Ch.5050. Right Now, I’m Selden Alphonse?

“Young master, we’re going to die.”

“What do you mean, die?”

“We’ll face execution for insulting the Imperial Family!!”

Inside the carriage heading to the Imperial Palace.

I furrowed my brow and pressed my index finger to my lips.

“Could you keep it down? Don’t you see the knights outside the carriage?”

“Are you really worried about that after putting me in this situation?”

Jawill Wilson lowered his head with a face full of discontent and looked at the clothes he was wearing.

A silk shirt made of premium material that only nobles wear, exuding a majestic aura.

The elaborate decorations on the clothes looked quite impressive.

“When else will you get to experience being a noble?”

“I’m not a noble, I’m a knight!”

“Right, and as a knight, shouldn’t you be loyal to your lord?”

“Y-yes, but this is still going too far!”

“You know very well that I’m in a difficult situation. You should be helping me at times like this.”

“Then how exactly do you plan to fix this mess…”

I waved my hand dismissively at the sniffling Jawill Wilson, telling him it would be fine.

“It’s okay, we just need to avoid creating any further connection with the Princess.”

“Is that as easy as you make it sound?”

“It’s not difficult. The Princess is probably just curious. We’ll quietly attend the imperial event and then leave without drawing attention.”

“…We’re going to die.”

Jawill Wilson muttered, resting his head against the carriage with a resigned face.

I wasn’t without concerns either.

Why else would Pedericks have tried to stop me from boarding the carriage?

One lie leads to another.

Even though it’s clear that making things bigger won’t do any good, I had to take a gamble to prevent damage to the family.

“Jawill Wilson, you know your role is important if we’re going to deceive the Imperial Family, right?”

“What if someone recognizes you, young master?”

“It’s fine, just stay close to me.”

“What do you mean by that…”

There wasn’t enough time to obtain the list of people invited to the imperial event.

However, it’s an occasion honoring the former King Curios Silonia.

Many people will be present.

Would anyone pay attention to a mere noble who isn’t even the head of his family?

We can just keep a low profile among the crowd and then leave the venue.

And I plan to spend time with Jawill Wilson somewhere inconspicuous.

“They probably won’t even notice us.”

“But we were invited by the Princess, weren’t we?”

“It’s not an invitation from Emperor Malius Silonia, nor from the First Princess Etherian Silonia. They won’t care about us.”

“…Is Princess Sirin that powerless in the Imperial Family?”

I leaned back against the carriage sofa and crossed my arms.

“That’s not our concern. Don’t get interested in imperial politics. Nothing good comes from it.”

“I understand what you’re saying, but somehow I can’t help feeling sorry for her.”

“What do you mean?”

“Young master, aren’t you in the same position as Princess Sirin in the Alphonse family?”

Ah…

I don’t appreciate getting sympathy from this guy.

I raised my voice to encourage Jawill Wilson, whose shoulders had slumped.

“I have you, don’t I?”

“…Pardon?”

“I have my butler Pedericks, the Knight Commander Rain Breaker, and Leo and you too.”

“Young master…”

Jawill Wilson looked at me with a wistful gaze.

I sighed briefly and continued.

“So don’t pity the Princess. A prince on a white horse might appear like a comet from somewhere to save her.”

“Are you suggesting that’s us?”

Of course not.

Soon, the story of Serion Rykus, who will finish his training, and Princess Sirin Silonia will unfold.

The protagonist with outstanding swordsmanship who catches the eye of the First Princess Etherian, and their fateful meeting…

This is no place for me, who wasn’t even an extra in the original story.

“Please, could you stop saying stupid things while wearing those fancy clothes?”

“Y-you forced me to wear them!”

“Oh my, you’re being quite defiant these days?”

“I’m a dead man walking anyway, what do I have to fear?”

“Sigh… I told you we’re not going to die.”

Jawill Wilson stretched his neck forward with an expression of complete incomprehension.

“Aren’t you worried at all, young master?”

“I am worried. The only good reputation ‘Selden Alphonse’ had was his appearance, and now even that will be gone.”

“…Indeed, nobles value honor more than death.”

“Naturally, knights should be the same.”

“Your tongue is particularly sharp today, young master.”

