I Possessed the Villain’s Childhood Friend – Chapter 126

#Responsibility

“I’m sorry for putting this on you, Aike.”

“It’s alright. Well, it is something I’m responsible for anyway.”

I waved my hand in response to Charlotte’s apology.

Right now, someone needed to take responsibility, and that someone was me.

Not the eldest son and heir of the family.

I didn’t have any extraordinary talents recognized by everyone.

My reputation in high society wasn’t stellar either.

How perfectly suitable I was for this responsibility.

Well, honestly, I had expected this to some extent, so I wasn’t particularly dissatisfied.

“No matter what, on the surface, you’re one of the heroes who saved the Empire. Don’t you think it’s unfair?”

…Indeed, thinking logically, it’s an unreasonable story.

But what can I do?

It’s much better than having someone else take responsibility.

When I think about it that way, the feelings that arise within me are simple.

“Nobility is such a hassle.”

At my bland response, Charlotte chuckled lightly.

“Right?”

★

It had been a while since I saw the system.

The scenery of Orkheon was the same as expected but hadn’t changed at all.

After all, it would be strange if the scenery changed in just five months.

“We’re almost there, my lord.”

After responding to Noelle, I quietly looked out the window.

The symbol of the Astria Royal Family, the grand palace’s main gate, welcomed me back after five months.

It goes without saying that just because Avatarara had collapsed, a story like ‘everyone lived happily ever after’ might appear in a fairy tale.

The fact that Elam and Khasit still aimed for the Empire hadn’t changed, so it’s impossible for all that to be ignored and for chaos to dispel.

Of course, now that nearly a year has passed since that day, Elam and Khasit had already pulled back all the soldiers they had been gradually pushing towards the Empire.

Since the fall of Avatarara proved that the Astria Empire was still intact.

But the fact that Elam and Khasit had aimed for the Empire hadn’t changed.

In other words, this is where responsibility comes in.

Who will take responsibility for the fact that Elam and Khasit underestimated the Empire, and that the organization Avatarara had moved to bring it down?

With my modern values, it feels quite absurd to think, ‘The wrongdoers are Avatarara and the two kingdoms, so why is the blame shifting domestically?’

But knowing how crucial responsibility and justification are for nobility, I had no choice but to accept it.

And that responsibility lay on me, who had knowledge of the organization Avatarara yet left it unattended.

Well, I publicly revealed that in order to minimize the damage to others, but still.

“Sigh.”

After being instructed to wait at the palace, I quietly threw myself on the bed provided in the room.

My body, which had been begging for rest, finally felt a bit comfortable.

Being told that the summer break of Arcana had started, I returned to my family home and immediately came to Orkheon upon hearing that Charlotte’s disposition had finally been decided these last two weeks.

Despite feeling physically tired, mentally, it had been incredibly taxing.

Carriages really don’t suit me.

As these thoughts came to mind and I looked at the ceiling, various thoughts began to swirl in my mind.

Noelle had gone to meet family members who had come to the palace separately.

If my memory serves me right, Reina, Sophia, Helen, and Atal were also said to be attending this gathering.

Do I have to show them the moment I’m disowned?

That might be a bit unpleasant, I suppose.

By the way, to think the royal family would take action publicly to disown a family’s heir like this.

It’s indeed an unprecedented event; I wonder if this is what happens at the level of a major ducal house.

If it were an average noble house, such matters would have been handled entirely at the family’s main residence.

What a remarkable family in countless ways.

Now that I think about it, if I get disowned, I become just an ordinary commoner, so what happens to my relationship with Reina?

…Am I in big trouble?

As I began to feel my head spinning with these thoughts,

“Aike, young lord. It’s time.”

At the sound of knocking from outside, I quietly rose from my bed.

What is it?

Upon responding to the call, I stepped into the Audience Room.

The moment I entered, I couldn’t help but think that the reason I was summoned to the Imperial Audience Room must be for the unpleasant reason of disownment, but for some reason, the atmosphere was unexpectedly lively.

And it was quite a vibrant atmosphere.

“What the heck is going on…?”

To resolve my confusion, I looked around and spotted familiar faces.

Reina was with Sophia.

For some reason, both of them looked cheerful.

Huh.

Could it be that there’s something I don’t know?

“Quiet!”

The one who shouted that was Duke Ricard, the head of the Rozelia Duke House and Reina’s father.

He stood right next to Emperor Raphael Aegis Astria, and with his single word, the lively atmosphere subdued in an instant.

“…It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Aike, second son of the Access Duke House.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As the Emperor spoke, I immediately knelt and paid my respects.

“I would have liked to have spoken a bit earlier, but given the circumstances, it couldn’t be helped. You understand that, don’t you?”

