Ch.266266. How Could I Forget What Happened Then?

“It’s been a while.”

As I boarded the carriage, Elina Parseche rose and bowed at the waist.

I returned her greeting politely and settled myself on the sofa across from her.

“Since we’re meeting after your coming-of-age ceremony, it’s been quite some time.”

“That’s right. How have you been, Lord Selden Alphonse? I’ve heard rumors that tourists have been flocking to Lake Territory in incredible numbers…”

“I was fortunate. I simply took advantage of people’s curiosity about the Forest of Death.”

“I was truly amazed. To think you could transform the Forest of Death into the Forest of Miracles.”

“That doesn’t mean the Forest of Death has completely disappeared.”

“Ah! I know that too. It’s probably due to the experience of the knights and mercenaries hunting magical beasts?”

Elina Parseche seemed to know everything.

Indeed, she showed the competence of someone who had saved her family from the brink of ruin.

“…You’re impressive.”

“Oh, am I more impressive than Lord Selden Alphonse? Before you arrived, I stepped out of the carriage to take a look around, and it seems like quite a large city now.”

“Haha, is that so?”

“Well, this place never really belonged to the category of small territories, did it?”

That was true, but because the massive Forest of Death occupied a considerable portion of Lake Territory, it hadn’t appeared very spacious.

However, after reconstructing the Forest of Death into the Forest of Miracles and developing the northern wasteland, we were finally utilizing the territory’s proper area.

I cleared my throat and continued.

“That’s something I should thank His Majesty the Emperor for, as he granted me Lake Territory.”

“His Majesty probably didn’t know either. Well, who could have predicted that someone would subdue the Forest of Death, which had been inaccessible for centuries?”

“…Well, I was fortunate.”

“Lord Selden Alphonse, you remain as modest as ever.”

I cleared my throat awkwardly in response to Elina Parseche’s shower of compliments.

“Ahem! By the way, where are we headed now?”

“Lumestia Territory.”

“Lu-Lumestia Territory? Is the noble gathering being held there?”

“Since Lumestia Territory is the central region, I hear they hold frequent gatherings there.”

“I see…”

“Are you uncomfortable with Lumestia Territory?”

“It’s not that… I don’t think you need to worry about it. I have a solution.”

The truth was, I felt uneasy about potentially running into Princess Etherian or Princess Sairine.

However, today it wouldn’t be an issue.

Because…

“Wh-what is that?”

I smiled gently at the bewildered Elina Parseche.

“It’s called a transformation skin.”

As I smiled and put on the transformation skin, Elina Parseche startled and continued speaking.

“Wh-what in the world is this?”

“I asked someone I know for it. It’s a tool to conceal my identity.”

“Ah…”

With an expression still showing shock, Elina Parseche opened and closed her mouth before taking a deep breath and speaking calmly.

“…So it was you, Lord Selden Alphonse, who was Levan.”

In that moment, my entire body tensed.

When House Parseche was at war with House Cardrian, I had helped them while wearing a transformation skin and assuming the fictional identity of Levan.

And now…

The transformation skin I was currently wearing was the very same one I had used then.

When she mentioned “Lumestia Territory,” I had forgotten about the past and made a mistake in front of Elina Parseche…

How could I have forgotten about that?

Still wearing the transformation skin, I bowed my head.

“…I apologize. At that time, I couldn’t help you directly as ‘Selden Alphonse,’ so I had no choice but to assist you while wearing the transformation skin.”

“Apologize? Of course, if you had intervened directly, House Alphonse could have suffered losses as well.”

Suddenly, Elina Parseche began to shed tears.

Flustered, I handed her a handkerchief and continued speaking.

“Still, I’m sorry for deceiving you all this time.”

“There’s truly nothing to apologize for. These tears are flowing because I’m moved by Lord Selden Alphonse.”

“R-really?”

“Honestly, I was already receiving so many benefits from the magical beast blood you promoted, I felt too ashamed to ask for support… Thank you so much.”

“Not at all. I helped because I wanted to help.”

