Chapter 10: No Clue (Five)

That was how our conversation came to an end.

It seemed like he wanted to ask me something, but just then, we had to make our way to the dining hall as Count Kraus had invited us for dinner.

For me, this was a fortunate turn of events. He had likely expected me to call off the engagement, yet I didn't. This would undoubtedly leave him pondering why I made that choice.

He had to think and figure it out as everything he knew about this world was different, starting from Elena Edelweiss to Damian Kraus.

There was no point in telling him that I had the power to alter fate. The path to transcendence couldn't be forged through mere suggestion. It was a personal journey shaped by one's own convictions. Informing him that he would also become a transcendentalist wouldn't be helpful either, as it would only divert him from his intended path.

So let’s not think about it right now. It’s not time yet.

What mattered to me at this moment was bridging the gap between us. Although he wore a smile that made my heart flutter, it was clear that he was wary of me. I needed to address that first.

However, there wasn't much I could say at the moment. As he escorted me to the dining hall, he appeared troubled and anxious, making any conversation difficult.

I refrained from talking to him because I could guess what his concerns were. Though I did find it a bit odd that he didn’t slip up when he was this lost in his thoughts. Not once did he mess up while he was escorting me.

As we approached the dining hall, it seemed he had stopped worrying. Family matters must have taken precedence.

“Um, Elena? If my father says something, you can just ignore him.” Damian said, holding the handle to the room's door.

"What do you mean?"

 "It's better for your peace of mind. Ah, more importantly, about our engagement—"

"Why don't we go in?"

I interrupted Damian and pushed open the door. Inside, I noticed two empty seats prepared for us. Count Kraus occupied the seat at the head of the table, and his younger brother, Alphonse Kraus, was also present.

Once we were seated, the servants began bringing in the dishes that had been prepared in advance. However, the meal didn't commence because Count Kraus, the head of the household, hadn't touched his food. He turned his head slightly, directing his gaze towards Damian.

Arthur Kraus, the ruler of the south, and a transcendentalist who currently held the title as one of the five Swordmasters.

He was a middle-aged man, over 40 years old. Perhaps due to his transcendence, his physique remained youthful and vigorous. If a stranger saw him, they would never imagine him to be Count Kraus the Swordmaster. His appearance gave the impression of a playful, young man.

In fact, despite being the head of the family, Count Kraus had an easy-going personality and was not overly formal. Unlike other leaders of powerful martial households who tended to be authoritative, he played the role of a caring and playful father to his children.

However, he was also the one who punished Damian more severely than anyone else in our previous life.

With his black hair and golden eyes, Damian resembled Count Kraus so much that they could be mistaken for twins. When the count saw me, his eyes crinkled into a smile.

"Elena, it's been a while. I don't know if you remember, but I met you once when you were little. You were a cute child back then, but now you've grown up to be a very beautiful lady, just like your mother," he said.

"And you look exactly as I remembered, Count Kraus. It was easy to recognize you. My father complains about his growing wrinkles every day."

That statement was true. Sometimes, when my father returned from the tower, he would grumble and fume as he looked into the mirror. As a child, I didn't understand why, but considering the relationship between Count Kraus and my father, I could guess the reason.

Count Kraus knew as well, so he burst out laughing and talked about it.

"Hahaha! That geezer still hasn't overcome the hurdle? Day in and day out, he would call me on the crystal ball to vent his frustrations. But you're telling me he would get angrier after seeing my face and complain even more at home? Thanks, Elena. Because of you, I have one more thing to tease him about."

“It’s a pleasure.”

Count Kraus was renowned as a genius, even among geniuses, so my father's grumbling wasn't entirely unwarranted.

Who could reach a transcendental state? Besides me and another person in the east who would eventually succeed, Count Kraus was the youngest man ever to become a transcendentalist.

That being said, Count Kraus, or rather, my father-in-law, was my most reliable ally at the moment. Although he held the position of a Count and Swordmaster in my first life, he did not cover up Damian’s case. Not only did he publicize it himself, he also knelt before me and my father. Moreover, when I threw my fist to break the engagement in my second life, he always lamented our annulment.

Right now, he’s the one who supported our engagement the most. He would help advance our relationship in the future. 

