Chapter 214.1. Match Results

-Masatoshi’s POV-
The orphanage for commoners was shabby. The outer walls had cracks, the interior wallpaper was faded, and the tables and desks were worn and had a dark, dingy color, and they were shaky.
I casually placed the newspaper I had deliberately bought on the table as I thought about how different it was from the luxurious wizard orphanage.
“It feels like it’s been a while since I bought a paper.”
Leaning on the in the dining hall, I spoke while looking at the newspaper. Many children gathered in the dining hall, doing various tasks.
Today, Masatoshi dropped by nearby and visited. He happened to buy a newspaper, so I brought it along.
“Newspaper sheets can be quite useful for cleaning and stuff. It’s an old lady’s wisdom, you know? What’s it called, the bag of wisdom?”
Sitting across from me, Mion was crafting a bookmark made from holy flowers and raised her head, taking the newspaper in her hands.
“If it’s alright with you, I’ll tidy it up, okay?”
“Wait a moment, don’t you find it intriguing? There are various things written here. The TV schedule and 4-panel comics.”
Trying to fold the newspaper already, Mion stopped by Masatoshi’s hand, who wanted to recommend something.
“The TV schedule is boring; it’s not news, is it?”
“Oh, right, there was news too. What’s written there?”
Asking Mion while glancing sideways at the newspaper, Masatoshi realized that he hadn’t read its contents.
“Huh? You brought it without reading it… Anyway, let’s see… The interest rate for this term’s national bonds is… umm…”
“Huh? You brought it without reading it… Anyway, let me see… Ah, the current national bonds… the interest rate is… um…”
“Not the economy section. Oh, right! Is there any interesting news?”
“There’s something about the technology used in Urhara’s announced magic armor… How do you read this kanji?”
“Not that! Is there any recent news?”
Pointing around the paper, “Around here, around here,” Masatoshi signaled.
“I got bored already. Fine, I’ll use it as a mat for the fried chicken, okay?”
“No way! It’s not fine! Here, here! This news!”
Pointing to the most important news, he appealed to Mion.
“Here, here! You’ve got to read this! This is why I bought the newspaper!”
“Alright, alright. You bought the newspaper for this news, right? The newly formed Susano’o Unit was defeated by the all-girl Holy Knights.”
Holding the newspaper, Mion read it aloud. 
“And after that, after that! This part, please read this part!”
Looking fidgety and shaking in anticipation, Masatoshi gazed at Mion with a beaming smile.
“Here? ‘The idiot boy, Aguni Masatoshi, who feared hurting his lover, didn’t even activate a magical barrier.’ That idiotic expression isn’t even worth a glance.”
“They wouldn’t write such a thing! And besides, it’s worth more than just a glance!”
With a malicious tone, I slammed the table, stood up, and glared back at Mion with a smirk.
“Here, right? The love affair with the Sant was revealed, with the candidate for the fiancée, Aguni. Stupidtoshi.”
“A love affair, they say. A love affair! Well, well, it’s troublesome. A love affair. I didn’t mean for it to go that far. What a predicament…”
She’s running even more refreshingly than usual. 
“Not a fiancé, but a fiancée candidate, you know? Why is it just a candidate? Sena.”
As Mion looked behind me and asked, “Huh?” I turned around and saw the beautiful main heroine standing there.
“Being a candidate for fiancée is because he hasn’t inherited the title yet, Mion-san. I can’t become engaged to someone who might get disinherited. After all, I’m also a member of the royal family.”
Smiling kindly at us, Sena-san sits next to me. 
“You have a dazzling smile, Seina-san. With that smile, I can eat three servings of rice!”
“Hehe, thank you, Masatoshi-san.”
Masatoshi compliments the main heroine with words he deems appropriate. 
When hearing my words, Sena-san smiles gracefully, truly befitting a saintess.
By the way, the other children around us are becoming increasingly uncomfortable, witnessing the lovey-dovey exchange between us.
“By the way, do you need a title? Is that so? I see… I’ll ask my father when he plans to retire.”
It was puzzling why she remained just a “candidate” for the fiancée position, but I now understand that a title is required. 
In the original story, Masatoshi lost his rightful position as the heir. 
I don’t want to subject Sena-san to a life of poverty.
However, I’m the god who encompasses the entire original story as Victory. 
I won’t lose my position as the heir. 
Besides, my younger brother appears even more foolish than in the original story. 
So in reality, I believe I’m the only one who can inherit Aguni Dukedom.
“Yes, I think once I inherit the title, I’ll become your fiancé. Tee-hee. The court is a bit chaotic, but I trust you.”
“I’ll do my best as a candidate a little longer.”
Sena-san covers her cheeks with her hand, feeling shy. 
However, I don’t want to get involved in court intrigues, so I plan to rely on my father a bit longer.
“Court intrigues?”
Mion tilts her head curiously, so I decided to explain to her. 
After all, as a commoner, she wouldn’t know about these things.
“The current court is dominated by the Emperor’s faction. But there’s also the noble faction, or Kanna Dukedom, which has considerable power. Moreover, there’s the powerful Takano County, which, despite being part of the Emperor’s faction, they become a bit too influential. Takano County used to be insignificant, but now they have united many lower-ranking nobles and are beginning to extend their influence to higher-ranking ones.”
I explain while feeling a sense of superiority in teaching someone.
“What’s wrong with Takano County being part of the Emperor’s faction?”
“It’s not that simple. Takano County has rapidly gained too much power. Besides, the acting head of the family, Takano Yoshiyuki-dono, is such a brilliant strategist that people call him ‘Koumei’ now. The power dynamics have undergone significant changes, so all the nobles are using political maneuvering to strengthen their positions and observing the situation.”
Right now, I have no idea whose side I should be on – the Emperor’s faction, the unpredictable Takano County despite being in the Emperor’s faction, or Kanna Dukedom.
Though I won’t say it out loud, there’s also the meddling of Nidhogg and Solomon. Things will become quite challenging once the original story begins.