# 412
◈
412
11. Knot and turbulence.
Michael opened his eyes. As always, it was a sleep like death.
The few days until Michael’s darkened consciousness rose, albeit in a hazy way, were like non-existent time to Michael.
The body, which must have been wiped with a towel every few hours, was damp.
The therapist’s guess that the fever would subside in a day or two was, without fail, wrong. It’s not even new.
‘Is it daytime?’
Bright light was seeping in through the gap in the curtains. It was a room that received sunlight during the day.
Michael immediately raised his upper body. A cold feeling came over me.
As soon as Michael came to his senses, he remembered the most important things first.
‘What happened to the martial arts club…?’
Immediately after the martial arts club visit was canceled semi-arbitrarily, the fever rose even further, so there was no time to receive a report on the situation.
It was the first time I had suffered this deeply in recent years.
Every time I lost consciousness and regained it, I felt a similar and different feeling of nervousness.
Anxiety about what might have happened during that time.
Michael gathered his swaying body and put his feet under the bed.
Rattling. Then the door opened and someone came into the room.
“Mr. Michael.”
There was a lot of tension in the low voice.
“Cinus.”
Michael called his vassal by name. The fact that he comes in before you call means that something serious has happened.
“There is something you need to know.”
An unusual expression. Michael looked at him and was possessed by an indescribable premonition.
A premonition that was different from the nightmares Michael always had, but just as ominous.
This time it was real.
“What happened?”
“In the martial arts club… Rinosa’s successor has appeared.”
With that one word, many thoughts rushed through Michael like a gust of wind and disappeared.
Past and future causes and effects were inferred and established in an instant, and then a sharp thorn pierced him.
The expression completely disappeared from the face, which had been colorless to begin with.
He was too realistic to cling to the possibility that it might not be the case.
At that time, the sound of a carriage and horses’ hooves could be heard outside the window from the other side.
Michael went to the window and pulled back the curtains. It was the carriage of the Grand Duke of Linosa with his guards.
Michael suddenly muttered.
“…It looks like you’re going to abandon me this time.”
The tone of voice was so calm that it felt strange.
Sinus bowed his head. No consolation was worth it.
*
It took only half a day to travel from the city where the martial arts competition was held to Latona, Rinosa.
First go to Linosa through the magic circle installed on the outskirts of the city, and then by carriage.
The uncomfortable situation of Archduke Rinosa and Helmut and his party moving together was not created.
Under the escort of the Black Wing Knights, the party was divided into two.
The Archduke and his wife rode first in one carriage, and the rest of the party rode in another carriage.
Helmut and Charlotte Area and Sian. Four people from Greta Academy gathered in one place.
The carriage was spacious enough to have plenty of space, and the interior was luxuriously decorated with gold and jewels.
Elaga was there too, but he was no longer visible because he was dozing on the ceiling shelf above the carriage seat.
“For some reason, I feel like I shouldn’t be involved in something like this, but it’s really awkward.”
Xian, who had lived his entire life as a commoner, looked around as if he was unfamiliar.
It was the same when I stayed at the Archduke Farnese’s residence or the imperial palace, but I never got used to it.
He lived his life thinking that riding in such a luxurious carriage and heading to that country with the royal family was something that was far from him.
I don’t know how I ended up hanging out with people who kept their identities hidden, including Helmut and Asuka.
But he was not the only commoner here.
“Area, why are you so calm?”
“Is there any reason why I can’t remain calm?”
Rather than feeling strange, Area calmly questioned the situation as if it were a familiar place.
If you think about it, her tastes were extravagant even at the academy.
“I’m really unfamiliar with carriages like this.”
Rather, it was Helmut who felt a little awkward.
He was only a prince by design, but he had never lived in luxury befitting him.
Fortunately, after coming out of Pahe Forest, I was free from poverty, but although I sometimes rode a carriage, I mostly rode a horse or walked and ran on two feet.
It was a life far removed from these luxurious carriages.
It suited him better to be outside with black-winged knights riding horses.
“You’ll get used to it.”
Charlotte, who from the time she was born until now had been considered a deviant to ride a horse and walk on foot, said with a smile.
What I felt from her at that moment was the aura of royalty.
‘Oh, I don’t know. Should I call him Helmut now?’
With mixed feelings, Xian signed the documents prepared in the carriage.
As promised, Helmut provided a job for Sian, who was unemployed but talented.
Since he is now Rinosa’s successor, it was easy to give him a try.
However, as a wizard under Helmut’s direct command, Xian had to sign a formal employment contract with the Rinosa royal family.
