Mina and Colt lay on the bed, embracing one another as they settled down after a long battle that lasted for 3 hours. Mina could no longer feel her lower half. Thus, they were forced to stop.

Mina placed her right hand on Colt’s chest and rested her head on his arms.

“Mina, do you wish to meet her?”

“Who?”

“My daughter.”

“Silly you, she’s no longer just your daughter, for she is also my, Mina’s daughter.”

Colt smiled at her words and kissed on her forehead. Currently, he was content, happy that he told her the truth, and as he snuggled up to her, Colt felt an indescribable warmth.

Their time on bed lasted for quite some time. But they got up when noon finally hit. The two stood up, and with a quick realization, Colt remembered something.

‘It is still daylight.’

Everyone was present, his parents, and Mina’s too. Not that he was ashamed of what he had done; rather, it was the opposite. But he feared that the Marquis will come and kill him for making a move to his daughter when they were yet to be married.

Also, he did not know how to help Mina get dressed, and at the moment, she was incapable of movement; or so he thought as Mina stood up after her body glowed green.

“Wha?”

“It is magic, my Darling.”

A simple explanation was enough to make Colt shut his mouth. Getting clothed took them quite some time because none hurried or panicked.

Colt was a man. He would not chicken out and accept anything thrown at him by the Marquis.

‘I won’t die by his hands at the very least.’ was the solace that kept him from chickening out at the very least.

Mina wore no make-up on, and yet she was stunning as before. Even more so than before.

They headed out and went to the dining area, where they found no one. Not even the maids preparing for lunch were present.

“Hmm? Did they leave?” it appears like no one got to know at the very least. Being a loner, he does not want to parade his sexual life if he can avoid it.

He heaved a sigh of relief while Mina offered to fix themselves lunch and went to the kitchen. As she left, Colt did a much-needed stretch. Then he heard it...footsteps.

The steps were calm, and he found Risa as its source looking at him with a fan hiding her the wide grin she wore on her face.

But, Colt could see it through her eyes. Those slanted eyes of hers from smiling too much relayed too much information, ‘She’s scheming something.’ 

As she casually approached him, Risa whispered.

“Did you enjoy yourselves, Older brother? Mother and I worked hard to ensure no one will be able to bother the two of you. Did we do a good job?”

He was taken aback. He pieced together everything, the reason why no one knocked, the reason why no one was present, it was all Risa’s and Countess Faerith’s doing.

The secret alliance had made their move, and at this moment, Colt could feel it; he was trapped, backed to a corner with no way out.

“What do you want?”

He sounded firm, but his emotion showed through his eyes. He was worried, he was thinking a lot of what-ifs. But he was sure that he would not suffer whatever these people’s demands were. Countess Faerith spoils Colt and Risa do she does.

They have nothing against Colt. But one thing does come to mind...

‘What if they send to some faraway land to not interfere with Risa’s ascension to power? What if? Such a good thing could occur? Mina will come, even if that happens. What a peaceful life that would be.’

Colt was daydreaming that he’ll get banished and live a life of peace. But then, Risa’s silent chortle broke this daydream.

“You’re becoming sharper, Older Brother, you can see that I want something from you. Hehehe, this is not going to be hard, after all. My and Mother’s services aren’t free. You have to do something for us. Worry not, I already have Mother’s request, so you won’t have to bother meeting her later.

“Be warned if you refuse, we’ll tell on you to the Marquis, hehehehe.”

‘These people are rather insidious.’ Colt swallowed the saliva forming in his throat. He said nothing and waited for Risa to speak.

In the novel, Risa was depicted as a valiant warrior worthy of the title of Count. She even became the first General; at least that’s what Leo found after being spoiled in the reviews, ‘Valiant my arse.’

So, Colt was pretty sure she won’t ask anything out of her moral bounds.

‘But she looks more sinister than Mina ever did.’ It was creepy, and he felt like if he declines their requests, the story will get twisted. And she’s kind of annoying.

Finally, the nerve-wracking wait ended.

“First, would Mother’s request...”

Risa paused. She seemed to be contemplating if what she’s about to say was appropriate or not! But she made up her mind in a few seconds.

“She said she wants you to train in the sword for at least 4 hours every day...”

Colt tilted his head in confusion, “Sure, why not? Butler Neun said I need to train for at least 6 hours a day, so 4 hours is no problem.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

Risa paused once again. She shook her head in disappointment. 

But she quickly recovered.

“Moving on, Older Brother, this one is my request...you may not agree to it, but listen to me, represent the family at the Academy.”

An earnest request, a request Risa doubt Colt would even accept.

“Yeah, sure, why not.” Colt accepted without putting much thought into it. He already got the gist of what the academy was thanks to the novel. Most noble go there until they were 21 years old. Colt still had ten months before reaching that age, and being the oldest, he was destined to go there anyway.

‘The original didn’t get to go because he died, right?’

He was put into deep contemplation; Colt looked at Risa, who had already dropped her fan. She looked at Colt with thankful eyes. She gave him a hug thanking him from the depths of her heart.

“Thank you, older brother.”

Then, Risa left the dining area to report to her mother, who was watching the Count and Marquis empty another jar of alcohol.

Mina came back to set up the table. A maid did not assist her as she didn’t need them.

“You smell like Risa, Darling.”

“Y-yes, she was just here.”

Well, someone was still not used to sudden shifts of temperament.

That day, the Edgeworths was in a festive mood.