After they toasted with their wine glasses, the party officially began.
“Here you are, dear. Happy birthday.”
His wife handed him a mask that resembled the face of a monster, telling him a distant race of people had crafted it. Just how far had his wife’s adventures taken her this time? Marquess Lichtenberger scowled and let out a sigh.
“Mother, you ought to come back home more often than once every six months. Don’t you know that Father is lonely?”
“I’m sorry. Though I’d heard about people struggling out there, it appears my own family has been struggling here. From now on, I’ll come home once every month.”
“You don’t have to return that often…”
Marquess Lichtenberger never expected Liselotte to scold her mother on his behalf. A warm feeling grew in his chest.
“Here’s a present from me, Father.”
Liselotte handed him a stuffed animal made to look like Album, explaining it was a joint project between the Royal Mythical Beast Preservation Bureau and the plushie maker they had contracted. It was a soft toy that felt a lot like Album’s fur.
“Mell is the one who planned all this food.”
“I see…”
Supposedly, all the meals were intended to be recreations of what they ate on expeditions. This included whole-roast guinea fowl, bandit-style soup, soft bread, and more. The bureau members seemed puzzled by what they were eating.
“Mell!”
At Liselotte’s demand, Mell Risurisu rushed over. She was wearing Album around her neck like a scarf.
“It’s been a while, Lord Lichtenberger.”
“Indeed.”
“Happy birthday.”
Mell handed him quills made using feathers from Amelia and Rih. Marquess Lichtenberger’s hands shook at the mere sight of such an unexpected gift, though he would never divulge those feelings to anyone.
“I heard you formed a contract with Album.”
“I did. As you can see, Album is doing very well.”
“Indeed.”
He glanced at Album, seeing the fairy bow to him awkwardly. It was a strangely human reaction, although, that was part of Album’s charm.
Album had been given the important role of leading Marquess Lichtenberger to the party venue. It was an act he’d fallen for completely.
“Please say thank you to Marquess Lichtenberger, Album. He took good care of you, right?”
“Y-Yeah. U-Um, thanks for everything.”
The marquess reached out to pat his head, but this time, Album didn’t even flinch.
Album seemed to be happier now. Marquess Lichtenberger knew he’d done the right thing in dissolving their contract.
“Take care of Album for me, Mell Risurisu.”
“Of course.”
Next to approach him was Rou, wearing a guilty look on his face.
“I’m sorry for not telling you, Director.”
“Isn’t that the point of a surprise party? Don’t let it get to you.”
“Thank you.” Rou looked at all the other bureau members. Seeing them enjoying themselves brought a smile to his face. “Please take a look around. Everyone here adores you, Director Lichtenberger. They told me they were so eager to come to your party.”
“They adore me?”
“Yes.”
“Aren’t they all afraid of me?”
“Of course not! Everyone at the Royal Mythical Beast Preservation Bureau deeply respects you.”
He paid nearly twice the salary of both the Magic Research Bureau and the Monster Research Bureau, didn’t force overtime, and gave employees plenty of days off. Everyone who worked for him adored mythical beasts, so the bureau became famous for being able to produce good results. Rou’s eyes lit up when he explained that it was a dream to work in an environment like that.
“Everyone is incredibly satisfied with this work environment. That’s all thanks to your leadership, Director Lichtenberger. They’d been trying to figure out how to properly express their gratitude toward you for a while now.”
“I see…”
“I believe everyone puts distance between themselves and you as a way to show respect, since you’re such a wonderful person. Perhaps you mistook their intentions as coming from fear.”
On the inside, Marquess Lichtenberger was quietly relieved to hear the members of his bureau weren’t afraid of him. He finally took a sip of wine from the glass he’d been given. For some reason, it tasted better than any wine he’d ever tried in his life.
“That reminds me, Rou.”
“Yes?”
“Have you given marrying my daughter any more thought?”
“O-Oh, I…”
His daughter, Liselotte, was already nineteen years old. The survival of the Lichtenberger family hinged on ensuring she got married.
Fortunately, women had the right to inherit titles in this country. Liselotte would become the next marquess, meaning she needed a husband skilled in managing assets.
After much thought, Marquess Lichtenberger couldn’t think of a man more fitting for his daughter than Rou.
“I’m simply not good enough for someone like your daughter…”
“That’s my judgment to make, not yours.”
Noble parents selected spouses for their children, and their decision was absolute. Even Marquess Lichtenberger’s marriage to his wife had been decided by his father.
