“Kent, I’m sorry that I made you wear a torn uniform.”
When Gordon entered a separate room, he turned to Kent and apologized. As royalty, he shouldn’t have to apologize so readily, but with just Kent present and no one else around, he bowed his head as a friend.
“On my part, I’m sorry for making you, Gordon, wear a commoner’s uniform. I’d usually say I’d get you a spare uniform, but we were only given one from the academy, so there isn’t a backup.”
“Is that so? It must be inconvenient with only one. Once this matter is settled, I’ll speak to the relevant departments about it.”
When Kent mentioned the lack of spare uniforms, Gordon said he would consider if there was a way to improve the situation.
“Gordon, it’s bad to keep everyone waiting, so let’s change quickly.”
“Right.”
Kent judged that it would be best to change quickly as everyone was waiting in the Saintess’s office, and told Gordon. Then, Kent took off his uniform jacket, placed the removed uniform on a nearby table, and began to take off his pants and shirt.
“This is important, so I need to keep it separate.”
Kent temporarily removed the terminal he kept in his chest and placed it next to his discarded uniform.
“Kent, you always carry this with you, don’t you?”
Gordon, who had also taken off his uniform and was bare-chested, said as he looked at the terminal that Kent treasured.
“Ah, it’s important because it connects everyone to me. I keep it close to my skin at all times.”
Kent said while looking at the terminal. If this terminal hadn’t existed, the current situation, such as becoming friends with nobles whom commoners like Caro and Josette couldn’t normally associate with in this otome game-like world, or Marie’s Bakery growing into the best bakery in town, wouldn’t exist. He would have had to live a meager life in a run-down house with nothing, working a part-time job at a family-run bakery for a meager daily wage of 200G, just like the initial state of the game. In that sense, the terminal Kent possessed was very important. Gordon, who knew what kind of device it was, spoke to him with that understanding.
“Looking at you again, Kent, you’re quite fit.”
“Really? I don’t do anything in particular, though. Maybe it’s because of my part-time job.”
Gordon said, looking at Kent’s upper body. Kent didn’t exercise regularly, but he did heavy lifting at the bakery every day, so he thought that might have contributed to his muscle strength.
“Aren’t you training too, Gordon?”
“Hyau!”
“Hyau?”
“Ah, ahem. It’s nothing. I was just a little surprised.”
When Kent’s hand brushed against Gordon’s chest in the flow of conversation, he suddenly made a strange sound. When Kent asked again, Gordon’s face turned bright red, and after a shy expression, he composed himself and tried to act calm.
“The scars from your injury remain.”
“Ah, it seems they intended to kill me for real.”
Suddenly, Kent noticed the clear mark on Gordon’s left arm, where an arrow had pierced him. Though the wound had healed, the mark remained. Prompted by Kent, Gordon recalled the situation at that time.
“I’ve been reminded that royalty is always at risk of being targeted. To be honest, I’m the second prince, so I thought such a thing wouldn’t happen to me. But it actually did. I was unprepared and could only run away. In contrast, Mother didn’t run with Father to save him; she went into the enemy’s midst. It’s pathetic that all I can do now is pray for her safety.”
Gordon’s body trembled as he blamed his own powerlessness, tears welling up in his eyes.
“Gordon, I don’t understand what it means to be royalty. But one thing I can say is that you’re safe.”
“Kent.”
Kent said as he gently hugged Gordon.
“Being held by you like this, for some reason, I feel very relieved. I’d like you to hold me like this for a little longer.”
“If this much can bring you relief, it’s a small favor.”
“Thank you. Kent.”
Gordon leaned into Kent, his heart calming in the gentle embrace.
“Are you feeling better?”
“Yeah.”
Kent and Gordon hugged for a while. Then, when the time was right, Kent spoke to Gordon. Their faces were close, as if they were gazing into each other’s eyes.
“Kent.”
“What is it, Gordon?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Gordon, with a red face, tried to say something but shyly looked down.
“Thank you, Kent. Thanks to you, I feel calmer, and I’ve prepared myself for what’s to come. It’s a bit late, but let’s change and go back to everyone.”
“Right.”
Gordon silently thanked Kent for embracing him and gently pulled away. Then, as if to make up for lost time, they quickly changed into their exchanged uniforms. After changing, Kent picked up the terminal he had left on the table and carefully put it in his pocket.
(I can smell Kent. Thanks to that, I feel courageous.)
Gordon, smelling Kent from his uniform, felt as if he were being embraced and gained courage. Though he could never say it, he inwardly thanked Kent for a different reason.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Kent, it took longer than I thought. Did something happen?”
“Nah~ My button came off. I was fixing it.”
When Kent and Gordon returned to the Saintess’s office, Catherine spoke to them with a worried expression. Kent, considerate of Gordon, lied that they were delayed by a different trouble.
“If you had told me, I would have fixed it for you.”
“If that’s the case, I fixed it, though not as well as Rachel.”
Josette and Caro, believing what Kent said, expressed their regret that they couldn’t reattach the button for him.
“Lord Gordon, we are about to go to the refuges. Is that alright?”
“It’s fine. No problem.”
Gordon, having received courage from Kent, replied to Catherine as if he had made up his mind.
“The rest of you are free to stay here or do as you please. Then, Lord Gordon, please.”
“Ah, I’m going.”
Catherine and Gordon said that to everyone and then left the Saintess’s office.
“Well then, what should everyone do? I’m worried about those two, so I think I’ll go and discreetly check on them.”
After Catherine and Gordon left, Kent asked everyone how they planned to spend their time.
“Well, I think I’ll go help in the kitchen. We handle different things, but I’m also someone who makes food. Even if it’s just a little, I want to be of use with the skills I have.”
“If Marie-san says so, I’ll help too.”
In response to Kent’s question, Marie and Caro said they would help in the kitchen.
“I’ll wait here until Lord Gordon returns.”
“I’ll go with Kent.”
“I’ll stay with Master.”
“I’d like to help Madame Marie, but like Al, I’ll accompany Master.”
Patty said she would stay in the room, while Josette, Al, and Emily said they would accompany Kent, each deciding how they would spend their time.
“Well then, Josette, Al, let’s go.”
” ” “Yes (Yes, I shall).” ” ”
Kent, along with Josette, Al, and Emily, decided to head to the sanctuary where the refugees were gathered.
