Chapter 42

I wake up in the morning .

I rolled up the blanket, but Gizel doesn’t seem to be sticking up close to me .

It seems she went to the dining table first .

Normally, she’d cling to me when she wakes up before me, but that’s unusual .

Last night, It was already late when I fell asleep .

I was busy trying to put together a plan to improve the Ortem Trolley .

Thinking back on last night’s conversation with my father, I couldn’t fall asleep, so I just focused myself on my work instead but…

Anyway, what should I do today .

Talking about father who is overly noisy due to the traditions of the village .

They must really be trying to get ready for me and Gizel’s wedding starting today .

I’ve got to prevent it somehow .

First, I wonder if Gizel knows about the marriage .

It’s true, because of the values I had in my previous life, my common sense often doesn’t come easily to me .

Even in this village, where the customs are different from those of my previous life, I have lived for sixteen years, concentrating only on magic, without knowing the common sense of the people around me .

If it was the wisdom of ordinary life, it would be of no consequence without asking, so it might have been even more so .

Even so, basically, the amount of information about the Marren customs and common sense that I and Gizel have received from our parents should not make much difference .

So since I didn’t know, it’s safe to assume that Gizel didn’t know either .

Gizel wouldn’t want to marry her brother .

First I need to let Gizel know about this and bring her into my side .

If we want, I’ll ask her to act out a play and try to make the people around us feel a little uncomfortable .

If we can give them the impression that we’re going to kill each other, we won’t have to worry about getting married .

I also need to look into the history of the Marren in the past and find out the enforcement of the brother-sister marriage customs .

I already know of one instance where the tradition of brother and sister marriage was not observed .

Yes, Noswell’s parents .

It may not be a bad idea to visit the Karlco family once .

Shibi even knows that I don’t have that intention so he keeps approaching Gizel .

If it’s a tradition that will always be followed, they won’t do that .

There’s got to be an opening .

I’m going to get there at all costs and stop this marriage .

“Alright . ”

I get off the bed and make my way to the window of my room .

The morning sun sinks into my eyes .

Closing his eyes, he said, “Pray to the spirits of our Marren ancestors,” and cut a cross in the air with his left hand .

I’m firmly in this habit, though .

I changed my clothes from my pajamas and headed to the dinner table .

”Good morning, Father, Mother . Gizel, today first… . . ”

I turn my attention to Gizel .

Gizel gasped, her cheeks flushed, and gently looked away .

”Good, good morning brother…………”

I have a bad feeling about this .

Don’t tell me they told Gizel about it while I was late getting up .

I quickly turn my attention back to my father .

My father turned his head away from me too .

“Well, I’m going to go see the Chief, then . ”

My father got up quickly and started to leave the house .

“Hey, hey! Please wait, Father!”

“I’m sorry, but I’m busy . You’ll have to wait until after I get back . We need to make sure that the Berek family’s rights to the incense leaves are tightly packed…”

“Father! Father!”

Ignoring my call, my father ran away .

I thought about going after him, but I didn’t feel like going after him .

He got away .

… However, about incense leaf again .

I believe that if we leave the matter to the Chief, they will be able to work it out for the good of the village, but my father seems to be a bit picky about it .

I’m worried if he’s being irritating to the Chief . I’ll apologize next time .

Since I made a big deal out of it after I finished my coming of age ceremony, I don’t think it’s anything for my father to poke his nose into .

Isn’t this going to be the second Karlco family route?

It’s not as if he’s going to interfere with my magical life anymore, but it’s also a little sad because I think my father was more lively when he went hunting every day .

No, well, that’s not the point right now .

After my father left, I had a quick breakfast and took Gizel with me to the garden where the Ortem Trolley was located .

Once out in the yard, I looked around to make sure there were no people in sight .

“Gizel, what did you hear from father?”

“U-,umm…n-no…no-nothing… That’s not important . Let’s hurry and get to the woods . Yes, that’s right! I’d like to see the Ortem Trolley in action! Therefore… . ”

I’ve never seen her so blatantly shaken before .

”I see, so Gizel has started hiding things too… . . It’s a little lonely . ”

“No! It’s not true! Father had only told me to not tell brother…”

Yes, easy .

“So, what is it you we’re talking about?”

“But Father said it would be more pleasing to brother if I told you at the last minute…”

Gizel says as she hunches over and hides her face with her sleeve .

From the top of her sleeve, Gizel’s eyes flickered to my expression .

I gave her a blatantly sad look .

“As a matter of fact, three days from now, brother and I will… Um, perform the wedding…”

Alright, easy… eh, in three days?

Other houses will be invited too . Isn’t it too hasty?

He must be really scared of me going out of my way .

Gizel isn’t that shaken either . I thought she would be even more panicked to hear that she would be forced to marry her brother all of a sudden .

After all, Gizel knew about the custom of incestuous marriages, didn’t she?

Now that I’ve been told about the ceremony again, it even looks like I’m just a little embarrassed .

… Somehow, I feel like the wind direction has become worse .

N-no, it can’t be that way .

”Ah, ah, three days later……Yeah, so I’ve been working on a few things to stop that from happening . While thinking about this, I studied the history of this village… . ”

“I was shown by mother my wedding outfit, and it was so, so beautiful…! Would something so beautiful and glamorous look good on me? No, no! I shouldn’t feel like this! I, I’m going to be a fine bride who can’t be outdone by big brother!”

“Hmm?”

Just now, I feel like we aren’t talking about the same topic .

“I’m-, I’m sorry! I thought it was a little further down the road, and I wasn’t mentally prepared for it either, so I somehow became strangely aware of it! I would say nervous, I would say excited…no, I don’t mean in that weird way . But…well…um…when you get married, you’re going to… do perverted stuff……”

Oh, this is a bad one .

”But as expected of brother . I can’t believe you’re so at ease with this sudden question . ”

”Ah, ah, no, father was acting strangely, so I thought it was something like that… So, you know, there’s something I need to tell you…”

“Something you want to tell me? What is it?”

“uh, um…… about the marriage ceremony……”

Gizel blinks her big eyes and looks at me intently .

Gizel’s fingertips were moving restlessly . They must be filled with anticipation for the future and anxiety about the sudden change of circumstances .

“prevent…… um……”

I can’t .

There’s no way I can say that .

“Brother? Is, is something the matter?”

“I, I might not be feeling well today, I’ll confine myself in my room and fall asleep . Shibi might come, but tell him that and turn him away . ”

“Brother? Are you okay? In that case, I’ll sleep with you……”

“I’m sorry, but I need to be alone for a minute . I can’t help but hear people’s voices echoing in my head . Uh…well…you know…a day’s sleep should fix it . ”

“…… Brother?”

I quickly go back to the house and go into my room .

Then, I placed an Ortem and set up a barrier to prevent them from entering from the outside .

Let’s just calm down .

Let’s calm down and think about what’s to come .