Chapter 102
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ED: LonelyMatter
Chapter 102 – [Seeking] Still A Secret. [Out] All the Rewards That Have Acc.u.mulated
“Hey, Mother…”
“Yes? What’s wrong?”
Ain returned to the royal capital and was safely escorted back to the castle in a carriage from the White Rose.
This time, since the Crown Prince had announced that he was going on an investigation, there was a small party at the castle.
Graff of the August Trading Company was also invited, and Krone was at Graff’s side.
Ain enjoyed the meal at Olivia’s side, and for the first time in a long time, he enjoyed talking to her…
“What should I do about the way she’s staring at me… from that distance?”
The woman’s figure peered at him from behind a pillar. Her beautiful silky blonde hair could be seen here and there, and she glanced at him from time to time.
“Oh… Ara, Ara. I wonder what’s wrong with that girl.”
Just looking at her, no one would ever think that she was a Marshal.
Seeing this suspicious behavior, the servants wondered about what to do.
“U-umm….. I wonder if she’s a little confused because she hasn’t seen her ‘master’ in a while.”
“El and Al were overjoyed, but…”
The waterway in the castle was getting tight. The twin sea dragons that were waiting there were just really happy about Ain’s return.
The twins had grown even bigger than before Ain had gone to the Baltic. The time the twins could stay in the castle was limited.
“We could talk normally earlier…”
“Yes, I saw that too. I think she was worried about you, but since you were able to talk to her as usual, I’m wondering if she misses the distance somehow.”
“Well… What can I do about it?”
It’s not that the pet had forgotten its owner’s face, but it seemed that the pet had forgotten how to interact with its owner.
Chris was in this situation. Of course, she’s aware of it, but she can’t find an answer as to what to do.
“And if anything, I think Mother is more like her master.”
“Fufu… I suppose so. But Ain is definitely like a master in a different way.”
“…..?”
What did Olivia mean? Ain was confused because he didn’t understand her very well. Then Olivia smiled softly and hugged Ain gently.
“Please just keep listening, okay?”
“Oh… Y-yes.”
“That girl, you know. She’s probably not good at making decisions on her own, no matter what they are. So when Ain gives her an order, she’ll be happy to receive it.”
“…So you’re saying that I should be a bit forceful?”
When she had finished what she wanted to say, Olivia gently moved away from Ain as she had done when she had hugged him.
Then Ain’s cheeks flushed a little.
“Fufu, Ain? Are you embarra.s.sed even in front of your mother?”
“O-of course!”
Don’t ask me such a natural question, Ain replied with such an embarra.s.sed look.
“Thank you, Ain, I’m happy too. ——And you’re right about Chris. She’s the kind of girl who waits but can’t bother to talk to you. That’s the part that makes her a no-good girl…”
Olivia put the hand that was not holding the gla.s.s to her cheek and tilted her head in a gesture. It was a ma.s.s of glamor, and of course, it monopolized Ain’s eyes.
“By the way, Ain? I’m going to visit my mother. Perhaps the heat of the hall has affected you; Your cheeks are red. I think it would be nice to go to the terrace and cool off for a bit.”
No, Mother, this heat is because of you.
This was happening because of you. Ain could not say it because he did not have the courage to tell her.
But he knew that Olivia was helping him.
“Well, yes. Mother is right; I may have overheated a bit. Since that’s the case, I’m going to go out on the terrace and get some air.”
“Yes, I understand. Don’t let your body get too cold, okay? …And it’s also not very cool for the crown prince to be all alone. It might be a good idea to take someone with you.”
And so Olivia made her way to Laralua, just as she had said she would.
Olivia decided to take a short rest there since Sylvird and Katima were also there.
“Well.”
She thanked his mother for her words and drank the cold juice from the gla.s.s in his hand.
The servant came to Ain’s side at an exquisite interval and exchanged the gla.s.ses.
“Oh, two?”
“…Would you like one?”
The servant gave him two gla.s.ses. After thinking about it for a while, he noticed the servant’s thoughtfulness.
“I see. Thank you, I’ll take two then.”
“Understood. If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know.”
Watching the servant bow his head and step back quietly, Ain let out a sigh.
“Chris-san. I’m going to the terrace, and I need an escort.”
He said in a voice that was not loud enough to echo through the hall but a little louder than normal speech.
