The next morning, when Dimitar and the others came out from their tents, the town had already woken up completely and was starting to spend a day that was the same as usual.
Although it was called a town, this place was originally a local agricultural village, and the lifestyle wasn’t so different from before. One would get out of bed at first light, do farm work until evening, and then go to bed without staying up late. In the eyes of such people, the chivalric order group who got out of bed after the sun had rose on the other side of the mountain ridge must have looked very lazy.
When Dimitar was fastening his luggage to the horse’s saddle in preparation for departure, Lucius came here at a quick pace while receiving morning greetings from many members.
「Dii」
「Yo」
Raising one hand lightly, Dimitar raised his lips.
The fact that Lucius, who would distinguish between public and private matters properly, addressed him as “Dii” in a low voice for fear of attention meant that Lucius probably didn’t call out to him to instruct him something as the vice-leader. Therefore, Dimitar also responded as the younger childhood friend.
「Is your preparation completed?」
「Almost」
「If that’s the case, let’s take a walk」
「We’re departing very soon, right?」
「Her Eminence is still washing her face. It’ll take nearly one more hour」
Saying so, Lucius patted Dimitar on the shoulder lightly and started to walk.
「—The town mayor came to the inn early this morning to greet us」
「He’ll probably come to see us off at the time of departure anyway. This town mayor is so free」
「Rather than greet… he came to thank us for another matter」
Lucius looked at Dimitar fleetingly with a sidelong glance.
「…It seems that the town mayor sent people to deliver food and drink to the chivalric order last night while they were encamping at night」
「Ah…」
「Do you know?」
「We were treated to cheese and wine」
「The town mayor’s only daughter was among the people who brought the food and drink, …but it seemed that that child was almost raped by the people of the chivalric order」
「That’s terrible. Even though she specially brought the food and drink, the person herself was almost eaten, huh. What a big problem」
Dimitar answered as if it was somebody else’s problem and smiled. Lucius saw that and dropped his shoulders with a sigh.
「As expected, it was you, huh…」
「I’m not so hungry for women that I’ll attack such a young girl, you know. In the first place, young girls aren’t my cup of tea」
「I’m not saying that you did that kind of inexcusable behaviour. …The town mayor said that he wanted to properly thank the young member who had saved his daughter when she was in danger. You were the one who saved that child, right?」
「…Hmm, I guess so. I never knew that that girl is the town mayor’s daughter though」
Since he understood that it was pointless to play dumb, Dimitar nodded honestly.
「…You overdid it」」
「Is that so? Did I do something unnecessary?」
「No… you did well in a sense that you prevented a dishonourable action of the group, but—」
「You’re not speaking clearly. What on earth do you mean?」
「That’s why I said that you overdid it. The other parties whom you beat up are a little…」
「The other parties? Come to think of it, I couldn’t tell exactly because it was dark, but who were they?」
「They’re probably Michel and his followers. This morning, they said that they’d by no means come out from their tents, so when I went to see the situation, their faces were covered with conspicuous bruises and were terrible」
「I suppose so. —So, those people said that I did it?」
「The people themselves said that they got drunk and fell down, but I know that that’s not the case when I see it. That’s an injury from being hit」
「Ma, they tried to rape the town mayor’s daughter who had come to deliver food and drink, after all. They’re probably idiots」
If they told Lucius the truth, even their own dishonourable criminal act would come to light. Besides, it took them three people to deal with a barehanded apprentice; moreover, it was probably so embarrassing to be beaten up without even being able to counterattack even though they drew their swords that they couldn’t say it at all.
Standing on top of a slightly elevated hill that was slightly distant from the camping ground, Dimitar spoke while watching the tents being folded.
「—I’d like them to think they were fortunate that it ended with that extent instead. Properly speaking, all three of them should be permanently expelled, right?」
「Strictly speaking, that’s the case, …but the present situation is that we can’t do so. Michel, in particular, has a big backer, after all」
Lucius muttered with a bitter expression. Worried about that, Dimitar peered at his childhood friend’s face quizzically.
