The Villainess in the Romance Fantasy Is Strange - Chapter 96



96. And, changing. (2)

The center of the imperial capital, and especially the inner castle of the imperial palace where the emperor resides.

A rather special guest has visited the ‘Residence of the Imperial Knights’, where these men gather to assist the Emperor most closely in peacetime and serve as the Empire’s sharpest swords and shields in wartime.

“Oh, welcome, Crown Prince Edwin!”

“The successor to the Count Euclid family, greets the Crown Prince… …!”

The guest was none other than the First Prince of the Empire, Edwin von Edward.

He walked down the hallway of the Imperial Knights’ residence, accompanied by his expressionless black-haired secretary, smiling leisurely. He pushed away the knights who approached him and tried to pay their respects.

“Um, okay. Don’t worry about it and just go about your own business.”

“Oh, yes! I understand.”

“It was an honor to meet you, Your Highness!”

At Edwin’s gesture, two knights with their standard raised clenched their right hands into fists, struck their left chests, and then left.

It was a traditional etiquette that only the members of the Imperial Knights could perform, which meant dedicating their hearts to their lords… … .

Edwin’s secretary, Rowan, shook her head as if she didn’t like the greeting.

“I didn’t want to see that rude greeting anymore, so I was going to quit being Edwin’s secretary after graduating from the academy… … .”

“Why? It’s not only pretty to look at, but also has a certain style. The meaning behind it is also meaningful.”

“I don’t like looking at it because it looks like an ape showing off.”

“Hmm, now that I hear it, that seems to be the case… … .”

Edwin, who was touching his chin as if trying to think seriously, soon snickered.

“Okay. If I become emperor, the first thing I need to do is change that crude greeting style.”

“How do you plan to change it?”

“I guess Rowan will have to think about that himself from now on?”

“……yes?”

Rowan blinked his large eyes, doubting his ears.

“Me? The greeting of the Knights?”

“Yeah, that’s what Rowan suggested, right? So Rowan should be in charge of the training. If you think of a good personnel method, write it up as a report and submit a draft. I’ll review it with my aides and let you know the results.”

“Well, drafting and submitting reports isn’t difficult, but… … As for your confidants, does Edwin have any other confidants besides me?”

Rowan, who hadn’t been particularly surprised when he was told to change his 500-year-old greeting tradition, was startled and wide-eyed by Edwin’s comment about “my confidants.”

“What an impertinent remark. Isn’t it obvious that there would be one or two more close associates besides Rowan?”

“… …Who is that person who is your confidant?”

“Just wait, I’ll introduce them to you now.”

Edwin raised his head after responding appropriately. At the end of the hallway, he saw a sign that said [A-2 Training Room].

The A-2 training room is a beginner training room that only new knights can use.

Edwin, who knew this fact well as he had been to the Knights’ residence several times, walked straight towards [A-2 Training Room].

“The newbies have a set routine, so they’ll probably be working out hard around this time.”

“Are you new… …?”

If he’s a close associate, why is he talking about a new recruit?

Rowan, who could not understand Edwin’s words at all, followed him and stood in front of [A-2 Training Room].

“excuse me.”

It’s the job of the secretary, Rowan, to open the door.

As I knocked lightly and entered, the musty smell of men’s sweat emanated from all directions, living up to the name of the training room.

Rowan frowned absentmindedly and looked around the fairly large training room, soon spotting a black-haired man with a muscular body doing bench presses in the far right corner.

“… … Huh, huh!”

With a small cheer, he quickly lifts up the bar with six 20kg discs hanging from each end, then slowly puts it back down.

“Phew… … .”

The man, who had repeated the same process exactly five times, soon let out a sigh of satisfaction, put down the pole, and raised his upper body.

──Clap clap clap.

Edwin, who had been silently watching the men’s exercise, smiled playfully and clapped his hands.

“Hey, bench 240kg? That’s amazing.”

Rowen followed Edwin’s lead and clapped his hands, and only then did the black-haired man look towards the entrance to the training room.

‘Why are those two people here… …?’

Edwin and Rowan.

… … the next emperor and his closest associates.

“Uh, uh… … . Hello, Your Highness.”

The black-haired man, ‘Cain Reinhardt’, got up hurriedly and approached Edwin.

“Oh, you’re calling me Crown Prince again. Didn’t I tell you to call me Chairman?”

“It’s been two months since I graduated… … .”

“Wow, has time passed so quickly? It seems like it was only yesterday that Cain entered school as a freshman.”

“… … Edwin.”

Rowan, who had been listening to the conversation between the two people that was like a comedian, muttered quietly. Then he asked with only his eyes.

‘That person who is said to be a confidant, is that really Cain Reinhardt…?’

‘Yeah, why?’

‘… … .’

“… … Oh my.”

I felt like an idiot for even feeling a sense of crisis for a moment.

Rowan sighed deeply with a different meaning, and Cain, not knowing what she was thinking, tilted his head and looked at Edwin.

“Well, Your Majesty the Crown Prince must have been busy with the change of Count’s affairs, so he probably didn’t even realize the passage of time. I understand.”

“Oh, thank you for understanding.”

Edwin chuckled and held out his right hand.

Cain, who was drenched in sweat from exercising a little while ago, roughly rubbed his palms and held them together.

