Dream Life

evening of February 10.

I heard from Dan and Sharon the results of the intelligence gathering in Teito. And it turns out Sharon was arbitrary and doing more than gathering information.

The look on my father's face when I heard the report is stiff and contemplates a disposition against them.

Sharon realizes the seriousness of what she has done and puts tears in her eyes. Dan was also looking down with his fist firmly gripped.

My brother also erases the grin he always has on his face and stares at a point with a serious look.

"Zach," my father said to me.

"How much do you think this impact is? Don't think about the two of you, just let me know what I can think of from the facts."

My father seems to be lost in judgment, too.

"Okay. First of all, His Excellency the Chancellor......" he began his explanation.

I talked as objectively as I could about what I had just thought.

That the Prime Minister is certain that the Lockhart family is known to be involved in this plot, and that, in contrast, it is likely to come up with some demands.

That the demand has to do with the blacksmith's guild and could even step into a ploy against the commercial guild that is all going to interfere and the Lax kingdom that is now in a state of truce.

That at least the Lockhart family will be demanded to belong to the Neutralists and that some action will be taken against me as well.

If other commercial guilds and sorcerer guilds find out the facts, they will talk about taking any action against the Lockhart family, etc.

I can talk in about three minutes.

As we were talking, Sharon's face turned blue to see and began to rattle and tremble. You didn't even seem to think about my reasoning.

"So what the Chancellor wants is the key."

I seem to have figured out the facts in a samurai-like way.

"Exactly. I cannot move until the Chancellor has spoken to me."

"Um," my father nodded, turning to Dan and Sharon.

"This case is clearly out of order. So far it seems to be working, but we still don't know what the outcome will be. No, even if it works, forgiving this will set a bad precedent for our Lockhart family"

Dan and Sharon say yes.

"Dan Jakes," my father says, as Dan stands out of his chair, on one knee and drooling his head. Soon Sharon poked one knee beside him in the same way and drooled his head.

"As a Jakes family man, the sin of deviating from my orders is heavy. Therefore, the salary awarded to the Jakes family shall be halved for the other six months. Dan also decides to increase his reconnaissance into the East Forest as an overtime when he returns to the village. You got it."

It sounds harsh when you hear fifty percent pay cuts over six months, but it's actually a punishment with little effect. The salary after the Jakes family has been assigned to the Knight is scheduled at a thousand kronas a month, one million yen. As a squire, it's three hundred kronas, and even if it's halved, it's more than ever.

Of course, you need to recruit a squire who is a knight or a subordinate, but so far the squire you attach to them will be the one seconded by the Lockhart family. In other words, the salary of the squire is borne by the Lockhart family, so it would simply have gone up.

to that decision. Dan argues, "Well, that doesn't punish you,"

"You just have to give it back to me with your upcoming work," my father said, putting his hand on Dan's shoulder.

After he handed over the disposition to Dan, he also handed over the punishment to Sharon.

"I understand that the commander is far away and needs to make a decision on the scene, but this matter cannot be decided on the scene. At least I should have talked to Dan. Failure to do so is far heavier than Dan."

The tone is stiff for my father.

"Sharon Jakes. Freeze your engagement to Zacharias. I mean, marriage is postponed for the moment. The deadline for postponement is indefinite. I decide whether to disarm it or not."

Did Sharon not imagine the words, "Oh, forgive me for that!" and clinging to my father.

"I can't do that. You are certainly excellent. I can see some ahead, and I'm bold, unlike what I look like. But that's not what I'm talking about. Zach, and if only the Lockhart family would be bothered, I wasn't willing to inflict more severe punishment. But this time it could also cause a lot of trouble for the Blacksmith Guild"

So he cut the words and added in a more severe tone.

"That's not all. At worst, it could affect the survival of this world. Think about it."

What my father says is not strong and wrong. It is possible that I will be separated from Luna, and given that, there is a good chance that it will involve the survival of the world.

