Ch.140I’m sorry to interrupt, but I already have someone I like.

“····What?”

I blinked my eyes, wondering if I’d heard wrong, when Elina frantically waved her hands as if she was the one who was more flustered.

“I, I spoke too hastily because of my impatient personality. I meant to say that our Parseche family wants to be with you for life.”

“Ah····I see?”

“Please don’t misunderstand!”

Elina Parseche stammered with a face that had turned bright red.

I couldn’t help but smile at how cute she looked.

“It’s fine. I understand since I’m quite charming myself.”

“T-that’s not what I meant!? I came to ask because Lord Levan has given our Parseche family so much help!”

Why did I strangely feel like teasing her a bit more?

Should I say I wanted to torment her a little?

I maintained a mischievous expression toward Elina.

“Excuse me for interrupting, but I already have someone I like.”

“Wow!! Lord Levan!! Are you going to keep teasing me when I just misspoke? I also have someone I like!”

“Is that so?”

“I really do have someone I like! I’m not lying!”

I let out a gentle laugh at Elina who was raising her voice.

“Haha, I was just joking because Lady Elina’s reaction was too good. I apologize if I offended you.”

“····You really do resemble him.”

I tilted my head at Elina who was muttering quietly.

“Who do I resemble?”

“The person I like. Selden Alphonse, the one who stopped the monster wave for the first time in history.”

To openly talk about ‘Selden Alphonse’ like this, what kind of situation was this….

I blinked again in surprise, and Elina smiled brightly.

“Somehow I find myself being honest with you, Lord Levan. Well, partly because you teased me, but….”

“Ah····I see.”

“Huh? Why did your voice suddenly lose its strength?”

I knew that Elina had some interest in me, but this was the first time she had spoken so openly about it, so I was continuously flustered.

And on top of that.

Would Elina discover my identity now?

The thought that I absolutely must not be caught was dominant, as it would create an awkward atmosphere after all the help I’d given.

I adjusted my posture awkwardly and opened my mouth.

“It’s nothing! The wound I got yesterday is just aching….”

“A-are you alright?”

“….Yes, it’s just a slight ache now, nothing serious, so please don’t worry.”

Elina crossed her arms and made a pouty expression.

“You really do resemble him. Selden Alphonse also always has ‘don’t worry’ on his lips when talking to me.”

“Haha….I see.”

“Don’t tell me you don’t know Selden Alphonse?”

“I don’t, but….?”

Elina shrugged her shoulders with a proud expression.

“Wow! How can you not know? Every territory is talking about Selden Alphonse after he stopped the monster wave!”

“I apologize. I’m not interested in current affairs. If he stopped a monster wave, he must be very strong.”

At my words, Elina gave a faint smile and pointed to her head with her finger.

“No, Selden Alphonse isn’t strong like you, Lord Levan, but he’s extremely intelligent. He used that brilliant mind to build defensive formations that stopped the monster wave.”

Huh?

Come to think of it, I’ve never properly fought in front of Elina.

Well, I only became strong recently anyway.

I was a bit taken aback, but I nodded without showing it.

“Being intelligent sounds enviable.”

“He’s also incredibly business-savvy. Everyone thought he was just a wastrel from the edge of the Eastern Continent, but when I first saw him, I just had this feeling, you know?”

“I see….”

As I trailed off, Elina cleared her throat with an expression that seemed to say “oops.”

“I’m sorry for talking about myself so much….”

“Not at all. Thanks to you, I’ve learned the valuable information that monster waves can be stopped.”

When I showed a polite smile, Elina leaned her head forward.

“….Then, getting back to the main point, can you join the Parseche family, Lord Levan?”

“I’m sorry. As you know, I prefer wandering around territories hunting monsters.”

“We’re not trying to control your movements. We just want your home base to be in Parseche territory.”

“Would that make any difference?”

“Wouldn’t having a place to return to change your mindset, Lord Levan?”

I had fully anticipated that Elina Parseche wanted ‘Levan.’

