"……please. Here it is, Romel-sama."

After receiving the paper from Kuroitsu as he said that, I scanned over it as though I were devouring it.

The contents were about the Sligar Ducal House that I was arranged to meet.

The Sligar Ducal House.

Its territory was located in the eastern part of the Rinmel Princ.i.p.ality, and its southern edge had a border with Tasmeria Kingdom.

The current head of house was Kurtis Sligar.

He was currently over 60 years of age, and was the oldest head amongst the five Archduke houses. He had two sons.

The heir, his eldest son, Cordis Sligar possessed a gentle temperament and his hobby was cultivating herbs. As such, he had a profound relations.h.i.+p with merchants that handled herbs.

The second son, Miles Sligar, was egotistical and also had a strong craving for the limelight.

Currently, the Ducal house and its retainers were currently split on the opinion of which of the two brothers would be most suitable as the next Duke Sligar.

There were three reasons for this.

The first was that the two of them were only two years apart in age.

The second was that the eldest son had a weak body, while the second son's body was healthy.

And the third was that the current head, Kurtis, liked the second son's temperament and as such was especially affectionate with him.

It was for this reason that the next head of house had still yet to be decided.

"……um, Romel-sama."

Just about when I had finished reading the paper, Kuroitsu raised a question.

"What is it?"

"Was…something good written there?"

Hearing that question, I lifted my gaze from the paper and observed him.

"Um……since, the moment you saw that doc.u.ment, you started to smile."

I momentarily stiffened at Kuroitsu's words.

……I was smiling? Right now, in this current situation, I was?

Such a doubt accidentally pa.s.sed through my head.

"No……unfortunately, it is not like this information will change the situation for the better. It's just, it will be of a.s.sistance for our future activities."

"Haa……"

Perhaps because the meaning of my words was not well-conveyed, Kuroitsu's reaction was dull.

However, after Kuroitsu appeared to mull it over for a short while, he grinned.

"For the time being, I suppose it wasn't a fully complete, delicious dish that arrived, but a top grade ingredient instead……it's just that even if we've received a top grade ingredient, if it isn't cooked by a skilled chef, then it won't become a delicious meal. The opposite is also true. If you are the one that will be preparing it, then that ingredient will undoubtedly take the form of a delicious meal. Is it like that?"

"Kuroitsu, you're quite good at flattery."

"I am honoured by your praise."

Seeing Kuroitsu play the fool, I gave a wry smile.