Chapter 11.5

“Do you feel a little better now?”

Herace, unable to hide his smile, bowed his head and studied Brienne’s face. Under the tree in front of Seints Medical Center, Brienne blushed awkwardly and shook her head slightly.

“I’m not sure. I don’t regret it, but… it wasn’t as satisfying as I thought.”

Derrick had said many bad things to her and even kidnapped her once, so she considered it self-defense.

But—

“…Somehow I feel like I’ve become just like him. I never imagined a grown man would make such a mistake.”

Brienne looked up at the window where Derrick Harrington was, forcing a bitter smile.

The sound of cool water and the dampening floor. Remembering what happened right after she struck Derrick’s head, Brienne sighed.

She hadn’t thought she hit him that hard, but Derrick Harrington trembled and wet his pants.

Brienne, witnessing his patient’s trousers getting soaked in real time, was startled and stepped back. The pale Derrick collapsed as if his world had ended.

The tears of Derrick, who had always looked down on her, left Brienne with a deep sense of discomfort. She also worried he might spread the story somewhere, just like last time.

Just once.

She’d thought it would be just that….

“Anyway, I’m sorry I stopped you from investigating. With Derrick refusing to open his mouth, it’s really become a problem.”

“It’s alright, Brienne.”

As Brienne sighed with a dark face, Herace took her hand.

“We’ve postponed the investigation to tomorrow, haven’t we? So if you’re feeling guilty, you can let it go now. Compared to how that foolish man insulted you, what you did is nothing.”

“…Is it really?”

Nothing, he said. Maybe she could think that way if she tried. But Brienne wasn’t the type to just let things go.

She hesitated, then spoke.

“He’s always treated me like that, so I wonder if he’ll hate me even more now. Maybe I should have just ignored him. Getting involved only made him hate me more, and I feel uneasy about it.”

“I understand your concern. But if that’s truly how you feel….”

With a gentle smile, Herace brushed Brienne’s hair off her shoulder.

“I’d like to tell you, you don’t need to try to please someone like that. There are plenty of people who love you besides me.”

“Herace….”

Brienne parted her lips, searching for words, then sighed. Herace gave a wry smile.

“There’s no reason to go out of your way to be kind to people who blind themselves to your good points. I look at the world with that same mindset.”

“How?”

“Like this.”

Herace, who had been standing straight, shifted his weight onto one leg, adopting a slouched posture. Looking up at where Derrick Harrington was, a cynical smile appeared on Herace’s face.

“A gentleman who never stops talking about his pride, yet commits rudeness that dirties a lady’s eyes and nose. Truly impressive.”

“…What?”

Goodness.

To think that always-polite Herace would speak so sarcastically.

Brienne blinked in surprise, then burst into a loud laugh.

“What is that! This is the first time I’ve heard you talk like that, Herace.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, you look quite arrogant. Like a haughty prince.”

“A haughty prince. That’s the highest praise.”

Herace looked at Brienne’s now much more relaxed expression and laughed along with her.

Although the process hadn’t been entirely pleasant, giving Brienne the chance to take revenge on Derrick Harrington had been the right choice. As long as Brienne could smile brightly again, that thought would never change.

Of course, the fact that it was Derrick Harrington’s bladder, not Brienne’s heart, that was truly relieved still bothered Herace.

Just recalling Derrick’s disgraceful last moments was enough to erase the unpleasant image. Herace extended his hand to Brienne.

“Well then, it’d be best to head in for today. Tomorrow’s already Monday.”

“Alright. We’re going back to the Academy, right?”

Without any hesitation, Brienne firmly took Herace’s hand. Herace gazed down at their joined hands for a moment, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

“No.”

The search for Derrick Harrington was now over, and tomorrow, the investigation about him would begin.

Derrick was set to submit a statement to Prince Garzen’s investigation team and then be sent back to Rontiano. The royal knights sent by the prince would accompany him throughout the journey.

Unless any unexpected variables arose, Derrick would soon return safely to Earl Harrington’s arms.

Herace glanced at his wristwatch and gently led Brienne forward.

“If you’re alright with it, Brienne, since you’ve had a rough few days, I thought we could take a little break.”

“Huh? A break?”

“It’ll only take a moment. So today, I hope those lovely lips won’t mention being busy with studies.”

