episode_0082

It was less than an hour later that someone came out of the imperial palace.

“Ischwald?”

“It’s been a while. Count.”

The one who came to meet her was Ishwald Grichs, the commander of the Imperial Knights and a Lord-level knight.

I don’t think he’d be the type of guy to do chores like this.

‘Does the emperor care that much about this woman?’

Deltan thought about it blankly, but then remembered who the person she was talking to about marriage was and understood.

‘… but.’

This is a card that will completely bring Duke Leviathan to your side, and you will want to treat it with care.

The Deltan frowned and frowned as if he was fed up.

“I put him to sleep so I took him quickly.”

She was a woman with whom it would be no good to be involved further.

To the point where I’m afraid to even wonder what the hell I’m thinking about living.

Ishwald nodded and headed inside, as if he was aware of the Deltan’s feelings.

So he took the 7 princesses with him and left.

“Huh… .”

Deltan pressed his eyes.

Now it’s time to take a look at Agnes.

He must have been shaking in despair again.

Judging by past experience, this was certain.

Thinking back to the first time I visited this mansion and the moment during the conversation when Duke Levadein was talking about his marriage, I could now tell even if I didn’t like it.

On days like this, Deltan had to feel awkward about how to treat her.

I didn’t bother mentioning this because I didn’t like it, but today it was an unavoidable situation.

Deltan let out a long sigh and entered his bedroom in the mansion.

“… What are you doing?”

Should I say that too?

Agnes was curled up in bed, her whole body tightly wrapped in a blanket.

Next to the bed, Hornrake was watching, not sure what to do.

“You should go out.”

[yes!]

For some reason, the spirit seemed to be embarrassed by this situation as he just kept running away without even responding.

Whenever it pants as if it wants to drain your liver or gallbladder, it seems like it’s a spirit with no steadfastness.

Deltan shook his head and then sat down on the bed, crossed his legs, and asked.

“Are you going to keep doing that?”

“… No.”

Agnes peeked her head out from between the blankets.

He moved his face here and there, perhaps trying to control his expression, but it seemed to Deltan that he would not be able to return to his usual expression today.

That was the reason I stretched out my hand.

“… Stop it and come out.”

Deltan’s hand touched Agnes’ head.

Agnes, startled, stiffened.

Then, he slowly relaxed his strength and soon put his head out a little more so that he could be stroked comfortably.

I lowered my eyes.

“… I want to stay like this a little longer.”

“I wonder if it’s difficult.”

When I rub under my eyes with my thumbs, my eyes slowly close.

Then, when you brush your hair, you move your head in the direction your hand is moving.

How should I express it?

Although he didn’t intend to think of it in this atmosphere, Deltan remembered that the sight looked exactly like a dozing cat.

Deltan said, laughing for no reason.

“Still, it’s nice that he’s calm.”

“I don’t want to be quiet when you say that.”

“Hold on.”

Hold-

Agnes’ lips pouted when she pressed her cheek with her thumb.

“Uff… .”

“Eomsal is.”

Deltan took his hand away.

Agnes said, ‘Ah… ‘ He looked up at Deltan and lifted the blanket and said.

“Please come here.”

Underneath the exposed blanket, Agnes was still wearing her going out clothes.

“It’s still broad daylight.”

“They say taking a nap is good for your health.”

Since it was true, there was no need to refute it again.

Deltan thought for a moment, then took off his shoes and climbed onto the bed.

As he lay down next to her, Agnes covered Deltan’s body with the blanket in one go.

“Arm pillow.”

When Deltan offered his arm, he laid his head on it and buried his head in his arms.

“Hug me.”

Are you trying to do something like infantile regression?

Deltan narrowed his eyes as memories of heading to the snowy mountain came back.

‘no way… .’

Could it be that I was tempted?

“Quickly.”

I don’t think that’s the one with the clear voice.

Deltan wrapped his arms around her, thinking she might just want to play a fool.

Agnes then seemed to be satisfied and quietly exhaled.

I had loosened my tie out of frustration, so her breath hit my collarbone, and it tickled me.

It didn’t seem like he was in the mood to take her off, and Deltan thought that the only way was to put her to sleep, so he patted Agnes on the back.

Agnes said.

“Good. This.”

“Then go to sleep.”

“It looks like they want to put you to sleep quickly.”

“Sleep helps when you’re depressed. It’s not a superstition, it’s real.”

“Then can I think of this as comforting?”

“It’s a medical prescription.”

“There is no romance.”

Agnes continued to answer in a drowsy voice.

The voice gradually becomes quieter.

Also, her breathing becomes more regular.

At that point, relief began to well up in the Deltan.

Wouldn’t it be okay to just let her sleep like this and finish the rest of the work?

While I was thinking about that, Agnes spoke in a low voice.

“Deltain.”

“… Ah, uh.”

“You’re not curious.”

“What.”

“Why I don’t like my dad remarrying.”

Isn’t it because the other person is your friend?

The Deltan who was about to say that endured it with superhuman patience.

It was because it sounded like there was a different reason for the way he was speaking.

“… I didn’t feel the need to be curious about such a story.”

“If I tell you, will you listen?”

Is it sleepy?

Or maybe he just wanted to vent his frustration.

Whatever it was, the Deltans had only one answer.

