I Was Reincarnated as a Duke as a Matter of Course, So I Bought a Slave on a Whim and Now There’s No Turning Back - 3

Chapter 3: May I Take This Girl as My Bride?

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

The scent of black tea softly tickled my nose. Elysia and I were seated across from one another. The adults were chatting among themselves a short distance away. From bits and pieces I could overhear, it sounded like they were even moving forward with talk of an engagement between me and Elysia.

…She’d probably refuse on her side, though. I mean, my magic power is trash, you know? Breaking news: my magic power sucks way too much.

Thanks to my older brother and his fiancée, who was Elysia’s older sister, being mixed in with the parents over there, the center of the conversation naturally drifted toward them.

…Thank goodness. If I got told to my face that I wasn’t good enough, I might actually die.

Honestly, being the one who just listens is boring.

“…Your tea will get cold, you know?”

Saying that, Elysia gently offered a cup toward me.

“O, —thanks.”

I hadn’t even noticed until she said it. Apparently, I’d been thinking about yesterday’s crystal again… No, correction. The clearance-bin Toys “R” Us reject.

When I lifted my cup, Elysia lowered her gaze slightly.

“I heard a magic instructor came to visit yesterday.”

—Oh. She went straight for it.

“…Well, yeah.”

I could have tried to dodge the question, but with her… That probably wouldn’t work.

“Since it’s you, Luka-sama, I’m sure you received good results.”

Elysia looked at me with sparkling eyes.

“…Ahaha, um…”

…I have nothing. Nothing at all! (In terms of magic power.)

For a brief moment, Elysia paused as if carefully choosing her words.

“…I’m sorry. Was that something I shouldn’t have asked?”

It seemed I’d made her worry. 

She’s such a good girl, seriously.

“It’s fine. The instructor said my magic capacity is below average. No other talents to speak of, either.”

I meant to laugh it off, but even I could tell my voice sounded dry.

It’s fine. I’ll just go till fields in the countryside or something. Maybe someday my crops will reach everyone’s tables. I should come up with a brand name for my future self.

“I guess I was a little frustrated, since people had expectations from me…”

When I said that, Elysia didn’t respond right away. Instead, she slowly took a sip of her tea then looked straight at me.

“…I…”

Her voice was gentle, yet firm.

“I don’t believe that those with magical talent are automatically amazing.”

“…”

“Brother-in-law-sama and Nee-sama are certainly exceptional. But—”

She smiled just a little.

“That doesn’t mean Luka-sama is inferior.”

…Huh? Is there really a seven-year-old inside that body? That’s not something a normal seven-year-old says.

“And besides—”

Elysia continued.

“I know many of Luka-sama’s good qualities.”

“Eh?”

“You don’t act arrogant, and you always listen properly when I speak.”

Her cheeks were slightly flushed.

“…People like that are precious.”

My heart skipped in a strange way.

Ah, I like her. I’ll work hard as a farmer for this girl.

Her eyes weren’t judging my magic power or my talent at all.

“…Thank you.”

That was all I could manage to say. I might need to shift gears into a countryside slow-life isekai plan. Elysia smiled as if she was relieved.

“If you’re feeling discouraged…”

She began that way, and then—

“I will always be by your side.”

“…Elysia-sama.”

“Hehe.”

Even her laugh was too elegant. So beautiful. Maybe I should become a sculptor and carve statues of Elysia all across the kingdom. (Terrorist-level thinking.)

“By the way, Luka-sama, when will you stop using ‘-sama’ with me?”

“Huh? Well, you’re using it too, Elysia-sama—”

“I don’t mind, you know?”

Please don’t switch into tyrant mode all of a sudden.

“We’ve met so many times, and yet it still feels like there’s distance between us.”

As she said that, Elysia looked away slightly. She seemed somewhat dissatisfied, yet also a little lonely.

…Ah, this. I’m being tested, aren’t I? As a man. Heh, don’t underestimate me. I may look like this, but I’m a former Japanese man overflowing with Yamato spirit. This much is nothing.

“…Then…”

Mm, maybe this is harder than I thought.

After hesitating for just a moment, I spoke.

“…Elysia, is that okay?”

At my words, she blinked in surprise for an instant and then, the next moment, she smiled like a flower blooming.

“Yes!”

Short, but filled with happiness.

So cuuute!

“Then, I’ll also—”

She leaned forward just slightly.

“Luka.”

…Ah. (I have evaporated.) Isn’t using first names way too powerful?

“…Yeah.”

I somehow managed to reply, and Elysia nodded with satisfaction.

“Hehe. Now we’re a little closer, aren’t we?”

Closer? This isn’t just closer. This is straight-up ‘catching-feelings’ territory.

Just then—

“Shall we conclude for today?”

The adults’ voices rang out, bringing this peaceful time to an end. Elysia stood up reluctantly. As she was about to leave, she spoke softly.

“…Even if you don’t have magic power—”

She glanced back at me for just a second.

“Luka is Luka.”

With that, she smiled.

—Ah, geez.

My life in another world isn’t exactly going in the direction I imagined. Even if my magic power is trash, if I get to have encounters like this… Then maybe…

It’s not so bad after all.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー