One day, some time has passed since the search for the sewerage system.
　I was summoned to the dining room by Saisha.

Oh, there you are. Mr. Strand.

　As he walked up to her, calling out to her, Saisha turned her body towards him and smiled serenely.

''Lamploog-kun. Thank you for going out of your way to take a day off today.
Okay. So, what is it?　What do you want?
'That's ... I really meant to carry it up here, but it's going to be a little difficult...'

　Saisha said with a troubled face.

　Carry...?

'I'm sorry, but could you please come to the girls' dormitory? I've already spoken to the matron.
Okay, but....

　I nodded my head inwardly at Saixa, who said she was sorry.
　She smiles and walks off.

It's a good thing. Then let's go.

　Then we walk down the street of the school together.

"Lamprog, you came to the girls' dormitory a few times before the summer, right?
'Yeah, I'm here to teach Mabel to study. I know it might have been annoying for the others, but...
No, you don't.

　Saisha chuckles.

'The truth is, we'd all like to talk to you, Lamplogue.
'Oh really?　I rather thought they were avoiding me, though. There was a lot going on at first.
All aristocratic children like to gossip, and they like to create a pecking order based on differences in family background and people they interact with. Lamprog in particular stood out. I'm sure they all didn't know how to treat each other.
I'm the one who stands out?　I don't know.... I think there was someone who stood out more than me, though.

　Like Amu.
　And Yifa must have been much more curious than me, considering her grades and status.

　But Saisha laughed and shook her head.

''That's true, but that's not the case... because Lamprog-kun was kind of in the mood.
Atmosphere?
It's vaguely unapproachable.
'Uh....'

　Come to think of it, even in my past life, there was a tendency for people who weren't close to me to think I didn't know what I was thinking.

'That's not the case at all now, though. Before the summer, there were many girls who would start fidgeting when Lamprog-kun came to the girls' dormitory.
Yeah, well...

　I'm confused by that, too.

Yeah, but I don't think I'm in the least bit affected by it.

　I think I'd rather have been doing all the things that would have kept me at a distance, like defeating a boss in a dungeon or winning a martial arts tournament in the Imperial City.

　But Saisha shook her head.

''That's not true. I think everyone has already noticed that you are a good and kind person. You have already noticed that you are a good person, and you've made friends with some of the people who have been blocking you from doing so.
'What?　It was blocking...?
It's about Mr. Amu and Miss Mabel.

　Saisha says, smiling.

'I thought they were both scary at first. Both of them seemed to refuse to get along with anyone at first. But.......last month when I was crying, both of them took their advice seriously.... I'm sure that was because they were getting to know Lamprog-kun so well. I think Mabel-san in particular has changed a lot since she returned from the Imperial Capital.
....
'I'm brighter now, and I talk to everyone on my own. Perhaps there was a reason why you stopped dying your hair...?　But that gray hair is better suited to Miss Mabel's blue eyes. And it's rare and beautiful.
Hmmm... yeah.

　Mabel's hair, which no longer needed to be dyed, was now completely drained of color and had returned to its original gray color.
　It really is exactly the same color as her brother Kyle's hair.

''Well could you tell that to Mabel directly? She'll probably appreciate it.
Yes, then I'll do it.

　Saisha laughed and nodded.

　Not long after, as the girls' dormitory approached, Saisha opened her mouth somewhat hesitantly.

''Um, Mr. Lamprog. I'm going to ask you something I don't understand...''
Hmm?　What?
Do you have a girlfriend, Lamprog?
'What?　No, I'm not.
Do you have any wives or...?
No I'm not and as you know, I wasn't born very well.
He's actually very close to Yifa-san.
I don't.
Then, with Mr. Amu or Miss Mabel....
It's just a friend.
I'm glad to hear that.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make your life easier.
　I'm sure that the profile of the face ... makes me think of something.

　I'm not sure if this is........that's what it's all about?

　.........what to do.
　It's true that Saisha is beautiful and calm. But that's not the point. More importantly, she has a fiancée.