Of course she would.

In a way, the flow of the battlefield changed because of one person, ‘Levan.’

She must have thought he was an essential talent.

That’s why she was so desperate.

However.

I am ‘Selden Alphonse,’ not ‘Levan.’

Since I would eventually have to return, I politely bowed.

“I’m sorry. I cannot remain here.”

“….You must have your reasons.”

“Knight Commander Elicks said it himself. Who doesn’t have their own story…. I’m no different.”

Seeing my resolute expression, Elina rose weakly.

“It would be rude to press the hero of Parseche further, so I’ll stop trying to persuade you. But you must attend tonight’s banquet before you leave!”

“….How could I refuse?”

“Then I’ll see you this evening.”

Elina’s lonely back as she left the study.

Yet, I thought it was impressive how she maintained her smile until the end.

Knock-knock-!

Shortly after Elina left, Knight Commander Elicks opened the door with a knock.

I wondered if Elicks had come to persuade me this time.

“You’re here?”

As I rose, thinking about how to politely decline, Elicks jerked his chin toward the door.

“Let’s go, someone is here to see you.”

*

“Have you been well?”

Though the face was unfamiliar, the voice was unmistakably Jawil Wilson’s.

I glanced at Elicks who had accompanied me, and he tactfully left us alone.

I immediately headed outside the mansion.

“You’ve worked hard too.”

“Wow, is it really you, Young Master Selden?”

“Yes, and you can recognize me just by my voice.”

“I almost didn’t recognize you. I’d only heard of transformation leather, never thought it actually existed.”

I gestured for Jawil Wilson to lower his voice at his exclamation.

“Keep it down, someone might hear. The transformation leather is worth its price, and this is my first time using it too.”

“Ah, understood. I’m just too excited to see you after completing the mission.”

“Where’s Lucien?”

At that, Jawil Wilson grinned and pointed behind me.

I reflexively turned my head.

Despite hiding her beautiful appearance with transformation, she still exuded an inexplicable aura of elegance.

“Lucien!”

“Father!!”

Lucien jumped into my arms with a hug.

I tilted my head and continued speaking.

“Why didn’t you transform into an adult form?”

“You told me not to show my adult form to anyone, Father.”

That was only because she would have been naked….

I should give her proper education sometime.

Still, feeling proud, I patted Lucien’s head.

“You worked hard too, my daughter.”

“Not at all. It was a very easy task for me.”

“So, how does it feel to be outside Lake territory? You really wanted to go out.”

At my words, Lucien seemed to ponder before slowly speaking.

“It wasn’t as special as I thought. I was feeling a bit disappointed, but seeing you now makes me so happy!”

“Is that so?”

How does she always pick just the right words to say?

I lifted Lucien up in a hug.

“Eek!”

“Is my daughter, who can fly through the sky, afraid of this height?”

“T-that’s not it! I was just startled.”

Wary that our conversation might be overheard, I carefully placed Lucien back down.

“Lucien, shall we go to the market tomorrow?”

“Yes!! But can’t we go today?”

“No, Daddy still has things to do.”

“Hmm…. Then I’ll play with Uncle Jawil Wilson today.”

“Alright, that’s fine.”

Jawil Wilson tilted his head.

“Did Lady Elina discover your identity?”

“No, fortunately, I don’t think she did.”

“Then what business do you have now that the war is over, if I may ask?”

“Nothing special, just a banquet at the Parseche mansion this evening.”

“Ah…. I see.”

“I’ll just make a brief appearance and come out tonight.”

Jawil Wilson stroked his chin and continued.

“I’ll wait with Lucien at a nearby inn.”

“Alright, and even though the war is over, be careful not to reveal your identity. It could get complicated if rumors spread about an Alphonse family knight being in Parseche territory.”

“Understood.”

After exchanging brief greetings with Jawil Wilson, I returned to the mansion to find the victory banquet already underway.

I had dressed respectably when Dennis entered my room with a knock and grinned.

“Young master, shall we go?”