Chapter 167: I Couldn’t Tell You
Glancing sideways at the fidgeting Karinal, I turned to look behind me and found Felica smiling as if relieved.
The surrounding soldiers and knights who had been watching my spar with Karinal returned to their respective training under a single glare from Elvin.
Roy was smiling wryly, while the Elvin who had given that glare was looking at me with a surprised expression.
I did not understand what had surprised Elvin so much, but I would make sure he did not forget the promise to treat me to a drink.
Then the sensation of my cheek being gently stroked made me realize that Sharle had arrived.
No matter how many times I experience it, I can never get used to the sudden feeling of my cheek being stroked...
As I smiled wryly at that, Sharle spoke in a gentle tone at a volume that even Karinal could hear.
"I came because I thought it was noisy... Fufu, how very like you, Lord Raide."
"...The way you put it makes it sound as though wherever there’s a commotion, there I am."
"Was I wrong?"
"You only feel that way because you’re near me."
"Kusu. Let’s leave it at that."
While I was having that conversation with Sharle, a sound of something touching the ground came, and when I looked at Karinal she was down on one knee.
At the sight of Karinal lowering her head in a formal posture I was about to call out in surprise... but Sharle’s slightly cold, emotionless voice stopped my movement.
"Karinal, I saw everything from beginning to end."
"Ha."
"A message from Her Highness. You are to come along with Lord Raide as well."
"Th-that is..."
"Be at ease. I promise no harm will be done. Besides, if anything were done to you, I would be the one scolded."
Having said that much, Sharle added in a small, gentle voice right by my ear, "By Lord Raide."
I have never gotten angry or anything, I thought, smiling troubledly and rubbing the back of my neck with one hand.
And besides... there are far too many elements for which Karinal could be scolded; honestly I do not know whether I could stop it.
After all, the moment she asked a guest of the princesses for a spar she had already crossed a fairly dangerous bridge.
Strictly speaking it would not be strange even if she had been seized...
"Accompany Lord Raide together with Elvin, Karinal. Understood?"
"Ha!"
"That being the case, please take care of us, Lord Raide."
"...Understood. But there is something I would like to ask later—is that all right?"
"Fufufu. Later is fine."
Sharle answered in an amused tone and gently stroked my wryly smiling cheek.
I’m pretty sure Sharle said she was a covert operative, right?
Is it all right for a covert operative’s existence to be so widely known to a knight like Karinal?
Judging by Karinal’s reaction, it feels as though Sharle’s presence is well known... a mystery.
From Sharle’s tone she has probably noticed that I am concerned about that area.
I let out a small breath, took one hand of the somewhat tense-looking Karinal, and helped her stand.
Then, smiling troubledly, I spoke to the tense-faced Karinal.
"Well, shall we just be glad there was no reprimand?"
"Y-yes. ...Um, Lord Raide."
"Raide is fine. I have not received a title; I am only an instructor at Filim Academy and the owner of a tavern. So calling me without honorifics is fine."
"Eh, yes? Nnn? Eeeh...?"
What, she can make cute reactions too? Was the rigid personality introduced in the game profile a lie?
At the sight of Karinal looking blank with a huge pile of question marks above her head, I laughed even while feeling apologetic.
While doing that I noticed that Elvin had at some point walked up behind me and was standing there.
Turning around and looking up at the sour-faced Elvin, Elvin let out a small breath.
"You truly never cease to amaze me..."
"Not me, but the unit, right?"
"Of course I was also surprised by the unit. But you... haven’t you grown stronger than when you sparred with me before?"
"How many years do you think have passed since then? Even I train, you know?"
"It is not only that... Haa, I shall say nothing more. Karinal, accompany them as Lady Sharle said."
"Understood, Uncle. Um..."
"I know, I am surprised as well..."
At the two making subtle faces I tilted my head and approached Felica, who had been following behind Elvin.
Felica smiled gently and wiped my sweat with a handkerchief, while Roy asked me technical questions.
Roy’s questions were ones one would not notice without watching the match carefully; when I praised him for watching well he made a bashful face.
Walking behind Elvin and Karinal, we headed toward the central part of the castle.
The construction of Libertonia Castle is a little special; the living space of the royal family is in the center.
Normally one would think it would be located on the upper floors, yet it is a special construction in which they live in a circular arrangement in the center.
Around that central part are the audience chambers and the spaces where civil officials, the chancellor, and others work.
This is possible only because the castle is enormously large; it would be impossible in a small castle.
And one can enter the royal family’s living space only from the first floor, and only limited persons may enter.
If one were to name a representative it would be the chancellor; after all, that man is supposed to be King Adom’s childhood friend.
One might think that the first floor would be easy to invade, but that is naïve thinking.
To reach that living space one must pass through rooms where guards are stationed at several places, and because it is maze-like it is difficult for outsiders to arrive.
In other words they did not simply set up the living space in the center; the position is the result of considering defense.
Come to think of it, while clearing quests in free play I heard that the royal family has an easy path to reach it... though I have no intention of investigating.
When asked whether the place Elvin is guiding us to is the living space, the answer is no.
We are heading to the reception room just before it, and from there even Elvin has never gone further, he said with a wry smile.
Since it takes a little walking to arrive, I asked Elvin, who was walking ahead, something that had been bothering me.
"Sir Elvin, you know of Sharle?"
"You, calling her without honorifics... No, she told you to call her that, didn’t she?"
"Yes. Would it be better to add ’-sama’?"
"Fufu. No."
