Two days after Delfina visited me, in the same hospital room.

My body, which was no different from the undead, gradually regained my physical ability to the extent that I could move even my left hand, which had been the most shattered.

Although the body was perfectly restored to the extent that no pain was felt in other parts.

For some reason, I still couldn’t get out of the hospital, and the days were going on when I was left alone with Saint Claire in a single room.

“Mr. Conrad, do it.”

“Isn’t your left hand completely healed now?”

“If you keep doing that, the fate of taking food from my hands could befall Mr. Conrad?”

Resisting was meaningless anyway, so when she said that we shouldn’t strain each other out, we had no choice but to accept and eat the tangerine slice she peeled.

It’s moderately sour and sweet, so it’s delicious.

“By the way, Saint Clare.”

“Yeah?”

“When can I leave the hospital? It seems that my healing is complete now.”

“… You still need to get some rest.”

“Isn’t it possible that the saintess intentionally refused to leave the hospital?”

“Bye, you are worrying about all sorts of strange things! I can’t do that, can I?”

“Anyway, tomorrow morning, I will go back to the dormitory soon. I can’t just lie in a hospital bed forever.”

With so many things to do, I missed days of physical training.

Lying on the bed for several days in the hospital room was a series of days that were uncomfortable both physically and mentally.

I will have to sort out this lazy life soon.

First of all, Delphina said something, so it would be necessary to meet Prince Antonio and try to understand his intentions.

“I know. I can’t help it.”

For some reason, Saint Clare’s face seemed to show regret.

Perhaps, as a colleague, he wanted to make sure that my injuries were treated until the very end.

By the time I was eating the next piece of tangerine, moved by her camaraderie.

‘Knock, knock, knock.’

Two knocks were heard outside the hospital room door.

“Prince Conrad, are you feeling better? I visited him once because he seems to be late for discharge.”

At the sound of Prince Antonio’s voice from beyond the door, St. Claire quietly put down one side of the tangerine on the plate.

I didn’t know that Prince Antonio would come to visit me in the hospital.

“Yes, I am fine now. I am also planning to leave the hospital tomorrow.”

“If you’re not busy, can I come in for a while?”

“Yes, come in.”

About two seconds after my answer, the door to the hospital room opened to the right with a rattling sound.

Prince Antonio, who has gorgeous blonde hair, a symbol of the royal family, appeared.

“Was Saint Clare also there?”

“It’s been a while, Prince Antonio.”

“I was really taken care of at the last hunting festival.”

“No, I just did what I had to do.”

What is it?

This sense of déjà vu that I can’t figure out why.

I must have felt a similar situation and a similar conversation somewhere.

“Prince Conrad.”

“Ah yes. Prince Antonio.”

“I was impressed by the match between you and Lady Stella. Although I admired your skillful magic and Lady Stella’s overwhelming physical ability.

As expected, the most commendable thing seems to be the tenacity and endurance of the two of them who did not give up until the end.”

“It is truly an honor that the prince praised me.”

I was worried that Stella’s rating might have fallen because of my defeat in the last evaluation match.

Still, judging from the content of the compliments coming from his name, it didn’t seem like he gave that kind of recognition.

If this continues, Stella will probably be recognized as a hero at the appointing ceremony to be held two years from now.

“I’m just going to say goodbye here. Actually, the reason I came to visit you today is because of something a little different.”

“Is that so?”

“I have something to discuss with you, so I want to talk. Would it be all right for a little while?”

Prince Antonio is a counselor to me.

It’s a worry coming out of his mouth that he can solve a lot of problems himself with power and wealth.

Having guessed roughly what to say, I cautiously glanced at Saint Clare.

“Saintess, if you leave the place for a while… .”

“Oh, that’s fine. Rather, I want to seek opinions from her gaze. If it’s okay with you, I’d like you to stay.”

“Is that so?”

Despite the increasing number of listeners, there is no hesitation or hesitation at all.

Maybe that’s why he made such a firm decision and came to me.

It wasn’t the atmosphere at all to talk about Delphina’s troubles.

From now on, the advice that would come out of Prince Antonio’s mouth would be one of the most important pillars in changing the future.

“I don’t know how helpful I can be, but I will respond wholeheartedly.”

“I will also seriously consider Prince Antonio’s counseling.”

“Thank you both.”

After listening to Prince Antonio’s words of thanks, I prepared some answers regarding the counseling content that would come out of his mouth quietly.

The decision to give up the competition for imperial authority, which had once been withdrawn, and step into the political arena again.

I had no doubts that something about him would undoubtedly come out of the mouth of the prince.

“It might sound a little strange when I say this, but… .”

For me, too, it was advantageous in many ways for Prince Antonio to be in the ranks of candidates for the next emperor.

I was preparing to give him a positive answer whenever possible.

What came out of his mouth was a completely different story than I expected.

“Can you tell me what Lady Delphina likes or is interested in, as her older brother knows?”

“… … Yeah?”

I was almost dazed by the thought that I didn’t expect to come out of that serious expression at all.

“Have you asked about anything my sister likes or is interested in?”

“Yes.”

“… … .”

yes.

Thinking positively, it was fortunate that Prince Antonio didn’t come to hate Delfina.

Unfortunately, it didn’t seem like he had made an ambitious decision to enter the imperial competition.

… But why are you suddenly asking about Delphina?

