Volume 15 Chapter 2 (2/2)

「Ahaha……」

Lux s of his excessive recklessness

But, even that had come to an end with the previous battle

「And I' to have you take a break for a while from your chores, and not because of that reason My official duty is going to increase a lot from now──」

「That means……」

「At the last day of the parade, I'll take off your collar That's what I'」

With the ht behind her, Lisha clenched both her hands and told him with a determined expression

While the cool night air soaked into his skin, it felt like the time of the world had completely stopped

Lux's right hand unconsciously reached towards his neck

What his fingertip touched was the black criminal collar

Since the failure at that day of revolution, Lux continued to shoulder this shackle by his oish

He was thinking that he wouldn't take it off until he found the answer of how he should live as a prince of the Old Empire

But,

「I have seen your way of life and your fight since you entered the Academy No──it's not just me Even the people of this country should be aware of it too There is already no one ill say that it's a mistake for you to take off the collar」

「……But, I──」

「As a princess of the New Kingdoood appearance to the people And it's also soreed with」

「……Queen Raffi was?」

Lux recalled Dist's words after hearing the words that Lisha said while averting her gaze

『Troubleso to win you over with every kind of favorable treatment Her majesty wants to take off your collar to forestall them Perhaps you have at least heard the rumor about it』

He could understand if it was a plan that was cooked up by Queen Raffi and Prime Minister Nulph

In the long battle this time, various sacrifices were made and a lot of burden was also levied on the people

In order to appease the people's dissatisfaction and stabilize the shaky foundation of the New Kingdom, the New Years parade would be combined with the triumphant return of Lux and the others as a political advertisement

It was a decision to obtain popularity by displaying that the hero who saved the world, Lux, owed everything to Queen Raffi and Lisha

Lisha's expression that was slightly sullen

「But, I'll be in agreeht for you to continue feeling guilt forever just because you were an imperial family member of the Old E like you are being collared, but because it's your oill」

Lisha took a deep breath and raised up a voice that was filled with emotion

He could directly feel that she was pushi+ng down her fear and sue from her pained and conflicted expression

Those words didn't co about politics, but froirl who knew Lux intimately

It was the look of a friend who in this nearly one year had accepted Lux's existence

Lux's heart tre her wish

The girl as his ht him the answer towards what he had accomplished until now

At that ti the afternoon was revived in his mind

The conversation that he exchanged with Celis's father, one of the Four Great nobles, Dist Ralgris, half a day ago──

–

Part 4

「Do you really think that her ht now has the caliber that is worthy to bring the New Kingdoether? Do you think that you can entrust the future fro someone else──」

–

Dist said that with a stern tone inside the reserved underground bar

A political strife byuse of Lux's status as a hero

Queen Raffi had lost the trust froreat war this ti for the throne

This was an invitation for Lux to side with the force

Someone as supported by one of the Four Great nobles, Dist, was atte Lux as a weapon

「I heard frohter that she is close with you This will depend on you but, I won't hter to you as proof of our alliance」

Celis who raised achieveon Paladins also received high evaluation as an existence that supported Lux

The two of theat it objectively Like that, the person who Dist was supporting could gather influence and support in a form that didn't feel out of place at all

Lux could understand theof that

If Lux accepted Dist's words at face value, he could also understand that Dist too was grieving the future of the New Kingdo about it

However──

「My apologies but, please allow h it never happened」

Lux told that and directed a calm smile at Dist

In response, the e in his attitude and,

「I see」

He only replied shortly like that

「I wonder if h for you Or perhaps, are you bewildered because this story is too sudden?」

「It's not either of them」

Lux smiled wryly at Dist's question and faced him

「I have faith in her ether with Lishsama It's still only five years since the collapse of the Old Empire I believe this is a period of time where everyone has to cooperate with each other no e the old traditions and tendencies」

「I see」

Dist showed a quiet smile and peered into Lux's eyes

「But, it ht not be that easy just so you know The heart of the populace isn't a siht one, the consciousness that wishes for a change can be born depending on the situation」

His tone contained no sta

He added h to question Lux's resolve

「Looking back at the results of the great war just now, the iies of Avalon will begin in the future Is it alright to leave it to herto do if she fails? How are you going to persuade the fellows cla that the result is unsatisfactory?」

「There is no other way than to observe the opinion in the congress and convince them with the result that her majesty the Queen achieved It's the mission of Lishsa our best」

「Of course, the cooperation of many people will be indispensable Whether it's the Four Great nobles or the consuls of the Old Eether froth to overcohter──Celis-senpai too would give her cooperation」

「Hou」

Dist narrowed his eyes at Lux's unhesitating claim

「If the currentto become a tool to unite the populace's senti everyone's cooperation I believe that will be for the good of this country」

「Besides, Celis-senpai──your daughter, I believe she will dislike so like this After all she is someone who is too kind and serious That's why, I will treat this talk as though it never happened」

Lux said everything that should be said

The bar was filled with silence and the ti

After more than ten seconds passed, Dist eulp

「It see you」

The stern aura that was enveloping Dist slackened slightly and he directed a gentle smile that possessed refinement towards Lux