「…That Michel, who’s he?」
「You don’t know?」
「No」
「Please have an interest in other people a bit more. I said that you won’t be able to conduct yourself well if you don’t broaden your knowledge, right?」
「Sorry. …I’ll pay attention to that matter after this, so tell me」
「…The one whom you hit last night was Michel Bolieiro」
「Bolieiro…? Is he a relative of the Bolieiro House by any chance?」
「Rather than a relative, he’s the son who will succeed the head family. The other two people were—ah, Héctor and Hugo? Anyway, they’re also from the Bolieiro clan; if I remember correctly, they should be Michel’s cousins」
Lucius put his hand on his forehead and leaked a heavy sigh again.
The Bolieiro House was a prominent great nobility even in Ahmad. Although it wasn’t really so in the recent years, it had produced many ministers from among the clan during the period of the previous king, and its power was still big.
「Will their authority in the royal court influence this chivalric order that the Crown Prince leads?」
「The Bolieiro House is at the top in terms of amount of donation to the chivalric order every year」
「They’re at the top in that sort of thing, huh. It seems faster to count their sons’ abilities from the bottom though」
「It’s because that’s the case. …They want to make the son, who by no means could be called capable, succeed in life somehow. They might have considered the donation to the chivalric order to be a gift to the Crown Prince」
「No matter how much money they send to Ahmad’s Crown Prince, it won’t be a bribe, right? In the first place, no matter how you strive to succeed in life in this chivalric order, you can’t become the leader—」
After muttering to that extent, Dimitar narrowed his eyes.
「…Does that guy want to become the vice-leader by any chance?」
「It’s probably a fact that I’m not well liked by him. When I was appointed the new vice-leader by His Highness, I felt that he had glared at me with eyes as if he was seeing his parents’ enemy」
“Therefore—,” Lucius continued.
「—I also know that His Highness won’t waver because of a bribe, but nevertheless, he can’t disregard the intention of the Bolieiro House, which had given that much support, completely. Apart from the donation matter, their influence on other nobles is also big, after all. I think His Highness is racking his brains over the treatment of Michel because of that too」
「Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean that he can break the rules of the chivalric order, right? Even if he wasn’t a member of the chivalric order, that should be an act which violated the law」
「I know. That’s why Michel couldn’t make a fuss and say that it was done by you, and it’s hardly possible that His Highness intends to blame Michel any more. —But regarding Michel, it’s not good that you overdid it. Since you’re my relative, I think he isn’t pleased with you too」
「…Is that so? He knew me, huh」
Come to think of it, when he was beating up those three people last night, there was one man who was about to say Dimitar’s name. That person was most likely Michel Bolieiro.
Stroking his neck, Dimitar spoke to Lucius.
「—Let’s return soon. The group won’t be in order unless you’re there」
「Yes」
While descending the hill and returning to the gathering point of the chivalric order, Lucius repeated.
「Anyway, don’t get mixed up with Michel’s party any more. If they’re going to do something intolerable that violates the rules, you can just inform me. It’s better if they bear a grudge against me only; there’s no need to even make them hate the very sight of you」
「That sort of guys are good at shutting their eyes to their own actions and then blaming others for it, after all. Perhaps in their minds, it must have been decided that I’m one-sidedly at fault already. I’ll remember that advice, but it’s probably too late anyway」
Although he felt guilty for making Lucius’s position difficult, he hadn’t the slightest feelings of guilt towards Michel. Even now, Dimitar who was told the circumstances could only think they should be thankful that it ended with that extent instead.
In an extreme instance, even if the one who attacked the town mayor’s daughter last night was the Crown Prince, Dimitar—even though Dimitar would go easy on him somewhat—would probably not use words but hit him to stop him likewise. If they were that kind of people who would desist from doing it because of words, they’d have stop at the point of time when the girl shouted for help in the first place. If those guys didn’t stop it, one could only stop them with overwhelming authority or stop them with violence, which would work at once.
「—Good morning, Dii-kun!」
Accompanied by attendants behind her, Shakira Babel could be seen coming along with long strides. Dimitar and Lucius put their right hands on their chests and knelt down on the spot in the same way as the surrounding members.
「Good morning, Your Eminence」
「Ah, that, never mind the formal greetings—hora, everyone is still preparing for departure, right?」
「Yes. —Well then」
Lucius stood up quietly and ordered the members to go back to work.