At Sharle’s voice, Elvin and Karinal reacted with a startled twitch; I laughed inwardly.
In the first place, if she was near me she could have told me...
Because there had been no reaction after I spoke to Karinal, I had simply thought she had left my side.
When Elvin realized from the voice that Sharle was nearby, he turned around with an awkward face and spoke.
"Please ask the person herself..."
"Elvin, it is fine. Please tell him. ...Ah, you need not change the way you speak. It would be troublesome if Lord Raide became formal with me."
"...Understood."
...Please do not look at me with such resentful eyes.
If anything I would like you to complain to the Sharle who is finding it amusing.
It sounds like a calm voice, but I can feel an amused atmosphere in every phrase.
Elvin let out a small breath, moved to my side, and began speaking.
"Those who know of Lady Sharle’s existence are only of the knight-captain class. Therefore there is nothing strange about Lady Felica or Raide not knowing."
"Hmm. Meaning she holds that important a role?"
"...Lady Sharle bears the duty of conveying His Highness’s words. In other words, Lady Sharle is His Highness’s mouth. That being the case, her position is directly beneath His Highness, and it is the natural flow for us to serve her."
"That... is how it would be."
"I did tell you I am one of the king’s subordinates, you know?"
...What are you laughing about, Miss Sharle.
Your words are trembling, aren’t they? It’s completely obvious you’re finding this amusing.
No, this is not a laughing matter, really. Isn’t this the "punishment"?
As I sighed, Sharle gently stroked my cheek and spoke apologetically.
"I’m sorry. I couldn’t tell you."
"...Of course you couldn’t. Rather, you stayed by my side even while carrying such a duty. The one who wants to thank you is me."
"...That is the kind of person you are. Right, Lady Felica?"
"No, yes. Um, I would like you to call me Felica... please."
"Fufu, fufufu. No. Since you have become involved with Lord Raide, please give up."
When Felica was told that by Sharle she looked at me with half-lidded eyes, while Elvin and Karinal looked at Felica’s state and smiled wryly.
Roy was quietly listening to our conversation and smiling troubledly.
While having such a conversation we arrived at one large door, and Elvin straightened his posture and knocked.
From inside came the chancellor’s voice; Elvin and Karinal opened the door for us, and Felica, Roy, and I proceeded inside.
In the spacious reception room there was only the figure of the chancellor; when we tried to place one knee on the ground before the chancellor sitting on the luxurious sofa opposite, words of restraint from the chancellor were directed at us.
"Today is fine. It is an unofficial setting, and for the sake of your punishment."
"...With all due respect, is it such a large-scale punishment?"
"Kukuku. Thanks to your various matters, this old man also had a headache. I went along with Sharle’s plan."
"Is that so..."
"Do not brace yourself so much. I will only say that it would be better to keep your heart strong."
"That is not comforting words, is it?"
At my words the chancellor laughed amusedly and stood from the sofa.
Then he told us to follow him and, looking at Elvin and Karinal who were lowering their heads behind us, spoke.
"Elvin, Karinal, you have worked hard. You may withdraw."
""Ha.""
"Chancellor, please wait. Please allow Karinal to accompany us."
"...What?"
From beside me came Sharle’s serious tone, and the chancellor furrowed his brows and looked at my side.
I wonder whether her figure is visible to the chancellor as well, or whether he grasped her position from the voice...
The chancellor directed a dubious face toward the twitching Karinal.
Then he looked at me next and spoke as if asking Sharle.
"I cannot believe it... this fellow, again?"
"In my estimation, that is what it will become. Therefore sooner or later... it is."
"Haa... This old man may have gone along with an outrageous plan..."
The chancellor placed one hand on his forehead as if tired and let out a large sigh.
...What is this? For the first time in a while I want to run away.
I will not do such a thing, but... the punishment prepared to this extent is frightening, and my heart is already full of the feeling that it is more than enough.
If one is going to sigh, I have the confidence to let out a grander, larger sigh than the chancellor.
"Chancellor..."
"Do not say it, Sharle. It is too late to stop now. At least let me grumble. ...Karinal."
"Ha."
"Follow behind Raide. Elvin, sorry, but I will take charge of Karinal. If you have complaints, tell them to Raide later."
"Ha! To my heart’s content!"
Not "to my heart’s content," you old man...
Sharle, who had sensed my state, was quietly laughing behind me so as not to be noticed.
The fact that she hid behind me means her figure is not visible to the chancellor.
Felica beside me was smiling troubledly and glancing at me sideways, while Roy had lowered his face and was shaking his shoulders.
I had never felt it until now, but this must be what people mean when they say their stomach hurts.
The chancellor sighed, looked at me with an exasperated face, and spoke.
"Follow behind this old man. Only this old man can guide ’from here on.’"
"...Sir Chancellor?"
"Raide, it is unfortunate, but even if you make that face it will no longer stop, and it cannot be stopped. Give up and steel yourself."
"Understood."
Having understood the place we would be taken under the chancellor’s guidance from now on, I let out a small sigh even while knowing it was rude.
Sharle is continuing to stroke my cheek, perhaps intending it as comfort...
That is why things become troublesome when the princesses are involved... Haa, my spirits are heavy.
Following behind the grinning chancellor, we walked toward a door different from the one through which we had entered the reception room.
Poor Karinal has become completely frightened; her face is even a little pale.
The fact that Felica noticed Karinal’s state and is speaking to her is a saving grace.
Punishment is scary, I end up thinking all over again...