Save 65 ─ Banfield Household of the Six Great Nobles

Banfield Household, one of the six great nobles of the Aristocratic Kingdom of Aster.

It was the house of Jude. It was a house with exceptional strength even among the six great nobles.

That was why they were not satisfied with the current situation.

The head of the house, Cliff Gaia Banfield had a robust build. He was muscular with thick arms as big as his body. It looked like his shirt would burst from his pecs.

His hair was spiky and green eyes with a sharp sight.

His face and chin were also thick.

At a glance, he gave the impression of a difficult person to deal with.

At the moment he was irritated with Randolf's weak foreign policy towards the kingdom.

"That Randolf, doesn't he understand that it will be a disadvantage to Aster in future diplomacy if he behaves modestly?"

A count of Altfode Kingdom was unilaterally bashing Herring Household.

On the surface it was dressed up as internal discord from

Aster, but for Cliff, who knew the truth, he couldn't keep his cool.

That Herring Household was ranked as weak among the six great nobles... they were the weakest.

It irritated him that there was a knight of the kingdom who acted pretentiously just because he won against an opponent of that level.

But if he were asked if he would take revenge for Herring Household, his answer would be "No, not for now."Cliff himself understood that he would not come out unscathed if he fought Rudel.

That was exactly the reason why he could not forgive Randolf's permissive attitude.

"The five houses must join hands to deal with him. And yet that guy decided on his own."

To Cliff, Randolf was an enemy rather than a rival.

They were peers of the six great nobles, but the strength of their houses was roughly equal.

And yet, after Vermillion Household, which acted as ruler, was destroyed by Rosenberg Household, it was the Acting Chairman that was the new representative of the houses.

He could not forgive the Banfield Household being placed under the Rosenberg Household or any other house.

"Is there no way to take the position of ruler away from Randolf? There is no one better suited for that position than the head of Banfield Household."

A subordinate came with a report to Cliff, who was mulling it over.

"Cliff-sama! ... E-Excuse me."

Cliff looked at his subordinate who was hesitating to make his report.

"Give me the report already. What is Jude doing?"

Recently, Jude, his son and heir to the Banfield Household, was acting strange.

He heard that Jude was obsessing over a commoner girl. He also caused some troublesome actions to stand out, so he had his subordinate investigate him.

They locked Jude in a safe house, but he escaped some time later.

"... The rumors are mostly true. He's stalking a girl and there are even bad rumors about him spreading in the academy."

"How can he, who will succeed the majestic and grand Banfield Household, act so shamefully?"

He thought perhaps he should drag Jude back to the mansion and scold him severely.

"But, the girl he's aiming at is weighing on my mind."

"Aah?"

Cliff had a cigar in his mouth. He listened to his subordinate before lighting the cigar.

"The Algrand sisters, they're twins. The younger sister is in a romantic relationship with young Master Lugh of Lunor Household."

"... That's troubling."

A young noble comrade of the six great nobles stood beside the girl his son was making uncomfortable.

It would be troublesome to keep quiet about this. Cliff was only considering this matter lightly.

"I also investigated those sisters, but, those Algrand sisters? it's quite possible they're related to the defunct Vermillion Household."

Cliff dropped the cigar from his mouth. He rose from his chair.

"Vermillion Household, you say!!! Are there survivors of that House? No, more importantly, you said they're twin sisters, don't tell me..."

In the back of Cliff's mind, images appeared of young candidates for successor to the Vermillion Household of ten years ago... the priestess candidates, Lucy and Diana.

Cliff's expression changed.

"Did Randolf let them get away? No, there's no way that guy could... Is there some kind of reason?"

His subordinate was concerned.

"Cliff-sama, what about the matter of young master Jude?"

Cliff decided to call Jude to ask about this in detail.

"Get that boy here, right now!"

◇◇◇

Lucy, who left Erselica's mansion, returned to her life in her apartment as before. Diana went out since morning, so Lucy was alone.

She decided to go out shopping to prepare today's dinner.

"What should I do today? Rudel really likes meat and anything that involves something fried, but... huh?"

Lucy was also helping with the cooking at Erselica's mansion. She got used to thinking and preparing in the food that would make Rudel happy from then on.

This strangely made her heart feel tight. Lucy smiled tightly.