Chris, who had been watching Ain, couldn’t have missed it.
After shaking for a moment, she stepped quietly out of the shadows.
She wore a knight’s uniform, but today, she was not wearing armor on top of it. It was unusual for her to have her hair down in public, and it seemed like the freshest appearance of all.
“…A-are you calling me?”
“Yes, I called you. Follow me.”
As Olivia advised, Ain continued the conversation a little more forcefully.
Before she could say anything, he told her to “follow me” as he walked ahead of her.
Then, after a slightly panicked gesture, Chris started walking, shaking her hair.
“I see you’re wearing your hair down today.”
“Huh? …Y-yes… it’s a party, so I thought I’d at least be considerate…”
She was also a knight. Then, of course, the rule was that it was not possible to show up in a dress.
However, it was also undesirable to appear unkempt. The only way to add glamor was with accessories, makeup, or hairstyle.
Looking at Chris as she quickly stroked her hair, you could see her ingenuity in the way she braided her hair over her ears.
“I see; I think that kind of hair looks good on you. It’s too bad I only get to see it once in a while.”
“…T-thank you very much…”
Did I go a bit too far? Ain was more talkative than usual in his compliments. Chris, on the other hand, not only felt uncomfortable but was too embarra.s.sed to think of anything else.
In the meantime, they went out on the terrace.
Ain and Chris were the only two visitors, creating a quiet night in contrast to the hustle and bustle of the party room.
The lights of the castle town were twinkling, and the sky was full of stars.
“It’s cool out, isn’t it? I was feeling a little hot, so it was just right… Chris-san, are you okay?”
“Y-yes… I wanted to cool off a bit, too.”
Instead of wanting to cool off, she wanted to cool off her head, which kept getting muddled. This was the right answer.
Chris has actually calmed down a bit, maybe because of Ain’s bullish behavior.
“Here you go. Go have a drink and relax.”
“So you had two of them… Then I’ll take them.”
Still a little stiff?
Chris’ words and actions made Ain think so, but he was relieved to see an improvement when she approached him to take the gla.s.s.
“Has something happened in the Royal Capital…?”
Even though he had brought her here, there was nothing much to talk about.
In the meantime, he thought he’d better make small talk, so he spoke to her.
“It was peaceful as usual in the royal capital. The castle is the same, Katima-sama is lively, and the twins are adored. The only thing is that Ain-sama wasn’t there.”
The two of them stood on the railing of the terrace and spoke in a seemingly normal way.
“I’m already home. So that’s no problem.”
He let out a dry smile and took a sip from his gla.s.s. Chris kept his hands on the stem and looked down at the castle, still and motionless.
“…Ain-sama. This is not allowed, but I would like to ask you a favor… will you listen to me?”
Chris, who had been staring at the castle, shifted his body and turned to Ain. She turned her pleading and trusting eyes to Ain, and with a slight quivering of her lips, she told him.
A slightly stronger wind blew, and her golden, raw silk hair swept and spread like the wings of an angel.
“I want to listen to Chris-san’s request. But if you want to stop being a knight or something, I have to stop you, so I want you to tell me something first.”
Despite the pressure of Chris’ inhuman presence, Ain somehow managed to answer.
When the wind stopped, the angel’s wings began to settle.
“I want to protect Ain-sama. So… please keep me by your side from now on.”
Her eyes were downcast, and her cheeks flushed. Her lips trembled with fear, and her shoulders seemed to tremble mindlessly.
“…Chris-san. Chris-san is a marshal, and for me to monopolize you is…”
The duty of Marshal was never just Ain.
It was no exaggeration to say that the security of the castle naturally extended to the royal capital and the entire country.
“I understand, but…”
Chris understood. What are the words she was saying, and what did it mean to be a Marshal?
Still, she wanted to tell him. She wanted to tell Ain that she wanted to protect him, not anyone else. This was what she wanted to tell Ain.
It was true that Ain was also happy, even though he could not put it into words. It was impossible not to be happy that Chris thought so much of him.
However, as Crown Prince, he would have to control himself. For the sake of the country and the people of Ishtalika… he thought carefully about her position as Marshal…
“Well, I guess that’s a good girl’s way of thinking.”
Do not be selfish. And to be able to make a satisfying end for everyone… Ain began to think about it in his mind.
“A-Ain-sama…?”
