HTACS 67

Chapter 67

“Count Glass. What did you just say?”

“I asked when the two of you plan to hold your wedding ceremony.”

What on earth…

“Count Glass. Let me make this clear—”

“Dad. Wolfram and I don’t have any plans for that yet.”

Before I could even speak, it was Ayla who cleanly drew the line.

“…Uh, hmm? Ayla?”

“Dad. Wolfram is doing something big right now. Truly rebellious things. It’s something that will definitely help our Trista family too.”

“That’s right. So—”

“But I don’t think that should determine my relationship with Wolfram.”

“……”

“Are you trying to rush the marriage because of the family’s ‘that matter’?”

“Correct. You know well.”

“Yes. I also know it’s extremely urgent.”

“Uh, hmm. Then.”

“But that shouldn’t be the factor that decides things for us. Absolutely.”

“……”

At Ayla’s explanation, I tilted my head.

So, to summarize: Count Glass heard about what I’d done, thought I was someone worth securing, and tried to rush the marriage with Ayla.

But Ayla… cleanly drew the line, saying our relationship shouldn’t be interfered with by outside forces. Is that it?

Hmm.

I see.

I don’t understand anything.

But pretending to know is also my specialty, isn’t it?

“What’s the rush. We can’t hold a ceremony while enrolled in Zefflin anyway. Isn’t it fine to discuss it after graduation?”

“…Hmm. Understood. I was too hasty.”

With that, Count Glass bowed his head.

The conversation ended there, but a gaze came flying from Ayla. She was staring at me as if she had something to say, so I nodded.

—

That night.

I sat on the terrace of my assigned third-floor room, gazing at the night view.

The mansion, occasionally filled only with the sound of insects, was utterly serene, and the moon was so bright that the garden looked like a painting with a deep blue filter cast over it. As I was enjoying the beautiful scenery, a quiet voice struck my ears from below.

“Wolfram? Are you awake?”

Something floated up and approached me.

To be precise, Ayla Trista lightly walked through the air toward me.

Fly. A high-level spell of at least 5-tier.

“You can use flight magic too?”

“Huh? Ahaha. No. I made transparent crystal stairs below.”

Aha.

As expected, her magic application is impressive.

She created transparent crystals with magic circles in midair and walked up them.

“I see. That’s a good application.”

“Hehe. Isn’t it?”

Ayla smiled brightly and created a black crystal chair in the air beyond the terrace, sitting down.

She hesitated for a moment, then went *ehe* and continued speaking.

“I’m really sorry about dinner. Dad—ahem. Father isn’t usually like that—he must have been quite impatient.”

“It’s fine.”

Well, officially we are engaged.

As a parent, it’s understandable he’d say something like that.

“…Actually, I came because I had something to tell you about that. Thank you for understanding my signal and coming out.”

“Don’t mention it. But couldn’t you have used the stairs?”

“I did use the stairs, though? …Just kidding. The reason I came this way is that I have something to say in secret. If I walk around the mansion, the servants make a fuss.”

“Hmm. I see.”

That’s true too. Considering the number of servants in the Trista household, it makes sense.

“Anyway, what I have to say isn’t anything big—it’s about what Father said during the day.”

“You mean the wedding ceremony talk.”

“……Yes.”

Ayla scratched her cheek and laughed awkwardly. Then she went *ehe* again and continued.

“Actually, I’ve thought about it a lot. …Our engagement was probably decided when I was eight, right?”

“……Hmm.”

I don’t really know.

That’s something only ‘Wolfram’ would know.

But when I examined myself,

I could figure out a few things.

“It was quite rushed. Ayla Trista wanted power, and…”

“Wolfram von Lohengrin was a discarded prince.”

“……Yes. That’s right.”

Eve von Lohengrin has no fiancé.

That’s because she proved her worth as a member of the imperial family on her own.

To be precise, her value is so high that no one dares to measure the worth of a political marriage with her.

Because the shift in power could become too serious.

But Wolfram is different.

A discard with only good bloodline. The Trash Prince.

