Chapter 133: Overheard Conversations

There was something Ren had wanted to ask his grandfather when he met him.

It was about a record he had read in the Adventurers’ Guild reference material—a story about a lord who defeated a magical beast using both a spear and a sword.

It was written as:

“Lord Cain.”

Ren wanted to know if that referred to his grandfather.

If the Cream baronial house had been a long-standing household passed down through generations, there was a possibility that another lord with the same name had existed. However, since it seemed that his grandfather was the first head of the house, Ren thought it was most likely referring to him.

Was what was written in the Guild’s records actually true?

And if it was true, why had he used a sword?

Ren watched his grandfather, waiting for the right moment to approach him.

“I’m Stefan, the son of Silas. Uncle, it’s been a long time.”

“Stefan, was it? ……You’ve grown.”

“I’ll be thirty next year. Ah, let me introduce my sons.”

Stefan had come over to speak with Grandfather.

He called Scott and Theo over.

Ren figured that this wasn’t the right time to interrupt, so he quietly stepped away.

Near the window, Ren saw Yona talking with Sylvie and Tina, so he decided to go over.

He slipped through the crowd of people.

“……I wonder what Vim thinks. He said Lady Liese was quite charming.”

“Well…… yes, that’s true……”

Hearing Liese’s name, Ren stopped.

He turned around and saw that Mother was speaking with the Vanille Count and Countess.

Ren remembered when Father had been talking with someone in the reception room.

“I want to hurry and arrange Liese’s engagement. If there’s a good opportunity, perhaps something for Yona as well……”

His heart skipped a beat.

The thought that Liese or Yona’s engagement might actually be decided here made him feel somewhat frightened.

“Uncle, I didn’t praise Lady Liese with that intention…… Besides, from Lady Liese’s perspective, I’m already an old man.”

“You’re only twenty-one.”

The Vanille Count laughed heartily.

Beside him, a young man with brown hair parted down the middle looked troubled.

(He’s an adult…… Is Liese-neeue really going to become engaged to an adult?)

From the conversation, Ren realised that the young man with the middle-parted hair was “Vim.”

During the dinner party, the entire family had greeted everyone together, so Ren hadn’t clearly remembered his name.

“Oh my, what are you discussing?”

His grandmother approached while holding a goblet filled with wine.

The Vanille Countess spoke to her.

“Neesama, we were discussing whether Vim would make a good fiancé for Liese-chan.”

“Oh? Liese is about to enter the Academy. Are you suggesting that he wait another seven years until she graduates?”

“That would be rather difficult……”

Vim lowered his eyebrows awkwardly, but there was a smile on his face.

He didn’t seem particularly disappointed, so perhaps he hadn’t been seriously considering it in the first place.

“By the way, have you thought about the matter of the attendant?”

“Ah…… the child with that skill called ‘Small Box,’ was it?”

Ren froze.

The only person here who possessed the “Small Box” skill was probably himself.

(Me? ……An attendant? What does an attendant even mean?)

His mouth suddenly became dry.

“Yes. If he could become the attendant of either James or Jack.”

“Hmm…… I’ve thought about it. But a child with a skill he can’t fight with wouldn’t be suitable as a guard, would he? He would need to at least be able to stand in for a guard.”

“……Well, yes, that’s true……”

Grandmother tilted her head slightly, looking disappointed.

(……The attendant matter is gone? What did an attendant even do?)

Ren felt as though he could hear the sound of his own heartbeat pounding.

He quietly moved his feet, trying to leave the area.