I Seem to Have Said Something Extremely Misunderstandable

When I regained consciousness, I was in pitch darkness.

After some time, as my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I began to recognize the surrounding objects.

I was lying on the bed in the guest room of the Duke’s mansion where I had been staying.

The room was dark, and since no light was visible outside the window, I thought it must be nighttime.

“Kugh…!”

Trying to get up, I involuntarily groaned at the sharp pain.

Looking down, I could faintly see bandages wrapped around various parts of my body.

“Ah…”

Right. I was definitely injured.

In fact, there were signs of focused treatment on my shoulder that had been pierced by a rapier, my leg that had been cut by a dagger, and my abdomen that had taken a direct hit from a dagger.

I was definitely stabbed, and the female elf who could still move was rushing toward Riel…

That female elf who charged as if prepared to die was sent flying by Eve who arrived just in time.

If Eve arrived at the scene, Riel must be safe.

“Phew…”

Somehow organizing my thoughts, I collapsed back onto the bed with a wave of relief and fatigue.

Various parts of my body ached.

“Haa…”

The martial arts that I had diligently trained in the harsh northern lands, enough to become the runner-up in the Mushin Festival.

The magic that I had learned while being told by my mother that I had talent, enough to use as support in battle.

But the result was that I barely managed to block the enemies when their number increased to just two.

Moreover, if I had made a mistake, Riel could have been in danger.

“I still have a long way to go…”

I had been arrogant.

I was confident that no one in the same grade could defeat me, that I could protect Riel.

But what was this situation?

So, I needed to become stronger.

Strong enough to always protect my precious person, Riel.

With that resolution, I surrendered to the fatigue and drowsiness washing over me.

When I opened my eyes again, bright sunlight was coming through the window.

Wrapped in the warm summer air, I got up.

For a moment, a sharp pain struck my body, but it was bearable.

Just then, I heard the sound of the door opening.

“Ah…!”

Riel’s bright red eyes trembled as if surprised.

The maid Luca who was behind her also had her eyes wide open in surprise.

Seeing tears welling up in Riel’s eyes, I smiled awkwardly and said:

“G-Good morning, Riel…”

Riel approached quickly with small steps and embraced me tightly.

A sharp pain radiated from my shoulder which had been pierced by a rapier, but I suppressed it and remained silent.

“Sniff… thank goodness… really thank goodness…”

As she cried in my arms, I stroked her back while enduring the rising pain.

I had worried her, Riel, again.

For a long time, I held her tightly as she cried, feeling her warmth and resolving to become stronger.

After some time, when Riel had finally calmed down, I heard the whole story of that day from her and let out a deep sigh of relief.

Really, it was fortunate that Eve arrived.

Regarding the three elf attackers, they were now imprisoned in the underground jail of the Duke’s barracks, she said.

The elf who fought with Lilu had sustained bruises and fractures but was otherwise fine.

In the case of the elder elf sister, she took a direct hit from Riel’s magic, and although she tried to block it with a barrier, she couldn’t completely stop it, resulting in full-body burns and fainting from magical power depletion.

The problem was the elf who had made the final charge.

In her case, she already had full-body burns and was depleted of magical power like her sister, but due to Riel’s magic, Lilu’s arrows, and Eve’s kick that she received during her final charge, her life was in danger.

When Eve was about to finish her off, she was stopped by her subordinates saying they needed to uncover who was behind this, so they managed to save her somehow.

If it had been just us, we would have had to finish her off before the situation became more dangerous, but with knights present, it was better to restrain her and uncover who was behind this.

While Riel and I were talking about various things, the door opened and two people entered.

It was my personal maid Phyllis and Luca who had gone to call her.

“Young Master, I’m glad you’ve regained consciousness.”

“Yeah, sorry for worrying you, Phyllis.”

“No, I should have accompanied you. I’m deeply sorry for failing to protect you.”

“No, I was the one who told you to stay. You have no reason to feel guilty.”

That day, I was the one who told Phyllis to stay with the Duchess.

I thought my strength would be enough to protect Riel. It was my arrogance that led to my current injuries.