「By the way… Vice-Leader Richternach-kyou?」
「What is it, Your Eminence?」
「I’d like you to listen to one whim of mine」
Shakira was grinning while folding her arms and walking slowly around Dimitar and Lucius. Even she herself had said that it was a whim, so it was probably nothing good anyway.
「The weather is good today. I don’t feel like staying inside the carriage」
「So that means…?」
「I want to ride this Richternach-kyou’s horse with him today」
「That’s…」
Lucius and Dimitar looked at each other and knitted their brows. Shakira’s attendants also opened their eyes wide in surprise at their master’s remark.
「I’m sorry, Your Eminence. There’s also the matter of security, so I’d like to have your forgiveness for that… and if by any chance you fall down from the saddle」
「Shouldn’t Dii-kun pay attention to that so that I won’t fall down?」
Interrupting Lucius’s words, Shakira spoke. It was as if she was provoking Dimitar and him.
「If I fall off the horse, I’ll just complain persistently to Orvieto. —In any case, I want to do so」
「—」
Lucius sighed lightly and looked at Dimitar.
Lucius wasn’t particularly worried that Dimitar might let Shakira fall from the horse in the slightest. The fact that he didn’t look happy must be because he was genuinely thinking about the security issue and that he didn’t want to make Dimitar stand out too much today when only one day had passed after that thing happened.
Stroking the nape of his neck, Dimitar spoke to Lucius.
「Don’t mind me, Vice-Leader. If Her Eminence wishes for it」
With the intention of telling Lucius not to mind his own difficult position, Dimitar answered not as a relative but as a chivalric order member.
Lucius shrugged his shoulders.
「…Well then, Your Eminence, please wait just a minute. We’ll do so if we can get His Highness’s permission…」
「Ah, if that’s the case, then it’s fine♪ I’ll go get His Highness’s permission directly together with Dii-kun, so you, that, it’s fine if you do your own work. —All right Dii-kun, give me a ride to where His Highness is♪」
While saying so, Shakira was already trying to put her foot on the stirrup of Dimitar’s horse. Even though her resplendent tabard had rolled up and her pure white and slender leg had become completely visible, it was as if she was unconcerned about it.
「Y, Your Eminence! That’s dangerous!」
「Shall I prepare an additional saddle?」
Dimitar curled his lip and suggested so to Shakira.
「In that case, I can only see your back. I’ll ride in front!」
「Well, I don’t particularly mind」
Dimitar, who had put his hands under both the small Eminence’s arms and pushed her up onto the saddle lightly, took the reins and started to walk. Lucius and the attendants looked worried, but they already understood that Shakira wouldn’t listen to anyone’s opinion after she had suggested so.
Shakira smiled, her body swaying left and right to the horse’s steps.
「You must support me properly, all right?」
「If you’re worried, then you shouldn’t have said that you want to ride a horse」
「Don’t look so displeased, Dii-kun. If you’re on cordial terms with me, isn’t it convenient for you in various ways?」
「What is convenient?」
「I heard about the town mayor’s daughter」
「……」
Dimitar glanced at Shakira.
「—Moreover, it seems that the other party whom you had beaten up is that Bolieiro’s foolish son」
「Is that senior so famous?」
「Uh-huh. He’s famous in a bad way」
「If that’s the case, I’ve probably taught him a good lesson」
「However, his father is an influential person. —It’d be good if the titled Richternach-kyou and Orvieto, and of course, you, don’t get dragged into this」
When he was told that, Dimitar’s heart wavered. Although he believed that it wasn’t wrong to beat up Michel, it wasn’t Dimitar’s real intention to trouble even Lucius and Orvieto because of that. Perhaps he should have acted after thinking calmly a bit more before beating him up with no questions asked.
「—That’s why」
Shakira spoke to Dimitar, who was looking down, from horseback.
「If you’re on cordial terms with me, I might be of service when something happen」
「Your Eminence, try changing our genders and think about it」
Dimitar also almost burst into laughter unconsciously at Shakira’s mischievous “hee-hee” chuckling.
