EP.162 Hasn't The Grand Duke Already Been Decided?
"...Yes, Your Grace. That's right. I will help this person, Lady Elga."
Grand Duke Littorio, leaning deep into his chair, pressed his temples firmly.
"By her side, always."
So that's how it is. His son had failed while his daughter had succeeded.
Come to think of it, Yugen had been in a much better position.
If only he hadn't antagonized Lea Jonathan and instead secured a good relationship.
He would have clearly had advantages as Littorio's next Grand Duke.
Conversely, Elga had approached Jonathan first, who had wounded Littorio's pride.
Though it couldn't have been easy, she had swallowed her pride, judging the future benefits.
In the end, that judgment proved to be the best choice.
'The gap had already widened significantly when Elga established connections with the southern islands.'
Yugen had invested heavily in relationships with the western kingdom alliance.
But he was betrayed. Afterward, he suffered a major defeat to the Empire led by Jonathan.
As a result, he lost many of his supporting factions that had been somewhat secured.
In contrast, Elga had been increasing interactions with the southern islands from before.
Everyone had tilted their heads at these seemingly minor dealings compared to the kingdom alliance.
Some said she deliberately chose that direction to avoid conflict with her brother.
'Who could have known those southern islands would all turn pro-Empire at once.'
At some point, Pardal Island, which had been the center of the anti-Empire faction, completely submitted to the Empire.
They even sent a personal letter to the Imperial family saying they would consider full submission if ordered.
This wasn't entirely Elga's achievement. It couldn't be.
But it's certain she invested her efforts in the south. The vassals know this.
Because of this, many who had doubted Elga's judgment disappeared.
In the end, many withdrew their support from the second child and went to Elga.
"Hmm..."
Perhaps it's time to make a decision. He had considered watching the situation longer.
But looking at the current situation, there seems to be no benefit in further delay.
Rather, making a quick decision would be more advantageous for both Elga and Littorio.
Ding-
Grand Duke Littorio lightly rang the bell sitting on the table.
The butler waiting outside entered the room and bowed his head.
"You called, Your Grace."
"Spread the word. A meeting will be held in three days, and all vassals, both inside and outside the castle, must gather. Tell them it's a crucial matter that requires mandatory attendance."
At Grand Duke Littorio's words, the butler sighed as if he had roughly caught on.
In this situation, there was only one reason the Grand Duke would summon all vassals.
"Did you hear me?"
"Yes. Understood, Your Grace. I will notify them immediately."
The butler who left the room immediately disappeared with hurried steps.
Grand Duke Littorio, quietly listening to those footsteps, leaned back in his chair again.
'Said they would stay by her side continuously.'
They're not the type to speak with two tongues. Not those people.
Perhaps joining hands with Kyle was more remarkable than any other investment Elga had made.
Suddenly, such thoughts occurred to him. Young men and women intoxicated with each other, causing incidents.
The fruits of love arriving unexpectedly early, that sort of thing.
If such a thing really happened, there wouldn't be any major issues with an immediate marriage.
Society would look upon it unfavorably. There would probably be much gossip.
But it might be acceptable if the couple were the Grand Duke's daughter and Jonathan's son.
Above all, it's not bad since it creates a good justification before competing with the Imperial family.
'...No. No matter what, that's not right.'
Though he was the head of the Grand Duke's family, he was still a father with a daughter.
To cause an incident before marriage - that absolutely must not happen.
It should be after receiving both families' permission and everyone's blessings.
That's how it should be - after the couple properly joins hands and makes a new start.
'Elga wouldn't be thinking such thoughts either. She's a child with pride. Whose daughter is she? Which family's noble lady is she? Yes, indeed.'
The Grand Duke had no idea that this very daughter had entered the guest's room and climbed onto his lap.
"...Haah."
A sigh escaped, both relieved and somewhat regretful.
He had decided to be a cold father for the sake of the family and for the one child who would ascend to this position.
If he became soft, it would be his child who would bleed, along with all those who followed Littorio.
The most suitable person should become Grand Duke. Therefore, one must prove they are the most suitable.
That is the fate of those born into this family. If you don't fight, you get pushed aside, and if you get pushed aside, you die.
'Though I was prepared, making this decision now feels heavy.'
Grand Duke Littorio had been continuously postponing the successor confirmation until now.
Why had such a person suddenly now strengthened his resolve?
Because of Kyle? Because of Jonathan? Because Elga's competence exceeded expectations?
It was both neither and both of those reasons.
More precisely, the biggest reason was a single brief report lying on the table.
