Tested Love

“…So, what is this situation?”

I grumbled with a sour face while walking down the street of the castle town.

Why am I sour?

Because I’m in a bad mood.

Why am I in a bad mood?

Because the ones next to me right now aren’t Letitia, but the suffocating Class F boys.

Matthias, stuffing his cheeks with a hot dog bought from a stall, said:

“Whatever do you mean, isn’t it obvious? The men of Class F are deepening our friendship.”

“Why do I have to deepen friendship with you guys…”

“Well, you are the ‘King,’ right? You gotta get along with your subjects. More importantly, want a hot dog?”

“I don’t want it. Or rather, it’s unexpected for you to eat stall food.”

“I like junk food.”

Matthias devoured the hot dog, mokyu-mokyu.

The Wolf Marquis house is ridiculously rich, so he should be able to eat as much luxurious food as he wants.

Despite that, preferring junk food… this guy has eccentric tastes too…

—Let’s go back a bit.

Why did I suddenly end up going out into the city with the Class F boys?

It was because of Letitia’s proposal.

“Since the “King” of Class F has been decided, I think we should deepen our friendship a little.”

The members of Class F agreed to this.

However, since ten people moving together would be a large group, we decided to split into a boys’ group and a girls’ group.

So right about now, Letitia and the others are enjoying a Girls’ Gathering? I suppose.

And so, it flowed that we would have a Boys’ Gathering but—honestly, I don’t know what to do.

I’m not that familiar with the castle town yet, and Letitia and the others are at Shanoa’s tearoom.

In the first place, what is so sad that five guys have to date in the middle of town…

Ah~, I want to go to Letitia…

“Don’t make such a bored face, Baron Odrant.”

Ivan said admonishingly.

I thought he was the type to hate this kind of fraternizing, but unexpectedly, he’s on board.

“We are now a community bound by destiny. It is more rational to be somewhat friendly than to be at each other’s throats forever.”

“Hearing that from you…”

“I am aware of my shamelessness. Even so, allow me to say it.”

…Hmm, maybe he intends to take on the role of the hated one.

Well, as you can see, Ivan is the type of human who acts as a strategist within an organization.

Often, strategists tend to be resented.

Because they have to bluntly say the things that are hard to say to anyone.

Maybe he’s behaving this way consciously because he has a prior record.

Just in case, it might be Ivan’s form of making amends.

“That is right, ‘King’! Let us strong ones get along!”

Rowen slapped my back in a familiar manner, ban-ban.

It hurts slightly.

You have decent muscle, so don’t hit blindly…

“Strong ones, huh… Even though you were almost instantly killed by me?”

“Fugu!?”

“If you could at least become as strong as Leo, I could recognize you as strong~”

“Kuhoo!?”

Rowen suffered emotional damage.

I only intended to hurt him a little, but it seems it was major damage to him.

But this is also a request from me to him.

If he is a martial artist who values military prowess, I don’t want him to be satisfied with his current strength.

Most likely, Rowen can still get stronger.

His instincts aren’t bad.

I don’t know if he can become as strong as Leonil, but surely he can become about the next strongest.

If he becomes that way, I can push all the trouble with other classes onto him.

I want him to do his best.

“N-Now now, Baron Odrant. Leave it at that…”

Finally, Leonil reproved me with a bitter smile.

But after pausing for a breath,

“But… I couldn’t have imagined it.”

“? What?”

“That I would be walking shoulder to shoulder with nobles like this—is what I mean.”

Leonil spoke with deep emotion.

“When I first entered the Royal Academy, I thought I might not be able to make friends. Because I’m from a commoner background.”

“…”

“I was prepared to finish school life in solitude. But meeting you changed everything. Let me thank you again.”

“S-Stop it… I didn’t do anything.”

Being thanked so formally and boldly makes my back itch.

Good grief, he’s as honest as ever, or rather, simply foolish…

—Just as I was thinking that.

“Kyaaaaaaaa!!!”

Suddenly, a scream echoed through the city.

“P-Pickpocket! Someone catch them!”

Looking, I saw a pair of men grabbing a woman’s bag and running away.

