He hastily added,
"If, if you're uncomfortable, you can refuse, of course-"
"I'd like that."
"……!"
Aiden stared at me with surprised eyes.
Did he not expect me to accept so readily?
'I'd like that.'
Not only is he a key knight of the Imperial Knights, but his family, the Walter Earldom, is a powerful one among the central aristocracy.
So, befriending Aiden Walter would give me strength in the future.
Well...
'It's also because I like him.'
If I had to compare, Aiden Walter was someone with a similar vibe to Aen.
Kind, gentle, and full of affection.
Perhaps that's why.
I was even more drawn to him.
I thought he would distance himself from me because of my actions that exploited his guilt, but I never expected him to approach me first...
Thinking about it made me even more grateful.
I smiled brightly, expressing my gratitude.
"I hope to become closer to Sir Aiden."
I meant it.
"Ah...!"
Aiden's eyes widened.
He stared blankly at me for a moment, then muttered.
"You mean... friends."
Huh?
"Friends?"
That wasn't what I meant.
I just wanted to be closer than strangers, but Aiden seemed to have already come to a conclusion.
Aiden nodded firmly.
"If someone like me is okay with you."
He bowed to me.
"Please take care of me."
I stared at Aiden with a bewildered expression.
I just wanted to become a little closer to Aiden.
I was about to become friends with him unexpectedly.
'Friend...'
For me, it was a word as unfamiliar and awkward as 'family.'
'Of course, there's Aen, but...'
Aen was more like...
'A hope, rather than a friend.'
The only hope that allowed me to endure that hellish Lordbell.
On the other hand, Aiden was a kind and likable person, but not necessarily essential.
'Friend...'
I stared at Aiden, who was bowing his head and waiting for my answer.
To be honest.
'It's burdensome.'
It was true that I wanted to get closer to Aiden, but I didn't want to be tied to him as 'friends.'
What even is a friend in the first place? What do you have to do if you become friends?
I felt pressured just by the name of the relationship, but I didn't want to reject Aiden either.
So, what should I do?
"I..."
As I finally managed to speak, Aiden cautiously raised his head and looked at me.
I subtly avoided his gaze and said carefully.
"I want to get to know Sir Aiden a little more."
I knew it was an ambiguous answer, neither a rejection nor an acceptance, but it was the best I could do.
Did he understand it well?
He was the one who asked me first, but I wondered if he would be upset thinking it was a rejection.
We could just part ways if he did, but I felt somewhat disappointed.
Aiden stared at me blankly for a moment, then soon gave a gentle smile and replied.
"Certainly, you're right, Miss. I think I was too hasty."
He took a step back.
Then, he smiled and said.
"Then, I will slowly narrow the distance, one step at a time. Would that be alright with you?"
His consideration until the very end made me smile comfortably and nod.
"Yes."
"Thank you. Then, I'll see you next time. Take care until then."
"You too, Sir Aiden."
After exchanging final greetings, Aiden left the reception room.
After a long time, I approached the window.
The procession of carriages still filling the main gate was impressive.
Among them, there was one carriage that stood out.
The largest carriage, adorned with platinum and gold, more than any other.
'The Imperial carriage.'
The Imperial Knights, including Aiden, guarded the carriage.
The knights of other families were also guarding their own family's carriages, but the Imperial Knights, clad in blue armor and marching with dignity, had a distinct difference in presence.
And the only person they were protecting.
The Crown Prince.
"...Vedel Denav Arpedel."
I touched my lips that had spoken his name.
It was an unfamiliar feeling.
I still couldn't believe it.
That his soul was the soul of an evil god.
That he had become my helper.
That I was his...
"..."
So much had happened at once that I still didn't feel a sense of reality.
Everything was hazy, as if I had been dreaming.
By the way...
I recalled the conversation I had with Aiden before he left.
'Are you referring to the ritual? Yes, certainly... I witnessed a purple wind blowing the moment you grabbed the hilt, Miss, but I thought it was simply part of the ritual. Is there any problem?'
According to Aiden and Vansith, they saw the purple wind blowing, but they didn't seem to see the appearance of the first family head.
That meant that the Duke and the Senate also saw the purple wind, but...
'It's too quiet.'
I thought they would have called me in for an explanation sooner, but it was quieter than I expected.
As they say, it's the calm before the storm, and I felt that this silence was ominous.
They wouldn't take away my qualifications now, would they?
"...Surely."
I didn't think they would after the ritual, but the opponent was Lordbell.
I couldn't let my guard down until the very end.
'This won't do.'
Being anxious alone like this wouldn't solve anything.
'The only way is to confirm it directly.'
I immediately left the reception room.
A large round table occupied the center of the conference hall.
Middle-aged men and women sat around the table.
They pretended not to, but they were watching the Duke of Lordbell, who was sitting at the head of the table.
"Ahem..."
"..."
An uncomfortable silence weighed down the conference hall.
The one who broke the silence was the oldest man sitting close to the Duke.
"First of all, the reason for this urgent meeting is..."
He looked around the conference hall once.
The subject of the meeting had not yet been revealed, but everyone seemed to sense that something was amiss, and their expressions were serious.
Finally, his gaze turned to Duke Ego Lordbell.
The Duke was staring straight ahead with an expression that revealed nothing.
Gulp.
After swallowing hard, the man - Senate President Gaspal Ader - said.
"It concerns the strange phenomenon that appeared during the ritual of the bastard, Lucia Lordbell."
Someone gasped at his words.
The already solemn atmosphere became even heavier, and even the air in the conference hall was oppressive.
It was a topic that everyone had expected, but hearing it directly made their hearts even more complicated.
To think that an emergency meeting was being called because of one bastard, of all things.
Frankly, it was absurd, but it was a Senate meeting that the Senate President had hurriedly convened. They couldn't ignore it.
While no one could easily open their mouths, a middle-aged woman with red hair spoke first.
"Certainly, it is an unusual phenomenon, but isn't it too much to hold a meeting this urgently?"
Several people nodded at the woman's words.
However, the man sitting across from the woman chided her.
"It seems you don't know much because you haven't been a senator for long. That wind is no ordinary wind, it's magic."
"Magic?"
The woman's eyes widened.
But it didn't make sense.
"Magic is supposed to be forbidden during the ritual. Preparations for magic prohibition have been made, and above all, that bastard..."
She doesn't even know how to use magic.
But the identity of that strange wind is magic...!
"That's not all."
The person sitting next to the Senate President continued.
"Perhaps that magic is not ordinary magic, but may be related to the magic of the first family head that was sealed in the enchanted sword."
"The magic of the first family head...!"
"Does that make sense?"
"There has never been such a case before! Above all, it's a bastard, of all people..."
The conference hall was instantly abuzz.
While they were fiercely arguing whether it was true or not.
"Whether it's the magic of the first family head or not is not important."
The Senate President, who had thrown the spark and was quietly observing, said.
The surroundings instantly became quiet.
The Senate President scanned them and then turned to the Duke.
He examined his expression, but his face, like an ice statue, remained firm without a single crack.
Clench.
He clenched his teeth for a moment, but soon looked at the Senate as if nothing had happened.
He cleared his throat and said.
"I believe this is an ominous sign."
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