The Main Family Is About to Die Out, so I, from a Branch Family, Am a Seed Provider (WN): Chapter 51

 

Episode 51: My Thoughts and Her Wishes

"So, how are you going to overturn it?"

 The head of the Fregrance family left the meeting, saying he was going back to Prince Lim's side, and Glass also left, saying she had other matters to attend to. Excluding these two, the people who remained were me, Armes, Elfie, the next head of the Croche family, and Miss Ritia, so we decided to hold another strategy meeting.

 Elfie asked me on behalf of the others what I am thinking.

"First of all, we will use all the power we have. I'm not talking about us surviving, but making sure that almost all of the 10,000 people here return safely to the country."

"All of them?"

"All of them."

 Elfie ruminated over my words. Her expression was somewhat tense, and it told me exactly how difficult it was to accomplish what I was trying to do.

"May I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

 I pointed at Croche Rask, who raised his hand. Then he cuts to the chase and said.

"It's a hasle to rehash the story, but is it really a bad idea to go ahead with the original plan in the first place? Not that I'm taking sides with the Fregrances, but doesn't it seem a good idea to cut off the rootless nobles here?"

 The original plan... In other words, we surrender and eliminate the names on the list.

 This man also has a grudge as he tries to condemn the rootless nobles without clearly reading the mood...... Well, that's why I trust him.

"No, I mean, they are annoying, but I need all the rootless nobles here for the operation I'm thinking of."

"What?"

 When I immediately denied it, and even argued that it was necessary, Rask-dono's face grew tense and he looked at me with his eagle-like eyes.

 But I have no intention of changing my policy, no matter how hard he tries. I said earlier that I would abandon my country and my home, but that was a lie. My main goal is something else, but let's start by persuading the next head of the Croche family.

"They can be our trump card, depending on how we use them."

 No, it's not just Croche Rask. The people here who believe in me and trust me with their lives will once again hear about my messed-up plan.

"What exactly do you mean by "trump card"?"

"Well...... first of all, Armes. You were actually the one I was going to cut off here from the beginning, the one who was supposed to die. How would you feel if I told you that?"

"If it's for young master......"

"What do you really think?"

 I forcibly cut her words, saying that she doesn't have to say a pretense.

 Then Armes thought of the situation, applies it to herself, and muttered in a hushed voice.

“……………………Very sad”

 The grief must have filled her heart. I have been with her since we were children, and even though we are step-siblings, we have spent time together like a real brother and sister, and if she were to say such a thing to me, well, it hurts just to imagine it.

"Well, hypothetically speaking, that's exactly the situation the rootless nobles are in right now. So, you can rest assured that I will never cut you off or anything like that."

 I put it as an example of the relationship between me and Armes, but it hurts my heart to say it, so I followed up with Armes, who is disheartened that such a thing will never happen in the future. If she were by my side right now, I probably would have hugged her tightly. Dangerous, dangerous.

 In other words, I want these rootless nobles to have the same feelings in their hearts as Armes after they return safely to the kingdom. Moreover, not just the individual, but also their family.

"In other words, to make them doubt and be suspicious of each other."

"Correct."

 There is no need to tell them the story as it is. However, a rumor that their house was actually planned to be abandoned. Then, when the time is right, we will start to add information in small pieces to make it more credible.

 Then the rumors eventually reach the truth and thought to themselves. The rumors are true that they were supposed to be killed at that time.

 And the information they gain for themselves will become a lock that cannot be easily unlocked.

 And so, when the doubts and fears have been aroused, there will be a conflict between the king and the rootless nobles... No, it would become a civil strife.

"If that happens, the kingdom will not be able to touch the Fregrances so easily."

 After creating such a situation, the Fregrances should take a neutral position for a while. As for the rootless nobles, they owe us a debt of gratitude for saving their lives, For the king's part, if he were to cut us off, one of the five major nobles would turn against the kingdom along with the rootless nobles.

 No matter how stupid the king is, he would not want that. Therefore, saving them could be a trump card for the Fregrance family to be able to stand on its own feet in the future.