When Lux observed Dist's expression with a dubious look, his voice that replied back had an easy tone

「A et toyed by the people in power and do anything he is told despite his iht I didn't think that such man will be able to fascinate so ht of you too much Now I'm relieved」

「Were you, testing me?」

A test byan invitation to win over Lux, like just now Lux wondered if it was so like that

But, Dist shook his head a bit and denied that

「Half of it was s If you don't have loyalty towards her majesty, and then, if you can be easily made to dance due to my words, then I will also have to consider that kind of path After all I was also asked for cooperation by sodom」

So to speak, in that case he would seriously sketch the futurepower as the new sovereign

Lux deliberately didn't ask who that 『la person』 could be

「But, it doesn't look like that Your caliber is not one that can be taken advantage of by that lot In that case it's better for you to have your criminal collar removed by the princess on the last day of the parade If you will do more than a shackle」

「Then……」

「If there is sodoive hter too will surely wish for that」

「──Yes」

After Lux nodded strongly, Dist presented his right hand

When he grasped that hand, the man told him in satisfaction

「Take care of this country's future, oh the princess's knight」

「I will be relying on your encouragement, Lord Dist」

Lux understood his feeling and exchanged a courteous greeting

Right after that, the lips of the rigid man suddenly loosened

「It's okay even if you don't be such a stickler foron the situation froht becoer from each other」

「……Eh?」

When Lux tilted his head in incolass ine that wasn't mixed ater this time

「In these teeks while hter came back to recuperate at hoe proposals are coe proposals thee as a noble's daughter And, what do you actually think? What is your ihter from your point of view?」

「Eh, that……!? ──Err」

Lux noticed that for soed and he got bewildered

It was ed, but it felt like the inside had thoroughly changed

To express it sireat nobles into a mere father──

「It's strange to say itoverly serious is excluded, then I believe her looks and talent aren't bad You should be eable about that than me, aren't you?」

Strange

He got the feeling that the pressure fro even more than before instead……

He even got the feeling that he wouldn't be able to return back safe and sound if he chose the wrong words here

「I am an aard man Noup the daughter of one of the Four Great nobles When I pretended to be a strict father on the surface, I ended up seriously treating her distantly In addition when she was in the phase of hating men, even I could not approach her carelessly」

(……This person, he is really Celis-senpai's father There is no doubt about it!)

To think that both father and daughter were alike in having a personality that was easy to get into s

And then, as expected, even Lux could only be du how the father was actually also someone who easily felt lonely

Lord Dist nonchalantly included boasting about his daughter in his talk, but could it be that actually even the father was ?

「My daughter cooking when she was a child was devastating, but based fro recently I think that it's not a bad thing but──」

No that was a lie

No, perhaps in reality it was true that her cooking was ierous level

It's dangerous to s your daughter's story whole like that you know?

(Or rather, the ier……!)

What's with this, it feels like no one would believe him no matter who he told

「Lord Dist It will be time for us to head to the royal castle soon」

It seeation of Lux would still continue for some time, but a servant's voice came from outside the bar and Dist rose from his seat

「Sorry to take your tiain someday」

「You're going to continue it!?」

Lux almost yelled those words reflexively, but he so it back

「Also, now that the path you are aiuess it will be better to also tell you this beforehand It's about a noble called Waybra Hemt」

「Waybra……?」

Lux tried tracing histhat na that name before

「Perhaps even you have heard his na the Old E a faction of consuls called the 『Old E the new kingdoovernment and scheme to remove the queen if there is a chance Recently that roup」

When Lux tilted his head in confusion, Dist told him the ansith his next words

「If that's all then originally it won't be a big proble to become active radically after that In the first place, Waybra is a man as a distant relative of the iht an advantageous information to the Old Empire faction」

Dist talked rapidly perhaps because he had no ti his coat

「I'ht cause so in the middle of the parade It has been teeks since all of you succeeded in conquering Avalon The Old E to ht force along with the second son of the house of Kreutzer, Sieg Kreutzer The worst case ht happen, so be careful」

Couldn't he talk about such an important case first?

Honestly speaking that hat Lux thought, but in reality Dist's side the more than that

But, even in the case that the Old Empire faction hounded Queen Raffi tenaciously to take responsibility, now that the Sacred Eclipse had been stopped and peace had come, it would be difficult to shake the foundation of her political power

Much less so would be exceedingly impossible, if the other side did that then they would have no future

(In any case, it will be better if I worry about not only Lishsama, but Airi too)

Lux was putting up his guard once dom and parted from Dist

–

Part 5

「But, I'll be in agreeht for you to continue feeling guilt forever just because you were an imperial family member of the Old E like you are being collared, but because it's your oill」

And then──now, on the rooftop of the inn the day before the New Year parade

Lux's ht when he was reunited with Lisha

He had saved the world from the threat of Sacred Eclipse and accomplished military exploits that were appropriate to write off his cri an imperial family member of the Old Empire

