Ch.7373. No, Was I Wrong Last Time?!

“Alright, tell me what’s going on.”

As I settled my body, exhausted from hunting, onto the chair in the study, Pedericks spoke up.

“As I mentioned earlier, another invitation has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”

“What kind of invitation?”

“It’s for the Imperial Princess’s birthday banquet.”

Princess Sairine Silonia’s birthday banquet?

After she came to my room while I was recovering from the assassin’s wounds and repeatedly apologized to me, now she’s sending an invitation?

If she weren’t the Imperial Princess, I would have given her a good knock on the head.

The fortunate thing is that the Etherian Princess, who stands opposite to Princess Sairine, no longer threatens my life, I suppose?

There was some friction, but she’s alive thanks to me, so she wouldn’t try to kill me now, right?

I rested my chin on my palm and made a disinterested expression.

“Pedericks.”

“Yes, my lord?”

“Why am I so popular?”

“…Pardon?”

“You heard me perfectly well, so stop with the ‘pardon?’ I’m asking why I’m so popular!”

Especially among crazy women.

Of course, Sairine Silonia is among the more normal ones, but she’s a future strong ally of the protagonist and the Imperial Princess of the Eastern Continent, so it’s better not to create connections.

It feels like the more I try to avoid them, the more entangled I become.

Pedericks opened and closed his mouth before shaking his head.

“Ha… Young Master, didn’t I tell you to moderate your monster hunting? You seem quite stressed.”

“Ahem! Never mind that. When do we need to leave?”

“In three days. A carriage sent from the Imperial Palace will arrive in the morning. I believe you should depart then.”

Three days from now, in the morning…

I’ve been consistently hunting monsters lately, so stat increases won’t be an issue, but it still feels like a waste of time.

With a monster wave approaching, I have to peacefully attend a birthday banquet…

By the way.

If I go to the Imperial Palace, I won’t have another one-on-one meeting with the Emperor, will I?

Last time, he suddenly barged into my room and everything happened so abruptly, but looking back, it was a truly precarious situation.

One wrong word could have cost me my life.

Still maintaining my indifferent expression, I nodded toward Pedericks.

“Find out what Princess Sairine likes. Better yet, procure it if possible.”

“Find out what Princess Sairine likes? Why so suddenly…”

Have I been giving Pedericks too many tasks lately?

His brain seems to be malfunctioning.

Given the courtesy of a personal invitation, isn’t it normal to prepare a birthday gift?

“It’s a birthday gift, so I should prepare something she likes.”

“But why would you need to know what Princess Sairine likes…”

“Ah! Why can’t you understand? Because it’s Princess Sairine’s birthday!”

When I spoke with an irritated voice, Pedericks adjusted his glasses and continued.

“…It’s Princess Etherian’s birthday banquet, though?”

“P-Princess Etherian?”

“Yes. Princess Etherian sent the invitation.”

What?

Why would the Etherian Princess send me an invitation to her birthday banquet?

After trying to kill me three times, I teased her a bit at the end, and she shouted, “Shut up! I can’t stand the sight of you!” before storming out of the room. Do we have unfinished business?

“Are you sure Princess Etherian sent the invitation?”

“Who else would have sent it?”

“It could be some other faction disguising themselves as the Imperial Palace.”

“What would they gain from you, Young Master?”

Ah, that’s true.

Last time, the Etherian Princess sent assassins to preemptively check me because she was worried about my friendship with Princess Sairine extending to the Alphonse family.

But the misunderstanding has been cleared up now, right?

I cleared my throat, feeling slightly embarrassed.

“Ahem! There’s nothing to gain, indeed.”

“I’ll send a letter to Baron Byron right away.”

“Ha… So my first and second brothers will hear about this again.”

“What can we do? We can’t refuse when Princess Etherian personally sent an invitation.”

“What would happen if we refused?”

Pedericks continued with an expression that seemed to ask if I really didn’t know.

“I’m not sure exactly what kind of person Princess Etherian is, but if she holds grudges like you do, Young Master, it could harm the Alphonse family.”

“You always use me as an example when making comparisons.”

“It’s easier for you to understand that way, isn’t it?”

Though I’m reluctant, what can I do?

When the Imperial Palace says jump, you jump.

The good thing is that I’ve been diligently exploring the Forest of Death, so I have enough time to attend a birthday banquet.

