Ashes and Kingdoms

"Brother, I need to talk to you for a second, okay?"

It looked unusual and Mac visited Finn's room. Finn looks up and, oh, he nods and lays down the letter he was reading on his desk.

"What's that?

Mac tilted his little neck and asked to show him if he was in the way.

"It's a protégé from Master Varys. Later."

Finn answered briefly, facing Mac away from his desk. Mac looks at the letter that has been made unholy and smiles sympathetically.

"Your brother is too proud to treat His Majesty's letter 'Later'."

"I'm not running from the letter. Something's wrong, not your face."

"Yeah.... well, me, I'll be twenty next winter. Not only am I being paid as a member of the Tenryu Squad, but I have been upgraded to the rank of deputy Dragon Marquis... so"

It's a nominal title, of course, even when it comes to deputy secretaries. If you're not a rank as a regular legion soldier, you don't get a special allowance. Unlike the rest of the crew, he often assists Finn personally more than he does in policing the town, so he stayed in the position of deputy officer, not sure what was positive and deputy.

Valt was shocked that it was too appropriate to be a powder shop anymore, but that's why he didn't say that the status and authority of the people involved should be organised like the righteous Dragon Hou family. Not just Valt, nobody. It's also because Finn avoided becoming a "lord," and to be honest, it was simply a pain in the ass.

gossip.

Finn perceived what he was trying to say from Mac's attitude, and responded with a stubborn observation of his opponent.

"Right, you're in public with no more complaints. I have to change my habit of putting my hands on your head."

"That's fine. I want you to stop in public."

"Really?

Fins blur in white. Mac looked up at him with a frigid odor and shook his head, for Christ's sake.

"... I have a dull mind. I'm going to keep up with my brother."

Solo to make you listen. Finn laughed uncomfortably.

"It must be for Nellis, be patient."

"Keep it quiet, you don't have to say it first. Totally...... Brother, not Master Dragon Hou Phineas. Again, I'm here today to ask permission to marry."

Mac stretched his spine tightly and stared straight at Finn to make it clear. Finn feels a little tickled, while taking care of his true face and nodding.

"The other guy?

My lord's sister, this is Nellis.

"Let's allow it.... Anyway, did you tell him in person?

After a hard response, Finn returns to his usual tone, just as the ritual ends. Mac was also in a resting position and smiled lightly.

"Nellis and Mr. Oandus agreed. My brother... Well, if it were normal, I wouldn't have to ask you, but what a dragon marquis. Even if it wasn't, I wanted you to admit it properly."

"Not now," Finn grinned bitterly. "I think of you like a brother. Even your uncles treat you like a family. I was so close that I worried Nellis wouldn't be dealing with me."

In fact, for three years now, Finn's eyes had seen a thread-like bond going between them. Even if the two of them had already interacted as reluctantly as family, it was obvious that something other than simple familiarity was included there.

For Finn, who watched his bond grow a little stronger, it feels like this day is finally here. Instead of wasting his emotions, he screwed up Mac's head.

"I'm glad you and Nellis had eyes to see."

"Hey, brother! I said it's nothing, but that's it...!

Mac shelters his head in a hurry. After escaping out of reach, Mac stared at Finn with resentment. Tighten your hair with your hands, sighing at him.

"I also talked to Mr. Oandus, and for the time being, as always, I'm going to live with my brothers. I'll just move the room a little bit. To build a new home just for two, because you can't afford it."

"Well...... Nanais now has all sorts of other vendors coming in, and maybe it's time to build a decent official residence and move that way"

Um, Finn roared thinking.

So far, Finn and his family have lived together in a joint home built in the early days of reconstruction. Nellis is a temple, Finn and Oandus are city halls, each of which is rarely accommodated, but their original residence is a normal home close to the square.

There, people come. Oandus is the chairman of the city council, and Finn is a compromise with the national side, and because he is a dragon marquis, citizens with consultations and requests visit him frequently. The matter of plenty of meeting time in the city hall, but a little in a public place during a crowded day, is brought into the home.

Some of them are not of a good nature, and when they are waited for, they may cry out loud, or if the demands do not pass, they may be rampant. Neighborhood annoyance is not great.

"Let's make a proposal in the next congress. Anyway, it's going to be fun to build a huge lawn yard so that Lena can sun up as she should be."

Finn laughed with the intention of joking, but Mac just said it was a suggestion, and nodded yeah.

"Nice, that. Sometimes we have to remind everyone that Lena is really a dragon. With a big lawn, we can open competitions and stuff, and we can use it for a lot of things."

"... are you serious?