"I really am a pitiful woman, aren't I? I need to quickly forget a love that's over and change to a new one."

Lucy looked at the calendar.

Diana was marking today's date.

"It looks like Diana has plans for today and won't be back tonight."

She didn't know what kind of plan she had, but she was preparing thoroughly this morning. Lugh came to pick her up in his car, so he must have been going on a date.

"Diana is very good at dealing with things from the past. Whereas I'm weak about it."

They were twins, but Diana had been better at dealing with things and highly valued by her surroundings from the past.

Her parents were also putting their expectations on Diana.

"I need to be dependable as the older sister, though."

Lucy was out shopping because she felt depressed even when she stayed in her room.

A voice called out to her as she was closing the door.

"What's up, Lucy."

She heard a cold voice, so she turned around hurriedly and found Jude standing there. His right hand held a necklace.

Jude Gaia Banfield, a handsome boy with good muscles and unruly reddish hair, bright dark green eyes with a sharp gaze.

Lucy was terrified of it.

As Lucy moved to escape to her room, Jude slammed his hand violently against the door.

Bam!

It made a loud sound.

"Don't run."

Jude's beautiful greenish eyes looked at her with an unnerving light.

Lucy displayed a confident attitude.

"There's no point even if you do something like this! I won't go out with you! Besides, there's no way an heir of a great noble house can date a commoner like me!"

Jude was smiling.

He touched Lucy's cheek with his left hand.

He felt disgust at her touch.

"That won't matter with my authority. Even if I get into a political marriage, my number one will be you. Lucy, you will become my wife─"

Lucy couldn't take it anymore and slapped Jude's face.

But, at that moment, the bandage hiding the back of Lucy's hand came off. She saw Jude's eyes widen.

(Damn it!?)

Lucy, who noticed that, immediately hid her right hand with her left hand. She then shoved Jude before running away from there.

Jude called out to Lucy's back.

"Wait! Lucy, what's that thing in your hand!?"

Lucy felt her heart pounding so hard from the fear in her chest. She had to run away quickly. She ran with all her strength.

But, Jude used his excellent physical ability to chase after Lucy. He grabbed her arm and twisted it.

"Lucy, show me your hand!"

"L-let me go!"

Jude caught the struggling Lucy tightly and then let out a mysterious smile. Lucy was in a panic because she was discovered.

(This is bad. If I show this guy my emblem, I'll be back to causing trouble for Rudel and the others...)

(If it got out that I have the Priestess Emblem, the Aristocratic Kingdom would give everything to secure the sacred tree sapling to complete the set).

(That would mean they would go to war.)

Lucy thought it would cause Rudel trouble if that happened. But Jude was strong and couldn't escape.

"Lucy, show me that emblem! I know that emblem. I know it. I remember seeing that emblem somewhere."

Lucy was terrified at the sight of Jude's crazy grin. As Lucy closed her eyes, she heard a voice.

"BASTARD!!!"

When she opened her eyes, she saw Erselica come running over and kick Jude. He was sent flying.

At that moment, because of her mini skirt, Erselica's black underwear was in full view.

Erselica sent a big man like Jude flying with her small body. When she landed, she took a fighting pose.

"What the hell are you doing when the sun is this high in the sky, you bastard! If you touch this girl, I'll instigate Rudel to turn your territory into a sea of flames!"

Erselica mentioned Rudel's name, but Jude only smiled faintly. She wasn't listening at all to Erselica's threat.

"Lucy, as I thought, you and I are bound by fate."

Lucy's left hand pressed the back of her right hand. She was discovered by Jude.

(What will happen now? He discovered that we are survivors of Vermillion Household?)

Jude stood up and looked at Erselica.

"Move along, dwarf woman. This is between me and my wife, Lucy."

Erselica's eyebrows twitched.

She was really pissed off.

"Don't get carried away, you perverted stalking bastard! Can't you see this girl hates what you're doing? I'll leave you unprotected just like that bastard Derrick."

When Jude couldn't keep his patience and flashed the back of his hand, Lucy stepped forward to protect Erselica.

"Erselica-chan, no! Jude is really strong!"

But Erselica didn't back down.

"I know that! But if anything happens to you here, I'll be scolded by onii-chan!"