“…Lord Selden Alphonse, you’re not only brilliant at constructing defensive formations but also exceptional in swordsmanship.”

“You flatter me.”

As I smiled gently, Elina Parseche suddenly raised her head as if remembering something.

“Ah! But…”

“…Yes?”

“Do you remember the conversations you had with me as Levan?”

“What conversations are you referring to…”

As I put on a puzzled expression, memories of conversations with Elina Parseche flashed through my mind.

-I apologize for interrupting, but I already have someone I like.

-Wow!! Lord Levan!! I misspoke, but you keep teasing me? I already have someone I like too!

-Is that so?

-I really do have someone I like! It’s not a lie!

-Haha, I was just joking because Lady Elina’s reaction was so good. I apologize if I offended you.

-…You really do look like him.

-Who do I look like?

-The person I like. Lord Selden Alphonse, the first person in history to stop a magical beast wave.

As these memories suddenly surfaced, I looked at Elina Parseche, who was already glaring at me with a face that seemed about to explode.

I had an ominous feeling that if I admitted remembering, I might meet my end right here.

As I kept my mouth tightly shut, Elina Parseche continued to glare at me and spoke.

“You remember, don’t you?”

“Wh-what are you talking about? At that time, I had just stopped the magical beast wave and participated in the war, so I was quite overwhelmed.”

“…Are you sure?”

“Yes. What was the name of House Parseche’s knight commander again… that, Eli…”

“Are you referring to Sir Ellix?”

I put on my best acting performance and blinked my eyes.

“Y-yes! Sir Ellix! I have such poor memory. Haha!! I really miss Sir Ellix. He was so kind to me…”

“So you’re saying…?”

Elina Parseche looked at me suspiciously from various angles.

With a desperate expression, I continued.

“…Come to think of it, my memories from that time might not be complete due to injuries I sustained during the war.”

“Th-that’s right… you were injured, weren’t you?”

“Yes. That’s why I was even more disoriented.”

“I’m sorry. Because of me…”

Elina Parseche apologized.

Seizing the opportunity, I hastily changed the subject.

“By the way, what role should I play in this gathering?”

At my question, Elina Parseche collected herself and adjusted her posture on the sofa.

“I organized this noble gathering. The purpose is to sell a medicine that promotes hair growth.”

“You can simply call it a hair loss remedy.”

“Ah… yes. Anyway, when the atmosphere becomes right during the gathering, I’ll drop hints about the hair loss remedy.”

“So I should back you up?”

“Yes, exactly. You could say something like you’ve heard about it somewhere.”

“Hmm, understood.”

As we continued our conversation, Elina Parseche hesitated before speaking.

“But, Lord Selden Alphonse, is there a reason you need to hide your identity and attend the gathering as Levan?”

The truth was that I wanted to conceal my identity in case I ran into the princess or someone close to her in Lumestia, but it felt awkward to admit this, so I gave a vague answer.

“I just want to hide the fact that I’m from House Alphonse.”

“Hmm… since this is a gathering of noble family heirs, it might be troublesome if you’re caught with a flimsy disguise…”

“Don’t worry about that. I have a prepared identity in mind.”

“Ah, that’s a relief then.”

After that, we discussed various topics in the carriage.

We went through the list of attendees, information about the noble heirs, and their interests for easier approach.

Then I furrowed my brow at a familiar name.

“Re-Reagan Strom? Is he attending too?”

Elina Parseche glanced at the list and startled.

“So you know Reagan Strom as well, Lord Selden Alphonse? According to my information, he’s Princess Etherian’s closest confidant, and his family wields enormous power.”

“…That’s true.”

“The way you said ‘this guy’ suggests you’re close?”

I handed the list back to Elina Parseche and spoke nonchalantly.

“Well, I don’t think I need to pretend to know him. After all, I’m attending the gathering today not as Selden Alphonse, but as Levan.”

“Ah… come to think of it, that’s true.”

Screech-! Thud-!

Just then, the sound of the carriage wheels announced our arrival.

I checked my appearance and stood up.

“Shall we go attend the gathering?”