The wedding reception hall of Reinhard and Bertsche was full of energy.

The representative of the groom's family was Leonhard, Reinhardt's brother. The representative of the bride's family was Matheus, Bertsche's brother.

After they each gave a brief but heartfelt congratulatory speech, the bride and groom began to serve everyone in attendance.

Reinhard and Bertsche, holding a bottle of wine together, pour it into the glasses of the guests.

When the wine has been served to the 30 or so people in attendance, it is time for the toast.

"Well, here's to the young couple and to their future prospects!"

The glasses were raised and drained by Reinhardt's father, Wolfgang.

From then on, the room is a place of conviviality. Chairs are provided, but it is basically a standing party.

Jin and Saki stay quiet by the wall. They don't like noisy people.

"So Reinhardt is a lord now, huh?

Saki takes off her glasses and mutters as her gaze wanders.

"Oh, so that's how it's going to be. What about the diplomats?"

"Mistress Bertsche...... is a very strong woman, she will be able to serve as a diplomat even without her husband."

Saki laughed and said, "Bertsche has a strong economic sense and takes good care of her.

"...... I can't possibly compete with her."

After she said those words, a single tear fell from Saki's eye.

"......Are you ......?"

Saki hurriedly wiped it away with the back of her hand.

"That's funny,......?　I thought I'd sorted out my feelings. ......"

The tears kept flowing, after wiping, after wiping, after wiping. Jin saw it and thought, "I knew it.

Then he took Saki out of the side door secretly.

"...... you're still thinking about Reinhard, aren't you?"

"......Yeah,......Sounds like it. ......Jin, I've shown you how bad I can be."

I'm not sure what to do with the rest of my life.

"I don't mind. But don't show your crying face to Reinhard and Bertsche, okay?

"I know, I know. If I do that, all the patience I've been putting up with will have been for nothing. Only Miss Elsa and you, Jin, know how I feel about you.

"What?"

Jin was surprised when Elsa's name came up.

"I once confided my feelings only to Miss Elsa. I told her how I felt about her when she was only twelve or thirteen years old.

Saki looked a little far away, perhaps remembering the old days.

"In those days, it was good just to have someone listen to what was on my mind. Miss Elsa was a silent listener. Well, maybe she was still too small to know how to respond.

Jin agreed inwardly.

"I hope to see her again someday."

Saki's tears finally stopped and she was able to smile again. They returned to the hall once more.

"Oh, Saki, I've been looking for you!"

There came a woman about the same age as Saki, or a little younger. Platinum blonde with gray eyes. Platinum blonde, gray eyes, well proportioned.

"Oh, Aunt Karen!"

"It's unusual to see you with a man other than Reinhardt, Saki. From the looks of him, he must be from the kingdom of Egelea. Would you introduce them to me?"

She looked at Jin.

"Ah, this is a close friend of Reinhardt's, Jin Nido. As you can see, he is an honorary magician and magecraftsman.

"I am Jin Nido."

Jin bowed lightly.

Jin, this is my aunt ......."

Karen Theodoric von Banners. Nice to meet you.

The woman, who was Saki's aunt, introduced herself while Saki was in the middle of introducing her. She seemed a little impatient.

"And Saki, please don't call me your ."

"Okay, okay, Ms. Karen."

"Oh, you can call me that. Oh, and you haven't fixed that creepy smile of yours, have you? Your father ...... has warned you about it for years."

"Hmph, it's just a habit of mine, you know. It's not something that can be fixed."

"You're a very good person, aren't you?"

Karen said with a sigh and turned to Jin.

"Jin-san, as you may know, I am the fourth daughter and Saki is the eldest daughter. That makes us aunt and niece, but I am the younger of the two.

Karen starts talking about things I didn't ask her. It seems that she has a character that cannot be hidden.

According to her, Saki's mother, Charley Theoderic von Mowry, was the child of the Marquis when he was 16, and eloped with Tor Eschenbach when Charley was 15. She gave birth to Saki at 16 and passed away at 18.

Karen's mother was Emma, the fourth wife of the marquis. Emma also passed away when Karen was 12, and the marquis is now single, Karen said.

Jin was a little fed up with being told the truth, which he did not want to know.

Then Reinhard and Bertsche arrived.

"Hi Jin, Saki. Thank you for coming. I see you're here with Miss Karen.

Reinhardt seemed to know Karen well.

"Congratulations, Reinhard and Bertsche. I'm so happy for you.

"You look well, Miss Karen. Is everything alright with you too, Marquis?"

Karen raised her eyebrows.

"Yes, I'm a little worried about you, you've been sick lately and you've lost weight. ...... Besides, your father hasn't been in the best of moods lately."

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know what's wrong with him, he's lost weight. He eats very little and ...... well, that's not something to talk about at a happy occasion. As for your mood, it's Elsa, Elsa. Father's in a bad mood now that she's gone. ...... I don't want her to be a mother. I don't want her to be the mother of someone her own age.

