'I'm sorry, but I can't give you the details right now. Even if I can get permission from you and your partner to talk to ......, it will be afterwards.
That's a shame. But it can't be helped. I'd be happy to talk to you as much as you can at your discretion.
'I've known the ...... Silver Wing Knights since the early days of my arms shop. We had a connection through the Knights.

　Choosing his words carefully, he explains his involvement with the Argentia family.

　If I want to refer to this matter in detail, I'll inevitably have to elaborate on the fact that Garnett is hiding his knight's identity as a guard, hiding his true gender, and the circumstances that led to it.

　It's not very easy, but I can't do it on my own, and since the convenience of the Silver Wing Knights and the Argentean family is involved, it's difficult to get Garnett's permission alone.

''Of course, but it's not like we met for the first time at that nightclub.

　I'll talk about as much as I can at my discretion, wondering if I should at least get permission to release the information later.

　The reason why I can't cut it off to say that I can't talk about anything right now is only because I owe a huge debt(s) to them.

''We got to know each other through our connection with the Order, and after we had developed a relationship for a while, I found out that the former Commander was demanding to find a fiancé, so I'm saying that I rushed to the King's Capital in a great hurry.

　...... At this time, it was the letter of introduction written by Theodore in exchange for his help in the search for a fiancée, which helped me to get into the Count's night party, the setting for the search for a fiancée.

　No matter how much he was involved with the Silver Wings and the Golden Fang, it was not a place that a mere civilian could enter without an invitation, so being able to borrow the title of a frontier earl's heir apparent was quite a big deal.

''I'm sure Golden Fang would feel like saying, 'So that's how it works. Could it be that they are preparing to spear us now?
Even if you do, it's no use. I have no intention of changing my mind, and I have no desire to lay a hand on anyone but him.
You're single-minded. I have so many people I want you to follow in my footsteps.

　What am I talking about in a place like this ...... I can't help but think so.

　It's a good thing that you're able to get the most out of your time with this kind of thing.

　It's not yet ready to ask for your help, so the next thing you need to do is to find out how much this guy knows about Garnett ...... and then you find yourself getting sucked into his pace and that's what happened.

　It's true that he had reservations about it because he owes me or because he's a member of a noble family, for one thing or another.

　But more than that, I have the feeling that I've been completely taken in by this guy's storytelling and skillful delivery of the topic.

''I mean, is it really interesting to hear these things?
Interesting topic, huh?

　There was a reply without pause.

The most important thing to remember is that Mistress Alma is reasonably well known among the nobility as a deep-windowed young lady who seldom appears in public. I'm sure she has finally chosen a mate, but I didn't expect her to be the right one!

　Although not as much as when talking about the dragon connection, Theodore shows signs of being truly interested in the subject.

You can't help but be interested in it, even though I admit that I'm not interested in human relationships. Didn't you realize that you were in the middle of such a topic?
...... Is that how it works?
That's just the way it is. I'd like to meet you at your own hand: ...... Oh, don't get me wrong, I have no ulterior motive. It's a good idea to have a look at it. It's pure curiosity, just like looking at a precious jewel.
'...... I heard that she and you met face to face a long time ago. Do you not remember what happened then?

　Finally, he was finally able to shift the subject to what he wanted to ask.

　Theodore rolled his eyes in surprise and moved his gaze upwards as if trying to trace a thread of memory.

''It's true that I've come face to face with the Argentia family of the Silverwing Knights. But it was a long time ago. As expected, my memory has faded, and above all, I'm sure I've grown up a long time ago. I can't even imagine what they look like now.

　Well, that's not surprising. It's not surprising.

　When you get to the age of me and Theodore, your appearance doesn't change much after a few years ...... or even ten years.

　You may gain or lose weight or age a little, but your basic skeleton remains intact.

　But Garnett's age is different.
　The passage of a few years of time, both in terms of growth and maturity, can decisively change the body.
　And moreover, after ten years, only a modest facade should remain.

　As I thought, I would have to conclude that Garnett's concern that his identity might be revealed if he met Theodore was overthought.

'Have you ever met ...... your twin brother, Garnet Argentea?　Now Miss Alma looks just like him.

　At this point in time, I'll make sure that Garnett will be able to appear in front of Theodore without any discomfort.

''Garnet Argentia. As I recall, he was a silver-winged knight too. I must have seen him a few times, but he always wore a helmet, so I don't know his real face.
It might be easier to meet him than to bring him to Miss Alma.
'So you can imagine what she looks like?　I think it would piss off Lord Garnett, that's what.
'It's okay. I know him well, too.

　I'm sure this will be fine.
　If I give him the knowledge that the Silver Winged Knight Garnet's true face is very similar to his sister's--if I give him the knowledge that Garnet's true face is very similar to his sister's, when he meets Garnet, he will only think 'it's just like the previous information' when he thinks of the young Alma when he meets her.

　The progress of the frozen underground search re-preparation was confirmed.
　We were also able to verify the possibility of Garnett's identity being noticed and plant it in place to prevent it from happening.

　Although I got sidetracked in some way or another along the way, I can say that I was able to achieve more than this for me.



''-- Theodore-sama. It was considerably ahead of schedule, but was there a reason for you to talk to Mr. Luke so much?
'Oops, it's been that long. Sorry, Maria. I just got carried away.

　Not long after Luke of the White Wolf Forest left the room, Maria, the treasurer, came into the reception room to replace him.

'I enjoyed the discourse, of course. I think it was a politically significant time.
So....
Think about it. This was also a personal friendship with someone who is watched by the royal court and senior knights. A one-on-one meeting with the new head of the Knights before he officially took office ...... is an achievement that I can report to my parents' house, don't you think?

　Maria made no particular attempt to show any intention of contradicting Theodore's typical manner of speaking.

'Report that to your parents' house. If you don't get in a good mood a little bit, they're likely to start talking about abolition or something like that again.
'I'm awed. I'll be reporting every second part of my remarks as well.
Oh, come on, man. Give me a break.

　With an amused chuckle, Theodore stood in front of the large window in the parlor.

　Two shadows walked down the slope leading from the villa to the town.
　They would be Luke of the White Wolf Forest and his companion, the boy who had been waiting at the villa's gate.

　Normally it would be difficult to even catch the outline of the distance, but the power of the skill in both of Theodore's eyes was able to crush even the expression of the boy walking next to Luke.

'...... I see, that's the boy. Isn't he just like his mother, as they say? No wonder Lord Rembrandt was so reluctant to let it go.