“By the way, why did Owen want to fight me?”
I asked, sitting on the ground and watching the Royal Academy teachers and security guards Owen had brought as backup investigate the strange bird Hraesvelgr. Now that we’ve settled things, I figured it was okay to ask, and I felt I had the right to ask as the victor.
“Well… it’s like, I wanted to settle things, or rather, I wanted to convince myself…”
“What’s with the hesitation?”
“I-It can’t be helped, can it!?”
What is this guy even trying to say?
“Fufu… perhaps Prince Owen respects Lord Hal.”
“H-Huh!? M-Master!?”
Owen’s face turned bright red at Sandra’s giggling remark.
Huh? Is that really it?
“…W-Well, after seeing my brother’s achievements in the Magic Tower, it’s no wonder I’d think that way.”
“O-Oh…”
This is awkward. I don’t know how to respond.
I never thought I, the stepping stone, would be respected by the protagonist.
“B-But, the stories I heard from others were completely different, and I got confused, so I thought it would be quicker to confirm it myself…”
“So, you fought me to confirm it?”
“Y-Yeah…”
Seriously… I’m getting flustered by this sudden cute little brother act.
“And, after fighting you, I realized it. You’re really strong, and when I thought about how hard you must have worked to get this strong… I was really impressed.”
“I-I see…”
“T-That’s why I! I’m definitely going to get as strong as you, big brother, and surpass you someday! Be prepared!”
Ehh… how am I supposed to react to that?
“W-Well, do your best.”
“Yeah!”
I ruffled his hair a bit roughly, and Owen’s face lit up with joy.
“Ah, I’ve said this before, but I don’t plan on participating in the ‘Search for the World’s Greatest Fiancée,’ so I’d be troubled if you competed with me there.”
“No way, there’s no woman stronger than Master, so you’d just embarrass yourself no matter who you bring…”
“You understand that well.”
So, you actually recognize it. You cute little brother.
“A-Anyway, that’s all!”
Owen stood up, looking embarrassed, and tried to run off.
“…That’s right.”
“? Owen?”
“Big brother… ever since I was suddenly made the Fourth Prince, that guy(…) has been saying things like ‘Prince Owen is the protagonist(…), unlike Prince Harold, who’s just a stepping stone.'”
“Who is ‘that guy’…?”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it? It’s Marion.”
“Ah…”
Well, I figured that woman would bring things like that to my attention.
But… it does bother me a little.
“Owen. Who made Marion your personal maid?”
“Huh? That would be His Majesty the King, of course.”
“I see.”
Yeah, that information is enough.
So, that woman became a personal maid at King Aival’s behest and was instilling those ideas.
Normally, the King wouldn’t directly appoint a personal maid.
“Well, I’m going now. I need to do some special training to surpass you, big brother.”
“I see. Good luck.”
“Yeah!”
Owen grinned and left the Training Grounds with Marion, who had been waiting for him.
“Lord Hal…”
“Yeah…”
Knowing that Marion was sent by King Aival raises a suspicion.
“Since when has that woman been connected to King Aival…?”
When she first came as my personal maid, she openly showed her dislike for Harold, the ‘Incompetent Rascal Prince,’ and her attitude was the worst.
But, when I think about it, even if Marion, who dreamed of restoring the Shearer family, was disappointed to become my personal maid, would she really act that way?
Rather, if she did that to me, the Third Prince, the Shearer family would only face ruin.
So, the only reason that woman could act that way is that the restoration of the Shearer family was guaranteed even if she did so… or rather, if doing so would lead to the restoration of the Shearer family.
“That woman… we cannot let her live.”
Sandra’s eyes turned a bloodier red than ever before.
That’s how intense her anger towards Marion must be.
“Sandra, it’s too early for that.”
“…Yes.”
In any case, I know that King Aival and Yuri are working together to move this story of ‘Engage Hazard’ forward.
On the other hand, Yuri, who values my existence as a stepping stone, and King Aival, who disregards the characters by easily replacing Wilfred with the protagonist, have different ways of thinking.
“Then, we need to deal with King Aival, who might take rash actions, first…”
I knew that man was a small fry from his poor handling of the engagement cancellation with Sandra.
Like when he tried to start a subjugation of the Chevalier family without thinking, based on the ridiculous reason that I was being held hostage.
It’s going to be tough, but Owen, the protagonist, is on our side. There are plenty of ways to make it work.
“King Aival, you better be prepared.”
I looked towards the north, where the Royal Palace was located, and smirked.
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