SWDYHTITYDHMP Chapter 205

Characters in this chapter:

1. Sapphiras Perfectio, former 2nd son of the Earl of Aldridge
2. Percival Belisario, 3rd son of Margrave of Vanderwall on the Eastern Frontier
3. Leonce Peard, Percival’s classmate under the same master
4. Edita Fielder, Percival’s classmate under the same master

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“Oh, he’s really there.

“I didn’t think we’d find him in this crowd.”

“What were you doing with Sapphiras?”

Percival glared at Edita as soon as he came running up.

“Wh-what are you talking about? I didn’t do anything.”

Edita, who had been grabbing me by the collar with a menacing look on her face, now smiled.

Given the situation, Percival probably couldn’t see what Edita was doing, so it’s fine if he pretends not to notice. But given the situation, I have no intention of stirring things up in front of Leonce and the others.

“You think I won’t notice?”

“Stop it, Percival. Have you misunderstood something?”

“Misunderstanding? You’ve been deliberately leading Sapphiras away from us.”

Eh? Is that so? I didn’t notice that, but even so, that would be me. I would have gotten lost on my own without Edita having to go to the trouble of messing things up.

Leonce’s expression seemed to indicate that he had realised something about Percival’s behaviour, but the other two were confused by the uneasy atmosphere.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Edita had been creating a peaceful atmosphere until we left the academy. I don’t think she would have thought that she was hostile towards me, the first time we met.

If I didn’t get involved, her relationship with them would be good, since they share the same goal. I don’t want to cause any trouble in their relationship as an outsider.

Thinking this, I glanced up at Percival, who looked like he had no intention of letting this go unresolved. Even if I told him not to worry about it because I don’t mind, Percival wouldn’t be convinced, and Edita would think I was trying to act like a good person.

There was no other way.

“Sorry, Leonce. We’re going back first.”

“Yeah. Sorry, I invited you……”

“No, it’s not Leonce’s fault.”

I took Edita and Percival and transferred to the academy courtyard. There weren’t many people here, and no students would bother to call out to us if we were in a corner.

Edita looks around, surprised at the sudden change of location.

“Eh? Why are we suddenly in the courtyard?”

“We transferred. If we get into an argument there, it’ll just be a bother to Leonce and the others.”

“Ha? A bother……?”

Edita gave a sarcastic smile, not sure what she was thinking.

“Percival, you should tell me straight out now. Who is the one who is the real bother?”

Percival’s tense presence grew even colder even before that. Even though I knew it wasn’t directed at me, it still stabbed me. Edita didn’t notice the obvious change in Percival at all. I’m sorry to say that you’re so insensitive, but maybe you’re not cut out to be a knight?

“Percival is a kind person, so he couldn’t say anything. I know from everyone. You sympathised with his situation and were kind to him, and that’s how you ended up together, but now you couldn’t push him away, so you married him. I understand your sympathy, but was there any need for Percival to sacrifice yourself? That’s ridiculous. I know exactly what Percival wants. That you don’t really want to become an adventurer. It’s so funny to think that someone as talented as Percival would become an adventurer. Not only is your skill with the sword impressive, but you’re also a very skilled swordsman, and have a long history in the Vanderwall frontier. You’re of the Margrave’s bloodline. Even if you keep quiet, you’ll definitely be chosen as the Crown Prince’s guardian knight. An adventurer? Seriously, you’re joking. Just because you’re his partner doesn’t mean you have to grant his every wish. It’s not too late. Quit being an adventurer and follow the path you truly desire. In the first place, that person is completely unsuitable to be Percival’s partner. Just because you can use a little magic, so what? Right, Percival. Don’t hold back or push yourself any longer.”

The moment Edita said this proudly and reached out to touch Percival, a dry sound echoed through the courtyard.

“Eh?”

“Eh?”

By the way, it was my voice that overlapped with Edita’s “Eh?”.

After all, Percival had mercilessly slapped away the young lady’s hand. Moreover, it was strong enough that even I was taken aback. I couldn’t help but look at Percival’s face as he stood next to me.