Apparently, it’s a “snatch-and-run.”

“! Those guys—!”

“Ah~ah, what a pain. Leo, I leave one to you.”

Naturally, we can’t pretend not to see.

But for me to catch two alone is too tedious.

I’ll have Leo do one.

“Understood!”

We kicked the ground almost simultaneously.

The snatchers seemed to be trying to run with all their might, but their speed was nowhere near ours.

“I won’t let you escape.”

Leo caught up first and laid a hand on the first one.

Then, grabbing his arm, he threw him over his shoulder, slamming the man’s body hard onto the stone pavement.

“Guhoo!”

“Wh-What!?”

“You’re the only one left, petty thief.”

“D-Damn!”

Maybe panicking because his partner was taken down, the remaining one fled from the main street into a side street.

Thinking if he gets into the alley, he’s got it made?

Idiot.

Like I’d lose you.

I quickly entered the alley too, leaping between the walls of the buildings to close the distance at once.

Tag is over—

“Freeze—<Esmeralda>”

However, right before I caught up to the man—

Intense cold enveloped the surroundings.

As if a blizzard had attacked only the place where we were.

“Wha…t…!?”

In the next moment, an “Ice Spirit” appeared before my eyes.

A spirit with a female silhouette made entirely of ice and frost.

No mistake, this is—”Summoning Magic.”

“Guo…!? M-My body, won’t mov…!?”

The Ice Spirit floated as if dancing around the snatcher.

Then his body froze over before my eyes, instantly rendering him immobile.

To freeze a human body this quickly implies tremendous magic power.

“—Oh my? I heard a voice saying it was a pickpocket… Was I disturbing you?”

Belatedly, a woman who appeared to be a noble, accompanied by servants, appeared.

Seeing her figure, I couldn’t hide my shock.

“Leti…tia…?”

She resembled her—too much.

Long, beautiful platinum hair,

Skin pure white as snow,

Blue eyes reminiscent of ice,

Wait, it’s exactly like her.

Like the figure of my wife, Letitia.

But looking closely, she feels a bit older than Letitia.

She looks more mature, one might say.

As if—even if told this was Letitia from a few years in the future, I might believe it—

“E-Erm… You…”

“Are you a student of the Royal Academy? Were you chasing the snatcher for us?”

“W-Well, sort of…”

“Admirable. Moving for the sake of the people is a very good attitude. It is splendid.”

Floating a smile, the Letitia-lookalike praised me gently.

Then, Leonil arrived late.

“Heey, Baron Odrant! The snatcher is—wait, huh? Madam Letitia…? Why are you here…?”

It seems Leonil also mistook her for Letitia, showing a confused appearance.

Hearing his remark, this time the Letitia-lookalike made a surprised face.

“Baron Odrant, you say…? Could you be, Baron Alban Odrant?”

“Eh? Ah, yeah, I am…”

“…”

For some reason, the Letitia-lookalike’s expression became grim.

She was silent for a short while, then,

“…I see, so it is you… My sister has been in your care.”

“Sister…? Then you mean—”

“Yes, my name is Olivia Barrow. Letitia Barrow is… my little sister.”

▲ ▲ ▲

“So this is the Barrow Duke’s estate… It’s pretty impressive…”

“Yeah, to think the day would come when we’d be visiting the Barrow residence…”

Matthias and Ivan looked on with admiration.

Rowen also wore a surprised expression.

Leonil, too, looked nervous, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

“Um, excuse us. To think we’d be invited along with Baron Odrant…”

“Please, do not let it concern you. If you are my sister’s schoolmates, it is only proper manners to show hospitality.”

Facing him, Olivia-san sat in her chair with a faint smile, elegantly sipping her tea.

—The group of five guys, having gone from a “Boys’ Gathering” to a “Snatch-and-Run Chase Sequence.”

After that, for some reason, we were invited to her mansion and are now being treated to tea.

Yes—in other words—

I am currently at the “Barrow Duke’s Estate.”

I have stumbled into Letitia’s family home in a completely unexpected way.

How did it end up like this? Like Seriously.

