While holding uncertain feelings, Akito came to the place where Arthur calls him to……
—the dining hall.
Surveying the inside of the quiet dining hall as no one here at this time as one would expect, and then he has a wry smile as he remembers talking to Sylvia here yesterday.
"So you came, Akito-kun."
Arthur who is sitting on the other side notices him. Akito sees his refreshing smile, and while feeling irritated, he heads toward him.
Why Arthur who should have been blown is so lively, it"s because actually today, the fight with Arthur in that arena, everything is an act.
Thas"s why, at the end Akito decided to not using shungi issen. He just hit his stomach with the sword and blew him away. In other words. In other words, it was just a flashy performance for show.
It was all done in order to deceive Sylvia. Then why he did this act, is because he was asked by Feny.
Apparently, she was asked by the this Arthur"s contracted spirit. But, he didn"t hear the detail. however,
『I want you to beat me in a cool way.』
Because he only heard that, the rest is ad-lib. Can I really become an actor? Akito seriously thought like that.
He was glad that Arthur is an ikemen. Thanks to that, I thought that I would be able to do it seriously as I put that murderous intent into the act.
— Well, the scenes where he shouted real intention instead of acting are a lot, but
Now then, the truth of the act is that he is just "helping", however as it was already over, and not hearing the detailed explanation doesn"t feel right. So, Akito called Arthur through Feny.
Akito went toward the seat where Arthur was sitting ,and pull a chair to sit, then he felt discomfort there. His father who he called together with him is not here.
"Eh? Father?"
"Aah. If it"s the leader, he said that he want sleep and went back."
"Seriously……. He really is a free-spirited person……"
Arthur had a wry smile when he heard that as he might already know. Hearing that, Akito is amazed.
(Is that really okay for a leader of spirit knight order, who has an honorable origin?)
『Fufufuu, I also think like that, you know? Fufuu.』
Akito sit in the chair ignoring Feny"s laughing voice. Then his face becomes serious and when he glares at Arthur,
"Well then, can I ask you about various things, ikemen knight-sama?"
He said something like that to provoke him. Because of that, Arthur shakes his head in a tired manner.
"Can you stop your intense looks?"
"I dislike ikemen after all."
"Hahaa. No wonder the last attack was a bit painful."
"It"s hard to hold back until that much power, you know?"
"Hahahaa. As expected from a technique devised by the leader. He didn"t even teach that to us, his allied knights, you know?"
When Akito responded with a serious face, Arthur had a wry smile.
Then, saying "Well then, shall we move to the main topic?", Arthur"s face also becomes serious.
"Well, I"m glad we can talk like this. Being the son of that leader, also the contractor of the flame G.o.d, the immortal bird. Aah, you don"t need to hide the thing about your contracted spirit, you know? Freyos is able to speak. Also, I have heard a lot of rumours about you from my brother."
"I know that your contracted spirit more or less is able to speak. Since my partner can also speak. Well, I don"t know what kind of rumours you heard of me from that conceited guy, but it seems that you didn"t hear good rumours, right?"
Yes, Arthur"s contracted spirit, Freyos more or less is able to speak, he knows that because Feny told him. So, he didn"t plan to hide things about Feny and him. After all, Arthur also should have known about Feny because he was told by Freyos.
"Well yeah. The first time I heard that, I laughed that that leader"s son was a dunce, but as I thought there was a reason for it."
"Are you starting a fight?"
"No way. I"m praising you. While having that much power, you are content in an environment where you are not praised and being "the dunce"."
Akito endures it while bearing the murderous intent in his mind toward Arthur"s ikemen"s face as he laughs. After that, he cut him by saying "So?".
"This time I haven"t heard the detailed explanation at all, I just head that I have to defeat you in a cool way. Now if I think about it, I think I can do the acting well without being found out."
"Aa. it"s certainly a real acting. Thanks. I"m saved."
"You"re welcome."
Arthur has a wry smile once gain from Akito"s blunt reply. Akito asked while giving Arthur a sidelong glance.
"Well then. This time, would you tell me why did you try to break your engagement with the princess?"
"That"s obvious. It"s because Sylvia-sama wished for it."
"Huh? That"s it?"
Akito was surprised because of that. Seeing Akito like that, Arthur nods and continues.
"I don"t want to be a low life who forcibly takes a woman against her will. Listen, human called girls are— "
"Stop it already. Somehow my back is itchy, and I"m getting irritated from this kind of talk from an ikemen like you."
Akito stopped Arthur who said such thing. To be honest, he is a man who gets irritated when an ikemen is using his cliche line.
Akito lightly scratches his back, and return his gaze to Arthur who is having a wry smile.
