A Modest Party

"Welcome home, Arnolt-sama."

"Yes, yes. I'm back."

As I exchanged those words with the guards, I entered the grounds of House Amusberg.

Upon entering the estate, a familiar butler came out to greet me. He told me that Elna and Anna-san were eating, then began showing me in without even asking them first.

This was usually what happened when I came to visit.

They were open, to say the least.

Thinking that, I made my way to the two of them.

"Oh? Al, is that you? Welcome."

"Pardon me, Anna-san."

Anna-san welcomed me with a cheerful smile, without showing the slightest surprise.

Then she got up and went off with Sebas. She was probably going to prepare some food and snacks for me.

I deliberately took advantage of her kindness and sat down in the chair across from Elna.

"Al? What brings you here? I heard there was a party today."

"It wasn't fun, so I left."

With that, I set down the wine I had brought.

It was the wine served at the castle, and quite good stuff at that. It was sure to taste excellent.

"You left at this hour...? You slipped out before His Majesty the Emperor had left?"

"It's fine. No one will care. Leo and Liese are the guests of honor."

"There you go again..."

Elna gave me an exasperated look.

She was the same Elna as always. I saw no sign that she was depressed.

Even so, she somehow felt different from usual. I was probably the reason.

I took two glasses from the table, but Elna stopped me.

"I'm not drinking."

"Don't you know how to keep someone company?"

"Sigh... Just a little?"

Having managed to get Elna to compromise, I poured only a little into one glass and filled the other.

Then I handed the one with less to Elna.

A brief silence passed between us.

Elna said nothing. She probably knew what I was trying to say, but she did not press me.

Grateful for that, I quietly lowered my head.

"I'm sorry..."

"Why are you apologizing?"

"...No matter how things unfold, the future Christa sees always leads to the same scene. That means Christa was certain to be kidnapped no matter what you did. Even so, I asked you to guard her. I may as well have belittled you..."

"Is that so? Rita was saved in the end, wasn't she?"

"I thought someone as capable as you could handle it. But if I told you the future couldn't be changed, it might have made you hesitate. That's why I kept it secret. I... deceived you. So I'm sorry..."

"...That was an insult."

Elna muttered that quietly.

Yet despite her words, she did not seem angry.

When I raised my head, Elna was looking straight at me.

"Apologizing is an insult to me, Al."

"...But you lost your chance to become an Imperial Guard..."

"It really was my dream. I worked toward it. I was raised to believe that protecting the Empire and the imperial family as an Imperial Guard was the mission and responsibility of House Amusberg. So I was happy when I became one. I was even aiming to become commander of the Imperial Guard, and everyone assumed that was only natural. But after what happened this time, that goal will probably slip out of reach. And that's fine."

As she said that, Elna smiled.

She smiled as though she truly did not consider it a problem.

But I knew how hard Elna had worked to become an Imperial Guard and to avoid disgracing the name of House Amusberg.

I had turned all that effort to nothing, yet Elna did not get angry. She simply smiled.

That hurt.

It would have been easier if she had gotten angry.

"..."

"There you go, making that face again. I told you, didn't I? My oath is far more important than my honor. So you don't need to worry about it. I won't abandon you, Al. I acted according to that oath. It wasn't your responsibility. I acted on my own responsibility, knowing there were many possible outcomes. So don't take responsibility for what is mine to bear. Besides, I was useful, wasn't I?"

"...Yeah, of course."

"Good. Then that's all that matters. Princess Christa and Rita are safe, and I was able to help. That means I've already won. If I had to name one regret, it would be that I wanted to save them more spectacularly."

As she said that, Elna held up her wineglass with a playful smile.

And then.

"Now that you understand, stop looking so gloomy. Why did you come here? If you only came to apologize, then you've already done that, haven't you? So let's celebrate. My modest victory."

Elna raised her glass with a truly triumphant smile.

Seeing that, I was not so boorish as to keep brooding over it.

I raised my glass as well, casting aside my doubts and regrets. Elna had called everything that happened a victory. Many people would have called it sour grapes. But I knew it had been a true victory.

We had to celebrate. My sword had won.

"To Elna's modest victory."

"Yes, to my modest victory."

We clinked our glasses and toasted.

Elna quietly sipped from hers, while I drained mine in one go and poured myself another.

"You'll regret drinking like that, you know?"

"It's a victory toast. Courtesy demands that I drink it boldly."

"That sounds like something an adventurer would say. Though I don't dislike it."

The moment Elna said that, my hand paused slightly.

Pushed by guilt, I felt tempted to tell her everything.

But I stopped myself at the last moment and swallowed it down with the wine.

There was nothing to gain from revealing the secret now. I would only burden Elna with an unnecessary secret.

I would have to tell her someday. But not now.

I've done nothing but cause trouble. It would be easy to lean on her here, but I couldn't keep doing so.

I had my pride, too.

"Elna... I'll definitely make Leo emperor."

"What brought that on all of a sudden?"

"Maybe I'm drunk..."

"Heh. You're not that weak, are you?"

