How to Tame That Gentle Male Lead - Chapter 7.1
“Hoho. I only stated the obvious, Resena.”
Resena shook her head.
“I’m lucky to have such a kind mother like you. Father doesn’t pressure me to produce results as his heir, and Renard drops everything to come running whenever I need him. Just recently, he wasn’t afraid to defeat the dark mage, which helped me escape a dangerous situation.”
“Resena…”
Resena smiled with eyes full of affection.
“If it weren’t for Renard, I don’t know what would have happened to me at the hands of that dark mage. I was even forced to take the oath of Sernaus. Fortunately, Saint Lorona taught me how to avoid him, so I could escape the dangerous situation… But truly, if it weren’t for Renard, I wouldn’t be standing here properly.”
“Are you alright, Resena? We increased the number of knights on guard duty after that… Should we add more?”
“Mmm. I’m fine. Besides, we arrested Munira this time. It was also thanks to the magician that Renard requested help from the Magic Tower that we discovered she was a dark mage’s minion.”
The Duchess gently stroked Resena’s hair. The gesture seemed like praise for enduring well, making Resena feel like she might cry.
Her tear ducts really seemed to have loosened. She knew she had become mentally weaker because she had even sobbed in front of Zergard. Well, it made sense. After experiencing several regressions, she couldn’t maintain the bright, unscarred, pure blank slate she had been at first.
“Thank you, Mother. Thank you for raising Renard well and always treating me warmly. I won’t disappoint you as your heir.”
“Resena…”
“I love you, Mother. I love our entire family. I’ll do anything to protect our family. Whatever it takes, I’ll accomplish it.”
The Duchess caressed Resena’s hands and gazed into her eyes affectionately. Since her mother’s eyes were clouded with pure concern and love, Resena forced herself to smile.
“I’m just grateful that you seem to have matured. But don’t overexert yourself. If you struggle, both I and he will be heartbroken.”
“Mother…”
“Don’t push yourself too hard, just continue as you have been. If your beliefs have changed, if your feelings have changed, be true to them. In any case, Alec and I only want your happiness.”
Mother said this and gave a gentle smile.
“Oh, I almost forgot to mention. Marchioness Erigo is hosting a summer tea party, so let’s go together. Even though you say you have someone you like now, you can never have too many acquaintances, regardless of gender.”
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
“Besides, you have few social connections, so this would be a good opportunity to increase the number of people you can converse with. It will be good for your reputation… And when you start officially acting as the heir, there will be times when you need connections.”
“That’s certainly true.”
“And above all, think about what kind of acquaintances you like, what qualities you value when making friends as you meet people. Those points are very important if you want to maintain long-term relationships.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Well… Marchioness Erigo’s tea time is in three days. That’s this Tuesday. It starts at 2 PM, so we need to leave by 1:30. Don’t forget.”
“Yes, Mother. Let’s go together.”
Mother smiled, her golden eyes crinkling.
“I’m really looking forward to it. Then what shall we bring as a gift? Would you like to go with Lai Python?”
Resena answered with a broad smile.
“No. Since the supply of Lai Python is insufficient, we can’t use that, but there’s a new fruit being imported from the Kingdom of Alohim that I’d like to bring.”
“That sounds good. Rare fruits are always welcome by anyone. It would be perfect if it’s easy to peel and eat.”
“Hoho. Yes, it will be. Since it’s a fruit that needs to ripen at room temperature, I’ll prepare it in advance so it can be enjoyed right away.”
“Hoho. I understand. Now run along, Resena.”
“Yes. I’ll see you at dinner.”
Watching her mother’s figure recede, Resena smiled faintly.
Mother always seems to want to give me love. Sometimes she doesn’t forget to give motherly advice, but since it comes from experience, it seemed fine to keep it in mind.
Thus, as her mother’s figure disappeared down the stairs, Resena took out her pocket watch.
“Ah, it’s already 3 o’clock.”
It was time to go out to inspect the trading company.
“Well, let’s go.”
Recently, Father had been handling her duties as heir and trading company owner while she was away visiting the territory… But now it was time to return to her daily routine.
Even though the task of preventing the end of the world awaited her…
***
“I’ve seen the report. They say fruit prices have suddenly skyrocketed?”
“Oh my, Miss. That’s not all. These days, all raw material prices are rising, and food prices are soaring as well.”
“Huh…?”
This situation hadn’t occurred in any of her previous lives. The store manager explained slowly to the puzzled Resena.
“As you know, our trading company has fixed prices for major products that we receive through advance contracts. However, recently, the Kingdom of Amarast has been preparing for war and has reduced the amount of products they had agreed to export, focusing on stockpiling instead. It seems they intend to settle old grudges, given their long-standing enmity with the nearby Kingdom of Serma.”
“Hah… I don’t understand. The Amarast Kingdom isn’t known for its military strength. They don’t have many magicians or knights, and it’s only been 20 years since we all signed the peace treaty. Why suddenly prepare for war?”
The store manager replied with a regretful expression.
“I don’t know the reason either. But what good would it do to find out? Amarast is preparing for war. According to rumors, their prince is coming here personally to request cooperation from Crevasta.”
“…Personally, huh.”
Resena frowned as she mulled over those words with their strange implications. Her previous lives had shown her a future that ordinary people couldn’t perceive, but when unexpected situations like this occurred, she worried about how they might affect the future.
‘There was no war in my previous life. So I could assume this war is happening due to the butterfly effect of what I said to Eldis. Mother’s fracture happens later than this, so that shouldn’t be related.’
But what connection could there be between her words and Amarast preparing for war?
And why would the host country of the peace treaty be preparing for war, of all things?
Resena couldn’t shake off this strange uneasiness.
While she was deep in thought, a store clerk was loading goods onto a cart. Seeing the boy struggling with the weight on his shoulders, the manager went outside to help.
However, the moment he opened the door, a loud voice was heard.
“This is deception!”
“Oh my, noble sir. It’s not like that.”
“Shut up! I’ll have you tried for insulting nobility!”
“Oh please, sir!”
Resena paused her thoughts and went outside. However, it was difficult to push through the crowd that had gathered. Meanwhile, it seemed that some knight had intervened between the manager and the gesticulating nobleman.
“I think that’s enough. Let’s stop here.”
“And who are you?!”
When the disheveled nobleman snarled with gritted teeth, a man with a familiar face gently but firmly extended his hand to stop him.
“Even with your hair in disarray, it wasn’t intentional on the clerk’s part. And it’s not like he splashed anything on you—it was just a flag that brushed against your hair. Threatening to report him for insulting nobility would be undignified.”
“…Hmm.”
As the red-faced nobleman glared at the clerk who had fallen to the ground, unable to say anything more, the knight stood in the way to block his gaze. Seeing this reassuring presence, Resena’s face showed clear relief.
‘As expected of Alken. He’s a righteous person.’
