Since receiving the Black Eagle medal, a lot has changed.
First of all, my wallet situation has greatly improved.
I’ve received a yearly pension of 5 million Tirion for the Black Eagle. That’s about 500 million or so…
I didn’t have to think long about what to do with this money.
Immediately, I poured 4.9 million Tirion into the Holy Knights and Shayden Guild.
Rumors about civil unrest in the south are starting to spread through the media.
It’s evidence that a civil war is imminent.
By then, I’ll easily recover my investment.
And secondly.
The frequency of nobles acting like idiots has significantly decreased.
Now, instead of openly mocking me, it’s almost cute. There used to be quite a few who spat on me or hid my bag pathetically.
Now, I can hardly find such behavior.
On the contrary, there are only more cunning fools trying to attach themselves to me.
For instance…
“Schlus! Do you have a moment? Hahaha.”
“What is it, Professor Relic?”
“Oh, it’s nothing much. I was wondering if you could fill out a lecture evaluation for me. I have the form and pen right here…”
Like this annoying guy.
He’s a professor of liberal arts.
Is he trying to use my fame to boost his lecture’s reputation?
I seem to recall the title of that class was something to do with psychology…
It’s infamous for recycling exams, and the midterm answer sheets are already circulating in the student black market.
So it was difficult to write an evaluation since I’d never really attended.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Well, if you could write it positively, I might give you an A+ unconditionally, regardless of the reason…”
That was a roundabout way of rejecting him.
Yet Relic kept creeping around, unaware of how pathetic he looked.
Even if my good reputation does boost his standing, if the quality of his lectures remains the same, he’ll ultimately end up right where he started.
Plus, what he offered in return wasn’t great.
Since you can get an A+ just by copying the answers anyway.
“Professor.”
“Hmm?”
“Stop being so creepy. Go find someone else.”
“What! You brat…!”
Relic is truly… an idiot with a knack for malice, exactly how he was in the original story.
His consistency gave me relief.
At least it meant he wouldn’t suddenly become a threat after awakening later.
I ignored Relic’s shouting and continued on my way.
He must have some pride because he didn’t chase after me.
“Welcome back, Hainkel.”
“…Someone’s inside.”
As soon as I returned to the mansion, I spotted Emilia’s somber face.
It was a look she had when she was in trouble.
Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say when she pretended to be troubled.
“Yes. Saintess Iris is here.”
“I distinctly remember telling you not to let her in.”
“Oh? She said she had your permission…”
“…”
I was lost for words in disbelief.
Passing through the entrance to the living room, as expected—
“Did you come, Schlus?”
Iris was boldly sitting and drinking tea.
Now she just comes and goes as if this were her own home.
Using even the host’s name.
“I allowed entry for anyone.”
“Your future self.”
“…”
What the hell is she talking about?
Now she’s even selling out my future self?
I sighed deeply and sat across from Iris.
Soon, Emilia brought another teacup and set it down in front of me.
“Hmm… That’s a nice ring. May I ask what kind it is?”
“This?”
Iris stared at my left hand and replied.
I raised my left hand and caressed the silver ring.
It’s a ring that supposedly grants miracles.
But it’s a damned ring that doesn’t grant my wishes.
However, it’s not something I could just throw away, given its value.
“It’s a Love-Hate Ring.”
“Love-Hate?”
“Such a thing exists.”
I dodged the question like that.
“So just tell me why you’re here. If it’s an insipid reason, I’ll kick you out immediately.”
“How can a person be so consistent… Can’t we have a more relaxed conversation?”
“Four. Three…”
“Okay, okay! It’s urgent… I came because of a social gathering.”
“…”
I had no choice but to acknowledge that.
The gathering Iris spoke of must refer to the event commemorating the Day of Magic.
It was likely a rare event that important figures attended, so I couldn’t miss it.
“It was postponed due to the attempted terrorism on the Day of Magic but seems like it’s happening soon. Haven’t you heard?”
“…I haven’t.”
“Well, that makes sense.”
There had never been a year when the top student from the Imperial University didn’t attend the Day of Magic gathering.
But seeing that I still hadn’t received any news means…
They probably weren’t planning to invite a commoner like me.
At this point, the reason Iris came to see me was obvious.
“I happen to have an invitation since I’m from Flechette.”
Flechette, one of the three major wizard families in the Empire, gave Iris the right to invite someone to the gathering.
She was planning to use this to make a deal.
“Say what you want.”
“Hmmm? You’re offering a reward? What’s with you today?”
“…”
It’s just starting to feel scary with how much I keep getting into debt!
From here on, I should pay off every single debt.
“I think I do have something I want.”
“What would that be?”
“I don’t think I’ve seen Schlus sincerely thank me until now. I’d like to receive a proper gratitude this time.”
“…”
I had never been insincere, so I didn’t get what she was talking about.
“Formally thank me. Kiss the back of my hand.”
“…”
With a mischievous smile, Iris stood up from her seat.
