Chapters 138 and 139 should be read together, so today there are two chapters :)
Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Eight: The Day of Departure 2
“May we also join in celebrating Lady Karen…?”
“You kids—ah, of course you may.”
Those who approached, hoping to participate in the party, were children suffering from Bloodline Blessing, just like Sieg once had. Sieg smiled warmly at the children who were shorter than him but not so different in age and said:
“When Sister Karen returns, let’s celebrate together.”
The children nodded. It was their own childish vow to endure and survive their Bloodline Blessing until Karen’s return.
Soon after, the children’s parents approached and bowed to Karen.
“We await your safe return, Miss Karen.”
“…I will definitely return safely.”
Perhaps becoming a C-rank alchemist meant her life was no longer just her own. Karen gulped and nodded. At that moment, a commotion spread through the area.
The source of the disturbance was the people in the center of the plaza, and the loudest voice among them shouted:
“Hey, wasn’t Ehlertt supposed to maintain a neutral position within the Queen’s faction?!”
The one who shouted was Second Prince Boromias. Whatever the matter was, it was bound to involve Karen as well. She quickly followed their gazes.
There stood Waltride and her party. Among them was a person Karen knew well, and her eyes widened greatly.
“Mr. Julius…?”
“I had interpreted the Ehlertt family’s protection of Waltride thus far as mere devotion to Mother and Father. But if you mean to join Waltride’s faction after her return, that changes everything!”
Boromias’ words continued, almost at a shouting volume.
Then, Waltride’s party, which had overflowed from the plaza, stepped forward toward the center under the spotlight. Julius was at the front, with Waltride following one step behind at his side. They looked as if they were walking together intimately, appearing perfectly matched, and Karen’s chest ached sharply.
“Brother… It’s been a while.”
“I have no business with you, Waltride. Julius, what do you think you’re doing? Is Ehlertt falling under Waltride’s umbrella?”
“It’s been a while, Your Highness Boromias. There seems to be some misunderstanding, so please allow me to explain.”
Julius wore a cheerful smile.
“First, I stand here as an individual, and the Ehlertt Earldom has nothing to do with this.”
“Hmph. So you mean that regardless of Ehlertt, you’ve become Waltride’s man? After callously rejecting my recruitment?”
“That too is a misunderstanding, Your Highness Boromias.”
“Then explain what the misunderstanding is.”
Even when prompted with an arrogant attitude, Julius continued to wear his calm smile. It was so calm it went beyond peaceful—there was even something alluring about it.
Even Boromias seemed to sense something strange about that smile and subtly faltered.
“Explain quickly!”
“I don’t belong to Her Highness Waltride, but rather to the alchemist whom Her Highness favors.”
The first to turn around were Natalia and Sara. Faced with two round eyes staring intently at her, Karen shook her head vigorously.
“I don’t know, I don’t know!”
“Karen, could you come here?”
Because Julius called her, all the people present focused their gazes on her, and Karen awkwardly stepped forward with jerky movements.
Boromias looked down at her with eyes that showed no interest whatsoever.
“…The E-rank alchemist who’s supposedly Waltride’s pawn, was it?”
When Boromias spoke, knights of about the same age who were standing by immediately offered advice:
“Your Highness, I believe she was D-rank.”
“No, I heard she recently advanced to C-rank.”
“Hey! There’s a limit to how much information can be confused! You! State your name yourself!”
Having given up on getting information from his retainers, Boromias pointed at Karen. Taking the bow she had learned when first meeting Waltride, Karen introduced herself:
“I am Karen, a C-rank alchemist. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Why would an advanced alchemist of all people side with Waltride?”
“She has favored me since I was E-rank, and I owe her the debt of being promoted to D-rank.”
“Hmph! I see. Waltride, you seem to have had good judgment for once.”
“Ehehe, it wasn’t that much.”
“I’m not praising you, you know?”
Glared at by her brother Boromias, Waltride had immediately gone meek. Karen sent a look of amazement at Boromias, wondering how he could dislike such an adorable sister.
Boromias had also cast a look toward Karen.
When their eyes met, the second prince stared at Karen intently with a deeply puzzled expression.
“Julius, why did you become this woman’s? Is it collateral for a debt or something?”
“We’re dating!”
When Karen protested while showing off her earring, Boromias looked convinced.
“I see, so you plan to use that pretext to avoid making waves while supporting Waltride.”
Boromias completely dismissed the part about Karen dating Julius as a mere pretense and interpreted everything in the wrong direction.
Waltride calmed Karen down with a "there, there" as she was about to lash out.
“What’s your purpose? Do you plan to make Waltride a puppet so Ehlertt can gain power? If that’s your intention, I, too, must take appropriate measures.”
“Your Highness Boromias, I had requested to be removed from the elite unit so I could remain with Karen, and I had been permitted to transfer to Her Highness Waltride’s troop. It’s not a pretext.”
“Words can say anything.”
“I can also show you through actions.”
No sooner had Julius said this than he embraced Karen from behind.
“Eep!?”
“Karen, I’ll let you go if you dislike this, but if you don’t mind, may we stay like this for a moment? I want to show His Highness Boromias, who doesn’t believe in our relationship, visible proof of our intimacy.”
“I, I, I don’t dislike it… but, um, well, you see…”
Julius’s arms embraced Karen.
Lightly caressed on the arm, Karen turned bright red while breaking out in cold sweat.
Julius wiped the sweat from Karen’s cheek with his fingertip and stroked her chin.
Though Karen had resisted desperately when he tried to make her look up slightly, she eventually felt a soft sensation on her head and froze stiff.
When Karen swallowed even her scream and looked up, Julius’s face was right there with an intensely passionate expression, making Karen dizzy.
“I won’t do anything you dislike. But since we’re lovers and I find you utterly adorable, please allow me to kiss your hair. You don’t mind, do you?”
The words she had spoken during her magical power intoxication when she climbed the ranks came back to her, and Karen felt dizzy.
Watching Karen, whose knees seemed ready to give out, and Julius supporting such a Karen, Boromias said with a sour expression:
“…Whatever your intentions may be, since you’ve seduced an unmarried woman this far, take responsibility, Julius.”
“As you command, Your Highness Boromias.”
A terribly cheerful reply came from above Karen’s head, and at the same time, she was pulled into a broad chest.
Even in the corner of Karen’s exhausted vision, she saw Boromias’ exasperated face. Then Boromias left. Karen managed to maintain her sanity by thinking that Julius might be taking this attitude to drive him away.
“Well then, shall we go? Her Highness Waltride’s First Princess Unit is gathering over there.”
“Y-Yes—”
Just as Karen, still shaken, was about to follow Julius, who had taken her hand…
“Lady Karen!”
Harald, who had somehow made his way near the center of the plaza, called out to stop Karen.
It was a terribly out-of-place interruption.
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