◆
One hour later. The parents returned to the room and sat in the same places as before.
The father had a stern face, while the mother seemed somewhat restless. These two were also worried and couldn't settle down.
“Now then... Rion-san. Let us hear the answer you all have come up with.”
“...Yes.”
We told the parents the answer we had reached.
The father crossed his arms and listened quietly, while the mother stared at Rion with a serious gaze. They didn't interrupt or say anything, sticking strictly to being listeners.
And when Rion had finished conveying everything, the father slowly opened his mouth.
“I see... So that is the answer Rion has given.”
“Yes, Father.”
The parents looked at each other, and the father let out a soft sigh.
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!! T-Thank goodnessssssssss!!!!”
He cried!?
And it was a wailing sob. A total breakdown. He was bawling his eyes out.
The mother sitting next to him also let out a breath of relief.
“...E-Err... Mother, what is this...?”
Rion looked perplexed. Naturally, so did we.
What? What's going on?
Perhaps sensing our confusion, the mother wiped the tears that had pooled in her eyes and continued.
“A parent's happiness is for their child to be happy. If you wanted to grasp happiness even if it meant cutting ties with us, we have no right to stop that. No matter how much you are our child, we cannot bind your life.”
“...In other words, you were testing her?”
At my question, the mother shook her head.
“No, we weren't testing you. However... up until now, we have put a lot of pressure on Rion-san. We demanded excellence in both literary and military arts, and forced her to be refined as a woman. And we kept saying that giving birth to an heir was her mission. That it was the responsibility of one born as the eldest daughter of the Ryuguin family. But... if remembering everything up until now made her feel that being with us was painful, we were prepared to accept that.”
“...And those were the two choices?”
“That is correct.”
...In other words, if she hated her parents so much that she didn't want to be with them, they had prepared the path of disinheritance as an escape route for Rion's happiness...
...Ah—yeah. Can I say one thing?
“Aren't you two a bit too awkward?”
“Fufu. You're right. I think it's exactly as Akito-san says. ...But, considering the years we've spent saying those things... sixteen long years is more than enough time for her to hate us.”
The mother looked down sadly, as if grieving.
I think they brought it on themselves... but I can somehow understand how they both feel.
Rion was born as the eldest daughter. And since she was born, she had to carry the Ryuguin family on her shoulders.
That's why they had no choice but to be strict. To make her a fine lady who wouldn't shame the Ryuguin name.
Well, as a reaction to that, this girl has grown into the type who sneaks out of the house at night to go eat heavy ramen, though.
I stole a glance at Rion.
Having learned the truth, Rion had her face down and her shoulders were trembling uncontrollably. Now, I wonder what kind of reaction she'll have.
“...Father, Mother. Since we're at it, I'm going to say this.”
Rion stood up slowly.
Her hair hung down like Sadako, and her face was completely hidden.
“*Sniff*... U-Umu. Go ahead.”
“Yes. No matter what is said, it can't be helped. I will accept it.”
“Then...”
Rion slowly approached the two and spread her arms wide... wait, hey, is it a slap? That's going a bit too far...!
The parents also closed their eyes as if bracing themselves.
And then.
*Hug.* —She embraced them.
“...You're fools... Father, Mother... you're both huge idiots...!”
“Rion...?”
“Rion-san...”
“I... I wouldn't hate the two of you that easily! How could I ever hate the parents I love so much...!”
Large tears fell from her eyes.
They were beautiful like jewels, yet they were hot tears.
Struck by those tears, the parents hugged Rion and started crying again.
“Ri-Rio... b-be, be happy...! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!”
“Rion-san. Please be happy together with Leeza-san.”
“Yes... yes...!”
“Ugh... thank goodness... that's wonderful, Rion...”
“I-I'll do my best to make Rion-san happy tooooooo!”
Looking at the three of them shedding tears, Riran and Leeza were also bawling.
Good grief... the Ryuguin family is really just a gathering of awkward people.
Oops, this is bad. Seems like I got some dust in my eye.
Well, in any case.
“That's one matter settled.”
“That's right. I never thought I'd end up having your child along with Rion.”
“Do you hate it?”
“I don't hate it. ...But, is it my imagination, or do I feel like my outer moat is being filled in bit by bit?”
With the incident involving Ryuya and Neika, we were guaranteed to be together forever in the future.
And with this incident, the matter of children was also guaranteed.
All of this is... ten to one, because of this Dark Scarlet 'Red Thread of Fate'.
The power of the strongest red thread is truly terrifying. Well, the fact that I'm feeling happy even in this situation... I guess I've been quite poisoned by it too.