Konbini Ossan Volume 4 Chapter 7 — Off to the Royal Palace
For now, I decided to shelve the issue Maria had pointed out. Instead, I turned my focus to matters concerning the factory.
A few days later, Marceline summoned me to the royal palace regarding the procedures for purchasing land.
It seems that simply selling me land would look improper, so the kingdom decided to award me a title of honorary nobility in recognition of the enormous profit I had brought them.
The title would last only a single generation, but since the land was being granted as a reward rather than tied to the title, it would be treated as personal property.
In other words, I would have the status of nobility in name only.
With that, I was to attend to the related paperwork and then take part in a simple ennoblement ceremony at the palace.
And so, here I was on the appointed day, in Marceline-san’s office, listening to her explain all this.
“I see. So what do I need to do today?”
“First, let’s finish the paperwork here. The ennoblement ceremony will take place in the afternoon.
…
Until then you’ll have time to spare, so please pass it in a reception room or however you like.
…
The ceremony isn’t complicated, so as long as you learn the procedure beforehand there won’t be a problem.”
“Understood.”
Which meant, essentially, that I would have some free time to look around the palace.
Most likely the heroes were still here. I doubted they would all be sent to the battlefield at once, so at least some of them should still remain.
This was also a chance to make contact with them.
“By the way, Otsugi-dono.”
“Yes?”
“I hear you’ve finally decided to settle down.”
I froze, unable to immediately grasp what she meant.
For a fleeting moment, my mind even strayed to wondering if there was a skill for hardening the body.
Settle down — meaning marriage.
It seemed word had reached Marceline that I had taken the receptionist Shirley into my employ.
“Where did you hear that?”
“It’s quite the rumor in town. They say the cave dwarf is finally taking a wife.”
I had a bad habit of forgetting how much attention my appearance alone drew.
Now that she mentioned it, it made sense. If a strange man well-known in the neighborhood suddenly showed up with a wife — three of them, no less — it would of course become the talk of the town.
“Still, I didn’t think you paid much heed to gossip. You seem very well informed.”
“The rumor was so widespread I couldn’t help but hear it. And when I listened more closely, it turned out the subject was none other than you, Otsugi-dono.
…
I was rather surprised. I thought we were relatively close friends, and yet you never once gave me any hint.”
Well, that was because I never had any such intentions to begin with.
Not that I could say that aloud.
“Haha, well, I suppose so.”
At times like this, the safest course is to laugh vaguely and agree vaguely. If I never specify exactly what I agreed to, I can always wriggle out of it later.
“Hmm. So perhaps that is all I am to you — just such a person.”
“Ah — well, how should I put it?”
An equally vague denial is another useful tool.
With vague affirmations and vague denials, one can converse without giving any real answers, adjusting depending on what the other person seems to want.
“Since things have turned out this way, I’ll be honest. The truth is, I had my sights set on you as well.”
“…What?”
Marceline suddenly dropped that bomb with a lonely look on her face.
Why would she reveal such a thing now, in the middle of this conversation?
And what exactly did she mean by having her sights set on me?
Was she, too, hoping I would take her as my bride?
I had no shortage of questions. I turned a questioning look toward Marceline.
“Don’t look so troubled, Otsugi-dono. It’s just a confession, nothing more. I have no intention of acting on it now.”
Most likely, I was troubled for reasons she hadn’t even imagined. Well, I couldn’t say that either. Best to let the flow carry me and hear her out.
“Since when?”
“Since the day we first met. That day, you spoke kindly to me about my work. It was the first time anyone had done that.
…
Many have praised me, but no man had ever, upon a first meeting with the commander of the royal knights, offered words of sympathy. It must have been love at first sight.”
She spoke with deep feeling. Heavy. The words were heavy. And the responsibility they carried was heavier still.
This was far beyond my capacity to handle.
“Ever since then, I’ve caught myself thinking — how happy I would be if I had a home to return to, free of obligations, where I’d be met with kind and gentle words.
…
As I imagined that, a sudden loneliness welled up in me. For the first time, I felt the desire to marry.
…
And at the same time, the face that came to mind was yours, Otsugi-dono.”
The more I listened, the clearer her seriousness became. To me, who had never once thought of courting her, this was like a bolt from the blue.
My feelings were split — half flattered, half panicked.
Of course I was happy to be liked, but I had no idea how to respond, and that confusion was rising fast.
“Since then, I’ve always had you in my sights. Even this time, when I heard you’d be made an honorary noble, I thought it was one step closer to marriage. I even let myself get carried away.”
“And… why is that?”
“As commander of the knights, my rank is nearly equal to that of nobility. Unless my partner was an honorary noble or of noble birth, the status gap would be too wide.
…
With this, I thought that obstacle had been cleared, and the wind was finally at my back. Well — it seems I was mistaken.”
Marceline let out a long sigh.
And truthfully, I wanted to sigh as well. The situation was so tangled I felt like crying out.
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E/N:
Took you long enough, Marceline-dono!!! And Ossan now has no way to escape, he has to answer their feelings or… *yandere noise intensifies* 😂 👹
But wait, did I hear correctly? He's considering Arisa-chan too?! Aw hell naw!
Stay tuned!
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