Seeing the unusual light in Herace’s eyes, Brienne paused, holding her breath.

She did have homework piling up back in the dormitory, but right now, it seemed best just to nod.

* * *

At that moment, in the Roeta royal palace.

“Your Highness, Your Highness…!”

A secretary, waiting near the Second Prince’s bedroom, hurriedly ran up to him. Judging by the women’s laughter still drifting from the not-yet-closed door, the Second Prince seemed unaware of the events at Mashern Harbor.

“What is it?”

Perian, lazily exiting the room, yawned and asked.

“S-since yesterday, the Third Prince’s knights have taken over Mashern Harbor and are searching the ships! It seems the Duke from Rontiano made some kind of mistake!”

“…What?”

Perian’s face twisted in annoyance as he stopped walking.

“Follow me.”

Sighing, Perian headed to his office. The secretary followed him in, the beautiful song of birds echoing in his ears.

The secretary looked up and scanned the office. In the past few days, several new birdcages had appeared inside.

Looking at the many cages, the secretary clicked his tongue inwardly.

Unlike the other princes, the Second Prince was born without any divine or magical power, which was pitiful, but this was just eccentric.

Because he was ignored for having no abilities, the prince had obsessively collected birds since childhood. According to the Myth of Roeta, birds possess human souls, so being with them kept him from feeling lonely.

Perian, opening the most ornate cage, stroked the head of a parrot rubbing its beak against his finger.

“I’m really annoyed. Why are you telling me something so important only now?”

“Y-your Highness, you told us never to disturb you when you’re with the ladies. You strictly ordered us never to open the door unless the King passed away….”

“Tsk, that foolish Duke.”

The flustered secretary stammered his excuses, but Perian didn’t seem to be listening.

Perian clicked his tongue repeatedly as he made eye contact with the parrot perched on his index finger. A sly smile appeared on his face.

“Ardi, what do you think?”

Ardi, Ardi!

The parrot chirped its name in a high voice, spreading its wings and tilting its head. Perian, moving the parrot to his arm, nodded at the secretary.

“I’m talking to you, Ardi.”

“Eh? M-me, Your Highness?”

“Yes, Ardi. What do you think we should do about that foolish Duke?”

Suddenly cast as the parrot Ardi, the secretary nodded in confusion. Perian stared at him, then burst out laughing.

“What’s wrong, Ardi? Don’t you like the name?”

“It’s not that, but suddenly calling me Ardi… Did I do something wrong? If so, I’d rather you scolded me.”

“Wrong?”

Raising his arm high to send the parrot flying, Perian wiped away his smile and looked back coldly.

“That’s right, now that I think about it, you’ve made plenty of mistakes. You’re not even a competent secretary—your job is just to follow my orders. When I ask for your opinion, you just tilt your head like you don’t understand.”

“…I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“Hm, that won’t do. On second thought, the name Ardi is too good for you. At least our Ardi is pretty. You really can’t do anything.”

The secretary bowed his head apologetically, but Perian’s mood didn’t improve. Rubbing his temples as if he had a headache, Perian slowly approached the sofa and flopped down.

“Cigar, whiskey. Anything will do—just bring it quickly.”

“Y-yes…!”

The secretary rushed out, and Perian thumped the long sofa.

‘D*mn old man.’

He’d been worried that something big would happen, and now his fears had come true.

Recalling the last letter from the Duke of Bannon, Perian’s brow furrowed deeply.

He’d expected something interesting, but the results were disappointing. Once, the Duke of Bannon’s judgment had ruled over Rontiano, but now Perian seriously doubted his discernment.

Of all things, he’d entrusted the job to some fool, who ended up getting caught by a mage.

‘That woman….’

‘Was her name Diashi?’

Perian frowned.

He’d gone to the medical center where the mage was, hoping to cause some confusion and help the Duke clean up, but now even that was pointless.

Garzen had snatched up the mage and hidden her in his palace. The younger siblings trailing behind her were the same.

If he’d known this would happen, he wouldn’t have backed down that day.

Was it Garzen’s, or rather Lusellion’s, plan?

Or maybe that beautiful lady?

Perian’s lips curled into a slight smile as he remembered the noble lady from Rontiano who had blocked his path.

‘…She’s tempting, after all.’