“You should be grateful I didn’t call it your ‘trap’.”

I felt like I was taking out on Jawill Wilson what I suffered from Miria Alphonse.

This is how verbal sparring should normally be…

I felt the need to warm up my mouth for the next time I meet her.

“Young master, you really—”

That’s when it happened.

With a loud ‘CRASH!!!’ the carriage shook violently.

Wondering what was happening, just as Jawill Wilson and I were about to go outside, we heard a panicked voice.

Screech—!

“D-don’t come out! We’re under attack!”

A knight opened the carriage door to inform us of the situation.

His pupils were filled with both confusion and fear.

We had two elite knights escorting us, yet they were being overwhelmed by mere bandits?

‘Could Etherian be behind this?’

It was entirely possible.

In the original story, Etherian was the type to ruthlessly cut down anything that could become a problem.

I didn’t think she would go so far as to check on a good-for-nothing from the edge of the Eastern Continent…

Was it the Alphonse family itself that concerned her, not just ‘Selden Alphonse’?

‘This is a slight miscalculation.’

However.

It wasn’t something to panic about.

If Etherian sent them, they would have thoroughly assessed our forces before attacking.

We have two elite knights, so at most, they would have sent five elite knights at maximum.

They wouldn’t want to mobilize too many people and risk getting caught.

With an unconcerned expression, I crossed my legs and nodded at Jawill Wilson.

“Go out and join them. You can’t just sit here while they’re fighting.”

Jawill Wilson lowered his head again, looked at the clothes he was wearing, and spoke softly.

“…But I’m supposed to be ‘Selden Alphonse’ right now, aren’t I?”

*

“Selden was invited to an imperial event?”

“Yes, I received word from Pedericks. He just left Lake territory in a carriage sent by the Imperial Family.”

“How did he manage that?”

“…Pardon?”

“How did he get invited to the Imperial Palace?”

When Baron Byron Alphonse asked in an incredulous tone, his butler Brighton broke into a cold sweat.

Even he couldn’t help but be surprised.

Selden Alphonse had been “invited,” not “summoned” to the Imperial Palace.

“Perhaps it’s from a connection he made at an imperial event when he was younger?”

“Sigh… Are you sure it’s an invitation?”

“I’m certain. I was so surprised that I asked several times, so it can’t be a lie.”

“Then whose invitation did he receive?”

“From the Second Princess, Sirin Silonia.”

Byron’s body momentarily flinched.

Of all people, it had to be Sirin Silonia, who was far removed from the succession line…

Even if they were acquainted, this was an unwelcome situation.

“Sigh… I suppose he should go since the Imperial Family sent an invitation directly.”

“I understand your concern, my lord, but as I mentioned earlier, it’s probably just a simple connection.”

“Even if that’s the case, will others see it the same way?”

“…My thinking was shallow.”

“This is troubling. If it had been Princess Etherian, I would have welcomed it with open arms.”

Brighton straightened his back and his eyes flashed.

“Perhaps we should send a separate gift to Princess Etherian?”

“A gift?”

“Yes, for fairness, wouldn’t you agree?”

“We’ve never been involved in imperial politics before. If we suddenly send a gift, wouldn’t it look like we’re supporting Princess Etherian?”

“On the contrary, it could signify that this is merely a personal connection between young master Selden and Princess Sirin, unrelated to the Alphonse family.”

It was a reasonable point.

If the scales tipped to one side, the other side would view the Alphonse family with wary eyes.

Clearly, Brighton’s suggestion was right for the family, but for some reason, Byron couldn’t bring himself to act on it.

It was as if he was completely separating ‘Selden’ from the ‘Alphonse’ family.

In his youth, he had received his territory and worked tirelessly for the family.

But now, he had become more cautious for the safety of his family and the people of his territory.

The boldness with which he had once charged ahead had been worn down by time.

Baron Byron tapped his desk with his fingernails, deep in thought.

‘If my son were like me in my youth…’

As someone with experience, would he block his son’s path into a thorny road?

Or would he hand him a sickle and let him clear his own way?

Baron Byron seemed to have finished his deliberation as he turned his gaze to Brighton.

“I should meet with Selden after the imperial event is over.”