Chapter 165: A Good Connection, You Could Say…
Inside the carriage slowly heading toward the royal palace.
Turning my face sideways and peeking at the outside scenery, we had already come near the royal palace; the castle looked large.
As expected, travel by carriage is fast. On foot it would take more than thirty minutes...
"Are you scared of the punishment?"
"...There is the fear of not knowing what will be done."
Felica laughed interestingly and asked the me who had been looking outside, so I looked at Felica and replied while smiling wryly.
Roy apparently understood what the talk was about and smiled troubledly.
Today’s clothes of Felica did not differ much from usual, yet she was wearing a tight skirt that reached to the knees.
What she had draped over her shoulders was also different from usual: a blue military coat with several medals attached to the chest.
Looking at her like this, the atmosphere of a capable woman was intense; she did not look at all like the woman who had been saying "Unuun~~~."
Being able to see such a figure is a privilege of a lover, I think.
Before long we arrived in front of the main gate of the royal palace, and the carriage slowed in order to stop.
Whether Alumi’s driving was skillful or the carriage’s performance was good I did not know, yet with little impact the carriage came to a complete stop.
Immediately the door slowly opened, and Alumi looked at my face and bowed.
I descended from the carriage first and at that time quietly conveyed my thanks to Alumi.
Next Roy descended, and when it became Felica’s turn to descend last I held out one hand.
...Please do not make such an embarrassed face; it makes even me embarrassed.
Felica faintly blushed, smiled happily, took my one hand, and descended from the carriage.
Turning my face toward the royal palace and looking up, no matter when I see it the impact is tremendous.
Dropping my gaze and directing my eyes to the main gate a little distance away, the gate soldiers were providing strict security.
Among them I noticed an especially large-built knight standing imposingly in the center of the main gate.
...What a luxurious welcome.
Walking side by side with Felica along the path neatly paved with stone, Felica also apparently noticed the standing figure and smiled wryly.
Looking only with my eyes behind me and Felica, Roy was walking in a skillful manner that did not look arrogant yet was not embarrassed either.
As expected, or rather, I truly think Roy is high-spec... Even if told to imitate that way of walking I do not feel I could do it.
Arriving right in front of the main gate, the knight who had been standing imposingly looked us over with a sharp glare.
His height was perhaps two meters; his age looked old yet his large build, the scars on the silver armor, and his atmosphere conveyed that he was a battle-hardened soldier.
To that knight Felica lightly lowered her head, bowed once, then smiled and spoke.
"This is Sir Elvin. It has been a long time."
"...Yes, Lady Felica. And Sir Roy has also grown large."
Roy, without being startled by the considerably intimidating voice, bowed; Elvin looked at that and nodded lightly.
Next Elvin increased the sense of intimidation and looked only with his eyes at me; I continued looking at Elvin’s eyes without bowing.
At my reaction he grinned a little, approached me with heavy steps, and Felica spoke to Elvin in a flustered manner.
"Please wait, Sir Elvin! He is an instructor of Filim Academy—"
As if ignoring Felica’s voice he walked, came right in front of me, and looked down with an intimidating gaze.
Even having come this far I did not bow and did not remove my eyes from Elvin’s.
It is not that I particularly dislike Elvin, but...
Then with a force that produced a basu sound, he placed a large one hand on my left shoulder, grinned happily, and spoke.
"Raide! When are you going to invite me for a drink!"
"Because Sir Elvin looks busy I cannot invite you. More than that, I keep saying every time that my shoulder will really break, you know?"
"You, break? Nuhahaha, you still say interesting things!"
"No, it really hurts!"
While laughing happily with bashi bashi, Elvin struck my shoulder; I grimaced from the pain and involuntarily grabbed Elvin’s hand to stop him.
I’m saying it’s not a joke—it will really break!
It’s creaking, the bone, the shoulder!
When I grabbed his arm Elvin finally crossed his arms and laughed heartily and happily; I smiled wryly while rubbing my shoulder.