For a moment, Lucy wondered who´s this big brother Erselica mentioned was, but there was no time to think about that.

As Jude was about to use his magic, several cars stopped near them. The men got out of the cars and grabbed Jude in a great hurry.

Lucy and Erselica were watching that happen with a stunned look on their faces. Jude was protesting.

"Let me go you fuckers! You, how dare you do something like that to me!!! Do you know who I am!!!?"

A man approached Jude who was restrained on all sides.

"Young master Jude, your father, Cliff-sama is calling you, come with us quietly!"

Jude stopped and fell silent at the mention of his father's name.

"My father is calling me?"

"Y-Yes! He's asking you to return to the mansion at once."

(They must be Banfield Household servants.) Erselica thought.

They kept sending strange looks at Lucy.

Jude thought as he watched them for a moment before getting into a car. He smiled a ghastly grimace at Lucy as he got into the car.

"My beloved Lucy, wait a moment. I will definitely come and pick you up. You'll be mine whether you want me or not."

After Jude and his men left this place, Erselica shouted loudly at them.

"Don't ever come back, stupiiiiid!"

Lucy hugged herself and fell to her knees.

She was trembling with a pale face. Erselica called out to her as she saw her condition.

"L-Lucy, pull yourself together! Anyway, come to my house. I'll protect you no matter what. We must wait until Rudel arrives!"

In that way, Lucy evacuated to Erselica's mansion that night.

◇◇◇

At the Banfield Household mansion, which was a castle in reality.

Jude, who was brought back, sat on the sofa while smiling.

Cliff, who was sitting on the sofa on the opposite side, was angrier in front of Jude, he had a cigar in his mouth.

"Should I have told you that today is an important day?"

"Yes, I know. There's going to be an announcement about the engagement between the Rosenberg Household and the Exner Household, isn't it?"

Cliff scolded Jude.

"What the hell are you thinking when today is such an important day? You should know damn well what kind of tool that necklace you brought along is. It will become a big problem if you cause a commotion!"

The necklace that was placed on the table was a special item.

The necklace had a chain attached to it so that the person wearing it could not escape. There was a bracelet at the end of the chain. It was for the owner to wear.

It was called the "Cursed Necklace" and was an item created by Banfield Household to torture their enemies who did not want them to escape from them.

"Father, this is the engagement ring for me and Lucy."

"You think this necklace looks like a ring, are you stupid? A part of the sacred tree is set to this. Once it is worn, the wearer will not be able to remove it and her life─. Forget about that, instead tell me, do you know that girl's background?"

Cliff ignored Jude's nonsense about the engagement ring and so on, and talked about Lucy.

"Her background?"

"You didn't know? That girl, she's a survivor of Vermillion Household. You never met her at the time, but you know there were twin sisters in Vermillion Household, right?"

Jude remembered hearing that somewhere.

"I didn't think Rosenberg Household would let them escape, but maybe that's why she..."

Cliff was irritated.

"Stupid son. If you have a romantic relationship with one of them, I'll be able to peacefully invite them here and revive Vermillion Household and thus gain power on their behalf. And yet you're scaring her! What the hell are you doing!?"

If so, Cliff planned to secure Lucy even if he had to be a little violent. But Jude was calm right now after seeing Lucy's emblem.

(I guess my father's pride as the head of the prestigious Banfield Household can't accept the fact that Randolf-dono remains in the Acting Chairman position.

As usual, he's a muscle head, my mother left him for a reason.)

Cliff must be planning to make use of Lucy and get the Acting Chairman position.

(Maybe... he would place Lucy as the priestess and become her backup so he could make use of her influence).

Cliff said.

"This may be useful in overthrowing Randolf. Bring her here immediately, but don't you dare lay your hand on her."

Jude was a little curious about Cliff's choice of words.

(Isn't my father going to raise her as a priestess? But, that doesn't matter at this point.)

It just wasn't related to what he would say after this. After all, there was a priestess emblem on Lucy's hand.

"Father, I'll be worried if you do that. Lucy and I should get married."

"... Don't disappoint me any more than you have. You and that girl will never get married."

Cliff said he wouldn't allow it at all, but then Jude told him about the emblem.

"This is for the good of our house. After all, the Priestess Emblem has manifested on Lucy's hand."

Cliff stood up when he heard that.

