Today was the day of the eting between Amon and Tis.
We, the mbers of the Baldia family, visited the tribal chief's residence where Amon was staying and were guided to the guest room.
Looking around the room, on the Grandork family's side, there were Amon, Rafa, Barbarossa, and other loyalists of the current regi, as well as Rafa's subordinates, the Pianies, seated.
On the Baldia family's side, there were , Dynas, Capella, and others lined up.
Tis and Citri, who were not present in this room, were in another room making final adjustnts.
"Haha, I feel kind of nervous."
"I understand that feeling. I was really nervous too."
I smiled at Amon, who was scratching his cheek in embarrassnt.
It reminded of the eting with Fara in Renarute.
At that ti, the Baldia territory had not yet achieved remarkable developnt, and my reputation wasn't very good.
Additionally, there were many aristocrats who wished for a marriage between the imperial family of the Magnolia Empire and Fara, so I was subjected to piercing stares.
Looking back, it felt like I was sitting on pins and needles.
But adversity is the greatest opportunity.
It was because we overca those difficulties that the relationship between and Fara, and between Renarute and Baldia, is so good now.
Everyone here is nervous, but more than that, they are filled with anticipation.
The engagent between Amon and Tis has already been announced, but there are still those who question the alliance between the two families.
This eting will serve as an opportunity to reaffirm the relationship between the two families and the fact that the Grandork family's regi has been renewed, both within and outside the territory, and those who question it will likely disappear.
When Amon first beca the tribal chief, there were quite a few who believed that the old regi's powerful families would soon usurp power.
But such opinions should completely disappear with the dismissal of those powerful families and this eting.
With the regi stabilized and the Grandork family forming ties with the Baldia family, the shrewd rchants from various countries will surely see business opportunities in the Foxman territory.
Where rchants gather, trade flows erge, and where trade flows erge, goods and people gather, and where goods and people gather, the economy thrives.
Once the gears start turning, the Foxman territory will likely achieve remarkable developnt, just like Baldia.
And when the Foxman territory develops, the secret pact that my father made with Amon, the marital relationship between the Baldia and Grandork families, will beco even more effective.
The richer a territory becos, the more bad guys are attracted to it—such is the way of the world.
This marriage also includes the intention of closing any gaps that such people might exploit.
"I see. Ridd, you also visited Renarute for a eting before marrying Fara, didn't you? Knowing you, you must have done sothing to surprise the other party."
"No, no, nothing like that. It was just a normal eting. Right, Capella?"
I shook my head at Amon's words and turned my gaze to him, and he seed to be pondering sothing with a thoughtful expression.
"That's right. If Lord Ridd says it was a 'normal' eting, then it must have been so."
"...What's with that insinuating tone?"
As I pouted, Amon burst out laughing.
Then, his laughter spread to everyone else, and the tension in the room eased, creating a more relaxed atmosphere.
Personally, I still felt a bit unsettled.
As I puffed out my cheeks in frustration, there was a polite knock on the guest room door.
"I have brought Lady Citri. May we enter?"
The voice that ca through the door was Nina's.
After exchanging glances, Amon nodded and replied, "Yes, please co in."
The door slowly opened, and Nina, the formal maid, entered along with Citri, who was dressed in an imperial-style dress.
"Brother Amon, it's been a while."
Citri showed her white teeth and spoke in a cheerful voice, which elicited surprised murmurs from the powerful families.
They only knew her from before, so their surprise was understandable.
When she first ca to Baldia with Amon, she was thin and lacked the brightness she has now.
Back then, her personality was marked by low self-esteem and a lack of confidence, likely due to her living environnt in the Foxman territory.
But in Baldia, through interactions with my mother, Fara, l, and many others, she gradually regained her innate temperant.
Additionally, with proper nutrition, her once thin body has recovered to an appropriate state for her age, and her complexion has improved.
Now, Citri is bright and kind to everyone, and she moves around with energy.
Incidentally, at her own request, we also taught her martial arts and magic in Baldia, and she picked them up surprisingly well, to my own amazent.
I find it hard to understand why she was ever judged to lack talent.
Perhaps Gales just didn't have a good eye for it.
"Citri, you've changed so much. It's amazing."
"Hehe, right? I've been learning a lot in Baldia."
She smiled at Amon, but when her eyes fell on Rafa sitting next to him, her expression suddenly turned sharp.
"Oh my, what's with that scary face?"
"Sister Rafa, there's sothing I must tell you here."
Citri took a deep breath and, with a determined look, pointed at Rafa.
"Listen well. Brother Ridd has Sister Fara, whom he loves dearly. There's no room for soone like you, a seductress, to co between them."
"Eh..."
Her unexpected statent caused the room to fall into a sudden silence.
I, Amon, and Rafa were all stunned, while the powerful families all wore awkward expressions.
In the midst of this indescribable atmosphere, Rafa's shoulders began to shake, and she soon burst into loud laughter.
"That's hilarious, calling a seductress. That's what Marbas used to say behind my back, isn't it? Citri, you've started saying it too."
"My feelings don't matter. What's important is what I just said—Brother Ridd has Sister Fara. Keep your hands off him."
"Fufu. Well, we'll see about that."
Citri glared sharply, while Rafa smirked defiantly, brushing off her glare.
The two of them locked in a staring contest, leaving the room in stunned silence.
What are we going to do about this atmosphere?
I cleared my throat and said, "Citri, listen."
"Um, I've publicly stated that I have no interest in anyone other than Fara, and Rafa is in a position where that kind of thing wouldn't happen. There's no way it would."
"See? That's why people say you're too naive, Brother Ridd."
"W-what, naive..."
As I faltered at her retort, stifled laughter could be heard around the room.
"Sister Rafa doesn't understand common sense in these matters. Sotis, you have to speak up boldly to get through to her."
"Oh my, you understand quite well. Sotis, love that burns with a sense of taboo can be thrilling."
Rafa smiled with a suggestive tone, but then her expression turned serious. "But Citri," she said.
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