But still too harsh a punishment for Sharon. She lays her hands on her to collapse, tears zero.

"I say to Father. Is it possible to give them an opportunity to recover? Is it possible for me to return that stigma?"

"Whatever you do, Zach, you can't cancel the indefinite postponement of your marriage if you show that you fully reflect on this one and have no problem as your wife."

"I think I'm reflecting. And as my wife, it shouldn't be a problem."

"I'm the head of the family. I judge that. I won't change who says anything about this."

"But..." my brother puts his hand on my shoulder when I try to recruit more.

"My father is also distressed. First of all, it's not disengagement. My father has admitted that Sharon and you are getting married."

"Rod is right. But this one's a different story. If this hadn't been reported and something would have come to light later, I wouldn't hesitate to let the engagement dissolve. And I wouldn't have allowed any marriage afterwards. Whatever the outcome, it's the same. Think about it."

That's all I said, I left the room.

My brother hangs words of comfort on Sharon, followed by my father.

My father must have given me a harsh disposition thinking about me.

If I hadn't been harshly disposed of here and ordered myself to end it, I would have punished Sharon the same way.

But if you ask me if I could do that, I can only say no. Because we know Sharon will be sad.

My father also adores Sharon like his own daughter. So you must be having a hard time right now.

Only me and Dan and the crying Sharon were left behind.

I call out to comfort her somehow.

"I'm fine. Like my brother said, I'm not disengaged. Besides, I'm not letting you go either. So let's think about what's going to happen."

I still don't get an answer to see if I can't stop crying.

"There's still over a year to the wedding. Let's try to get your father's forgiveness by then."

That's where she looks up. Those eyes are bright red and I can't stop whimpering.

"So, but... your palace hated me... I did. I... what to do..."

I'm speechless about how to comfort you.

In the meantime, we need to rendezvous with the Liddies and tell them about this.

"You've made me pull the poverty lottery," he said, speaking to Dan, who continues to comfort his sister,

"I have to tell Liddy and the others about this. Let's go to your room."

Make sure you can hold him and get Sharon up and head to the room we were given.

Liddy and Beatrice, Mel, who were pleasantly generous in the room, were waiting.

And when I saw Sharon, who couldn't stop crying, I rushed over.

"What happened!?" and hold Sharon's shoulder as Liddy asks me. Mel also said, "Are you okay?" and he sounds worried.

"I'll explain the situation now. Let's sit down first."

Sit on the couch with Liddy and Mel supporting Sharon, who still leaks whimpers, from both sides.

"Sharon did a little too much during this gathering of information. I did something on my own that wasn't supposed to be recognized..."

Briefly explain to the three people who don't know what's going on.

As the story progresses, Beatrice's face becomes more rugged and Liddy and Mel also have a puzzling look on their face.

"... As punishment for this, Father froze his engagement and postponed his marriage indefinitely"

"What do you mean?!," Liddy said, raising her voice.

"This time it's clearly against orders. So far, there has been no impact, but it is unlikely that there will be any problems in the future. I don't know what kind of demands come from you, especially the Chancellor."

"But it's terrible to be unable to marry you! I was so excited!

Liddy keeps getting angry and Mel groans, "That's... terrible..."

Only one Beatrice was listening without saying anything.

"It's not like we can't get married. Marriage only. Marriage was frozen a year later. I didn't cancel my engagement, so I could call myself my fiancée."

Mel puts a relieved look on the words, but returns to his sinister look at whether he thought he would have received the same punishment.

"I'm complaining to Matt! There's no way I don't know how hard this kid was hanging in there, but it's too harsh..."

"Don't do that. As far as I can tell, my father-in-law is right."

"But this is too harsh!

"I know Lydia gets angry, but doesn't Sharon know for herself? Am I right?

Sharon nods small at Beatrice's inquiry.

"You're not alone. You may not rely on it, but from now on, talk to us. Zach, you have to think about what's going to happen. My father-in-law, please forgive me."

