IBTHM Chapter 29

"What? The temple?"

"Yes. My marriage has nothing to do with them to begin with, and we don't really keep in contact. But suddenly they sent word wanting to visit and offer congratulations, so I wondered what was up—apparently it's because of you."

"I don't know anyone at the temple, though?"

It was somewhat strange.

According to Hades, the temple had suddenly contacted him wanting to visit, and the reason wasn't simply because he'd announced his marriage...

They wanted to visit after hearing the marriage partner was Aisha Esclife?

I was someone who hadn't appeared even once in the novel. Meaning I wasn't even a supporting character.

And it's not like I actually had any connection to the temple, despite Hades's speculation.

"The medicine comes from the temple, doesn't it? Then the baron must have maintained good relations with them. Either way, it's not bad. The temple isn't particularly necessary to me, but it doesn't hurt to build connections."

"Ah, Father."

I thought of my father, Baron Esclife.

With white hair and an equally white bushy beard, he had kind drooping eyes that gave him a gentle uncle impression.

When I first opened my eyes in Aisha's body, there was this foreign-looking man cosplaying as Santa Claus in front of me, and I genuinely thought I'd ended up in Disney World.

Learning that this baron was my new father hadn't felt bad.

He was a father who loved his daughter very much and was a good person who frequently worried about my weak constitution.

Having never felt much affection for the concept of "father" in my previous life, I'd maintained quite a close father-daughter relationship with Baron Esclife for three years.

Hearing from Hades that the temple wasn't a leisurely place made me feel a bit grateful to Father.

I knew it was busy, but in the novel, the temple and Deborah popped up so often that their busyness hadn't really hit home...

Anyway, the temple apparently didn't have the leisure to make special time or go out of their way to prepare medicine, yet Father had managed to get medicine from them for me—thinking about it was touching.

"It must be as Your Grace says. I've been taking the medicine since I was quite young, so he must have been in contact with the temple for a long time. He probably has someone he's close with. I wouldn't know, though."

"Things are going to get busy, then. We need to prepare to receive the temple, and the messenger I sent to Esclife should arrive today or tomorrow."

"Already?! It took me almost two months to get here?"

Traveling from one end of the continent to the other in less than a month?

Seeing my shock, Hades clicked his tongue.

"It's more surprising that you made it in two months with just one maid and one guard, switching between hired carriages. This is delivering marriage documents—naturally I hired mages as messengers. A wind mage and earth mage can cross the continent in two weeks."

"Oh, you spent some money."

"Of course. I'm asking to take a man's beloved daughter as my wife."

Oh my. That was a slightly cool line and made my heart flutter a bit, but Hades looked completely casual, like he'd said it without much thought.

Really, if not for that baseless narcissism, wouldn't it have been only a matter of time before I started fangirling over Hades instead?

As I thought that, I belatedly got excited about today's marriage documents arriving.

'Does this mean I'll finally get to hear Abel call me Mom...'

Hallelujah.

I'd tried coaxing Abel with ulterior motives, telling him it was fine to call me that now, but he'd been firm.

He seemed worried I'd feel burdened, and I couldn't keep pushing, so I'd just been waiting.

But now once the marriage documents arrived and I became Hades's wife on paper before the ceremony, I could...!

'Legal fangirling possible! Hearing Abel call me Mom also possible!'

"Ahhh..."

Suddenly embarrassed, I covered my flushing cheeks shyly, then met Hades's eyes watching me.

Ah, mistake.

Once again, Hades looked at me being thrilled to death and smirked like I was pathetic.

"Are you that..."

"...happy?"

I interrupted, snatching the line. Hades shrugged.

"Yes, yes. Very happy."

"Getting all excited. For your sake, I'll try to process the paperwork and prepare the ceremony as quickly as possible. Just trust me."

"Ah, yes. Thank you."

Having come this far, it was do-or-die. No going back.

This man thought all my gift attacks and letter-writing to Abel were because I liked him, so even if I told him the truth, he wouldn't believe me anyway.

So I'd decided to just be detached about it.

"Anyway, I'd like you to gain some weight before the ceremony. I'm worried you might just collapse in front of all those watching eyes."

"What am I, a paper doll?"

...Though I had to admit, with my extensive history of collapsing left and right, it was a perfectly reasonable concern.

When I glanced away from Hades's look that said then what are you if not a paper doll, he continued with worry:

"Want me to catch a bear from the mountain out back?"

