While Kazui was beating the Marquis to his heart's content, he untied the ropes of the two captives.
　When he freed Lisha from the gag and rope, she immediately jumped on him.


"Brother!

"Lisha, thank God you're okay. ......


　My heart was filled with relief that my precious sister was now free and in my arms.
　I hugged her tightly and felt a definite shiver run through me.
　When she was tied up, she hadn't shown a single tear, but she must have been trying hard to hold it in.
　Now the tears have broken, and she buries her face in my chest.


　As I gently stroked her head, Lisha sobbed out her apologies, as if the things she had been holding back for so long had come flooding back.


I'm sorry. I'm sorry I left you with that thing. ......

It's not Lisha's fault. It's all the fault of adults who think bad things.

But ......

It's okay.


　I whispered to her and gently stroked her until she calmed down.
　This time it is the Marquis who is at fault, and the officials who got involved.
　You can't say that Lisha isn't at fault at all, but it's too much to expect a child of ten or so to play nice.


　I was also curious about the other person who had been caught, but he seemed to be aware of the situation and was waiting for me, looking warmly at the sobbing Lisha.

　They stayed like that for a while, and then...


"Have you calmed down?

Yes.


　She wiped her tears with her sleeve and looked up at me with a dignified face, though her emotions were probably still running high. It is a gesture that shows the strength of the sense of responsibility that the next head of state should not linger indefinitely.
　But then she suddenly clouds her expression.
　What came out was a voice that sounded terribly anxious with a hint of fear.


"Well, brother ......, was what I did wrong?

You mean, did you take the evidence?

Yes. I did it because I thought it was the right thing for a nobleman to do to help those who are doing the right thing. But in the end, I was caught by the Marquis and caused him trouble like this. So, was it really the right thing to do? ......


　Lisha must have felt uneasy because she only saw the result.
　I'm not sure if it's the right thing to do, but I'm sure it's the right thing to do.
　I'm not sure if it was the right thing for a nobleman to do, or the right choice for me to make.


　...... Lisha's eyes appeal to me.
　I'm not sure if I'd have been better off doing nothing at all if it had come to this.


　The answer I gave her was.


"Lisha, it's too extreme to say that something isn't right because it failed. Not all right actions lead to success, and no matter how much you appeal to the right, you may not be listened to, right?

But then, what I did was even more ......

That's the result. Risha didn't expect this to happen this time, did she?　No one knows what will happen in the end. If you don't do anything for fear of making such a mistake, you won't be able to do what a nobleman should do.


　What a nobleman should do - it may be a little mean to connect it with what Lisha is now placing importance on. But it would be very unfortunate for her if her fear of failure stopped her from doing anything.


　...... Suddenly, I think back to the experience I had in following the man's life.
　One of the man's friends was also a very timid person. Although he had a good head on his shoulders, he was afraid of failure, became negative about everything, and ultimately did not make a move even when he had the chance.
　As a result, he missed many opportunities, failed to achieve great things that he should have, and settled for mediocrity.
　What I heard from him was a lot of regret. I should have done this at that time. I wish I had done that." These are the words of regret that men often hear from him at the bar.


　Narrowing one's choices is a path that can only lead to regret is a lesson I (Arx) learned from him.
　That's why I don't want Lisha to take such a path either.
　If she becomes a person who is afraid of failure like that now, she will be called a dark fool in the future as the head of the family.


　That's why I said


Don't worry. You don't have to think about failure. Just do what you think is best for Lisha.

But then we might be in this situation again.

I'll be there to help you when it happens. I'm her big brother, you know.

"............ Yes.


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It's a good idea. I'll do my best.

Oh.


　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.
　It was the girl who had been held captive with Risha.
　Her hair is as long as a cup of tea with a lot of milk in it.
　Her clear amber eyes are as beautiful as jewels.
　Her face, which is more ladylike than pretty, is perfectly formed and fits the description of a child of a good family. Long eyelashes. Long eyelashes. Eyes that open up and narrow to reveal dignified eyes. Her sideburns flow down to her cheeks.


　Her white plainclothes are softly perfumed with the scent of spring flowers, and she is well groomed and meticulous in her appearance.
　I had been paying attention only to Risha, but when I paid closer attention, I noticed that she was more mature, and I could see the strictness of the education she was receiving.


