Ch.184184. Are You Still Sulking?

“Selden Alphonse, I am honored to meet the Etherian Princess.”

After Jawill Wilson, who had been reading the atmosphere, left the reception room, the Etherian Princess finally sat down on the sofa.

Her beautifully shining golden hair and elegant yet sexy aura were truly unchanged.

Moreover.

While her usual impressive dresses with vibrant colors announced her royal status, today what caught the eye was a modest skirt and blouse that ordinary nobles might wear.

“Sit.”

She spoke as she sat on the sofa.

“Where have you been? Your attire is different from usual…”

At that, the Etherian Princess blushed slightly and shook her head.

“Does it look strange?”

“Not at all. I merely commented because I didn’t know the Etherian Princess could pull off such clothes so well.”

“I see. What brings you here today?”

Someone of the Etherian Princess’s status would surely know why I was visiting the Imperial Palace.

I gave her a puzzled look.

“I came because of the monster wave incident.”

“Monster wave?”

“Didn’t a monster wave occur in Lake Territory where I reside?”

“Ah… that did happen, didn’t it?”

“His Majesty the Emperor summoned me to the palace because of it.”

“Ahem! Is that so? Congratulations on stopping the monster wave.”

What’s this?

Why is her expression so awkward?

She came to Lake Territory as soon as the monster wave occurred, and now she’s forgotten about it?

I couldn’t fathom the Etherian Princess’s intentions at all.

Still puzzled, I bowed my head.

“Thank you.”

“I’ve been so busy lately that it slipped my mind. You’re not upset, are you?”

“No, Your Highness has more important matters to attend to.”

“…Do you really think so?”

The atmosphere turned strange, and when I raised my head, the Etherian Princess was staring at me with a gloomy aura, displeased about something again.

What tune am I supposed to dance to here?

I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again to regain my composure.

“Yes, I believe preparing to prevent monster waves in other territories is more important than having stopped one.”

“Do you know how often monster waves have occurred until now?”

“I know it’s a rare probability, but I’m not sure of the exact frequency.”

“At most, once or twice every decade. Of those incidents, how many territory lords do you think died when monster waves hit their lands?”

“I suppose all of them died since they couldn’t stop the waves.”

The Etherian Princess made a bitter expression.

“I don’t know about ancient times, but looking at the past hundred years, not a single one died.”

“…Pardon?”

“While knights and territory residents fought to protect their lands against monster waves, the lords were busy fleeing.”

“That’s absurd—”

“Yet His Majesty the Emperor didn’t punish them. Do you know why?”

I swallowed hard at the Etherian Princess’s question.

“I believe protecting one’s territory is naturally the lord’s responsibility… what could possibly be the reason?”

“Because not once had anyone ever stopped a monster wave.”

“How is that a valid reason?”

“Because in the face of an unstoppable force, at least one talented individual needed to survive.”

Nobles as talented individuals!?

Does that mean knights and common residents can die without consequence?

Sacrificing the many to save the few.

I’d only heard of such things, but hearing it discussed in reality made nausea rise from deep within my chest.

And.

That nausea spread intensely to my nose.

To be honest, if I had known there would be no consequences, I might not have done something as reckless as defending Lake Territory.

I looked at the Etherian Princess and let out a short sigh.

“Haa… may I ask what you’re trying to tell me?”

“…Don’t you value your life? Have you given up on your dream of ‘living in a small house in the forest’?”

“Not at all.”

The Etherian Princess asked, somehow seeming angry.

“Then why don’t you value your life?”

The atmosphere felt like something was about to explode.

I scratched my head and gave the Etherian Princess a foolish smile.

“Haha! If I had known there would be no punishment, I would have certainly fled. I went through all that trouble for nothing.”

The Etherian Princess continued without changing her expression.

“No, you always describe yourself as selfish, but you’re absolutely not.”

“…Pardon?”

“If you were, you wouldn’t have protected me from the assassin in the first place.”

Various emotions crossed my mind.

Maintaining the original novel’s storyline?

That’s important, sure. But not more important than my life.

And yet.

My mind kept insisting I should act selfishly, but reality wasn’t cooperating.

Did I really want to be some kind of hero?

“Protecting Your Highness was only natural.”

