Royal Capital to today.

 ......I mean, this is bad. I don't know which one of these things has upset this person sitting in front of me, but at best I may die alone, at worst my whole family may be exterminated.

"...Um, can you tell me what the problem is?"

 So I decided to find out where the head of the Fregrance family was focusing his anger.

"You know the saying, The nail that sticks up gets hammered down?"

"Eh? Ah, yes. In a manner of speaking."

 But instead of answering the question, I nodded my head and said that I knew it, having been asked by a Far Eastern proverb that he had asked so abruptly.

"This is the same. If you had stayed quiet and not done anything strange, none of this would have happened. And you......"

 Somehow, without my knowledge, I feel the anger of the head of the Fregrance family boiling over.

"Um……"

 Before I could say a word, his anger burst out of his mouth.

"You fool, you wasted all my hard work!"

 With a thud, he slammed his fist down on the desk in the room with all his might, his shoulders shaking with rage.

"This expeditionary force. I had no intention of letting you join this expedition from the beginning."

"What!?"

 I was surprised at the fact that he began to talk about the truth of the matter with spit flying all over the place. What did he mean he didn't intend for me to join the expedition?

"Of course not. If you die, I will have to find another stallion."

"But you have a second or third candidate......"

"I've already let them go. I can't ask them to leave and bring them back now. Even with what has happened to Ritia, any further action would be considered disloyalty to the royal family."

 Apparently, there are a lot of things going on in the dark that I don't know about. I guess the five great nobles of the kingdom are also having a hard time in places I can't see.

"Besides……"

 The head of the main family added, with a bitter expression on his face.

"It was the same in Royal Capital, but it seems that Ritia is also fond of you."

"Eh?"

 Does Ojousama like me? I mean, does the head of the family know about the night in Royal Capital? What is that? I'm so embarrassed.

"Of course. I've entrusted Ritia to a blockhead like you, and there's no way I can just let you go."

 No, a blockhead, you still didn't approve of me. It's already been three months since I had sex with Ojousama as a seed provider......

 In fact, no matter how important her daughter is, knowing that her parents are not the only ones who are aware of Ojousama's affairs. I can imagine Lady Ritia's face turning red with embarrassment and getting angry when she finds out.

"That's why I was personally working to keep you here......"

 Yeah, I understand.

 Apparently, the head of the Fregrance family worked behind the scenes to make sure that the man his daughter liked would not inadvertently die in battle.

 I had messed with prince Lim in Royal Capital, and to top it off, I had a run-in with Viscount Fabian, a rootless nobleman.

"The day before yesterday, an imperial envoy came directly from the royal family and barked at me. They insisted that the man from a branch family who had come to Royal Capital be allowed to participate in the expedition."

"......"

"I could have refused, but they said, he had the gall to bite the prince, and he had never lost a battle against the empire. I am sure he will be of great service to the expedition, so I cannot refuse him."

 Eh? The fregrance family, the leader of one of the five great nobles of the kingdom, can't refuse, right? If he refused, they will doubt his loyalty to the royal family, is that okay?

 He seemed to imply that he meant more than words. I had no idea that the prince's retaliation for me protecting Lady Ritia would come back to bite me like this.

 Well, I have already made all the preparations to be deployed to the front line, so it doesn't matter to me.

"Then, I'll be on the frontlines as planned..."

"No, not even close."

"Eh?"

 I was thinking, but then he shrugged it off again.

"I told you. I don't like it, but I can't let you die. It's a desperate move, but I've already taken care of the next one. I don't like it, even if it is for your sake."

 How many times are you going to say the same thing? You don't have to say it so much, it's getting through......

"You will stay in the rear to maintain supply lines."

"......Does that mean I'll be in the back?"

 If I didn't have to work, that would be great, but I suddenly remembered how hectic things are at our house right now and immediately realized that was not a possibility.

"No, it's a supply convoy escort. It is a unit that protects supplies as much as possible in case the enemy attacked to prevent the main force from getting them."

 Isn't that a casually very, very important role? I, as a member of a branch from a branch family, could not possibly be qualified for such a position, but the head of the family stared at me, exerting an unmistakable pressure.

"It's a heavy responsibility, but can I handle it?"

"It's not about if you can't do it, it's about if you can do it. This is the Lord's command."

 He lightly brushed off my excuse and gave me an order using his authority for the first time in a long time since my seeding duties.

 Then, leaning back in his chair with a sigh, the head of the family said, "Also, here's a word of advice......."

"From now on, refrain from any conspicuous words or actions. You seem to think that you are on a duty making a child with Ritia under the orders of the head family, but from an outsider's point of view, your behavior looks arrogant."

"Hah..."

 I think Prince Lim and other nobles are more arrogant, like the head of the Fregrance family.

"......If you don't understand, that's fine. But keep in mind, there will be no next time."

 But the master, staring off into the distance, turned his back on me and looked out the window.