I laughed at the absurdity.

Calling it "the mountain out back" and calling it a "bear"—the snowy mountains of the north with their eternal snow were gathering places for all kinds of vicious magical beasts.

"Are you going to make me medicinal tonic from bear gallbladder?"

"I could."

"No thanks. My body is a bit weak, but I don't collapse at every opportunity, and I'm taking the medicine from the temple regularly."

Now it was fine, but when I first opened my eyes in Aisha's body, I wasn't used to taking medicine daily and had skipped it for a few days.

The sharp pain that came to my heart then nearly stopped my breath, and I'd accepted that my new body could easily die like a sunfish.

Since then I'd lived a healthy life, taking medicine regularly and never skipping meals, so there shouldn't be problems.

Still, just in case, maybe I should restart the exercise I'd been skipping since coming north.

Because I wanted to live long and happily fangirling over my precious Abel.

The messenger knight guarding the castle gate reached Hades's office when dawn was still deep.

Hades, unable to even close his eyes with the endless pile of work, was shocked by the knight's message.

"Baron Esclife came with them?!"

"Yes, Your Grace. They've entered Ruvermonte territory now, so it should take about thirty minutes to reach the castle."

"No, he didn't need to come in person?"

He'd expected just a stamped marriage document sent back. This was a disaster.

If they'd given advance notice, he could have prepared to receive them, but they'd arrived at dawn, and to make matters worse, the weather in the north was terrible right now.

Rain poured down like the sky had split open, the drops hammering the window hard enough to grate on his nerves.

"Damn, I should have gotten some sleep."

Pressing firmly on his heavy eyelids, Hades stood and turned to the knight. "How do I look?"

"...Pardon?"

"I'm asking if I look acceptable."

As Hades ran his hand through his disheveled hair and asked again, the flustered knight nodded stiffly.

"Y-yes. Well... you look handsome as always."

"Not the handsome part."

That was always true.

"Do I look haggard, or tired... anyway, do I look shabby or anything?"

"Ah, yes..."

Even with the knight's answer, Hades looked unsatisfied as he spent time arranging his hair and rubbing his eyes.

A meeting with his (prospective) father-in-law at dawn, out of nowhere.

When it was Aisha who was desperate to get married.

When getting marriage approval was just a formality anyway.

He had no idea why his mouth was going dry with nerves.

Hades's gaze drifted to the window where rain streamed down.

Hades finished preparing and went out to the castle gate to meet Baron Esclife.

Servants and a few knights stood in formation beside Hades, holding up coverings against the rain.

Baron Esclife got out of the carriage and immediately recognized Hades, pushing back the worn robe he'd been wearing as he approached.

The ducal castle's attendants quickly unfurled coverings to assist the baron.

"...Duke Ruvermonte, Your Grace. It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Benjamin Esclife. Please accept my respects."

Hades hurriedly stopped the baron as he moved to bow formally with outstretched hands.

"No. You'll soon be my father-in-law—I can't accept such stiff, formal greetings from the baron."

"Ah, I... Your Grace."

The baron had an anxious manner, like someone being chased, and his complexion was dark, but Hades didn't notice.

He smiled and led the baron along.

"If you'd given advance notice, I would have prepared more for your long journey, but this was so sudden I didn't have time to arrange things. My apologies."

"Not at all, Your Grace. I should apologize for visiting without notice."

"No. I'm glad and happy to see you like this."

"Um, Your Grace. Aisha is..."

"Ah, I was going to bring her out too, but... she seemed sound asleep and I couldn't wake her. Let's have a meal together tomorrow. Today's late, and you must be tired from your long journey, so wash up and rest comfortably."

Entering the castle, Hades gave the servants a look.

Having received instructions beforehand, they moved briskly.

The ducal castle was vast and splendid but eerily quiet. Only the crackle of logs burning in the central fireplace was clear.

Perhaps because of that, the baron's voice—as he refused the servants trying to guide him to his room and stood before Hades with something to say—rang out very clearly.

"Your Grace. Actually... the reason I came all this way is because I have something regrettable to say."

In the bright light, the baron's face had somehow gone deathly pale.

Before Hades could wonder why, the baron spoke.

"I... I came to... take my daughter back."

"...What?"

"I cannot consent to this marriage. I'm sorry, Your Grace."

At the baron's completely unexpected words, Hades lost his voice.