Chapter : 44
Arcas looked at the carpet on the floor with an awkward expression and finally spoke.
“Well… of course, it’s for honor.”
Because of Arcas’ response, my expectations of something grand deflated completely.
“You’re telling me everyone’s rushing in just for honor? I can’t believe it…”
“Honor is more important than anything else.”
Arcas said this in a calm voice.
Well, I thought, that makes sense in this world.
I couldn’t fully understand everything about this world as someone who had lived in modern times, so though I was skeptical, I could only nod.
I turned my gaze to the table. Among the stack of letters, I noticed a luxurious one with a golden seal. When I picked it up, sure enough, it was from the royal family.
The letter, written neatly, contained materials that could help in selecting the party members.
I flipped through the attached documents quickly and fell into thought for a moment.
“If this is something I need to decide anyway, I might as well do it quickly…”
Eloy had said he definitely wanted to go, and I couldn’t leave Viviana behind while taking Eloy along. And…
“I won’t be separated from you.”
Sirinieu’s voice flashed through my mind.
Isn’t it unfair to say something like that with a face like his?
If you were going to deliver such a guilty comment, at least don’t be that handsome. And if you are, couldn’t your voice be bad at least?
“How can you say you won’t let us be apart?”
Honestly…
Heat rose to my face and a faint smile crept onto my lips. When I pressed my face against the back of my hand, Arcas tilted his head.
I quickly stood up and grabbed the letter on the table. Write this letter quickly and go lie down in my room.
I dipped the pen into the ink. The names of the four protagonists of this novel were written on the letter.
“They’ll just stand quietly in the back when they act.”
As I waited for the ink to dry, I desperately hoped that the twisted story of the novel could be set straight thanks to these people.
Please, let everything end now.
Let me do nothing and just enjoy the sweetness of life.
Please.
Although I had done nothing but laze around in bed, the day of departure arrived before I knew it.
Sitting in front of the mirror, a sigh escaped my lips.
“Ha…”
“Miss, why are you sighing like that?”
“Well…”
“Is it because you’re worried it will take a long time to get to the sealing site?”
“Oh, come on. It’s because once you go outside, you won’t be able to roll around in bed all day like now.”
“….”
When I looked alternately at Luri and Yurie through the mirror, I saw smiles tugging at the corners of their mouths.
They weren’t wrong. Not a single word they said was false.
But… after spending a few comfortable days in my room, is it really okay for them to hit me with pure facts like this?
“They say that even words can hit.”
“Oh my, what a scary thing to say! We were just stating the facts.”
“Hmm, does it feel like you’re being hit because we’re only saying correct things?”
“Ugh.”
I rolled my eyes, and the two of them laughed, brushing my braided hair forward for me.
Today I wore a dress made of light fabric. It wasn’t overly fancy, and it was cut to a length that didn’t drag on the floor, making it easy to walk in.
I would have preferred pants since they were more comfortable than dresses, but I couldn’t go against the maids’ wishes.
We were supposed to take a carriage to the territory where the Demon King was sealed, and we had to meet the Emperor at the palace before departing, so I had to wear a dress.
The carriage departed after receiving greetings from the servants and arrived at the palace. When the doors opened, we were not at the usual carriage stop but in front of the training grounds.
The massive arena where the royal knights trained had been opened for us.
The royal family had prepared a carriage for me, arranging it so we could board and depart directly from here.
“The palace is so big everywhere.”
After stepping down from the carriage and going inside, I saw a large carriage already waiting. That must be the one I’d ride.
Those who had arrived earlier were already talking among themselves.
When it was announced that Arcas and I had arrived, the people talking began approaching us.
“Miss Whedon, you’re here!”
The people I had never met surrounded Arcas and me and spoke. Arcas blocked my front, but with so many people crowding us, he had no choice but to step back.
“Miss Whedon! We spoke to the Crown Prince, and he said if we get your permission, we could join the party.”
“Huh…?”
