Days had passed since that hectic incident.
Juke Andrews — much evidence of his connection to [Floné the Lightning Strike] was found — was officially executed by the kingdom in secret.
Father, knowing all the circumstances, spoke with the King and it was decided. A performance to soothe the public.
In reality, he’s confined in the kingdom’s dungeon. No reason to kill our information source.
That said, his mind broke; he can no longer answer coherently…… reaping what he sowed.
Andrews stored even what should have been thrown away — quite the zealot.
That at the last moment he tried to shift blame to Floné shows what mattered most to him was himself.
The aftermath of the incident changed many things. In noble circles, Andrews’s disappearance was huge — corrupt lords are vying underwater to succeed his slave market.
But none has Andrews’s level of influence, and the exposed fools are being purged by the kingdom.
That’s what changed for society.
As for around me……
”…… Lord Ouga. Open your mouth — aaahn.”
“Aaahn.”
Alice, restored as maid, now waits on me even more attentively than before.
The cause — my right arm, wrapped in bandages.
The aftereffects of [Gear Change · Hard] from the brainwashed-Alice fight linger; chronic pain doesn’t subside.
[Heal] works only on the sword cut. So I keep it immobilized.
Even the body the world gave me can’t sustain consecutive [Gear Change · Hard] uses.
It got this bad from that brief exchange — sealing it for a while.
Stopping Alice from cutting off her own right arm when she learned my arm was unusable was its own ordeal……
After persuasion, she’s now acting as my right-arm-substitute (physical) — a very maid-like role.
Maybe because of all this, Alice unusually didn’t yield this role to Mashiro and the others.
“Thanks for the meal.”
“Pleased to serve. Lord Ouga, the bathroom?”
“I’m fine. I can do that myself, no need to follow.”
“I see……”
Aside from that — our hearts feel closer.
Previously she suppressed emotions visibly; now that’s lifted.
Something inside her must have come unstuck.
Though her depression at not being allowed to follow me to the toilet — please stop.
”…… Ah, the time.”
The clock showed it was the hour Father called me.
I stood, and as I made to go to the office, Alice opened the door.
A wheelchair waited in the corridor.
”…… Alice. This?”
“In case you fall and worsen your arm, I prepared it.”
I’d assumed her usual overreach, but a proper reason — surprising. (Keeping that to myself.)
If so — let me indulge.
I sat in the wheelchair; Alice gently pushed.
“At this rate of care, I’ll become a useless person.”
“You tend to take everything on yourself, Lord Ouga. This level is just right.”
“That so?…… Well, then. When my arm recovers, you’re joining tons of training with me.”
“Understood. I’ll prepare a rehab menu.”
“Skipping for a while means the rebound will be brutal.”
“Take time, recover the feel gradually.”
…… Yes, sometimes a slow time like this is good.
I’d want it forever, even.
This recent time is exactly the spoiled-by-a-pretty-girl slow life I aimed for.
“Ah, stairs. Should I stand?”
“No, please stay seated. I’ll carry you as-is.”
Alice lifted the wheelchair without even a wobble, descended the stairs.
Father’s office sits at the end of the corridor.
“Thanks, Alice. On the way back——”
“I’ll wait here, so please rest assured.”
“——All right. I’ll trust you.”
Not a bad thing. Let her do as she likes.
“And, Lord Ouga. Let me give you this now.”
She handed me a cute pink envelope.
Our letter-exchange continues.
I’ve learned new things about Alice.
She actually loves sour fruits; she’s slightly bad with dogs…… trivia, but that’s fine.
It would be strange if the only topics that ever lit up were physical training and martial arts.
…… Come to think, the conversation just earlier was muscles again.
On the way back, I’ll definitely use info from the letter exchange. Yes.
I made to pocket the letter — and noticed Alice’s gaze on me.
She seemed somehow restless.
”…… Something wrong?”
”…… Sorry. Not used to this…… um, Lord Ouga. When you read this letter, I’d appreciate it if you could respond as soon as possible.”
“Oh, that. Easy. After my talk with Father, I’ll read it right away.”
”……! Y-yes……!”
She seemed satisfied. Heh heh heh — her starting to ask for things like this — a good change.
Now, I shouldn’t keep Father waiting. I knocked.
“Yes, Ouga. Come in.”
“Excuse me, Father——”
For an instant, my thoughts froze.