Felica and Roy were looking at such a figure of Elvin with blank expressions.
He is Elvin Kind.
Captain of the 2nd Royal Guard Knights, and also a comrade with whom I fought together during the war.
It is no wonder Felica and Roy are surprised; inside the royal palace... no, among the soldiers he is known as a rigid man, and those who have seen him smile are probably only the upper ranks such as the king and the chancellor.
As proof of that the surrounding gate soldiers were looking at Elvin with surprised faces.
A man strict with his subordinates and strict with himself—that is Elvin Kind.
Even at fifty he is still active on the battlefield, and his spear is also famous as a spear technique that cannot be imitated.
Stopping his laughter and smiling, Elvin turned his face toward Felica and Roy and spoke.
"You have a good connection, don’t you, Lady Felica."
"Ah, no, a good connection, you could say... that is..."
"Nnn? For Lady Felica it is unusually hesitant of you."
When Felica glanced at my face looking embarrassed, I smiled wryly and quietly told Elvin that we had become lovers.
Then Elvin looked at my face with a surprised expression, next turned his face toward Felica, and spoke as if dumbfounded.
"Raide... as expected you are a man who never lets those around you grow bored."
"I’ll take that as a compliment..."
Please stop the way of speaking as if some incident occurs around me every time...
At Elvin who had begun looking at my face with a grinning smile, I let out a small breath.
Under Elvin’s guidance we walked inside the royal palace.
The inside of the castle was less hot than I had heard from Felica; if anything it was cool.
When I report about the mountain to the chancellor I do not enter from the main gate but from the gate used by soldiers going in and out, so walking on this side is the first time for me.
While walking in the lead Elvin explained that, because of work circumstances the princesses’ preparations had not been in time, he had been ordered to have us tour the castle.
Elvin was laughing happily that when he heard the name of the one to be guided and realized it was me he was surprised.
Saying he would show us the training grounds, we arrived at a plaza about fifteen minutes’ walk away.
There various soldiers and knights were undergoing individual practice to polish their own techniques or group training.
Looking only with my eyes at Roy’s state, he was watching the training figures with a serious gaze.
Watching like that is also a form of study; I nodded small at Roy’s state and returned my gaze to the plaza.
Then one female knight who noticed us together with Elvin slowly walked this way.
...Ah, so it is this event after all.
With the current Roy, can he win? What should I do...
The one walking over is Elvin’s niece; her name is Karinal.
Height 170, bright green hair grown to the shoulders and put into a ponytail, slender build.
Perhaps resembling Elvin a little, she wore a rigid expression and atmosphere.
According to the game profile she possesses breasts about the size of pears, yet because she is currently wearing armor that cannot be told.
This event is one in which Roy is asked by Karinal to spar and accepts.
If he loses Roy temporarily loses confidence, and unfavorable rumors circulate inside the castle.
The pleasant part of this event is that the relationships with the lovers do not worsen; if anything they improve.
In exchange the trust from the royal palace lowers, and negotiations related to the kingdom do not go well.
In that case one would think it is fine to simply win, yet if he wins Karinal falls to the dark side and becomes an enemy.
Players had no choice but to choose Karinal’s dark fall, yet because she is one of the popular characters I have seen players tearfully making her fall.
Well then, what truly should I do...
While thinking that, Karinal came right in front of us, bowed once, then spoke with a serious expression.
"I apologize for the suddenness. I have a request."
"Karinal, do you understand? These are guests of the princesses."
"I understand that it is rude, Uncle. Yet I absolutely wish to have a spar."
Passing by Elvin who was making a sour face, Karinal walked in front of me.
...Why is she coming toward me rather than Roy?
Stopping right in front of me, Karinal looked straight at me with a serious gaze and spoke in a clear voice.
"Sir Raide, I would like you to spar with me."
...Ha? Me? Did she just say she wants to spar with me?
Roy’s event has changed into my event?
I have no memory of such an event, and I have never seen it either...