Book 1 Chapter 973
973.
‘He must have liked it. That’s a relief.’
Perena muttered to herself as she watched Cal, who was flustered, and Elkan, who kept talking to him.
Elkan, always full of dignity as the family head, became an overdoting father in front of his daughters.
‘By the way, acting family head?’
This goes beyond being unusual; it’s unimaginable.
Especially, the Noble Families’ Council is not merely about becoming the representative of a family.
Decisions made at the Noble Families’ Council become the decisions of that family.
‘Cal senior for such a position?’
Of course, if Cal becomes Eliza’s partner, it makes sense.
Eliza is Hergin’s successor.
If they marry, Cal would become the master of Hergin’s household.
The problem is that Eliza and Cal are still strangers.
Currently, it’s being sensationally talked about as the scandal of the century, but that’s all it is.
Elkan offered the position of acting family head to such an outsider.
‘It’s practically a declaration.’
A declaration that Cal Thomas is a member of the Hergin family.
‘Then, should I call him brother-in-law now?’
As Perena pondered Cal’s title.
“It’s polite to accept what an elder offers you.”
“Since I’m still a student, alcohol is a bit difficult.”
“When I was a Rumerne student, you know. I used to sneak a drink or two. Are students these days just pretending to be straight-A students from textbooks?”
Elkan, who had somehow produced a bottle of alcohol, was offering a drink to Cal.
It was a unique clear, strong liquor enjoyed by people from the northern continent.
“You drink well. A man of Hergin should know how to drink well. Indeed. Absolutely.”
Elkan grinned, enjoying his private conversation with Cal.
Cal drank with Elkan, thinking that making a mistake would mean death.
Eventually, after drinking until the late hours of dawn, Cal was knocked out.
Perena, who had been sipping milk between the two, watched Cal, supported by Vinsen, head to a bedroom on the second floor and said,
“Father. Have you completely approved of my sister and Cal senior’s relationship?”
“As I said earlier, your sister isn’t the type to listen if I object, is she?”
Elkan clicked his tongue, grumbled, and poured the liquor from the bottle into a glass.
Despite emptying several bottles of strong liquor, Elkan showed no signs of being drunk.
Of course, his breath reeked of alcohol.
“Still, it’s our first meeting, so I was surprised you readily approved.”
Elkan chuckled at Perena’s words.
“Do you really think I would have come without any preparation?”
Elkan said, sipping his drink.
“I’ve already finished all the preliminary investigations.”
It wouldn’t be too difficult for the head of the Hergin family to investigate Cal’s background.
“Aside from his family, there’s nothing to fault about the boy. And his family isn’t a big problem either. Our family isn’t so lacking that we need to fuss over backgrounds, are we?”
“That’s right. Plus, Cal senior quickly rose to the position of a hero, didn’t he?”
“It didn’t particularly matter if he wasn’t a hero. His actions after enrolling in Rumerne were quite unusual.”
Elkan subtly glanced at the building Cal had purchased.
He bought a building in Rumeria City in a short period from nothing.
Moreover, he showed administrative ability as the acting student council president.
“I became confident that he would be of greater help than anyone else when Eliza becomes the family head.”
Elkan recalled the story of the future vision that the Elf King had shown earlier.
The absurd talk of Hersia developing as much as Rumeria City.
But it didn’t feel like a mere baseless fantasy.
Such was Cal’s excellent ability as an administrator.
“It’s a priority to make it a fait accompli before others try to interfere. Crucially.”
“Crucially?”
“It seems Cal steadied Eliza several times when she wavered. He’s a top-notch husband candidate. He doesn’t seem like the type to look elsewhere either.”
“Couldn’t his abilities be too exceptional, leading him to try and take over the family instead?”
Perena was well aware of Cal’s administrative skills.
“After meeting him in person, his ambition doesn’t seem that great, though his capacity is large. Moreover, his nature is that of a herbivore, so he wouldn’t be able to devour your sister, who is a carnivore.”
Elkan nodded, having observed Cal’s character.
“He’s perfect as a son-in-law.”
“I thought you would strongly oppose it, or at least not approve easily even if you did.”
