Characters in this chapter:
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Sapphiras Perfectio, 2nd son of the Earl of Aldridge
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Percival Belisario, 3rd son of Margrave of Vanderwall on the Eastern Frontier
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Gabriel McMillan, Commander of the Order of Magicians
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Aquila Perfectio, 3rd son of the Earl of Aldridge, Sapphiras’ former younger brother
“Sapphiras……? What’s wrong? Does it hurt somewhere?”
Percival is unusually flustered.
But I’m the most panicked. Because tears are coming out on their own. Embarrassment too, I’m not sure if this is what happens when it goes beyond the limits! I’m surprised!
“I-I’m sorry! Somehow, tears are coming out on its own……”
“Wait, it’s not good to rub too hard.”
I rubbed my face with my sleeve, and Percival immediately took out a handkerchief, held my arm, and gently wiped my wet cheek.
I’m a little impressed with how quickly the handkerchief was whipped out, but I don’t know how it is under the tattered gloves, so now is not the time to be worried about me.
“Fo-forget about me……let’s get your hand healed quickly!”
“Yeah, that’s right. Belisario-kun, get your hand healed as soon as possible.”
The white magician called by Gabriel-san starts healing Percival. As expected, the skin under the gloves was red and sore, but fortunately, the burns are not that severe and the healing process is over quickly. Since he’s a white magician belonging to the Order of Magicians, I’m sure he’s skilled, but just to be sure, I checked Percival’s healed hand carefully.
“Does it hurt anywhere? Is there any twitching?”
“Aah, I’m fine. No different than before.”
Percival clenched the healed hand strongly and firmly, then opened it. There is no awkwardness in the movement.
“……Thank goodness.”
Exhaling a sigh of relief, I understood Percival’s worries about me. Telling me time and againg not to overdo it and asking if I’m okay. When did Percival start feeling like this? It’s fine if it’s someone you don’t care about, but if it’s important to you, you can’t help but worry.
Yes……if, it’s an important, partner……
“!”
After carelessly reconfirming it, the fever that should have finally calmed down returned. I cover my face with both hands and look up at the ceiling. I-I can’t……I can’t stand any more embarrassment.
“Sapphiras? Are you sure you’re alright?”
“I can’t…….”
“……Yes, yes. Wouldn’t it be better if you two went home early and had a nice long talk?”
While Gabriel-san was a little amazed, he easily lifted the unconscious Earl on his shoulders. While admiring that he was such a strong magician, we left the place because he was kind enough to take care of us. I’m more clumsy than ever and I’m only going to get in the way of being here.
“
“
So here I am, standing opposite Percival in a room with an air of restlessness that is probably only felt by me. I’ve become aware that Percival cares for me, and the first thing I have to say to him is.
‘Sapphiras? You’ve been acting strange since a while ago, what’s wrong?”
I’m acting weird, isn’t this happening because of Percival. He pulls off a reckless, rough trick and then says something like that without being at all self-conscious about it, that’s the way the Knight of the Sun is.
Looking back, Percival respected what I wanted to do from the moment we met. He doesn’t say anything because he’s good at taking care of others, but I’m sure I was reckless every time I did something. Afterall, I had memories of my previous life, so I was running wild from the very beginning. No one stopped me when I was Fortis, and my friends were pretty crazy too.
If I push hard with magic, the normally calm and collected Percival will have to go along with me. Even though he can’t do the same thing as a magician, no matter how good he is with a sword.
“Percival……I’m sorry for all the reckless things I’ve done up until now. I’ve reflected. From now on I’ll try to think a little more carefully before I act.”
“I don’t know why you’re reflecting on it, but you don’t need to worry about that, Sapphiras.”
“But if I do something careless, it will take a toll on Percival.”
Now I know what it’s like to be the one who worries.
“I always want to be a partner who can fight alongside Sapphiras. I’m not going to spare any effort for that, and I don’t think it’s hard, in fact, I’m even enjoying it, wondering how far I can grow. So, Sapphiras can go on as he pleases without looking back. I will always have your back. That’s my way of being a partner for Sapphiras. Besides, if I really think it’s dangerous, I’ll do my best to stop you.”
……Isn’t he too tolerant? Is he really the same age as me? Even though I’m older than him on the inside!?