"Was that a joke? It's about my brother, so I just say it's big serious. But anyway, I think the garden actually needs an official residence. I hate to sound like a lord again, but I don't judge a lot of visitors in my current residence - I hate to say it, but it's a little dangerous."

Mac frowned with his verbal butt and lowered his voice. Finn gets a true face, too, and nods silently.

Public money, important documents, etc. are kept together in the City Hall, where the Tenryu Squad guards day and night. But the house of the Oandus family cannot be defenseless and good. Personal stamps and private letters from citizens can also be abused in a municipal entanglement if stolen. Besides, even if Dragon Hou himself can't threaten his family, there is no one who thinks he can pass his demands.

Finn sighed small.

"I miss three years ago, when it was nothing. Everyone in the city knew each other, and the money was just used to pay the captain, and we shared everything we had, and there was nothing wrong with it."

"Right. But I'd rather have Nellis' hands rough now."

Mac really curls naturally. Finn grinned and regained his mind. Yes, indeed, life has been much easier.

"Nellis didn't have time to do anything priestly back then."

Even, I was cooked to sew for field work, and I was just chased around by things. After a year or two of that, she could do about a simple ritual by herself. For example, you think it's a goddess blessing at a wedding?

"... now Nellis is on the blessed side. I need someone from Winnea to come to the priest."

"Right."

Mac also gives an embarrassing reply to Finn, who said he was stingy. He coughed in the blindfold and switched subjects in question.

"I wonder what my brother will do."

"Yeah?"

"When my brother gets married. I was wondering if you'd ask Nellis or call another priest with more piercings."

The hoe and the fin can be against the air. Mac somehow looked around the room and waited to see if Lena would come out before continuing.

"You're making a promise to Lena, aren't you?

"Oh, no, the..."

It's been three years and I'm still on hold, etc., and I can't say it's too impudent. Finn was in trouble and crushed a little pointless on you.

Mac stared with gray eyes at Finn, who was struggling to respond. On that look, there are no signs of teasing or dust. Somewhat. He said quietly.

"Are you thinking about the Nakte Dragon Marquis? The story of Nera's ancestors."

Unexpectedly brought up a serious topic, Finn changed his expression. Sigh and scratch your head a bit.

"There's that too. I can't hide anything from you. In fact, I'm sure I can't see Lena as that... but I can't say enough that it doesn't affect that story there"

In Finn, Lena is still situated on the border between the dragon and the girl. However, there was a sense that it was not difficult to lean towards the latter. He looks so adorable, he likes Finn all over his body. There is no shortage as someone who loves each other, becomes a child, and spends the rest of their lives together. If you want to see it as a single woman - of what still seems to be young in many ways - you won't have to struggle so hard to change perceptions.

But that's why his cautious part dares to pull the reins.

The story of the first Nakte Dragon Marquis having a child with the dragon would not have been believed if he hadn't met Nera himself, a descendant. Not to mention that the dragon marquis was killed by relatives, etc.

"The bond with the dragon is very strong. It's so incredible to me to have a dragon and a human at the same time. Something... I guess there was a reason. In person or around. Something has to be done."

And as a result, there was a tragedy. How can I say it doesn't come down to me either? He may not have any inheritance problems, because he is not a nobleman who was a medal in the war, but given his life expectancy far longer than that of a man, he cannot be relieved to see only the current situation.

Or maybe loving a dragon causes something more than bonding. There are changes that you can't help but induce relatives to kill.

In any case, given those dangers, it was not easy to meet Lena's feelings. At least I just want to avoid hurting the people I care about right now.

Mac slowly, but forcefully, affirmed to Finn, who held his mouth with a sunken face.

"Whatever happens, I'm on your side. I just want you to believe that. I can't imagine what it means to be a dragon marquis, and I take it for granted that my brother will be cautious considering all the possibilities. But even if my brother does something about it, I'm definitely going with him."

"Thankfully, it's not something I'd make that promise too generously."

Finn grinned bitterly. Yeah, really, Mac can't imagine that. What it feels like to use the power of a dragon, and what fear it becomes commonplace. Once Lena said it was a huge price to pay, and what it really meant...

But still, Mac smiled without straying or fright.

"It's something I decided a long time ago. My brother took us all the way to Winnea, that's when."

…………

There is no cloudy spot, clear light dwelling in his center. Finn was thrust in the chest and was often stunned. The only thing I was able to return was a few words that didn't bother me.

"Apparently, I was picking up a lot of money without knowing it."

"That sort of thing"

Mac stood back and responded, just trying to change his mood, stopping by his desk with his shoulders up.

By the way, what was the Emperor's letter?