Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 635

"Lord Ridd, welcome back."

"Brother, welcome back."

"Fara, Mel. I'm home."

After finishing the meeting with Father and leaving the office together, the two who had been waiting in the hallway with Danae and Asuna came running over to us.

Mel, with her momentum, jumped into my chest, so I picked her up and spun her around on the spot.

"You're late. Why did you go straight to Father's room?"

"Sorry, there was something urgent I had to report."

It was true that there was an urgent report, but the reason the meeting dragged on so long was something else.

Mel puffed out her cheeks, but I couldn't tell her the real reason and ended up scratching my own cheek in embarrassment.

"Well, it's fine with me."

As Mel muttered that, Fara timidly stepped forward and bowed her head.

"I'm sorry I couldn't greet you properly."

"Ah, no, no. You don't have to worry about that."

Flustered, I urged her to raise her head and shook my own.

"We arrived at the mansion early in the morning, and I couldn't give you a heads-up beforehand, so it couldn't be helped."

I had returned at a time when the sun hadn't fully risen yet.

Father, who often goes on expeditions to the imperial capital and the fox tribe's territory, had anticipated the time of my return based on his experience and had been standing there waiting for me. His intuition and decisiveness are impressive.

Or perhaps, it might be more accurate to say it's unusual.

"But as a wife, it's only natural to greet her husband's return."

Fara's ears drooped slightly as she spoke.

Having received elite education as a royal from Mother Eltia in Renarute, she tends to be quite traditional and always tries to treat me with great respect.

I'm really grateful for that, but she doesn't need to be so serious about it.

"Well then, I'd like to see Fara's smile."

"Huh..."

As she tilted her head in confusion, I smiled and narrowed my eyes.

"It's been a while since we've seen each other, and now   I've reunited with the person  I love the most. It's only natural to want to see   your smile, right?"

"Ah, thank you. I'm also happy to see Lord Lidd's face."

Fara blushed and smiled shyly, her ears twitching slightly.

It seems she's cheered up.

She's really cute, I thought, and my hand naturally reached out to pat her head.

"Um, Lord Ridd."

"Ah, sorry. I couldn't help it."

"N-no, it's fine."

As Fara and I both smiled shyly, Mel, who had been watching us closely, grinned.

"Brother and Princess Fara, still deeply in love as ever, huh? Biscuit and Cookie think so too, right?"

"Nya, nya."

"Nya~"

Somehow, Biscuit and Cookie, in their kitten forms, had perched on Mel's shoulders and were nodding in agreement.

"H-hey, don't tease us."

"That's right, Mel."

"Eh? I just said what I saw."

As Mel shrugged with an innocent face, I glanced at Asuna and Danae, who were standing nearby, and they were both giving us warm looks.

"Every time, it's a feast for the eyes."

"Truly. But it's a little enviable."

As Danae placed her hand on her cheek and let out a small sigh, everyone's eyes widened.

"Um, by any chance, do you have plans to get married soon, Danae?"

There are actually quite a few people interested in Danae.

It wouldn't be strange if there had been some progress in her relationships while we were away in the fox tribe's territory.

When I cautiously asked, she blushed and waved her hands frantically.

"No, no, that's not it. It's actually the opposite. I'm having trouble finding a good match."

"Ah, I see."

Nodding in understanding, Danae looked at me and sighed.

"Being around such wonderful people like Lord Ridd and others every day, the men of the world just don't seem that appealing anymore."

"I get that. When you have Brother and Father as your standards, you just end up thinking 'meh' about everyone else. Kiel is the second prince and all, and he behaves properly, but there's just something..."

As Mel pondered, she suddenly remembered something.

"Ah, that's it. It's the element of surprise. Brother has that unconventional, surprising quality."

"Unconventional, surprising quality..."

Please don't make me sound like some kind of troublemaker.

As I slumped my shoulders, Tink, who had been standing by my side, cleared his throat.

"Lady Meldy. With all due respect, it might be better to look around before speaking."

"Look around? Ah..."

As Tink pointed down the hallway, Mel's eyes darted around in embarrassment.

There, Kiel and his guard, Nels, were standing.

Apparently, they had been listening to our conversation and were now smiling wryly.

"Hey, it looks like the meeting's over. The unconventional whirlwind, Brother Ridd."

"...You don't have to exaggerate that much."

"No, no. I was thinking I should learn from Ridd and be a bit more daring."

As Kiel approached me, he deliberately narrowed his eyes.

Watching our exchange, Father let out a sigh.

"Give me a break. One unconventional person is enough."

"Th-that's a bit harsh."

I pouted unexpectedly, but Father just shrugged.

"It's the truth, so there's nothing to be done. Even the meeting with the Beast King was full of exceptions, fitting for the 'unconventional whirlwind.'"

"That was just because of the other party's request. It's not like I wanted to do it."

It seems that having a foreigner participate in the tribal chiefs' meeting in Zubera was an unprecedented exception, and I was the first to do so.

But it's not like I wanted to participate.

"I see. So, Ridd, you met the Beast King Sekhmetos?"

Hearing our conversation, Kiel's eyes sharpened.

The light atmosphere from earlier was gone, replaced by the face of a royal.

"Yeah. But that's not something to discuss in the hallway, right?"

"Indeed, you're right about that."

As Kiel nodded, Nels cleared his throat.

"Everyone, breakfast is ready in the dining hall. Why don't we continue the conversation there?"

"Ah, that's right. Actually, that's why I came to get everyone."

Kiel, realizing he had forgotten, scratched his cheek as if to cover it up.

"Geez, you should have said that earlier. Come on, let's all go quickly."

Mel grabbed Kiel's hand and ran off first.

Probably trying to brush off the earlier conversation.

As Nels bowed slightly to us and followed them, Danae also gave a light bow and started walking.

At that moment, something occurred to me, and I called out from behind, "Ah, Danae. Wait a second."

"Yes? What is it?"

"It's about what you said earlier, about the 'good match.' What kind of things are you looking for in a partner?"

"Looking for in a partner, you say?"

She tilted her head and placed a hand on her mouth, murmuring, "Well..."