"Oh, I'll think about it. Nor is my father seriously opposed to marrying Sharon. Besides, this could work."

Sharon looks up at my words.

"It is likely that His Excellency the Chancellor and His Excellency the Duke of Ezarrington will make some demands about this one. At that time, I can say that as a Lockhart family, I have already disposed of it. Of course, those two won't pull at this level of excuse, but at least you'll know this one's hitting your hand. And I'm going to stick to everything that the Chancellor wants me to do."

"Are you okay? The other guy is a monster who's been carrying this big country alone."

"Oh, and still I'm not going to pull it off. If we pull here, Sharon will have done the wrong thing. I did it the wrong way, but it's what you did to protect us, no, me. I'm not gonna let you say that was wrong."

Sharon calmed down just a little by saying to my words, "I'm sorry... thank you..."

"Either way, I'm not going to spread the word about this a lot, and I'm not my fiancée anymore. Change your mind when you reflect on this one. Whatever it is, it's a banquet tomorrow at the Blacksmith Guild. The blacksmiths would notice if they were mesmerizing. If that happens, there could be a real riot. Well, this is a joke."

Somehow the atmosphere on the ground became brighter.

■ ■ ■

I couldn't hear your words very well.

But I understood right away. That your wedding with Zach a year away will be postponed indefinitely.

Last night, when my brother told me he was going to tell me everything, I somehow knew this would happen.

Yeah, I might have figured that out before. Since I asked Mr. Gunter to see the Chancellor.

Still, I was shocked.

When I thought I might not be able to stay next to him like this, I felt sorry for him, but I had zero tears.

I know exactly what your palace says. I'm also aware that I've been on track since I was on my way.

I wonder where I went wrong, but I believed that was the best thing I could do then. I still think it's the best.

But when I listened to Master Zach, I was reminded that I was insulting the Chancellor. I sent out a letter to the Duke of Ezarrington even though he had been warned all that, telling me that the Lockhart family was involved.

On second thought, even in my position as Prime Minister, I can think of a tease this time. We had to proceed more carefully to avoid leaving any evidence that the Lockhart family was involved.

I may have thought of it. Yeah, I was thinking about it.

I thought using a blacksmith guild wouldn't pose any danger to the Lockhart family. But that was a mistake.

When Mr. Gunter told me about his meeting with the Chancellor, he told me that he would defend his authority by killing all the Dwarves. The Chancellor has that power, and that he won't hesitate to do it for the Empire.

Now I know why Master Zach was so vigilant.

I can't stop crying when I know that much. 'Cause if you think you might not be able to be with Master Zach...

I think Mr. Beatrice scolded me when I got back to my room. I wasn't exactly scolded, but I did think I could do anything on my own. And I made a huge mistake.

As Master Zach said, they haven't dissolved their engagement yet. So there's still a chance. But I can't think of any way to ask your palace to forgive me. That deepens the despair.

After consoling me, Master Zach returned to his room to discuss the future.

"It's okay. There's no way Master Zach would abandon you," Mel comforts me.

"If you want to postpone it, I'll join you."

That's what I say and laugh at Nicole. I couldn't believe the word.

"Why..."

"I was meant to be your best friend? If you're in the opposite position, would you do the ceremony alone? You wouldn't do that."

I might have said the same thing if I did take the opposite position.

"Well, I'll think about the future. I'm not good at thinking. Sharon, you're the one who thinks."

Mr. Beatrice says so and puts his hand on my head. And then you move it just a little bit,

"You're going to be Zach's wife, too. You shouldn't be frustrated with this. Now that we're here, we all have to figure out the best way to do it."

"Right. Beatrice is right. First, let's think about how the Chancellor will get out. Sharon, what would you do if you were the Chancellor?

Mr. Lydia has also been more aggressive than usual in joining the story to comfort me. Imagine drinking all the alcohol these days, but I can still count on these people.

I wiped my tears and raised my face.

And I began to desperately think about what I would do if I were the Imperial Chancellor.