「If I were a young girl, and Your Eminence were an oily middle-aged man, those words just now would sound like those of a terrible brute. It gives one the impression of the beginning of a tragedy」
「First of all, you’re not a young girl, and I’m also not an oily middle-aged old man. Secondly, even if someone almost took advantage of your weakness, it’s not your character to accept it meekly as it is, right? That’s why your example is meaningless. To begin with, I don’t have any ulterior motive」
「I see. I’m glad to hear that」
Muttering curtly, Dimitar searched for the figure of the Crown Prince.
The departure time was drawing nearer and nearer, and the surroundings were filled with noises, but even in this situation, the gazes of Dimitar’s colleagues that were pointing at him were tinged with coldness as usual. Or rather, it felt like the temperature had dropped more than yesterday. The story of Dimitar knocking Michel out was most likely spreading. The fact that the right and wrong of what Michel’s party had perpetrated was pigeonholed, and that Dimitar had openly opposed the Bolieiro House might have made the difference in temperature between Dimitar and them more conspicuous. That was to say, being on friendly terms with Dimitar was equivalent to the act of offending the Bolieiro House.
「—You’re so awkward」
Shakira who was silent for a short while opened her mouth with a sigh.
「I feel that you absolutely don’t want to yield to anyone」
「I don’t think like that in particular though」
「You do. If there’re exceptions, then they’re the other Richternach-kyou and also Orvieto only, right?」
「……」
Dimitar didn’t say yes or no, but even if it wasn’t Shakira, one could immediately understand that it was a silence that meant affirmation.
「If I remember correctly, your parents are no longer here」
「Yes」
「Your mother set fire to the mansion and tried to make you die together with her」
She was a woman who would bluntly say things that people didn’t want to recall. Dimitar endured the matter of wanting to say a cutting remark a lot and nodded.
「…Your Eminence also knows about it, huh」
「I’m of the same generation as Orvieto, you know? Doesn’t that means I’m of the same generation as your mother too? I was already a grown woman at that time, so its natural that I’ll remember it properly. It became a disturbance of that extent, after all」
Dimitar completely didn’t remember, but considering the weight of the Richternach House’s name, he could imagine the magnitude of the disturbance at that time. The cousin of Orvieto Richternach, who was already known as the magic warrior who possessed preeminent ability, attempted to drag her son into a forced double suicide. If they were adults of a certain age, they might remember it clearly.
「That’s why you feel indebted to Orvieto and the other Richternach-kyou」
「It’s not indebtedness but kindness」
「Both are similar. Mentally, you’re not on an equal footing with them already」
Dimitar got angry, but at the same time, he also felt that she had hit the nail on the head.
Dimitar certainly felt indebted to Lucius and Orvieto. Although he said that it wasn’t indebtedness but kindness, like Shakira had also pointed out, whether this was indebtedness or kindness, the difference wasn’t significant. His mother had chosen a dishonourable way to die, and he who had survived was adopted by Orvieto and was living under her patronage even now. It was an indisputable fact that there were times when he wondered if the existence of Dimitar Richternach, who was here now, itself was already a liability to Lucius and Orvieto.
「You’ve talent」
「…Pardon?」
At Shakira’s abrupt words, Dimitar looked up at the attractive older woman who looked like a girl.
「I said that you’ve talent. It’s that, I just know that sort of thing」
Shakira narrowed her eyes and smiled.
「From what I’ve seen, you’ve more talent than the other Richternach-kyou. But because of your indebtedness to him, you can’t demonstrate it readily」
「…That’s absurd」
「Hey hey, there’s no need to call this me absurd, is there?」
Grasping the treasured sword, including its scabbard, worn on her waist and hitting Dimitar’s head lightly, Shakira puffed out her cheeks.
「My insight won’t be wrong! —It’s that, it’s better that you keep your distance from Orvieto and the other Richternach-kyou a little. I feel that the current environment will corrode your talent. Right?!」
「It’s not “right?!”. I don’t know whether Your Eminence knows this, but in this world, that sort of thing is called needless meddling」
He understood that the other party was an important person of the country, but as one would expect, she had no right to say to that extent.
Dimitar kept his mouth shut glumly, and after that, due to Shakira hailing the Crown Prince and obtaining his permission, his expression ended up becoming even more glum.
That was because swaying horseback together with this Eminence would probably be accompanied by a considerable mental pain.
