I Promise

“I-I showed an embarrassing side.”

Reina felt embarrassed once her emotions had somewhat calmed, realizing that she had come to apologize but ended up receiving comfort and even shedding tears.

“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Lady Artin. I said you can visit anytime, so please feel comfortable.”

“Young Lord…”

At Theodore’s kind words, Reina felt a different emotion surging violently, separate from the depressed feelings she had been experiencing due to stress.

How should she express this emotion?

‘It’s difficult to express.’

Even Reina herself couldn’t define it in just one word.

The accumulated sorrow, fear and resentment toward her brother William, curiosity about her eldest brother Theodore whom she didn’t even know the face of and who had been gone long before the time she could remember, and the desire for a proper brother—many emotions she normally kept inside were all mixed together.

But she knew what she wanted.

“Then, though it may be shameless of me to ask Young Lord Skyroad and Lady Arsein… may I make one request?”

“It’s fine, feel free to speak without burden.”

Hearing Theodore’s answer, Reina looked back and forth between Theodore and Yuria for a moment.

With an appearance so similar to William’s, like twins, and seeing her mother Ceres call him Theodore, Reina thought that perhaps there was a non-zero possibility that he might really be her biological brother, Theodore Artin.

But that wasn’t what was important to her.

Even if he really was Theodore Artin, it would be natural for him to make Theodore Skyroad his identity, as he would surely never want to forgive that terrible life in House Artin.

Therefore, even if he really was Theodore Artin, or had been Theodore Artin in the past, the fact that he was now Theodore Skyroad remained unchanged.

So, having decided not to ask about the truth, Reina decided to make a personal request to Theodore Skyroad, the person she met for the first time today, and his fiancée, Yuria Arsein.

“Umm… may I call you brother and sister comfortably from now on? P-perhaps was that too rude a request?”

As Reina carefully revealed her request, looking slightly nervous, Theodore’s hand gently stroked her head.

“Ah…”

Reina’s eyes trembled.

Theodore’s gentle touch as he stroked her head and the kind smile he wore was what she had always dreamed of.

“If that’s what you want, you can call me that anytime.”

“I’m fine with it too. Call me whatever you’re comfortable with.”

At Theodore and Yuria’s words, Reina nodded with tears welling in her eyes.

“Yes! Theodore brother, Yuria sister. Thank you both so much.”

“You don’t have to use formal speech, you can just speak comfortably?”

“I’m fine with that too. Feel free to speak comfortably.”

Theodore and Yuria simultaneously suggested that she could speak to them comfortably.

But Reina shook her head.

“No. Because it’s become a habit, formal speech is more comfortable for me. Just allowing me to call you brother and sister… thank you.”

Reina realized her honest feelings.

She was so weary that she wanted to lean on and depend on someone.

Though they were people she was meeting for the first time, she had developed a desire to rely on these two who treated her so kindly.

‘Coming to apologize… only to make such requests.’

Self-deprecation arose.

But at the same time, she felt the situation was very tempting.

“Feel free to visit anytime, Reina. Tell me if you ever need a sister.”

As Yuria spoke with a kind smile, Reina unconsciously smiled slightly as well.

She, who was always just depressed, was able to finally show a bright smile.

“Yes! Thank you, sister.”

And Reina asked Theodore and Yuria:

“May I visit anytime… and rely on you?”

“Yes, of course!”

Yuria said with a smile. And Theodore also followed with a calm tone:

“I promise, Reina, that I’ll always treat you like this whenever you visit.”

---

After Reina left, Theodore stood silently for a while.

Seeing him like that, Yuria carefully asked:

“Um, Young Lord Theodore? You’ve been quiet for a while… are you alright?”

“It’s nothing.”

Theodore waved his hand lightly as if it really was nothing.

But to Yuria, it seemed that he was deep in thought.

‘He must have mixed feelings.’

The appearance of Reina Artin must have been quite shocking.

Despite her status as the young lady of House Artin, her going around apologizing for the wrongs her brother committed seemed to have given him much to think about.

“That child didn’t do anything wrong… it’s sad to see her suffering emotionally at an age even younger than my sister.”

“Do you sympathize with her?”

Theodore asked in response to Yuria’s words.

At the question of whether she sympathized, Yuria nodded.

“Yes, unlike Young Lord Theodore, that child is fragile and needs help.”

Theodore Skyroad didn’t need sympathy; as far as she knew, he was arrogant but had the abilities to back it up.

But Reina Artin was just a young girl who couldn’t stand alone.

She couldn’t help but feel deep sympathy for her.

“Yes, that’s probably true.”

Theodore nodded, affirming Yuria’s words.

Though she had expected it, it felt strange to see him affirming her words so readily.

“It’s interesting to see you agree so easily, Young Lord Theodore.”

“A genius who looks down on the world is not understood by people. But that doesn’t mean I’m not a person. I understand because I have a younger sister too.”

Judith Skyroad.

Indeed, Theodore had a younger sister whom he adored very much, though not related by blood, and her age happened to be the same as her own younger sister, Lilia.

Feeling this strange commonality, Yuria asked:

“Are you thinking of Lady Judith?”

“That’s part of it. My sister Judy is always bright and energetic. Seeing Reina naturally reminds me of her.”

Confirming that he too felt sympathy like herself, Yuria felt a sense of empathy with his troubled feelings.

A few days ago, she wouldn’t have imagined feeling such empathy with him, who had been an annoying genius in the Arcan Empire, wearing a mask when dealing with others and only being kind to the people of House Skyroad.

