Having each overcome their respective ordeals, Rowy and Van finally met again in the bedroom after the sun had set. Perhaps the conversation with the Duke had been difficult—as soon as Rowy entered the room, he rushed to a chair and collapsed.
Van looked around the awkward room beside him. He’d thought the previous inn room was luxurious, but… an actual noble’s estate couldn’t compare. Among the antique furniture and decorations, Van stood even closer to Rowy, who was at least the most familiar thing there.
“Did the conversation go well?”
“…I don’t know.”
Rowy said weakly. Though he’d been scolded for such a long time, the words of permission never came from the Duke’s mouth in the end. On top of that, the Duke declared he wouldn’t talk to Rowy anymore and shouted for him to bring Seilan immediately tomorrow. Though Rowy had readily answered that he would….
‘I wonder what Seilan will say when he finds out about this.’
He’d probably get angry if he found out…. But since he couldn’t refuse the Duke’s order, Seilan would have no choice. Rowy’s shoulders drooped again at the thought of the Duke. Van gently embraced Rowy from behind. A strong scent of fragrant oil emanated from Van’s embrace.
“Did you bathe?”
“Ye-es….”
The answer was reluctant, unlike Van. Rowy glanced back at Van. What’s this? Even his face looks dejected.
“Why? Did someone bully you?”
At those words, Van rubbed his head against Rowy’s shoulder, acting spoiled.
“Really? Who?”
“No… I’m just not used to places like this. Does Master not like this place either? I heard you haven’t come here once in two years.”
“Mm. It’s uncomfortable.”
“Then we’re staying just one night and leaving, right?”
“I wish.”
He’d naturally thought there’d be no problem going to Marzen, but… seeing the Duke so furiously angry, it was unclear when permission would properly be granted. For now, he had no choice but to pin his hopes on the smooth-talking Seilan.
“What did the Duke say?”
“I got scolded. That I’m promiscuous….”
“What? Ha, really! What kind of nonsense is that!”
At those words, Van suddenly got angry. No, where in the world could you find someone as chaste as this!
‘…Is he teasing me, or giving me a hint?’
Seeing Van jumping up and down, Rowy narrowed his eyes. Even making eye contact with Rowy like that, Van just grinned. It was obvious he wanted to lift Rowy’s mood, but laughter didn’t come easily. Rowy let out a deep sigh.
“Ugh, I don’t know. He said he won’t talk to me. I’ll have to leave it to Seilan to handle.”
He’ll speak better than me anyway. After all, he’s a merchant.
‘I suppose that’s true….’
Though he felt sorry for Rowy, Van just nodded, feeling like he understood why the Duke had chosen Seilan as his conversation partner instead of Rowy.
“Let’s sleep.”
“Come here.”
Van led Rowy to the bed. As if he’d never found this place awkward, Van laid Rowy down familiarly and took the spot beside him. Rowy naturally burrowed into his embrace.
“Tomorrow, *yawn*, Seilan will come. There was such a fuss about bringing him immediately….”
“I see.”
“If Seilan speaks well… then as soon as we get permission, let’s leave right away.”
I’m uncomfortable here. With those final words, Rowy buried his head in Van’s embrace and fell asleep in an instant. Van continued to stroke Rowy’s head for a long while.
* * *
“Rowy! Is this how you repay a favor?”
The next day, Seilan, who’d come running with a pale face at the news that the Duke of Irad was looking for him, immediately pointed accusingly at Rowy. But Rowy felt wronged too.
“What favor? I did what you told me to and just got scolded.”
“What exactly did you say!”
“I didn’t say much. I said I was going to my lover’s family like you told me to, and he suddenly flew into a rage.”
Seilan looked at Rowy with eyes full of suspicion. Eyes that said if there was fault, it would definitely be yours.
“What.”
At that insolent gaze, Rowy glared back at Seilan without backing down. Crackle—an uncomfortable current flowed between them. Van got caught between them and fidgeted, not knowing what to do, but couldn’t stop the two.
“Ugh.”
In the end, it was Seilan who looked away first. He’d realized that in such a pointless quarrel with that Rowy, he’d be the one looking foolish.
“Fine. What method is there now? When the Duke summons you, you just have to say ‘yes’ and come running.”
Seilan trudged toward the room with the crystal orb. Before opening the door and entering, Seilan glared at Rowy again.
“You—if this matter resolves well, you really have to treat me. Got it?”
“Just go in.”
Rowy casually nodded and quickly pushed Seilan into the room.
* * *
For that reason, Seilan and the Duke of Irad came face to face. Though it was through a crystal orb, Seilan had never imagined he’d have a private audience with the Duke of Irad, no less. Gulp—swallowing dry saliva from nervousness, Seilan spoke first.
“I greet the Duke. I am Seilan Levien.”
Seilan bowed deeply, bringing out noble etiquette for the first time in a while. However, the Duke didn’t even accept Seilan’s greeting and got straight to the point.
