Chapter 90
"Big Brother Al!"
The great hall in the castle.
I was waiting by the entrance in a tailcoat.
Then Krista came toddling over in a dress.
"Krista."
Krista hugged me and stayed that way for a while.
She must have been terribly anxious while I was gone.
When I stroked her head, Krista hugged me even tighter.
"Were you scared?"
"Yes... But Elna protected me..."
"I see..."
"Hey, Big Brother Al... Elna..."
"It's all right. I've heard what happened. Don't worry. I'll do something about it. You don't need to concern yourself with it. Enjoy the party for now."
At that, Krista recovered slightly from her downcast state.
I changed the subject.
"Have you seen Leonart or Sister Liese?"
"Yes! Sister Liese picked out this dress for me!"
Krista spun around to show off her purple dress.
She seemed utterly delighted simply because Sister Liese had chosen it.
Though they were both royals, Leonart and Sister Liese were the stars of the evening. They would enter later, so Krista and I had to go in first.
"I see. Then we have to show everyone. Rita should be inside too."
"Yes!"
With that, I led Krista into the party hall.
When the knight near the doors called our names, applause and curious gazes came our way. The attention, however, was all on Krista.
She was the kidnapped princess and Sister Liese's actual younger sister.
Unlike the older princesses, who had all sorts of problems, Krista was quiet and well behaved. Many nobles hoped to marry her to one of their sons someday.
Keeping those nobles at bay, I went with Krista to Rita, who was participating as a knight trainee.
"Oh, Big Brother Al! Ku-chan!"
Rita waved energetically, apparently not noticing the instructor beside her glaring at her.
Typical Rita.
"Rita... That outfit suits you."
Rita was wearing the ceremonial uniform for knight trainees, with a sword at her waist.
It was far more proper than anything Rita usually wore, but she seemed to like it quite a bit.
"It suits me!? Really!?"
"Yeah."
"Thanks! Ku-chan! Your dress looks great on you too!"
"Sister Liese picked it out for me."
"The Princess-General! Can I meet her!?"
"Yeah, you can."
"Yay!"
As I watched their heartwarming exchange, the entrance to the hall grew noisy.
Then the names of Leonart and Sister Liese were announced.
Applause that put what Krista and I had received to shame filled the hall.
"Prince Leonart! You performed admirably this time!"
"Marshal Lieselotte! What a splendid performance in battle! Your sword arm hasn't dulled!"
The two of them were immediately surrounded.
Perhaps their parents had told them to take this opportunity.
Krista was also surrounded by children her age. However, Rita wouldn't allow them to get too close.
They had a good relationship.
Thinking that, I quietly left them and leaned against a wall.
On the opposite side of the hall from Leonart and Sister Liese, Fiene was also surrounded by nobles.
The blue dress must have been chosen to match her Azure Gull hair ornament, but there was no way I could approach her.
I saw Jurgen as well, but true to his sociable nature, he was surrounded by acquaintances from the Imperial Capital.
That wiped out all my acquaintances.
"This is troublesome..."
A party where I had no one to talk to was boring.
Of course it was. All I could do was watch other people enjoy themselves.
After a while, Father arrived, and the party officially began.
Music played amid cheerful laughter, and many people began to dance.
Sister Liese was wearing her military uniform, and every time someone asked her to dance, the sword at her waist swayed. She was probably telling them to beat her in a match if they wanted to dance with her.
Meanwhile, Fiene and Leonart smiled as they entertained one person after another. That was their job. This was a good opportunity to gain more allies.
Surprisingly, Jurgen politely declined even when women asked him to dance. He was as dutiful as ever.
Krista and Rita were still surrounded by children.
I felt like I had nowhere to belong, and I mocked myself.
I was the one who had wanted this position. Wanting to spend time happily with someone and feeling envious of those who could was an indulgent wish.
I could have walked the same path as Leonart. I was the one who had chosen not to.
If Leonart walked in the sunlight, I had chosen the path in the shadows.
I had decided that I didn't need anyone's praise or anyone to notice me.
That was what I had chosen.
Because I thought it was best.
"Yo, Arnold."
As I was thinking that, an annoying fellow came over.
It was Gido, accompanied by his entourage.
Though he was wearing a tailcoat, he had altered it in his own style, making it look nothing like formalwear. How had he had the nerve to come dressed like that? His taste really was beyond saving.
"Gido."
"Huh? What's the matter? I went out of my way to speak to you, the washed-up prince. This is where you cry tears of joy, you know?"
"Sigh... Sure, sure. Thanks."
"You rub me the wrong way. Getting cocky lately, aren't you? Leonart's achievements aren't yours. The more Leonart distinguishes himself, the more your incompetence stands out. Everyone's talking about it, you know? Leonart's faction will eventually be dragged down by you."
"I see..."
I had no use for anyone who could only see things that way.
I wanted people willing to join Leonart's faction with enough resolve to change it themselves.
Leonart needed allies.
The struggle for the throne was a conflict among the royals, but it was also a contest between factions. No matter how well Leonart stood shoulder to shoulder with the other three, if his faction was weaker, he would never become emperor.
