Chapter 5
I sighed and added.
“I’ll say it again, but I have no intention of partnering with Ret.”
“……”
“For now, I’ll keep it on hold until the ball, so if you don’t want to see me partner with Lady Viola, then you introduce me to some other young lady or something. Don’t just keep saying it won’t do.”
During the coming-of-age ball period, we would stay there and get acquainted with peers our age, so it wasn’t uncommon for partners to be found or changed right before the ball. Though it was an implicit rule to decide on dance partners in advance.
So there was plenty of time.
If it really doesn’t work out, I just won’t dance at all.
Dancing isn’t mandatory anyway.
Though I would become excellent gossip material as one of the pitiful people who couldn’t choose a dance partner throughout the entire ball period.
‘I don’t want to think about it in a complicated way.’
It’s just a temporary matter that will pass quickly anyway.
I didn’t want to keep clashing with him over this.
“……”
Cedric had no answer until the end.
Since further conversation seemed like it would just go in circles, I passed by Cedric, patted his shoulder a couple times, and returned to the banquet hall first.
* * *
The place where Edgar had left.
Standing alone in the midst of terrible silence, Cedric clicked his tongue after a moment.
“Asking me to introduce someone…”
Soon a laugh mixed with resignation flowed out and scattered.
“How cruel.”
As always.
The heavy murmur dropped to the floor with a thud.
* * *
Cedric didn’t return to the banquet hall. That day, I kept looking around the banquet hall because I was concerned, but I couldn’t find him until the end, so that’s probably right.
After that, far from getting closer to Cedric, we became even more distant. No, maybe saying we became distant is a luxury.
We couldn’t meet at all.
I even deliberately invited him to come over and play, but Cedric, who would never fail to join whenever I invited him, wasn’t showing his face with the excuse that he was busy—at least that’s what I think.
The atmosphere must have seemed strange to people around us too, because not only Riette but also my parents asked if something had happened with Cedric.
When I wanted to meet alone with Riette and wished he would step aside, he would stubbornly butt in, but now when it’s like this, he’s nowhere to be seen.
So today, Riette and I decided to visit Cedric’s mansion together.
Actually… I was going partly because I was concerned, but I also had something to shamelessly ask Cedric for, so I had to see his face at least once.
〈Son, I have a favor to ask.〉
〈What is it?〉
〈I told you I was going to set up an inn in a good location in Runier territory, right? I also mentioned that many nobles want to build on that prime land, so Count Runier is testing the waters.〉
〈Yes.〉
〈So, I need a medicinal herb for negotiations with Count Runier. You should be able to find it if you go up Mount Burden. I need you to get one for me.〉
〈…What? That’s an area where monsters appear. How am I supposed to go there alone! Are you trying to send your son to his death right now?〉
〈You happen to have a friend named Cedy.〉
Those were Father’s words.
His sinister smile seemed to have some ulterior motive, but he kicked me out saying not to even think about coming home if I couldn’t bring it back, so I had no choice.
Damn, this is strange.
There definitely wasn’t content like this in the novel.
Anyway, Father was someone who kept his word once he spoke it.
Being a beta with terrible sword skills, it was too dangerous for me to wander around monster-infested areas alone, and at this rate I might really not be able to go home, so I absolutely needed someone’s help.
And the only person around me who could help, who was strong and had excellent sword skills, was Cedric.
Father suggesting Cedric as an example friend was a statement showing he knew me very well.
…Does it make sense to ask such a favor in this cold situation?
But still!
“Can’t you help me just this once?”
“……”
“I know it’s shameless… but just once!”
“……”
“Think of it as saving a person’s life!”
I even clasped my hands together earnestly as I pleaded.
After chatting pleasantly with Riette in the salon as the three of us, when the mood was ripe, Cedric was called aside to hear my request and immediately rolled his eyes.
“So that’s why you came. I thought so.”
His face, which had looked cheerfully buoyant until we were in the salon, sank with disappointment, making me flustered.
I hurriedly added.
“It’s also true that I came because I wanted to see you.”
“Must be urgent. You’re even acting cute with me.”
…Cold, so cold.
Of course, I know it’s my fault for not building trust with my usual behavior. I can’t deny that there were impure intentions mixed in.
I hesitated, then carefully brought out the sincerity I’d been harboring in my heart recently.
“I know that I’ve been neglectful toward you too.”
“……”
“But it’s really true that I came to see you today. I was concerned because you’ve been avoiding me recently. I’m reflecting on what happened before.”
“……”
“I’m sorry for acting indifferently all this time. I want to get along well with you from now on. I know it’s bewildering for me to suddenly say this, but I’m saying all of this sincerely.”
But given the situation, Cedric didn’t seem to believe my words. I was hesitating to open my mouth, thinking that talking more would seem like excuses to smooth over the situation, when I heard Cedric’s long sigh.
