“Harold. Since we’re here, why don’t you join hands with me, just as Brother Cardis suggested?”
…I’ve officially received a faction invitation from Raphael.
“Um… if my memory serves me correctly, you don’t like me, do you?”
“Who knows? At least, I don’t dislike you as much as I dislike Brother Cardis.”
That’s an unpleasant way of putting it… So, in the end, it means he likes me more than Cardis (・・), but at the very least, he leans towards disliking me, right?
“Just to confirm, you do know that my mother is also Princess Margaret, right? In that case…”
“…Harold, why are you asking such a thing?”
Ah, damn it. I know that Raphael is a mama’s boy only as a setting from the previous life’s “EnHaza,” so I shouldn’t have said that.
Thanks to that, the temperature around him definitely dropped by two or three degrees.
“W-Well… it’s obvious if you’re watching. Princess Margaret treats Princess Rosemary dismissively. So, it’s impossible for Brother Raphael, Princess Rosemary’s real son, to not have any thoughts about me or Brother Cardis.”
“Hee… you’re quite observant, aren’t you?”
Raphael smiles, but his emerald eyes aren’t smiling at all. Rather, it looks like the highlights have disappeared. It’s super scary.
“Well, whatever. To answer your question, aside from Brother Cardis, Harold hasn’t had any deep involvement with Princess Margaret until now. So, there’s no reason to be hostile, right?”
“That’s true…”
“Now that you’ve parted ways with Brother Cardis, there’s no need for Harold to feel obligated to him, let alone worry about Princess Margaret, right?”
What Raphael is saying is reasonable.
In the first place, this outcome was caused by Cardis bringing in Wilfred under King Aival’s orders.
Besides, Cardis’s words from earlier.
‘If that’s what you intend, I have my own plans! Don’t think this is the end of it!’
He’s definitely going to retaliate later.
So, there’s also the option of entering Raphael’s protection and having him protect me from danger until I enter the Chevalier family as an Adopted Son-in-Law.
But.
“…I appreciate the kind offer, but.”
“Why? As I said just now, there’s no need for obligations, right? So, if you think about the future (・・), it’s definitely the better choice.”
“Of course, I understand.”
Yes… I understand that Raphael’s proposal is somewhat (・・・・) attractive.
However, that’s only if I’m thinking about the time until the “EnHaza” main story begins.
In the first place, once the main story starts, it’s certain that Raphael will be supporting Wilfred from the shadows.
From my perspective, as that guy’s stepping stone, that’s no different from being in the enemy’s camp, right?
So, if I’m thinking about avoiding the bad end, approaching Raphael isn’t a good idea.
…Although I’ve listed all these plausible reasons, the biggest reason is that I don’t want to involve Sandra and her family, the Chevalier family.
Because knowing Raphael, his reasons for inviting me are not only to harass Cardis and Margaret, but also to incorporate the Chevalier family into his plans, of course.
Avoiding the bad end is important, but more than that, I’d hate for anything to happen to Sandra.
“Ah… please don’t misunderstand, I’m not being considerate of Brother Cardis or Princess Margaret, and of course, I’m not being considerate of Brother Raphael either.”
“Then, why are you refusing? Could it be that you’re also aiming for the Crown Prince’s seat?”
“No way. I respectfully decline such a thing.”
I shrugged and joked at Raphael, who was smiling but whose eyes weren’t smiling at all.
This is what I really think, and since I’m going to be Adopted by Marriage into the Chevalier family anyway, it’s completely meaningless, right?
“Anyway, let me just say this. I have no intention of getting involved in the Succession Dispute, and I won’t cooperate or interfere, so I’d appreciate it if you could treat me like air or something.”
I deliberately bowed respectfully and said that, and the pressure I felt from Raphael eased.
At least, it seems he doesn’t think of me as an enemy (・), which is a relief.
“Hmph… if your will is so firm, then it can’t be helped. I’ll give up for now (・・・).”
“I’d appreciate that.”
Or rather, I want you to give up not just this time, but for all eternity.
“But.”
“っ!?”
“If you ever have any trouble, feel free to tell me, okay? We’re brothers (・・), after all.”
“A-Ahaha…”
Raphael, who had rushed up to me in an instant, brought his face so close that our noses were touching and smiled.
That was probably one of Raphael’s Light Attribute skills, 【Gate of Light】. It’s a ridiculous ability, like a certain anywhere door. It’s completely different from Harold.
“Well then, that’s that.”
Raphael waved his hand and left the place with the Maid, who bowed deeply.
“Haa… I’m so tired.”
“Fufu, yes, you are.”
When I sighed deeply and spoke, Sandra nodded happily.
But, was there anything in my interactions with Cardis and Raphael that would make her happy?
As I was tilting my head in wonder.
“I understand that Lord Hal made that choice because he was thinking of me, you know?”
“Eh… A-Ahaha…”
It seems Sandra saw right through me.
I became embarrassed by that and laughed it off.
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