“May I ask the reason before answering?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Just because you saved my life by throwing yourself at the last hunting festival. I thought I would at least give you something in return.”

“My sister would probably be happy just for the prince to be by her side.”

“… It’s a nice story to hear, but I’m asking for a serious answer anyway.”

What else could be more serious than this?

Looking at Delphina’s efforts to build personal connections for the revival of the Perdalos estate, no matter how much she thought about it, there could be no better reward than Prince Antonio himself.

But the person concerned said he didn’t like my answer.

“Now, wait a minute, Mr. Conrad.”

While I was thinking about what kind of answer I should give back, Saint Clare suddenly whispered a small whisper in my ear.

‘Hey, how did this happen? Didn’t I just hear that wrong?’

‘Why are you making such a fuss, saintess?’

‘You don’t seem to make a fuss? Right now, that prince is saying with his own mouth that he wants to buy favors from Mr. Conrad’s sister!’

‘What do you mean by that? Of course it would be a good thing if Delfina and Prince Antonio became friends.’

‘That reaction wasn’t just a response of friendship… !’

“I’m sorry I interrupted your intimate time, but if possible, I’d like you to answer my question first.”

“Sir, excuse me.”

Saint Clare, pointed out by Prince Antonio, hurriedly withdrew from my ear.

I didn’t feel like I was interrupted in my quiet time.

“You asked what Delphina likes?”

“Yes.”

“As Delphina’s older brother, I would like to share my impressions of watching over her sister for the longest time. My sister’s favorite is probably ‘opportunity’.”

“… chance?”

“Yes, an opportunity.”

As if my abstract answer didn’t make sense at once, Prince Antonio tilted his head at my answer.

“It’s a bit difficult to understand something at once.”

“Isn’t this what you were looking for?”

“If I had to say it, it’s like what normal young ladies like. I was thinking of pretty clothes or jewelry.

Because Lady Delphina has a special side unlike other women. I thought you might want something like a good spear or an expensive magic tool.”

Well, if I had to argue, I shouldn’t have disliked all of the earlier things Prince Antonio said.

Perhaps they are not really interested in pretty clothes or jewelry, but in the other benefits that can be obtained from it.

The pretty clothes that caught my eye became an opportunity to build a network in the social world.

Beautiful accessories became a symbol of culture in conversation with young ladies.

Things like a good spear or expensive magic tools would have been helpful in her academy life, and as a result, they would have helped her build a network within the academy.

After all, for Delfina, the value of all material things was focused on how solidly she could build her network.

Furthermore, they will think about its value by extending it to how helpful it is for the development of the Perdalos Territory.

It was a responsibility that came from being in charge of running the estate from a very young age.

Even after her mother woke up from the hospital bed, her completed personality had not returned.

Of course, thanks to that personality, the younger sister was still working towards the revival of the Perdalos territory, so in the end it was used as a good opportunity for her sister’s development.

“Do you remember the election for student president in the first semester of this year?”

“How could I forget? Come to think of it, my relationship with her also started from then.”

“Delphina doesn’t like things that come from vague favors or unearned income. Since he has been in charge of the management of the estate since he was very young, he is very well aware of the truth that nothing is free in this world.

Instead, I really like the ‘opportunity’ to achieve results on my own. In fact, it was virtually impossible to beat Prince Antonio in this student council president election, but my sister saw it as an opportunity anyway.”

“It’s a story I’m talking about now. If I had handled it a little better, there probably wouldn’t be a way for her to beat me. Did you still see it as an opportunity and run for student council president?”

“The prince has a reputation from the beginning, so you don’t have to work hard to make your name known. The chance for a viscount lady from the periphery to prove her worth does not come easily.

Even if I lost the election, if I had been able to get about 3rd place in the final vote. With that alone, my sister has succeeded in making a name for herself, and the goal has been accomplished.”

In fact, accepting the registration as a candidate for student council president that I proposed to Delfina.

It must have been a judgment that was able to come out because I had finished these calculations in my head.

After hearing my explanation, Prince Antonio nodded as if he understood.

“And if it’s Prince Antonio, even if he won the student council president election. He must have been trying to recruit Delphina, who can be seen as full of talent.”

“You speak for granted.”

“In addition to the huge recognition when winning, sufficient compensation is given even if you lose. My sister really likes that kind of ‘opportunity’.”

“… … .”

“I hope my answer has been helpful enough.”

In fact, it was like an indirect expression of the story telling Prince Antonio not to avoid Delphina anymore.

Because, as a member of the royal family, it was an opportunity to advance into the living royal family.

It was also because Delphina was in a situation where her mind was disturbed as the opportunity that once flickered before her eyes was avoiding her.

“I’ll find out for now. Thanks for the advice.”

“I am honored to have been of help.”

“See you next time, Prince Conrad.”

Prince Antonio said his last goodbye to me and quietly closed the hospital room door and left.

“Oh, what happened, Mr. Conrad! What will happen to Miss Delfina in the future? Something is going in a crazy direction!”

“Don’t make a fuss, Saint Clare. Wouldn’t it be something that the same party members could exchange with each other?”

“It’s because Prince Antonio, who is called that wooden stone, is doing that!”

After that, they tuned in to Saint Clare’s nonsense for a long time, and then the day passed.

It must have been a small interest compared to the person who cuts fruit and feeds it to me.

I had no way of knowing why she was so excited.