“…Do you find your wife’s family home that uncomfortable, Baron Odrant?”

As if seeing right through my inner thoughts, Olivia-san asked.

“N-No, it’s not really that…”

“Please rest assured. My father, the head of the house, is a busy man, so he is not currently at the estate. You need not be so tense.”

Oh, is that so.

Then I can relax—wait, no!

Sure, meeting my father-in-law at this point would be awkward, but just being invited into the family home is already awkward enough!

Moreover, her actual biological sister is right in front of me!

Asking me not to be nervous is asking for the impossible, isn’t it!?

“…Still, I was surprised. I knew Letitia had sisters, but I didn’t think you’d look so exactly alike.”

“People have said that since long ago. That we are sisters who look very much alike. Though, I am five years her senior.”

Five years, huh.

I see, no wonder she looked more mature.

Her atmosphere is identical too, which makes it even more—

…No, it’s a little different.

What is this? How should I put it—I feel a prickly sensation.

Is it close to hostility?

It feels like I’m being vaguely guarded against.

She’s probably trying desperately to hide it, but I’m sensitive to this kind of feeling, so I can tell immediately.

But there is no killing intent.

Therefore, it feels unnatural.

…Let’s try fishing for information a bit.

“By the way, I was a little curious.”

“Oh my, about what?”

“That summoning magic earlier… You summoned a pretty powerful spirit, but where did you acquire that level of technique?”

“I am an official working for the Ministry of Magic. I serve as a Department Head in the division that advances magical research, so being able to do that much is only natural.”

Whoa, the Ministry of Magic.

That’s quite a lofty name to drop.

The Vahlrund Kingdom Ministry of Magic is a research institution that gathers the most elite mages in the country.

For those who pride themselves on their magic, being a Ministry employee is considered a star profession.

To serve as a Department Head there…

It is possible that when it comes to magic, she might be a tier above me.

It naturally makes sense.

As expected of Letitia’s sister.

“…I have a question as well, if I may.”

Suddenly, Olivia-san asked.

“Is Letitia doing well?”

“Eh? Yeah, she’s doing great.”

“That is good to hear. We haven’t exchanged letters for a while, and there was that incident a month ago, so…”

Well, it is a fact that there were various troubles.

The Letitia kidnapping incident became the talk of the Royal Capital, after all.

Even so, she was worried about her…

I had assumed Letitia was treated like a taboo subject within the Barrow family.

“…By the by, Baron Odrant. I heard a story that you and Letitia are very harmonious.”

“Eh, really? Man, that’s embarrassing~. It’s not that big of a deal~.”

I scratched the tip of my nose with my finger, feeling bashful.

Is the fact that Letitia and I are lovebirds such a hot topic?

So embarrassing~.

Well, it is a fact that I love her from the bottom of my heart, though~.

While I was internally gushing like that—

“……”

Olivia-san stared at me with eyes that seemed to be appraising me.

It was close to a look of suspicion.

Ugh… Awkward…

Being appraised by my wife’s sister is so nerve-wracking…

Ah, crap, I need to pee a little…

“S-Sorry, could I borrow the restroom for a moment?”

“In that case, go out into the hallway and go straight—…No, that’s a hassle. Shall I guide you?”

“Eh? N-No, I couldn’t possibly impose on you that much…”

“Please do not hold back. This mansion is far too large as it is.”

She stood up from her chair and headed toward the room’s door as if inviting me.

Couldn’t she at least leave the guiding to a servant…?

Wait, acting on her own initiative rather than relying on subordinates… that part feels similar to Letitia too.

With no other choice, I left the room with her, and we proceeded down the long hallway together.

The Barrow estate is far larger and more gorgeous than the mansion in the Odrant territory; it certainly lives up to the reputation of being one of the country’s leading noble houses.

So Letitia grew up in such a luxurious environment…

She really hasn’t complained once about my mansion.

She truly is a good wife…

Maybe in the future, I should greatly renovate the Odrant mansion for Letitia…?

“…Hey, Baron Odrant.”

Olivia-san, walking in front of me, spoke without turning around.

