I was talking about tomorrow’s plans and somehow it turned into a discussion about Valentia. The Beast King’s evaluation turned out to be much better than I expected.
It’s true that Prim’s personal feelings played a significant role, but the provincial governor was saying similar things. I had assumed the Beast King was a tyrant, just like his name, the Tyrannical Beast King, suggested.
However, after the topic turned to the Beast King, and Prince Reinhardt and Princess Manalies urged me to reconsider, Prim’s demeanor changed.
There’s no doubt that the Beast King ordered the execution of Prim’s father, but upon hearing the story, it seems the capture of her father was not on the Beast King’s orders, but an arbitrary decision by the Southern Baron.
It appears the truth is that the Beast King was presented with proof of his father’s wrongdoing and had no choice but to issue the execution order. Therefore, it’s honestly difficult to judge whether he intended to execute Duke Hydransia.
But what became clear was that the Southern Baron was the enemy.
The Beast King’s execution order for Duke Hydransia was issued because he was presented with clear evidence of treason, which is a natural course of action for a king.
A king who tolerates treason will inevitably be disrespected, and the country will become unstable, so transgressors must pay their dues.
However, it’s possible that the one who committed treason was this man, the Southern Baron, Gilfa Trial.
But that’s not something to think about now.
“Prim, calm down.”
“Mm… Sorry, Yamato.”
She’s not her usual self.
It’s impossible to tell her not to worry, but overthinking is bad for her health. I need to make her stop thinking for now.
“Prim, I’m not saying don’t think, but thinking here won’t reveal the truth. It might actually be exactly as you think.”
“That’s… true. I asked Prim to recall, but I’m not blaming you.”
Princess Manalies is also being considerate, trying to prevent Prim’s thoughts from spiraling into a negative loop. In times like these, people tend to only see the worst, and as a result, they get depressed and act rashly, which is something we need to avoid.
“…Right. Sorry, Yamato, Mana.”
She still looks troubled.
What should I do about this…
“Speaking of which, Yamato.”
“Yes?”
While I was pondering what to do, Princess Manalies suddenly spoke to me.
“The official announcement is tomorrow, but Yuri is my fiancé, and I will be marrying you the day after tomorrow, so could you stop using polite language and talk to me normally?”
“That’s right, Lord Yamato. And please call me Yuri.”
Ah, so that’s how it is.
It’s probably partly to change the subject, but they are engaged, so I might as well go along with it.
“Understood. So, Yuri, and may I call you Mana?”
“Of course!”
“A-And naturally!”
Yuri looks happy, but Mana seems embarrassed.
She brought it up herself, yet…
“And Yuri, please stop using honorifics. It’s becoming unbearable.”
“However, as you will be my husband, I would prefer to call you Lord Yamato?”
“No, at least use ‘san.’ I’m not a noble, just a hunter.”
She’s used to calling me “sama” for so long, I’d appreciate it if she could change it this time.
“No, I cannot call someone who will be my husband by their given name, let alone with just ‘san.’ Therefore, I will continue to call you Lord Yamato as I have before.”
She’s so stubborn!
“Fufu, Yamato, Yuri is stubborn; once she decides something, she never changes it, you know?”
Oh, Prim’s mood seems to have lightened a little.
“No, even so…”
“You’re a man, shouldn’t you accept this much?”
“That’s right. You should let him decide how he wants to be called, as he is your husband.”
It seems Ludia and Meena have joined in, going along with the conversation too.
“In that case, should I also call you husband?”
“That would be nice, but I prefer to call you by your name, so I’ll continue to call you Yamato-san.”
Lydia and Flam have also chimed in, but are they getting excited about how I’m being called?
And Lydia, please absolutely no “husband,” okay?
“Hahaha, there are many ways to call Yamato, aren’t there? I’ve been calling you by your name from the start, should I call you “you” instead?”
Prim’s words, coming from everyone’s conversation, seemed to cheer her up.
“I’d prefer to be called by my name.”
Being called “you” is acceptable, but at this point, it feels a little different.
However, Prim’s expression seemed to have softened, so even though it was a ticklish topic, I decided it was acceptable.
Or so I thought, but as time passed, Prim began to ponder again.
If this continues, she might really bolt…
Side: Prim
Late at night, after confirming everyone was asleep, I slipped out of the guest room.
It was quite a feat to get out of Yamato’s arms, but I really wanted to ascertain the Beast King’s true intentions. I had never known much about the Beast King, let alone my father.
“I’m sorry, Yamato, Mana, everyone. I’m going of my own accord, but please forgive me.”