“… I can listen. In terms of patient management.”

To be honest, I was curious.

From what I learned during our time together, it seemed like she had special feelings for her mother.

Is that all there is to it? Considering the way she seemed to be possessed by the devil and the lack of affection that was implicitly revealed, I had no idea that this could be about a woman named Agnes.

Agnes pursed her lips for a moment.

Then he said.

“I hate losing my mom’s place.”

“It’s not that I don’t understand.”

“Yes, actually, being Elina isn’t important. If it weren’t for the reason I mentioned, it wouldn’t have mattered if Elina was my partner. Because I’m a precious friend.”

Deltan had a lot he wanted to say, but he held back.

However, no one would be able to forgive their friend for becoming a mother.

This thought could not be erased.

Agnes continued to ask in the silence that emerged.

“You know. Do you think this marriage is right?”

You could have said no.

But Deltan didn’t do that.

It was because I thought that she was not asking this question because she wanted comfort through honest words.

“… Politically correct. Because there are benefits to both sides.”

It’s good that the imperial family can become a clear ally with Duke Levadein.

Duke Levadeine is happy to be able to prove his loyalty by shaking off the noble faction that has been bothering him.

There was nothing to lose in the meantime.

“They say marriage is an obligation for nobles. Even if you remarry, it would be the same.”

“They won’t say no.”

“Wouldn’t you be annoyed if that happened?”

“That’s right.”

“And what are you asking?”

Agnes giggled.

Deltan sighed.

“So, what do you want to say?”

“Do Deltans think I’m being unreasonable?”

“I don’t.”

“That’s an immediate answer.”

“No matter who you bring, your friend will react the same way if you tell him that he is aiming for your mom’s place.”

“When you say that, it makes me realize it again.”

“I don’t think it will happen if you ignore it.”

Deltan was still patting Agnes on the back.

So I chose my words and spit them out.

“… People tend to give special meaning to family relationships. Because humans are animals that need to form groups.”

“Yes.”

“In the end, that’s what a group is. It’s like a boundary dividing my side and my enemy. As such, if there is an empty space in the fence and someone comes in looking for that space, it won’t look good. Likewise, if a new person suddenly appears one day, you will become wary.”

The moment he uttered those words, Deltan thought of his adoptive parents.

The eyebrows narrowed.

Fortunately, he was able to relax his eyebrows before Agnes found out.

“In the end, that’s what I want to say. You have a very normal defense mechanism.”

I don’t know if it would have been any consolation.

Deltan simply did what he could in this situation.

“… So if I try to kill Elina, will you help me?”

“I think that went too far.”

“He said I was normal.”

“The emotions you feel are normal.”

“The thought of wanting to kill is also an emotion.”

“Cut that out. It’s a rotten leaf.”

“Be like a sword.”

Agnes tapped her chest with her forehead.

He looked very dissatisfied.

Deltan sighed and said.

“If you don’t like the duke’s marriage that much, you can stop it. It might be a little annoying, but.”

I meant it.

In fact, she was able to speak privately with the emperor and ask him not to marry.

Deltans had that level of rank and power.

Agnes’ movements stopped.

Deltan lowered her head, but he couldn’t make out her expression as her face was already buried in his arms.

“… Don’t answer.”

When she grumbled like that, Agnes’ arms grew stronger.

“Thank you for saying that.”

It was an expression of gratitude that was unusual for her.

What followed was another unexpected statement.

“But I still won’t do it.”

“He said he wanted to kill me.”

“Then you have to kill all the princesses. I think that will be difficult.”

“Well, there are a lot of numbers.”

Deltan burst out laughing.

Of the more than ten people, only three or four got married.

It was dizzying to think that all those women were potential Duchesses of Levadeine.

Agnes said.

“I think it would be okay if you were there instead.”

“What do you mean? That is.”

“I still don’t want my dad to remarry, but I couldn’t think about it when you were next to me. So, will you continue to stay by my side?”

Deltan felt hot inside.

Whatever her intention, there was no denying that these words were stirring emotions.

‘They come in with a sigh.’

I guess I was so surprised that I didn’t listen for a moment.

Deltan ignored it and said.

“I’m a busy person.”

I thought I said it too coldly, so I added a word.

“… Still, I’ll invest the extra time I have left. Because I need your magic coins.”

Agnes’s breath came out in a puff.

“… Yes.”

The voice became a little quieter.

“Deltain.”

“Why.”

Agnes, who did not answer right away, whispered in an even quieter voice.

“… Actually, everything I just said was all done to get you to confess. I thought it would be enough to stimulate sympathy. So it’s all a lie.”

It was sudden.

What was the lie? I was definitely sleepy.

Now that I see them trying to resolve things with words that don’t work.

“It’s okay to forget. I’ll think of something a little more creative tomorrow.”

It’s probably asking you to forget.

The Deltan said yes in his language.

“Go to sleep.”

“Yes.”

After that, Deltan patted Agnes’ back until she fell asleep comfortably.

The funny thing is, Deltan never got out of bed after that.

The reason was that while we were having a small conversation, we both became drowsy and eventually Deltan fell asleep.

I fell asleep without even changing my clothes until dusk the next morning.

Deltans woke up refreshed in the morning after a long sleep.

“Count, they have moved.”

The time has come for demon hunting.