在狠狠线噜噜噜

Chapter 106: The Master and Magnolia Talk ①

Translated by AmaLynne

「Pardon me. Count Walker, I have just finished treating Red Dragon-sama and Samuel-dono, and I have come to report to you.」

「Oh, thank you very much, Magnolia-dono. Please have a seat.」

Jonathan Walker, who was putting away papers in his room, sat up from his chair and bowed politely as Magnolia was escorted by a maid.

Magnolia is also a Count, and although she is of the same rank, Jonathan serves her with courtesy since she is the first seat of the court wizard and is also a superior person.

「Thank you. Be my guest.」

Jonathan sat down on the sofa, facing Magnolia.

「You must be tired. If you would like, I could offer you a glass of wine, but you don’t drink alcohol, do you? Then, let me prepare some tea.」

「Thank you for your concern.」

Looked at the maid who was waiting in the room, and she quickly prepared a cup of tea.

The rich aroma lingered in the room, followed by the teacups being placed in front of both of them.

After relieving their thirsts before speaking, Magnolia was the first to open her mouth.

「Samuel-dono is a good and upright boy, isn’t he?」

「Yes, he is. I am very much looking forward to seeing his future.」

「I agree with you. The reason I don’t understand is why the Baron Reinbach gave up such a great talent like him.」

Jonathan was surprised to hear the name「Reinbach」come out of Magnolia’s mouth.

「Did you know him?」

「That’s because Samuel-dono became famous overnight. He is the youngest court wizard, the strongest wizard in the Sky Kingdom, and is capable of fighting even with dragons―――too much to ignore. I am sure that the Count has received various reports as well.」

「I see you know what I’m talking about. As a matter of fact, since this morning we have received numerous offers to have Sam as a son-in-law.」

All the papers Jonathan had been putting away until now were matchmaking offers for Sam.

「He is still a minor despite his remarkable fighting ability and has no ties to his family. He would be a good candidate to take in.」

「What is a headache for me is that I receive letters from the aristocrats asking me, a royalist, to arrange a marriage meeting. What’s more, they include a picture of your daughter.」

Jonathan is beyond dismayed and impressed by the offer from the hostile faction to set up an arranged marriage.

When he looks bitter, Magnolia smiles wryly.

「They think that once they have him as a son-in-law, they will have control over him.」

「If they think that he can manipulate at will, I’m impressed.」

「The aristocrats must be desperate because Albert, the Marquis of Gordon, and the aristocrats who were associated with them are gone. I suppose it is more convenient for Count Walker and his friends.」

「You are right. For us, the royalists, this is a good opportunity to crush the aristocrats.」

It will not be possible to dismantle the noble faction.

Even if we do, there is a possibility that another faction will be created or a small knight faction will grow.

It would be better to keep them at a level where they cannot move.

The king and others in the country want to quickly put an end to the silly factional strife within the country.

However, it will not be so easy because factional strife is a negative aspect of the aristocracy that has existed since ancient times.

「How does the Count think of the future of Samuel-dono?」

「What do you mean by「how」?」

Jonathan, not understanding Magnolia’s question, asked back.

「As I told him earlier, I would like to marry my granddaughter, Karen, to Samuel-dono.」

「―――Magnolia-dono?」

Jonathan voiced his confusion at Magnolia’s too-sudden thought.

Magnolia continued to speak with a smile on her face.

「We, the Magnolia Clan, are a family whose mission is to preserve the blood of the best wizards.」

「I know that.」

If Jonathan remembered correctly, the Magnolia Clan was a family from a continent far away from the Sky Kingdom.

It is said that they were skilled in various kinds of magic and served the king of that country.

However, the country became corrupt and civil war broke out repeatedly. The ancestors of the Magnolias were so fed up with this that they left the country and traveled from place to place, taking in the blood of excellent wizards in various places, until they found their way to the Kingdom of Skye.

With such ancestors, Magnolia, her husband, her daughter and husband’s wife, and her granddaughter were all excellent magicians.

「My granddaughter is skilled in recovery magic, just like me and I think she is an excellent magician, even if she is not favored by her own family. I think she will be a good partner for Samuel-dono.」