"Impossible!"

His face didn't believe what he had just heard. Jude was having fun inside his heart with his creepy smile.

(Lucy, now you really can't escape from my love for you.)

◇◇◇

A party was taking place in the castle of the Rosenberg Household.

People related to the six great nobles were gathering there. Diana, dressed for the occasion, was participating with Lugh.

"It's strange that the six great nobles are present here even though it's an engagement announcement. They are political rivals, aren't they?"

Lugh smiled wryly at Diana's impression.

"Yes. But, enemies and allies can change in the blink of an eye depending on the moment. Besides, we're all families recognized by the sacred tree, so we have to get along when we can get along."

"H~mm."

Diana wasn't really interested.

She was more curious about one of the conquest targets.

(I failed. Jude is a toxic person, ruined all his progress, and also caused my older sister to be unable to approach other conquest targets.)

Jude had a serious case of jealousy in this part of the game.

Because of that, he would get angry if the heroine on duty acted too friendly with everyone and caused a bad ending.

For that reason, Lucy couldn't raise a flag with Tom's buckler.

At that same party, Sara was dressed in a fancy dress with Tom standing next to her with a slightly playful look on his face.

He looked like a delinquent, but it gave him a charm all his own.

Diana knew Tom was going to get engaged to Sara, but in the end he couldn't pull anything off.

(He is a brocon, but perhaps I should have tried to be more serious with him than with Jude. .... However, it's too late now.)

Tom would not marry Sara if his flag was not raised at the initial stage.

If that happened, his conquest would become impossible. Not only in the game, here in reality it also seemed impossible to conquer him at this stage.

Lugh tried to find something to talk about and explained various things to Diana desperately.

"E-Err, even so, the ties between Rosenberg Household and Vermillion Household will be strengthened by this. The relationship between Acting Chairman Randolf and the head of Exner Household─ Linus, has been good since before, but now they have also formed a strong political relationship."

"This is a political marriage right?"

"Y-Yes. That's right, but... it would be nice if Tom can also calm down a bit with this."

Tom was a character who liked to be a womanizer.

It was the same in reality. He still seemed to flirt with women, even after the marriage conversation with Sara.

Diana muttered.

"... Rosenberg Household is going to lose its legitimate heir and Sara will no longer be noble anyway. Still, the villaines is amazing, huh. Does she know I'm fake?"

The villainess Sara had never tried anything with Diana for some reason. She was just targeting Lucy.

To Diana, it seemed Sara instinctively judged Lucy as the real thing. The two fiancés were walking toward Lugh to say hello.

Diana backed diagonally behind Lugh. Tom spoke to them.

"Hello, Lugh-kun. I never thought you'd come bringing your lover with you."

He had a friendly attitude that was unthinkable coming from a nobleman.

Lugh looked worried.

"Tom-san, your attire is disheveled."

"Who cares, there are only relatives coming to this event anyway. There are only old acquaintances around us here."

They had known many people for a long time at the engagement announcement venue.

It seemed that Tom was relaxed about it. Next to him, Sara looked at Diana.

"... Is your big sister okay?"

That sounded like sarcasm to Diana.

"I guess she's fine."

(Actually, she was depressed after experiencing a broken heart, but there was no need to tell the enemy the details).

Sara was smiling.

"I see. ... Lugh-kun, protect your important lover properly, okay?"

Lugh straightened up when Sara told him that.

"Yes."

Diana sighed after the two of them headed elsewhere to greet other people.

"She's very sarcastic. She just wants to tell me I'm not worthy to be here."

But Lugh's reaction was different from Diana's.

"Is that so? However, it seems to me that she was speaking seriously. Besides, Sara has been a kind person for a long time."

"What do you mean by kind? You also know how she's fighting with my older sister almost every day, don't you?"

"Y-Yes. But, I've also known Sara for a long time, so..."

Diana was irritated by Lugh's attitude.

(Lugh is the kind of guy who would prioritize his own family, even after marrying and despising his own wife?)

(This is wrong. A man like that is not worth it.)

She fretted about her future.

But, Lugh was looking a little sad looking at Sara who was having fun talking to other people.

"Sara looked like she was really suffering when that knight died. She has gotten back on her feet just now, but at that time I couldn't bear to see her."

"What knight, huh?"

