Ch.5555. What If I End Up Getting Attached?

“I thought I was the only one who lied about my identity, but I got a taste of my own medicine.”

“Please speak more formally.”

After the Emperor left, there was a constant stream of visitors without a moment’s rest.

This time, it was Princess Sairine, whom I was meeting for the first time since being invited to the Imperial Palace.

“No, I’m more comfortable speaking this way. And I feel sorry about certain things…”

Right, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been invited to the palace and nearly died a violent death.

But what could I do?

I was the one who lied about my identity, and I was the one who accepted the invitation to the palace.

I held a pointed smile on my lips.

“It’s fine. It’s all in the past, isn’t it? Besides, I’m also guilty of lying about my identity to Your Highness.”

“…But, are you feeling better? Jawil… I mean, Lord Selden?”

“Yes, I’ve recovered more than expected. I plan to leave tomorrow.”

“A-Already?”

“As you know, I wasn’t supposed to leave my place of exile. I received permission from my father because of the imperial invitation, but now that the event is over, I should return to exile as soon as possible.”

Princess Sairine fidgeted anxiously.

“But moving around while your wounds haven’t healed will be difficult… Should I send a letter directly to House Alphonse?”

“As I just mentioned, I’ve recovered significantly, so Your Highness need not worry.”

“To leave without even having much of a conversation… I’d be terrible to feel disappointed, wouldn’t I?”

Truthfully, I wasn’t entirely opposed to staying in the city near the palace for a while.

Though I only saw it through the carriage window on the way to the palace, the developed city was beautiful, and I wanted to go out and explore the streets at least once.

But.

Misfortune keeps finding me.

The connections, too intricately woven to be mere coincidence, kept tightening around my neck like a noose.

Was it the author’s jealousy that I, a non-protagonist, kept getting entangled with the heroines?

Or was the world itself warning me for acting outside the established rules as a mere extra?

I still don’t know.

However, it seemed my own carelessness played a large part.

The excitement from seeing my skills improve with my stats contributed to this.

Combined with the anxiety and urgency of not knowing what would happen with the monster wave, it led to the current situation.

My first meeting with Princess Sairine was similar.

If I hadn’t needed to prepare for the monster wave in the first place, I wouldn’t have been so eager to obtain a sword.

I smiled gently at Princess Sairine, who looked disappointed.

“When my exile ends, perhaps you could invite me to the palace again?”

“Ah! That’s a good idea.”

“I hope you’ll invite me on a good day.”

It was just an excuse.

By the time my exile ends, the story involving the protagonist Serion Lycus, Princess Sairine, and Princess Etherian will already be well underway.

By then, they’ll probably have forgotten about my existence.

“Very well. It’s rude to keep detaining someone who’s unwell, so I’ll take my leave now.”

“Yes, understood.”

And so I sent Princess Sairine away with an indefinite promise.

After one storm passes, is a hurricane-level tornado all that remains?

Sure enough, as soon as I was alone, Princess Etherian entered the room as if she’d been waiting.

With her arms crossed, she plopped down on the chair beside the bed.

Her flushed, angry expression was a bonus.

“So you’re the youngest of House Alphonse?”

“…Yes, that’s how it turned out.”

“‘That’s how it turned out’? You dare deceive me, a princess?”

I sighed briefly at Princess Etherian, who was glaring at me.

“Honestly, shouldn’t Your Highness be the last person to be angry with me?”

“W-What did you say?”

“Once in the carriage, once when you sent knights after me, and finally after the masked assassin died… didn’t you try to kill me three times?”

Princess Etherian shook her head with a flushed face.

“But I saved you, didn’t I?!”

“Is that what matters? The fact remains that you tried to kill me, someone with no connection to you.”

“How dare you… They said you were a ruffian, and now you’re finally showing your true colors?”

“Why should I try to impress a princess who would kill me at the slightest provocation?”

“Hah…”

Having lost her words, the once-proud Princess Etherian fell silent like someone who had swallowed honey.

Perhaps she was wondering if she regretted saving me.

A long silence followed.

She would start to speak, then stop, try again, then hesitate.

“Why are you hesitating to speak?”

“…Why didn’t you tell him?”

“If you’re asking about my false identity, that was—”

“N-Not that! I heard you spoke with my father, but he didn’t mention anything to me… that’s what I’m asking about.”

“Ah, you’re wondering why I didn’t tell Emperor Mallius that you were the one who hired the assassin?”

