Chapter 59
Chapter 59
“…….”
For a moment, my words caught in my throat.
I had never even imagined it would look like that.
I knew there had been signs of people on the castle wall, but I thought it was secluded enough that no one would see, so I hadn’t paid it much mind.
Elain let out a sigh, saying that the matter had probably reached her father as well.
“Judging by that reaction, it seems the story got distorted.”
“…I caused trouble for Elysia.”
“If it had stayed as mere rumors, I would’ve tried to handle it myself somehow, but once it reached Father’s ears, it was out of my hands.”
Elain spoke with a slightly troubled expression.
Children of prestigious noble families like hers were sensitive to such rumors.
Even if it wasn’t directly known that the other party was Leios, the Third Imperial Prince of Ribera, the rumor alone would be enough to blemish her reputation.
“Well, I’ll take care of that myself.”
No matter how much of a doting fool Arthur Pendragon was about his daughter, he would listen if I explained things properly.
Besides, I held several cards I could negotiate with him.
At my words telling her not to worry too much, Elain cautiously nodded.
After all, it concerned her sister—there was no way it wouldn’t weigh on her mind.
Time passed as swiftly as the wind.
After playing to our hearts’ content in the sea during the day, we toured famous sights under Elain’s guidance, and only when evening had fully settled did we return to Camelot Palace by carriage.
“So, you’re Elysia’s friends.”
After washing up briefly and gathering for dinner, a grand banquet had been prepared.
And at the head seat, a robustly built man looked at us and spoke.
‘So that’s Arthur Pendragon.’
The hero of the Britain Ducal House.
Grand Duke Arthur Pendragon Britain.
His vivid red hair, just like his daughters’, left a strong impression.
His entire body was covered in bulging muscles, and his eyes shone with an unmistakable strength.
Though it was a ducal state, he was still its ruler, and an aura that naturally overwhelmed others flowed from him.
When I glanced around, not only Alice but also Werner, Diark, and Leysias—princes and children of high-ranking nobles from other nations—sat around the table in a stiff atmosphere.
“Well, there’s no need to be so tense. Any friend of my daughter’s is always welcome.”
Arthur laughed heartily and told us to eat.
The food itself was extremely delicious.
Even to my palate, accustomed to imperial cuisine, it was excellent.
The meals before had been decent, but today’s was on an entirely different level, as if special care had been taken.
“Oh.”
It seemed the others thought the same; after taking a bite, they looked at each other with surprised eyes.
Arthur, seeing this, gestured with a satisfied expression.
“I heard that when monsters attacked last night, you all stepped up and helped out. Honestly, I don’t even know how to properly thank you.”
At those words, everyone’s gaze turned toward me.
Under the unspoken pressure to respond quickly, I shrugged and opened my mouth.
“I was worried we might’ve just gotten in the way. Even though we attend the Academy, we’re still inexperienced.”
“Haha, don’t say that. You’re… that Ostia fellow, aren’t you?”
A formal reply met with a formal compliment.
But at the word ‘that,’ I smiled lightly and nodded.
“Yes, I’m ‘that’ Ostia.”
Someone of the stature of the Grand Duke of Britain would naturally know who I was.
Even if he hadn’t paid attention himself, Elysia would have reported it.
“Hm.”
Arthur examined me with an intrigued gaze.
Sensing the curiosity in his eyes, I returned his look with a smile.
“…After the meal, could I see you for a moment? I’d like to hear a bit about yesterday’s heroic deeds.”
“Of course.”
The question itself was ordinary, but it carried multiple implications.
When I nodded without hesitation, Arthur set down his utensils and stood up.
We also started to rise awkwardly from our seats, but he shook his head.
“I have quite a bit to take care of.
Please, take your time and enjoy your meal.”
“Ah, thank you for your consideration.”
It was Leysias who carefully stood and responded.
Arthur nodded with satisfaction and left the dining hall with powerful strides.
Only after his presence had completely vanished did everyone finally loosen their tension and let out deep sighs.
“…I couldn’t tell if I was eating with my mouth or my nose.”
Werner pounded his chest and kept drinking water.
Diark was the same, and Maria and Yuria slumped back in their chairs with exhausted expressions.
“That reaction is normal. He’s the hero of Britain, after all. It’s stranger for someone like Ostia to respond so calmly as usual, so there’s no need to be discouraged.”
Leysias shook her head, saying that if she had faced that gaze head-on, even she would have trembled.
“To talk about Father as if he’s some kind of monster.”
Elysia muttered with a slightly gloomy face.
The others all made ‘ah’ expressions in realization, but Elain beside her laughed lightly and spoke.
“Well, it’s not that I don’t understand. Sometimes, even I get chills when I look at Father.”
If he’d heard that, he definitely would’ve been shocked.
Murmuring that inwardly, I continued clearing my plate.
“Um, could I have a moment?”
Even after finishing the meal, we remained in the dining hall, chatting about the sightseeing we’d done during the day.
Though we were from different regions and countries, it felt like the distance between us had narrowed considerably over the past few days.
In particular, seeing Maria and Yuria—both introverted by nature—gradually join the conversation felt refreshing.