It’s like my nature to jump into the turmoil in light of the circumstances of my reincarnation, and even if I try to restrain myself, I won’t be able to do it in the end. Percival understands that part of me better than I do.
I’m a short-sighted person who tries to solve everything with magic, so I need a partner like Percival who is broad-minded and thoughtful. Otherwise, no matter how much magical power I have and how much magic I can use, I might inadvertently die prematurely from something silly like in my previous life.
No matter how hard I try, I’ll never be able to compete with Percival. When I thought that, I somehow felt tickled and buried my face in Percival’s chest. The familiar scent of lemon and mint calms my mind.
‘……Isn’t Percival being too sweet to me?”
“You can’t help being sweet to the person you like.”
“Li……!”
My face is boiling hot again. Even though I’ve just calmed down! The pursuit of the Knight of the Sun-sama is formidable!
I also trust Percival, I feel at ease with him, and of course I li-like him……but it’s not easy to say. After all, isn’t it embarrassing?
Instead of saying ‘I like you’, I press my forehead against Percival’s chest. I’ll tell him in words before long, so please wait until then……
As if in answer to the murmur of my heart, Percival gently stroked my back.
That evening, a servant of the ducal family came to deliver confectioneries. Come to think of it, I remember he said he would let me have the confectioneries I left behind. I’d forgotten all about it because of the shocking thing that happened.
I was grateful for the tea that Percival brewed. The confectioneries from the castle are delicious after all.
But still, His Excellency the Duke is a very polite man for going out of his way to have them delivered to my dormitory.
”
“
A few days later, Percival and I went again to the Order of Magicians’ camp once again.
The Earl was imprisoned for using magic with the intent to harm innocent academy students, and was fitted with a curse tool to seal his magic. It’s the same curse tool that was used when I was kidnapped. I didn’t realise that in this day and age, people really do use curse tools. The Earl must have felt quite humiliated1if you rmb, it’s in the form of a collar to have such a thing put on him.
If it ends like this, my former father, the Earl of Aldridge, will be completely finished. It is questionable what will happen to the Earl’s family itself. I don’t understand why he went to the trouble of getting involved and digging his own grave, when he should have left me alone since he had driven me out of the house. What did he want?
I don’t care what happens to the Earl’s family, but I am a little concerned about Aquila. I pray in the corner of my heart that they don’t treat him too badly.
As for the Second Prince, I heard that he only did what the Marquess of Fargerson told him to do, and that he doesn’t know anything about it. He’s a splendid puppet. Of course, he can’t just say he doesn’t know after causing such a commotion. He’s not a small child and he should be able to figure that out if he had thought about it.
I’m tempted to wonder how the education of princes in this country is going, but His Highness the Crown Prince is very decent, so it’s probably just a matter of the Second Prince’s personal qualities.
The Marquess of Fargerson then suddenly disappeared from the Knights’ detention room. Did he escape of his own volition or was he taken away? In any case, there was no trace of him left in the detention room.
A possible explanation is transfer magic. It is not known whether the Marquess himself was able to use transfer magic or whether a magician who could use transfer magic helped him. I heard that the Knights and the Magicians are trying hard to find him, but the search is proving difficult.
Gabriel-san told me to be careful because there could possibly be retaliation due to resentment. Because of this, a knight and a magician will be sent to the academy for the time being. But if the Marquess comes, I’m going to return the favour, so there’s no problem.
Then I was asked how I became aware of the beast flute. In a country where slavery has long since been abolished, few people know about the beast flute. He thought it was unnatural that I, a young man, should know about the beast flute. In such a case, I would immediately solve the problem by saying that I had read about it in a book. Everything important is written in books. But it’s not like I’m lying. Books are wise men who do not speak.
And one more thing. Unfortunately, the alliance with Worstitters came to a standstill just before it was concluded. But Clawis is doing his best to reach out to his homeland. Solmontana wasn’t trying to bring down the Beastmen, it was just a scheme hatched by the Marquess’ faction. However, it was done by the nobles of this country, so ‘we’re sorry, forgive us? it can’t be helped, let’s forgive.’, we can’t say something like that. If only we can find a good compromise.
But still, where on earth has the Marquess gone……?