After confessing that he was an avatar, Kousuke chuckled at Scott and Renne, who were looking at him fearfully.
“Please don’t be so scared. Honestly, apart from what I just said, I’m not plotting anything.”
“Uh, yeah…”
Kousuke’s demeanor and way of speaking hadn’t changed at all from the first time. Scott involuntarily gave a weak reply. This was an uncharacteristic mistake for Scott, but faced with the fact that Kousuke was an avatar and the stark contrast with his current behavior, it just slipped out.
Floria, smiling at Scott, said, “The gap between the public image and the reality. It’s no wonder you’re like that.”
“I, I’m sorry.”
Floria, thinking that further reassurance would only make Scott more tense, decided to change the subject.
“By the way, may I ask the reason why you believed Kousuke was an avatar? It’s so outrageous, didn’t you think it was just a fraud?”
Scott shook his head left and right at Floria’s question.
“I did consider that… but I judged it to be impossible.”
Having stated that, Scott began to explain the reason why he concluded Kousuke was an avatar.
The initial trigger was the conversation between Kousuke and Silvia. Even if one were to commit fraud or lie, it was unlikely that Kousuke would have met them by gifting five wolves to Renka. Moreover, if one were to impersonate a god for such a purpose, the punishment upon discovery would be too severe. Strange as it may sound, Scott could assert that no villain would cross such a dangerous bridge. However, of course, there were those who would tell such lies to extort money and other things. Scott had a definitive, different reason for his final judgment.
To explain this reason, Scott paused for a moment before looking at Floria.
“That would be you, Lady Floria.”
“Me? Hmm, have we met somewhere before?”
Floria, having been named, tilted her head, realizing Scott was referring to her time as queen. Scott smiled slightly at Floria and shook his head left and right.
“I was still young then, so I don’t think you’d remember. I was so excited to meet the queen who was directly approved by the gods that I remember it clearly.”
Scott said this, then narrowed his eyes as if recalling the past.
Upon hearing Scott’s words, Floria snapped her fingers as if remembering something.
“Ah! I see. I thought I had heard the name Cardigan somewhere before, but it was a Duchy Family. It’s true that your impression on me is faint, but I do have memories of it.”
Floria’s reply made Scott’s eyes widen in surprise. At that time, Floria had built the first country on the Central Continent and, as a queen officially recognized by the gods, had met many nobles. These were mostly royalty from various countries and members of Marquis families; she never thought she would remember someone from a Duchy Family.
“Is it that surprising? You just told me yourself. It’s true, your father was very impressive.”
“Ah, yes, I apologize for any trouble we may have caused at the time.”
Floria said this with a slightly amused expression, and Scott, blushing, managed to give a safe reply. Scott’s father, who had met his admired figure face-to-face, was so moved that he acted as if he were in front of a god himself, astonishing those around him.
Floria, clearly recalling the scene at that time, smiled with a nostalgic expression.
“Ah, I see. You were tugging on your father’s sleeve with a troubled look then. I remember trying not to burst out laughing when I saw that.”
“…Is that so?”
Scott looked a little surprised at the unexpected information from Floria. For Scott, the impression of that time remained vivid, but Floria seemed completely composed, and didn’t seem to have any memory of almost laughing.
“Yes. Well, in truth, there were occasional people who acted like your father. However, it was rare for them to bring a child like you. And what’s more, the child was more composed, so it remained in my memory.”
It was a rare experience for Floria too, so it had remained in a corner of her memory. In that state, with the prompt from Scott, the memory of that time was revived.
Floria, who had gotten carried away talking about the nostalgic memory, gave a wry smile.
“No, that’s not very relevant right now.”
“Eh? It’s fine. It’s a story you don’t hear often, and it’s quite fun, isn’t it?”
Floria often talked about her time as queen, but she rarely had the opportunity to hear stories with the actual participants involved. Therefore, it was an interesting story for Kousuke as well.
However, Floria shook her head at Kousuke.
“No. It’s fine to talk, but isn’t Renka coming soon? We can’t keep the barrier up forever.”
“Ah, that’s true.”
Kousuke hadn’t forgotten, but he thought that if Renka came, he could just let her into the barrier. However, from the perspective of those around him, that would seem unnatural, so Floria’s words were not wrong.
When Kousuke glanced at Mitsuki, the barrier was immediately removed. In sync with this, there was a knock on the door, and as Renka’s voice was heard from outside, the door opened.
“Lord Kou, you’ve kept me waiting!”
As Renka entered the room energetically, Scott and Renne, who were about to scold her, were stopped by Kousuke shaking his head. For now, at least, Kousuke had no intention of revealing to Renka that he was an avatar. Scott and Renne, sensing this, wore complex expressions, which Renka noticed and tilted her head.
“What’s wrong?”
“Ah, no. It’s nothing much. Kousuke and I were having a rather in-depth conversation, and he said it wasn’t something you should hear.”
Scott answered Renka’s question, mixing in a subtle hint of truth.
Renka’s expression turned sullen at Scott’s words.
“What? Is it a secret from me?”
“Hahaha. I’m sorry. If necessary, I think you will eventually know too.”
Although he said “eventually” now, Kousuke thought it would be in the not-too-distant future. Renka herself was sharp, and more importantly, as long as she didn’t let go of the wolves, she would remain connected to Kousuke. In that case, he might have to bestow his blessing on her someday. This was still just speculation, but it was not an entirely impossible scenario.
Renka’s cheeks puffed out at Kousuke’s answer.
“Mmm… Well, that’s fine. More importantly, what about tonight? Are you planning to stay at an inn or something?”
Renka’s expression clearly indicated that she wanted him to stay the night, and Kousuke looked at Scott with a wry smile. Scott, understanding the meaning of his gaze, shook his head left and right.
“We wouldn’t do that to such an important guest visiting our home. I will properly prepare rooms in the mansion.”
“Is that so! Then we can talk leisurely! I have so many things I want to ask and tell you!”
Renka declared excitedly at Scott’s reply.
This concludes Floria and Scott’s past story.
Perhaps it is rare to have written about Floria’s appearance back then.
(I don’t remember writing much about it lol)
*We will be taking a break from posting tomorrow. m(__)m
