I Picked Up the Hero Who Banished Me - Chapter 68



67 – [A Moment’s Rest – 07]

Lilis Clifort.

The daughter of Cromwell Clifort, the current king of the kingdom, and the older sister of Felix Clifort, who had recommended me for the hero party.

But she was frail, so I’d only met her once, and it didn’t seem like Lilis properly remembered me either.

She seemed to remember me as, “Oh, there was someone like that,” after hearing my name.

As I said, she was frail, but her unique intuition was sharp, and she’d solved a few problems that had occurred in the kingdom.

That’s why the citizens of the royal capital didn’t look at Lilis badly.

And now she used that intuition to find Livia. She was the type of person who had a sharp intuition and could push forward, trusting in that uncertain thing called intuition.

Put kindly, she had unexpectedness and charisma, put badly, she didn’t know how to make plans.

In other words, she was similar to Livia.

It’s just that Lilis had more social skills and knew how to think properly than Livia did.

This was probably due to the difference in their upbringing – Lilis having grown up as a princess and having learned many things, while Livia learned nothing but fighting to become a hero.

‘That aside…….’

She’s really looking.

From earlier, even while talking with Livia, Lilis kept looking at me.

It wasn’t the kind of gaze that would make you mistake it for affection, and there was a subtle wariness in her gaze. It seemed she didn’t like that her friend Livia was getting involved with me.

Unfortunately, it was Livia who was running to me, and even if some novel-like development happened now, like someone telling me that I didn’t fit with Livia and to give up, I wouldn’t really think anything of it.

It wasn’t that I lacked emotions, more like…

It was a problem *because* I didn’t completely lack them.

If Olivia and I were to have any issues, they needed to be between *us*, Olivia and me. Could there be anything more infuriating than a problem caused by a third party?

“You’ve been staring intently for a while now.”

“I’m aware, I’m ignoring it on purpose.”

“Is it because you’re close with Olivia?”

“Perhaps.”

Everyone in the capital knew Riris liked Olivia.

It’s said Olivia didn’t treat her all that well.

According to Olivia, Riris mostly rambled while Olivia just listened.

But back then, considering how Olivia was a rabid dog, the fact that she didn’t yell at Riris to get lost and actually listened, surely that meant their relationship was something precious?

Whether she was aware of it or not is another question.

Regardless, to come to Elvenheim, one of the United Nations, with only one bodyguard to find one person, as a princess of a nation, it was completely insane.

She was kind of crazy, just like Olivia.

“Let’s take her to Titania for now.”

“She’s probably sleeping at this hour…”

“Hmm, you’re right. Then, the next highest person…”

“Lord Les, perhaps…”

“Or you, Sylph.”

“Oh, please no. Not yet, I’m not ready.”

“Saying ‘not yet’ sounds like you’re willing to try if there’s a chance.”

“…After hearing about the half-elves earlier, the thought of trying keeps lingering, I can’t shake it.”

I had told Silphy that if she became Oberon, she could have much smoother conversations with the half-elves.

Until then, she’d been reluctant, finding the position of Oberon burdensome, but after hearing that, she seemed somewhat conflicted.

She thought of others’ circumstances before her own.

Besides, with high-elf blood flowing through her, I honestly thought Silphy would be fine inheriting the Oberon seat.

Even the issue of a shorter lifespan compared to elves – if she could somehow make a contract with the World Tree, like the current Titania, she might not live as long as an elf, but her lifespan could be extended significantly for a half-elf.

Of course, this is all predicated on Silphy actually choosing to do it.

Certainly, the position of King of the Elves was a prestigious one, but for Silphy, who hadn’t received any formal education, it would be a burden, and it would be difficult even after taking the role.

No matter how much the current Titania helped.

Therefore, ultimately, it was Silphy’s decision.

Frankly, who could blame Silphy if she didn’t want to do it?

Even if Silphy didn’t take on the role, the current Titania would still strive to handle the matter of the half-elves, which was Silphy’s goal.

It would simply mean there were a few more hurdles for Silphy to cross if she did it herself.

“Hey, you said your name was Royce, right?”

“Huh?”

As we were talking, Lilith spoke, crossing her arms as if dissatisfied.

I bowed my head in the royal fashion and said,

“As you say, I am Royce. I greet the Princess of the Kingdom, Lilith Clifort.”

“Ugh, what is this… You know the kingdom’s formalities?”

I guess I’d forgotten I was even part of the kingdom’s people.

Or, to be precise, a non-entity belonging to the slums, a place that wasn’t really considered part of the nation anyway.