And the best sight of all was Leysias, who had always seemed to float on the edge of the group, now blending in naturally.
‘Changing things like this might be good too.’
Each character had been created with the author’s affection and care.
I had enjoyed reading their stories, empathized with their sorrow, and witnessed their efforts.
Each of them was a living human being, with a personality and a life of their own.
Watching that firsthand made my chest feel oddly itchy.
“Then shall we wrap it up here and head back to our rooms?”
At Elysia’s words, we stood up.
Perhaps because we’d played so energetically during the day, the kids all looked visibly tired.
Alice even yawned widely, saying she felt like she’d fall asleep the moment she lay down.
After exchanging goodbyes and saying we’d see each other in the morning, we each returned to our rooms.
Since Arthur had summoned me, I planned to head to his room.
We’d talked a bit longer than expected, but surely he would wait that much.
“…Um, could I have a moment?”
Just then, as I was leaving the annex, a voice stopped me.
Turning around, I saw Elysia approaching me hesitantly, her hands neatly folded together.
“Are you perhaps going to see Father?”
“I’m a bit late, but I should go.”
When I gestured, asking what it was about, she blushed slightly and averted her gaze, then spoke carefully.
“Um, I don’t know if you’re aware, but it seems other people saw us talking on the castle wall last night. That got twisted into something strange, and rumors started spreading……”
“Ah, that story.”
I roughly grasped what she meant.
Feeling awkward, we both avoided each other’s eyes, and I scratched my cheek as I spoke to her.
“It must’ve reached your father too.”
“Yes, I thought he would bring it up as well.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll clear up the misunderstanding about that.”
“…Is that so.”
At my words, Elysia nodded.
Just then, the moon that had been hidden behind clouds revealed itself.
Though only half its usual size, it shone brightly enough to illuminate the darkness.
“…….”
For a moment, I was captivated by the sight of Elysia smiling gently at me.
Her brilliantly shining red hair.
The faint blush resting atop her pure white skin.
The way she twirled the tip of her hair, trying to hide her shyness—it was beautiful enough to draw an unintentional gasp.
“W-what is it?”
“…Nothing. I should get going.”
I’d been staring at her absentmindedly for quite a while.
Only when she asked, embarrassed by my gaze, did I come to my senses, turning away with an awkward feeling.
As I walked on, no other sounds reached me.
I could feel her calm gaze on my back, as if she were standing there, watching me fade into the distance.
When I reached the center of the estate, a butler was waiting.
I followed silently behind him, and by the time we arrived at Arthur’s study, I had managed to calm the turbulent emotions that had swept through my chest moments ago.
“I have brought Ostia.”
Permission to enter came immediately.
The butler slowly opened the door and guided me inside, where I once again faced the robust man seated at the center of the study.
“Prepare some tea.”
At Arthur’s words, the butler bowed silently, then slipped out of the room.
Arthur gestured for me to sit.
“My apologies. You must be tired, yet I called you out like this.”
“Not at all. It’s an honor for me as well to have a private audience with the hero of Britain.”
“Haha, to think an imperial prince would personally gild my face with praise—this is an honor indeed.”
I smiled lightly without saying anything.
Arthur likely hadn’t said it with any ulterior motive.
He was the archetype of a bold man who disliked petty scheming.
“How did you become close with my daughter?”
The introduction to the main conversation matched the original story.
However, the nature of it was slightly different.
Originally, Arthur would have questioned the protagonist’s relationship with his daughter after witnessing his extraordinary power.
But now, it was more an interrogation—whether an imperial prince had approached a noble lady of the Britain Ducal House with some hidden purpose.
…Or was it similar, in a way?
“You need not worry. I didn’t become close with Elysia for any particular purpose.”
If someone believed that explanation at face value, they’d be a fool.
I hadn’t said it expecting trust.
It was merely a formality, meant to ease his temper.
“Is that so.”
Crack.
But perhaps something in my attitude displeased him, because Arthur—who had maintained a calm expression until now—suddenly widened his eyes and gripped the armrest of his chair.
Naturally, it shattered like a cookie, crumbling to the floor, and an unprecedented aura began to pour out from his entire body.
“Then let me ask again.”
“…….”
Caught off guard by the sudden change, I failed to keep up with the situation.
I’d only insisted that it wasn’t some improper motive—why was he so angry?
“What kind of relationship do you have with my daughter.”
“…Ah.”
Only then did I recall the ‘rumor’ Elain had mentioned.
I hadn’t expected him to press on that point right from the start, so I’d maintained a prince’s composure—but that had clearly backfired.
“Ah?”
Arthur’s face twisted like that of a goblin.
Interpreting my momentary loss of words in his own way, he slowly rose from his seat, his muscles writhing.
“I’ve brought the tea—”
At that moment, the butler who opened the door froze upon seeing his master in the guise of a ferocious demon.
Arthur spoke to him as if it were perfect timing.
“Starting with a light sparring match wouldn’t be a bad idea. Could you prepare it quickly?”
Needless to say, my opinion was not included in that suggestion.