A new day of a new week began for the Bradford family.
After the war, they gained fame and popularity thanks to their top-tier armed units and ships.
Walt got out of bed as usual. His wife wasn't beside him, meaning she must have already gone downstairs.
He changed his clothes, then went to the bathroom, and finally went down for breakfast.
The maids working in the newly built mansion greeted him.
Arriving at the dining room, he found his family—minus a certain son—already having breakfast without him.
He greeted them and was about to eat when a maid brought him a letter that arrived a while ago.
He opened it, reading its contents while taking a bite of a jam-covered roll.
He accidentally spat it out onto Lyle's face. His daughter was about to yell at him until their father gave everyone some terrible news.
"The Duke Bismarck wants to have dinner with us! And not just any dinner, a family dinner!"
It's only been two days since Rudel got engaged to Alisa, an Duke's daughter.
Bradford Household was now part of the Bismarck faction.
After the traitors and the Marquis Balzac incident, Alisa's family took severe measures to prevent this from happening again.
Their allies were few, but now they would increase since the Bradford Barony were members of their faction.
This fact meant to many that the Bismarcks would have many benefits, as that family had the best quality of Mobile Knights and ship repair. Not to mention the kingdom's hero was a young man who created his own branch family, became the youngest minister in history, and was the one who killed the world's most wanted and dangerous man.
With this achievement, envy and necessity would invade both families.
◇◇◇
Rudel's family had arrived the following day at the Bismarck Duchy. It was night; they didn't even have to respond to the letter since it was sent by the family's daughter—Alisa herself asked them to come for a dinner.
The five family members stood before the door.
They had new clothes they bought.
Before entering the property, they had to pass through a security gate. The guards saw them in the carriage and were about to ask who they were. The coachman driving the carriage told them they were Rudel's family, the future husband of the young lady of this house.
The guards were startled and showed their respects.
The garden was enormous; after crossing the gate, they had to be in the carriage for at least ten more minutes to reach the mansion.
Lyle was amazed, mouth agape, that the path continued even after entering the property.
After getting out of the carriage, a maid greeted them and asked them to wait a moment.
The family was worried since something like this was unthinkable for them.
Bram trembled as he watched the magical lamps illuminate the place, so immense for any human being.
The door finally opened, and they were astonished to see what awaited them inside.
"Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Bismarck Mansion, Bradford family."
A long line of servants—men, women, and cooks—greeted them respectfully.
In their home, the greeting was respectful in their own way, but what they saw was a humiliation for those servants.
They entered with a little fear, except for Paula, who saw everything with stars in her eyes.
An old but sturdy butler greeted them and indicated the way to go.
After several long steps, they reached the dining room.
The dining room was a large hall with a long table covered by a beautiful white tablecloth.
Seated conversing were the head of the house and his future heir.
They were dressed in overly formal clothes for a family dinner.
Meanwhile, the Bradford family felt ashamed, as their clothes were too plain for them—or so they believed.
Siegwald and his son noticed their presence and stood up to greet them.
"Good evening, everyone. Were there any problems on your journey?"
Vayne was the first to greet with his smile and shook everyone's hands, except the women's; he greeted them with a kiss on the cheek.
The head of the house did the same; his attitude was calm and relaxed. He counted the family that came to his house; they were nervous.
They all sat down, as they were waiting for certain people to arrive.
"Wahh~ I'm so sleepy."
"Rudel, we slept in quite late until a little while ago."
"It's just that I'm really tired... and what's this!?"
Rudel and the girls were arriving and found their families in the dining room.
He was wearing long sleep pants and a button-up shirt, plus sandals.
The girls were dressed in more decent clothes, but for the current situation, it was disrespectful.
"You're all already here!? Oh no, we have to go change as soon as possible!"
Alisa said, until her father stopped her and said it was fine as is.
She reluctantly accepted, and then was delighted to see her future husband's family.
She and Airi went to greet them, while Rudel, with a panicked face, went to greet his future brother-in-law and father-in-law.
"G-good evening..."
"Rudel-kun, I'm glad to see you and the girls are doing well. Any progress in your relationship?"
"I'd also like to know," said Siegwald, while taking a sip of his wine.
"O-our relationship has improved since I'm more open to them now."
"I see. And how is the future heir coming along?"
Rudel blushed and looked away when Vayne asked that.
"I-I told both of them it would be better to wait until we're married. And since I'm going abroad, it would be problematic to have them both waiting here alone with my children."
"Really?" said Siegwald. "If it's out of worry that they'll be alone, then don't go study abroad, don't you think?"
At that moment, Rudel responded in his mind.
(It's because the kingdom and they will be in danger, you useless old man!)
But from his own mouth, he said:
"I want to see foreign lands. And studying in Aster is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity since they seem very selective. I had to send many donations for them to accept me, so the money spent would be wasted."
Siegwald watched him as he spoke about money. He got up from his chair and secretly told him something that made Rudel shudder.
"R-really? You're not joking?"
"Of course not. I guarantee it, but only if you fulfill your part."
"Alright..."
Rudel was acting strange because of whatever Siegwald told him.
Meanwhile, with the girls...
"Good evening. Although I am not yet married to your son, please allow me to call you beforehand, Mother and Father."
The head of the Bradford family and his wife were in shock upon hearing an Duke's daughter call them parents.
"Alisa, aren't we supposed to call them mother-in-law and father-in-law?"