The next morning, when Dimitar and the others came out from their tents, the town had already woken up completely and was starting to spend a day that was the same as usual.
Although it was called a town, this place was originally a local agricultural village, and the lifestyle wasn’t so different from before. One would get out of bed at first light, do farm work until evening, and then go to bed without staying up late. In the eyes of such people, the chivalric order group who got out of bed after the sun had rose on the other side of the mountain ridge must have looked very lazy.
When Dimitar was fastening his luggage to the horse’s saddle in preparation for departure, Lucius came here at a quick pace while receiving morning greetings from many members.
「Dii」
「Yo」
Raising one hand lightly, Dimitar raised his lips.
The fact that Lucius, who would distinguish between public and private matters properly, addressed him as “Dii” in a low voice for fear of attention meant that Lucius probably didn’t call out to him to instruct him something as the vice-leader. Therefore, Dimitar also responded as the younger childhood friend.
「Is your preparation completed?」
「Almost」
「If that’s the case, let’s take a walk」
「We’re departing very soon, right?」
「Her Eminence is still washing her face. It’ll take nearly one more hour」
Saying so, Lucius patted Dimitar on the shoulder lightly and started to walk.
「—The town mayor came to the inn early this morning to greet us」
「He’ll probably come to see us off at the time of departure anyway. This town mayor is so free」
「Rather than greet… he came to thank us for another matter」
Lucius looked at Dimitar fleetingly with a sidelong glance.
「…It seems that the town mayor sent people to deliver food and drink to the chivalric order last night while they were encamping at night」
「Ah…」
「Do you know?」
「We were treated to cheese and wine」
「The town mayor’s only daughter was among the people who brought the food and drink, …but it seemed that that child was almost raped by the people of the chivalric order」
「That’s terrible. Even though she specially brought the food and drink, the person herself was almost eaten, huh. What a big problem」
Dimitar answered as if it was somebody else’s problem and smiled. Lucius saw that and dropped his shoulders with a sigh.
「As expected, it was you, huh…」
「I’m not so hungry for women that I’ll attack such a young girl, you know. In the first place, young girls aren’t my cup of tea」
「I’m not saying that you did that kind of inexcusable behaviour. …The town mayor said that he wanted to properly thank the young member who had saved his daughter when she was in danger. You were the one who saved that child, right?」
「…Hmm, I guess so. I never knew that that girl is the town mayor’s daughter though」
Since he understood that it was pointless to play dumb, Dimitar nodded honestly.
「…You overdid it」」
「Is that so? Did I do something unnecessary?」
「No… you did well in a sense that you prevented a dishonourable action of the group, but—」
「You’re not speaking clearly. What on earth do you mean?」
「That’s why I said that you overdid it. The other parties whom you beat up are a little…」
「The other parties? Come to think of it, I couldn’t tell exactly because it was dark, but who were they?」
「They’re probably Michel and his followers. This morning, they said that they’d by no means come out from their tents, so when I went to see the situation, their faces were covered with conspicuous bruises and were terrible」
「I suppose so. —So, those people said that I did it?」
「The people themselves said that they got drunk and fell down, but I know that that’s not the case when I see it. That’s an injury from being hit」
「Ma, they tried to rape the town mayor’s daughter who had come to deliver food and drink, after all. They’re probably idiots」
If they told Lucius the truth, even their own dishonourable criminal act would come to light. Besides, it took them three people to deal with a barehanded apprentice; moreover, it was probably so embarrassing to be beaten up without even being able to counterattack even though they drew their swords that they couldn’t say it at all.
Standing on top of a slightly elevated hill that was slightly distant from the camping ground, Dimitar spoke while watching the tents being folded.
「—I’d like them to think they were fortunate that it ended with that extent instead. Properly speaking, all three of them should be permanently expelled, right?」
「Strictly speaking, that’s the case, …but the present situation is that we can’t do so. Michel, in particular, has a big backer, after all」
Lucius muttered with a bitter expression. Worried about that, Dimitar peered at his childhood friend’s face quizzically.
