It's already deep in the night.
The head of the Ractos household, Grid=Ractos, is sitting in a table that's simple but could be felt that it was high grade item in his private room alone. He placed his elbow on the armchair, entwined his fingers together, and seems to be in deep thought.
A mont later, a knocking sound of the door could be heard.
Seemingly already aware that there will be soone who will visit his room, Grid asked that person to enter.
[ Father, what's the matter ? It's quite rare for you to call on like this. Did sothing happen? ]
The one who ca to the room is his own son. Its Jake=Ractos himself, the person who just had his engagent party with Anessa=Nizzet earlier in the day.
[ ... Jak . First, you've worked hard for the engagent party. Thank you. ] - Grid
[ Aah, yes . Well, there's quite a lot of things that happened, but Im glad that it's finished without any problems ... Thank to His majesty, it didn't beco a big ruckus, after all. ] - Jake
The many things that Jake is talking about is what happened after the engagent party was over. In other words, the social debut of Erza=Ractos.
At her social debut party, out of all things, Erza have done the knight's bow in front of the king. A lot has happened but thanks to His majesty, it didn't beco sothing outrageous. Jake seems relieved.
... Though it beca sothing outrageous among several people within the guest seat, they still didn't know about it.
[ That's right, the reason I called you is because of that matter. I want to talk about Erza's future, about what she will be after this. ] - Grid
Erza after this. Hearing those words, Jake fell into wonder.
[ What father ans by "after this" ? I've said it before, right? Since it didn't beco sothing big, even if you say the thing after this, what will exactly happen ... ? ] - Jake
[ About Erza's engagent plan. ] - Grid
Erza's engagent.
Just like the previous case, Erza is the type of Noble Lady that's for sure will create so ss ... Noble lady?
... Well, yeah, she is a Noble lady.
Because of that, even though she is a Noble lady from a duke house, not even one invitation for engagent cos. Even when she already reached the age of sixteen.
Just like how Grid says it every day - no more hope for Erza. Jake, himself, also thought the sa.
And now, Grid, who Jake thought already totally given up on that matter, wanted to talk about Erza's engagent.
[ Did perhaps, there's so weird person ... not that, a comndable person who asked Erza for an engagent in the party!? ] - Jake
[ Regrettably, such an eccentric ... not that, a comndable person didnt attend our party. Well, it's more correct to say that there's none who "asked" her for engagent. ] - Grid
Hearing how Grid said it in roundabout way, Jake pondered for a bit.
There's no one who asked Erza for engagent, but Grid wanted to talk about Erza's engagent.
[ Father. Perhaps, there's no one who asked her for engagent, but there's soone who is seemingly able to accept Erza in that party? ] - Jake
Jake hit the perfect spot on the thing that Grid wanted to talk about.
[ Indeed so. It's soone you know, Zen=Helix ] - Grid
Zen=Helix.
Soone who's affiliated with the Azolias kingdom Chivalric Order's Lightweight Unit. And the one who has the nickna of Young Ace. He is born from a Viscount family that had always beco the commander for the Kingdom's army for generations and he himself is a man who has the title of Knight.
Several days ago, because of an uproar that happened at the Crescent Moon Pavilion, a al shop in the castle city, he beca an acquaintance with Jake and Grid. And now, they have a friendly relationship.
Now, Grid is saying that they will make Zen accept Erza.
[ At the ti of today's uproar, I looked at his face by chance, you know ...From his look, it seems that he has great fondness towards Erza. ] - Grid.
After saying that, a smile appeared on his face.
His usual face that already gave people fear, beca even more warped and evil than before.
[ Wa, wait, father! Isn't that weird! It must only be his misconception. Theres no way he felt fondness towards Erza! I'm sure that he will not have the sa feelings looking at Erza in her usual form. I'm very sure!!! ] - Jake
Normally, Jake should feel happy in hearing that there's soone who is seemingly able to accept Erza, who is in a hopeless situation where her engagent and marriage is sothing that is only a dream within a dream. But upon hearing that the opponent is Zen=Helix, Jake said is opposition.
[ He is a rare person who's really friendly with us. Furthermore, he even listened to my bragging for several hours without making a reluctant face, responding to my story moderately, and hearing my story with smile on his face. He is a really good person, you know!? There's no way I want to do such an inhumane thing like giving Erza to him ... ! ] - Jake
Inhumane thing...