“N-no. Percival, you……don’t have to force yourself to act like that, even if you’re in front of your partner.”

Edita rubbed the hand that had been slapped, with a confused look on her face.

“Sapphiras is my one and only irreplaceable partner. And he is also a member of my Bellisario family. You should know better than to insult him.”

“Percival? What are you talking about?”

“I’m the one who wants to know what you’re talking about. I don’t know who told you this, but it was me who wanted Sapphiras. Naturally, it was my own will that led me to become an adventurer. I don’t know what you think you know, but I find your words extremely unpleasant.”

It’s rare for Percival, who always tries to be a gentleman, to show such anger towards the young lady, but I’m extremely embarrassed inside when he calls me his irreplaceable partner in public, and I try desperately to keep my expression from relaxing, ignoring the tense atmosphere between us.

Of course, to me too, Percival is my irreplaceable partner!

“Th-that’s a lie, right? When we entered the academy, we all swore to become knights together……”

“Whether or not I swore, I was definitely aiming to be a knight at that time. That’s because I thought it would be better to become a knight if I wanted to support my brothers in the territory.”

“See! That’s not what I thought!”

Edita looked at me with a proud look as if she’d seen it all before.

Wait, is that the part where she looks proud? In the first place, Percival wasn’t aiming to be an escort knight.

“But now it’s different. I chose to be an adventurer to be with Sapphiras. And I’m honing my sword to walk with Sapphiras.”

“Th-that’s a lie! No way! Because Percival is going to be the Crown Prince’s personal escort knight! So I’m working hard to become the future Crown Princess’s……Lady Aurora’s personal escort knight!”

Up until now, Percival hadn’t said anything that could be misunderstood by Edita. Despite Percival’s clear denial, Edita still refuses to accept it. I’m sure she twists the interpretation of things she doesn’t want to hear to suit her own convenience, or just ignores them, but then I wonder who the “everyone” Edita is talking about is.

Well, it’s true that the Crown Prince would be happy if Percival became his guard.

“You can pursue your own path as you wish, but I would like you to refrain from associating with Sapphiras and I from now on.”

“Why……we are comrades, aren’t we?”

“No. If you’d acted more appropriately, we could have had that kind of relationship. But to me, you’re not a comrade or anything to me.”

“No way! Percival, no!”

Edita reached out to me again, so I quickly put up a barrier. Percival clearly rejected her. Even I can’t take anymore than this.

Edita, blocked by an invisible wall, opened her eyes wide in shock, but she seemed to realise immediately that I was behind it.

“You! Get out of our way!”

“It’s you who’s in our way.”

“!”

Before I can open my mouth, Percival cuts me off. The usually gentle colour of Percival’s eyes is like ice.

Glared by that cold gaze, Edita must have finally realised her mistake. She bit her trembling lip and lowered her head.

“Let’s go, Sapphiras.”

“…… yeah.”

I feel somewhat sorry for her, but I’m sure she wouldn’t want to be pitied by me, her enemy. Urged by Percival, I left the courtyard.

“……Sorry, Sapphiras. I made you feel bad.”

“Eh? No, not at all. It’s nothing. More than that, it’s Percival. You always see her in the morning and after school for sword training. It’s probably going to be awkward, isn’t it?”

It’s not a problem. I don’t know her that well anyway.”

“Ha? Eh? But you’re close enough to go out together, right?”

“No. I noticed that we were often together, but I don’t remember us being particularly close.”

“I-I see……”

Indeed, Percival never called her by name. In other words, they weren’t close enough to call each other by name. So Edita was acting as if she was Percival’s friend and was acting with him.

That’s something……

But Percival’s last kindness was probably not telling her that she couldn’t become an escort knight. It’s hard to face reality because you’re so quick to think things through, but there’s still a lot of time until graduation. I hope she’ll realise that for herself.

 

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melon: All caught up now! I will try to check every week for updates from the author.