Diana was puzzled.

From the way he said it, (Did Sara have an important person in her childhood? This wasn't in the game!)

(More importantly, where would Romeo be? I haven't seen him anywhere and wanted to try to engage him in conversation).

Jude arrived late to the party venue.

He made his way to where Sara and Tom were.

Diana secretly led Lugh to a position where they could overhear their conversation.

"Thomas, congratulations on your engagement."

Tom made a puzzled look toward Jude, who was smiling.

"It's just an engagement, so there's no need for you to congratulate us. I've known Sara for a long time too, something like this is just a political marriage."

They didn't love each other.

But, Sara made a bit of a sad face when she heard that.

Diana thought.

(You deserve it, villainess.)

(This is the ending you deserve, so much better than the game.)

She often picked on Lucy.

To Diana, it looked like she was getting her punishment for that.

Sara saw that Jude and Tom were having fun talking, so she tried to get out of there. She said she was going to take a break and left.

Then Jude's tone became serious as he noticed that she was no longer present.

"Thomas, I have something important to talk to you about. I want to discuss it together with Linus-dono as well."

"... With my older brother? Hey, you understand, don't you? My house and your house, Banfield Household, are political enemies right now."

"Something like that just depends on the situation, right? Besides, it won't be a bad conversation."

Jude then sent a sharp glance at Diana who was eavesdropping.

Diana hurriedly looked away and left the place.

"Lugh, I'm going to take a break."

"Huh? W-well."

◇◇◇

When Diana finished fixing her makeup and went out, Jude was waiting for her.

"Hello, Diana."

"... Jude."

She glared at him, but Jude ignored her and spoke with a smile.

"Don't give me that look. In fact, I have some good news for you."

"Good news?"

"You understand yourself that you won't be able to marry Lugh if you go on like this, don't you?"

Lugh was a member of the six great nobles.

His status was very different from Diana's at the moment.

It would be possible depending on the development from now on, but Diana couldn't tell Jude that.

"That's true, but so what?"

"I told you not to be angry. I'm saying I'll give you a hand so you can marry Lugh. If you want we can talk to him."

Diana was puzzled as to what Jude was thinking when she suggested that Lugh be present for the talk as well.

"Jude, you, my big sister doesn't like you─"

"I know. It was my fault."

"Huh?"

Unlike his forcefulness so far, Jude was showing remorse.

"It was my fault scaring Lucy like that. That's why I want you to help me."

"... Are you serious?"

"Obviously. I don't want to scare Lucy myself. I want to become her lover like you did with Lugh. No, I'm sorry. I'm thinking of taking it even further than that."

Diana's wariness was gradually weakening as she saw Jude acting a little naughty.

"What are you planning to do?"

Jude's eyes grew serious.

"Diana, both you and Lucy are survivors of Vermillion Household, right?"

"Guh!"

She never thought she'd be exposed in this kind of moment.

Jude placed her hand on the nervous Diana's shoulder to calm her down.

"Don't worry. I'll protect you both. I also want to ask for Lugh's help because there is someone aiming at you two."

(Who would attack us?)

Even Diana knew the answer.

"The Rosenberg Household."

"That's right. it will be difficult to defeat the Acting Chairman, but my house will become the patron of the two of you to protect you both. .... Actually, I saw Lucy's right hand."

Diana began to sweat profusely.

(It's not right, it's not right, it's not right! If he finds out that the Guardian Emblem appeared on that Rudel guy, I don't know what Jude will do.)

The emblem first appeared on Rudel.

But, it was the priestess who was choosing Aster's guardian.

In other words, it was quite possible that people misunderstood that the priestess... that Lucy had chosen Rudel.

If that happened, Diana didn't know what Jude would do with her jealousy.

Even if she tried to resolve the misunderstanding, it was complicated because Lucy was also in love with Rudel. Diana was worried.

"Jude, you'll see─"

"The Priestess Emblem appeared on Lucy's right hand. She was chosen as the priestess. Diana, I want you to help me. I swear I won't make any mistakes this time."

"Huh?"

It seemed Jude didn't know about Rudel's emblem.

"We're going to get Lucy to choose me as guardian. If that happens, Banfield Household will protect them both. Will you help me, Diana?"

She was confused.

"I-I'm sorry, I can't think right now."