Although, the marquess had fallen in love with her prior to the wedding, and he intended to take that secret to the grave.
Rou was probably just being modest. The marquess knew how to push things along in times like these.
“If you really oppose, have your father send me a letter of refusal before next month. If I don’t receive anything, I’ll move things ahead on my end.”
“But, um, even if I were to agree, how would Lady Liselotte feel about this…?”
“That’s of no concern. I’m her father, so I arrange her marriage. If you come from nobility, I’m sure you understand that love and romance have no role in noble marriages.”
“R-Right…”
But Marquess Lichtenberger was no demon. If Liselotte had the slightest dislike for Rou, he would drop him as a candidate.
Liselotte had interacted with Rou many times as a member of the Royal Mythical Beast Preservation Bureau. Judging from her attitude toward him, her father had no reason to believe that she thought poorly of Rou.
He even once asked her directly if she saw Rou as a potential marriage candidate. But she simply told him, “I want you to take care of all that stuff, Father.”
“Let me say one more thing.”
“Y-Yes?”
“If you ever take a mistress, make sure Liselotte doesn’t find out. However, if you think that may not be possible, notify me and I’ll prepare a secondary residence for you.”
Most noblemen had mistresses. As ridiculous as that was, Marquess Lichtenberger had no intention of forcing anything on Rou. Noble society was very difficult to exist in, and Rou had already suffered greatly. The marquess felt he should allow Rou to take at least one mistress after everything he’d gone through. When it came to family, the marquess was a generous man.
However, women certainly didn’t want their husbands to have mistresses. Some noblewomen took lovers of their own, but it was extremely rare. Such a concept was probably difficult for people to grasp.
Marquess Lichtenberger didn’t want such a matter to bring harm to Liselotte. That was why he gave Rou a very stern warning.
“If Liselotte ever finds out that you have a mistress, I will never grant you my forgiveness. In the event things reach the point where you come crying to me for help, I’ll kill…”
“Kill?!”
“No, never mind.”
He’d gotten a bit agitated. The marquess cleared his throat and calmed himself.
“Anyway, just keep things under control if you end up seeing someone. It’s the least you can do out of respect for your spouse.”
“I have no intention of taking a mistress. Marrying your daughter would already leave me plenty busy, Director Lichtenberger.”
“Hmm. Well, this is your only chance to change your mind.”
Rou was an earnest man who probably had no interest in taking lovers. Marquess Lichtenberger knew this, but there were cases where men changed after getting married.
Marquess Lichtenberger didn’t believe he would change after marrying his wife. Even having children was nothing more than a requirement to pass down his title, and surely, he wouldn’t feel real love for them.
But reality was quite different.
The marquess loved his wife deeply and adored their daughter.
Getting married changes men—both for better and for worse. That was why he wanted to make sure Rou knew his feelings in advance.
Of course, this was all very hasty seeing how the two weren’t even married yet.
Marquess Lichtenberger had been drinking more than usual, so perhaps his lips were getting a bit loose. He began to feel awkward.
That was when Liselotte approached the men.
“What are you two whispering about, Father?”
“It has nothing to do with you.”
The marquess gave a clear response, but Rou wasted it by choking on his wine.
“Heavens. Are you all right?”
Liselotte rubbed Rou’s back gently. This left her father with mixed feelings, but at the same time, he could tell the two weren’t on bad terms.
“Father said something mean to you again, didn’t he? Poor thing.”
“Hey, what makes you say that?”
“Because when I looked over, you were lecturing him about something with a frightening look on your face.”
Even putting his expression aside, perhaps it had been a frightening conversation. After all, he nearly threatened Rou’s life. Marquess Lichtenberger silently felt regret for how he’d approached the topic.
“Don’t let Father take up the rest of your evening, got it?”
“But it’s my party.”
“Yes, and you’re mean to Rou every time you’re around him. Let’s go, Rou.”
“Hey!”
Liselotte grabbed Rou by the arm and led him away from her father. As they left, Rou looked over his shoulder and gave the marquess a few silent bows.
Marquess Lichtenberger watched the pair with a look of sadness.
That was when his wife approached, placing her hand gently on his arm.
“You can’t be by your daughter’s side forever.”
“I know that.”
“Since you look so sad, let’s spend some time together right now.”
Those words were the greatest birthday present of all.
When he looked out over the great hall, everyone had smiles on their faces.
Marquess Lichtenberger’s birthday had been a much more joyous occasion than he ever could have imagined.