On the other hand, nothing was required of Area. Xian, who had signed a contract with huge penalties and clauses but with a hefty salary, looked to the side.
“Why aren’t you writing anything?”
“You’ll be working for a paycheck, and I’m just a customer.”
Area spoke briefly. Being the lover of the guest, Linosa’s heir, is not something that can be dismissed as simply a guest.
‘This girl will be the Grand Duchess of Rinosa.’
For Sian, who until recently had firmly believed that Alea was a man, a strange and unfamiliar feeling came over her.
“When are you two going to get engaged?”
Charlotte asked suddenly.
These days, the crown prince of the empire is not yet married, but at Helmut’s age, it is time to consider an engagement. Isn’t he the successor to Rinosa?
Since many people go through academies for nobles or royal families, marriages are generally delayed.
However, Helmut had a chosen partner without further investigation.
Although there is still a lot of work to be done before he can establish himself as the successor to Rinosa, it seemed appropriate to have a brief engagement first.
Usually, it is rare for a person to get married right away once they become a member of a grand ducal family.
First, the wedding ceremony takes place only after a grace period of at least half a year or more.
Because their wedding was a national event, it took a long time to invite distinguished guests.
In any case, since Area’s position in Rinosa was ambiguous, it was considered right to get engaged first. From the perspective of the Grand Duchess of Rinosa.
It would be easier to adapt to Areado Latona than to leave it ambiguous.
However, when the two did not receive an answer right away, Charlotte’s eyes widened.
“Is it already too early to ask this question? “I thought you had already talked.”
The bond between the two already seemed strong enough to warrant discussion of marriage.
It ended up being like saying something unplanned in front of the parties without notice.
Helmut and Area looked at each other for a moment.
Area was asking what to do, but Helmut’s mind was confused.
In the first place, he was not familiar with specific human rituals or events, whether marriage or engagement.
It was as if an unexpected task had been thrust upon me out of nowhere.
Even though I knew such a thing existed, the word never applied to me.
Because in the forest of Pahe, the word marriage was like a non-existent word.
But Helmut also knew that he shouldn’t give a random answer here.
‘Either you’ve never thought about it, or you say it doesn’t matter… I guess neither.’
Helmut also knew through learning that words that are close to the original mood are usually far from the correct answer.
Then suddenly a stern voice was heard.
[You have to get my permission.]
It was Elaga. As if he had sensed Helmut’s trouble, he, who had been dozing off, opened his mouth.
[I haven’t given permission yet. What about engagement?]
“Why do I have to get permission from Elaga?”
[In the first place, isn’t it more desperate when someone opposes it? [Humans don’t listen well.]
So he said he would take on that role.
Both Helmut and Alea raised their eyebrows at the absurd logic.
[Since you both seem to have no idea, I will object. That’s how the fire will ignite.]
It was a strange logic, but it was also strange to reveal my true intentions so openly.
Sian asked with a puzzled expression.
“Do you think Elaga wants Helmut to get married?”
[Don’t you think it would be pretty if the two of you raised a cub?]
You raised a cub. It was a word that sounded like an insult. It seems that marriage is not important to Elaga, but Helmut’s baby is important.
Just like an owner looks forward to the birth of his pet.
Charlotte pointed out.
“That’s a bit of an expression.”
But Helmut accepted it as is.
“I think it would be pretty if Elaga had a baby.”
A white leopard cub would be cute. Considering Elaga’s size, food will cost a lot.
Elaga replied sullenly.
[Where should I go to kill a baby? Or find a pretty female leopard the same size as me.] Although
she was not as openly aesthetic as Igrel, Elaga also had standards.
If you are beautiful, your partner should also be beautiful.
“Let’s say monsters are one species, what about Ygrel? You’re pretty. They seem like they would get along well…”
Wow! A sharp sound rang out, and a forepaw extended from above scratched Helmut’s forehead like lightning.
Helmut barely escaped by tilting his head back.
However, as soon as Helmut could dodge it, a second blow came.
Sigh! The sound of cutting through the air was unusual.
But this time, Helmut avoided it.
It’s a shame the cat’s legs are short, otherwise he would have bled.
Elaga purred fiercely.
[you! If you say something stupid like that one more time, there might be a big accident.]
“…Okay, stop. And as for the engagement…”
It is also a big problem to just move on without answering.
“Let’s discuss it with Area.”
Area’s expression remained the same. This answer seems to pass just fine.
Even while there was some commotion, the carriage was running diligently toward its destination. And they arrived in Latona some time later.
To the city where Helmut discovered his lineage four years ago and was also betrayed.