“Of course.”

“Now, the reason I’ve called you today is, of course, to commend your contributions.”

“…Pardon?”

When I raised my head to look at the Emperor’s face, confused,

“I’m thinking of entrusting you with the direct territory of the Royal Family, Shird, as soon as you graduate from Arcana. What do you think?”

As the Emperor said this, he wore a rather playful smile for some reason.

★

That day, another house was established in the Astria Empire.

Having been recognized for the merit of defeating the head of the organization Avatarara, he was granted the governance of Shird, a territory directly governed by the Royal Family that had been responsible for overseeing foreign threats, along with the title of Duke of the Border.

That man’s name was Aike, the second son of the Access Duke House.

The Access House, called the Sword of Astria.

The Rozelia House, known as the Pillar of Astria.

This marked the beginning of the Shird House, which would one day be known as the Shield of Astria, following in the footsteps of these two renowned ducal houses.

★

“…What in the world is happening?”

I asked Charlotte, furrowing my brow, having somehow gained the title of Duke of the Border upon graduating from Arcana.

The setting was the Ballroom of the Imperial Palace.

It was a dance party celebrating the birth of a new knightly family.

“Haha, did you really think you’d be disowned?”

Charlotte laughed, covering her mouth at my question.

It was as if she was mocking the idea that I genuinely thought that.

“Isn’t this what you told me would happen?”

The emergence of an organization called Avatarara, and the pressure from Elam and Khasit.

The one who could take responsibility for this with minimal damage was none other than me.

Besides, as of now, I’m seen by the public as one of the heroes who saved the Empire, so a disownment would only amount to this punishment.

I trusted that and revealed information related to Avatarara.

Sending a gaze filled with puzzlement toward Charlotte, she replied,

“…Well, sure, it was a problem someone had to take responsibility for.”

“Yet suddenly, calling me Duke of the Border…”

“But that just means you’ve achieved more than the responsibility entails.”

“Well, I guess.”

“Exactly. You were the one who took down the head of Avatarara. According to the information you disclosed, you also stepped up to resolve the crisis where Arcana students were nearly assassinated.”

With that statement, I had no rebuttal.

Sure, I acted not for the Empire, but for Reina, yet in the eyes of others, it was indeed a contribution to the Empire.

“So I think it’s good to feel proud of what you’ve accomplished; it’s a sign that your efforts have been recognized.”

Charlotte quickly downed her remaining wine and continued,

“Most importantly, now that you’ve received the title of Duke of the Border, you can face things far more confidently than just being the second son of the family, can’t you?”

“Yes? What does that mean….”

“Shut up, now go back.”

Charlotte shoved me as if there was nothing more to say.

And upon arriving at the place I was pushed toward,

“Aike.”

There stood Reina, smiling warmly.

“Sigh.”

Melodies flowed.

The calm and warm tones were instructing me on what I was about to do.

“…May I have the honor of dancing with you, Lady Reina?”

“Please take care of me, Young Lord Aike.”

The warmth of Reina’s hand I held felt like spring.

I stepped along with the movements of the melody and Reina.

Naturally, I still felt awkward dancing like this, so matching my steps with Reina was indeed the best approach.

“I really need to practice dancing more. If someone with the title Duke of the Border dances this awkwardly, I’ll become the laughingstock.”

“…Haha, I’ll do my best.”

At Reina’s kind-yet-teasing comment, I offered an awkward smile.

“…Did you know?”

In response to my question, which lacked any subject, Reina nodded without a hint of hesitation.

“At first, I heard you were really going to be disowned, but I heard it was the result of His Highness Leon and Master strongly opposing that.”

“I’ll have to thank those two later.”

“Yes.”

Slowly, I turned my body to match Reina’s sunlight-like touch.

Was I really making accurate movements?

As those thoughts began to take over my mind,

“Hmm. So now I’m to be called Reina Shird?”

“…Huh?”

Reina whispered that into my ear.

“Reina Shird, huh. Do you think it suits me?”

“Uh, uh? Huh?”

The expression on Reina’s face when she said that was playfully mischievous, like a little imp, and it was so incredibly charming I couldn’t put it into words.

“I-I’m sorry…!”

With my head burning red, I had no choice but to stop dancing and flee outside.

“…Ah, I’m definitely going to get scolded for this.”

Leaving behind Reina’s sigh-filled smile.

#What is Love?

“Reina.”

“Yes, Master.”

Reina was enjoying tea with Charlotte in the Dean’s office of Arcana.

This relationship, which could now be called comfortable.

In the familiar atmosphere, Charlotte was the first to speak.

“What is love, I wonder.”

The question was so sudden that it seemed to stop even Reina’s genius mind.