Phyllis had no reason whatsoever to feel guilty.

“So, Phyllis, don’t make such a gloomy face.”

“…Yes.”

Seeing her gloomy expression ease slightly, I smiled.

Shortly after, another person entered, following the two maids.

It was none other than Riel’s brother, Young Master Andrew.

He slightly narrowed his brow when he saw Riel holding my hand tightly, but immediately erased that expression without a trace.

…I suppose that kind of emotional control is definitely necessary for a future Duke.

“I see you’ve regained consciousness.”

“Yes. Thank you for your concern.”

“……”

After a moment of silence, Young Master Andrew stood in front of me and bowed his head.

“…I heard from Riel. Thank you very much for protecting my sister.”

“No, on the contrary, I almost put Riel in danger.”

“But in the end, you protected Riel. That alone is worth my bowing to you, I think.”

I was confused by the sudden situation, but Young Master Andrew continued.

“As the next Duke of the Ignis family, I am deeply grateful that you protected my precious family.”

“……”

If he went this far, it would be rude to continue declining out of humility, so I quietly accepted his gratitude.

After Young Master Andrew left the room, Eve and Princess Aine entered.

Eve conveyed her gratitude for protecting Riel until she arrived, but Princess Aine…

Thwack!!

“Ugh!!”

A light flick hit my head directly.

“You made me worry so much!!”

She exclaimed angrily.

I directed a protesting gaze at her, but soon withdrew it.

Because in her eyes, which were cast down after flicking my forehead, two emotions—joy and relief—were clearly conveyed.

Though her way of expressing herself was a bit clumsy, she had always been a person with lots of affection.

…Although she used to make me participate in training almost to the point of bullying.

Still, even if I caught a cold, she would stick by my side to nurse me and bring me porridge she cooked.

…Though the porridge tasted really bad.

Anyway, she was almost like an older sister to me, and I understood well that her action just now was out of concern for me.

“I’m sorry.”

“……”

After a moment of silence at my apology, Princess Aine shook her head from side to side and opened her mouth.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s the same as a mistake in my command. I should have seen through the diversion tactic.”

I was at a loss for words at Princess Aine’s statement.

Her purple eyes were tinged with guilt.

“That’s not possible, Your Highness.”

“…But.”

“In that situation, rather than predicting a diversion tactic and dividing forces, deploying personnel quickly to reduce damage comes first, right?”

In reality, there was only minor damage to buildings and minor injuries, with no deaths or serious injuries.

This was all thanks to the quick deployment of the knights and the leadership of Princess Aine and Young Master Andrew.

“Your Highness made the right decision.”

At my words, Her Highness said nothing.

Andrew, who had just returned from meeting the Wentos Count’s son who was injured while protecting his sister, sat in his room deep in thought.

The servants of the household who had been in a comatose state suddenly started rampaging.

And the intruders who appeared after the knights had gone out to subdue them.

According to Lilu, the elf who had remained in the mansion, the intruders were three elves along with five fairies.

From interrogating the conscious elves, they firmly denied knowing their client.

But the fact that fairies were mixed in with the intruders made it almost certain that Saint Bellia was involved.

He recalled the interrogation of the elves.

His sister Eve, who had just arrived at the mansion but volunteered, was in charge of the interrogation.

Her eyes were such that they looked as if they would tear and kill the subject, so Andrew and Alicia stepped in to restrain her.

Thus, the three of them interrogated the elves.

“…I don’t know the client. We receive requests in writing along with advance payment.”

This was said by one of the elf sisters who, apart from full-body burns, was mainly suffering from magical power depletion.

“Our request was assassination. That female priestess over there, the black-haired boy, and the red-haired girl.”

“…What? Me?”

The one who opened her mouth with a dumbfounded expression was none other than Alicia.

It seemed she was surprised to learn that she was one of the assassination targets.

“We were told that there would be a commotion in the city, and we were to infiltrate according to the fairies’ guidance, kill the targets, and take all of the female priestess’s possessions. That was the request we received.”