“Protecting someone who tried to kill you… that itself seems far from the behavior of a selfish person.”

“…Today’s conversation is quite difficult.”

The Etherian Princess gazed steadily into my eyes.

Sometimes with sad eyes.

Sometimes with smiling eyes.

After staring for a while, she rose from the sofa.

“So, what I want to tell you is…”

The Etherian Princess trailed off, stopping at the reception room door before continuing.

“Value your life. Because there are people who would be sad if you died.”

*

“Are you still upset?”

Jawill Wilson, whose hostility had subsided considerably in a day, slightly averted his gaze.

“…No, I’m not.”

“You clearly look upset though?”

“To be honest, I wasn’t happy at first when you put poison on my lips without explanation, but I’m over it now.”

“Why did you get over it so quickly?”

“Because after seeing you converse with His Majesty the Emperor, I realized it was fortunate that I couldn’t speak.”

The next day, in the carriage after receiving gifts from His Majesty and heading to pick up Lucien.

I nodded while leaning back against the sofa.

“Wow… so you can actually think now?”

“Y-Young Master!! I do have a brain!!”

“Yes, yes! You do!”

Jawill Wilson, who had been huffing, suddenly tilted his head.

“But come to think of it, why did you leave the Imperial Palace in such a hurry?”

“Because I needed to see Lucien?”

“It seemed like you were running away from something.”

That was true.

The Etherian Princess’s visit was unexpected, so I couldn’t avoid her, but I definitely didn’t want to meet the second princess, Sairine.

Wasn’t she going to have a good relationship with the protagonist in the future?

I needed to avoid any connection as much as possible.

I folded my arms heavily and raised the corner of my mouth.

“Don’t you want to see our Lucien?”

“Young Master, that’s too harsh! I even put poison on my lips for Lucien!!”

“That’s because you didn’t know it was poison.”

Jawill Wilson hesitated before clearing his throat.

“Ahem!! Regardless, I did it for her.”

“Yes, you’re so great.”

Seeming to think further conversation would be disadvantageous, Jawill Wilson turned his gaze toward the carriage window.

“Look, seeing those children playing reminds me of my childhood and hometown.”

“You had a hometown?”

“Doesn’t everyone have a hometown?”

“I naturally assumed Alphonse Territory was your hometown.”

“…You really don’t care about me at all, Young Master.”

I awkwardly raised the corner of my mouth toward Jawill Wilson, who wore a bitter expression.

“I’ve been quite busy lately. What matters is that I take good care of you from now on.”

“That’s true.”

“By the way, if you miss your hometown, why not visit?”

“What would I do there when I have no family to meet?”

“Well, you must have memories there.”

This time too, sadness clouded Jawill Wilson’s eyes.

“Growing up without parents from a young age, I lived desperately. Those memories aren’t particularly good ones for me.”

It was somewhat unfamiliar to see Jawill Wilson initiating such a serious conversation.

It was also touching to see how he cared for Lucien despite growing up without a family.

I placed my hand firmly on Jawill Wilson’s shoulder.

“Why don’t you have a family?”

“Young Master…”

“If you want to officially become family with me now, I could actively push you and Sister Miria Alphonse togeth—”

“We’ve arrived. Let’s get out, Young Master!”

The carriage had stopped without my noticing.

I scratched my head awkwardly and spoke.

“Right, let’s get out. We’ll have a proper conversation about family soon.”

As we disembarked at our destination, Lucien, who had come to greet us, ran over and threw herself into my arms with a “thump.”

Behind her, Riden Solice and the mercenary group members bowed.

“Riden Solice, thank you for taking care of Lucien.”

“Not at all. It was a relaxing time after a long while. The mercenary members enjoyed it too.”

I pointed to the carriage we had arrived in.

“You can take this carriage back.”

“Aren’t you coming with us, Young Master?”

“Jawill Wilson, Lucien, and I will stay here a bit longer.”

“Then you’ll need the carriage, won’t you?”

“I’ll manage on my own, don’t worry.”

“Ah… understood!”

After sending off Riden Solice and the mercenary members, Jawill Wilson tilted his head.

“Don’t we need a carriage too?”

I raised the corner of my mouth toward Jawill Wilson.

“Jawill Wilson, have you ever heard of a dragon carriage?”