"Well then. Now the next question. Why did you the the trouble doing this acting? Isn"t it better if you refuse normally?"
Arthur answered immediately.
"Do you really think that it will be accepted? This is an engagement decided by the king. It"s a political marriage that will affect the future of this country. So you can"t refuse just because you don"t want to get married, right?"
Political marriage. He has heard about that words, but Akito was surprised as he didn"t know that it really happens. Then, he decides to ask Arthur about what bothers him.
"But, is it that easy to cover it up when there was no one seeing you got defeated by me?"
Hearing that, Arthur smiles.
"Aah. There is no problem regarding that. It"s because Sylvia-sama was seeing it, and also I had properly asked the knight leader. As he will gives a proper testimony. So that"s why, there won"t be any problem."
It seems that he has properly done the groundwork for that. Then, Akito continues to the next question.
"Well then. Why am I the actor? It"s not just because Feny and your contracted spirit is close, right?"
"That"s obvious. It"s because you are liked by Sylvia-sama."
"No. I don"t understand the reason though……"
When Akito groaned, Arthur laughed "Hahaha".
"Well, that"s also the reason though. I, who is ranked AA, was defeated by you, who is ranked E. If that happens, the king will reconsider the marriage, right? Since Grandneal Royal family is putting great importances on power. In other words……"
When Arthur pauses his sentences once there, he puts his elbow on the table, bends himself forward, and laughed.
Your existence is too convenient. You are an E-ranked that I won"t be able to win even if I fight seriously. Moreover, You are liked by Sylvia-sama. Moreover, just in case that it fail to break the engagement, then if I report your power to the king, as a spirit user, you will be the one, chosen for the engagement. Saying that you are a contractor of a spirit that is impossible to measure, then that sword techniques, and lastly, you are Hiiragi Yuito"s son. See? It"s convenient, right?"
Saying until that far, Arthur deepen his smile. Akito was panicked because of that.
"Naa!? In other words, by some chances, you plan to make me marry the princess! Don"t mess with me!"
When Akito hit the table and bent himself forward, Arthur laughed "ahahaha".
"Isn"t it good? Sylvia-sama is a beautiful girl, and the chance that she is falling in love with you is high. Moreover, you can be a king. If your true ability is known, you won"t be called "the dunce". How about that? Sylvia-sama can be happy, and you can be the king. Don"t you think it is a good proposal?"
"That"s bullls.h.i.t. I will beat you, you know?"
Akito"s body was cladded with fire. Seeing that, Arthur shook his hands and panicked.
"Why are you that angry? Normally, you would be happy, righ–"
"I don"t have any interest in being a king……. Or some big shots. What I"m interested in is a job like my father"s where you offer your hand to those who need help. I"m not interested in a job like waving hand from above the royal court."
Interrupting Arthur"s words, Akito tells him his will. Then, Arthur"s eyes is wide opened, and then he takes a breath.
"So, sorry. So you are the same kind of people as the leader, people who don"t have any interest on this kind of thing…… For the time being, why don"t you calm down? Your flame has the power to make any flame spirit become frightened. It also has the effect to its contractor like me."
Being told by Arthur who is trembling, Akito removes his flame for the time being. Then Arhur takes a breath "Haa……". It seems that he was really scared.
Confirming that Akito has sit on his chair, Arthur opens his mouth.
"We. well, it"s alright. The king is also no match for your father. It he persuades him, this case would be solved. That"s why, you don"t need to worry."
"Really? If that"s a lie, I will beat you black and blue, you know? Like your brother."
When Akito who was still unable to hide his anxiety glared at him, Arthur had a wry smile. Because he understands how great his father is, he decides to be at ease for the time being, and sighs.
"But, are you okay? Far from losing the chance to become a king, you will be treated as the country"s criminal, right? After all you have said many messed up things to make the princess hates you, right?"
When Akito worried like that, Arthur lightly replied "hmm? It"s alright.".
"Certainly, saying that I would make a war happen is a messed up thing. Well, I won"t be able to join the knight order, and I myself would probably be a criminal, but…… this case won"t give any trouble to my house as it seems that leader would do something about it. Besides–"
Arthur grins. Then he says.
"Actually, I got a marriage proposal from the country of water….. Alcanda[1]"s princess. I also love her, and I will leave this country and marry her— hmm? Why do you stand? Why do you clad your hand with flame? He, hey!? If you hit me with that, I will—!!!"
Akito"s right straight punch, sunk on Arthur"s cheek.
"Ikemen and popular guy— should die."
After that Akito"s murmur echoed inside the empty dining hall.
Reference :
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