　I'm pretty sure he's of a higher status than us.


"Lisha. What about you?



Yes, this is Master Charlotte of Clemmelia.

......


　Clemeria is the princess of the Count's family, isn't she?
　I'm not sure what to make of it.
　I'm not sure what to make of this. Maybe that's why she got involved this time.


　No, it's also possible that the Marquis has kidnapped her in order to make it easier for him to negotiate with Lisha.


　At any rate, she is a princess of a high class nobleman.
　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one.


"-It is a pleasure to meet you, Princess Charlotte. My name is Arx Raytheft. I can't apologize enough for involving you in our misadventures.

"No, it was your courage that saved me from falling victim to the Marquis' plot. Thank you for not being afraid of the Marquis and coming to our aid.

I'm... I'm glad you said that.


　Charlotte swept her sideburns back with her hand and gave him a somewhat impressed look.
　Then, abruptly.


"I'm ashamed of myself.

"What?

"I was one of those who thought you were a talentless person. I was one of those who thought you were a man of no talent, who believed without a doubt that you were gifted, and who looked down on you according to the stories I heard.


　Was this monologue based on what she knew about herself?
　I'm sure she heard the stories her parents told her, too.


...... What about it? When I found out that I was no match for that mercenary man, I gave up resisting him too soon. Unlike you, who stood up to that mercenary until the end.

That's...


　That's just too bad.
　That mercenary head is quite skilled. If you want to fight with a sword, you have to ask Noah to come out and fight for you.
　That's why she decided to take him by surprise.


　But Charlotte seemed to have her own ideas.


I am still the daughter of a family that carries the sword of the kingdom. There will come a time when I must set an example for many. This is the result of being so focused on the word talent that I didn't face it and didn't reflect on myself.

But...

No, it doesn't matter how good or bad your opponent is. You have just taught me that it is shameful to abandon a confrontational attitude.


　She put her hand on her chest, as if she was still feeling it.


She put her hand on her chest, as if she was still impressed, and said, "What you said earlier, 'I will show you the way,' really touched my heart. I'm sorry for my rudeness.


　She seems to be seriously ashamed of her inner self.
　She seemed to be seriously ashamed of her inner thoughts, even though she hadn't confronted herself with them outwardly.
　She was too polite, too straightforward.


　After a ladylike bow of apology, Charlotte loosely approached me and squeezed my hand.


"From now on, may I call you, uh, Arx ......-kun?

What?　Huh, yes. Please.

Thank you very much. Once again, my deepest gratitude to you, my fiancée.

What?

Dear Charlotte!


　Lisha is surprised for some reason, but it is we who want to raise our voices in surprise.
　I'm not sure what to say, but I'm sure you'll understand.


Who's your fiancé?

"You haven't heard?　I'm not sure if you've heard of him or not, but my father and the Viscount had a discussion when Mr. Arx was born and decided that he would be my bride. Shortly before that, the Viscount asked my father to dissolve the marriage. ......

I'm sure you're aware of that. ......


　It is true that I remember hearing such a story just before I measured the amount of magic power.
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I also expressed my approval of the dissolution of the engagement at the time. ......


　So the engagement was called off?
　But she had indeed just said that she was engaged.
　Charlotte looked down and squirmed uncomfortably.


　And then.


I think I'm going to have to rethink this whole engagement thing. ......

"Ha, ha. ......


　I could only reply strangely like that.
　It was difficult to touch the subject, though, because it was moving forward and backward without my knowledge.
　As I moved away from her to check the situation, Noah suddenly came close to me and whispered in my ear.


(......Arcs-sama is that?　I'm not sure what to make of that.

(......What do you want me to do? !)

(...... I think the usual thing to do here is to hug her and say please, or whisper kind words to her.

(...... I can't do that lightly!)

(......, but if you can't give a more thoughtful reply, you'll be in trouble in the future.　I'm not going to be able to do that.

(...... ugh)




　This was a harsh rebuke from the teacher.
　I mean, isn't it absurd to expect a ten-year-old child to treat the opposite s*x in an aristocratic and gentlemanly manner?


　On the other hand, Kazi is cursing the Marquis and ragging on him, so the situation is quite chaotic.