CH 122

You might be wondering “part 2? Where’s part 1?” It’s not a mistake, if you remember, many chapters ago (chapter 51), there is a chapter titled ‘Percival’s feelings’.

Characters in this chapter:

Percival Belisario, 3rd son of Margrave of Vanderwall on the Eastern Frontier

Sapphiras Perfectio, 2nd son of the Earl of Aldridge

Dylan, 4th year student, Percival’s paternal cousin and childhood friend

Bruno Kingsleigh, Commander of the Kingsleigh unit

“……It’s been a while since I’ve participated in a Vanderwall training, but that thing really doesn’t die.”

Dylan, who was sweating so much that the steam rose, came to the water area with unsteady footsteps. Kingsleigh-dono’s training is quite strict. I’m finally getting there, so it must have been quite tough for Dylan, who participated after a long time.

“You have a pretty cool face huh? It’s irritating.”

Dylan, who drank the water in one go, looked at me with a look of resentment.

“No, I’ve just arrived. Kingsleigh-dono won’t go easy on me.”

“Ah, really. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other, but he didn’t hold back. I was devastated.”

The morning’s main training session consisted of ten laps around the castle in heavy armour, followed without a break by a sword fight with Kingsleigh-dono. Soldiers taking part for the first time will first collapse without being able to complete ten laps around the castle. Even though it’s been a long time, he made it to Kingsleigh-dono until the end, as expected of Dylan.

“Speaking of which, how’s Sapphiras doing?”

“He’s probably still sleeping. I told him to have breakfast in his room today.”

“I don’t think we should let him out of his room until the guests who are staying here have left. To be honest, when I saw you two at the entrance last night, I thought it was indeed a bit much, but if you hadn’t done that much, I think it would have been a big deal by now. Although there was about one person whom we knew would go berserk.”

“……Aah.”

At last night’s party, Flavia made a big fuss, but it was Sapphiras who got the most attention. In the first place, his rare good looks caught the attention of the public, but he ended up attracting the attention of the guests even more by showing an accurate transfer without chanting.

Sapphiras uses non-standard magic like breathing. I was used to it. So I had no idea what Sapphiras, who had performed transferring so effortlessly, would look like in the eyes of the guests.

There are very few magicians who can transfer, and they are valued everywhere. Naturally, many nobles want to hire them. Even more so, with that much talent and appearance, it’s only natural that there will be families who want to incorporate that ability into their bloodline, regardless of his status. However, because Sapphiras was dressed in matching outfits with me, people misunderstood that he was my fiancée without any introduction. After all, on his left hand, he has the mark of our sworn friendship. Thanks to this, they seem to have given up on him as a partner, but I heard from my father that there were still some families who wanted to be introduced to Sapphiras.

Even if it was impossible for him to be a partner, they had earnestly asked if it would be possible to hire him after graduating from the academy, but finally gave up after being told that he had the backing of the Duke of Bloomfield.

To begin with, Sapphiras is free. Even if it were the royal family, they cannot make him obey. If they are going to force him to obey, they will have to be prepared to do so.

“……And?”

“And? And what?”

“Don’t play dumb. How far along are you two in your relationship?”

“There’s no progress. In the first place, I haven’t said anything to Sapphiras.”

“……Ha? Why? No, no, wait a minute. Isn’t that weird? You’ve got it all set up so seamlessly, but you’re not talking about the matter of spouses at all?”

“Aah,”

Dylan ponders as he looks up at the sky.

Normally, when you’re customising the outfits you wear at a party, you’ll come up with something. However, there was no response from Sapphirus. He said he wasn’t allowed to learn the common sense of an aristocrat, so maybe he doesn’t know the point of going to a party in matching clothes. Or is he pretending not to notice?

“But even Sapphiras is dimly aware of it, isn’t he? Isn’t he waiting for Percy to tell him because he’s worried about his lack of status?”

If that had been the case, it would have been easy to talk about. All I had to do was tell him that I wanted him to be my partner. To be named a member of the Vanderwall Margrave’s family would also protect Sapphiras, who has no status.

“It’s not that. He has been treated badly by his former fiancé. He probably doesn’t want a partner.”

“Maybe so, but it depends on who he’s with. At least Sapphiras seems to have full trust in Percy, doesn’t he?”

“Trust and the feeling of choosing a partner are two different things.”

To become an adventurer who is not bound by anyone and travels as he pleases. That’s what Sapphiras wants. What Sapphiras needs is a companion to travel with, not a partner.

“I can understand your Oba-ue’s feelings, but what about Percy’s feelings? What do you think of Sapphiras?”

“……That’s”

When I first met Sapphiras, my intuition told me that I should be with him. That’s why I want to become an existence that stands side by side with Sapphiras and aim for what he’s aiming for together.

My sword is insignificant compared to Sapphiras’ mighty magic. Still, I wish my existence could be a sword and shield for him. But that is different from the desire to seek him as a partner. Above all, I wonder if I should direct such feelings towards Sapphiras.

“Ah, ah, I got it, I got it! Percy thinks too hard. You’re really serious. Listen, how would you feel if Sapphiras chose someone other than Percy as his partner? Can you congratulate him from the bottom of your heart? Don’t even think about if Sapphiras is happy. Just think about your feelings.”

“My feelings, huh?”

Sapphiras is free and flexible. He is therefore bound by no one. Sapphiras will find a partner. Sapphiras values his friends more than anything else. He will surely cherish and love his partner more deeply than anyone else.

Can I sincerely congratulate Sapphiras on his feelings for his partner, and stand next to him as a companion with the same feelings as now?

Will those supple arms embrace someone, or will he entrust his slender body to someone else? When I tried to think about it, I felt an inexpressible discomfort and involuntarily clenched my fists.

……No, that’s impossible. The very thought of it suffocates me, as if my heart is being squeezed.

I want to be the only one standing next to Sapphiras. I want it to be only in front of him when he laughs defenselessly and lets his heart go. And I want it to be my sword that protects him.

“……Apparently you’re aware of it. That’s the answer. Percy is also usually serious. I know you’re trying to put Sapphiras’ feelings first, but sometimes it is necessary to push. There are going to be plenty of people that wants Sapphiras as a partner. There’s also no knowing when someone serious about trapping him will appear. No matter how much Oba-ue guards his surroundings, that can change at any time depending on how Sapphiras feels. By the time you realise it, It’s not impossible to find that the one standing next to him isn’t yourself.”

“……”

“Don’t look so miserable! At the moment, Sapphiras seems to be completely ignorant about love affairs, just like you. Needless to say, most of his thoughts are on magic and food. That’s why you should at least tell him how you feel about him before his mind turns elsewhere.”

Dylan has a point. Above all, Sapphiras’ charm is not just in his magic or his looks. His open-mindedness and his straightforward, magnanimous personality will continue to capture the hearts of many.

But what would Sapphiras think if someone he thought was his companion suddenly told him that he wanted him as his partner?

“……Dylan, let me correct one thing.. Sapphiras doesn’t just think about magic and food. He thinks about a lot more.”

“No, you’re really serious.”

Dylan: Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.

Melon: Seriously tho, Percy really needed that pep talk, thanks Dylan!