 For that reason, I must do everything in my power to stop the pursuit of the 80,000 Imperial troops that are spread out before me at all costs.

"But that doesn't mean you're the right person for the job......"

 But perhaps still unconvinced, Croche Rask's is still reluctant.

"Rather, I think I'm the only one who can do it. I'm from a small noble family, a branch of the Fregrance family."

"......I understand. I won't say anything else."

"That's all right."

 The next head of the Croche family, who is pushing for the King's original proposal to eradicate the rootless nobles, which was scripted by the head of the Fregrance family, has relented, and the discussion will once again be led by me.

 First, I will take Armes, who has been entrusted with escorting the young lady, to my side. Elfie and Armes. These two women, whom I trust the most, will be by my side. The rest is......

"Rask-dono."

"Take the lead. Alright, I'll take care of it."

 The Croche family, renowned as martial arts nobles, is indeed a house that by just taking a glance at the map spread out before him, immediately assumes his own roles. It's a reliable thing of him, but not this time.

"No, can I ask you to guard Ojousama?"

"What?"

 It's good that he is motivated, but I asked him to guard the young lady instead of Armes.

"Why should I escort the Fregrance family's daughter?"

"I can only ask you to guard Ojousama as I am going to need Armes with me. Now that we know that Ojousama was actually a hostage until the mission was completed, we can't leave her in the hands of a man whose face I don't even know."

 In the unlikely event that the king's men had slipped into the army without the master's knowledge, and if the war were to result in the safe return of the entire army, which is not the king's plan, they would immediately cut off the young lady's head. I don't think the current head of the main family can protect the young lady from that.

"But..."

"I'm requesting. Besides, you said so yourself. You owe my house...... I want your help now."

 The Croche family has a deep connection to my house and a huge debt of gratitude that I don't think they've forgotten. It was the best bargaining chip I could use against the Croche family, and I had just thrown it away, when the next head of the family, with his sharp eyes glaring at me, spat as if to throw me off.

"You want to use the favor of the Croche family for the sake of the Fregrance family's daughter?"

"Yeah."

"What about avenging your mother? ......It's going to be wasted away in a place like this."

 I shake my head silently at his bitter expression.

"I will avenge her sooner or later. But right now, Ojousama is much more important. Besides, if I let Ojousama die here, my mother would be saddened. That she gave birth to a weak and pathetic son who couldn't even protect a single girl."

 And besides, I told him as I stifle my rising hatred, bit my teeth tightly, and clenched my fists hard.

"This situation is similar to what happened to my mother."

“…………Yeah, that’s right.”

 At that time, Croche Rask, who was with me when that tragedy occurred, nodded quietly.

"I couldn't do anything then. I left your mother to die, who was sacrificing herself for the sake of the family. I...... didn't have the strength to protect her."

 I still remember.

 My mother's peaceful eyes even though she was dying, believing that taking her life was the one and only way to escape the pain. And that day when I looked into her eyes and still cursed myself for being helpless and unable to do anything for her.

"Young master."

 Elfie, too, is thinking back to that time, muttering in a voice tinged with regret and resignation.

"But now it's different. I have the strength to protect the people I love. So I will never let Ojousama walk down the same path as my mother...... so please."

"H-hey."

 I said so and bowed deeply.

 To not have to go through that again.

"...Haa, I understand. I'll take care of it."

 He sighed and patted my shoulder.

 The Croche family may have their own feelings. But he swallowed it and put up with it, so I don't need to say much more to him.

"I appreciate it."

"But make sure you come back alive. It's only logical that we should do it together, but if you don't come back, we'll move and take his head."

"Okay."

 With the cooperation of the Croche family. That would eliminate any chance of that happening. They are a noble that is good in martial arts and take pride in their valor. The young lady's safety was secured for the time being.

"Then, young master. How should we move?"

 Elfie, who thought that the conversation had settled down, asked me that question again.

"What we need to do is the same. We'll do the plan as it is."