“Alright. I’ll help you.”
“Oh, really?”
“You’re acting so cute, so I have to grant it.”
“……”
“But you have to give me something in return too.”
“Yeah, what would you like? What should I do for you?”
I nodded readily. Cedric, who had been looking at me with strange eyes at my active cooperation, muttered as if to himself.
“When I want something, grant that for me.”
“A wish ticket? That’s all?”
“Yeah.”
“Alright! I’ll do that. Thank you.”
In my excitement, I grabbed both of Cedric’s hands and shook them vigorously. Perhaps because of my sudden action, I felt Cedric’s body stiffen, but he didn’t seem to dislike it since he didn’t push me away. Having relieved some worry, I continued the conversation with him as we returned to the salon.
“But why did he tell you to go there?”
“I don’t know either. He didn’t tell me the reason. But if I don’t listen, it seems like he’d really kick me out.”
“Surely he wouldn’t really do that.”
“My father is someone who does what he says he’ll do…”
“…Well, even if you’re abandoned, someone would pick you up.”
“Hey, who would pick up a penniless noble beggar?”
Our Lowell family’s powerful reputation within the empire was all because of money. A son of the Lowell family without money would be like a toothless tiger.
“You never know about that.”
Cedric muttered in passing.
As I thought about what he meant and looked back at him, I suddenly realized it had been a long time since I’d had such trivial conversation with this guy.
It was… easier than I thought. I had vague fears, but once I actually opened my mouth, I found myself chatting casually with Cedric.
That was quite a strange feeling.
* * *
A few days later.
I headed with Cedric to Mount Burden in the barren frontier northeast of Soliwen territory to find the medicinal herb.
The area around Mount Burden was all dangerous territory inhabited by monsters, so walls had been built, and to enter the mountain, we absolutely had to pass through there.
So we stopped briefly at the fortress before heading to the mountain. Through that connection, the friendly rangers staying at the fortress saw us off.
“If anything happens, be sure to shoot a signal flare!”
“We’ll come help! Be careful!”
I felt grateful for their voices shouting from behind and waved at them.
“They’re good people.”
“Yeah.”
“You’ll become the leader of those people soon.”
Since inheriting the Soliwen Grand Duke position also meant becoming commander of the Burden frontier. Well, I heard that there’s a lot of business to take care of within Soliwen territory, so unless it’s an emergency, there’s rarely occasion to directly command the soldiers here.
We walked diligently and entered the foot of Mount Burden. The surroundings were quiet, making me somehow nervous.
After looking around the forest, I confirmed there was a large rock nearby and casually pulled out a lunch box from my backpack.
“First… shall we eat before moving?”
If we went deeper, it would be dangerous because of monsters and we wouldn’t have leisure to eat lunch. We’d also be busy looking for the medicinal herb.
Cedric, who had been staring at me quietly, touched my cheek and picked a fight.
“You ate before coming too, pig.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Why are you picking a fight again? Then don’t eat.”
I sat on the rock, put down my backpack, and spread out the lunch box with the food wrapped inside, and the savory smell of bread tickled my nose. As I was splitting the bread in half, Cedric came over next to me, plopped down, and tilted his head slightly toward me.
“Ah.”
At that, I rolled my eyes again like before. The guy was opening his mouth as if asking to be fed.
Honestly, in the past I would have ignored this kind of joke and not even responded. Cedric would have whined beside me knowing I wouldn’t play along, then pretended to be sulky.
And this was also Cedric’s original nature. Playful, and clingy even when told no.
Recently, whenever Viola’s story came up, he showed unusually cold and sharp reactions unlike his usual self…
I hesitated, then slightly went along with his joke.
“Take back calling me a pig first.”
“I take it back, sorry. Ah.”
Cedric answered shamelessly and opened his mouth like a baby bird again. Ugh.
When I stuck half the bread in his mouth, Cedric stared blankly as if it was an unexpected reaction, then smiled brightly.
The way his eyes curved into crescents was prettier than I thought… and I found myself staring blankly without realizing it.
It seemed like it had been a long time since I’d seen him smile like that. Well, there wouldn’t have been much occasion for him to smile while looking at me.
I was absently stroking one cheek with my palm when—
“You eat too. Here, ah.”
Cedric, who seemed excited and elated from me playing along with his joke, brought the bread he had bitten back to my mouth.
It was one thing that he offered the part he had eaten, but it was embarrassing when he pushed it forward to feed me.
“Ah! That’s enough. I’ll eat by myself.”
“Don’t refuse, okay? Here.”
I grimaced and shouted for him to eat it himself, but Cedric just burst into giggles, seemingly delighted.
Before I knew it, the awkward atmosphere that had remained between him and me after our argument had completely disappeared.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