In my previous life, he had been the mastermind behind creating opportunities for Damian and me to spend more time together. Now, he would work to bring us closer.

Count Kraus turned to face Damian, and surprisingly, the topic of their conversation revolved around my father, Joachim Edelweiss.

'Did he ever meet my dad?'

I couldn't recall my father coming to the south around this time.

"By the way, Damian, do you remember meeting that guy, Joachim, when you were little?" Count Kraus asked.

"Yes, I only remember him because he suddenly grabbed my head and said, 'If you make my daughter cry, I'll toss you into the White Night Ice Prison.'"

My body recoiled and trembled at those words.

'What the hell was my dad spouting while he went around?!!'

I couldn't believe it. I even wondered if this was Damian's plan to push me away.

"What? Hahahah! How old were you then?" Count Kraus guffawed.

"I was... 14 years old. It did fluster me since a stranger suddenly approached me and said something incomprehensible. But I can tell he truly cares for his daughter a lot."

“Huh?”

I hadn't expected him to say that. He did mention locking Damian up in a White Night Ice Prison, which implied he would say something worse the next time they met.

I couldn't help but blush at what Damian said next.

"He said that she appeared fine on the outside, but she was holding it in. And that she had difficulty saying out loud what she liked and disliked, so he told me to take care of her and cherish her. Also, that she loved sweets, and I should give her snacks when we meet for the first time. Then she would loosen her guard a little."

'Dad!!!'

\I was well aware that my father was foolishly protective of me. I never imagined he would directly approach Damian and talk to him about me, though. It made me happy because he cared for me immensely, but...

'Have you no shame!!!'

My expression kept sinking.

When I tilted my head to look at Damian, he was grinning as he talked, almost amused. More precisely, he was staring at my embarrassed self.

Anyone who saw that would have thought he was mocking me. However, after knowing him for decades, my feelings were different.

'You’re embarrassed, right? You don’t like me anymore, do you?

His smiling eyes seemed to say that. That sight of him momentarily left me speechless. 

'How should I put this? He’s cute?'

Strangely enough, that was how I felt. If he wanted to call off the engagement, he could have been intimidating and violent like Damian. Yet here he was, smirking at me like a child who had successfully pulled off a mischievous act.

As I thought about it in that way, my embarrassment slowly faded away.

My powerful ally came to my aid just in time.

“Oh, ohh! That’s why! I thought it was weird when this brat, who couldn’t handle sweets, asked for a bunch of them. So that’s what it was!”

His words made both of us flinch. Without missing a beat, I made an expression that indicated I was touched.

“Pardon? Lord Damian definitely said he liked sweets.”

“What? Him? Ridiculous. I don’t know if something’s wrong with his tongue, but he can’t eat anything sweet. Yet you’re saying he likes it? Wait, Damian, don’t tell me…”

When Count Kraus gave Damian a wicked grin, Damian immediately interrupted him.

“I can eat sweets. Please don’t spread false rumors, Father.”

“The false rumors are coming out of your mouth. I’ve never seen you carry a single caramel since my time raising you.”

"What do you mean you've never seen me? You have, many times. I used to have caramel in my pocket every day when I was little. Also, Maria was the one who raised me. What you raised was my resilience."

"The servants gave you that. You think no one in this manor knows that you don't eat them and keep them in a box instead? Also, it's a good thing you brought it up. Let's examine that resilience I raised later today."

Suddenly, it felt more like they were in a drill hall than a dining hall. But before things escalated, Damian's younger brother dealt a decisive blow.

"Ah, that's right! Last time I opened a box in your room. There were beautifully wrapped caramels and candies in there! I was going to eat them, but you said I couldn't... since they're precious."

Damian didn't fight back anymore.
 

'Oh dear.'

Although his expression remained unchanged, I could see the tips of his ears turning red since I was sitting right next to him. It made me want to hug his face and stroke it immediately, but I reminded myself of today's victory and managed to suppress my overflowing desires.

Count Kraus winked. Meanwhile, young Alphonse began finishing his meal. He tilted his head, not understanding why his brother's face had suddenly hardened.

I picked up my utensils and resumed eating. The food tasted oddly sweet, even though it wasn't supposed to be.

As expected, it seemed that my regression had been quite successful this time.

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