 That's all I can say to that question.

 With 80,000 enemies, my only reliable allies are the few nobles and knights here, and a mere 500 soldiers who will follow me.

 We knew the outcome even before we started fighting, but we still managed to come up with a plan to keep our chances.

 We had prepared as much as we could. So I think that even if we take any more random measures, things will not get better.

"We're going to follow the strategy I just laid out for the first day and the second day. And then we all go home."

 I told them, raising my voice, including everyone present, not just Elfie. I don't care if it means abandoning my country or my home.

"So, Elfie and Armes. I want you two to entrust your lives to me."

"Ha!"

"Y-yes."

 Aside from the old knight of my family, Armes, who was suddenly asked to speak, was a bit surprised, but she straightened her posture in acknowledgment.

 They are my two most important wings, and they are my right-hand men.

"Then, let's get ready. What is the date and time of the retreat..."

"Tomorrow at dawn. As soon as the sun rises, we will withdraw in order, starting with the prince."

"I understand. Armes, follow me."

 The two most dependable knights left the place to start preparing immediately.

"I'm going back to pack up the men."

"Please, take care of Ojousama."

 The next head of the Croche family was about to follow them out of the place when I stood up and called out to him.

 He glanced over his shoulder at us and said.

"......That's my line. Get it right by dawn."

 His eyes were on the young lady next to me, not on me.

 And I, understanding the meaning of his words, simply nodded silently, and with that, the next head of the Croche family disappeared out of the tent.

 Immediately, I look at the young lady.

 As the next head of the Croche family was concerned, the young lady had been keeping her mouth shut, perhaps due to shock, ever since she was told the meaning of her being brought here was to be a hostage until the operation was fully carried out.

 I think it's understandable that she would do so. I am not the only one who thinks so. That's probably why the next head of the Croche family said that when he left.

"Um, Ojousama..."

 To be honest, there is a kind of fear of not knowing how she will react.

 But the only person who is closest to her is me, except for Glass who is not here right now. Other people would be overwhelmed by this fear and keep their distance from her. But I want to stay close to her. Otherwise, she will be alone in the true sense of the word.

"I understand that you are in shock, but for now, I want you to stay with Rask-dono until you return to the country......"

 I know these are not the right words to say. But this is the best I can do right now......

"Fuu!"

"Eh?"

 And then, unexpectedly, the young lady slapped her own face with her hands and the next moment.

"I'm going to do it!"

 As soon as she shouted that, she spun around and turned around to face me. Then, looking at me in surprise and confusion, she opened her mouth, which had been closed for a long time, with a puzzled expression on her face.

"What's the matter with you? You look like a pigeon hit by a peashooter."

"That's my line...... um, are you okay?"

"What is?"

"No, that Ojousama is actually a hostage......"

 I thought she was disheartened to hear about her current situation, which was hidden.

 Then she said, unusually snorting.

"Why should I be depressed over something like that? I know I don't have time for that when we're about to be going through a difficult time."

 Then she adds.

"It's hard now, but the real hard part won't come until we get home."

"Huh?"

"Isn't that right? This will cause a definite rift between His Majesty and us, the Fregrances. But since we can't go public, we'll have to fight behind the scenes, and I can see how difficult it will be for father to do it alone......"

"Well, yeah, that's right."

"The factional nobles alone are not enough, so we need to contact the other five great nobles as well as the factionless nobles. Well, we can manage that by tracing back grandfather's various connections."

 I get the point. The young lady does not seem intimidated by the threat that now exists in front of her, but rather, she is full of wisdom about the battles that will take place in the noble society after this war.

 I was so impressed by her appearance for the first time, I felt as if it were natural that she had the power to cross over to that place and the place where she was now. My neck is awash with a sense of excitement.

 In fact, there was one major flaw in my strategy that I revealed to everyone at the beginning of the discussion.

 It is that I have no influence in the noble society.

 In other words, I have no power as a noble. Not military might or anything like that, but simply social and diplomatic skills, and the power to act in the dark behind the scenes. In other words, I don't have the power of a true nobleman.

