The Villainess Who Was Dumped Got Married into My Family, a Mob Noble from the Frontier, and Turns Out, She's an Amazing Capable Wife? - Chapter 85: It's Not a Date!?

Chapter 85: It’s Not a Date!?

“So, my answer is―”

―a date for now!

So, on my day off, I invited Alicia out to the city.

During that whole embarrassing video incident, I had promised her a date once things calmed down.

Whether this would be before or after the Sage Festival… 

After the festival, there would be the planned struggle for the throne, and no matter the outcome, it would be chaotic.

So, the best timing is―now.

“Hmm, maybe cabbage?”

“Cabbage is great. Just in time for the hotpot season.”

It grows relatively quickly, and with Alicia’s current skills, she can create high-quality soil using her earth magic without incantations. 

We’ll enjoy hotpot together in winter.

Think about it for a moment. 

Barrier, war, sage, saint, hero… 

The mess with the royal capital’s nobility honestly doesn’t concern me right now.

If it’s an issue involving Alicia, I’d risk my life for her. But if it’s just my problem, I simply don’t have to get involved.

The high-ranking nobles seem to not want me involved, so why not just stay out of it? 

Even if the marquises’ coup succeeds or if the barrier disappears and the duchy attacks, Edward and Wendy will die regardless.

They asked for my help, but it seems like I’ll be dragged into it by the baldy no matter what, so I’m taking a break for now.

And while enjoying the date, I would update Alicia on everything.

“This week’s vegetables will be these, these, and these…”

“Alicia.”

“What? Oh, this tomato is really good! Recently, the quality of vegetables has been amazing, hasn’t it? Is it the fertilizer? Are they using good fertilizer?”

As I received the vegetables from Alicia, who looked nothing like a noble in her casual clothes, I said,

“Yeah, probably good fertilizer. The ashes of magicians contain a lot of magical elements, so they work really well.”

“…That kind of makes me lose my appetite, but you have a point. The Ydaina Mountains are rich in magical elements, so nature thrives there. So, what is it?”

“There’s going to be a coup during the Sage Festival. What should we do?”

I casually brought it up in the flow of the conversation. Alicia paused for a moment before turning to me with a smile.

“…Why would you say something like that so suddenly?”

“…Eh!? Are you mad?”

Her face was smiling, but it wasn’t a genuine smile. It had a menacing aura, like she was carrying a demon mask on her back.

“I’m not angry. But why now? This isn’t the place to say something like that while we’re shopping for vegetable seeds, in a crowded place…”

After complaining for a bit, Alicia sighed and turned her attention back to the vegetables.

“Well, you never lie to me. So, it must be true.”

“Yeah, it is.”

Nodding, I told her everything that had happened recently.

It was all about the coup plan by the Pentagram family and the Slash family, who were backing Patricia.

There was no point in hiding it if it meant keeping her away. But since she asked me not to go far, and I promised I wouldn’t, it was important to let her know what I was doing.

“I knew something was off…”

Alicia sighed when I shared the information I had learned.

“It’s strange that Patricia Kindred, who was so active at the academy, suddenly decided to study abroad in the Principality.”

Even if there is a temporary truce, it’s even stranger that Patricia would return during the Sage Festival from the Duchy.

“When I went to meet the third-year treasurer for student council work, they were all over Patricia. It was like they were possessed, fanatically devoted.”

Seeing how Patricia’s influence had spread not just among the high-ranking first years but even to the third years, Alicia realized that Patricia’s goal wasn’t just a golden opportunity.

“Using her connection with Edward and the others, she was making these preparations behind the scenes. To be able to maneuver so much in such a short time… it’s no wonder I lost in our duel.”

With those words, Alicia ended the conversation.

“There was third-party interference in your duel, Alicia.”

Perhaps Jelasis, or someone like that?

“And if you’re still alive, you haven’t lost, Alicia.”

“A loss is a loss. Besides, back then, I didn’t have any chance of beating her. But it doesn’t matter anymore.”

Alicia said.

“Anyway, what do you want to do, Ragna?”

“Me?”

“As long as you and Mariana are safe and the Brave territory isn’t harmed, I’m fine with that. I know you’re working behind the scenes to protect me, so I won’t complain.”

Finally, she continued while looking at the protective barrier visible through the gaps in the arcade of the shopping district.

“This isn’t something I can solve, so I’ll respect your opinion and go along with it.”

“My opinion, huh…”

“No matter what collar you put on, you’ll still wander like a puppy, right? Fufu, just a metaphor, of course.”

“I’m not a puppy. And the Brave family has always been Cerberus! There’s even a legend about them not letting go even when they were just heads!”

“It’s a metaphor!”

But it really happened… It wasn’t a joke. 

There’s a story about three Brave siblings who, even after being reduced to just heads, bit down and caused the enemy general to bleed to death.

“So, do what you want.”

Alicia said, smiling as she brushed her fingers over the old scar at my hairline.

“I’ll follow you wherever you go.”

Alicia really is a great woman. 

At first, it was to avoid ruin, but now, protecting her beautiful smile has become one of my reasons for fighting.

“As far as I’m concerned, they can go ahead with their coup. My priority is everyday life with Alicia and dates like today!”

I can’t be saying, “Sorry, I’m late because I was busy with the coup.” Being late is the woman’s role. The man should be the one saying, “Sorry, did you wait long?”

By the way, I was the one who suggested today’s date to Alicia by saying, “Let’s go shopping.” 

Before, it was Alicia who would tell me we were going on a date, so this time, I managed to ask her myself. 

That’s progress.

“…Eh, this is a date?”

Alicia tilted her head in confusion at my words.

“Huh?”

It wasn’t? 

Seeing her genuinely puzzled expression, I felt a wave of despair. 

She didn’t think this was a date…?

“Oh, it’s a date! Yes, this is a date. I always come shopping with you at this time, so I didn’t really think about it, but yes, this is a date.”

Alicia hastily tried to cover it up after seeing my face.

Well, I kind of knew. 

Picking out vegetables with Alicia didn’t exactly feel like a date. It felt more like a married couple shopping together on their day off.

“Well, we can just treat it as a shopping trip too. We can always change plans. How about we have lunch somewhere? I heard about a hidden gem from Mariana the other day.”

Alicia pulled me by the arm.

I realized that my idea of escorting involved taking her to monster-infested mountains or dungeons. I really didn’t want to end up as a useless guy.

By the way, at that moment, I couldn’t bring myself to talk about hero, sage, saint, or anything like that. 

I was a bit scared that it would change her image of me.

Even a Brave can have fears.