Chapter 74 - Volume 3 (2/2)

This man is supposed to be Klanven’s opponent. There’s no way it’d be fun for him to see a youngster several decades than him become the next head of priests. But I can’t see even an atom of that in Heathrow. In fact, he seems to think favorably of Klanven——or perhaps, that’s an exaggeration.

「Do you have some business with His Highness? If it’s alright with you, I can humbly convey it to him.」

「No, I don’t have anything in particular. If he’s in good health, that’s all I ask for.」

「Y-Yes. In that case, I think there is nothing to worry about.」

Yes, he was in good health as he waved about me and that man today too. At my response, 「Is that so.」 Heathrow gently smiles again. Is it just my imagination that that smile seems genuinely happy?

「Sir Klanven isn’t an open person, so. I know this will be troublesome for you, but please treat him well.」

Heathrow continues, as if he’s talking about a kid who could be his grandchild. Then, without waiting for my reply, he gallantly leaves with a pace that doesn’t show his age at all. I’m the only one left, watching his grand figure from behind and unconsciously tilting my head.

I don’t know where to start. The first thing I want to say is, is it really alright to settle away Klanven’s behavior by just saying 『he isn’t an open person』……? No, more importantly, how did Heathrow think so favorably of Klanven? Heathrow’s expressions and his voice too, both seemed strangely full of affection. I thought he’d be hostile, but was that just a misunderstanding? How foolish.

That reminds me, the ones targeting Klanven’s life are a group that’s called the most extremist ones amidst Heathrow’s faction. So Heathrow himself might not be taking part in Klanven’s assassination.

However, that’s nothing more than my guess based on my first impressions with him earlier. I don’t know what someone’s thinking under a gentle smile – Klanven himself was the one that proved that.

To be honest, judging by my first impressions earlier, Heathrow seems like a much better person than Klanven. 「That’s why you’re a naive softie.」 a certain someone would tell me, but that’s what I think. Yep, it’s naive, even if I do say so myself. I know that. I know that, but that’s why I just don’t know. Ah, now I don’t even know what I want to say anymore.

It’s then, as I’m alone and at my wits’ end, that a voice calls me from the other side of the door.

「Filmina, would you come in?」

「……Yes. Excuse me.」

‘If you’ve finished changing from your uniform to your everyday clothes, you could just come out by yourself instead of calling me,’ I internally curse, opening the waiting room door and entering as I’m told. Then, I’m reduced to speechlessness at the sight I see there.

「Y-Your Highness Klanven?」

「What?」

「There’s no 『what』 here. Just what are you wearing?」

Klanven blinks his amber eyes in forced puzzlement. I ask him, while feeling a severe headache forming.

Klanven isn’t wearing the priest uniform he was wearing earlier – far from it, he isn’t even wearing his ordinary clothes he wore when we came to this grand temple. What he’s actually wearing is shabby clothes like the town peasants would wear. His long silver hair is tied up high, smoothly shaking from side to side like a cat’s tail.

「Yes. These are for you.」

Ignoring my disturbed state, he presents me with a plain women’s cloak. I reflexively take it, looking from it to Klanven’s face as he puts on his own suitable cloak.

「Um, Your Highness. Just what is—」

「Hm? Don’t worry, don’t worry, you put that on too, quick. As for the hair…… Well, maybe it’s fine like that.」

「Your Highness?」

Just how can he say 『don’t worry』? There’s not a single thing I can’t worry about. Just what the heck does he want to do? I feel my brows naturally furrow. He lightly pokes the gap between my eyebrows, smiling sweetly under his hood, pulled deep over his face.

「We’re going on a date now, so wouldn’t it be ridiculous to stay in those clothes?」

「……What?」