DSB 80

“…But there is nothing I can do. It seems that man has taken an interest in Yutis as well. He already has plenty to do, so there’s no need for him to waste his attention on unnecessary things. I’ll handle everything. I’ve already sent Karon.”

“W-wait! Karon? I was wondering why I hadn’t seen him around lately…”

“I assigned him to Norman. That one’s always plotting something, so he needs to be watched. Karon will do well.”

Lebel smiled with satisfaction as he recalled the information Karon had brought back. Bron sighed, his mouth hanging open.

When Lebel had said Yutis was sulking, Bron hadn’t quite understood, but now he thought he was starting to see why.

“…And what about Lord Yutis?”

“Didn’t you hear what I just said?”

Bron shook his head at Lebel’s clueless expression.

“No, I mean… As I said earlier, mental-type mages tend to be gloomy. Young Master Yutis was worried about Young Madam, but you tried to handle it alone and only later asked Karon for help.”

“I did not ask for help.”

“From his point of view, it’s the same thing.”

“Young Master Yutis, whose pride had been wounded after being overshadowed by Karon.” Bron said with a small smile.

He’d have something to tell the squad once they returned. Lebel might not know it, but Karon was remarkably good at getting under Yutis’s skin.

Yutis kept a respectful distance from Lebel out of consideration, but Karon had no such restraint. He’d stretch out across Lebel’s lap showing his belly, act cute, lick his cheek or hand, and often stayed in his arms.

On top of that, he strutted around as if he were the master. Yutis obviously disliked that.

“Karon is a demonic beast. Why does he keep comparing himself to Karon? They’re completely different.”

“Feelings don’t always follow reason.”

“Is it because he’s too soft-hearted? Is that why he’s restless?”

“……”

Bron thought back to the reason he’d come to Hestro Castle.

He’d been wandering the mountain range to track the movements of demonic beasts when a carrier bird arrived, bringing word that an imperial delegation had come, one that included a mage. Bron had hurried back immediately and was assigned to protect Lebel.

He’d been told very clearly whom to keep an eye on, and ordered to stop Norman from getting near Lebel, with the threat that there’d be consequences if anything happened.

“…Young Master Yutis may show strange reactions when something involves Young Madam, but I wouldn’t say he’s soft-hearted.”

If he were, he wouldn’t glare at people like that. Bron had seen it several times. Whenever Lebel’s attention shifted elsewhere, Karon and Yutis would shoot looks at each other hostile enough to kill.

And the moment Lebel turned back, that hostility vanished without a trace.

In that sense, they were rather alike.

“…So it’s my fault, then.”

He’d only wanted to lighten Yutis’s load, but then a strange feeling overcame him.

He was trying his best to be considerate of him, but he felt a little annoyed at Yutis for not knowing that.

Did Yutis feel the same kind of frustration? If so, he could almost understand.

“Huh? How is it Young Madam’s fault? Young Master Yutis should’ve acted before that man got close to you. Because he didn’t, Norman approached you, and you had to rely on Karon. You did nothing wrong.”

“…Aren’t you supposed to be Yutis’s subordinate?”

“Right now, I’m Young Madam’s guard.”

Lebel chuckled at Bron’s playful tone.

At that moment, Lebel sensed a presence entering the annex.

“Bron, you’re quick-witted. Just follow my lead for now.”

“Sorry?”

“You’ll find out soon.”

As Lebel finished speaking and was sipping his tea, someone knocked on the door.

“At this hour…”

Bron looked at the door with a tense expression; he seemed to sense something.

“…I’ll check.”

When he opened the door, Norman was standing there. Seeing the visitor smiling as if he were an invited guest made Bron frown in displeasure.

“Oh? A new face, I see?”

Norman cheerfully greeted him. But Bron, who was known for his lighthearted smiles, only scrutinized him with a serious expression.

“…I’m Bron. I’ve been assigned to stay by Young Madam’s side because some bastard’s been bothering him lately.”

“Surely you don’t mean me, do you?”

Bron just stared at Norman without saying a word.

“Oh? You’re serious? The young sir’s quite the devoted one!”

Another pair of cold eyes joined the stare, but Norman didn’t care in the slightest.

“Didn’t you see the knights on your way in? You’re not supposed to be here.”

Bron and several knights were stationed around Lebel’s quarters and the annex to prevent Norman or anyone else from approaching him.

