Ch.4848. What Have I Done Wrong Again?

“What kind of humiliation is this!?”

“What’s wrong? I was just teasing since I heard you went on an expedition to Ebisu with that knight, but did you really sleep with him!?”

After repeatedly apologizing to Luna, whose face had turned as red as a tomato, I sent her out of the reception room.

Fortunately, her affection level neither increased nor decreased.

I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand.

“No, Luna is my knight.”

“Does being a knight mean you can’t sleep with them?”

I barely managed to swallow the words “Do you really not know that?” before they escaped my mouth.

Come to think of it, it’s not wrong.

I didn’t sleep with Luna simply because she was crazy, so I avoided it.

As I sat back down in the chair, Miria, excited about something, scurried right up to my face and demanded an answer.

“Does being a knight mean you can’t sleep together?”

“No, it’s possible.”

“Great!! Now you’re answering properly!”

Only then did Miria Alphonse sit down in the chair opposite me with a satisfied expression.

Talking with her makes me feel like I’ve aged ten years.

“No matter how noble you are, it’s rude to make such jokes to someone beneath you.”

“Oh, you just don’t understand women.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“From what I can see, she likes you! You act like a ruffian but actually lack courage, so you need someone like me beside you, you know?”

I closed my eyes tightly and then opened them.

Then, with trembling hands, I brought the teacup to my lips, trying to maintain a calm mind.

“…When will you return to the family?”

“Father told me to play as much as I want before coming back.”

“Please tell Father that his youngest son deeply regrets leaving his place of exile.”

“No way, you need to keep causing trouble so we can see each other often.”

“Haha… I can see you after returning to the family anyway, can’t I?”

Haven’t I gained experience from all my conversations with Luna?

Coaxing and persuading is now child’s play…

I gave a gentle smile with kind eyes, and Miria responded with a suggestive comment.

“…Don’t look at me like that, I’m wet…”

“…What!? W-what do you mean…?”

“You heard me, I said I’m wet…”

“No, what exactly is wet!?”

When I raised my voice, Miria calmly raised her index finger.

“Look, I accidentally dipped my finger in the teacup and got it wet, see?”

Sigh…

This woman is several steps ahead of me.

She’s beyond the level of simple joking.

I’m past the point of anger and more at the stage of amazement.

How did such a character not appear in the original work?

I carefully handed her the tissue beside me.

“If you’re wet, you should dry yourself.”

“Will you dry it for me?”

“I’m going to tell Father.”

“…You’re no fun.”

Only then did I somewhat realize why the words “I’m going to tell Father” automatically came out of my mouth.

Because he was the only one who could restrain her when she was out of control.

By the way.

How did Miria Alphonse come to care for Selden Alphonse?

From what I’ve heard, she doesn’t seem to behave this way with other family members.

Should I request more information from Riden Solis?

“So when will you return to the family?”

“I should go soon. As much as I’d like to stay here, I have things to do after returning to the family.”

I did my best to suppress the corners of my mouth from rising.

Given Miria’s personality, she might decide to stay here if she felt slighted.

“Then please convey what I said earlier to Father.”

“As I said before, I don’t want to. We need to see each other often.”

Right.

Don’t be greedy.

Isn’t it enough that this crazy woman is leaving now?

If Miria Alphonse returns to the family, I’ll search the four corners of the continent to find her a husband.

If she refuses?

I’ll persuade Father, Baron Byron.

What parent would prevent their daughter from getting married?

Miria Alphonse dusted off her palms and rose from her chair.

She approached me and gave me a tight hug.

Having experienced it before, the soft sensation of her chest against my face felt familiar.

If she weren’t family and were a normal woman, my hands would naturally follow, but instead, I clenched my fists to resist.

Then, her lips moved toward my forehead.

Smooch-!

Just as I was thinking it was fortunate that it was my forehead and not my lips, Miria Alphonse slowly walked out of the reception room.

With her final words:

“Selden, I’ll protect you from our brothers, so don’t worry and wait for me.”

