Chapter 116
To sum things up, the Duke family's faction has the advantage. And if Goddess-sama were to deliver an oracle, the faction could win outright. No one would want to defy such a powerful being as a goddess, after all.
Huh? Wait a minute... Could my reason for being here be disappearing?!
If faith in Goddess-sama rises and people decide to uphold her teachings again, there'd be no need to go out of our way to prove how capable commoners are, right? If that happens, I won't be particularly necessary to the Duke family anymore...
No! But the Goddess-sama's teachings are about nobles and commoners helping each other, so I probably wouldn't be treated badly... Still, I may have realized something terrifying.
Everyone in the ducal family is incredibly kind, and I want to believe they wouldn't do that. But they may also be kind to me because I'm a useful asset...
But I'm quite capable with magic, so maybe they'll still consider me useful? I can use every attribute, after all! Ahh... But if another Apostle-sama appeared, they'd definitely be more amazing than me!
Wait, my thoughts are all tangled up...
"Um... Does this mean the Duke family's faction can win? Will the conflict end now?"
"No, it won't. There has been no oracle, nor has Apostle-sama appeared. Besides, once you've grown greedy and started to think you might get what you want, giving it up is surprisingly difficult. The nobles in the opposing faction won't change their minds so easily. In fact, the situation may become more dangerous than it was when the royal family had not declared its support for either side."
"I see... But wouldn't that mean they'd be defying Goddess-sama?"
"It would, but even though Goddess-sama has never sent us any word until now, many people are already defying her. It would be difficult for them to change their minds now without something truly extraordinary happening."
I suppose that's how it is... Maybe we won't know unless divine punishment befalls someone who defies her?
But I suppose that's true. It doesn't feel real, does it?
Even when people talk about gods, it doesn't feel real to me either.
Then the conflict among the nobles will continue for now. That means I'm still useful... What a relief.
The conflict should really end, but I couldn't help feeling relieved, and my expression relaxed. Apparently, my face had been pretty tense until a moment ago.
"I would like you to continue helping our family's faction, Leon-kun. Even if nothing happens openly from now on, all sorts of things may occur behind the scenes. Be careful."
"Understood."
I was deeply relieved to hear Richard-sama say that. I bowed deeply, then raised my head. Richard-sama was looking at me with a troubled expression, and our eyes met. What was wrong?
"Leon."
Lucien, who was sitting beside me, suddenly called out to me. When I turned toward him, he had a sorrowful look on his face.
...What's wrong?
"What is it?"
"Do you think we'd cast you aside once you were no longer useful?"
...Huh? I froze when he said that. How had he known what I was thinking?
"I don't think so... But I thought that if I were no longer needed, I'd have no reason to stay here."
"That's not true! Leon is my dear friend! Isn't that reason enough for you to stay here?"
"Lucien-sama..."
"To you, is our relationship something you can cast aside so easily?!"
Lucien was angry, looking as if he might cry. I hadn't meant it that way. But I suppose that's how it felt from Lucien's perspective...
I'd been treated so well by everyone in the Townsend family, yet I'd been thinking something so rude. If they had only wanted my abilities, there'd have been no reason for me to accompany them to their ducal territory or eat dinner with them every day.
...They had treated me as if I were family.
...And I had spent all this time with Lucien as if we were brothers.
I was an idiot.
"I'm really sorry... I didn't mean it that way. I really, truly think of you as a dear friend! It's just that I was first invited to the ducal household because of my abilities... I'm really sorry!"
"If you ever say something like that again, I won't forgive you!"
"Okay. I'll never say it again. I promise."
"It's not enough just not to say it—you can't even think it!"
"I understand. I won't think it anymore."
"...Then it's all right."
After saying that, Lucien must have gotten embarrassed, because he turned away from me. His ears were bright red...
I was seriously reflecting on my actions, but I couldn't help my expression softening. Lucien rarely got embarrassed like this!
I couldn't help gazing at Lucien with a goofy grin. He liked me more than I'd expected. Somehow, that made me incredibly happy. My chest felt warm.
From now on, I would treasure this relationship more, regardless of whether I was a noble or a commoner. Maybe I was the one who had been hung up on our difference in status.
As I continued staring at him, Lucien must have felt my gaze, because he turned to look at me.
"W-why are you looking over here?! And stop making that creepy face right now!"
"Huh? Am I making a face like that?"
"You are! You're making a completely undignified expression!"
Lucien was being incredibly childish. He was acting his age. I had always admired how mature he seemed, but when he acted like a child, his true self showed through more, and I liked seeing that side of him. I couldn't help laughing.
Lucien's expression turned angry again.
Oh no, oh no. If I teased him any more, he might really get angry. Thinking that, I reluctantly turned to face forward.
My face suddenly went pale. Oh no! Richard-sama was still here!
I'd been ignoring him this whole time. And on top of that, I'd spoken to Lucien without using polite speech!
"R-Richard-sama, I'm sorry."
"Hmm? Why are you apologizing?"
"Well, I wasn't using polite speech with Lucien-sama, and I ended up ignoring you, Richard-sama..."
"Don't worry about that. Do you always speak that way with Lucien?"
"...Yes. When no one else is around."
"I see. I'm glad the two of you have become so close. Please continue to get along."
Wait... No reprimand...?
"Is that really all right...?"
"Yes. It isn't a problem as long as no one else is around."
I see... What a relief. But I needed to be more careful from now on. I'd gotten used to speaking casually, so it might slip out before I knew it. I really had to watch myself.
"Lucien, I'm glad you've become close with Leon."
"Yes!"
"You two must continue to get along."
"Understood, Grandfather!"
Lucien answered with a beaming smile. He was in child mode now. No, that's not it. Is his usual demeanor actually his mature mode? His public-facing mode?
In any case, I was glad to have grown close to Lucien. I'd be happy if we could remain friends forever.
I was so relieved to know that Lucien and I could remain friends, and I smiled happily. But now that that worry was gone, I started to fear the conflict between the nobles.
Until now, it had felt like something happening far away, but it was something that might actually happen to me... The thought terrified me.
And apparently, the risk of civil war was even higher than before... To begin with, how would a civil war even start?
Did the nobles have military forces of their own and aim for the throne by force? If that happened, commoners would definitely be caught up in it! This was bad. Maybe I needed to think about it more seriously.
This was as good an opportunity as any, so I decided to ask Richard-sama about it properly.