Alisa lifted her face to look at her.
"Normally that's the case, but in high nobility, it's normal to call your husband's family as if they were your own. You can also call them that since you are my concubine."
Airi was delighted to hear that.
"Please, allow me to also call you Mother and Father!"
For them, Airi calling them that wouldn't be a problem. That was because Rudel's mother was a commoner; the palace recognized Walt's children as nobles due to a lack of investigation, but thanks to the war, she was declared a noble, so it's fine.
The problem is that Alisa, the daughter of an important man, asks them to treat her as their daughter.
Sonia said, "Alicelotte-sama." But Alisa stopped her.
"Right, please call me Alisa."
That only made them more scared.
In the end, they went along with it because her smiling face terrified them too much to disappoint her.
"W-we're fine with that. Alisa-chan... and Airi-chan."
The girls, hearing they were accepted, smiled and thanked them.
"Thank you, dear Father and Mother."
They now addressed their boyfriend's older brothers.
"Good evening, dear brothers. Please treat us as your little sisters from today on."
Bram, sweating, said, "Sure," while Lyle froze.
His head lowered as he said, "Very well." Since, otherwise, he would never have said anything.
Finally, both walked to the youngest daughter.
Without even having to ask, she shouted at them.
"Can I call you Alisa-onee-chan and Airi-onee-chan?"
Both gave a slight jump upon being accepted by the whole family. They took her shoulders and, with shining eyes, shouted.
"Of course!"
And thus, the first family reunion between the Houses Bismarck and Bradford was established.
◇◇◇
The dishes served after a while were all unique.
Rudel and the girls sat in the middle of the long table so as not to be separated.
Rudel ate as if it were just another day at his house; his family tried to use the cutlery correctly while hearing their relative being scolded.
"Rudel, that utensil is for the meat, the one in your hand is for soup, and—no, put that down, it's not for scratching your back!"
Alisa yelled at Rudel that that's not how you use cutlery.
They watched angrily as he embarrassed them.
Meanwhile, Siegwald asked Walt.
"How's business going?"
"Huh? Umm, very well. In fact, yesterday I closed a deal with the palace. They ordered 100 armored ships since Rudel's ship was classified as one."
"Oh? I see. It's clear your family has achieved great accomplishments for the palace and economic gains for yourselves."
"And, Mr. Walt. Can I commission some ships for us?"
"Of course! If the Archduke wishes."
"No. I'm speaking as a client. We'll be family, but that doesn't mean I can get things for free."
"Umm, okay. I'll prepare a purchase order for you tomorrow."
"Good. And Mr. Walt, please call me Sieg. From one family head to another."
"O-of course."
Conversations continued on various topics, including Vayne asking Lyle if he had found a partner yet. The conversation ended very awkwardly.
This went on until Paula asked a certain question.
"Umm, Alisa-onee-chan. Where is your mom? I don't see her here."
The entire Bismarck family froze upon hearing that.
Meanwhile, the Bradford family looked at them with strange faces.
Alisa was the one who spoke in response.
"My mother... she is resting in a special place."
Rudel dropped his spoon when he heard that. His family did too; everyone except Paula understood what those words meant.
Rudel tried to change the atmosphere by telling a joke, but only made it worse.
The one who truly changed the situation was Siegwald himself, who said his wife was not a matter that should concern them for now.
Everyone went back to eating calmly.
◇◇◇
It was Saturday night.
Rudel's family stayed at the Bismarck Household until today.
They left a few hours ago.
The girls had just gotten out of the bath. They asked Rudel if he wanted to join them, but he refused.
Although a while later, he bit the sheet after seeing the girls' semi-naked bodies entering the bath.
After entering their room, they found a note telling them to go to the courtyard.
They wondered what he wanted to have summoned them to that place.
◇◇◇
A while passed until they arrived at the courtyard. Everything was dark, but suddenly the lights turned on.
Music began to play from some servants playing violin, cello, and flute.
Rudel stood in the middle wearing a suit; the girls were in casual clothes.
They felt embarrassed seeing their boyfriend had prepared a surprise dinner for them.
The girls wanted to go back inside to change, but Rudel stopped them.
Alisa and Airi cried seeing this romantic dinner, but there was one more surprise they didn't know about.
"Servants."
Rudel said that. Ixion and Bell descended with a box tied to each of them.
"I am your servant, but do not treat me like a slave."
"Yeah, yeah."
Ixion placed himself in front of Alisa and Bell in front of Airi.
They opened the boxes and covered their mouths in surprise.
"This is my gift for you."
Inside the boxes were two beautiful silver rings with a diamond in the center.
Rudel took the one from on top of Ixion.
"Alisa, raise your left hand."
She did. Rudel took her ring finger and placed the ring on it.
Alisa shed tears as she looked at that gift.
"Airi, your hand."
Airi did the same; Rudel put a ring on her finger.
Both cried seeing that ring.
Before they could ask what this was, Rudel told them.
"In my homeland, this is what you do when someone gets engaged. When you get married, a completely different one comes."
Rudel blushed as he told them something that didn't exist in this world, but from his previous life.
"I love you both. This is one of many proofs to show my love for you."
They cried upon hearing that.
"Let's not waste any more time; the dinner will get cold. Girls, let's enjoy our last night together before returning to the academy tomorrow."
The three sat down, held hands, and enjoyed that night they would never forget.