Seeing Ain start to think, Chris wondered what was wrong.
What should he do if she lost her previous shy att.i.tude and became nervous? He looked confused.
“Hmm, well, I have an idea in theory. Now I just have to figure out how to convince her and also include this reward and the previous one… Oh, I think I can do that.”
“U-um… Ain-sama?”
Instead of answering Chris, Ain started to talk and convince himself.
“Uh, sorry Chris-san. I was just thinking, sorry before I answer, can I ask you… a question?”
“Huh…? Y-yeah. It’s okay…”
Chris still could not keep up with the conversation. Anyway, Ain did not say anything, just looked convinced.
“Chris-san, you want to protect me more than your country. Is that what you mean… or am I wrong?”
He turned serious and asked Chris.
He mentally apologized for asking a mean question… but it was something he had to ask.
Chris looked surprised for a moment when she heard this. After that, her expression became hard, and she began to think. It lasted a few tens of seconds, not even a minute.
It was a short time, but there was a special tension in the air, so much so that it felt like hours to both of them.
“May I answer your question?”
“Yes. Forgive me for asking such an odd question.”
Chris finally came to an agreement and looked up at Ain. After waiting for Ain’s answer, she finally spoke up and gave her answer.
“I love Ishtalika. But if I have to choose between Ishtalika and Ain-sama, I will side with Ain-sama.”
As a Royal Guard, was this the right thing to say?
The duty of a Royal Knight was to protect the Royal Family. If that were the case, it would not be wrong. It would probably be close to the right answer.
But if you spoke about it as a Marshal or as a knight of Ishtalika, then it was probably closer to a wrong answer.
The question of whether there was Royalty before the country or whether there was a country because of royalty… was a topic that has been discussed at all times and in all places.
——And Chris made up her mind and spoke up.
“I see… Okay, I understand what you’re thinking.”
Seeing Ain thinking with his hand over his mouth, Chris was tormented by an indescribable emotion. She felt hesitation and regret but also a sense of accomplishment.
“Yes, yes, then I’ve decided. Hey, Chris-san? The party will be over soon, and when it’s over, I’m going to visit my grandfather. Please come with me.”
“V-visit His Majesty…?”
It’s about time to tell him something; that was the frustration that crossed Chris’ mind. But Ain was quite forceful today, and this feeling of being pushed around is not bad.
“Yes. I’ve got some business to take care of with His Majesty… Let’s see.”
He downed the rest of the drink in his gla.s.s in one gulp and took a breath. Feeling the cool breeze on the terrace all over his body, he finally sorted out the conclusion he had made in his mind.
“I have acc.u.mulated many rewards. I’ll get them all at once.”
The rewards from Ist and the rewards he would get from this investigation. Ain said that he would claim them all.
＊＊＊
“Excuse me, Your Majesty. I am here with a message from His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince.”
Next to Sylvird was Laralua, and Olivia was in front of them. The person who came here was Martha, who was supposed to be in charge of the servants in the hall. The fact that she was here as Ain’s messenger gives Sylvird a bad feeling.
“Do I have to ask?”
“If Your Majesty orders it, I will stop opening this mouth…”
What should be done? Seeing Martha with this expression on her face, Laralua and Olivia both smiled.
“Dear? Shouldn’t you ask?”
“Yes, Father, it is not a compliment for a king to ignore the crown prince.”
The two beautiful women admonished him. But Sylvird’s heart was not in a position to be happy about such a situation.
After sighing deeply, he downed a strong drink.
“…Let’s ask. What about Ain?”
“As for what he wants, he says he needs some time after the party.”
“…So what’s this all about? You are listening, aren’t you?”
“Of course I am. …May I tell you word for word what it is?”
“Sure, I don’t mind. I am ready.”
Why do I have to go to all this trouble? Sylvird has been helped a lot by Ain, and he must love Ain.
If he would just think a little more about his grandfather’s mental state, he would be a proud grandson with nothing to complain about.
“I have acc.u.mulated many rewards. I will come and get them all… he said.”
After that, Sylvird ordered Martha to bring him a lot of hard liquor.
Once he was drunk, he wouldn’t have to listen. Then he’d get drunk and go to bed, ‘That way, I can put it off until later…’ he said.
But his wife and daughter stopped him and warned him to be prepared.
“…I’d like to sleep comfortably, at least on a party day…”