Take all of Alicia’s possessions?

Hearing this, Andrew and Alicia looked at each other.

Could Saint Bellia’s objective be the seed of the new World Tree that Alicia had taken?

It’s currently being carried by Riel, kept in her bosom.

Andrew predicted this, but Alicia denied it after leaving the interrogation room.

“Saint Bellia shouldn’t know about the seed of the new World Tree. That was denied by Yggdrasil himself.”

Then Alicia took out another object.

It was a small orb that she had once entrusted to Andrew.

“I think Saint Bellia’s objective was this. It’s a jewel that contains a bit of the power of the World Tree Yggdrasil.”

“So it was such an object.”

“Yes. So I think it’s fine to continue entrusting the seed to Lady Riel.”

Hearing this, Andrew nodded, but still answered with a concerned face.

“But then, aren’t you in danger, Lady Alicia?”

“…If Saint Bellia is after this, then yes.”

“……”

Seeing Alicia answer so nonchalantly, Andrew was silent for a moment.

Soon, he raised his head, walked to Alicia, and faced her.

“Lady Alicia.”

“Yes?”

“Stay by my side.”

“…Whaaat?”

Alicia was startled, her eyes wide open.

“Lady Alicia, you saved my mother’s life and mine. I will protect you with all the power I can muster.”

“…Ah…AHHH!! I see!”

“…?”

Alicia, with a bright red face, bowed her head deeply.

Then he received a report that Kyo Wentos, who had been injured, had regained consciousness and went directly there…

Now, thinking about it again in his room, he felt embarrassment belatedly.

“I seem to have said something extremely misunderstandable.”

Andrew Ignis had never been in a romantic relationship at his age.

He heard that his father and mother had a love marriage, which was rare among nobles, and he himself had boasted loudly that he would follow his father and have a love marriage too.

However, in his childhood, he was busy studying to become the next head of the family, and during his academy days, though he had many friends, he never dated.

Even though he had boasted so loudly about having a romance.

There were quite a few female students who courted him during his school days, but Andrew, who was skilled at reading people’s emotions, could tell that they were all attracted to his position as the future Duke.

Perhaps that’s why he distanced himself from women even more.

Maybe that was why he seemed to have passed the kingdom’s marriageable age and his sense in that area had become numb.

Perhaps that’s why he had said such misunderstandable words.

At that moment, there was a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

“Excuse me.”

A knight entered.

“What is it?”

“Young Master Andrew, a guest has come to see you.”

“A guest…? Ah! Could it be!”

Subsequently, the knight brought in a man with reddish-brown hair.

His age was similar to Andrew’s? The clothes he wore seemed to be made of expensive material but had a modest design.

“Andrew! I came after receiving your letter.”

Andrew greeted him warmly as he greeted.

“Welcome, Gilbert. The situation is as I explained in the letter. Can you help?”

“Haha… It’s not like I’m going to inherit the family anyway, and I’m just eating and playing at home without working, so there’s nothing I can’t help with.”

The young man called Gilbert scratched the back of his head and laughed.

His name was Gilbert Reime.

Although he was a son of the Reime Count family, he was the third son and had no ambition to inherit the family, so he was just playing around at home.

However, his talent was real.

Andrew, who had been his academy classmate, held Gilbert’s hand firmly and said:

“I’m counting on you, Gilbert. For the sake of saving our Duke family too.”

“Well, just make sure to give me a good share when the time comes.”

As Gilbert was saying this, he seemed to remember something and said:

“Hey. By the way, I saw your sister in the corridor earlier, and she’s become very pretty, hasn’t she?”

“I don’t know which one you’re talking about, but whoever it is, I’ll kill you if you touch her.”

“Haha, don’t worry. My type is older sister types.”

‘That’s exactly why I’m worried…’

Andrew muttered this to himself while thinking of his eldest sister, Eve.

In Eve’s case, she seemed almost too mature for her age.

If he said this in front of Eve, he might be burned to death.

After thinking about Alicia as well, he nodded.

That is, to be careful to keep this guy from meeting Alicia as much as possible.