Reinhardt couldn't help but laugh at the offhanded remark.

"All the sisters have already married, then, if Miss Karen gets a son-in-law, won't the Marquis no longer talk about new wives?"

"But you know, there aren't many men who could meet my father's expectations. Reinhardt was on the right track.

Bertsche was the first to react to that line.

"No. Reinhard is my husband."

Holding Reinhardt's arm tightly, Berthe glared at Karen.

"I know, I know. I won't take someone's husband. Jin-san is also my favorite, but Saki has already taken him.

Saki hears this and denies it, unusually in a panic.

"Karen-san, Jin and I are not like that!

"Oh really?　...... Then, Jin-san, will you be my son-in-law?　You could be the heir to the Marquise's throne, you know?"

Karen says with a mischievous smile. Jin denied it clearly, though he didn't seem to be serious.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not interested in power.

"Well, that's unusual. Well, I don't think my father would allow a commoner to be an honorary magical craftsman, no matter how much of an honorary magical craftsman he may be. ...... Saki, are you sure you don't want to come back?"

Karen asked, perhaps remembering Saki's father as a commoner.

"I'm better off where I am now," she said. Please tell the Marquis that."

But Saki had no intention of returning to the Marquis' house. Karen looked a little disappointed.

"Yes, of course. But just remember that this is your family home. If you need anything at all, you can always count on us.

Yes, I'll think about it if it comes to that.

Karen left the conversation with Jin and Saki to go and talk with the others.

"I'll see you later. It's not easy to make the rounds.

After Karen left, Jin asked the waiter for a glass of fresh juice and drank it down in one gulp.

"Are you tired, Jin?"

Saki looked at Jin with a smile.

"Yes, I'm tired. It's too much work for a commoner to go to a place like this.

"Yeah, yeah, you're right, you're right. That's why I don't want to be an aristocrat either.

Saki got a glass of fresh juice, the same as Jin, and quenched her thirst.

At that moment, I heard a small but clear voice saying

"Hmph, you're not even my wife's son, and now you've given me a fiefdom."

Saki heard this and literally flew to the man who said these words.

"What?　What did you say?

"What the hell?"

The man who was accosted was suddenly taken aback, but quickly regained his composure,

"Well, what's wrong with telling the truth? My three brothers are the sons of my wife, but his mother is a concubine, isn't she?"

He snickered at her.

There was a loud noise. Saki slapped the man on the cheek as hard as she could.

"What are you doing?

"What do you know?　Wolfgang's wife, Sophia, gave birth to Leonhard at 16, Wilhard at 19, and Erhard at 21. She died at the age of 22. For the sake of his young son, Wolfgang wanted to remarry, and he wished to have Lady Sophia's younger sister, Isolde, as his consort. However, Lady Isolde dared to marry only Sophia as a concubine, as she was the only one who could take her rightful place as a wife. And now, Master Reinhardt is born. Don't talk to me like you know something you don't."

Saki's words were so incendiary that even the other man was taken aback. But then, as if in a last stand,

I am Günter Kirchhoff von Dast. I am the heir to the Viscount Kirchhoff family.　You can't talk to me like that."

He brought up his position.

"Oh, I see, the son of the Viscount Kirchhoff. I heard from the Viscount that you have a bad son.

"What?"

Saki smiled at him,

"Since you've told me your name, I'll tell you mine. My name is Saki. I am Saki Theodoric von Silva.

He clearly announced his name as a marquess. Günther was flustered.

"The ...... Theodoric?

He turned pale when he heard the family name.

"Yes, yes, I'm from your family!"

"I beg your pardon!　Forgive me for my many outbursts!"

Günther jumps down about two meters and bows so deeply that his head touches the floor, but Saki tells him coldly, "I'm sorry for all my outbursts.

"It's not me you should apologize to. It's everyone in this room. Do you understand?

Yes, sir!

Günther bows once more,

"Ladies and gentlemen!　I apologize for the discomfort I caused you earlier with my outburst of ignorance!"

He said loudly and quickly left the hall.

"......"

Saki looked at Günther's back and sighed deeply when he was gone. Karen was the first to speak to Saki.

"Saki, you were so cool. Yes, you should be proud to use your family name at a time like that."

Jin was next.

"Saki, you're good! What can I say ......?

"Oh, Jin, is that a compliment to a woman?"

Jin can't help but laugh.

"Ah, ha ha ha ......"

And finally, Reinhardt and his mother, Isolde.

"Saki, thank you for what you said on my behalf."

"I don't mind what you say, Saki, but thank you for being angry with me for my son's sake."

"No, no. ......"

Saki scratches her head in embarrassment.

Jin was impressed by her anger for the honor of Reinhardt and his mother, and how she was able to get the aristocrats to go along with the name of the family she hated so much.

At the same time, he felt that Saki was a trustworthy person.