Chapter 80: Chapter 2, Episode 5
Chapter 80: Chapter 2, Episode 5
Translated by KaiesV
Edited by KaiesV
This silly ruckus was forcibly ended by the fact that His Majesty’s chamberlain came looking for us.
「I’m so sorry」
As I walked to His Majesty’s office, I apologized to both Douglas-sama and Ryniel-sama. I was so ashamed, so embarrassed, and most of all, so sorry that I couldn’t stay any longer.
「Don’t be, that was not your fault.」
「That’s right. And I couldn’t handle the situation calmly either, so I made the commotion bigger than it should have been.」
Ryniel-sama looks somewhat dreary. How unusual.
「No, it was only because Ryniel-sama said that that you were able to convince me that this symptom of mine was caused by that man.」
Otherwise, the man’s self-indulgent theatrics would have left a great deal of doubt. If only I had been a little better at ducking that idiot, we wouldn’t have had to go through all that trouble, but lately I’ve been so depressed because I’ve been so useless.
「But why was he so unconcerned with the Commander, anyway?」
「I don’t know?」
「Of course it’s obvious. He denied it with his mouth, but in his heart he recognized that I am like a brother to you.」
「You’re more of a handful than an older brother, though.」
I am angry, but I am frustrated that I cannot deny it. In fact, my father and brother are fine. By that logic, it would mean that I am unconsciously recognizing Douglas-sama as one of my relatives, but I am extremely reluctant to do so.
If I had to choose between trusting and not trusting, I would say that I do trust him. But if I say it that way, I trust Ryniel-sama as well. But the body rejects Ryniel-sama. If I had to think of a difference, it would be the length of our relationship.
「In the first place, Raul started saying stupid things because Douglas-sama said strange things just for the fun of it. Do you understand?」
「Ah–, I’m really sorry about that.」
I’m sorry, but I don’t want you to get away with this.
「No, but that’s the rumored self-indulgent theatrics of his… that was the first time I’ve seen it, and it’s intense.」
「Today’s is exceptionally bad. It took all my strength and energy… haah.」
「Totally. Usually it was just an attitude and a few words, as if to say, “Please understand,” I’ve never heard him say such a crazy thing before.」
It was indeed a bit of a stretch. It was too strange to be true.
「Was it『Blades of Frozen Ice』? What’s that, huh?」
「The『blade』and『arrow』were mixed up. There is no sense of unity at all.」
「And the best part is that it’s a『mission from heaven.』Was he a hero or something?」
Ahh, it makes me laugh when I remember it, but it also makes me angry just the same.
「Still, I don’t know how Ryniel was able to stay unaffected.」
That’s what I thought too. I really admire how he was able to stay calm and not blow up after hearing that kind of dialogue up close. I don’t think I could do it.
「I was more stunned than amused. I wondered if this was the same person who was leading the troops as I was.」
“Phew,” sighed Ryniel-sama with a weak sigh.
「I could have done the job even that way, I didn’t have to do much follow-up on the last case, and it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that I solved it only with his direction… umumu.」
I know this must be troubling for the Commander, but even I have my doubts about Raul’s competence as a knight after seeing how he is today. I must admit that I thought the jewelry loss incident would change his mind, but it appears that he was buying into it.
「I was told that he had made a clean break, but I don’t think he was satisfied with that.」
「He even still wants to talk to us, and unfortunately, it seems that he does.」
I have already declared that nothing I say will change my mind, so why does he want to『talk』again?
「Raul is saying that it’s the Princess who’s not convinced, since it’s more like『courtesy,』right?」
「What a hassle…」
“Haaah,” and all I can do is sigh deeply.
「It’s almost graceful to see him devoting himself to the extent of lowering his own stock, but if things continue as they are…」
There is no doubt that the case of Royal Princess and Raul is a troubling one. They should have just stayed quiet and not done anything unnecessary.
