Regressor of the Fallen Family
Chapter 262

With that bold declaration, Logan sent his father and father-in-law away, and after taking a deep breath, he stood up from his seat. At this hour, Eileen should be at the training ground.

“Contact the female knights’ training ground. I’ll visit personally…, no, never mind. Let it be. I’ll go check myself.”

“Yes!”

Logan, who was about to leave his office with great energy, suddenly stopped in his tracks, halted by the simplest question that flashed through his mind.

‘What… should I say?’

After an event in his previous life involving Riina, Logan had developed a distaste for women and didn’t have any relationships with them throughout that life. It wasn’t just an emotional issue; his life was never smooth enough to leisurely meet a woman and form a family.

As a result, he couldn’t help feeling inadequate when it came to Eileen, a precious relationship he had made in this life.

Yet, their good relationship was entirely thanks to her broad-mindedness. At least, that’s what Logan believed.

‘And here I was, having given no thought to marriage.’

She was someone whose mere presence was comforting to him, and he had taken her for granted as a matter of course.

That’s why he felt even more apologetic and thankful.

So now, it was time to clearly convey to her his desire to spend the rest of his life with her, but the right words to fully express his feelings just wouldn’t come to mind.

‘Thank you for waiting all this time. Will you marry me…..?’

Ugh, no. That’s cringeworthy.

‘It’s about time we got married, isn’t it?’

…That’s trashy.

‘Will you become the queen of this nation…..?’

Pathetic!

None of the phrases he thought of felt right.

“What am I to do….”

Surely she wouldn’t refuse or hate the idea?

His heart began to beat as if he was facing a life-or-death foe.

“…Let’s just go.”

Unable to come up with a better alternative, Logan, as always, decided to just go ahead and do it.

* * *

“Your Majesty. What brings you here without notice…?”

When Logan arrived at the training ground, Eileen and the other female knight instructors came running over.

Startled for a moment, Logan quickly composed himself and sent all the instructors away, leaving only Eileen behind.

He caught a glimpse of their bowed heads and mysterious smiles as they left, but he had no time to dwell on it.

He had seen this scene often, but today, all his attention was solely focused on Eileen.

“What is the matter?”

“Ah, well…”

Logan couldn’t continue his words. His baseless hope that he would think of something when the moment came had completely faded long ago.

Finding his expression amusing, Eileen chuckled and gently grabbed Logan’s arm.

“If it’s difficult to discuss here, let’s go to the manor. The carriage is always ready.”

“But, what about the training…?”

What the hell are you talking about, you idiot!

Even he knew the remark was nonsensical.

“It will run fine without me for now.”

Unaware of his internal self-deprecation, Eileen simply smiled and dragged him along.

Drip, drip.

Tea was being poured into a cup, accompanied by a refreshing fragrance.

That aroma, which always calmed his mind, seemed ineffective today.

His heart kept pounding, and his eyes kept wandering around.

It wasn’t the first time they had tea in his office, but Logan was unusually restless. Eileen, sensing his odd behavior, asked in a concerned voice.

“…What are you doing?”

“Ah, I was just noticing how spartan the office is… I’ve been too thoughtless, reflecting on it.”

The office—just a desk, a chair, and a simple bookshelf—seemed especially barren today.

“Didn’t you say it’s better being neat before?”

“Ah, ha. Did, did I?”

Gulp.

Embarrassment crept up his face, so he hastily hid behind the teacup and took a sip. Eileen looked at him with a peculiar expression.

“Really, what’s wrong today? Do you have something special to say?”

Cough!

He spluttered out the tea upon a sudden choke.

His face grew even hotter.

“Ah, erm. The tea is a bit hot. Ah, it’s hot.”

“But didn’t you say tea should be hot to taste good?”

His attempts to deflect only made the room sink into an awkward silence.

“….”

“….”

Eileen’s blue eyes stared directly at him.

Those eyes, which usually seemed adorable, now felt disproportionately heavy, and his gaze kept dropping.

“Do you have something to tell me? You’re not being like yourself.”

It was only after Eileen’s words that Logan snapped back to reality.

Why am I acting this way?

It’s something I have to do anyway, and it’s not like she would refuse.

Surely. Perhaps…

Ah.

“Ah. Erm… Yes. I have something to say…”

As Logan struggled to find the courage to speak, Eileen suddenly blurted out.

“Are you proposing marriage?”

Pfft!

Cough, cough.

This time it was real choking.

As he coughed violently, both embarrassment and anger surged through him.

“Who said you can start…”

“Really?!”

Her startled expression and high-pitched voice, the heat rushing to her face—it cleared Logan’s misconceptions.

“Ah… That, that’s…”

“Really, really that…?”

The couple, both stunned for different reasons, looked at each other.

Then, startled by their mutual gaze, they quickly turned their heads away.

‘Why do I keep making such a fool of myself.’

Suppressing his racing heart, Logan took a shallow breath.

When he glanced sideways, he saw Eileen’s neck flushed red. Her adorable appearance made him feel ridiculous for his previous concerns.

With that thought, speaking to her became much easier than before.

“Ahem. Ahem. Yes. That’s right. Eileen, will you marry me?”

There were no lengthy florishes in his voice.

He spoke simply and honestly.

No ornate adjectives were needed to fill his words with sincerity, and Logan looked at Eileen with a brightened face.

“……”

Yet, disturbingly, Eileen gave no reply.

Ah. Surely not.

No, that wouldn’t be the case, would it?

“…You don’t like it?”