“But back then, I just thought, ‘Ah—I see, I’m marrying this person.’ And my family just said, ‘Congratulations on marrying His Highness.’ I just thought that’s how it would go, that’s how I’d live.”

“Is that so.”

“…It’s not that I disliked it. Putting aside whether I like or dislike Wolfram, you know?”

“Go on.”

“Ahem. Yes. That didn’t feel right. That’s not rebellion, is it? It’s not a path I chose myself, is it?”

“……”

“Rebellion is throwing off all the shackles that block your steps and choosing your own life, isn’t it?!”

“……”

Even if you ask for my agreement… I don’t really get it.

So that’s what Ayla’s rebellion is. That’s the standard she has.

I really don’t know.

“Actually, I realized it by watching Wolfram.”

“…Me? I ignited your will for rebellion?”

“Yes! Exactly that!”

Don’t say it so happily.

I have no clue what you’re talking about.

“…Fine. Which part?”

“The way you relinquished your position as student council president and descended to rock bottom to do what you wanted. The way you threw away what was rightfully yours and walked your own path.”

“Hmm.”

“Choosing your own path. The captain who seized the helm of life.”

“……”

That helm might crash, you know.

Well, anyway. I see.

That Wolfram is really amazing.

I’d like to meet him sometime.

“I was moved. Can you understand this feeling? It’s an incredibly difficult life!”

“Is it? Isn’t it your own life?”

“No. Nobility is environment, power, and politics. But… Wolfram will do it, has done it to some extent, and is continuing to do it!”

“…I-is that so.”

“So… I want to live that way too, at least in my own life. So Wolfram—would you be willing to delay our answer for a while?”

“…I’ll delay it.”

“Yes. When we can completely ignore external factors. When we hold our own destiny in our hands. When the rebellion succeeds. That’s when Wolfram and Ayla will give our own chosen answer.”

With that, Ayla reached out her hand.

I took her slightly trembling hand and gave it a little squeeze.

“For now, we’re friends bound by trust, faith, and loyalty. And someday, when our fates cross, we might become more than that.”

“A fellow rebel, as you say.”

“Yes. …Am I being too selfish?”

“No. I think that’s good too.”

“Thank you.”

Ayla’s smile in the moonlight.

She doesn’t want a life decided by someone else—she wants to give her own answer.

In the power-hungry Trista family, even though she was forcibly engaged to a trash prince, she sincerely thinks about her partner, sincerely thinks about her own life, and says they should get to know each other and give their own answer.

“That’s rebellious.”

“…Yes.”

“That’s wonderful, Ayla. I respect your way of life too. When we can give our own answers—we can bring up this conversation again.”

“Though I don’t think a crossing of fates would be bad either.”

A strong wind blew, and Ayla’s last words were lost.

“…You’ll catch cold. Go inside and rest.”

“…Yes. Good night, Wolfram.”

—

The next day.

Since the skill Imperial Bloodline, in any situation, only allows elegant speech and behavior, I woke early, finished grooming, and was thinking about the morning schedule when a knock came at the door.

“It’s open. Come in.”

“Yes. Excuse me. Brother.”

Brother?

No one in this world should be calling me that.

The only time Eve von Lohengrin would call me that is when she’s about to say something like “Goodbye. It’s been fun, brother,” and stab a holy light spear into my gut—otherwise, she’d never say such a thing.

So hearing “brother” was immensely… immensely refreshing. So refreshing that my brain briefly gave up thinking.

And the one who opened the door and entered was mini-Ayla—a girl who looked like Ayla scaled down in size. Spica Trista.

“…Spica, is it.”

“Yes, brother. I came to escort you. You’re happy, right? Revolutionarily.”

“Yeah.”

“Hehe. As expected of a brother who understands revolution.”

“……”

If—if Ayla doesn’t mess things up in Act 3.

Then next year, this kid will enroll in Zefflin, right?

And the sisters would be a pair—rebellion revolution, rebellion revolution… chattering beside me…

Ah.

I hate it.

Should I drop out?

“Now, let’s go, brother. Father is waiting.”

“Understood. But why did Spica come to escort me?”

