Novice Alchemist 5-38 part 2

 

Chapter 5-38 : Epilogue Ⅲ (part 2)

 

Iris-san had prepared a marriage certificate just in case so that I could deal with Baronet Kirk as the heir of the Lotze Family. However, I’m glad that we didn’t have to use it.

「You see, normally, it takes a long time to send documents to the royal capital from a remote region like this, but it will only take a second with your transfer device, right? I planned to use it in case you messed up.」(Iris)

As a commoner, I won’t be able to win against a baronet, so the only way is to become a noble too. Therefore, the marriage certificate between me and Iris-san could be useful.

If we sent it to my master, who was in the royal capital, with my Transfer Device, I could I ask her to submit it to the government.

The nobility would officially be recognized only after the government accepted it, but the authority of the decision-making for the marriage rests with the head of the family.

「By the way, we have also prepared an application letter to transfer the headship of The Lotze Family to you. If you marry Iris and become the head of the Lotze Family, you will have a chance to win against Baronet Kirk.」(Kate)

「Y, You did that far!? Uhh…」(Sarasa)

I think that’s too much…

No… That might be too much, but I appreciate them for preparing all that for my sake.

In the end, we didn’t have to use all the documents they prepared, but perhaps I should say thank you at least…?

「Nonetheless, thank you, Iris-san, Kate-san.」(Sarasa)

「Oh? So you agree with our marriage!? Then, let me use your Transfer Device, I will send the documents to your master! Ahh, I’m glad the documents I worked so hard to prepare didn’t go to waste!」(Iris)

While saying that, Iris-san took out the documents from her bag and put them on the table.

The documents on the table were official documents created in a formal format, and all I needed to do was sign them to turn them into legal documents.

「H, Hold on! I just said thank you. I didn’t say I agree with our marriage. In the first place, why did you bring all these documents? Baronet Kirk has been captured, so we no longer need them, right? You should say, “I’m glad I didn’t have to use them” instead of bringing them to me.」(Sarasa)

「Ahaha… I thought the same thing at first, but…」(Iris)

Iris-san looked away and scratched her cheek with her index finger awkwardly for some reason.

Seeing Iris-san’s awkward behavior, Kate-san smiled bitterly at me and started explaining in her stead.

「Store Owner-san, the thing is, even after we received the news about Baronet Kirk being captured, Madam Lotzeー I mean, Iris’ mother kept persuading Iris to marry you. She said, “If you plan on continuing your job as a Collector, then capture Miss Sarasa’s heart! Considering your age, I think it will be difficult for you to find a man and get into a normal marriage.”」(Kate)

「I… I see…」(Sarasa)

「Well, you see, I’m already twenty years old. It might still be considered young age for common people, but for us, nobles, twenty years old is considered too old for marriage. Normally, nobles get married at fifteen to seventeen years old after all. Besides, I’m aware that I’m not pretty as a woman. No man would marry a tomboy woman like me for sure.」(Iris)

「Eh? That’s not true! I do think you are cute, though. Right, Lorea-chan?」(Sarasa)

「Un! I agree with Sarasa-san! Iris-san, you are cute!」(Lorea)

「Hehe, thanks. I think you guys are the only ones who think that way.」(Iris)

「Iris-san…」(Lorea)

「……..」(Sarasa)

「Well, even if there was a man who thought I was cute, I don’t think he would be willing to spend his fortune to financially help my family.」(Iris)

The daughters of aristocrats normally get married as soon as they reach adulthood, which was at the age of fifteen, so getting married at the age of twenty could be considered too late.

Iris-san denied it but I do think she is a beautiful woman and I think she will be popular if she appears in the social circles among young nobles.

Still, the marriage among nobles is not determined by looks alone.

「In order to pay off my debt to you and to help my family financially, I can’t stop working as a Collector, so… You understand what I’m trying to say, right, Store Owner-dono?」(Iris)

「Well…」(Sarasa)

Iris-san was awkwardly playing with her fingers while talking to me.

When I sighed and looked away from her, Kate-san continued as if trying to persuade me more.

「We managed to avoid conflict with Baronet Kirk further thanks to Prince Ferik this time, but it doesn’t mean that there will be no nobles who try to mess with you in the future, right? You are a genius alchemist who is quite famous in this region after all. I think you better have a noble status just in case. It will come in handy someday for sure.」(Kate)

「Uhh, that might be true, but… I don’t think I will get into trouble with a noble anytime soon, so…」(Sarasa)

「Are you sure? Look. You haven’t even lived in this region for a year, but you drew Baron Kirk’s attention already. You even got His Highness Prince Ferik involved. No one knows what kind of people will bring you troubles in the future.」(Kate)

「Th, That’s… You may be right…」(Sarasa)

「Right? Your life will be safer if you sign these documents and marry Iris, don’t you think?」(Kate)

「But…」(Sarasa)

「You just need to sign them. It’s simple.」(Kate)

「Ugh… Iris-san, are you really sure you want to marry me?」(Sarasa)

「Of course! You are the most wonderful person I’ve ever met in my life!」(Iris)

「W, Well… Thank you, I guess… L, Lorea-chan, how about you? What do you think?」(Sarasa)

It became more and more difficult to deny, so I couldn’t help but ask Lorea-chan, hoping she would help me.

However, Lorea-chan tilted her head and smiled.

「Sarasa-san and Iris-san are getting married, huh…? I think it’s a good idea!」(Lorea)

「Lo, Lorea-chan!?」(Sarasa)

I felt like I got kicked off the ladder after hearing an unexpected answer from Lorea-chan.

She used to be on my side, but it seemed that the Lorea-chan I knew had gone…

「…Why?」(Sarasa)

「First of all, your life will be safer that way, and if you and Iris-san get married, the four of us can continue living together like this in this shop.」(Lorea)

If I don’t marry Iris-san, her mother will tell her to stop working as a Collector. As a result, she will leave this place for sure.

Lorea-chan doesn’t want our current life to change, so I can understand why she has no reason to strongly deny this idea of marriage.

「I love Sarasa-san, of course, but I also love Iris-san and Kate-san. We are family. I really hope we can all be together for a long, long time.」(Lorea)

「Lorea-chan… Un! Me too! I love you too, Lorea-chan!」(Iris)

Iris-san stuck her body forward and hugged Lorea-chan.

「Me too, of course! Store Owner-san, you should sign these documents for the sake of fulfilling Lorea-chan’s wishes!」(Kate)

While Iris-san and Lorea-chan were hugging each other, Kate-san kept pushing the documents and a pen toward me.

Ughh… What should I do…?

While looking up at the ceiling, I was wondering if I should take the pen or not.

 

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