Chapter 55
A spacious plot of land, with a neatly tended garden.
A luxurious mansion built in an elegant architectural style.
Even in the dead of winter, the flourishing estate didn't look barren.
Ashtein stood alone in front of it.
Creak.
Two attendants opened the mansion's outer gate.
At the front waited a middle-aged man with a strikingly long handlebar mustache.
His immaculate formal attire and impeccable posture spoke to his skill as a servant.
Ashtein and the middle-aged servant exchanged brief bows, then set off without a word.
By the time they crossed the garden and reached the mansion, Ashtein let out a long yawn.
To him, meeting with nobles was always boring and bothersome.
At least the person he was meeting now knew how to hold a conversation.
Click. The two men entered the mansion.
The interior was a typical noble's residence.
They said the owners often decorated small details to set themselves apart, but from Ashtein's commoner's perspective, noticing such slight differences was a pain.
He had no inclination to rack his brain trying to find them, either.
He headed straight for the reception room.
He didn't want to waste a moment.
Rather than waste time looking around a worthless mansion, he would rather hunt monsters or spend some quiet time with Aria.
‘If I didn't have a reason, I wouldn't have come here.’
Knock, knock. The middle-aged servant beside Ashtein knocked on the reception room door.
“Your Highness, Sir Ashtein has arrived.”
As the title Your Highness suggested, the person he was about to meet was no mere minor noble.
He had several titles.
Knight of Pure Blood.
The Golden Lion of the Royal Family.
The pride of all knights.
But the title he was most widely known by was the Second Prince of the Kingdom of Gallia.
Leon de Gallia.
A man rumored to be a complete oddball.
“……Show him in.”
Ashtein was puzzled.
The man was known for his deep, powerful voice.
So what was with that listless tone?
Had something happened?
Regardless, as soon as he was given permission, he took hold of the doorknob and pushed.
Ordinarily, the servant should have opened the door, but Ashtein didn't care about minor formalities.
Inside, a handsome man with golden hair and blue eyes sat in a velvet chair.
He greeted Ashtein with an easygoing smile.
“Sir Ashtein, I sincerely welcome your visit.”
The middle-aged servant quietly closed the door and left.
Only the prince and the Hero remained in the reception room.
Ashtein plopped down in the chair opposite Leon.
“Spare me the pleasantries.”
“I must admit, I'm a little hurt you'd dismiss my sincerity as empty flattery.”
It was hard to feel hurt when he said that without the slightest trace of hurt.
Ashtein glanced at the wineglass in the prince's hand and asked,
“Drinking in the middle of the day?”
It was the sort of remark that could get him arrested for insulting royalty, with no grounds for a defense.
But no one here cared about the insult or intended to call him out on it.
Leon swirled the amber liquor in his glass and gave a sly smile.
“When life grows weary, there's no better companion.”
“What a princely sight, brooding over your drink like that in front of a guest.”
It was only recently, with Aria acting as a brake on him, that he'd begun behaving himself.
The Hero was still a man with a difficult personality.
“You only treat me like a prince when it suits you? You're surprisingly self-serving, too.”
“That's just how people are.”
Though his manner was almost insolent, Leon seemed pleased and lifted his glass.
“How about a drink?”
At Leon's invitation, Ashtein arched his brows into a frown and waved a hand.
“Not in the mood.”
“How cold.”
“Seeing you make a fool of yourself like this must delight your underlings.”
Despite the teasing sarcasm, the prince laughed.
“Hahaha! Perhaps so. But do you know? I like how bluntly rude you are. It's something you would never see from those slimy bastards in the royal family.”
“Would it be fun to call me an idiot who can't read the room, just in a roundabout way?”
Leon replied without a hint of embarrassment.
“When did I ever say such a thing?”
“Didn't you?”
He didn't deny it; he simply shrugged.
“We call that unwavering courage in the face of injustice, conviction.”
“You sure know how to dress it up.”
“Spend a few years in the royal family, and you'll be just like me.”
Ashtein shuddered in revulsion.
“……What a horrible curse.”
“I think I'd like having you by my side.”
“Your lady knight wouldn't stand for that, would she?”
“She wouldn't. That's why I'm not trying to drag you into the royal family.”
“I wouldn't go even if you asked.”
“I know that, too.”
“Then why ask?”
“Why make such a fuss? We're close, aren't we?”
Ashtein deeply furrowed his brow and clicked his tongue.
“That's why people call you an oddball.”
The prince gave a wry smile.
“You say that as if you're any different.”
Ashtein fell silent.
‘……Am I not pretty ordinary?’
If Aria or Azazel had heard that thought, they would've been utterly shocked.
Leon tossed back the liquor in his glass.
It was strong enough to give off a sharp alcoholic scent, yet his expression didn't change.
A brief silence settled over them.
Ashtein leaned back in his chair and folded his arms.