“Because. Hehe. Do you remember last night’s conversation? Sister talked endlessly about your biography!”

“I remember that, yes.”

“I was incredibly moved. When you stepped down from the student council presidency, I thought, ‘Ah, this is serious…’—but even that was part of the plan… You’re truly worthy of being a partner in revolution!”

“……”

“Then, brother. Since sister refused so clearly, wouldn’t it be revolutionary for me to take it? Taking what’s sister’s. Just thinking about it is thrilling… Revolutionary!”

“……”

With that, Spica smiled contentedly.

I don’t understand. To be precise, I don’t want to understand.

This house is a demon’s den. Thinking that, I turned off about two switches in my brain and decided to respond reflexively—

“So where are we going? It doesn’t seem like the dining hall.”

“Ah. It’s Father’s office. He said he had something to say. Would you like to eat first?”

“No, if Count Glass has something to say, I’ll hear that first.”

Soon we arrived at Count Glass’s office, and at his invitation, Spica opened the door—there stood Count Glass.

“Your Highness Wolfram von Lohengrin.”

“Hmm. Count Glass.”

“I am truly sorry about last night!”

Before I could figure out how to start the conversation,

Count Glass bent at a right angle and slammed an apology.

Why suddenly?

Hmm.

I don’t know, so I’ll just pretend to know.

In this house, I don’t know anything—no, I don’t want to know—so the best thing is to just go with the flow like water mixed with alcohol.

First, I sat in the chair prepared for me and accepted Count Glass’s apology.

“Raise your head. It makes me uncomfortable.”

“You mean you forgive me? I thought it was a truly grave discourtesy…”

“Yes. Of course. Rather, Count Glass seems to know exactly what wrongdoing he committed.”

“…Yes. The marriage between Your Highness Wolfram and Ayla is a major imperial affair. My remark yesterday could be seen as disregarding the imperial family… I am truly sorry.”

Huh?

Ah, aah. So that’s how it’s interpreted.

I see, if my marriage happens… it’s an imperial event. No matter how much it’s the bride’s family, it could look like “a mere count’s house dictating an imperial event.”

“I’ll let it slide. Also… as Ayla said yesterday, this matter will be resolved by the two of us—so I’d appreciate it if you’d wait for the outcome. Whatever that outcome may be.”

“Thank you.”

At my words, Count Glass was visibly delighted.

And… Spica also clenched her fist in joy.

Why are you?

—

The conversation afterward proceeded in a fairly relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.

It was mostly about how this field trip would be conducted.

But the more I asked, the more I felt Count Glass’s expression stiffen.

As if the site for the field trip hadn’t been prepared.

Hmm. I thought it would be about learning overall mining command, hearing about on-site management methods a few times, and touring the mines.

It seems—

“…Has something happened at the mines?”

“…It’s embarrassing, but yes.”

“Hmm. May I hear what kind of problem it is, Count Glass?”

“In a large mine owned by our family nearby, monsters have appeared. They’ve even made a nest there, so the site inspection is a bit…”

“I see.”

Ah, that’s a shame.

So we’ll just rest at the Trista mansion and go back.

Ah, truly disappointing. Really a shame. There’s nothing to learn from the field trip.

“…Come to think of it, I’ve heard that Your Highness Wolfram is well-versed in monster hunting. I’ve heard you’ve succeeded in expeditions several times.”

“Pardon? Hmm, it’s just shallow student knowledge.”

“Hmm. I’m not sure if I dare ask such a favor, but if you could lend us your wisdom to hunt these monsters…”

Ah, so annoying.

I don’t usually take requests like this. I don’t want to.

I just want to rest, you know? I’m not going to do it.

“If effective, we will reward you handsomely. Of course, even if ineffective, we intend to compensate you.”

“Fine. Let me see the site.”

“As expected! You are His Highness the Prince!”

“Brother Wolfram!”

“We help each other out. Don’t worry about it.”

Hm.

Hmph.

Well, this can’t be helped.

It’s not for the money—Ayla’s family mine has a problem, right?

If a person has loyalty, they should help, shouldn’t they?