Opposite Father’s seat — a very famous person I knew.
…… Eh? The King. Why is the King at my house —— no, that’s not it!
I hastily knelt and bowed.
“My deepest apologies, His Majesty King Ambald!”
“Hahaha. First meeting, Ouga Veret. My foolish son apparently troubled you greatly before. ……Young one full of talent, let me see your brave face.”
“Your kind words! Excuse me.”
Granted permission, I raised my face and sat where Father patted next to him.
He’s enjoying my reaction……!
“Father. If the King is visiting, please warn me in advance.”
“Gahaha! Surprise — surprise! You were startled, no?”
“My heart nearly leapt out……”
“Ahaha, my apologies, Ouga. I asked him to keep it quiet. Don’t blame Gordon too much.”
If the King says so, I can’t say more.
I’ve decided to play obedient before top authority to avoid being marked.
“Right then, Ouga’s here. Let’s get to the main matter.”
”…… My apologies. I know nothing of what’s been discussed……”
“No need to apologize. This information is new. And Ouga — it concerns you greatly.”
“Me……?”
The King nodded with a fine smile.
“The Andrews incident. Again, a great achievement.”
”…… No. Not by my own power; Father and Reina cooperated. And, traced to the root, I acted on personal motives.”
“But the result chipped one of Floné’s foundations. As a nation, as the King, I can’t do nothing. So — there’s one thing I wish to bestow.”
…… Wait, wait. Bad feeling.
If the reason for the surprise was don’t let me know……?
…… One thing comes to mind.
Could that really be? The King coming all the way to the territory…… n-no way!
But my prayer scattered easily.
“Ouga Veret. Considering your achievements, I’ve officially decided to grant you the title of [Saint]!”
NOOOOOOO!!
I plastered on a strained smile and screamed inside.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
“Then, Lord Ouga. I’ll visit later.”
”…… Yes. ……I’ll read the letter, don’t worry.”
”……! Thank you.”
After bowing, I left the room and walked the corridor.
Lord Ouga left Lord Gordon’s room dejected, head hanging.
He’d earnestly asked, Let me be alone a bit.
Even so, he’s keeping our promise. Truly kind. Serving such a person, I’m fortunate.
…… No, fortunate is an understatement. Considering I’d tried to kill my master through my own actions.
Normally I should have been commanded to take my life. Yet I’m still spending days as Lord Ouga’s blade.
”…… Calmly thinking…… what I wrote is strange, isn’t it……”
But…… I swore eternal blade-hood, and Lord Ouga forgave me.
When I tried to act as his right-arm-substitute, he even said don’t worry about atonement — though apart from atoning I wanted to be near him, so I pushed through.
In any case, Lord Ouga isn’t dwelling on that day anymore. So it should be fine……
Gh…… I’d never imagined my heart could be shaken by anything besides the sword……!
”…… What kind of face is Lord Ouga making while reading the letter now……”
I started feeling these things, clearly, the moment Andrews [Brainwashed] me and Lord Ouga saved me.
I’d been captured in dark, cold deep water.
A hellish lonely place where no one’s voice reached.
Then a ray of warm light flowed in.
The light that erased the darkness restraining me and led me to the surface — was Lord Ouga’s.
When I called his name in the water, when I could speak with my own will…… the warmth of him holding me.
Knowing that warmth, I felt sure — I could never return to my old self.
To swing my sword for Lord Ouga.
That vow’s content hasn’t changed since the day we met.
…… But the reason behind it has changed slightly.
Because I learned a new feeling I’d thought myself unrelated to.
“Alice!?”
A door flung open.
I turned — Lord Ouga in the corridor, holding the letter I’d written.
He read it quickly. Happy.
“Wh-what does this even……!?”
Even Lord Ouga couldn’t hide his shock, staring at me.
Unusually, his ears looked redder than ever.
…… If he became aware because of me, nothing could make me happier.
“Yes. What I wrote is exactly my feelings, and my question.”
The last line I’d written:
—— “I love you from the depths of my heart. Will you take me as your bride too?”
◇ With this, Chapter 3 ends.
The book version has Volume 4 release confirmed. The serial continues — please keep the bookmark!
Thank you for many comments. Replying like before is hard due to schedules, but I’m enjoying reading them.
See everyone in Chapter 4. ◇