“Tell me. What is my sister to you?”

“What—you ask… She’s my precious wife.”

“Truly?”

“It’s obvious. To me, she is the most important person in the world.”

I answered without a single hesitation.

Then, “…To think such words would come from the mouth of that ‘Lowest of the Low Baron’.”

She spoke in a whisper, a very small voice.

Then she stopped, and,

“In that case—allow me to test you.”

▲ ▲ ▲

—Wha, what?

—What, happened?

Did I lose consciousness?

Since when?

Where is this?

Why is it burning?

…Burning?

What is?

I lifted my face.

And the scene reflected in my eyes.

It was—the Odrant estate, burning violently.

“My… house is…!”

It’s burning.

My home in my hometown.

The place packed with memories of Letitia and Sebas, the place I should eventually return to.

Why—how come—

“…Alban.”

A voice came from behind.

When I turned around—Letitia was there.

But something was wrong.

Her clothes were stained with bright red blood, and a knife was gripped in her hand.

Blood dripped from the blade of the knife, making it clear she had harmed someone.

“Letitia…?”

“Alban… It’s your fault.”

“Eh—?”

“When I’m with you, I become unhappy. So…”

In the next instant, Letitia lunged toward me.

And,

“…Die.”

She thrust the knife into my abdomen.

“Gu—a—hh!?”

Blood spurred out.

Her hands were dyed red with my blood.

Clear killing intent.

Letitia is trying to kill me.

Why—

Why would she do this to me—

This is like a nightmare, isn’t it—!

…

……

………Nightmare?

That’s right, something feels off.

Could it be, this is—

I pushed my body, with the knife still buried in it, forcefully forward—and embraced Letitia.

“Letitia… I love you.”

“——”

The moment I hugged her, the strength in Letitia’s hand gripping the knife gradually weakened.

Then she released the knife—and slowly embraced me back.

We, husband and wife, holding each other.

But in the next instant, everything vanished.

The burning mansion and Letitia disappeared, and simultaneously, my five senses were lost.

My vision blacked out, a sensation of falling somewhere.

And when I snapped back to reality, the hallway of the Barrow estate and Olivia-san were reflected in my eyes.

“…At what point did you realize?”

Olivia-san asked with a slightly surprised expression.

“I knew it, it was Illusion Magic, wasn’t it?”

I took a deep breath, hiding the palpitations that still hadn’t settled.

—<Illusion Magic>.

A type of S-Rank magic that shows hallucinations by putting the target in a state of confusion.

Its effect projects scenes that the target finds terrifying before their eyes.

It’s my first time actually getting hit by it, but this is unbearable…

I didn’t think it was such a tasteless magic.

“I realized it when Letitia stabbed me with the knife. That was when I became convinced.”

I dared to float a fearless smile, showing off my composure.

As a bit of retaliation, at least.

“I will absolutely never make Letitia unhappy, and Letitia would absolutely never betray me. Therefore, that scene was absolutely impossible.”

“…”

“Because I know that, I was able to realize immediately, ‘Ah, I’m just having a nightmare’.”

In the end, it was just a bad dream.

A devil’s prank seen on a sleepless night.

But nightmares like that generally do not become reality.

At the very least, me making Letitia unhappy, or Letitia trying to kill me—that will never happen for all eternity.

“—I lost. It’s a complete defeat.”

Olivia raised both hands as if to say ‘I give up.’

“My illusion magic is said to be the best in the kingdom, but this ruins my reputation. You really are amazing.”

“Thanks for that. So, why did you cast illusion magic on me? Depending on your answer…”

Even if she is Letitia’s sister, I won’t show mercy.

I will consider her an adversary trying to tear Letitia and me apart.

I braced myself to enter combat at any moment, but:

“Isn’t it obvious? I wanted to test if you were worthy of being my sister’s husband.”

She said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“My cute, cute little sister was married off to a man called the ‘Lowest of the Low Baron,’ you know? It is only natural that I, as her sister, would want to verify his worth.”

“Eh…? I-Is that so…?”

