Our Summer Is Not Over - vanish into fiction

The reason Mia didn’t report Annabelle was simple.

With the external situation so complicated due to the war, she saw no need to create an incident that would only shake internal unity.

“I’m grateful you didn’t inform His Grace about what happened.”

Above all, Marquis Luc had been Dylan’s superior in his youth and someone who had often helped him in difficult situations. He was essentially a benefactor to Dylan.

Putting such a person in a difficult position would only trouble Dylan, who was out at sea commanding a war. Mia hadn’t wanted to burden him with such matters.

“Dylan is always grateful to you, Marquis. I know you’ve helped a great deal, both regarding his cousin and with our marriage.”

“…I will do my best to ensure there’s nothing for you to worry about in the future.”

Understanding this was a warning to be careful going forward, the marquis nodded. After a brief pause, he added,

“But aside from that, I hope you won’t ignore what the other nobles said earlier.”

His clear brown eyes met Mia’s as he continued in a calm tone.

“Talented people can’t gather around a non-inheriting house’s business.”

There was a weight to his words, very different from the nobles who had been almost laughable a moment before.

“Holding a noble’s status isn’t just advantageous for securing funds. It’s also essential for managing connections.”

“Of course.”

“It’s not only His Grace who leads the business. Lawyers, patent attorneys, and even skilled advisors are needed.”

Just as the marquis said, currently people dispatched by the royal family were leading the business, but that couldn’t last forever.

No one wanted to join a house with no backing.

“If the Rihardt family collapses and His Grace returns to his former surname… Well, since he abandoned that name, he can’t return. In that case, he’d become a commoner.”

The marquis stroked his chin and muttered quietly. Then, as if organizing his thoughts, he continued.

“We can count on one hand the number of wealthy commoners. And more than half of them are either supported by nobles or are illegitimate noble children. For a commoner with no such connections, there’s a clear limit to what they can accomplish.”

He was explaining the problems that would arise if House Rihardt was not inherited, and the difficulties Dylan would face.

“If, despite having the opportunity, His Grace is determined not to inherit, these are the problems he’ll encounter later.”

His words were cold, but they were reality.

The world Dylan lived in was not a dreamland where status and honor meant nothing.

“For now, he’s a hero of the nation and holds the title of admiral, so it doesn’t matter. But in just three years, not only will his fame fade, he might also have to step down as admiral.”

Coming from the marquis, himself a retired military man, Mia had no grounds to argue. As he said, people do not remember a hero’s tale for very long.

All the more so when times are peaceful.

Of course, the issues the marquis mentioned would likely be concerns for long after Mia had left Hipoli.

They were not directly related to her, but thinking of Dylan, who would remain behind, she felt she could at least offer a few words of advice.

“His Grace’s honor will shine even brighter with the title of Duke of Rihardt behind him.”

“I’m surprised to hear such words from someone who’s always pursued a soldier’s honor, Marquis…”

“Given enough time, even a soldier’s honor fades.”

Seeing Mia unable to hide her surprise, the marquis replied with a wry smile.

“Above all, to protect your family, isn’t it better to be a noble with power than a powerless commoner?”

He nodded while meeting Mia’s gaze.

Mia knew well that Marquis Luc was an upright man. He wasn’t saying these things for some ulterior motive, but out of genuine concern for the future.

She also knew that he had taken full responsibility for his daughter’s actions, and that he had helped her from behind the scenes while Dylan was away.

Because of that, she couldn’t easily dismiss his words.

“If His Grace decides to inherit, the House of Luc will support him in every way. This, I promise.”