「…That Michel, who’s he?」
「You don’t know?」
「No」
「Please have an interest in other people a bit more. I said that you won’t be able to conduct yourself well if you don’t broaden your knowledge, right?」
「Sorry. …I’ll pay attention to that matter after this, so tell me」
「…The one whom you hit last night was Michel Bolieiro」
「Bolieiro…? Is he a relative of the Bolieiro House by any chance?」
「Rather than a relative, he’s the son who will succeed the head family. The other two people were—ah, Héctor and Hugo? Anyway, they’re also from the Bolieiro clan; if I remember correctly, they should be Michel’s cousins」
Lucius put his hand on his forehead and leaked a heavy sigh again.
The Bolieiro House was a prominent great nobility even in Ahmad. Although it wasn’t really so in the recent years, it had produced many ministers from among the clan during the period of the previous king, and its power was still big.
「Will their authority in the royal court influence this chivalric order that the Crown Prince leads?」
「The Bolieiro House is at the top in terms of amount of donation to the chivalric order every year」
「They’re at the top in that sort of thing, huh. It seems faster to count their sons’ abilities from the bottom though」
「It’s because that’s the case. …They want to make the son, who by no means could be called capable, succeed in life somehow. They might have considered the donation to the chivalric order to be a gift to the Crown Prince」
「No matter how much money they send to Ahmad’s Crown Prince, it won’t be a bribe, right? In the first place, no matter how you strive to succeed in life in this chivalric order, you can’t become the leader—」
After muttering to that extent, Dimitar narrowed his eyes.
「…Does that guy want to become the vice-leader by any chance?」
「It’s probably a fact that I’m not well liked by him. When I was appointed the new vice-leader by His Highness, I felt that he had glared at me with eyes as if he was seeing his parents’ enemy」
“Therefore—,” Lucius continued.
「—I also know that His Highness won’t waver because of a bribe, but nevertheless, he can’t disregard the intention of the Bolieiro House, which had given that much support, completely. Apart from the donation matter, their influence on other nobles is also big, after all. I think His Highness is racking his brains over the treatment of Michel because of that too」
「Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean that he can break the rules of the chivalric order, right? Even if he wasn’t a member of the chivalric order, that should be an act which violated the law」
「I know. That’s why Michel couldn’t make a fuss and say that it was done by you, and it’s hardly possible that His Highness intends to blame Michel any more. —But regarding Michel, it’s not good that you overdid it. Since you’re my relative, I think he isn’t pleased with you too」
「…Is that so? He knew me, huh」
Come to think of it, when he was beating up those three people last night, there was one man who was about to say Dimitar’s name. That person was most likely Michel Bolieiro.
Stroking his neck, Dimitar spoke to Lucius.
「—Let’s return soon. The group won’t be in order unless you’re there」
「Yes」
While descending the hill and returning to the gathering point of the chivalric order, Lucius repeated.
「Anyway, don’t get mixed up with Michel’s party any more. If they’re going to do something intolerable that violates the rules, you can just inform me. It’s better if they bear a grudge against me only; there’s no need to even make them hate the very sight of you」
「That sort of guys are good at shutting their eyes to their own actions and then blaming others for it, after all. Perhaps in their minds, it must have been decided that I’m one-sidedly at fault already. I’ll remember that advice, but it’s probably too late anyway」
Although he felt guilty for making Lucius’s position difficult, he hadn’t the slightest feelings of guilt towards Michel. Even now, Dimitar who was told the circumstances could only think they should be thankful that it ended with that extent instead.
In an extreme instance, even if the one who attacked the town mayor’s daughter last night was the Crown Prince, Dimitar—even though Dimitar would go easy on him somewhat—would probably not use words but hit him to stop him likewise. If they were that kind of people who would desist from doing it because of words, they’d have stop at the point of time when the girl shouted for help in the first place. If those guys didn’t stop it, one could only stop them with overwhelming authority or stop them with violence, which would work at once.
「—Good morning, Dii-kun!」
Accompanied by attendants behind her, Shakira Babel could be seen coming along with long strides. Dimitar and Lucius put their right hands on their chests and knelt down on the spot in the same way as the surrounding members.
「Good morning, Your Eminence」
「Ah, that, never mind the formal greetings—hora, everyone is still preparing for departure, right?」
「Yes. —Well then」
Lucius stood up quietly and ordered the members to go back to work.
