Ch.344344. I Just Wanted to See You All.

“How have you been?”

“Yes, I’ve been well, thanks to you, Young Master.”

I gathered all the Guardian Corps members except for Clara.

The expressions on the members’ faces, especially Lillian and Bianca who stood at the front, were not pleasant.

That was understandable, considering the meeting place was the underground training hall—the one that had held assassins before being renovated.

I opened my mouth with a mischievous expression.

“If you’ve all been well, why the long faces?”

Lillian, now the deputy commander of the Guardian Corps, hesitated before raising her head.

“Did… did we do something wrong again?”

“What? No.”

“Or have you had a change of heart about something, Young Master?”

“Not that either.”

“Then why did you call us to the underground training hall…? We’ve been training very diligently lately!”

Seeing how frightened they looked, I became certain.

I should have drilled the Imperial Knights the same way I had drilled the Guardian Corps members…

If I had, they wouldn’t have even dreamed of chasing after my carriage.

Clicking my tongue and folding my arms heavily, I spoke.

“I just wanted to see you all.”

“…If you’re planning to torment us mentally, I’d rather just start training.”

Wow…

How did I end up with this kind of image?

Everyone outside calls me a hero who stopped the monster wave and ended the Western Continent war, not the ruffian from the edge of the Eastern Continent.

“It’s not like that, so don’t worry. By the way, has Clara been treating you well lately?”

“Yes, she has. Thanks to her, we’ve been training consistently.”

“Sigh… I’m not making you train today, so could you please stop emphasizing how consistently you’ve been training?”

After letting out a short sigh, Lillian cautiously poked her head forward.

“So you really called us because you wanted to see us?”

“Yes. Now everyone sit down in a circle.”

I plopped down on the ground, and all the Guardian Corps members looked around nervously.

I narrowed my eyes at Lillian.

“Do you really want to train? Or would you rather sit down?”

Finally, led by Lillian and Bianca, the Guardian Corps members formed a circle and sat down on the ground.

I smiled slightly and clapped my hands loudly.

“Federicks!”

At the same time, Federicks and the maids entered the underground training hall carrying alcohol and food.

Lillian spoke with wide eyes.

“What is all this…?”

“What do you mean? It’s alcohol and food.”

“Yes, but why alcohol and food…?”

“I realized I’ve never had drinks with you all. Well, except for Bianca—I did share a table with her once.”

Bianca squinted one eye in response.

“We were quite heated back then.”

“Yes, we were. My heart was burning especially hot because you stole my money.”

“…I’m sorry.”

I gave a subtle smile to Bianca, who looked dejected.

“I’m joking. It’s all in the past, so there’s no need to blush.”

The alcohol and food were placed on the floor with plates.

Everyone began eating eagerly and deliciously.

However, only Lillian still wore a suspicious expression.

“…Did you really call us here just to drink?”

“Yeah, let’s have a drink together.”

“But why only us? Why didn’t you invite the Knights or the Mercenary Corps members…”

“You’re all women. The Knights and Mercenary Corps members are men.”

“Then why isn’t Clara…”

“I can’t say yet, but she’s already taken.”

Lillian shook her head as if she couldn’t believe me.

“Shouldn’t someone who’s about to get married refrain from being so interested in women?”

“It’s just having a drink together. I’m a bit hurt that you’d call it ‘being interested in women.’ Judging by your overreaction, did you have feelings for me?”

At my words, Lillian raised her voice with a reddened face.

“W-what are you saying?!”

“Just relax and eat and drink. Why are you attaching meaning to having a drink together?”

“…If I offended you, I apologize.”

“It’s fine. You’re right about me being interested in women, so no need to apologize.”

Lillian’s face turned red and blue.

It seemed quite fun to tease her.

I turned my gaze to Bianca, who was somewhat more open-minded than the rigid Lillian.

“Bianca, are any of the Guardian Corps members interested in anyone from the Knights or Mercenary Corps?”

“Hmm, I’m not sure? They’re all quite secretive.”

“Really? I would have thought there’d be some.”

“They might exist, just not that I’ve noticed.”

“They’re all decent guys, so tell them to go for it if they’re interested.”

When I picked up my glass, Bianca looked at me with a suggestive gaze.

“I only have eyes for you, Young Master.”

“You haven’t given up? I’m already marrying two princesses—can you handle that?”