Wasn’t everyone already chosen?
I looked flustered at the unexpected words, and even more people pressed forward.
“Our family also brought useful things. Please have a look!”
Even after participants for the sealing party had been chosen, letters and gifts from nobles kept arriving at the mansion.
I had rejected them all politely, using the ultimate formal wording I would use for work emails…
But the nobles who had doggedly followed me here still looked sharp and determined.
“I can’t just chase all of them away…”
There were no blankets here I could pretend not to notice and hide under. I rolled my eyes, looking for a way out.
At that moment, a large black carriage entered the training grounds.
Before the carriage even stopped, the door flung open.
There he was. My source of energy.
Sirinieu leapt out of the carriage, frowning as he looked at us.
Today, Sirinieu looked even more stunning than usual.
Of course, he always looked good, but the uniform buttoned all the way to his neck suited him perfectly.
A jacket that showcased his broad shoulders—100 points.
Pants clinging to his legs without a crease? Extra points for the hint of muscles.
Boots reaching his calves made his already long legs look even longer. 1000 points. No? 10,000 points.
If there were a magazine cover representative of this month, Sirinieu’s face could probably grace the cover all year round.
Sirinieu approached. His cold expression and slightly furrowed brows filled my vision.
Sunlight touched his pale skin, slicing along his perfect jawline, making my eyes almost sting.
“Ah… he’s ridiculously handsome.”
I admired him purely with awe, and he strode through the crowd blocking my way.
People noticing Sirinieu whispered and stepped aside, instantly clearing a wide path in front of me.
The nobles who cleared the way tried to greet him, but Sirinieu glanced at them coldly before turning to me.
“What’s going on here?”
“Huh? Hello.”
“What is all this?”
I lifted the hem of my dress and gave a casual greeting, but it was ignored. Was he angry? Why?
I looked up to gauge his expression.
As Sirinieu stood before me, a shadow fell over me. He glanced at my face, then looked around and spoke in a low voice.
“Why is everyone… no, why is everyone surrounding Miss Whedon?”
After he spoke, one of the nobles stepped forward.
“The Crown Prince told us to get Miss Whedon’s permission.”
Other nobles, seeing this as their chance, closed in again and raised their voices.
“Our family also wants to help…”
Sirinieu, understanding the situation, clicked his tongue in disbelief. I could clearly hear his small voice.
“What is the Crown Prince thinking?”
One of the murmuring nobles reached toward me.
“Miss Whedon, please hear me out.”
Sirinieu’s gaze sharpened instantly. Coldness dripped from his voice.
“Take that hand away, or you’ll regret it.”
“Huh?”
The nobles went completely silent. Sirinieu looked around and spoke as if spitting the words out.
“I’m all Miss Whedon needs. Everyone else, go home.”
The nobles’ faces crumpled like paper. They looked like they wanted to argue, but no one dared, fearing Sirinieu might actually draw his sword.
I, however, was more stunned by the words themselves.
“I’m all she needs… I’m all she needs… I’m all…”
Of course, I knew he didn’t mean it rationally.
I had already read the guidebook and knew Sirinieu acted out of his desire for revenge against the Demon King.
So what he just said was probably his way of saying he would take care of everything himself.
Still, hearing it felt… really nice.
“I want to record this. I wonder if he’ll say it again.”
But Sirinieu didn’t look at me and instead turned to Arcas.
“What is Count Whedon doing?”
Suddenly?
Sirinieu gave Arcas a cold glare. Arcas looked confused for a moment but quickly seemed to understand Sirinieu’s meaning.
“I’m sorry.”
“What if something happens to her… Miss Whedon?”
“It’s my fault.”
Arcas bowed his head with a somber expression. Flustered, I waved my hands and stepped in front of him.
“You didn’t do anything wrong. It was an unexpected situation…”
As I got closer, Sirinieu turned his gaze to me.
His purple eyes pierced through me. Words escaped my mouth before I could even think.
“Wow… seriously…”