“I hope you’ve been well. Nothing much has happened?”

“Yes, because the Crown Prince himself took care of me. I was doing well.”

“Yeah, I’m glad you’re doing well… … .”

Edwin looked around, his voice trailing off.

“Where are all the other knights, and why are you here alone?”

“I went on vacation. Starting today, we have a vacation period for the new knights.”

“I see. There weren’t many people outside.”

“Weren’t you a new knight too, Cain?”

Rowan, who had been quiet, suddenly intervened.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“You are both new knights, so why are you here alone, Cain?”

“Ah, that’s… … .”

At Rowan’s question, Cain’s lips moved for a moment.

I hesitated because I thought it would be a waste of time to make a fuss, but since I had already mentioned it, I thought it would be stranger if I kept it a secret, so I just told the truth.

“I’ve been asking the captain to train with me since last week, but he said he only has time for lunch today. I gave up half my vacation day to learn a trick.”

‘… … You gave up your vacation just because of that?’

Rowan must have had similar thoughts, as he glanced at Edwin with a slightly surprised expression.

‘Oh, by the way, I saw one person well.’

Even when others are resting, diligence and sincerity that allow you to not neglect your own training – these are the basic qualities that a person must possess to be considered the next Knight Commander.

Edwin patted Cain Reinhardt on the shoulder, hoping that he would not lose his original intention today.

“Well, there’s a lot to learn from the captain. He’s very busy with construction work, so he won’t have much free time, so take advantage of this opportunity to absorb as much as you can.”

Of course, just as Edwin said, during its prime, it was the best sword in the empire that no one could approach or deny.

Cain nodded, thinking that it would be cheap to take a day off if he could be taught directly by someone like that.

“Yes, I understand. Thank you for your kind words, Your Highness.”

“Okay. Well, from now on, this is not a public conversation, this is a private conversation… … .”

Edwin muttered meaningfully and let go of her hand.

And then, looking at Cain, he asked seriously.

“By any chance, did you two have a child?”

“……yes?”

After seeing your face for the first time in a long time, why are you asking me this question out of the blue?

“No, not yet.”

“Not yet, does that mean you’re working hard? Or does that mean you don’t have any plans in the first place? Oh, and of course you’re getting married this year, right?”

“Mr. Edwin… … ?”

“Oh, hold on, Rowan. This is a very important question. … … So Cain, what’s the answer?”

As the first prince and heir of the empire, Edwin had seriously asked such an embarrassing question because the most important question was whether or not Cain Reinhard, whom he was pushing forward as the next knight commander, was the legitimate daughter of the Elebeth family.

“……hmm.”

‘I know it’s important because it’s a matter of the survival of a noble family, but why are you asking this in a public place…?

Cain, who has little interest in politics, has no way of knowing Edwin’s true intentions.

If Leah, who was good at business and also knew politics, were here, she would have figured out Edwin’s intentions and led him to answer. Unfortunately, this was the residence of a member of the Imperial Knights.

Cain thought for a moment, then rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and replied.

“… … Well, if I’m trying, then I’m trying.”

“Hmm, really? You’re trying… … .”

‘It’s a shame that there are no established facts, but this is good enough.’

Edwin, having come to that conclusion, placed his right hand on Cain’s shoulder.

“As I said before, I will definitely attend the wedding, so if you have any good news, please let me know first. I will wait.”

“Oh, yes. Okay… … .”

* * *

… … That evening.

I liked his tenacity, so I had one-on-one sparring with the Knight Commander from lunch to dinner, and I returned home exhausted.

“Ah, it’s a sack… … .”

I’ve been hit so many times that my whole body feels numb and my legs are shaking.

I barely managed to drag my half-dragging body like some kind of mollusk, and stood in front of the bedroom where Leah was waiting to check my appearance.

From noble mtl dot com

“Ugh… … .”

My legs and shoulders are shaking so much it’s unsightly.

Given Leah’s personality, she would have embraced me if I had been like this, and she would never have laughed at me or anything. But I put a lot of effort into showing only my manly and dependable side in front of my woman.

Brace yourself and enter slowly.

Squeak-.

“… … I’m here, Leah.”

Still in his full uniform, he opens the door and enters, only to see the soft crimson mood lighting on.

And under that light, I could see Leah sitting on the edge of the bed.

“… … .”

Is today a quiet concept… …?

Leah waits for me almost every night with a different appearance, so I quietly approached her with anticipation of what kind of concept she would have for me today.

I tried to calm my pounding heart and sat down carefully. Leah raised her head slightly and looked at me.

“… … West.”

Her eyes, which seem to be particularly thoughtful today, are moist and filled with emotion.

I took Leah’s hand and answered softly.

“Yeah, Leah.”

“I have something important to say… … Will you listen?”

“Important words?”

‘……what?’

The atmosphere is ominous, it seems like this is not an ordinary thing.

I nodded slowly.

“Yeah, what is it? Tell me.”

“You shouldn’t be surprised when you hear this. Do you understand… … ?”

Leah looked straight into my eyes and asked.

I nodded to show my agreement, and Leah, who had been reassured several times, took a deep breath.

“Well, there is… … .”

And then, his face turned red.

Very small, he said.

“… … I think I look like this.”