My arm is all healed now.
I had already taken off the cast and was just wrapped in a thin bandage, and now I’ve been told I can even take that off.
Every time I went to the hospital to check my condition, the doctors kept gathering around.
They said they’d never seen anything like this before or something like that.
It wasn’t burns or mana energy erosion, and the healing magic didn’t work on it, so they seemed genuinely intrigued.
Still, thankfully, it was a type of injury that would heal naturally, unlike what I had feared.
I thought I should probably refrain from mindlessly increasing the size of Vafe from now on.
*Haha! Finally, we can resume our duels?*
*…*
Of course, the one who welcomed this news the most was Trie.
Now, she occasionally barges into the mansion to insist on dueling with me outside of the scheduled training times, and it was quite the nuisance.
*Am I really the only one you can duel with? Why is it always me?*
*Well, there are elite knights in the mercenary group, but they’re all too easy… Once I spar with you, I can’t be satisfied with anyone else.*
*…*
Should I take that as a compliment?
Although, managing to keep up with Trie’s overflowing stamina by myself was genuinely exhausting.
*I’m feeling restless these days—why don’t we lift all restrictions and have a proper match?*
*Are you out of your mind? Don’t you remember what happened last time when the ceiling almost collapsed?*
*Just be careful! Please, huh?*
*Damn…*
Even brushing against Trie when her internal circuits are in full operation hurts like hell…
I gritted my teeth and drew my sword from the scabbard.
It was the moment when a chilling air was swirling between us.
*Brother. Erica has arrived!*
*Ah. Really? Let her in.*
*Got it. Sending her this way?*
*Attendant, you don’t hide anything from me anymore…*
Come to think of it, I had told Erica it was okay to come over every morning.
I had asked Trie to teach her about the internal circuits, but in reality, I completely forgot to ask if she was okay with it.
As I was carefully trying to gauge the situation, I noticed Trie sending me a puzzled look.
Soon, I heard footsteps coming down the stairs, and Erica popped her head into the underground training room.
*Ah, hello?*
*Erica. Greet her. From today, she will be your teacher for internal circuits.*
*What? Me? Who says so?*
Oh no.
I forgot to ask for her consent again.
*So, uh… I was going to ask if you would teach her…*
*Just by asking? Hmm…*
*Erica. Hurry and make an appeal to your prospective teacher.*
*What? I thought I came here to learn from you?*
*Hurry. Before the teacher gets in a bad mood.*
*Waaaah…! If you teach me, I’ll pay you 50,000 Tirion per lesson!*
*You’re accepted, Erica. I’m counting on you.*
*Uh-huh…*
The look in Trie’s eyes changed as she politely extended her hand.
Seeing the two of them shake hands made me feel a bit strange.
I thought the daughter of the Schulzenburg family wouldn’t be swayed by money, but it seems things change when the currency unit changes.
People really do prioritize having lots of money.
*Haah. I didn’t expect to suddenly have another student. Can you wait a bit while we’re still in the middle of sparring?*
*Got it. I came too early anyway, so I’ll wait.*
*Um… Lord Hainkel? I’m really sorry for interrupting you while you’re busy.*
*…*
At that moment, the door opened again and Emilia appeared.
*Whoa. Attendant, you change completely when Erica comes in.*
*Hmm? What do you mean by that?*
*Ahem! Someone outside with a hood wishes to see Lord Hainkel. When I asked who it was, they kept refusing to answer…*
It seemed to follow the same pattern as before.
Did Emilia pick up on the identity too? She appeared uneasy, fidgeting with her legs.
I knew who it was without a doubt, but I couldn’t just let someone whose identity isn’t verified come in.
*I think it’s best to disperse for today.*
*What? Why? We haven’t even started sparring yet?*
*I haven’t learned anything yet.*
*An esteemed person has come. If you want, it wouldn’t be bad to welcome them and say hello.*
*Esteemed person…?*
Trie and Erica tilted their heads in confusion.
It seemed they thought I was making a joke or metaphor.
They would find out soon enough.
I brought Trie and Erica with me as I headed to the first floor.
When I opened the front door and stepped outside, lo and behold, a familiar dark shape wearing a hood was standing at the main entrance.
Erica and Trie suddenly flinched in surprise.
It seemed they instantly thought of the fanatics from that appearance.
*Your Highness. This isn’t appropriate. Please just formally invite me to the imperial palace.*
*Your Highness?*
*Schlus, what are you talking about—*
*I’m carrying something far too valuable to make a scene, so I needed to come in quietly.*
*…!*
Erica and Trie’s eyes widened as they looked at me as if I were a psycho.
When I pushed back the hood, the Crown Prince Aria’s blonde hair and her lovely face were revealed.
*Y-Your Highness…!*
*Bend your knees right now. I just said I didn’t want to make a scene.*
*Ah, ah…*
Erica and Trie, who were about to kneel, froze in shock at Aria’s scolding before standing back up straight.
Despite that, they couldn’t look straight ahead and kept their gazes down.
Their instincts told them to show courtesy before royalty, yet their minds seemed to be fighting against it.
*How long do you plan to keep me waiting?*
*Come in, please.*
*I came early on purpose. I was worried you might make me wait again under the pretense of having a lesson.*
*Well done.*
*You…*
Even until Aria stepped through the front door, Erica and Trie were stuttering like robots with software errors.
They kept looking at me, their faces paling as if they were seeing a corpse.