Elkan chuckled.
It was true that he wasn’t thrilled.
No matter what anyone said, wasn’t he the guy who stole his daughter’s heart?
But now that he’d met him, he liked him more than he expected.
“Above all, this father has a dream.”
“A dream?”
“Yes. For that dream, this father will quickly hand over the family head position to your sister.”
Elkan had made a name for himself in the Hero Records and was highly regarded as an excellent family head.
However, Elkan had always boasted since Eliza was young that his daughter would surpass him.
Perena said, remembering his constant joy, calling her a talent who would elevate the family even further.
‘Could it be that he’s stepping down from the family head position quickly for the family’s sake?’
“It’s a secret from your sister. This father, you see…”
“Father. No matter what, you don’t need to sacrifice yourself for the family…”
“This father wants to retire quickly and spend a comfortable old age watching his grandchildren’s antics.”
“…”
“Which reminds me, Perena. Is there a good man you like?”
“I’m still in my first year!”
“You’re still young, so you wouldn’t know, but time passes quicker than you think. This father wishes for many grandchildren. If you bring a good man like your sister did, this father won’t oppose and will actively…”
“No.”
“Tsk.”
Elkan clicked his tongue, looking at his second daughter, who spoke firmly.
Perena sighed softly, watching her father.
***
“Ugh… my stomach hurts.”
The next morning.
Cal came down to the first floor with difficulty, holding his stomach.
The aftereffects of drinking until he lost consciousness yesterday were tremendous.
Fortunately, he didn’t have a splitting headache from a hangover.
‘Is it because it’s good alcohol?’
As the alcohol drunk by the head of the Hergin family, it was clearly high-grade.
Cal, who had descended to the first floor with difficulty, opened his eyes wide.
Perena was preparing breakfast.
“Are you awake, Cal senior?”
“Um… Perena. Is Elkan-nim still here?”
“Father has left. And if you don’t use the term ‘father-in-law’ in front of him, you’ll get scolded, you know?”
Perena shrugged.
“Father seems to be very fond of Cal senior.”
“Really? That’s a relief then.”
Cal smiled awkwardly.
Perena offered Cal a seat.
“Sit down. Breakfast is all ready.”
“Oh, okay.”
Cal sat down, smiling awkwardly.
Perena placed a cup of tea on Cal’s table.
“It’s a good drink for hangovers.”
“Thank you.”
Cal took a sip of the steaming hot drink.
He felt his uncomfortable stomach relax a little.
“Wow, this is good!”
While he admired and sipped the warm tea, Perena began her meal.
With his stomach somewhat settled, Cal ate the food Perena made and opened his eyes wide.
“What? Why is this so delicious?”
“That’s a rude reaction.”
Perena said, narrowing her eyes.
“Cooking is my hobby.”
“Oh? Unexpected?”
“Food is the most common thing used for poisoning, isn’t it?”
Cal, who was eating, paused.
He had momentarily forgotten that Perena was an aspiring shadow.
Perena chuckled, looking at Cal.
“Father told me to get ready for the Noble Families’ Council.”
“…Are you sure I should really go?”
“Since the head of Hergin has decided so, no one in the family can object. Not even my sister.”
Knock-
Just then, a knock on the door was heard.
“Hm?”
Cal stood up from his seat with a puzzled expression at the sudden visitor.
“There’s no one who would visit at this hour?”
Knock- Knock knock- Knock knock knock- Bang bang bang bang bang! Smash smash smash smash smash smash smash!
But the polite knocking soon turned much more violent.
As Cal and Perena flinched.
Crack-! Thud-!
The door burst open as if torn off and fell to the floor.
“W-what?!”
As Cal shrieked in horror.
Stomp-!
Someone entered the room.
“Eliza?”
“Sister?”
Cal and Perena stared blankly at Eliza, who wore a menacing expression.
“Perena?”
Eliza’s momentum faltered for a moment.
Hearing that Cal was on a date, she rushed to Rumeria City as soon as morning came, but was surprised to find Cal with her sister.
“Oh? Oh my? Cal. Was your date Perena-yang?”