Whether you could even call *that* a nation was kinda questionable too.

“Oh, Olivia seems to trust you quite a bit.”

I turned around to see Livia talking to Sebass, Lilith’s butler, this time.

It seemed she’d left Livia with Sebass and come to me because she wanted to talk to me.

Livia could easily hear a conversation at this distance if she wanted to, but she’d been learning about people’s manners lately, so she wouldn’t try to listen in on a private chat.

People don’t change easily, but they do change – Livia was living proof of that.

“I don’t know if it’s trust, but she does treat me quite kindly, that’s true.”

“Let’s be frank, Olivia’s got feelings for you.”

“I know.”

The moment she realized her feelings, she confessed them to me right away.

In all the give-and-take needed for romance, she seemed only capable of the ‘take’ part.

But that was just Livia’s way, so I thought it was fine.

Some people are like this, others are like that, it’s what makes us people, complicated things aren’t we?

“You, what about you?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“What?! Olivia likes you, and she’s a hero, and so pretty, and kind, and hot, and super strong, and hot!”

She said “hot” twice there.

Hmm.

Honestly, it was kind of violently good.

I was seriously curious how she maintained that balance, carrying those lumps of fat on her body.

It was like a mystery of the human form, and I wanted to ask, but I knew I’d just get some answer like, “I haven’t done anything?”— the kind of thing that’d turn a million women into enemies.

And, most of all, asking about it would bring that smug look on Livia’s face, like, ‘You’re bothered? You’re bothered by my body, aren’t you?’ and seeing that was just… not it.

Seeing that face, I’d think she was cute, but somehow it felt like I’d lost, and that pissed me off.

“As you say, but that’s just a reason to feel attraction, not a reason to be in love.”

“Your head’s so damn hard…”

“Princess Lilis, you’re quite open-minded for a royal.”

“……”

Only then did Lilis realize she hadn’t maintained any semblance of royal decorum in her speech.

“A-ahem! What do you mean by that? I’m…”

“……”

“……”

As Sylphy and I simultaneously sent her subtle glances, Lilis blushed slightly and spoke.

“Alright, fine, since it’s all out there anyway, I’ll just use this kind of tone. People think I’m some kind of pure, innocent thing, y’know? I was trying to act the part, but, whatever.”

“Certainly, Princess Lilis, you do have that reputation. You’re even considered the flower of the kingdom.”

“Thanks, Sylphy. You’re really pretty too.”

“Oh, um… sure.”

Sylphy smiled awkwardly.

Even still, Sylphy was a man, so being called pretty didn’t sound like a compliment to him. Rather, he had this face like, ‘Ah, this person also thinks I’m a girl.’

Honestly, as a colleague, I wanted to offer comfort, but Silphy’s appearance was just way too much of a gender role dereliction of duty.

If anyone recognized *that* as a guy right away, they’d either already know or be someone who sees through everything with an omnipotent power.

“Huh?”

Lilis had just complimented her, but instead of being embarrassed or anything, Silphy just gave an awkward smile. Lilis tilted her head, observing.

But soon enough, she turned her gaze back to me.

“W-Well, as a friend, I’m grateful you saved Olivia.”

“Don’t mention it. I simply did what any person should do.”

From noble mtl dot com

Well, it was for me too, partly.

“You didn’t do anything weird, right? You’re not dating yet, so you didn’t, right?”

“I did not.”

“Right?”

The problem is that Livia might be the one to do something, not me.

Frankly speaking, if she even gets an Elixir and restores her body, I wouldn’t be able to handle it. If Livia suddenly loses her mind and pounces on me, what could I possibly do?

There was nothing I could do but obediently surrender.

“Still, if you at least acknowledge each other, please don’t be too unrestrained.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, since Olivia’s there, don’t get too clingy with Silphy. Isn’t it too close for a man and a woman?”

“…….”

“Huh? What’s wrong, Silphy? No, Silphy, you be careful too. If a young man and woman are that close……”

It seemed she’d thought that after seeing how close Silphy and I had been just now, talking quietly.

“Pfft!”

“Sir Royce! It’s not funny!”

“Y-you’re right. I’m sorry. It’s serious for Sylph.”

“Huh?”

“Haa…”

Sylph scratched their head, then looked at Lilis and said,

“I’m a man.”

“……Huh?”

That blank look was the face of someone whose brain had given up on trying to understand.

If someone were to draw that face, that face of a brain having completely stopped working, it’s the kind of face that would be talked about in the future.