Does she think I can’t do it because of my pride?
If so, then she’s vastly mistaken.
I had simply never done it because I didn’t know how.
I stepped forward without hesitation and bent down.
Looking up slightly, I saw Iris with a triumphant expression extending her hand.
I wanted to give her a slap but swallowed that urge and gently took her hand.
“Iris. I thank you.”
“It’s a tad cliché, but… well, I’m satisfied enough with this.”
Ignoring Iris’s arrogant voice, I pressed my lips against the back of her hand.
The moment I felt the soft touch on my lips, a faint voice echoed in my ear.
-Thank you.
That was my voice… no, Schlus’s voice.
So this means it was a memory shown through the activation of ‘Memory of True Self.’
Was this a memory of Schlus related to the kiss on the back of his hand?
But as soon as I pulled my lips away, the voice disappeared, so I pressed my lips back onto Iris’s hand.
-Thank you for returning my ear…
-I will never forget this kindness.
-Next time, I will surely save you.
So who the hell is the one I’m grateful to?
As I focused on Schlus’s memory, I suddenly felt something was off and looked up.
“…”
Only then did I realize.
I had pressed my lips against Iris’s hand for almost 10 seconds.
Looking up at Iris’s face, it was clear she was flustered.
It was a rare sight to see the Saintess of Flechette looking distressed.
“Now, enough with the jokes…”
Iris withdrew her hand and averted her gaze.
Luckily, it seemed to be taken as just a playful joke.
However, I felt uneasy that I hadn’t noticed anything important, and ended up not asking about it.
I should have just been unabashed and kissed her longer.
Then maybe I would have heard the name of the person I was grateful for.
“The gathering will be in two days at Heinrich’s castle. You can get in if you mention the name Flechette.”
“Are we going already?”
“Isn’t it funny how you tell me to just keep it simple…?”
As Iris tried to get up and leave, she turned around.
She then shot me a sharp glare.
She checked Emilia’s expression behind me and approached me.
“If you want to impress a romantic interest, it’s best to stop doing things like this.”
She whispered, then left the mansion without looking back.
What? If I want to impress a romantic interest?
‘What’s with that absurd nonsense…?’
Does she think I like her or something?
That level of confidence is somewhat excessive, don’t you think?
I began to genuinely worry that looking too much into the future had driven Iris to madness.
*
“Hah…”
Having reached a remote place, Iris sat down on a bench and leaned back.
When she touched her cheek, it was already flushed, feeling hot.
It was a relief she left before showing that face.
The excuse to invite him to the gathering was just a pretext.
A pretext to ask Schlus about the ring.
After the Medal Conferment Ceremony, he started wearing that ring just like the Crown Prince.
When she asked what it was, Schlus replied like this.
-It’s a Love-Hate Ring.
Normally, he would respond with something like it’s a ring made to commemorate something. A ring to remember someone.
But Schlus seemed to refuse to explain any further, and his face looked oddly deep in thought, which made her hesitate to dig deeper.
If it were Erica, she would have just asked without a care.
In a moment, she felt a bit jealous of how thoughtlessly Erica lives.
“Love-Hate relationship, huh…”
Schlus described his relationship with the Crown Prince as ‘Love-Hate.’
What could that possibly mean?
“Ah.”
The answer came quickly.
The one who was probably proposed for marriage to the Crown Prince was Schlus.
Given the vast benefits that could come with such a marriage, he accepted the proposal, but still had feelings for only one person.
That’s why he likely used the term love-hate.
“Hah… This is making me feel giddy…”
Iris smiled blissfully.
To be able to stand at the pinnacle of power, marrying the Crown Prince while still being devotedly in love with the insignificant commoner Emilia…
“But why there…”
But recalling what just occurred, irritation surged inside her.
She wanted to see Schlus’s embarrassed expression, nothing more. There was no other meaning behind it.
Yet Schlus had taken his time, teasingly kissing the back of her hand.
She should have made sure Emilia, standing behind with her hands clasped, witnessed that terrifying smile.
But Schlus, blissfully unaware, was rubbing his lips against her hand like it was an act of affection.
“Are you really in love?”
She thought he was just so clueless about love, it was frustrating.
If they lived in the same house, he could have confessed already, done this and that.
What was taking him so long?
The last bit of advice she left was out of pity for Emilia.
It seemed she didn’t completely lack feelings, but under these circumstances, their relationship would likely stagnate for ages.
It was questionable whether that thick-headed idiot even understood the advice properly.
‘Some people are like this…’
Slowly, Iris raised her right hand—the one Schlus kissed.
After a moment of hesitation, she pressed her lips against the back of her hand.
‘Desperately trying to help.’
Even denying her own feelings.
While cheering for them like this.
Would she keep being frustratingly dense?
The moment Iris opened her eyes, having done so mindlessly—
“Iris… what are you doing…?”
She was met with Erica’s bewildered face.
