New chapter of Control Engineer is out! (1/2 chapters)

 

 

Afterword

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

Ah…

Looking somewhat cautious of her surroundings, Adele-san entered the reception room. It was not yet five o’clock, but we were already at Duncan-san’s residence.

“Oh, really now.” (Adele)

She came to sit beside me on the sofa and took my hand.

“If Oba-sama was coming today, she could have told me in your room, could she not?” (Adele)

She must have heard it from my aunt.

“Well, actually, I did not know that she was coming today either.” (Leon)

“Eh?” (Adele)

“She suddenly appeared at the boarding house at two o’clock. I was just as surprised.” (Leon)

“Two o’clock… wait, two o’clock was right around the time I left that place, was it not?” (Adele)

“Indeed. After I saw Adele-san off, on my way back to the boarding house, I passed by a carriage. My mother was riding in it.” (Leon)

“Eh? Could it be that black carriage? It turned toward the direction you were going.” (Adele)

“Did you see me, Adele-san?” (Leon)

“Eh?! N-no. I did see, but by coincidence, yes, just by coincidence.” (Adele)

“I see.” (Leon)

Adele-san’s face was red. Not only her face, but even her neck.

“T-that aside, that was quite a close call. Had Aunt-sama arrived a little earlier, we would have run into each other. That would have been truly disastrous.” (Adele)

“Yes, though perhaps not disastrous, it certainly would have been troublesome.” (Leon)

“Y-yes, exactly. That is what I meant, troublesome.” (Adele)

She nodded repeatedly as if emphasizing her words.

“So, listen.” (Adele)

“Hm?” (Leon)

“The fact that I visit your room, Leon-chan, keep it a secret. From now on, until I say otherwise, all right?” (Adele)

“Eh?” (Leon)

“Not just from Oba-sama, but from everyone. Keep it a secret from everyone in this house.” (Adele)

“I see.” (Leon)

“Otherwise, it will be difficult for me to come by.” (Adele)

That would be unpleasant indeed.

“Understood.” (Leon)

“Uh, that sounds too stiff and formal. I do not like it.” (Adele)

“Then, how should I say it?” (Leon)

“Say, ‘Got it, Adele!’. Something like that.” (Adele)

Why did she raise her fingertip to her forehead like that?

“Is that someone from a play?” (Leon)

“Fufun. You realized?” (Adele)

So, she was indeed acting out a character. In that case, I shall play along.

“Adele. The fact that you come to my room shall remain our little secret. Understood?” (Leon)

“Yes, my lord!” (Adele)

Eh?

“Haaah. How splendid. As expected, Leon-chan, you are the finest at playing the male role.” (Adele)

No, the “role” part is unnecessary.

“Your lines were excellent, and that pose was so original. Left hand to the forehead, right arm arched backward, just like this.” (Adele)

Ugh. I must have unconsciously struck some embarrassing pose from Reo’s memories.

“By the way, that ‘my lord’ part…” (Leon)

“Yes. It belongs to the counterpart’s role, the daughter’s part. It is a line that appears quite often, so I remembered it.” (Adele)

“Which means you have been given a role in a performance, have you not?” (Leon)

“Yes.” (Adele)

“Congratulations, well done, Adele.” (Leon)

“You’re quite quick on the uptake, Leon-chan. Well, it is still a performance for the younger troupe. Ah, that means a performance primarily by trainees.” (Adele)

“I see. When will the performance take place?” (Leon)

“Eh, well, at the end of the year. Yes, the year’s end.” (Adele)

“I shall certainly come to see it.” (Leon)

“Eh, eeeh. That is a little embarrassing.” (Adele)

“What are you saying? Soon enough, you will be performing before large audiences.” (Leon)

“Well, that is true, but still.” (Adele)

“Onii-chaan!” (Yohan)

“Ah.” (Leon)

“That must be Yohan.” (Adele)

Adele-san stood up and moved to sit on the opposite sofa.

“Yohan! Over here, the reception room!” (Adele)

Soon after…

“Onii-chan!” (Yohan)

Yohan-kun entered energetically.

 

—

 

“Welcome, Onee-sama.” (Blanche)

“Blanche-san. It has been a while.” (Henrietta)

Duncan-san and Kaa-sama entered the living room.

Kaa-sama looked toward me.

“I believe Yohan already knows, but allow me to introduce my daughters. This is my eldest, Adelaide.” (Duncan)

“It is an honor to make your acquaintance. My name is Adelaide. I look forward to your kind regard.” (Adele)

“My, good evening. Likewise, I look forward to it.” (Henrietta)

Hm? It seems Kaa-sama gave a faint snort through her nose.