"What? Feeling down? Of course you want your share of the spotlight too. But you can't do it! Not you!"
Gido and his entourage burst out laughing.
Honestly, what a bunch of bored idiots. I wished Father would leave already. Otherwise, I couldn't take my leave either. I had somewhere to go afterward.
When I looked away in exasperation, Gido grinned.
"Good news for you, Arnold. Recommend me to Leonart. I'll become his ally."
"...What?"
"Didn't hear me? Can't blame you. I'm the eldest son of the prestigious House Holtzvart, after all. There would be no one more dependable if I joined his side."
Gido brushed back his bangs with a theatrical gesture.
But I wasn't concerned by that.
Gido sticking his neck into the factional struggle? This was undoubtedly Duke Holtzvart's instruction.
I believe Duke Holtzvart himself had approached Gordon, while his second son had been sent to serve under Erich. If Gido now approached Leonart as well, the duke was making sure he could curry favor no matter who won.
He wasn't approaching Zandra because House Holtzvart had always had poor relations with the nobles of the south.
In other words, Duke Holtzvart had acknowledged Leonart.
Passing up this opportunity would hurt. But... honestly, I didn't need Gido. He was the eldest son of House Holtzvart, but his younger brother was more promising and capable. Sending him to serve under Erich, the strongest candidate, was proof enough.
If I brought someone like Gido onto our side, the faction might collapse.
"You can take credit for bringing me over to your side. What do you say, Arnold?"
"No thanks. If you want to support Leonart, go tell Leonart yourself."
"What!?"
Apparently not expecting to be rejected, Gido's cheek twitched.
Gido couldn't ask Leonart. Until now, he had maintained a good relationship with Leonart on the surface, but when Fiene and I went out, Gido had punched me. At the time, I had been pretending to be Leonart.
In other words, Gido thought Leonart had learned of his misdeed. Though Leonart probably would have noticed even if that hadn't happened.
I suppose that was what made Gido Gido.
What an idiot.
"Don't get cocky. This isn't a request."
"Call it whatever you like. I'm not accepting."
"You—! Don't get cocky! Your guardian, Elna, screwed up and is under suspension! No one's going to help you!"
Those words were impossible to let slide.
I knew I should ignore them. Another part of me urged me to calm down.
But I brushed aside even that restraint.
"What... did you just say?"
"What? I said no one's going to—"
"Before that... Did you call it a screwup?"
"Huh? Ah, yes! Elna screwed up and—?!"
I glared at Gido.
I was seized by the urge to unleash Silvery Ray right then. How satisfying would it be to erase this man from the world?
Faced with a glare carrying such intent, Gido apparently couldn't breathe from fear. He stepped back several paces and fell on his rear.
"A, ah..."
"Take it back... Gido."
Quietly—very quietly—I conveyed only what I wanted him to do.
Yet Gido gave no answer.
His entourage froze as well. None of them stepped between us. Their bond was a cheap one.
"Elna saved Krista's life. That is a fact no one can change. I will not tolerate anyone insulting Elna in my presence. If you understand, take it back. Gido von Holtzvart. Or do you want to die?"
"I-I, th-that's not..."
"Say it."
"I-I take it back..."
"Anything else to say?"
"S-sorry..."
"Sorry?"
"I-I-I'm sorry!"
After making Gido clearly retract his words and apologize, I immediately left.
Father still hadn't left the hall, but merely breathing the same air as Gido made me nauseous, and I'd drawn some attention with that outburst.
It would be troublesome if anyone questioned me.
I wasn't calm right now, either.
As I thought about this, I snatched a drink from a table and left the hall.
...Sigh.
"If you are going to sigh, you might as well have endured it."
Once outside, I sighed at my own foolishness. I had just decided to play the incompetent, yet I'd immediately done something to undo that decision. It was utterly pathetic.
As if admonishing me, Sebas spoke from behind.
Ugh. Why did he always sound so preachy?
I knew better than anyone that I'd done something stupid.
"I couldn't help it, could I? I'm calm now. I know I did something stupid. I gained nothing from it. All I did was reveal one of my cards."
"It is not easy to silence someone with a glare alone. Anyone perceptive would have recognized that you have been through your share of situations."
"Yes, yes. I told you I know, didn't I?"
"Then there is no problem. Elna-sama is special to you, Arnold-sama, so I suppose it could not be helped. Given the circumstances, it can also be seen as someone who normally never gets angry suddenly losing his temper and surprising everyone. Do not take it so hard."
Sebas said this as he tried to reassure me.
It was easy to say I got angry because she was special and couldn't be helped. But if I got angry every time something like that happened, how many times would I have to get angry from here on?
"Today is a day when I feel utterly pathetic..."
"There are days like that from time to time. No one is perfect. No one can keep suppressing every emotion forever. Ah, speaking of which, I have prepared a carriage."
"...You're always perfect. I don't believe I said anything about needing one."
"I am a butler, after all."
"I see... Well, shall we go?"
With that, I headed for the carriage.