What madness? Speak like our father. The moment I thought so.

Flash.

Black pupils and eyes met squarely.

My heart dropped to the floor. Without a moment to catch my breath, my body flew sideways.

After moving against the wall with all my limbs, I finally breathed properly. I put my hand on my chest, which was pounding.

Kiechef bowed towards Giovanni.

“It looked like a lizard.”

“A lizard? It looked like a bird.”

An old and narrow house. The dry and dry air typical of the desert. Still here.

As my senses returned, my heartbeat returned to its normal speed.

“What happened?”

How long have I been asleep?
The distant sense of vertigo that turned everything white before losing consciousness disappeared.

Recalling the situation before losing consciousness, I looked around.

“Jacques! What about Jacques?”

“The assassins of the darkness have been buried in the ground. They are tough guys, so they won’t die until they are transported to the kingdom.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. Jacques’ presence is an opportunity to revoke the exile order.

Without thinking about the aftermath, I poured all my strength into it because of that.

Securing Jacques’ safety was successful, but…

Gulp, I swallowed saliva.

The presence of the two who popped out like misplaced puzzle pieces bothered me.

I wished they would speak first, but Giovanni and Kiechef just sat there dumbly.

In the end, I spoke first.

“…How did Your Highness end up here?”

“I heard the news that you were exiled.”

‘So what?’

He coughed awkwardly when I stared at him in silence.

“The desert land must be tough for someone from the kingdom. You probably haven’t experienced it.”

“Are you curious if I’m safe?”

After a few seconds of hesitation, Giovanni nodded faintly.

“…It seems so.”

If that’s the case, then it is. What’s with the ‘seems’ again?

Anyway, I was grateful that he came because he was worried. It felt more touching than just being thankful.

An awkward silence flowed. Uncomfortable but not entirely unpleasant, it was a strange silence.

“By the way, how did you manage?”

A question breaking the silence. I turned my head with a welcoming feeling.

Kiechef, who had been making a chewing expression, appeared. I used to think of him as a jealous homoerotica because of his strange relationship with Giovanni, but now he just seemed like a noisy person fluttering wings in loyalty.

Normally, I would have ignored his question, but even though it was a bit awkward here, I was thankful that he came and broke the silence, so I responded kindly.

“What is it?”

“Weren’t the assassins of the darkness unable to use their hands and didn’t collapse? Your shoulder was completely ruined. Even if there were no weapons, it would be difficult for you to defeat the assassins of the darkness, wouldn’t it?”

But it’s an inconvenient question.

Tyrien taught that the Wise Speech can be used in a form other than rain.

The priest only draws rain from the sky, but the spirits freely manipulate water.

Anyway, since I saw such a scene, it was a question that could naturally be asked, but it wasn’t time to spill everything yet.

“I have a hidden card too.”

I smiled, making it seem pretty secretive.

“Did you eat something wrong?”

This guy doesn’t suit me.

Growling at each other, Giovanni’s question flew.

“What are your plans for the future?”

I shrugged.

“First, the exile order has to be revoked. Fortunately, I captured an imperial spy, so the justification for keeping me locked up disappeared. The princess’s title has been revoked, and probably, from Laurenstga as well, they will expel me, so I’ll soon become a commoner.”
As I spoke, it became a bit gloomy. Life as a commoner in the kingdom is tough, and although I had thought about living under a title, could it be smooth to have a noble title when I am in a situation where the princess dislikes me?

“I thought about buying a fallen noble title with the money I’ve saved up, but… well.”

As I was getting lost in my thoughts, Kiechef interjected.

“You’re planning to buy a title with the money you’ve saved up? I don’t know how things work in the kingdom, but wouldn’t it require a considerable amount of money?”

“Well, there were various ways to accumulate money.”

Doing occasional smuggling, taking care of some business for the viscount, and pocketing small amounts.

Without being too greedy, over the years, the size of my purse had gradually grown. There was also the remuneration for the favor I did for the Heren siblings, of course.

Giovanni seemed lost in thought. After a while, he spoke up.

“I can guarantee your status in the kingdom.”

His eyes looking at me were deep and clear.

“If you become the only noble who can interact with the Empire, your position here will become more valuable.”

“Is this the reward for our business?”

“Yes.”

“But I didn’t offer anything of value to Your Highness, did I? The prophecy was useless.”

“Build your power in the kingdom. Then, help me when you can.”

It was a sarcastic remark. If he returned to the Empire, my power in the kingdom would be insignificant, so it wouldn’t be of much help to him.

I stared at Giovanni intensely. His usual indifferent and rough face remained unchanged.