I sighed deeply with the expression of someone being led to the slaughter.

“Pedericks.”

“Yes, my lord?”

“Prepare a gift for Princess Etherian within two days.”

Pedericks bowed respectfully.

“I shall obey your command.”

*

“Young Master, can’t someone else go with you instead of me?”

“What is it now?”

“Who will take care of Lucien if I’m not here?”

“Lucien is mentally much more mature than you. There’s no need to worry.”

Jawill Wilson stroked his chin in contemplation before shaking his head, seemingly unable to accept it.

“No, I can’t do it!”

Ha…

I didn’t want to use this childish method, but do I need to pull out my trump card to persuade Jawill Wilson?

“We’ll stop by the pleasure district on the way to the Imperial Palace.”

“…It’s fine. You should go alone, Young Master.”

He definitely hesitated for a moment.

Yet, proving himself to be the doting uncle he is, Jawill Wilson seemed to have won the battle with himself.

I clapped my hands toward Jawill Wilson and exclaimed in admiration.

“Wow… you’ve changed a lot, haven’t you?”

“It’s not that I’ve changed, but if I accompany you to the Imperial Palace, who will look after Lucien?”

“That’s true.”

“Besides, even Pedericks doesn’t know that Lucien is a dragon, so I should stay and keep watch.”

Thinking about it, he was right.

Taking Lucien to the Imperial Palace would be too risky, and leaving him alone would be concerning.

But with only one day left, who should I take with me?

“Ha… this is a problem.”

“What about Sir Leo Sergan?”

“Someone needs to lead the monster hunts in Lake Territory while I’m gone.”

“Can’t you leave that to the Knight Commander, Sir Rain Breaker?”

“Then who would command the knights remaining at the mansion?”

“Ah… that’s true.”

“That’s why I wanted to take you.”

Jawill Wilson pondered with me before his eyes suddenly lit up.

“Ah! There’s Luna.”

Luna is out of the question.

Didn’t I make a solemn vow to myself after returning from Evis Territory?

That I would never again go anywhere alone with her.

My brow furrowed involuntarily at Jawill Wilson’s unexpected mention of Luna.

“N-not her.”

“With Luna’s skills, there would be no problem escorting you to the Imperial Palace, would there?”

“No matter how skilled Luna is, she’s still a woman. I already have a reputation as a scoundrel. What would people think?”

I hastily made up an excuse, and fortunately, Jawill Wilson blinked as if he saw the point.

“…That’s true. Then what about Pedericks?”

“Pedericks already has too much work. If I asked him to accompany me to the Imperial Palace, he’d probably collapse foaming at the mouth.”

“Come to think of it, there aren’t many people who can accompany you to the Imperial Palace.”

Exactly.

Besides the protagonist’s companions, Jawill Wilson was the only one who immediately came to mind.

Everyone else is busy with training, so I’ll have to look for a suitable knight who can spare the time.

Sometimes what you’re looking for is right under your nose.

By the way.

I need someone to go with me tomorrow.

Most nobles invited to the Imperial Palace are accompanied by one to three knights.

“Do you have anyone to recommend?”

“Even if I did, you probably wouldn’t like my suggestion.”

“Ha… damn it, birthdays only happen once a year, why do people even celebrate them?”

“Y-Young Master!! It would be terrible if others heard you.”

“Who cares? It’s just between us.”

“Please, this time when you go to the Imperial Palace, stay quiet and come back without incident.”

Hey, was I at fault last time?!

The Etherian Princess sent assassins, and I had to act to avoid being killed.

I decided there was no point in continuing this conversation with him.

I pressed one hand against my temple while waving Jawill Wilson away with the other.

“Fine, just go.”

“Don’t ignore my advice. When you go to the Imperial Palace—”

“If you keep nagging, I’ll just take you with me.”

“…I wish you a safe journey.”

Jawill Wilson rushed out of the study without looking back, afraid of being caught.

I sighed briefly, tilted my head back, and stared at the ceiling.

‘How is it possible that I can’t find a single person to take with me?’

I slouched in my chair, lamenting my situation.

Just then, the study door opened again.

Thinking it was Jawill Wilson returning, I looked toward the door.

But to my surprise, a completely unexpected figure was standing at the door, smiling at me.

I rubbed my eyes with my fingers in disbelief and opened my mouth.

“W-what the?!”