 We and the Croche family have fattened up the land, acquired wealth, and have the power to fight and call ourselves nobles. Or it could be said that the House of Fregrance backs us and we exist as nobles.

 No matter how much I spread the word to the rootless nobles, I do not have the influence to divide the kingdom in two, and the main axis of my strategy must be the main house of Fregrance, and I do not have the power to slip my will into it.

 Therefore, I had no choice but to bet on the unreliable head of the Fregrance family, or so I thought.

 But......

"So as soon as I get home... wait, are you listening!?"

"Eh, ah, yes. I'm listening, I'm listening."

"That's not how one reacts when they're listening."

 It's a different kind of power and strength than my father, who stays at home, or me, or Armes, or Elfie, or the next head of the Croche family.

 I couldn't help but be impressed by that overwhelming power in the noble society from birth and her resolute attitude.

 Because that power is the "power of a true nobleman," which I gave up when I couldn't save my mother in the past, because there was no way I would ever be able to obtain it in my lifetime.

 This is Ritia Fregrance Ojousama.

 The daughter of the Fregrance family, who is called the sword of the kingdom among the five great nobles. I am seeing her true value with my own eyes right now.

 But she didn't even know that...... or perhaps it's so obvious that she didn't even need to know that, I unintentionally smiled as she sighed in dismay.

 In addition to her power as a noble, she has the audacity to think ahead even though a life-or-death situation is spreading out before her, which in a sense is something that the head of the main family does not have.

"But aren't you scared?"

"It's a little scary, but you said you would get us all home safely.

"Well, yes."

"So we will all go home. That's what I believe. So I'm not afraid."

 If I say so implicitly, I believe it and leave it to you. So I confidently say that I am preparing myself for another noble war that could happen later.

 Trusting and leaving it to me. It is easy to say, but it is not easy to entrust one's life to someone else without saying a single word.

"You unexpectedly trust me."

"I trust you. But I don't fully trust you yet."

"Ehh... surprisingly harsh."

 When I said that with my shoulders slumped, the young lady looked a little disheartened, looked away in embarrassment, and muttered something.

"...If I didn't believe you, I wouldn't be alone with you without any attendants, you know."

 The side of the young lady's face turns just a little red as her mouth trembled.

 I felt my heart tighten a little bit at the sight of such a lovely young lady.

"Um, Ojousama. Can you hug me for just a little bit?"

"What? Why?"

 When I spread my hands out and said so on impulse, and naturally, the young lady gave me a dubious look, or perhaps a bit of disgust.

"No, I can't help it because Ojousama looks so cute right now."

"......I want you to fix that part of you before I trust you or believe in you. It's definitely not now, really."

“…………I-I'm sorry.”

 My outstretched hands are empty. No, well, anyone would react like the young lady if I suddenly asked for a hug at this moment.

"Jeez...... you better get your thoughts straight."

"Yes."

 Seeing me depressed, the young lady sighs briefly.

 I felt a sudden shock, and I realized that the young lady was leaning against me with her arms outstretched.

"Eh, ah."

"......Just for a little."

 The young lady muttered as she nuzzles her face against my chest. Her slender body, which is completely in my arms, gives off a slight warmth and a smell similar to citrus fruits that tickles my nose.

 The young lady responded with her hands behind my back, which combined with the stubborn attitude she had earlier, made her look very cute.

 I want to throw all the trouble away and do this all the time, I want to stand next to Lady Ritia as much as possible.

 As if to sew through the gap in my heart that I thought I was prepared for, the evil thoughts that my weak self had created passed through my mind.

"Thank you very much."

 But I can't do that. To stop here would be to send her off to hell. I don't want to do that. Unlike back then when I didn't have the strength to protect my mother, I now have the strength to protect the people I love.

"Nhh, isn't this fine?"

"Yes, it's fine."

 I've been motivated enough, so I'll cut out any more delusions that I may have created, and most of all, I'll cut out the delusions that my weak self has created. There is no light on the path that leads from there, I tell myself.

