‘Hmm. That’s quite a feat.”

‘Ha. I’m a countryman. I appreciate the compliment.”

 

Training ground of the academy. Commonly known as the dueling grounds. It is so called because when a dispute arises between students of the academy, a duel is held here under the name of ‘training’. Of course, the academy does not approve of it, but there is nothing to stop them. Tacit approval. Tacit understanding.

 

However, the two people who are using this place now are no longer willing to engage in dueling.

 

Daryl. ‘The Divine Child’.

Adam. Third prince of the Kingdom of McBrine.

 

Although the storyline is back and forth from Al’s memory, the attack on His Highness Adam had already occurred now before the engagement was broken off. This was shortly after the Courtenay family’s troubles had settled down.

 

Naturally, it was handled and hushed up in the strictest secrecy, so its details are known only to a very few people. Even Joel, the shadow of the royal family, did not reveal this to Al.

 

In fact, the insolent attacker was not aiming at His Highness Adam, but at his fiancée, Miss Ariel. The perpetrators of the attack are assumed to have dead, and the attack didn’t seek any special outcome. Things such as the ‘Divine Child’ and black manna are completely irrelevant.

 

The plot was set up by those who did not approve of the Marquise of Dunstable’s rise to power. Naturally, no evidence was left behind, but there was enough suspicion.

 

It was a childish thing, causing trouble at a tea party between His Highness Prince Adam and Miss Ariel, and holding the Marquise of Dunstable responsible.

The idea is childish, but the folly of seeking Miss Ariel’s blood is real. It seems that he had enough reason not to seek the blood of the precious highness.

 

The scene was one of the salon rooms at the academy. Daryl, Cecily, Joel and Rauno, who had become their attendants, were there, as were naturally His Highness Adam’s guards.

 

As soon as the attack was noticed, everyone around moved to protect His Highness.

 

For a brief moment, Miss Ariel blanked out.

 

With the deadly blade closing in on her, Daryl and Rauno were moving to protect Miss Ariel, not His Highness Adam. Daryl then took his own life to protect Miss Ariel and was wounded. The attacker was killed on the spot by Rauno. Thanks to Daryl’s dedication, Mistress Ariel escaped unharmed.

 

His Highness Adam was very impressed by the sequence of events.

 

He said that it was a nobleman’s duty to protect the powerless.

 

From then on, His Highness Adam began to care for Daryl, while Joel and Rauno naturally became recipients of his good wishes.

 

However, His Highness Prince Adam is unaware. That attackers of this level could not have approached His Highness in the first place.

 

This series of disturbances was a monkey show by Yoel and Rauno, who thought they could use the attackers to gain acquaintance with His Highness. Of course, His Highness Prince Adam’s guards knew this.

Daryl’s move was the only one that was unexpected, but Rauno made an instant decision that was just right, and delayed a little longer to finish off the bandit.

 

The result was more effective than expected.

 

“But, that white mana is foul. The effect of the technique is out of balance with the mana caged in it. What is it such a mysterious phenomenon?”

“No–as a matter of fact, I don’t understand it either. The church has now officially recognised me and Cecily as ‘practitioners of the sacred arts’, but this white mana is not even close to the sacred arts. ……”

The two practicing magic in the training ground. The two are now so well acquainted that they can even exchange friendly banter.

 

“Church approval. Shame. I would have liked Daryl and Cecily to wield their power as members of the nobility, but–it can’t be helped. After all, the succession of the viceroy will be annulled, won’t it?”

“Yes, I do. But aside from Cecily, who is an eldest child, I have an adopted brother-in-law and sister-in-law Ane. I didn’t originally intend to inherit the Arthurian family. My main purpose in coming to the academy was to look for a place to serve. I didn’t expect to belong to the church.”

 

They don’t know. Everything is in the hands of the Kingdom and the Church.

And the Kingdom and the Church don’t know either. They don’t know that they have free will.

 

“Once the church’s recognition is official, me and Cecily will go back to my parents’ house for the annulment of the succession to the family title. …… It’s like a casual homecoming for me. ……”

“I see. So you’ll be away from the academy for a while? …… Miss Ariel will miss you.”

 

Nowadays, Adam does not blame Daryl and Miss Ariel for interacting with each other.

 

Daryl is affiliated with a frontier aristocracy and is crude. He is not fully respectful of the aristocratic society of the Royal Capital. But Adam found him to be honest and “a man who knows what he is doing”.

In fact, to Adam’s unfiltered eyes of Miss Ariel, Daryl’s directness and behavior were refreshing. At the very least, he liked him more than those associated with the aristocratic families of the capital, who concealed their true intentions with stiff politeness.

 

“Lady Ariel must find it hard to be away from Cecily. I see them together a lot these days.”

“Sigh. Lately, even when she’s with me, she’s always talking about Miss Cecily.”

 

Daryl laughs at Adam’s over-the-top lament. And that is comfortable for Adam.