I mutter apologies as I leave the room, but I doubt they will.
The ceremony hasn’t ended yet, so my existence, let alone my marriage to Yamato, who will become an O-Rank Order, has not been publicly announced. Even so, if I return to Valentia, there’s a significant chance of being discovered by Leonas. If that happens, regardless of my wishes, I’ll be designated as Leonas’s fiancée, and I would be betraying Amister.
Even though I know this, this feeling is overwhelming…
Fortunately, or perhaps not, I reached the castle gate without anyone noticing. I used the Fly Wind magic stone that Yamato gave me to try and leap over the gate.
The Royal Castle also has places where familiar spirits can be summoned and dismissed. I had already obtained permission and summoned Fluorite and Jade, Breezes, my mother’s Battle Horse Honest, and entrusted them to the stable hands.
However, if I tried to go with Fluorite, the stable hands would report it to His Majesty, and Jade might follow me. More importantly, this is my selfish desire, so I have no intention of involving Fluorite.
Therefore, I planned to infuse the magic stone Yamato gave me with magic power and fly away alone…
“Huh? Wh-Why…? Could it be, mana depletion?”
Or so I thought, but the Fly Wind magic stone didn’t activate.
I don’t understand Engraving Magic, but anyone knows that a magic tool stops working when its magic stone runs out of power. So I thought the magic stone had run out of magic… No, that’s not possible.
Because this magic stone is a Wind Wolf’s magic stone.
Although it’s a B-R rank monster, Fly Wind is wind attribute Engraving Magic, so it’s compatible with wind magic stones.
I was initially using a Green Wolf’s magic stone, and even with that, it lasted for several days. So, it’s inconceivable that the newly received Wind Wolf’s magic stone would be depleted of mana.
“Then, why isn’t it activating?”
“That’s because I stopped it.”
“Eh!?”
Startled by the sudden voice, I instinctively turned to the speaker.
“The magic formula for that Fly Wind was applied by me, and it’s a target interference type magic formula. Something like this is child’s play.”
“Y-Yamato?”
“So you were trying to go to Valentia, after all.”
“Y-You knew?”
“When you have such a troubled look on your face, it’s obvious.”
I was found out.
I didn’t intend to betray him, but I can’t blame him for thinking that. It’s no wonder Yamato is disappointed.
It’s no wonder, but… my mind went blank, and all I could think about was how to get him to forgive me.
“Prim, am I that unreliable?”
“Huh?”
As I panicked, Yamato said that with a very sad look on his face.
“Wh-What are you saying? There’s no one in this world more reliable than Yamato!”
I answered from the bottom of my heart.
I trust Yamato more than anyone in the world and rely on him the most.
Then why is he asking me that?
“If that’s the case, why did you think of going to Valentia alone?”
“Ah…”
Th-That’s because… because this is my selfish request… my thought of seeking the truth of Father’s death by betraying everyone…
I wanted to say it, but I couldn’t find the words. Why… why is this happening…?
“You must have thought that the truth of your father’s death might be different, and you wanted to confirm it immediately, but even so, don’t be so hasty. Not only me but everyone, Apricot and Mana, would be sad.”
I know… I know all of that… but!
“Whether I’m reliable or not doesn’t matter. But if you go to Valentia now, you might not be able to see me again, right? I don’t know your feelings exactly, but Valentia is just next door. If you want to go, you can go anytime, can’t you? Unlike me.”
“!? ”
Yes… that’s right.
Even though I was exiled from the country, I could still go back if I wanted to.
But Yamato is a guest.
He can never return to his own world, to his family… Maybe there’s a way to go back if I search, but Yamato chose to abandon his family, his country, his world, and stay in the Helios Orb.
He decided that for me…
And yet, I, with my selfish desires, was about to betray that Yamato…
As I realized this, something hot ran down my face and cheeks.
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, Yamato!”
No other words came out.
But I leaped into Yamato’s arms and could only repeat my apologies.
“Honestly, you don’t need to be so absorbed. His Majesty the King is investigating, and I can go with you. There are things we can do together that we can’t do alone.”
I know that.
But my feelings, my heart, wouldn’t allow it!
Even though I don’t feel that way now, it’s strange that I was thinking like that in the first place!
“If you have something to say, say it after you stop crying.”
Right.
Right now, I can only sob uncontrollably.
But, Yamato, let me say just this one thing.
“Thank you, Yamato. I will never betray you again.”
With that, I was once again overcome with sobs and continued to cry in Yamato’s arms. Yamato gently held me, embracing me.
The moon of the perpetually full Helios Orb continued to shine upon us, unchanging.
