Chapter 217: Ciel's Engagement

After finding the queen bee's nest and successfully collecting the honey, we decided to return to the village.

And Miura returned to my shadow once she had satisfied her honey cravings. It seemed like she only came out to eat honey.

"Oh? Who's that over there..."

"That's Aeris-san. Nagisa-san is there, too."

When we arrived at Corragio Village, we saw Aeris and Nagisa at the entrance.

Leon's party was beside them, but for some reason, Ciel looked upset and dropped her shoulders.

Ciel, who is Leon's childhood friend, was supposed to be visiting her family's Uranus Count's House, but she had already come back here.

"I'm back. What's wrong, you guys?"

"Ah... Zenon-sama, welcome back!"

Aeris notices us and her face lights up.

She happily ran over to us.

"Is something wrong? The atmosphere seems a little somber..."

"Well... Ciel-san is in trouble."

"Trouble... is she hurt?"

When I looked at Ciel at the entrance of the village, she appeared sad, but I couldn't see anything unusual.

"No, it's not injury-related, but there seems to have been some trouble at her house..."

"She was told to get married to someone other than Brave."

Nagisa, who was following Aeris, adds to clarify the statement.

The content of her words was surprising.

"Uranus... will marry...? With a man other than Leon?"

Ciel Uranus is Leon's childhood friend and the first character to become a comrade in [DunBrave] game

Naturally, they are in love with each other, and in the R18 version, there are scenes of them swearing each other for the future and even lay their bodies on each other.

Although, eventually, Ciel Uranus is taken away by Zenon Baskerville in [DunBrave 2] and gets tarnished, but there should have been a certain amount of affection between the two.

When I tilted my head, Aeris explained the situation with a troubled expression.

"Ciel-san is a count's daughter... apparently, she was originally proposed to by a certain man. Ciel-san had refused because she was in love with someone else, but the other man still didn't give up on her."

Aeris had a sympathetic expression on her face... but being the daughter of a viscount and the cardinal's daughter, she might have had the same experience.

"Brave-san is a descendant of a hero, but his status is a commoner. It seems that Count Uranus was opposed to having Brave-san as the son-in-law of a count. However, if Brave-san achieves something of great merit before graduation and is ennobled, the count promised to allow the marriage."

Brave Kingdom is a nation of warriors and adventurers.

Even a commoner can be knighted if they are worthy of the title and have made a good name for themselves.

After all, it is not difficult to become a knight or a baron for a lifetime. For example, by defeating moderately strong bosses and offering the drop items to the royal family.

"...But Brave has turned into a monster, or rather, has been declared deceased to the public? With his disappearance, the promise has been broken, and that's why Ciel's marriage proposal has come up." (Nagisa)

"Nobles, if they are born early, are engaged immediately after birth. Those who are in good standing already have a fiancée. It seems they're trying to arrange the marriage as soon as possible so that it won't be too late..." (Aeris)

"So you're talking about getting together with the man who is asking for marriage without giving up. I see... that's troublesome."

Yes, it is troublesome.

I can understand why Count Uranus, Ciel's father, would say that.

He doesn't want his daughter to be unhappy, but he cannot approve of the marriage with Leon, whose safety is also unknown.

There is a possibility that if they are careless, they could miss their marriage opportunity.

If there is a good match, they should get together as soon as possible.

"The man in question is Count Milligan. He is also a local noble like Count Uranus, their territories are nearby and they have a social relationship. He is three years older than Ciel-san and has already succeeded to the title, although he is younger." (Aeris)

"If there is a friendly relationship, the conditions are even better. They don't even have time to make sure Leon is alive."

I feel sorry for Ciel, but there seems to be nothing I can do about this case.

Noble marriages are delicate issues. It's not something that a member of another family should feel uneasy about meddling in.

If I want to help, it would be to search for Leon, who has turned into a monster and has disappeared.

However, without knowing how to return a monster back to human, I don't know if I can really help.

"It's too bad, but there is nothing I can do about it. Let's go back to the capital after finishing the business."

"I see... Ciel-san, I hope you don't get too down."

"If you really hate getting engaged, you can leave and flee from home. A roaming life, traveling from place to place, is not so bad, you know?"

Nagisa spoke as if it was something irrelevant. Those were words that only she, who had left her country and was living here, could say.

"Ah... Baskerville-kun!"

"Hmm?"

Finally noticing my presence, Ciel raises her voice.

Though she had been consoled by Melia and Ruffie, Ciel walks towards me, lifting her head up from her downcast face and glaring fiercely at me as if to challenge me.

Even though she had been feeling down just a moment before, she now stares me down as if daring me to do something.

"Hey, hey... I haven't done anything to deserve being blamed. What's gotten into you?"

"Baskerville-kun, please! I'm begging you!"

"What?"

Ciel looks at me with a strong gaze and squeezes my hands.

"Please... marry me!"

"...Huh?"

It takes almost a minute before I realize the meaning behind Ciel's words.

"""""Whaaat!?""""

Before I can even speak in surprise, the women around me exclaim in shock and astonishment.