“Listen well? Letitia is intelligent, brave, dignified, and the most beautiful girl in this kingdom. Truth be told, I wanted to keep her under my wing for her entire life without letting her marry anyone!”

“H-Haa…”

Huh…?

Somehow the direction of the conversation is getting weird…?

“Letitia has been truly cute, so cute since she was little, so much so that it wouldn’t even hurt to put her in my eye…! To the point where I think there is no ideal sister in this world who surpasses that child!”

“Well… Letitia is the ideal wife to me too…”

“! You understand!? You understand me!? That’s right, that child is the ideal! She is a genius! She is an angel! She is number one in the world!”

“I-I understand…! Letitia is number one in the world! There is no angel who surpasses her!”

“Exactly! She is the Archangel Leticiel! She is an existence that will eventually become the savior of this country!”

Olivia-san, shouting loudly, let out a breath, “Fuu,” and continued.

“That child has been smart and kind since long ago, so she tends to take on any problem all by herself…”

“I understand…”

“After she went to Duke Mauro’s house, she rarely replied even when I sent letters, so I was worried she might be shouldering some problem alone… but when I heard her engagement was annulled, I thought I would go mad with hatred…!”

“I understand…!”

“That’s right! Anyone who brings harm to Letitia should just fall into hell!”

“I UNDERSTAND!!!”

Olivia-san and I agreed with each other fiercely.

She calmed her rough breathing, and then:

“Haa… Haa… Back then, I was thinking about how I would take revenge on Mauro—but you solved everything, didn’t you?”

Olivia-san spoke somewhat happily, yet a little lonely.

“After the Barrow family could no longer protect Letitia and she was forced to marry the ‘Lowest of the Low Baron’… a single letter arrived after that. It said, ‘I am currently living happily’.”

“…”

“At first, I couldn’t believe it. But after the Mauro incident, I started hearing various rumors… and I began to think that I absolutely had to test you someday.”

“And that was today?”

“Yes. Allow me to apologize for doing something lacking in delicacy. I am sorry.”

—I see.

So her sister Olivia-san was that worried about Letitia.

“…But if you’re that worried, why don’t you go meet her?”

“Because it is forbidden. By my father. He told me not to get involved with my sister as much as possible, and not to do anything that would smear mud on the family name myself.”

Olivia-san clicked her tongue, tch.

…I see, the relationship chart within the Barrow family seems to be quite complicated too.

However, being unable to meet her precious sister because of the patriarch’s order… that’s kind of pitiable…

“Ufufu… But it’s fine. Either way, Father will eventually retire and I will seize the power of the Barrow house; when that time comes, I will welcome Letitia back once again…!”

“Does that mean—you intend to tear Letitia and me apart?”

“No, that is different.”

Saying that, Olivia-san smoothly extended her hand.

“Alban Odrant. It seems you and I will get along. As long as you remain a comrade who wishes for my sister’s happiness—I am your ally.”

“! That goes without saying.”

I firmly grasped her hand.

What a coincidence.

I thought I’d get along with you too.

Fellow believers in “Letitia is the best!” seem like they can get along well, yes yes.

—However, with this, I’ve deepened my connection with the Barrow Duke house behind the scenes.

It’s good to know that Letitia has an ally.

In addition, Olivia-san is a heavyweight in the Ministry of Magic.

There’s no loss in establishing a connection.

Just as I was thinking that,

“Also, I have a request for you.”

“A request?”

“If… some scoundrel appears who tries to harm Letitia again…”

“I will annihilate them. Thoroughly.”

“Splendid. Lovely.”

“Because it is for none other than Letitia.”

“Right, for none other than Letitia.”

“Kukuku… It seems Olivia-san and I really will get along.”

“Ufufu… Indeed.”

We both floated fearless smiles.

I felt like I had gained a soul friend.

“If you need my power, say so anytime. If it is for my cute sister, I will lend you as much strength as you need.”

“That is a grateful offer. Then, if the opportunity arises, I will rely on you without hesitation.”

I answered casually.

Thinking of it as just a social pleasantry.

But—at this time, I still hadn’t imagined it.

That a short while later, the opportunity to truly borrow her power would arrive—