　Even in her previous life, she had been pined for by the women she'd saved, including, it's a bit hard to say, a married woman.
　But it was usually just a whim, and in fact, when I left, there was little to keep me from doing so.

　But of course........there is no place to leave in the school.
　I'm going to be forced to see them for years to come.

　How can I say no........

''Ah, um, Strand-san........''
What's going on?　Let's get going.

　As my steps slow, Saixa looks back at me curiously.

　In the end, I arrived at the women's dormitory without being able to say anything.
　The lounge in the girls' dormitory hadn't changed much in the months since I'd been there. It was spacious, clean, well lit, and bright.
　Maybe it was the daytime, but we didn't see any other students.

Oh, there they are, Mr. Lamplogue. Mr. Lamprog.

　And with that, Saisha suddenly walked quickly to the wall.

　There was some kind of flat board-like object propped up against it.
　It was as high as the floor to the chest and just as wide as a child's hand outstretched.
　A cloth covered the top.

　Saixa looks back at me as I come after her and says with a smile, "Actually, Mr. Lamplogue," she says.

'Actually, I wanted to show you something, Lamprog.
Do you want to see it?
Yes. Here it is.

　With that, Saisha removed the cloth.

　The board-like thing was a portrait.
　On the dark green background, a small blonde girl was drawn sitting on a chair.

　After a moment of silence, I ask Saixa about it.

"Well what is this?
What do you think?

　I'm confused when she smiles at me and asks me vague questions.

What do you mean ... I think she's a cute girl.

　Somehow, he looks like Saisha....

'Isn't it?　She's my sister.
Yeah, no wonder...
What do you think?
Wha... what?
"To Mr. Lamprogue's fiancée.
........What?

　I'm stunned by the sound of my voice, but Saixa starts to explain with a smile.

As you can see, my sister is very pretty, but fortunately, she has not yet found a suitable bride. As a matter of fact, when I came to the school, my sister secretly asked me to find her a wonderful son-in-law that would be perfect for her. The truth is that I had planned to wait until the last minute before graduation to look for a suitable groom, but now I'm convinced that Lamprog is the only one who can do it!　That's why I had him send this portrait, which I had had prepared for some time, to the school in a hurry!　I'd love for you to see it, Mr. Lamplogue.
....
I understand your concern, Lamprog. But I'm fine!　These portraits are usually painted with a certain degree of discernment over the person themselves, because my sister really is just the way she is!　You're going to be a beauty in the future, I promise!　I, my sister, vouch for you!　Oh, but it won't start until we meet in person. Then I'll see you over spring break....
Oh, um, Mr. Stolland.

　I'm afraid to talk to Saisha, who is starting to heat up and go off the rails.

I know my sister is important to you, but you see, an engagement is a family affair, and you can't just...
'You won't have to worry about it either!　Lamprog's family is the same as mine, a family of great stature and prominence, but away from the Imperial Council. They are famous, but thanks to their distance from the Reichstag, there are no political conflicts. As expected, your father wouldn't have the ambition to marry both of his daughters off to a superior family, so I'm sure he can be persuaded. No, I'll do it!
But I was born in...
'I'm fine!　That's the extent of it, my sister doesn't care!

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.

By the way... how old is your sister?
I turned six years old this year!
....
What do you think, Mr. Lamprog? Would you like to be my brother-in-law?

　I let out a long, deep breath of air with a huff, and then I said, turning on my heel.
　Then I turned on my heel and said, "I'm sorry!

I'm sorry!　I'm sorry, but you'll have to look elsewhere!
'What?　Mr. Lamprog!

　Ignoring Saisha's voice as she bumped into my back, I ran out of the girls' dormitory.

　In the middle of running, Yuki pokes her head out of the top of my head.

''Uh-huh, a man's age doesn't matter to Seika-sama,''
You're not six years old.　How can we get engaged when there's still so much to do?

　Yuki says with an amused laugh.

'I know you were disgusted with those girls before, but Seika-sama is still too young to be married in this life, aren't you?
We're gonna take you down.

　And.
　This exchange between me and Yuki continued until we ran away to the boys' dormitory.