“And this one…” (Duncan)

“I am the second daughter, Charlotte. Pleased to meet you. The other day, I received an enrollment gift from Leon-kun. Thank you very much.” (Charlotte)

“Ah, that pen, yes.” (Duncan)

Duncan-jisan looked at me.

“You knew about it, did you?” (Henrietta)

“Yes, it was lying on the desk in the bedroom.” (Duncan)

“She came to her son’s room suddenly and without warning. Do you not think that is terrible, everyone?” (Leon)

“Ahahaha. Vice Chair, no, Sister-in-law, that is quite something.” (Duncan)

Duncan was in high spirits.

“Is that so?” (Henrietta)

“It is indeed. He is nearly 15, practically an adult. If you are not careful, you might run into him with a sweetheart one day.” (Duncan)

Ji-san, please do not say such things.

“Hahaha.” (Leon)

I laughed awkwardly.

“Well, if that happens, so be it. He has already become independent, so I have nothing to say. I only hope he acts within the bounds of responsibility.” (Henrietta)

Kaa-sama looked at me with a somewhat meaningful smile.

“I shall do my best.” (Leon)

“Haha, ‘do my best’, you say. That is a good one.” (Duncan)

 

—

 

After dinner, only Kaa-sama, Duncan-jisan, and I remained in the reception room. Apparently, there was something important to discuss.

“Vice Chairman, may I explain first?” (Duncan)

Kaa-sama nodded. It must have been something related to business.

“Leon, today I was summoned to the royal palace.” (Henrietta)

The royal palace?

“By request of Her Highness the Crown Princess, there has arisen a plan to install 30 theatrical magical floodlights in the National Theater, and I have been asked to prepare the estimate.” (Henrietta)

“The National Theater? Was that influenced by the article on theatrical criticism?” (Leon)

“You are well informed.” (Henrietta)

“Yes. Adele-san told me.” (Leon)

“I see. As expected of a student of the Salomea Opera Troupe.” (Henrietta)

Although she had not mentioned it earlier, Duncan-jisan must have informed her.

“That may have been the initial spark, but that alone did not determine the matter. Officials from the National Theater came to Emilia for inspection.” (Henrietta)

“However, was that not originally a gift for Countess Emily’s birthday?” (Leon)

“Yes. There had been several similar proposals. Yet when it came as a request from Her Highness the Crown Princess, as a provincial count, one could only humbly accept.” (Henrietta)

Hm. The balance of power is far too different, indeed.

“By the way, why are you telling me this, Kaa-sama? Those magical floodlights can be manufactured in Emilia’s workshop, can they not?” (Leon)

“Yes. For now, even if we proceed with production, that is our plan.” (Henrietta)

“Then, for what reason?” (Leon)

“Well, Leon, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works contacted us, expressing the wish to commend the inventor of the magic stone, which forms the technological core of the magical floodlights.” (Henrietta)

The Ministry of Works, Vice Minister? What could this mean?

“A commendation? That sounds honorable, yet what is the Ministry’s real aim? Perhaps to discover who the inventor is?” (Leon)

“Fufufu. Precisely. Government offices never act out of pure goodwill. Most likely, a certain contractor they are familiar with made a petition.” (Henrietta)

“Rexby Company, perhaps, Vice Chairman?” (Duncan)

That was the largest trading company in the kingdom.

The patent guild has my name registered as the inventor, but I have arranged for the inventor’s identity not to be disclosed in the official patent publication. Such a provision exists to protect inventors. In a monarchy and aristocratic state, there is a risk of both tangible and intangible pressure being exerted upon inventors. The Intellectual Property Guild operates under the Treaty of the Eight Nations on Intellectual Property Rights, so even the Ministry of Works cannot compel disclosure.

“And what did you do then, Ji-san?” (Leon)

“I had heard that the inventor’s name was undisclosed, so I replied that we would inquire through the head office, and returned.” (Duncan)

Ji-san must have realized that the Vice Minister sought to obtain the inventor’s information under the guise of bestowing an award.

“I must say again, that was an excellent decision, Branch Manager.” (Henrietta)

“Yes, ma’am.” (Duncan)

Ah, so Mother praised him at the branch earlier. That explained his good mood.

“I understand. As for me, so long as it causes no trouble for the company, I would prefer to decline the commendation.” (Leon)

In this matter, the reason I have avoided trouble myself is because the Liones Trading Company has acted as an intermediary.

“It is all right. Since we were not coerced to provide information, we can simply decline. They have no further means to pursue it, at least officially.” (Henrietta)

 

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