“Let’s resume training for now. We need to start classes next week, so I’ll teach you a few more things until then.”

“Yes.”

---

‘So many things happening one after another.’

Theodore recalled that it was only Friday afternoon, meaning there were still 3 days left until Monday.

After teaching Yuria some methods of power utilization and instructing her to practice, he entered his assigned mansion and immediately cast a spell.

Then, a rectangular screen-like image appeared before him, and someone’s face immediately appeared on the screen.

[I’ve been waiting, Young Lord Skyroad.]

And Theodore knelt on one knee and bowed respectfully.

“Theodore Skyroad, heir to House Skyroad, greets His Majesty the Emperor of the Arcan Empire.”

The Emperor of the Arcan Empire nodded to him, who had first paid his respects.

[Yes. Young Lord Skyroad, thanks to the information obtained through the assassins and the traces left by the foolish William Artin, we are fiercely pressuring the Britannia Empire after easily uncovering his crime. Hoho, House Skyroad and House Arsein are showing great anger.]

It was natural for his family, House Skyroad, to be angry.

If anyone among them had almost been harmed, he too would have been angry as a <family> member just for that fact.

[And I don’t know if you’ll be interested, but Duke Arsein was complaining. He said he’s dying caught between his daughter and wife. Hahaha!]

As the Emperor burst into laughter as if it was really amusing, Theodore also smiled slightly.

“You haven’t changed despite being away for a few days, Your Majesty.”

[What, do you think I’m an old man? I’m only 18 years older than you at 39. Still a young age.]

“That’s nearly twice my age.”

[Hmph, anyway… your peculiarity of being loyal yet not accommodating hasn’t changed even there.]

The Emperor lightly grumbled, then cleared his throat and continued.

[Ahem! Anyway. I think it might be time to reveal your true identity to Duke Arsein… would that be alright?]

“The issue with the Duchess of Arsein seems serious.”

[That’s right. She seemed to yield for a moment, but now she’s causing a commotion, saying she’ll bring Lady Yuria back by any means necessary. She’s insisting on proceeding even if Lady Yuria opposes it.]

“So you’re saying we need to reveal my identity to persuade her?”

The Emperor nodded at Theodore’s words.

[Exactly. If we reveal your identity, wouldn’t the Duchess of Arsein be more reassured? Hmm, was it too much to ask?]

Only a very few in the royal family and the people of House Skyroad knew Theodore Skyroad’s identity.

Now Yuria probably knew the truth as well, but even she might only consider it as a near-certainty, not something she could be 100% sure of.

After all, he hadn’t told her the truth yet.

‘I’m pondering.’

Theodore realized that he was currently in deep thought.

He hadn’t seriously contemplated anything for a long time, usually proceeding without hesitation, so the fact that he was now lost in thought was a strange sensation.

The concern was that he hadn’t yet told the truth to Yuria Arsein, so he couldn’t reveal the truth to House Arsein already.

“I’m afraid that won’t work. Instead, it would be better to provide more information about my actual abilities and appease them with the fact that I will guard her with my life.”

[Hmm, so it really won’t work. I understand. Then I’ll try that approach.]

“Yes. Is there anything else?”

The Emperor nodded at Theodore’s question.

[Nothing else except that I’m feeling satisfied seeing the Britannia Empire groveling to our Arcan Empire. Hoho, I want to see as soon as possible the Britannia Empire, which has been running wild supporting a fake, become a laughingstock when your true identity is revealed.]

The Emperor had a fundamentally cheerful disposition. Even during his Crown Prince days, despite the age difference, he had built considerable friendship with Duke Skyroad and Duke Arsein, and as a result, his character was well-regarded even within the imperial palace.

Theodore also agreed that he was an emperor with a decent character.

But at the same time, the Emperor was still an emperor.

His anticipation of humiliating other countries for his own country’s prestige, thinking of national interests, showed that he was indeed an emperor.

“I would appreciate it if you could convey that I promise to protect Lady Yuria Arsein to the Duchess of Arsein.”

[Tsk, using the Emperor as a means of communication. Would it hurt you to say it directly? Tsk.]

“Wouldn’t your words carry more weight, Your Majesty?”

At Theodore’s words, the Emperor nodded in agreement and smiled bitterly.

[That’s true. Then I’d better help the poor Duke Arsein. How much must he be suffering to come and complain to me? Tsk. Right now, he’s quiet as he’s fervently protesting along with Duke Skyroad, but if this isn’t resolved quickly, I might go bald from the stress. Sigh~]

And right now, the Britannia Empire was facing the fiercely protesting House Skyroad and House Arsein, sweating profusely as they tried to somehow prevent this matter from escalating.

[Then I’ll end the communication. Let me know immediately if there’s any other important news.]

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll keep that in mind.”

And Theodore deactivated the magic, turning off the video screen.

‘Protests, huh. The Britannia Empire will try to downplay this incident, but they’re in the palm of my hand anyway.’

The one acting as the joker that could overturn everything was none other than himself, Theodore Skyroad.

And the Arcan Empire, to which such a joker belonged, would never be intimidated no matter what the Britannia Empire said to dismiss this incident.

‘Because they know that William Artin is not the real Chosen One.’

He was not a brilliant sun.

He was just a lump of filth lying on the street, not even a single ray of sunlight.

The Britannia Empire probably feels that he is nothing but filth, but they’re forcibly packaging him as the sun, though that scheme won’t last long either.