Chapter 480 - Chapter 7: Parents' Hearts, Children's Ignorance
"It seems our Amanda is spending her time quite freely and unrestrainedly..."
The mansion of the Grand Ducal House of Arqvist. After the regular meeting, it was the time when the vassals exchanged casual conversation. The one who spoke with a sigh was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bart.
Amanda, the daughter of Bart and Michelle, is currently studying abroad in Lichthagen, the capital of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg, as one of the attendants to Crown Prince Eleos Arqvist.
"Unrestrained... are you talking about the letter that arrived the other day? What on earth was written in it?"
The one who asked was the Captain of the Imperial Guard, Pence, who had also sent his own child, Nikolai, to study abroad.
Just a few days ago, the Skinner Company—the designated trading company of the Grand Ducal House—had brought back letters from Eleos and the noble children along with imported goods from Lichthagen. For those like Pence who had sent their children abroad, these were precious letters that allowed them to learn about their children's recent circumstances.
"Well, the first half was quite normal, describing recent daily life, the progress of studies, and child-like stories about how some sweets eaten at a certain shop in the royal capital were delicious... but from the second half, it was like a critique of the children of the Kingdom's nobility she met at school."
Bart continued, wearing a wry smile and sighing further.
"Names, the reputation of their family homes, the individuals' appearances and personalities, the impressions she got when talking to them—it's all written however she pleases. Regarding a few of them, it seems she received gifts, and she detailed exactly who gave what... Honestly, no joke, I'm starting to think she might bring back a husband when she returns."
"Hahaha, that sounds like Amanda. Well, she is a man-teaser, but she's a clever girl. She won't easily decide on a partner due to a momentary lapse in judgment, nor will she swap men thoughtlessly. She'll play to her heart's content during her youth and, in the end, choose a partner she can firmly trust. Just like a certain someone."
"When you put it that way... I have no choice but to be convinced. At the very least, she's far more wholesome than her father."
To Pence, who offered words of comfort with a wry smile, Bart replied with a hint of resignation. Considering his own behavior in his youth, Bart felt he was in no position to complain about a daughter who was merely critiquing her schoolmates.
"Amanda-chan is used to attracting the attention of boys from the start, so isn't that actually more reassuring? Compared to that, our Theodore..."
"What is it, what happened with Theodore? He's the quiet type. He wouldn't cause any trouble."
To the Minister of Finance, Anna, who joined the conversation, the Minister of Military Affairs, Yuri, asked in turn.
"The boy himself seems to be spending his school life safely... but according to the letter, it seems there are quite a few daughters of the Kingdom's nobility who are kind to him. To think that boy is so liked by girls."
"""...Ah."""
At Anna's lament, Yuri and the others muttered as if they understood.
Theodore's father, Edgar, had features that were somewhat faint but fell into the handsome category, and his mother, Anna, was considerably youthful and beautiful considering her age. Inheriting that blood, Theodore usually had a thin presence and thus wasn't talked about much, but he had features that anyone would recognize as a beautiful boy.
With a slender and small frame combined with a shy personality, it was easy to imagine that he was an existence that greatly tickled the protective instincts of girls of that age.
Furthermore, in terms of family standing, he was from one of the noble houses closest to the Grand Ducal House of the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, an important allied state of the Kingdom. For the daughters of small-to-medium noble houses within the Kingdom of Rhodeberg who couldn't expect a particularly good marriage proposal, Theodore could be called a prime piece of property that would be beneficial to get close to.
"When he was in the Grand Duchy, there were no girls who would clumsily approach him because of his position, so no matter how you look at it, he has no immunity to the opposite sex. I can't help but worry that he'll be caught by some strange girl..."
"I understand the feeling, but combined with Amanda's case, worry is unnecessary. Theodore is probably always with everyone anyway, and my Yakov is with him too."
Yuri spoke while crossing his arms. Yuri's heir, Yakov, was the oldest among the noble children studying abroad and practically served as everyone's guardian at school.
"How was Yakov-kun's letter?"
"...It's like a work report. It conveys that his study abroad life is without problem, though."
"Yes, truly. I wish he would write a bit more about personal things... well, if you say it's like him, it is like him."
Yuri answered Anna's question with a sigh, and Mai nodded as well. Hearing that, Anna and the others showed faint wry smiles with convinced faces. Yakov's cleverness and earnestness were known to everyone.
"As for Radley-san's Sasha-chan... is she perhaps absorbed in martial arts?"
"Spot on. It seems she's spending all her time on mock battles and other training with the children of the Kingdom's nobility. She says she won against older boys, or won even in a two-on-one; well, it seems she's having fun."
When Bart asked, Radley nodded. The reason his expression was somewhat grim was perhaps because he was a bit appalled by his daughter's tomboyish nature.
"Then, in a sense, our Nikolai is the most normal one..."
Pence said as if muttering.
The letters from Nikolai were basically mundane in content, but as for the fact that he was terribly worried about Amanda's behavior toward the children of the Kingdom's nobility and was clearly still conscious of her, he left that unmentioned out of parental consideration.
"...In the end, it means everyone is having fun."
"That's how it is. I wasn't particularly worried to begin with, but it's for the best."
Bart, who had started this topic, spoke as if to summarize, and Yuri nodded, closing the conversation.
While the children were enjoying their study abroad lives, their homeland, the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, remained peaceful as always.
This is a notice regarding a work other than this one.
The latest book by author Enoki Surume,
"Friedrich's Battlefield 1: The Young Genius Strategist's First Battle, The Beginning of a Heroic Tale Starting from a Lie"
will be released on July 25, 2024.
The wonderful illustrations and character designs were handled by Iwamoto Zerogo-sensei.
It is a war chronicle where the protagonist grows through battle while overcoming trials and anguish.
I would be happy if you could pick up a copy. Thank you very much.