Lux who currently becodo Queen Raffi and Lisha displayed in order to heighten their unifying force towards the populace── No, Lisha said that she wanted to take off Lux's collar unrelated to such political strategy

She told him she wanted Lux whose criht by his oill

(Then, just like how I answered Lord Dist, I──)

This wasn't so to hesitate about

After all, this girl as always looking forward and fought even while feeling distressed of her own circumstances had allowed hily desired

「I understand Lishsama If you will also include Airi in it, then I will happily accept the amnesty」

Lisha's eyes brightened at Lux's answer and she responded to that with a wide smile

「Yeah! I'll be relying on you from here on too, Lux!」

The two of them looked and smiled at each other's face

They were caught within an illusion of a war the inn's rooftop where they could see the city's lightings

「……Wait, wait a second, what tiht yet」

Lisha gasped and recalled so She then took out a pocket watch from her coat and confirmed the time

When Lux tilted his head, she let out a soh

「Haa……, there is still four reat if I can say it while the atood like this……」

The pact was the agreeirls, from Krulcifer until even Aeril

Lux himself didn't know as far as the specifics of it, even so Lisha's nervous determination was conveyed to him from her expression

「But, it can't be helped I guess As a princess there is no way I can violate so that has been decided with everyone Besides, I have to return to the castle now」

「Then, let'sforward to it」

「No, wait a bit, that……」

When Lux tried to console Lisha as looking conflicted, she was going to say so

After looking troubled for a bit, she continued nervously looking like she found it hard to talk

「That's, I' a bit uneasy for the banquet I didn't have tiht, so naturally you have the duty to dance, that's why──」

Lux guessed what she wanted to say seeing her ure

Right after that, he presented a helping hand in front of this adorable princess without hesitation

「I' in recuperation all this time Can I ask Lishsa practice?」

「……ah」

A faint redness tinged Lisha's cheeks when she saw Lux's smile

She tied on her face

「Thank you, Lux」

Lux and Lisha began to dance while in their uniform

They were stepping on the rooftops's floor with inexperienced and clumsy steps

Lux slowly took the lead with consideration

The dazzlingof the vast townscape made the two's special relationshi+p to come to the front

「──It would be great if time stopped like this I'm, happy」

Lux saw Lisha's relieved smile

It was the sa on apple pie when it still hadn't been long since theyface Lux's chest thuesture

(Could it be, this feeling is──)

He noticed hily attracted to Lisha before he noticed it

Whether it was her subli fire

Or her pride as a princess, he thought of those as nificent

But, soenuine self like this Lux's eyes were stolen for a while

–

「──See you later Lux Tonight was fun」

It was only around fivetime

Lisha su from her, Lux returned from the rooftop to his room

Lux laid down his body on the bed, but strangely his eyes ide awake

Recently he was feeling really unusual

Lux was harboring even stronger feelings than before towards the girls in the Academy

It wasn't just a feeling of affection, he are that he was harboring a clear feeling of like towards them

(Geez, just what a of at this kind of time……)

When he was about to think that it was i that strange because of his talk with Lord Dist this afternoon

Now that the battle surrounding Avalon had been settled and the cri that was tying Lux down

There wouldn't be any probles towards him

As expected even Lux was starting to notice it vaguely

No, until noas unconsciously not thinking about it because of his particular personal history

His status as a criminal ouldn't be allowed to marry

The environment inside the imperial family that treated him as unnecessary created a wall in his relationshi+ps with other people

But, after the battle had reached an end, he noticed that he was coirls

(Wait, what kind of convenient thing I'h in the first place I don't even know if everyone likes me as a man or not……)

When he closed his eyes, the figures of the comrades ere especially close to him, Lisha, Krulcifer, Celis, Philuffy, Yoruka, Aeril, and the Triad came to the forefront of his mind

The beating of his heart fastened, but he hurriedly shook his head on the bed

「This is aard Thea lot when ──」

Luxchores while taking a deep breath to sort his feeling

Then, his conversation with Dist in the afternoon was revived inside his head

「A noble of the Old Empire faction, Waybra Hemt huh……」

Just when the Sacred Eclipse had been stopped and the world was saved fro eledom

Although, when he thought back at all the powerful enemies until now, there was no doubt that this was an incomparably small concern in comparison

Even if, for exahts, surely the quality and quantity would be far behind Dragon Marauder, and not to even mention the Lords

Because, if they had thatthe previous great war

Naturally, Lux also had no intention to let his guard down, but it wasn't a big deal

(But, why is it Why a this worried about a man who I have never even heard of before?)

Strictly speaking, he was concerned not towards that man himself, but at the phenomenon

He was being caught in a o about that existence that dom

「As I thought, it looks like I'm still tired」

Lux's h and he slowly closed his eyes

The voice of someone could be heard inside the darkness

The whispering voice of a

The existence that shouldn't even have any shadow or shape slipped into Lux's consciousness

But, the current Lux didn't notice that

Like that his consciousness was falling as though getting sucked into the abyss of darkness