But I am still worried.
I cannot allow Norn to meet with misfortune.
If Norn were to spend her days crying, Paul would glare at me in my dreams, and Zenith would be standing at my bedside slapping me awake from my peaceful sleep.
For both their sake, I must make sure Norn is on the road to happiness.
Anything after that is up to Norn herself.
Of course, I understand that Ruijerd is a man worthy of my faith.
Even if he didn't love Norn from the bottom of his heart, I know that he would treat his wife properly.
He would care for her in a way that would never cause her to cry.
But I still have to confirm this with Ruijerd.
No matter how much Ruijerd might not love Norn.
Even if I must prepare some kind of event to have them get along better.
It should be possible to have Ruijerd’s feelings for Norn turn around.
And then everything should reach a Happy End.
"...Alright."
And so, with that, I arrived at the Supard village in Biheilil Kingdom.
The Supard village, a few months into reconstruction, already looked complete.
The village was surrounded by large trees and on the inside, houses were lined up in rows. They hadn’t harvested yet, but there were crops growing in the field.
When the Supard warriors saw me, they bowed their heads and kindly led me into the village.
After I gave an appropriate greeting in response, we quickly made our way to Ruijerd's house.
Of course, it was a new building.
Ruijerd held a rather significant standing in this village, so his house was large.
Yup, it's more than enough for two people to live.
"...Ruijerd-san, are you in?"
"Oh, Rudeus."
Ruijerd was inside.
It seemed he had just finished eating, he was sitting next to the fire place in the centre of the room with his eyes closed in some kind of state of meditation.
"..."
I went and sat down in front of him in seiza.
Ruijerd opened his eyes and gave me a puzzled look.
"...What's wrong?"
As he asked me, I turned my palm towards Ruijerd.
"Please wait a minute, I'm still choosing my words."
"...Alright."
And so I kept my silence.
While sitting there staring at the flickering fire, it felt like nearly an hour had passed.
It may sound odd, but I couldn't think of anything to start with.
I know what I must say.
Ruijerd's feeling for Norn.
Whether he likes her or dislikes her and what he thinks of her a marriage partner.
But I don’t know how to word it.
How about:
‘How do you feel about marrying Norn?’
No, marriage and feelings are separate issues. I can't forget that.
"..."
Ruijerd didn't try to start a conversation with me as I was sitting in silence.
He was waiting for me to start talking.
As if to say that there was absolutely no need to rush, that I should choose my words at ease.
I don't know whether or not he has some business to take care of, but he probably doesn't have anything to do.
Most likely, he acts this way towards Norn as well.
Or it’s possible that Norn may think of this attitude of his a little irritating.
No, probably not.
The very reason Norn fell in love with Ruijerd was because of this particular trait of him.
A partner not bothered by silence is a valuable thing.
Although I'm agonising a little over it now.
"...Right, recently, Norn has been making tea, she's gotten quite good."
"Hmm, Norn's tea."
I said that fishing for a response, and Ruijerd replied.
As I thought, he is somewhat interested in Norn.
So is the first condition clear...?
No, wait, when a man who has been sitting in silence for an hour says something, no matter what it's about, you would reply.
Don't rush.
It's about the flow of the conversation.
"It seems that because she's been making it at her workplace, she's gotten better."
"Is that so... When she came to the village before, it was good."
Ruijerd closed his eyes as if he was remembering something.
Is that so, it seems Ruijerd has already had Norn's tea.
It was good he says.
Putting it like that means that he would probably like to try it again.
Is he thinking something like "I'd like her to make me tea everyday..."?
Damn it, how should I ask him.
I want a choice list.
Is this how Orsted feels when he's talking with me?
Then should I just tell him outright?
How should I do it!? Just how should I ask!?
"It's not just her tea, her cooking isn't bad either."
While I was toiling, the conversation continued.
The conversation kept flowing.
The flow did not stop.
But wait, what did he just say?
Cooking?
"Have you tried it?"
"Yes."
Norn's cooking?
Even though I've never had it before?
"Is that so..."
I wonder what she made.
Beef stew or curry or omurice or maybe even beef stroganoff.
I want to try it too.
I want to eat it.
No, I have to set myself aside for now.
But in any case, if he likes her cooking then that means it’s not hopeless.
Her cooking won’t make one’s mouth water, but it seems that she's not that awful.
And after they get married, we won't be seeing Ruijerd getting slim.
“Is something the matter with Norn?”
While I was thinking, Ruijerd had asked that.
It was a reasonable assumption.
No, I suddenly came in here with a serious face and started talking about Norn, what I want to talk about should be obvious.
“No… It’s not that anything’s particularly the matter, it was small talk.”