Author: aji (あじ)

Translator: sleepingjay

Just walking through the town a little, winks would be sent our way from here and there. There were also envious glances from children. Amongst these people were even adult men. It looked like him being the Empire's hero wasn't just in name.

It was just that, even though we were only going to the shop to sell medicine, it might end up taking two times…… no, three times the usual amount of time.

I ended up not eating anything well into midday, hence I became hungry.

But if I didn't go back home within another hour, those boisterous kids would probably beat up my house's doors again.

I'd like to teach those kids as much knowledge as I could, so that they wouldn't be easily tricked and so that when they become adults, they could have more occupations to choose from.

As expected, I should refuse this invitation. It was regretful I couldn't follow along… or rather, it wasn't. In the first place, I had planned to refuse. Even selling the medicine took three times longer than usual! Rather than them, I was the one that had been inconvenienced.

"Knight Commander Moorwright, thank you for accompanying me up to here."

"No problem. Compared to what you've done for us, this is a mere trifle."

"……Thank you. However, more time has pa.s.sed than I'd expected, so I don't have much time left. About that invitation from a while ago, for today—"

"No!"

"……Andrea."

The lively smile from just now had already run away from its home.

Shaking his head, Andrea tried to latch onto my arm.

"No, no! I don't want to separate!"

"Even if you say that, my house is over there. Plus, I also have a job to do."

"……Just now, you said you'd come. All adults break their promises. All of you are s.h.i.+tty b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. Even Lilius too… is also like that."

What the heck, this kid's heart, just how sensitive and baffling could it be?

Although he'd been so angry, suddenly, his expressions were wiped clean as if something inside had collapsed. Those pretty honey-colored eyes — I don't want to see them lose their s.h.i.+ne.

"……I got it. It's my bad. I'll keep my promise."

It was a mystery why I was so bothered over this.

Perhaps I was projecting myself onto this child. At this rate, if his heart ended up walled in, Andrea might end up like me, living a worthless existence.

Something like that was somehow…… somehow, it was too sad.

With our conversation resolved, we headed to Knight Commander Moorwright's residence as planned.

And then, there, I laid my eyes on something that made my regret well up again after all.

Sorry Andrea, but at that moment, I thought I should've rejected this invitation after all. I completely, utterly regretted that I hadn't managed to detect how this beautiful knight commander, who was standing in front of me with a nonchalant air, was such a terrible schemer.

Also, Lilius now realises there's a reason our Knight Commander has been suspiciously silent whenever Andrea cajoles him.