Because of that, Bron hadn’t seen Norman once during the four days he’d been guarding Lebel. But how did this man manage to walk in so brazenly now?

“Haha, well, I didn’t notice anyone. Anyway, I’m here on important business. May I see Lord Lebel?”

“Bron, let him in.”

Bron flinched and turned around.

“Ah, thank you, Your Highness!”

Ignoring Bron, who was still standing to block him, Norman slipped past the gap in the doorway and entered the room. Just then, Karon, who had been at Norman’s feet, ran toward Lebel.

[Lord Lebel, it’s been a while!]

“Oh, that creature seems to like me. It keeps following me wherever I go. Quite the loyal thing.”

[Don’t believe him, Lord Lebel! I tried to follow him, but he kept sneaking away. But who am I? I tracked him down with my nose! Ah, though I pretended to lose him a few times so it wouldn’t look suspicious.]

Lebel calmly stroked Karon’s head as he climbed onto his lap.

“It seems Karon has taken a liking to you. I hope you’ll keep playing with him from now on.”

“What?”

Norman’s eyes widened as if the idea disgusted him. He probably didn’t like the demonic beast’s attention.

[But that guy smells familiar.]

Lebel’s hand twitched. Karon’s nose was never wrong. That meant Norman was a demon Karon had encountered before.

[We’ll talk later.]

[Yes, my lord!]

“Didn’t you say you came on important business, Norman?”

“Ah, right, I almost forgot. His Majesty asked me to deliver this letter to you, Lord Lebel.”

He pulled an envelope bearing the imperial seal from his coat and handed it to Lebel with a bright smile.

The emperor’s letter was nothing more than an excuse to see Lebel. If that had been his true purpose, he would have used it from the start. Even on the occasions when Norman had been turned away without meeting Lebel, he had never mentioned any imperial letter.

He was using it as a pretext to bypass the strict security, or he had used magic to manipulate his way inside.

Lebel accepted the letter.

“But are you doing well, Lord Lebel? I heard the capital is lively these days with talks over trade agreements, yet you’ve been staying alone in the detached quarters away from the main castle. Don’t you get lonely?”

“Lonely…?”

Lebel softly murmured. Norman wasn’t finished.

“Lord Lebel, you’re part of the Hestro family now. Having you live apart and excluding you from meetings, it’s as if they refuse to acknowledge you! And since the young master allows this, it means he doesn’t intend to let you take part in important matters. Isn’t it unfair that they treat you like this just because you’re not from the North?”

“Young master…!”

“You have a point.”

Bron turned around in surprise, eyes wide as he looked at Lebel. Then, remembering what Lebel had said earlier, he turned toward Norman and glared at him.

“Right? Even I found it pitiful.”

Norman’s voice grew livelier, encouraged by what he took as agreement, but Lebel wasn’t listening to his nonsense.

He wasn’t dwelling on the insult. What bothered him was that word “lonely.” It made him feel something. The reason he’d been feeling irritable and restless lately might have been loneliness after all.

He didn’t mind that Yutis was struggling to handle things for his sake, but as the days passed by, the time they spent apart continued getting longer, and he didn’t like that.

Yutis is the heir of the house. No matter how he feels about the delegation, he can’t just drive them out on a whim. The same goes for Norman.

Even without Norman, the delegation was already a headache. Lebel had intended to quickly deal with Norman himself, and be done with it.

This wasn’t the peaceful life he wanted.

And yet Yutis was sulking without even realizing that.

“…I’d better end this quickly.”

Only Norman heard Lebel’s murmur. Taking it as agreement with his own thoughts, he smiled broadly.

“Lord Lebel, I’d like to speak with you privately, if that’s all right.”

If they were alone, he’d no doubt try to get straight to the point. Lebel discreetly spoke to Bron through telepathy.

[Bron, go fetch Yutis. Didn’t you say before that if I called, he’d drop everything and come? Prove it. Don’t worry about me, Karon’s here. And check if anyone nearby is under a spell.]

Hearing the voice directly in his head startled Bron. He looked from Lebel to Karon, who puffed up proudly, seemingly saying, “Leave it to me.”

“Bron, you may go.”

“…Understood.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Bron obeyed and quietly left. As soon as the door closed, Norman sat down across from Lebel.

“I thought you were avoiding meeting me.”

At least he’s perceptive.