Creeeeak-! Slam-!

After Miria Alphonse left, I remained alone in the reception room and muttered quietly.

She truly was a woman who made me think a lot, and family…

*

“I heard you were looking for me.”

“Gather more information about the Alphonse family.”

“Was the previous information insufficient?”

“Yeah, I’ll give you plenty of time.”

I called Riden Solis to the study.

I learned a lot from meeting Miria Alphonse this time.

It was arrogant of me to think there was enough time until she returned to the family.

My brothers could also show up suddenly like her, so I need to prepare.

“Yes, understood.”

“I’m going to assign the same task to the Poison Lady.”

“The P-Poison Lady?”

“Don’t feel bad. The situation is urgent enough to warrant it.”

I had tried to avoid creating any connection with the Poison Lady, but it was an unavoidable choice.

Well, having said this, Riden would understand.

It was a way to encourage competition and obtain more information.

“I understand what you mean.”

“I don’t think you’ll bring less information than the Poison Lady.”

“Yes, I’ll scour the four corners of the world to gather every detail about your family, young master.”

“Good, I look forward to it.”

After sending Riden away, I called Jawill Wilson to the study.

I wanted to make up for the training I had missed due to the backed-up work and dealing with Miria Alphonse since returning from the expedition.

Moreover.

With the Cardrian family, who had come to investigate the Reike territory, having left yesterday, it was the perfect time to freely hunt monsters.

“How’s your training these days?”

“Nothing unusual. Fortunately, my leg seems to have healed completely.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

“I’m mentally prepared to go on an expedition with you anytime, young master.”

I looked at Jawill Wilson with half-closed eyes, as he mentioned being mentally prepared without me even bringing up expedition preparations.

“Why so enthusiastic?”

“…Huh? Well, hunting monsters with you helps with my training, doesn’t it…?”

“Didn’t you once grumble that we should take Knight Commander Rain Breaker or Rio Sergan?”

“T-that was…”

“Perhaps you want to visit the pleasure district with me again?”

Jawill Wilson flinched and blushed, as if I had hit the mark.

“Well, as a man, I won’t deny it.”

“Wow! Our Jaji Wilson has become quite honest!”

“…It’s Jawill Wilson.”

“Ha, you don’t know how much trouble I had after visiting the pleasure district.”

“D-did the Baron find out?”

“It’s not so much that we were caught, but there was someone following us when we went on the expedition.”

“Someone following us?”

Did he not notice?

Well, with Jawill Wilson’s personality, he would have gone berserk trying to deal with the tracker if he had.

I sighed briefly and waved my hand in the air.

“Never mind. We won’t be able to go on an expedition for a while. If we move without permission again, my sister might decide to stay here permanently.”

“Then we’ll have to hunt monsters within the territory.”

“Yeah, and while we’re at it, we’ll investigate the Forest of Death.”

Jawill Wilson spoke with a stiff face, stammering.

“T-the Forest of Death?”

“Yes, I don’t plan to enter it if possible, but we need to investigate the surroundings.”

“…When you say ‘if possible,’ that means you might enter it, right?”

The Forest of Death is the starting point of the monster wave.

If we can find the cause and solve it, it might not occur at all.

However, I was afraid too.

Isn’t it the Forest of Death where people enter but never come out?

That’s why I’m starting with investigating the surroundings.

“That’s right.”

“Young master, are you in your right mind? Even Baron Byron gave up on the Forest of Death.”

“Don’t worry, as I said, I won’t enter it if possible.”

As Jawill Wilson was about to say something more with a bewildered look, Pedericks burst through the study door without knocking.

“Gah, you startled me.”

“We have a problem.”

“What, did my sister return after going back to the family?”

“No, someone from the Imperial Palace has arrived.”

“The Imperial Palace?”

“Yes, they’re asking for Knight Jawill Wilson…”

Pedericks trailed off.

Jawill Wilson blinked and then pointed at himself as he spoke.

“W-what did I do wrong this time…?”