「By the way… Vice-Leader Richternach-kyou?」
「What is it, Your Eminence?」
「I’d like you to listen to one whim of mine」
Shakira was grinning while folding her arms and walking slowly around Dimitar and Lucius. Even she herself had said that it was a whim, so it was probably nothing good anyway.
「The weather is good today. I don’t feel like staying inside the carriage」
「So that means…?」
「I want to ride this Richternach-kyou’s horse with him today」
「That’s…」
Lucius and Dimitar looked at each other and knitted their brows. Shakira’s attendants also opened their eyes wide in surprise at their master’s remark.
「I’m sorry, Your Eminence. There’s also the matter of security, so I’d like to have your forgiveness for that… and if by any chance you fall down from the saddle」
「Shouldn’t Dii-kun pay attention to that so that I won’t fall down?」
Interrupting Lucius’s words, Shakira spoke. It was as if she was provoking Dimitar and him.
「If I fall off the horse, I’ll just complain persistently to Orvieto. —In any case, I want to do so」
「—」
Lucius sighed lightly and looked at Dimitar.
Lucius wasn’t particularly worried that Dimitar might let Shakira fall from the horse in the slightest. The fact that he didn’t look happy must be because he was genuinely thinking about the security issue and that he didn’t want to make Dimitar stand out too much today when only one day had passed after that thing happened.
Stroking the nape of his neck, Dimitar spoke to Lucius.
「Don’t mind me, Vice-Leader. If Her Eminence wishes for it」
With the intention of telling Lucius not to mind his own difficult position, Dimitar answered not as a relative but as a chivalric order member.
Lucius shrugged his shoulders.
「…Well then, Your Eminence, please wait just a minute. We’ll do so if we can get His Highness’s permission…」
「Ah, if that’s the case, then it’s fine♪ I’ll go get His Highness’s permission directly together with Dii-kun, so you, that, it’s fine if you do your own work. —All right Dii-kun, give me a ride to where His Highness is♪」
While saying so, Shakira was already trying to put her foot on the stirrup of Dimitar’s horse. Even though her resplendent tabard had rolled up and her pure white and slender leg had become completely visible, it was as if she was unconcerned about it.
「Y, Your Eminence! That’s dangerous!」
「Shall I prepare an additional saddle?」
Dimitar curled his lip and suggested so to Shakira.
「In that case, I can only see your back. I’ll ride in front!」
「Well, I don’t particularly mind」
Dimitar, who had put his hands under both the small Eminence’s arms and pushed her up onto the saddle lightly, took the reins and started to walk. Lucius and the attendants looked worried, but they already understood that Shakira wouldn’t listen to anyone’s opinion after she had suggested so.
Shakira smiled, her body swaying left and right to the horse’s steps.
「You must support me properly, all right?」
「If you’re worried, then you shouldn’t have said that you want to ride a horse」
「Don’t look so displeased, Dii-kun. If you’re on cordial terms with me, isn’t it convenient for you in various ways?」
「What is convenient?」
「I heard about the town mayor’s daughter」
「……」
Dimitar glanced at Shakira.
「—Moreover, it seems that the other party whom you had beaten up is that Bolieiro’s foolish son」
「Is that senior so famous?」
「Uh-huh. He’s famous in a bad way」
「If that’s the case, I’ve probably taught him a good lesson」
「However, his father is an influential person. —It’d be good if the titled Richternach-kyou and Orvieto, and of course, you, don’t get dragged into this」
When he was told that, Dimitar’s heart wavered. Although he believed that it wasn’t wrong to beat up Michel, it wasn’t Dimitar’s real intention to trouble even Lucius and Orvieto because of that. Perhaps he should have acted after thinking calmly a bit more before beating him up with no questions asked.
「—That’s why」
Shakira spoke to Dimitar, who was looking down, from horseback.
「If you’re on cordial terms with me, I might be of service when something happen」
「Your Eminence, try changing our genders and think about it」
Dimitar also almost burst into laughter unconsciously at Shakira’s mischievous “hee-hee” chuckling.