“Something bothering you?”
“To some extent.”
At Leon's bitter tone, Ashtein's face grew even more creased.
It was strange seeing such a cheerful, upbeat, carefree man act so dejected.
“What's the problem?”
“It's nothing.”
“It's clearly something.”
“You caught me?”
“It's written all over your face: You're suffering and want me to hear you out. Only an idiot wouldn't notice. I'm short on time, so keep it brief. I came because I have something to ask you, too.”
“………Hahaha.”
He let out a dry laugh.
“She left my side.”
Ashtein's expression stiffened for just a moment.
“She died?”
“I don't mean that metaphorically. I mean we're physically apart.”
“……Don't say things in a way that confuses people. No wonder she isn't here. Did you two have a fight?”
Leon nodded gloomily.
“Something like that.”
“You said before that disagreements were common.”
“They're common, but that doesn't make them trivial.”
This didn't look good.
Ashtein scratched his forehead with his index finger.
“Want me to look for her?”
“No. It's my problem.”
“Then why tell me if you're going to keep me at arm's length?”
“I couldn't keep it in without telling someone.”
“And it had to be me?”
“At least you don't offer comfort by telling lies.”
“You're such a cynic.”
Trickle, trickle.
Leon poured liquor into his glass of ice, his expression brighter than before.
The strong alcohol sent a pungent scent wafting through the room.
“Anyway, I heard the monsters on Mount Ascendio were wiped out?”
“It was pointless.”
“How can you say there was no result? You dealt with the monsters in the rear all by yourself.”
Ashtein gave a scathing smile.
“What's the point of cutting away flesh if it just grows back?”
“A wounded beast is bound to rest.”
“Before it can rest, it'll unleash its ferocity. But how are things at the front?”
“As always, we're stretched thin.”
“I figured as much.”
Clink.
The angular ice in his glass clinked.
“Are you planning to return to the front?”
“I was.”
“So I take it you're not anymore?”
“That's right.”
Ashtein readily agreed.
“Why?”
“I need to meet the king.”
“His Majesty?”
“There's something I need his permission for.”
“Can't you tell me?”
Ashtein thought of the former Hero, who had the same face as him.
The man had only vaguely said that the truth lay in the royal palace.
There could be any number of unknown factors.
It might be a truth he wasn't meant to know.
“When the time comes, I'll tell you, but not now.”
“……I see. I'll petition His Majesty for you.”
“Thanks.”
Ashtein stood up.
“Leaving already?”
“You came all the way out of the royal palace despite your packed schedule. There's no point wasting more time sitting face-to-face.”
“We haven't seen each other in ages, and you're leaving without catching up? How heartless.”
“Someone's waiting for me.”
“……Someone waiting? Did you find yourself a snail bride or something?”
At Leon's words, Ashtein smiled.
“Yeah. I did.”
“You have a lover? What a terribly unfunny joke!”
Despite calling it unfunny, the prince laughed loudly.
When his laughter died down, he looked at Ashtein again and saw his sour expression.
Leon was stunned.
“…………You mean it?”
“I'm leaving, idiot.”
Bang.
Ashtein slammed the door shut behind him.
The prince stood up, dumbfounded.
He was sober now.
That Ashtein had a lover?
“No, wait! Who is it? At least tell me her name before you go!”
* * *
Ashtein ignored Leon, who hurried after him, and left the mansion.
Now that his business was done,
he was unusually excited at the thought of spending some quiet time with Aria.
Aria had been getting cuter and cuter lately.
The way she smiled so innocently, or how her earlobes turned red when they held hands.
He loved how she'd fall into his arms, flustered, when he whispered that he loved her.
When he hugged her too tightly, she seemed as if she might crumble, so he restrained himself and settled for gently stroking her back.
Whenever he saw Aria's eyes curve with pleasure, he even had the foolish thought that monsters and Demon Kings didn't matter.
This wouldn't do.
Whenever he let his guard down, he always regretted it.
That's how the world was.
He'd lost his sister because he'd been careless.
If he let his guard down, he could lose Aria, too.
If he'd sworn to protect her, then he needed the strength to eliminate every threat.
‘I need to get stronger.’
He couldn't remain at a level where a copy of the former Hero could overpower him.
How furious he'd been when that bastard had cut Aria.
How angry he'd become.
He needed to use that feeling as fuel and keep turning it over in his mind.
……Still, Aria.
He didn't want her to see this ugly side of him.
He wanted to remain calm, as always.
So he could become a man she could trust and rely on.
It was a modest wish.
Shaking his head, he opened the door to the inn.
He spoke tenderly to the woman waiting for him.
“Sorry, Aria. I took too long, didn't I? It took a while. It's late, but would you like to go out and see the city now…….”
He stopped.
Aria wasn't in the room.
Ashtein tilted his head.
Where had she gone?