Just then, Chen Shia popped her head out from behind Eliza.
Eliza raised her eyes at that.
“Shia! When did you follow me? I distinctly told you not to follow!”
“But it looked fun.”
Chen Shia smiled brightly and walked in.
Cal scratched his cheek, seeing her reaction.
“Ah. Now that I think about it, I did say I was going on a date with Eliza. There must be strange rumors all over school.”
Eliza paused at his calm reaction.
Perena spoke, looking at Eliza.
“I’m sorry, sister. I called Cal senior, pretending to be you.”
“Why on earth…?”
Eliza asked with a bewildered expression.
Perena replied, looking at Eliza.
“Father came to meet Cal senior yesterday.”
“What?!”
Eliza showed a startled expression.
“What did father say to him?”
Even if her father opposed it, she had no intention of obeying, but that didn’t mean her family’s opinion wasn’t important.
Perena spoke, looking at the nervous Eliza.
“He said he acknowledges your relationship. He said your judgment in people is certainly reliable.”
“Oh. Congratulations, Eliza-yang.”
“Ahem.”
Chen Shia clapped and spoke, and Eliza cleared her throat, feigning indifference.
But a clear look of joy was evident on her face.
Cal spoke, seeing her expression.
“My father-in-law said so.”
“You call father ‘father-in-law’? It’s a hundred years too early.”
Eliza scoffed at Cal’s words.
Cal grinned, looking at Eliza, and said.
“My father-in-law told me to call him that?”
“What?!”
“Wow, this is completely a fait accompli.”
Chen Shia exclaimed.
“Anyway, my father-in-law told me to attend the Noble Families’ Council as the representative of the Hergin family?”
It was something so far beyond expectation that Eliza’s thoughts momentarily froze.
Chen Shia also opened her eyes wide.
“This isn’t just a fait accompli; you could even consider them family.”
***
Early morning.
Leo looked at Mel, who had come to his room, with a puzzled expression.
“The Noble Families’ Council?”
“Yes. It’s quite a large event.”
“Come to think of it, I think Celia mentioned it. Was it going to be held in the Rodren Empire this time?”
“Yes.”
“But why the Noble Families’ Council? It doesn’t seem to have much to do with me?”
A noble family refers to a family that consistently produces heroes or similarly strong individuals.
The Flobe family is a noble family of a border kingdom.
Of course, they became the royal family of the newly established Arhi Kingdom, but their history is too short to be called a noble family.
Moreover, royalty is not eligible to attend the Noble Families’ Council.
It is, quite literally, another independent power of heroes.
Of course, Leo is also of Gerdringer blood, but if Celia has the qualification to participate, it would be her turn, not Leo’s.
Mel said, looking at Leo’s puzzled expression.
“Recently, several families have been showing unsettling movements prior to the Noble Families’ Council.”
“Unsettling movements?”
Leo clicked his tongue.
“Are those unsettling movements directed at me?”
“Yes. More precisely, at the Arhi Kingdom.”
“Politics really isn’t for me by nature, it seems.”
Leo sighed lightly and muttered.
“Should I also make an heir early?”
Leo grumbled with an annoyed face and glanced at Mel, who was chuckling.
“Mel.”
“Yes?”
Mel was flustered, seeing Leo staring intently at her.
“W-why are you looking at me like that?”
Leo said, looking at Mel, who asked cautiously with a slightly tense expression.
“Do you want to be the second king of the Arhi Kingdom instead of me?”
“I’m very busy with Lord’s work already.”
At that reply, Leo clicked his tongue regretfully.
Mel sighed deeply.
Leo chuckled at Mel’s reaction.
“What on earth are you thinking? Such a cheeky kid.”
“Leo-nim.”
“Why?”
“Lest you be mistaken, I am at an age where it wouldn’t be strange to have several children.”
“Was that so?”
Mel’s expression momentarily became sulky at his nonchalant reaction.
“Or should I truly act like a cheeky one for you?”
“Sorry. I don’t think I can handle that, so I hope you’ll restrain yourself.”
Leo apologized with a troubled expression.
Nevertheless, Mel merely glared at Leo with a sulky face for a while.