"Sometimes I lose heart. If Leo becomes emperor, I'm sure he'll do away with the foolish tradition surrounding the succession struggle. The struggle may well be an effective way to train an emperor. Compared to other countries, the Empire has a much lower rate of foolish emperors. Even so, it's absurd that blood has to be shed for that purpose... I think Leo would come up with a better way."

I didn't want to die.

I wanted to live freely, work as an adventurer as I pleased, and die as I pleased. That was my plan for my life.

That was one reason I supported Leo as emperor. It would be best for him to become emperor.

But as long as this ridiculous tradition continued, I would never achieve that plan.

Even if I won and survived this, any children I had would be dragged into the succession struggle.

The fact that I was caught up in it after joining the succession struggle was something I could grudgingly accept. But Christa was different. And the many imperial children yet to be born might be different, too.

Being dragged into it and tossed around despite having no desire to claim the throne was simply too unfair.

"I wonder about that. It has never changed, has it? Producing good successors is the imperial family's duty. If a foolish emperor incapable of ruling this vast Empire were to appear, more blood would be shed than in the succession struggle. And it would be the people's blood."

"I know. I think it's selfish of me. Once you're born into the imperial family, you can't escape its responsibilities. I understand that this is the price. But if we simply accept that, nothing will ever change. There must have been many members of the imperial family who thought as I do. Even so, none of them did anything. Things won't change just because we hope for a better future."

"Then why not become emperor yourself?"

"Don't be ridiculous. I think this is an unreasonable tradition, but I also think it's effective. If I were faced with a practical decision, I'd probably choose to keep the tradition. That's why I'll make Leo emperor."

"What if Leo made the same choice?"

"He won't. He's different from me. Rather than looking for a realistic and effective method, he looks for an ideal and effective one."

Elna laughed when she heard me say that.

Then she held her glass out toward me.

"Yes. I think so, too. Leo has something that inspires hope. I think that's why so many people are willing to help him."

"Right?"

"Pleased to hear your little brother praised?"

"Of course I am."

As we talked like that, Elna and I emptied an entire bottle in no time.

Just as I was thinking of opening another bottle, Anna-san and Sebas returned.

They brought a large number of guests with them.

"Elna...!"

"Sister El!"

Christa and Rita, guided in by Anna-san, threw their arms around Elna.

"Princess Christa and Rita... What are you doing here?"

"I brought them."

As she said that, Liese came over to Elna's side.

Startled by Liese's appearance, Elna hurriedly stood up.

"Princess Lieselotte!? I-it's been a long time!"

"Indeed, it has. Don't be so formal. I've come to thank you. You protected Christa and her friend. I'm grateful. Thank you."

"No, you honor me too much..."

"Don't be modest. I hear Al and Leo have relied on you as well. No amount of thanks could ever be enough."

"Sister, I haven't given Elna that much trouble."

As he said that, Leo came over carrying a large amount of wine and snacks in both hands.

So they'd made him carry things. Poor guy—even though he was one of the guests of honor.

"There... Is this enough?"

"Both guests of honor have slipped out... Father will give us an earful, you know?"

"Father had already left, and it was Sister's idea. I couldn't very well oppose her."

"Your idea...?"

"I noticed that you were gone. A party should be held to celebrate the people who made it possible."

"For that reason...? But how did you know I was here?"

I had assumed Leo was the one who noticed, so I asked him, but he shook his head.

Then Leo looked behind him.

There stood Fiene in a blue dress.

"Fiene-san said you were probably with Elna, so I came to see. Sister wanted to thank Elna, too, so I thought it worked out perfectly."

"Fiene did?"

"Yes. I thought Al-sama would surely be with Elna-sama."

I never expected anyone besides Sebas to see through my intentions.

Even Leo hadn't figured it out. That's impressive, Fiene. Or perhaps I was simply easy to read today.

As I thought that, everyone began taking seats wherever they pleased.

Fiene sat beside me, while Leo sat near Christa and Rita, presumably to look after them.

Liese sat beside Elna and, setting the matter of thanks aside, began discussing swordsmanship with her in depth.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Jurgen von Reinfelt."

"Oh, a pleasure to meet you. I've heard about you, Duke Reinfelt. I hear you conduct business on quite a large scale?"

"That's embarrassing. As it happens, some high-quality ore was recently discovered in my domain, and it's perfect for making armor."

"How interesting. My husband is away, but may I hear about it in his place?"

"Of course."

Jurgen had smoothly wandered over and begun a business negotiation with Anna-san as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

This man really was better suited to being a merchant. His shrewdness and unwillingness to miss an opportunity were wasted on a warrior.

"Um, Al-sama... Am I intruding?"

"...No. I'm glad you came."

"Really? That's wonderful!"

Fiene gave me a radiant smile.

Perhaps it was because she had been drinking, or perhaps some part of her heart had been lonely.

Either way, she looked particularly charming.

So I decided to say the words that naturally came to mind.

"I couldn't say this at the party, but... that dress suits you beautifully. You look beautiful."

"R-really!? Thank you very much!"

Even as she blushed, Fiene smiled happily.

After that, we continued to enjoy ourselves for quite some time.

I had thought parties were boring, but the modest party that day proved to be a very enjoyable one.