Thought it's a bit cruel, but it can't be helped if he talks about Erza like that.
Maybe, it is. Probably it is. Is it really so?
In any case, the two people that is having a conversation in this room is thinking the sa thing.
Hearing Jake unusually raising his voice in discontent, perhaps Grid have already thought about it. He hanged his head and sighed.
[ ... Indeed, he is a really good man. But even so, even if that's the fact Even if he just had misunderstanding on having a fondness toward Erza. There's already no one except him. If we let him go, Erza will beco like Rin ... umm, like that person. There will be no more chances for her. ] - Grid
With a slow tone, Grid said so.
While he agrees that giving Erza to a good man who knows nothing about her is sothing inhumane, but he said that there's no one else besides him. If they let this chance go, there will be none left.
There was a precedent whose na that ca out in the middle of his talk, but it's didn't matter.
He mustn't think about it. There's no rcy in the abyss.
[ I understand... I understand perfectly about that. But Erza is always wearing her amour, you know? She wearing an amour is her default form... She is an amour addict, you know? Giving Erza that's abnormal no matter how you think about it, to a good person like Zen-kun As I thought, I can't let that happen. ] - Jake
After Jake said so full of his grief, the room fell into silence.
---- Making one clear sigh, Grid raised his head.
[ Jake ... It's not like I didn't think about Zen=Helixs condition at all. Even in my opinion, he is a really good guy. But even so, we must sacrifice him. We must push Erza to him like this. It already has its own reason ... It's for the future. ] - Grid.
[ For the future? ] - Jake
Hearing Jake ask back, Grid nodded.
[ Jake, if you married, Miss Anessa will co to our house... In other words, she will live together with us. ] - Grid
Grid raised his body from the seat and then looked towards the window with his back facing Jake. Grid gazed at the moon that is float on the night sky. Then he continued his words.
[ And then, soday you will have kids, and surely they will be raised in our house ... But if at that ti, Erza still haven't married? She still lives in our house, and eating on the sa table as the precious kids who will bear the Duke household's future... What do you think about that? ] - Grid
Grid, pointing his gaze towards Jake's reflection on the window, asked.
Jake, then, made a surprised expression as if realizing sothing.
[ I am worried. I worried that my grandchildren in the future will receive so bad influence from Erza. Then, a second Erza will be born. I can't stop worrying about that. ] - Grid
Grid hanged his head in grief.
[ Humans are creature that cannot live without sacrificing sothing. They are really sad creatures. ] - Grid
Jake can't guess the expression of Grid whos hanging his head in sadness.
However, the feeling that his father felt about the future is properly transmitted to him.
He is now able to feel a resolution to do the inhumane act of giving Erza to the good guy Zen=Henrix.
Even if that resolution will bring him a grief.
[ ... I understand, father. Let's make Zen-kun, Zen=Helix, as our sacrifice] - Jake
[ Jake ... ] - Grid
[Then, let be the one to be burdened with that resolution. I can't let father have such a heavy burden on your back. I will be the one to speak about the engagent to Zen=Helix. ] - Jake
In surprise, Grid turned his back and faced towards Jake.
In Grid's eyes, reflected Jake's face that's full of determination.
[ Jake, what are you.... ! There's no way I will let you dirty your hand with such an evil deed! I talked with you not so that I can drag you to this ss. I'll be the one to tell it to Zen=Helix... ! ] - Grid
[ Father, I am Jake=Ractos. The next head of Duke Ractos household. ] -Jake
That voice is so unlikely for the usual Jake, a voice that's filled with determination.
[ In my own will, I asked him to be tied with Erza in engagent. I'll make Zen=Henrix sacrifice ... After all, I can't keep bothering father forever. That would be too uncool, no?] - Jake
Even if hes still joking at the end, hearing Jake saying it so seriously like that, Grid felt that Jake is finally growing up and the inner corner of his eyes started to feel hot.
Even though he determined to sacrifice his friend, Grid still felt proud for his son .
[ ... I understand. Jake, you will be the one to tell this matter to Zen=Helix. ] - Grid
[ Yes. Leave it to . ] - Jake
[ ---- By the way, umm, is Liliana still scolding Erza even now? ] - Grid
[ Aah ... She isnt showing any signs of regret. It'll probably continue until morning ] - Jake
[ Erza ... ] - Grid
The two have already determined themselves, but the feeling of guilt that they had against Zen=Helix didn't disappear.
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