Gunther's marriage does bother me but Claudia is more important now.
I did sign the applications and approve them but put them into the drawer without putting them out as finished, approved application.—-I did tell Gunther that I would affix the seal quickly but there was something I needed to confirm.
I decided to have a proper simple meal for lunch–well, although it was not that simple but that's the image I get when I compare it with breakfast and dinner.
I do want to avoid carelessly upsetting Claudia. Worst case scenario, she might even stop talking to me. Although that probably won't happen.
Even though I want to confirm her will, her family is saying *that* after all. If possible, I want her to easily accept the marriage… But even if she did accept, the problem of finding the partner would still remain. Well, it's not like I don't have any means of finding such a person, though.
Claudia, who did not yet know of her family pestering me for the marriage, happily came to the sudden lunch meet.
I took a seat facing her, apologized for the sudden meet and we started eating.
"It feels like it has been so long since we have had lunch like this in the mansion."
"It has been quite a while, after all. Thank you very much for protecting my territory as a knight this year. I wanted to express my gratitude to you for fighting in the battlefield and for capturing those kids."
On Claudia's hand, the scar she received from the underground passage still remained. It doesn't seem to cause any hindrance in using the spear but it is painful to look at.
It isn't a scar an unmarried woman should bear. Now if I were a man, to take responsibility for the scar, I probably would have to take her as my bride… Well, putting that aside, all the problematic things might have been settled at once.
"A knight's scar is something like a decoration. You don't need to worry."
She said indifferently, tore a bread with her scarred hand and ate it.
She didn't even try hiding it with a glove like me so that is probably what she really believes.
"It really helps me when you say that… However, when I think that it might 'cause problems in your marriage—"
As I said that, trying to probe into the matter, Claudia declared that,
"Ahh, that probably won't be a problem either. I don't have any intention in marrying into a house which does not honor me being a knight, after all."
She is too gallant. From the looks of it, does she not think of marriage at all?
In my mind, the letter Claudia's father had sent kept making a round trip with amazing momentum. A father's love for his daughter can be very overwhelming.
"Even still, bringing up the topic of my marriage… Taking this chance when the war is over, are you planning on finally getting me married? Or did my father send an impolite letter regarding the matter?".
With an expression which looked like she was enjoying herself, Claudia launched an astoundingly sharp comment.
…Ah, that is true. She was quite clever in terms of aristocratic matters.
Being read like a book just because of a single word, I was left astonished. Due to her usual dumb speech and conduct, I had forgotten but she has quite a skill of reading into people's thoughts. For some reason she displays quite the sharpness when the matter is faced towards her. Well, it is not on purpose…… Right? I would like to believe so.
"No. Teo sent out a notification for marriage earlier, right? And so that made me think of stuff. I would like to ask without beating around the bush but, what are your thoughts about your marriage, Claudia-dono?"
Saying so that the fact that her father was actually pestering me about her marriage is avoided, I directly went into today's topic. It would also be a pain if the topic gets carried away while I am beating around the bush.
But Claudia wore a puzzled expression to my question and slightly tilted her head.
"…Did I, perhaps say something odd?"
"Hmm. Were you not planning on getting me married with Oscar using this chance? Or rather, I had totally thought that was what Earl Terejia was planning when he recommended Oscar to the Kaldia Order of Chivalry."
………………..Oscar?
I ended up staring into Claudia's sky-blue eyes dumbfounded for a while there. She glanced back with a smile.
On the inside, I felt like sweat was coming down my forehead like a waterfall.
That's right. There is Oscar. How could I totally forget about his existence? I completely omitted him as Claudia's husband candidate.
After all, it's the Oscar who shows even less interest in marriage than Claudia. Maybe the impression he left on me made me think that if needed, he might go and marry someone of his own choice.
"However, I don't really have any objection but… there is a condition."
Claudia started speaking while cleanly piercing her fork into the dessert. Before I knew it, her plate was almost empty. What is with that eating speed? She might be hiding a talent for battle dinner or something.
"A condition, you say. What would that be….?"
I asked while revising my loose posture. Exactly what kind of condition is she talking about?
After all, the very moment when someone is taking Claudia as their wife, the general things people want from wives are far from plausible. What more does she want to add on top of that, I wonder?
"That is…."
Claudia started speaking with a serious expression. *Gulp* I held my breath.
"The person who will become my husband must win in a battle against my elder brother."
…………
………………….
"Alright then, let's start sending letters to all the relatives at once. I guess I will confirm with Oscar for what it matters as well."
There hasn't been a single moment before where I wanted to be praised for my ability to stop myself from slamming my forehead into the table. After all, that is the kind of condition she had which made nervousness seem completely ridiculous.
Seeing my exhausted expression, Claudia replied 'Hmm…?' with a puzzled expression yet again.