Perhaps because I was too direct, Princess Etherian blushed again and cleared her throat, covering her lips with her fist.

“Ahem, yes.”

“Why should I have done that?”

“Um…? Because you’re friends with Princess Sairine, aren’t you?”

“We were childhood friends, nothing more, nothing less.”

“Still…”

As Princess Etherian trailed off, I raised my head firmly and continued.

“Besides, the Emperor hasn’t even approved the succession battle yet. Wouldn’t it be problematic if it became public that Your Highness was plotting something?”

“What does that have to do with you?”

“If the Emperor found out, he would punish Your Highness, and I don’t want that.”

This won’t do.

To maintain the original story, Princess Etherian needs to be in a better position than Princess Sairine.

I can’t afford to twist their standings and have it backfire on me again.

“R-Really?”

Perhaps another misunderstanding had formed, as Princess Etherian’s face turned so red that even her ears seemed about to burst.

I just wanted to end this uncomfortable situation quickly.

“Yes, you should live a long life.”

“Then what did you mean by what you said to me at the end?”

“What are you referring to…?”

“Didn’t you say killing you then was my only chance?”

It seems she’s concerned because it matches the last words of my uncle before he died.

I felt I should resolve her curiosity quickly to avoid further complications.

“Of course. You tried to kill me three times—would you try again?”

“That’s not what I meant—”

“Would you develop feelings for me then?”

“M-Me? Develop feelings for you?!”

“Exactly, that’s why I told you then that it was your only chance to kill me.”

I closed one eye briefly, then opened it.

Princess Etherian clenched her fists and stood up.

“You ruffian… I shouldn’t have saved you then!”

“Come now, I heard from the Emperor that you were crying and begging to save me.”

“S-Shut up! I can’t stand the sight of you!”

Princess Etherian stormed out of the room, her shoulders heaving with anger.

Creeeeak-! SLAM-!

Have I met everyone I needed to meet?

Meeting the Emperor and both princesses in one day has left me exhausted.

I hope I haven’t pushed myself too hard right after waking up.

“Sigh…”

Still, despite today’s difficulties, I need to depart tomorrow.

Someone who was supposed to return right after the imperial event has been bedridden for three days—Padericks and the others at Lake Estate must be worried.

By the way.

I didn’t tell Princess Etherian that I’m leaving tomorrow.

Does it matter?

She probably won’t come looking for me anyway, since I’ve annoyed her so much today.

Grumble-!

My stomach alarm clock suddenly rings.

Perhaps because the tension has eased, hunger strikes all at once.

It’s funny how you can still be hungry even when you’re exhausted. I found myself smirking as I raised my head.

“Jawil Wilson!! I’m hungry!!”

*

Deep in the mountains, untouched by human hands.

An old man emerged from a shabby thatched hut, patting his back with the back of his hand as he walked slowly.

Then, as if to admire the scenery, he painfully straightened his back.

Grooooar-!

The cry of a monster echoed from somewhere.

It must have been a high-ranking monster, as the sound reverberated through the forest like an echo.

However, whether morning or evening, the sound was quite familiar to the old man.

“Hmm~♬”

The old man hummed along with the monster’s cry.

Then he sat cross-legged on a wooden bench, relaxed.

Graaack-!

Though his hearing might be slightly impaired, his vision to appreciate the beautiful scenery and his sense of smell to enjoy the fresh air made the mountains all the more pleasant.

Shortly after, a man carrying a monster’s arm on his back approached the thatched hut.

Thud-!

The man arrived at the hut and dropped the monster part with a “thud.”

Though it was just one arm, it was as large as an entire ordinary monster.

The man grinned at the old man sitting on the wooden bench.

“Master, today we have ogre meat.”

“Oh? It’s been quite a while since ogres have become scarce…”

“It’s been three years since I last caught an ogre.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes, I’ll prepare it right away.”

At the man’s words, the old man stroked his beard thoughtfully before speaking.

“No need, I’ll cook from now on.”

“…Pardon?”

“An ogre that hasn’t appeared for three years. This means there’s a tectonic shift happening among monsters, so from now on, you should focus solely on your training.”

“B-But…”

“Hmm? With little time left before you descend the mountain, I can’t let you waste time on food.”

The old man shot a sharp glance at the man, then effortlessly lifted the ogre’s arm onto his shoulder as if his back had never hurt.

The man, having made up his mind, assumed a proper posture and nodded.

“Serion Lycus, I will obey Master’s command.”