“Well, nothing’s final until you’re actually married, right?”

At least with Bianca, her playful tone made it relatively easy to banter back.

It was a completely different feeling from Luna Brillhart, who was now traveling with Serion Rykus.

By the way.

I wonder if Luna Brillhart has heard about my marriage?

It seems suspiciously quiet, which makes me a bit uneasy.

Or has she forgotten about me by now?

To clear my distracting thoughts, I shook my head and downed my drink in one go.

“Ah! The alcohol tastes especially sweet today.”

“It tastes sweet to me too, drinking with you, Young Master. By the way, why did you ask if anyone was interested in the Knights or Mercenary Corps members?”

“Do you know Olivia?”

“Of course! She’s incredibly beautiful and amazing with a sword! And her fire magic is no joke either!”

Bianca’s eyes sparkled.

She’d probably be shocked to learn that Olivia was born with fire magic because she had half-dragon blood flowing through her veins.

“I know Olivia’s father well, and it seems he wants to marry her off soon.”

“Oh… is that so?”

“But Olivia wants to marry a man stronger than herself.”

“…There aren’t many such men in this world.”

“So I was thinking, if she meets some men, maybe her mind might change.”

“Ah… so that’s why you were asking about the atmosphere?”

“That’s right.”

Bianca put on a rather serious expression at my words.

“Should I try to help?”

“How?”

“I could approach Olivia, become closer to her, and then arrange drinking sessions with the Knights or Mercenary Corps members.”

I showed a slightly excited expression at Bianca’s proactive attitude.

“If Olivia marries a man, I’ll clear all your debts.”

“R-really?! Is that a promise?”

“Just remember, don’t tell Olivia about this. It has to be done secretly.”

“O-of course! Leave it to me!”

Somehow, I felt I could trust Bianca with this.

I happily raised my glass again.

“Come on, let’s drink!”

“Yes!”

The Guardian Corps members, now convinced this wasn’t actually training, began drinking more comfortably.

I shifted my gaze from Bianca to Lillian.

“Aren’t you drinking?”

“…What’s really going on?”

“Why are you so suspicious of a man who’s interested in women wanting to have a drink with women?”

At my words, Lillian shook her head with a slightly reddened face.

“Because I know Selden Alphonse isn’t that kind of person.”

“…Is this what they call giving the disease and then the medicine?”

“Are you really not going to tell us?”

The atmosphere seemed to have lightened up enough that it was time to explain.

I clapped my hands loudly again and raised my voice.

“Everyone, attention!”

All the Guardian Corps members turned their heads toward me at once.

I stood up and walked over to a sack leaning against the wall.

“Heave-ho!”

The Guardian Corps members also stood up, their attention focused on the sack.

Slowly smiling, I opened the sack.

“Kyaaak! W-what is this?!”

“Th-those are human ankles!”

“Uwup!!”

Inside the sack were the ankles of Headmistress Giselle and the faculty members.

The severed ankles were stained with blood but had already stiffened.

Lillian covered her mouth and spoke to me in a shocked voice.

“Y-Young Master! What is all this?”

“The ankles of Headmistress Giselle and the faculty members who tormented you.”

“…What?”

For a moment, silence fell over the training hall.

Then, as everyone realized what I meant, they began to tear up.

“I promised you revenge, I kept that promise, and I called you here today to prove it.”

After a long silence, Lillian slowly spoke.

“Where are Headmistress Giselle and the faculty members now…?”

“By now, they’re probably on their way to the Imperial prison. They’ll be severely punished there too. You know I have close ties with His Majesty the Emperor, right?”

“Hic, sob!”

As I grinned playfully, Lillian burst into tears.

Then, one by one, the Guardian Corps members began wailing as if at a funeral.

Indeed, it seemed that delivering emotional moments when alcohol was flowing worked remarkably well.

With a triumphant expression, I strained my neck and spoke loudly.

“Now that the revenge is complete, I hope you can let go of any lingering resentment in your hearts and protect Lake Territory well as Guardian Corps members. You understand what I mean, right?”

Suddenly, Bianca threw herself into my arms and looked up at me.

“How can I not fall for you when you’re like this?”

With Bianca’s words, the Guardian Corps members began to surround me.

I felt them gradually pressing closer.

With a flustered expression, I strained my neck forcefully.

“I-I can’t breathe! And who just touched me?!”