“No, no, that’s not it! It’s not that I dislike…”

She jumped up, frantically waving her hands, which unsettled him even more.

Isn’t that dislike?

So, does that mean she doesn’t like it either?

“Uh… Erm. Is it too sudden? If so, take some time to…”

Caught off guard by the unforeseen situation, his voice wavered. But then,

“No, not at all. I will marry you. I should.”

Suddenly biting her lip, Eileen quickly answered.

Although it was the response he had been waiting for, the atmosphere was far from what he had imagined, leaving Logan confused.

“……Why…? Why exactly?”

Was his timid reaction a problem again?

Her face blushing, Eileen’s eyes sparked with a fiery blue as she retorted.

“Although there’s no ring, no romance! If I reject now, who knows how many more years I’d have to wait. I must do it.”

Ah!!!!

That moment brought Logan a sharp realization.

‘Why didn’t I think of that?’

A cold sweat ran down his spine.

In his haste, he hadn’t considered anything. Regardless of his inexperience with women, he had ignored even the most basic societal expectations.

Disheartened and out of place, a hollow laugh escaped him.

“Are you laughing? Laughing after proposing so coldly?”

Despite her pouting lips and complaint, she still looked endearing—confirming one sure fact to Logan.

I truly love this person.

So the laughter continued.

“Yes. It’s because I like you.”

“……You’re such a fool.”

She turned her head slightly away in annoyance, but when Logan saw the smile on Eileen’s lips, he pulled her into a bright, broad embrace.

“I’m sorry for making you wait. And for such a graceless proposal.”

“…As long as you know.”

“And thank you for accepting it despite everything.”

“Chi…”

The warmth of her lips nuzzling his ear.

The comfortable warmth enveloping him.

These filled Logan’s heart with contentment.

With those feelings in his heart, he sincerely spoke.

“I’ll do better in the future to make up for today.”

Did that plain speech strike home?

Eileen smiled faintly and looked him straight in the eye.

“I’ll do well too. As a queen, and as a knight.”

“……Eh?”

A knight?

The unexpected word struck Logan as odd.

“Forget? My dream was originally to be a knight, not a queen.”

“Ah…”

Her firm voice silenced Logan, and she went on seriously.

“I mean it. Don’t think of leaving me out of training or combat just because I’m a queen. I have no intention of giving up being a knight. If that means giving up being a queen, so be it.”

The resolve in her words shook Logan.

Although it sounded half like a threat, it was also her consideration.

With a war against the Empire only a few years away, it would make no sense to sideline someone of her caliber.

As a near-superhuman champion, and now an integral part of the military force leading the female knights, she was an indispensable figure.

Touched and sorry, Logan quietly bit his lip.

“……Then let’s do that.”

“Really? What’s with that face? You’re not going to start worrying about me now, are you?”

With her cheek in his hand as he held her close, her behavior made him feel deeply loved.

“No. It’s because you’re adorable.”

Their blushing faces and smiles intermingled—a deep kiss followed without any need for words to start.

* * *

– Prepare for the royal marriage.

The news from the McLean royal family stirred up the entire kingdom.

Though it was well known that King Logan had a fiancée who was a knight, the royal marriage was still a national celebration.

Despite the good governance, for most ordinary citizens it was just a distant tale from another world.

“His Majesty is getting married?”

“Wow. Does that mean something special will happen?”

“What special?”

“…Won’t it?”

“Why should it?”

“…Like a festival to celebrate the royal wedding?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Even if there was one, it would only be in the capital.”

“Ah. Really?”

“Yes. Just get back to work.”

“…Oh.”

But the reaction of the royal household and the people of McLean territory was quite different.

“Wow, our Duke is getting married!”

“He’s not the Duke anymore, he’s the King!”

“Still, it’s exciting!”

“Right! I bet the lord will throw a huge feast!”

“It’s not just any feast, it should be a festival!”

“Hahaha, what joy! Cheers!”

The people of McLean territory, who had benefited from Logan’s policies over the past 6-7 years, were as happy as if it was their own affair.

“Prepare for the royal marriage!”

“Organize a grand banquet!”

“Everything must be perfect for the wedding! Everyone, focus!”

Dwain barked orders hourly, driving the royal bureaucrats and servants with an urgency that brooked no refusal.

‘There must not be a single flaw!’

The financial minister’s orders sent chills down the spines of all who served under him.

“Use as much money as necessary! Only the best! Everything must be top-quality!”

If there was any consolation, it was that the miserly finance minister was, for once, unconcerned about money. In fact, he seemed almost eager to splurge the national coffers.

“Send invitations to the neighboring royal families too! Show them the prosperity of the McLean royal family!”

Naturally, those who followed these commands all had one thought in mind.

– This is going to be a bigger celebration than we thought.

News spread quickly, and there were those who reacted faster than anyone else.

“This could mean merchants across the nation will all gather, right?”

“How about we play a bigger game?”

“Yeah. Let’s take the opportunity to liven things up!”

It’s rare for a national envoy to show up alone without merchants and goods following along—it was essentially another form of trade. With the kingdom’s merchants all eager to meet the foreign delegations, they began gathering in the capital, spurred by the royal wedding.

With the royal financial minister setting the tone and the capital’s magnates amplifying it, the buzzing, lively mood that started in the palace quickly spread to the citizens.

“It’s a festival!”

“A celebration of the nation!”

“Wow!”

And so, the kingdom’s feverish excitement also reached someone far in the west, far from everything.