Chapter 101: Gifts and Summons
[space_man][space_man]On the sixth day of his stay in the central capital, Eld went out alone. Marie and Moira offered to accompany him, but Eld flatly refused. Seeing his behavior, Marie had a vague idea of what he was going to do. She recalled a time in the past when Eld had wanted to act separately from her.
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[space_man][space_man]Having nothing to do, Moira invited Marie to go sightseeing in the central capital together, but Marie started reading a gossip magazine, saying she didn’t want to walk around much. Moira sat down next to Marie, looking bored.
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[space_man][space_man]”You can go sightseeing by yourself, you know.”
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[space_man][space_man]”It’s boring to be alone.”
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[space_man][space_man]Saying that, she looked at Marie’s right hand.
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[space_man][space_man]”Hey Marie, is that ring on your right hand a gift from Eld?”
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[space_man][space_man]”Eh, yeah…… that’s right. I got it when we got engaged.”
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[space_man][space_man]”Hee……”
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[space_man][space_man]Marie was about to say that Eld was probably preparing one for Moira too. However, before she could, Moira spoke.
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[space_man][space_man]”Did you give Eld anything?”
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[space_man][space_man]Hearing that, Marie froze. She hadn’t given him anything.
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[space_man][space_man]”Oh, you didn’t give him anything? But it’s not strange, so don’t worry about it. Giving something tangible as a gift when you get engaged is a custom from the aristocratic era. Eld has noble blood, so maybe he just did it out of habit.”
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[space_man][space_man]”I, I see…… yeah……”
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[space_man][space_man]Marie’s face turned pale. Moira sighed.
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[space_man][space_man]”……Well then, shall we go out?”
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[space_man][space_man]”Eh? You said you weren’t going sightseeing……”
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[space_man][space_man]”I feel bad for hearing that, so let’s go choose a present for Eld today. Shopping, not sightseeing.”
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[space_man][space_man]Saying that, she stood up and took Marie’s hand.
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[space_man][space_man]”Ah…… okay…… thank you. I wouldn’t have thought of that.”
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[space_man][space_man]Marie stood up and decided to go out to the city with Moira.
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[space_man][space_man]Eld came out of the jewelry store with two small boxes.
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[space_man][space_man]”That was more expensive than I thought. He could have given me a discount since I used his idea without permission.”
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[space_man][space_man]Eld grumbled as he put the small boxes into subspace. Someone called out to him.
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[space_man][space_man]”Eld Faniaal. Just the man I wanted to see.”
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[space_man][space_man]Turning around to see who it was, as expected, Inicia was there.
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[space_man][space_man]”Please stop calling me by my full name. I know you hate me anyway.”
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[space_man][space_man]In this country, calling someone by their full name has a meaning of contempt. It implies that only their family name is respectable and that they haven’t accomplished anything significant as an individual.
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[space_man][space_man]”If you know that, I can call you by your full name, can’t I? I have no intention of changing it in the future.”
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[space_man][space_man]Inicia declared firmly. Eld was impressed by his directness.
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[space_man][space_man]”I see. What do you want anyway? Is the investigation over?”
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[space_man][space_man]”Ah, about that…… I want you to come to our mansion tomorrow. Father is calling the three of you.”
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[space_man][space_man]”Marie and Moira too? I have a bad feeling about this.”
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[space_man][space_man]”Well, it’s probably bad news for you guys. Well, for us too……”
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[space_man][space_man]Eld frowned but pulled himself together.
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[space_man][space_man]”I understand. Is it okay if we come by tomorrow afternoon?”
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[space_man][space_man]”Ah, that’s fine. Well then, see you later.”
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[space_man][space_man]Inicia said that and left.
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[space_man][space_man]”Ahh, this is troublesome……”
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[space_man][space_man]Eld held his head in his hands and returned to the inn.