Book 2: Chapter 13
Book 2: Chapter 13
Lord Ethan is a halfling, huh…
I muttered unintentionally.
「That’s right. Duke Ebene’s family has mixed halfling blood.」the young lady replied, having caught my mutter.
Lord Ethan came to the table and smiled, looking at everyone. He looks like a kind child… his blue eyes remind me of someone.
(Mimino-san… Are you doing well?)
When I was suddenly immersed in nostalgia, I noticed that Lord Ethan’s escort was observing me, as though being on guard. The color of her eyes was amber.
Please don’t be on guard. I am a harmless boy… is what I’d like to say, but it’s true that someone who is obviously as young-looking as me being completely unarmed would seem quite suspicious.
Judging based on our appearances alone, the escort and I look about the same age, but considering the case with Mimino-san, the escort is most probably older than myself.
Incidentally, ever since Lord Ethan arrived, a fancy scent has been drifting in the air. I don’t know what it is exactly, but it is a perfume derived from flowers.
「From House Duke Rozier, Lord Louis arrives!」
As I looked towards the entrance, I couldn’t believe what I saw.
It was a boy who had blonde hair and red eyes, just as the young lady.
But unfortunately, according to 【World Ruler】, the eyes were not magic eyes, only normal red eyes. Moreover, it seems that the hair was bleached light brown to make it blonde.
(That person is…)
I was surprised by the escort behind Lord Louis.
I have seen him before. The second captain of the Holy King’s Knights Order, Arthur. He was promoted to the captain of the 2nd unit in his mid-twenties, and I heard he was from a well-to-do noble family.
His reddish brown hair was sleekly combed down to one side, and gray eyes sat on his finely chiseled face. Those cold-looking eyes observed the surroundings, as if assessing the quality of the escorts.
However, Lord Louis, the target of other escorts’ gazes, walked up to the table without following the servant’s lead, and instead of his own seat, he approached Lady Eva.
「Hey, daughter of House Sillys.」he said, pointing his index finger.
「I will make you my fiance. Come to my house tomorrow. I will introduce you to my father.」
Heart rate is rising, ears turning red, and his voice is trembling. Oh, I see. The boy had probably seen the young lady somewhere, so that is why he went out of his way to change his hair to blonde, and chose the banquet as a place to propose.
「I see. It’s the awakening of young love, huh…」
「O-OUCHHH!?」
I understood from the information provided by 【World Ruler】 that this boy was just a cheeky kid, but for the time being, I twisted the boy’s arm behind his back.
「W-What are you doing!? Don’t think you can escape after doing this to me!」
「I am the young lady’s escort, so I’m told to eliminate any danger that approaches her.」
「What!?」
This boy is dangerous. I am sure that the Earl would judge as such too.
If the engagement becomes an established fact, it will affect the young lady’s life.
Well, I’m almost certain that the chief maid and the chief butler would faint if they heard about this, but if I don’t do anything, that over-doting father… excuse me, His Excellency the Earl would flip out on me.
If the worst case were to occur, the whole responsibility can be dumped on me, and I would just have to disappear. I’ve worked myself for the Earl until now, so I’m sure he would continue to search for information regarding 5-star or higher skills and Lulusha.
…I hope. You will, won’t you, Earl?
「What are you doing!」
Arthur, the second captain of the Holy King’s Knights Order, ran towards us, but his speed was slow. Since skills were disabled in this place, it may be that his natural body skills are lacking. That’s not good… especially for one in the position of Holy King’s Knight.
「Arthur! Kill this guy!」
「I don’t have a weapon at hand right now. Hmm? You are…」Arthur stopped in his tracks, noticing me.
「Aren’t you the cleaner of the Knights Order? Why are you here?」
「I became the escort of House Sillys.」
「Escort!? Do you know who that person is? Release him immediately!」
As Arthur approached, I blocked him by moving the boy between us as a shield. A skill-disabled, metal armor wearing knight’s movement is too slow. So, it was easy to get around him.
Rather, it almost seemed like he would lose in strength as well without the use of skills. Unless he can use magic.
「Arthur!」
「Y-Yes! Stop moving!」
You can’t stop me. As I kept circling around Arthur, by using the boy as shield,
「…Reiji, stop already.」
「Yes, my lady.」
By the command of the young lady, I let go of the boy’s hand. Dizzy from all the circling around, the boy tripped on his own feet, and collapsed on Arthur.
「Don’t think you can get away with this…」
「Louis-sama.」
The young lady got off her chair, and came in front of the boy. The attention of the hall was gathered on the young lady. Her lips curled into a bewitching smile.
「We will all become a full-fledged noble today. It seems a bit too hasty to attract a Lady’s attention.」
Then, she approached closer and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief – because he was slightly drooling.
「Come now, please take your seat. The Holy Prince will be here soon.」
Louis absentmindedly stared at the young lady as she elegantly returned to her seat. Though, Lady Mira was also absentmindedly staring at the young lady since the start.
Aah, now she has gone and done it. She shot an arrow even deeper into his heart.
…You turned a budding love into a serious love, my lady.
「…Reiji, you will get an earful later.」the young lady whispered, but I pretended I didn’t hear it.
It’s not my fault.
「…Holy Prince Kluvshrat-sama arrives! …?!!」
As the turmoil settled down, I heard the last bit of the announcement. Did his voice crack at the end?
Furthermore, when I was thinking that the whole venue had gone silent, a cheer, almost like a scream, rose.
「?」
I tried to look at the entrance, but many children of nobles were standing up. What is it? We all knew that the prince would come, right?
The boy who came in had light blue hair cut short, and his eyes were gentle, contrary to his stylish hairstyle. His big, beautiful, aquamarine eyes made me think, “If this boy dressed up as a woman, he could even make men go crazy for him.”
The clothes he wore were interesting. A religious kimono-like, haori-like, robe with light blue sash. Is that the royal family’s outfit or something? Also, a golden circlet was floating on his head.
Wearing that is proof of royalty, I suppose?
I’m not sure if it’s just my imagination, but a big man with a large build, wearing the same clothes as Prince Kluvshrat, followed behind him.
「I-Is t-that…」
Lady Eva jumped up from her seat. Louis and Lady Mira, who were staring absentmindedly until now, were fixed on the entrance, with an astonished look.
He had the same hairstyle and clothes as Prince Kluvshrat, but unlike Prince Kluvshrat who had a feminine body, his whole body was solid, to say the least. He was so sturdy and big, looking almost like a moving gorilla stone statue. He had blue eyes with a lot of eyelashes and thick eyebrows that seemed to have a strong will. And the beard was connected to his sideburns. He was the exact opposite of Prince Kluvshrat.
If the garment wasn’t the same, I couldn’t even have imagined that he was royalty.
「That person is…」the young lady said, with an astonished look.
「His Majesty the Holy King.」