While Yui was looking at communicators, Layce was burning with so much anger that it seemed like he was ready to go and storm into the palace at any moment. “It takes some nerve to make a pass at my daughter,” he muttered.
Taken aback, Cecil chided him for being so overprotective. “Now, now, calm down, dad.”
“How am I supposed to calm down?! Why aren’t you two angry? Are you just going to give up your little sister to some nobody from God-knows-where?!”
“He isn’t a nobody—he’s a prince, and we know him.” Cecil smiled awkwardly. “I might’ve been angry if I didn’t...but he’s Filiel, after all.”
Carlo backed him up. “Cecil’s right. If anything, I’d like to commend him for keeping it to just a confession. We know how long he’s been in love with her. He’d never do anything to hurt her.” Neither of Yui’s overprotective brothers were angry at Filiel; on the contrary, they had accepted him, and they didn’t doubt for a second that he would treat Yui well. Layce could sense their trust in Filiel, and his anger abated somewhat.
“I guess I’ll look past it this time. I have to thank you two.”
“Hm?” Cecil said, confused.
“For what?” Carlo asked.
A menacing aura emanated out from Layce, and he said, “If you hadn’t told me about that bug beforehand, I might’ve crushed him in my fist and turned him into fish food.”
Cecil and Carlo momentarily wondered what “bug” meant, but they quickly realized that he was talking about Filiel. The two of them had known for some time how much Layce doted on Yui, though she was only his stepdaughter. They had been afraid that Layce might somehow find out about Filiel because they knew he would positively explode. So, they had both figured that it was safer for them to let him know beforehand rather than risk a sudden outburst. They hadn’t told Layce who he was, but they had let him know that there was a member of the opposite sex that Yui was on close terms with. And just in case the two ever met, they had emphatically pushed Layce to remain calm. Naturally, when they had told Layce this, he’d erupted with rage. But, because he had been able to vent beforehand, he’d remembered the twins’ warning—he hadn’t immediately resorted to violence when Theodore had said he wanted to keep Yui at the palace. The twins were struck with terror whenever they imagined what Layce might’ve done if they hadn’t talked with him.
“I know it was a good idea to tell him,” Cecil whispered to Carlo.
“Yeah, it definitely was. We’ll have to get Filiel to thank us sometime,” Carlo replied quietly. Then, in a loud voice, he said to Layce, “But you know, I don’t think it’s all that bad of an idea. Think about it, dad. When Yui gets married—”
“She’s only fifteen,” Layce cut him off, not even wanting to consider it. “It’s too early to be talking about marriage!”
Unmoved, Cecil picked up where Carlo left off. “But she will get married someday. Regardless of whether he’ll be a noble or a commoner, when she gets married, it’ll mean that she becomes a part of that family. She won’t be able to visit you easily like she always has. You won’t see her nearly as often, you know. But if she and Filiel get married, she’ll be moving into the royal palace, and with your position as prime minister, you’re close to the king—you’ll be able to see her every day.”
Layce was at a loss for words. He was undoubtedly frantically calculating the benefits and drawbacks in his head.
“Cecil’s right,” Carlo said. “Filiel’s pretty much guaranteed to become the next commander in chief of the army, so they won’t have any trouble with their livelihoods. And since he can’t touch anyone else, there’s no worry that he’ll ever be unfaithful. Marrying Filiel means that Yui will become part of the royal family, so she’ll have some official duties, but she’ll only be the wife of the second prince, not the queen, so she won’t be burdened by nearly as much work, and she’ll be able to live more freely—meaning she’ll probably be able to make time to spend with you. On top of that, Filiel’s gentle and kind, and he’s always been just as sweet to Yui as we have. And, I know how this sounds, but he’s rich, he’s got a high status, and he’s a great guy. You’d be missing out if you didn’t buy in now.”
Cecil continued without giving Layce a moment to think. “Besides Grandpa Theo, Filiel tells us that the other members of the royal family—especially the queen—have taken quite a liking to Yui, so they’ll all love her. Yui won’t have to deal with a troublesome mother-in-law.”
“You won’t find better conditions for Yui’s new family than these. Right, dad?”
Layce spent a short while silently brooding over it. Thinking about it logically, it was a good-looking offer. The best part was that he’d be able to see her every day. However, when he noticed he was starting to succumb, he abruptly cut off his thoughts and banished them. “I won’t be cajoled! No matter how good he might be, Yui would be a waste for that brat!”
Cecil and Carlo clicked their tongues in frustration. They had only needed one more push. They exchanged looks, knowing that they had to think of some other way.
“Well, dad isn’t the only issue.” Cecil mumbled.
“Right? If anything, he’s going to be more of a problem,” Carlo whispered back.
“You’re right. That’s why Filiel was so worried about how Yui was doing.”
Carlo watched Yui as she listened intently to the employee explaining the magic items. “How much more does that bastard have to torment Yui for him to be satisfied?” he spat, angry at a man who wasn’t there.