Jude apologized. "I'm sorry. I'm getting ahead of myself. But, if there is something, then you can trust me, okay?"

Diana nodded a little.

And then she watched as Jude left.

(Jude is finally calming down. Maybe, if it's him right now, even my older sister could─)

(If it was Jude at this moment, maybe I could trust him my older sister?) Diana was thinking that.

◇◇◇

Jude, who was turning his back to Diana, was smiling mysteriously and wickedly.

(Hahaha, how easy it was to deceive her, but it's true that I will support them, but when your sister is my wife.)

(Lucy, it looks like you will soon become mine.)

Jude had become really calm, but that was because he had had an idea how to get Lucy.

Her status was an obstacle for him so far. Besides, Lucy was rejecting him of her own free will.

But now Jude had obtained the justification that could overturn them. Jude sensed someone approaching. He wiped away his expression and smiled pleasantly.

It was Tom with Linus in tow who appeared.

"Jude-kun, long time no see. You've grown up quite a bit."

"You always say that every time we see each other, Linus-dono."

They shook hands and then Linus smiled.

"It's my common phrase. So forgive me for that. More importantly, I hear you have something important to talk to me about, right?"

"... Let's talk in a place where no one else is around. This will be an important talk about Aster's future."

Linus narrowed his eyes and wiped away his smile.

Tom warned Jude after seeing that.

"I'm not going to forgive you if it's just useless talk for my big brother!"

"Tom, stop it. Let's hear what he has to say."

Linus said he would listen to Jude's story, so Tom fell silent, though he seemed dissatisfied.

"I'm interested in what you said. Please, let's go this way."

The three of them disappeared into an empty room.

◇◇◇

In a break room inside the party venue. Sara was talking to Randolf, her father, a tall and thin man with good muscles. He used to be in poor health, but he improved recently. His hair and eyes were exactly the same as his daughter's, but his haircut was very short with gray hair on the left side.

Inside the room. He was grimacing with concern.

"I'm sorry, Sara, but Romeo didn't want to come, your mother is trying to get him out of his room along with Baltort."

"Tom is also a problem child. He's still womanizing even though he has a fiancé now."

Hearing that, Sara said she didn't have high expectations from the beginning.

"I won't look for anything like the love of a political marriage. I will marry for the sake of the Rosenberg Household."

"Sara, even so, there's no rule that says you can't be happy. ... But I'm a little worried."

"About what?"

Sara looked like a grown woman in her dress.

Randolf looked happy to see that his daughter had grown up beautifully.

"Are you wishing you could marry Count Bradford?"

Sara turned red to her ears at the teasing remark.

"D-don't be stupid! What are you implying about me and a boy who looks like your former vassal?"

"Hahahaha, you're like an open book and that never mattered to you, if there's no one to take you, then getting him to take you won't be a problem."

"Well, actually the problem is more with me than with you."

Randolf was ashamed of himself as he tried to make a connection based on personal feelings.

He sighed.

"Marriage will be after your graduation, but you're going to live together with Tom for the time being."

"I know."

Randolf looked down.

"Sara, I'm sorry. I'm using you as a political marriage tool. Even though you might have someone else you like."

She could have.

Or maybe she would find someone like that in the future. But, it didn't make sense.

"I was born the daughter of a great nobleman. I've given up on something like that for a long time. After all, you did agree to Rudel's engagement after that day─"

Sara suddenly realized what she had just said and covered her mouth with her hand. But Randolf didn't blame her.

"Sara, can't you forget that day? Nor, forgive them?"

Sara's mood soured when those people's names came up.

"I hate Vermillion Household with all my heart."

"I know, but... there's nothing to be done, since Vermillion Household is no more. I wish you could also accept it."

The rest time was taking too long.

Randolf left the room.

"Sara, it may be hard for you, but... you should accept what happened, it is better to accept and forget than to live remembering."

When the door closed, Sara gritted her teeth.

Anger marked her face.

"I will never forgive Vermillion Household for that day, never. ... Rudel, why did you die? You made me a promise that even dead you would keep."

She desperately held back her tears from coming out.

After that, Sara would not leave the room. She kept reminiscing about the past until a servant got worried and came to call her.

And, Romeo appeared, but, after greeting her, he went back to his room.