—What on earth is Rowy Irad doing over there? I heard he’s dating someone. Do you know what kind of bastard it is?
A sharp gaze pierced into Seilan. At the blade-like atmosphere of the Duke of Irad, known as the Empire’s greatest knight, cold sweat dripped down Seilan’s back from the start of the conversation.
‘What wealth and glory was I seeking to become friends with that Rowy—I can’t even handle this.’
And up until now, it seems like I’ve only suffered losses without gaining any benefits. While grumbling internally, Seilan smiled at the Duke with the most harmless expression possible.
“He’s, he’s not a strange person. He was originally a Holy Knight. From the Elysion Order… he’s from a small temple in Marzen.”
—…A Holy Knight?
At the unexpected words, the Duke raised one eyebrow. To the Duke, who was a knight to his bones, wouldn’t he earn points for being a fellow knight? Judging by the reaction, it seemed to have worked. Seilan didn’t stop there and appealed the product—no, Van—once more.
“Yes. As you know, Rowy is so… um, innocent that he requires a lot of attention.”
Phew, almost cursed. Having barely overcome the crisis, Seilan laughed “haha” and quickly added more words.
“Rowy listens quite well to him.”
—…Listens well?
As expected. The Duke seemed intrigued. Originally, when raising a child like a scoundrel, hearts are swayed by such words. Seilan persuaded the Duke with a voice full of more appeal.
“Think about it. He was born and raised in a temple. How upright must his lifestyle have been?”
—Hmm….
“Of course, it seems he was sold as a slave due to money problems, but he wasn’t born a slave to begin with. That much can be fixed with just a bit of paperwork, can’t it?”
“……”
…He seems to be coming around. The capable merchant Seilan threw his trump card at this point.
“Actually, I think marriage would be more appropriate than just dating.”
—What?
“We can’t leave him to live so wildly and recklessly alone forever.”
—To such a lowly bastard….
“We offered him someone high-ranking and it led to this disaster… Ahem, I apologize. I misspoke.”
At the murderous gaze bearing down, Seilan hurriedly bowed his head.
“In any case, I don’t think it’s bad. Because….”
Seilan stopped mid-sentence and gulped, swallowing. He still wasn’t confident whether he should say such things.
‘This won’t lead to dying a sudden death, will it….’
But… recalling Rowy’s image within the Duke’s frosty face, Seilan carefully opened his mouth again.
“Most importantly, the Elysion Temple hunts demons. Wouldn’t that be a good match for clearing his tarnished name? I mean… the rumor that Rowy is a demon’s child.”
* * *
It was quite a while later that Seilan escaped from the Duke.
“Seilan? Why does your face look like that? Did you get nagged a lot?”
“Haah… Really, nagging? What nagging. If I suddenly get murdered, know it’s all your fault.”
Seilan, who’d become noticeably haggard during his conversation with the Duke, plopped down in a chair.
“I’m not really going to get stabbed in my sleep, am I? Sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong, ugh.”
“What did he say?”
“What do you mean what—he said to go.”
“Really?”
“Yeah! But instead… I have to go with you too.”
“Huh?”
“What’s with that look? I don’t want to go with you either, you know? I’m busy, you know?”
Seilan flared up in anger then deflated again.
‘Tsk. To blame Rowy for this is a bit….’
If only I hadn’t added those last words…. The problem was running my mouth too lightly. Even when mentioning the taboo topic of being a demon’s child, the Duke was surprisingly not angry. Rather, he seemed to concentrate more on Seilan’s words.
Up to that point was very good. However… just when the Duke seemed almost won over, Seilan, intoxicated by his own eloquence, said something he didn’t need to say. Getting too excited, he ended up….
‘Oh, and he’s also incredibly big down there. The slave trader said so. A size he’d never seen before… There’s no reason for annulment like with the Crown Prince.’
‘…Stick close to Rowy Irad and monitor them so they don’t do anything improper!’
The Duke of Irad, filled with rage, shot fire from his eyes. Recalling that pouring murderous intent, Seilan trembled.
‘Ridiculous. He’s already past marriageable age. Treating him like a child. When did those two get together anyway?’
…Van would jump in frustration if he heard this.
“Ugh, whatever. Anyway, I’m the one who offered to help first. Let me know when you’re leaving. I need to adjust my schedule too.”
“Mm.”
“I should get going. If anything comes up, contact the trading company.”
Seilan hurried toward the door, then whipped around and pointed accusingly at Rowy.
“You—I’m really going to collect on all this later. Got it?”
“Got it.”
“Really, even when making friends.”
Rowy quietly watched Seilan’s back as he grumbled and walked away. Van gently wrapped his arms around Rowy’s shoulders.
“Still, it seems like things worked out somehow.”
Rowy nodded.
“Right. Now let’s leave. To Marzen.”