I figured I had to send them off quickly and discreetly signaled them to leave while Aria wasn’t watching.
*Oh! I really enjoyed the sparring, Schlus! I need to go now. It was an honor to meet you, Your Highness the Crown Prince.*
*I-I! Then I’ll take my leave, Your Highness…!*
*Where do you think you’re going?*
*Y-Yes?*
*You are certainly friends that Schlus cherishes, aren’t you? If it’s not too much trouble, you should stay and mingle with me.*
*Y-Yes… understood…*
In the end, Trie and Erica couldn’t refuse and sheepishly closed the front door, returning.
Considering the time constraint, it would’ve been fine to just leave without saying anything.
I knew that well since I had actually said that once.
Though at the time, it wasn’t intentional.
*Why didn’t you just contact me beforehand?*
Now, three people were going to struggle due to Aria’s sudden invasion.
*I’ll bring the tea…*
*The attendant is still the same. Seems she’s not causing any trouble.*
*Yes. She’s an excellent maid.*
*Pfft…*
*…*
I was flustered when Aria suddenly burst into laughter.
Emilia was flinching each time Asria laughed, heading toward the kitchen.
She seemed to be under a lot of tension.
This was already her second surprise visit, and shouldn’t she be starting to get used to it by now?
Once the four of us settled in the living room, the sofa was packed tight.
Erica and Trie sat stiffly next to me.
Across from us sat Aria, with a leisurely smile as she scanned Erica and Trie.
Not knowing what to do with the burden of her gaze made me let out a sigh.
*If you didn’t come to torment my friends, please get to the point and leave.*
*Do you truly wish to die? You are committing rudeness without even taking a breath.*
*I’m saying this because it’s dangerous here. You must leave for the imperial palace to keep Your Highness safe.*
*You think this place is dangerous? The Imperial University boasts the next strongest security after the palace.*
*To be precise, it’s dangerous next to me. There are far too many enemies aiming for my life.*
*Hoh…*
Aria looked intrigued and slipped her hand into her pocket.
After rummaging around, she pulled something out and set it on the table.
A small glass vial filled with a shimmering liquid…
I had definitely seen that item before.
In the underground palace.
*Confirmation.*
*[Elixir]*
*[Status: Supreme]*
*[Can recover from all afflictions and injuries.]*
Just as I suspected, it was the Elixir.
It seemed that what the Emperor had promised was finally here.
*This is the highest quality Elixir in the royal treasury. Take it as compensation for the debt you owe.*
*I will gratefully accept it.*
*Considering the efforts you made in defeating the abominable beasts and ancient monsters, I truly want to award you another Black Eagle… but… tch. There’s the Emperor’s decree that prohibits anything above the Elixir as a reward.*
I guess there hadn’t been a precedent for receiving the Black Eagle more than twice.
Establishing such a precedent now would create controversy over whether the heroes who were honored only once earlier would then be deemed lower than me.
I could understand the Emperor’s feelings, but I couldn’t deny it felt frustrating.
I had dedicated myself to the Empire like this, yet it felt as if they were trying to just settle things with a salary increase.
If they continued like this, it would only give me more justification to deal with the Emperor.
*Don’t you think the treatment of the hero who saved the continent’s greatest university is too scant?*
*I have received much grace from His Majesty. I do not think so.*
*You can speak candidly before me… Well, if I ascend to the throne, I won’t treat a hero like you poorly. It is my creed that a country that doesn’t honor its heroes shall perish.*
*…*
I was at a loss for words as Aria criticized how poorly the heroes and great figures were treated, and I had nothing to say back.
Although using Aria to kill the Emperor was the core of my plan, trying to disparage the Emperor in this situation when my relationship with Aria wasn’t close enough would only decrease my likability.
I need to find a way to make her self-propose the idea of dethroning the Emperor.
*Is that all you have to say?*
*Are you pushing me to hurry, Schlus Hainkel?*
*Yes. That is correct. The sooner you leave, the safer Your Highness will be.*
*You keep making excuses that aren’t funny. I thought you were different from other nobles, but that appears to have been my mistake. Speak honestly, Schlus Hainkel. Do you dislike having me here?*
*…*
Aria openly showed her annoyance as she questioned me.
There was no time to think.
If I hesitated even for a moment, it could severely decrease my rapport with her.
*As a subject, how could I be displeased with my beloved Your Highness’ presence? If possible, I wish you could stay forever. However, please do not misunderstand my love for you, as I genuinely express my concern for your safety.*
*Hah, you’re a funny one. Really… Hmph… I was joking. To take that seriously… Hmph…*
While she snorted as if to say I was absurd, Aria was fanning her face with a hand fan.
Is she hot?
When Emilia brings the tea, I should tell her to open the window for ventilation.
But why is Emilia taking so long?
Does it take a whole day to bring tea?
*While I feel like taking my leave, if only to heed your worries…*
*I didn’t say to leave completely!*
*Be quiet. Anyway, I still have something to discuss. You both are indeed the daughters of Lichtenburg and Schulzenburg, aren’t you?*
*Yes, that’s correct, Your Highness.*
*Exactly right.*
*Then which of you is planned to be Schlus Hainkel’s legitimate wife?*
*Huh?*
Damn…
Was this the reason I was called here?
As Aria’s mischievous gaze fell on me, both Erica and Trie were completely stunned.
Suddenly, a headache surged through me.