"......You're doing just fine."

"Eh, what are you... nhh!?"

 The moment I tried to ask the young lady what she meant, whether she was speaking out clearly.

 The young lady and I kissed as I was pulled in by her hands, which passed around my back to my neck.

"Chu."

 A light kiss, with just the slightest touch of our lips.

 But the kiss was unexpected, and the male part of me that I had been suppressing became hot to the core.

"Nnh, chu... nfuu, chu, chu."

 I forcefully break through the young lady's closed lips with my tongue and twirls the little tongue in her hot, rich mouth.

"Nhh, wai... chu, no... nhh, chu."

 As expected, she had intended to kiss me for a bit, but she probably didn't expect the kiss to be so intense.

 The young lady, who moved steadily and released the restraint, muttered in a small voice while blushing.

"W-we can't go any further."

"But just a little more."

"N-no is a no!"

 With a quick movement, the young lady covers her mouth with her hand and defends herself so that I cannot kiss her.

"Well, Ojousama did it in the first place."

"I apologize for that, but there are limits!"

"No, I've been holding back until now, and I think it's terrible to quit now, right?"

 She has a little precious life in her belly that will be the heir to the Fregrance family, so I know I can't go any further, but I'm a man, too. If she kisses me before I go to the place of death, I will not be able to stop myself easily.

"Because if we do more, I'm going to want it."

 She said so, and the young lady blushed with her lips pouting.

"You see......"

 I thought about pushing her down already, but there is no time and it would be dangerous if we both lose our reason and go straight to the end, so I distance myself from her.

 But, well, I'm glad that the young lady didn't look depressed or pale with anxiety.

"I'll ask Rask-dono to take care of the rest, so please listen to him and act accordingly. Otherwise, I will not be able to achieve my goal of getting everyone back safely."

"I-I know, that much!"

 She protests with a frustrated look on her face, perhaps annoyed that she was treated like a child.

 As I stroked her hair to cover it up, the young lady suddenly muttered.

"Promise me you'll get us all home safely."

 With that, she closes the distance between us again. I feel uncomfortable with her words, as though she is trying to get a promise rather than a confirmation.

"Yes, yes, I understand. I'll make sure that Ojousama and all those unsavory rootless people return home safe and sound......"

"It's not that."

"Eh?"

 I was about to say that I would do it regardless of whether they were a rootless or a landowner, when the young lady tells me that it's not. I tilted my head and the young lady took my hand and looked at me with a serious gaze.

"By all, I mean you too. Come back safely, okay?"

“…………”

 I couldn't immediately answer her words.

 To be honest, I could have said yes immediately, even if it was a lie. Or I could have acted like I was joking and said, "I'm going home".

 But now that I could feel the slight trembling of the young lady's hands, I could not say such an irresponsible thing.

 The rear unit is essentially a sacrificial unit. In exchange for their own lives, their allies will safely retreat. The probability of returning alive is next to zero.

"If you come back...... we'll continue as much as you want. I'll do all kinds of naughty things with you. So, come home safely."

 Knowledge of war is almost useless in noble society, but the young lady still correctly understood the meaning of the rear unit. That is why the young lady is saying things that she would not normally say to me so that I would not easily throw away my own life.

"Hey, promise me. Please."

 She spun her request in a small, muffled voice that could have been drowned out by the sound of a bonfire crackling.

 Her jade green eyes are slightly wet and shimmering with anxiety as she gazes up at me.

I quietly embrace the young lady in my arms.

 Instead of embracing her as if we had just been confronting each other with our lust, I gently embrace her with affection and tell her.

"I will do my best."

 This is the best answer I can give. I whisper in her ear my true feelings and determination, as I am in a position where I can never say I will return alive.

"……...Idiot."

 In response to my answer, Lady Ritia muttered.

 Her hands were around my back and she hugged me with such force that it hurt, and her warm tears streamed down our cheeks.

 I guess her stubbornness hasn't changed since we first met, this Ojousama.