- Unrest detected in the East -
More details would have to wait for additional information to arrive.
But the Grand Duke roughly anticipated what would happen next.
'The west and south have turned pro-Empire. If there's unrest in the east at a time like this, the Imperial family's conclusion will inevitably lead to one thing.'
And at the forefront of that conclusion, perhaps Jonathan might be there.
Grand Duke Littorio thought this as he absently stared out the window.
===
**
===
"Hnnngh!!"
A woman's desperate moan could be heard faintly.
Intense heat filled the air between rough, labored breaths.
Of all times, it had to be at night, and of all places, right next to the bedroom.
Could they really be causing an incident? Were they about to cross that line?
"Just one more. You can do it."
"I-I can't! How am I supposed to do this?!"
"If you have the strength to speak, you can do it."
She was doing midnight exercises, or rather, midnight pull-ups.
And she wasn't even doing them on a properly secured bar.
Elga was grunting and straining while gripping Kyle's arm instead of a bar.
"Come on! One more!!"
Kyle stood with his arm extended, Elga hanging from it.
No matter how light she might be, he was supporting a full-grown woman with just one arm.
An ordinary person would clearly collapse instantly, let alone maintain this position.
If something went wrong, he could tear a muscle or break a bone.
But Kyle remained perfectly calm.
Instead, he kept encouraging Elga as she hung from his arm.
"I know you can do one more! Come on!"
"Ah, seriously!! This isn't what I had in mind at all!!"
Screaming and with trembling hands,
Elga managed to pull herself up until her chin touched Kyle's forearm, using every last bit of strength she had.
"F-five! I-I really can't do anymore! Five is already a lot, isn't it?!"
"Hmm. That's true. Alright."
The moment he gave permission, Elga collapsed to the floor with a thud.
Not only that, but she completely flopped onto the sofa.
As a duke's daughter and a lady, there was a certain image she wanted to maintain.
But right now, she couldn't even think about that. She was just too exhausted.
She felt like she was going to die from exhaustion. If she didn't lie down right now, she might faint.
'You said it was just bodyweight exercise!!'
It was unfair. Really unfair. She had let her guard down when he said bodyweight exercise.
She thought they would just do some light exercise while having an intimate conversation with Kyle.
And while he was correcting her form, they would inevitably get very close.
Taking it a step further, when he touched her body to adjust her position, maybe something could happen...
"Are you really trying to kill someone here..."
She had sensed something was wrong from the very first pull-up.
She wanted to stop. She tried to be careful, thinking this wasn't quite right.
If only Kyle hadn't said that Lady Elga could definitely do at least two!
She had finally managed to grit her teeth and do two. She thought that would be the end.
"If you can do two, surely you can do three?"
She fell for it and really struggled to complete three.
She tried to get down, saying it was too much and really too difficult.
"Tisha can easily do four."
How could she stay still after hearing that!
It was truly a miraculous phrase that brought out strength she didn't even know she had.
Screaming all the while, Elga managed to complete four.
She thought that was really the end. She hadn't beaten Tisha, but at least they were tied.
But Kyle showed no mercy. He became a completely different person during exercise.
When she did the fifth one, she felt like she saw her deceased grandfather.
"Well done, Lady Elga."
"Shut up.... Really, Kyle, you..."
It's not that he was insensitive, or that he avoided women.
Rather, he was the type of man who could make her heart flutter with unexpected surprises.
Why did he turn into such a merciless trainer when it came to exercise?
"With this, you've surpassed Tisha's record."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. And you've naturally beaten the Saint's record too. She hasn't managed to do even one yet."
Her ears perked up at the mention of the Saint.
Elga slowly raised herself from the sofa and parted her lips.
"...So, you're saying I'm a bit ahead of the Saint now?"
"That's right. The Saint needs to work harder. Pull-ups are the alpha and omega of bodyweight exercises. They're considered the ultimate exercise. Even at Jonathan's, there are constant competitions for perfect form."
She had surpassed the Saint. She had moved a step ahead. Hearing that suddenly filled her with energy.
To think she could hear such praise just by working a bit harder at exercise?!
Looking at Kyle's reaction, it seemed like he valued working hard at exercise more than becoming a Grand Duke?!
She would have to exercise even harder from now on. Absolutely, absolutely must do so.
Elga made this vow to herself over and over.
"Hey, Kyle. Then, how many can the Princess do?"
"Well, I've never seen it myself, but I'd guess she can do fifty with perfect form?"
"Eh? Ah... I see. Fifty. She can do... 50?"
It seemed impossible to surpass the Princess in numbers no matter how hard she tried.