「I guess he is in a hurry. But it’s a very poor move.」
「He did it in public, you know. He’s a fool for being so hasty, but it doesn’t change anything.」
「Well, it made it easier to get rid of them.」
If it had been in the Royal Princess’ Palace, it wouldn’t have been a problem, but here we are in the middle of the Royal Palace. Nonetheless, he did a foolish thing. He was just recently punished by being removed from his position as commander of 4th Unit, and he is really nothing but a fool if he is going to be punished again.
「Having said that, even though they’re short on staff, my head hurts…」
When the 4th Unit was reorganized, not a small number of knights were discharged or demoted to apprenticeships, so there is a shortage of personnel. It’s not hard to see why Douglas-sama is so upset.
「Oh, come to think of it, there’s one knight who will be able to return in the near future.」
「Oh, who?」
He would probably even want the cat’s help. Douglas-sama’s face shines.
「Perhaps a report will come up in the next few days, but I have received a request from 2nd Unit to return one of our members.」
「Oh, is it perhaps…?」
I can only think of one person.
「Yeah, that prediction is correct.」
「Well!」
Unintentionally, rapture spilled out of my mouth.
That knight was Darryl Brace who attacked me when he broke into my room.
「That’s good to hear. I was worried when he didn’t come back for a while.」
It’s not my fault, but it is still part of the reason I was injured in no small part. I had been informed that the injury was nothing serious, but for all that, there was no sign of his return, and I kept wondering what was wrong.
「I went to visit him the other day and confirmed it, so there’s no mistake.」
I’m really glad, I patted my chest.
「Apparently, he was so depressed by his coma that he couldn’t put up any resistance, that he had to train under cover even though he was supposed to be recuperating.」
「Eh!?」
What is the recuperation for?
「Ohh, he’s an aspiring young man!」
「That’s not the place to be impressed!」
You are a brainiac, Douglas-sama. Recuperation is for physical recovery, not for training.
「I don’t know whether I should be angry or dismayed, since he say that this has resulted in the improvement of his ailing body…」
「That’s my man, huh?」
「His immediate supervisor now is me.」
“Good grief,” smiles bitterly. His tone is dismayed, but he seems to be somewhat amused.
「The result of this is that you’re now aware of my presence before I call out to you, which is a big deal, though!」
「Does that mean he’s getting better at reading signs?」
「I don’t know. He didn’t tell me that, but I’m pretty sure he was the first to notice my presence in the distance.」
「Hoh. That’s pretty interesting.」
Likewise, Douglas-sama seems to be enjoying himself. He must be wondering what in the world kind of training he has done.
「I sometimes notice Ryniel-sama in the distance, too.」
I can’t read the signs, though.
「Oh. Well, that’s…」
「Oh, you don’t take it seriously. Sometimes I can tell because of Ryniel-sama’s perfume in the wind, you know?」
「You’re right, Ryniel always smells so good.」
「It’s a form of personal grooming.」
They are the same Kingsguard knights, but this is the difference. Moreover, Douglas-sama is the head of it, the Commander, and I think he should be a little more well-groomed.
He must have realized what I was trying to say when he saw me staring at him.
「It would be weird if I smelled as good as Ryniel does.」
「Would you say that to yourself?」
I can’t imagine a good smelling Douglas-sama, though.
「The smell of soap is good enough for me.」
「…I wish it smelled as good as soap, but Douglas-sama smells sweaty sometimes.」
.
I really think you should be careful about that. Especially when you come to the Queen’s Palace with His Majesty.
「Does it stink that bad?」
「Sometimes, but not always, it stinks.」
The Queen’s Palace is always set up to smell good, so sometimes the sweaty Douglas-sama stands out tremendously. It is good, and some servants agonize over it, but I’m sorry. I don’t understand it.
「Ohhh—…, …my bad.」
Douglas-sama looked at me and Ryniel-sama and I looked at each other and let out a small gasp.
「For now, let’s hurry to His Majesty. We have wasted so much time that His Majesty is getting tired of waiting.」
「I don’t see any difference.」
「Let’s put all the responsibility on that man.」
“That’s better,” and the three of us laughed.