"It was an arranged marriage, Jared. There was no love involved."
My mom's initial statent jerked back to reality. I an, I should have known of that, yet I had to ask.
"There's hardly any Noble Marriage that follows the concept of love, you know? Most unions are arranged—based on well-analyzed profit and whatnot."
I remained silent, watching as my mother explained.
"It was the sa case for your father. Our family needed the Leonard's influence, and the Leonard family needed to produce a Mage.
Other families would rather not take the risk of sullying their bloodline of Mages, but our household was ready to take the chance..."
I slowly began to understand my mother's position.
"I had to produce an heir that could use Magic. The results weren't guaranteed, but I did my best."
Fortunately, I ca along.
'I've often wondered what would happen to this family if I hadn't reincarnated...'
With this body's poor talent and extrely low Mana Particles, I doubted the 'original' Jared Leonard would have gone very far in Magic.
Sotis I even felt a little guilty for possessing the body of the child of two innocent Nobles, but I realized it was probably for the best.
"So, you don't love father?" I asked her with a straight face.
"My sweet Jared... I don't know how to answer that question. What do you think love is?"
Wasn't that a simple question? Wasn't love the feeling a person had when they possessed deep romantic interests in another party?
"Love takes ti to blossom, Jared. Feelings can morph into Love, but it takes ti regardless."
"A-ah...?"
"The truth is, I hardly know your father. He's busy with work, and I don't bla him. I have grown to respect him a lot, and I like certain things about him. But..." Her face grew sterner as she spoke.
"... You can't love soone you hardly know."
Sohow, I felt those words resonate with . Sothing within shook, and I rembered my past.
'I guess it's no wonder I have been so hesitant with Maria...' A soft smile played on my face.
Compared to Emilia, Karlia... even Lilith... I hardly knew the young Helmsworth.
'So, I have feelings for her. But it's not love, at least not yet.'
But what about her? Maria seed genuinely into . Did she simply love what she knew about ? Perhaps our feelings for each other were just as shallow...
"But, can I tell you a secret?" My mother suddenly intruded on my thoughts, causing to look at her once more.
"Y-yeah."
"Love is... like a seed. It starts out small. And then it grows. It's possible to feel a strong sense of affinity for soone. Give it ti, and it could blossom into sothing."
"A-ah, even if you hardly know the person?"
"It's possible for soone to fall in love with soone they don't really know. But, that would an that they simply have a wrong knowledge of their object of interest."
'Ah, I get it now...' My thoughts trailed as my eyes widened.
"If you're not careful, you may end up loving soone who doesn't exist. That's the most tricky aspect of the concept of love."
'If I'm not careful...' A smile ford on my face and I nodded.
My mother was right, after all.
"Thank you, Mom." A genuine smile ford on my face as I took in the proud expression of my lovely mother.
"Yeah, anyti! Co to for more counsel."
I doubted I would do that anyti soon, but...
"Sure, I'll think about it."
"Now, it's my turn to ask the questions." A scary smile suddenly appeared on her face, causing to tremble slightly.
'What is this bad feeling?' The hairs on my skin rose.
"Why don't you fill in on your adventures, Jared...? What's your relationship with that Helmsworth girl?"
My mother's smile was broad, but dark. I could tell that she was in no playful mood.
She cracked her wrists and winded her arms, sending a ssage of what would happen if I didn't comply.
'Shit!' My mind trembled in defeat.
I knew the inevitable truth. It was either I answered her question with unfettered honesty... or get a mighty suplex.
***********
"Ah! Hmmm..." Anabelle rubbed her chin as she seriously analyzed the situation.
When she had first caught her son in his room, trying to force a girl to do sothing she was obviously not into, Anabelle was appalled beyond words.
Her only child, and the Hero of the Eastern Kingdom, was into sothing like that? Her mind could not comprehend it.
Fortunately, he cleared up that misunderstanding, giving her heart so asure of rest.
Then, when Jared asked about 'Love', she was caught off-guard once again, but her maternal instincts instantly took over and she managed to say so words from her heart.
'I might have said nonsense, but...' Anabelle tearily smiled to herself.
After she was done answering his question, the Noble Lady had so of her own.
Her child, Jared, would be an adult in so months, so she couldn't supervise his actions for much longer—not that she was doing much of that these days.
While she missed him a great deal, Anabelle understood perfectly. He was just like his father—both were busy n.
The mont Jared asked about love, though, Anabelle connected the dots and had inquisitions of her own.
For one—
'Does Jared love anyone?'
The image of the Helmsworth girl flashed in her mind, and Anabelle could not help but feel even more giddy and interested in the whole thing.
As a result, she decided to find out... no matter the cost.
And so she did.
"Jared, you..." Anabelle's voice was trembling at this point.
After her son was done explaining the situation to her, she could not believe how hopelessly dense he had been.
"... You're truly hopeless."
A deep-seated respect began forming in Anabelle's heart for Maria, and she silently supported the young girl's endeavor.
It would be nice if Jared married soone he loved, and who loved him.
Unfortunately, the boy didn't even know what love was.
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