「If I were a young girl, and Your Eminence were an oily middle-aged man, those words just now would sound like those of a terrible brute. It gives one the impression of the beginning of a tragedy」
「First of all, you’re not a young girl, and I’m also not an oily middle-aged old man. Secondly, even if someone almost took advantage of your weakness, it’s not your character to accept it meekly as it is, right? That’s why your example is meaningless. To begin with, I don’t have any ulterior motive」
「I see. I’m glad to hear that」
Muttering curtly, Dimitar searched for the figure of the Crown Prince.
The departure time was drawing nearer and nearer, and the surroundings were filled with noises, but even in this situation, the gazes of Dimitar’s colleagues that were pointing at him were tinged with coldness as usual. Or rather, it felt like the temperature had dropped more than yesterday. The story of Dimitar knocking Michel out was most likely spreading. The fact that the right and wrong of what Michel’s party had perpetrated was pigeonholed, and that Dimitar had openly opposed the Bolieiro House might have made the difference in temperature between Dimitar and them more conspicuous. That was to say, being on friendly terms with Dimitar was equivalent to the act of offending the Bolieiro House.
「—You’re so awkward」
Shakira who was silent for a short while opened her mouth with a sigh.
「I feel that you absolutely don’t want to yield to anyone」
「I don’t think like that in particular though」
「You do. If there’re exceptions, then they’re the other Richternach-kyou and also Orvieto only, right?」
「……」
Dimitar didn’t say yes or no, but even if it wasn’t Shakira, one could immediately understand that it was a silence that meant affirmation.
「If I remember correctly, your parents are no longer here」
「Yes」
「Your mother set fire to the mansion and tried to make you die together with her」
She was a woman who would bluntly say things that people didn’t want to recall. Dimitar endured the matter of wanting to say a cutting remark a lot and nodded.
「…Your Eminence also knows about it, huh」
「I’m of the same generation as Orvieto, you know? Doesn’t that means I’m of the same generation as your mother too? I was already a grown woman at that time, so its natural that I’ll remember it properly. It became a disturbance of that extent, after all」
Dimitar completely didn’t remember, but considering the weight of the Richternach House’s name, he could imagine the magnitude of the disturbance at that time. The cousin of Orvieto Richternach, who was already known as the magic warrior who possessed preeminent ability, attempted to drag her son into a forced double suicide. If they were adults of a certain age, they might remember it clearly.
「That’s why you feel indebted to Orvieto and the other Richternach-kyou」
「It’s not indebtedness but kindness」
「Both are similar. Mentally, you’re not on an equal footing with them already」
Dimitar got angry, but at the same time, he also felt that she had hit the nail on the head.
Dimitar certainly felt indebted to Lucius and Orvieto. Although he said that it wasn’t indebtedness but kindness, like Shakira had also pointed out, whether this was indebtedness or kindness, the difference wasn’t significant. His mother had chosen a dishonourable way to die, and he who had survived was adopted by Orvieto and was living under her patronage even now. It was an indisputable fact that there were times when he wondered if the existence of Dimitar Richternach, who was here now, itself was already a liability to Lucius and Orvieto.
「You’ve talent」
「…Pardon?」
At Shakira’s abrupt words, Dimitar looked up at the attractive older woman who looked like a girl.
「I said that you’ve talent. It’s that, I just know that sort of thing」
Shakira narrowed her eyes and smiled.
「From what I’ve seen, you’ve more talent than the other Richternach-kyou. But because of your indebtedness to him, you can’t demonstrate it readily」
「…That’s absurd」
「Hey hey, there’s no need to call this me absurd, is there?」
Grasping the treasured sword, including its scabbard, worn on her waist and hitting Dimitar’s head lightly, Shakira puffed out her cheeks.
「My insight won’t be wrong! —It’s that, it’s better that you keep your distance from Orvieto and the other Richternach-kyou a little. I feel that the current environment will corrode your talent. Right?!」
「It’s not “right?!”. I don’t know whether Your Eminence knows this, but in this world, that sort of thing is called needless meddling」
He understood that the other party was an important person of the country, but as one would expect, she had no right to say to that extent.
Dimitar kept his mouth shut glumly, and after that, due to Shakira hailing the Crown Prince and obtaining his permission, his expression ended up becoming even more glum.
That was because swaying horseback together with this Eminence would probably be accompanied by a considerable mental pain.
