This January has been a very turbulent month for Futa.

　He met a lot of people and learned a lot of things.

　The calm time that finally came to him was several times more comfortable than he had expected, but also cramped and full of contradictions.

"Well, well, well, Mister Futa. Good day to you.
"We did not mean to neglect you, Your Highness.
"We did not mean to neglect Your Highness.

　You can walk anywhere in the castle and no one will blame you.
　There is no deliberate backbiting, no one to deny you to your face. Of course, there will be no garbage thrown into the street.

　It was a strange thing to be able to walk around the castle of a foreign country without a care in the world.

　But how did it come to this?
　I've been shown the plot from a special seat.

"Would you please treat my guest with respect in the future?

　Those words must have been enough to silence most of the audience.

　That's why a rootless wanderer has been given a certain status by the nobles who call the royal castle home.

　Futa's heart is filled with nothing but gratitude to Lilac for arranging things for him.

　However, it is also true that Futa himself is confused by the environment he has never been in before.


"You guys. Our guest is in trouble. You may leave.


　So the voice was gospel to Huta, who was surrounded in the atrium of the royal castle.

　He turned to see the man he'd seen so many times.

　They had been talking to Futa about this and that, but when the Lord of the Treasury appeared, they had no choice but to back down.

　After watching them descend the grand staircase like a receding tide, Futa opened his mouth.

"Thank you for your help, Mr. Richter.
"Don't feel so easily indebted.
What?
Well, I guess I'm free of the fact that I called you an exile in public before.

　Richter must have meant it as a warning.

　Richter probably meant it as a warning. You create unnecessary debts. And your position will get worse and worse.

　Unfortunately, the irony was not lost on the man in front of me.

"Yeah. Right.
"No, it's not.
What?
What are you looking at, you fool? What you did to me was an insult to my pride. What you did to me is an insult to my pride.

　Richter noticed Futa's puzzled gaze.
　Richter clears his throat lightly.

"Too much talk.
"I don't know, but you're worried about me. Thank you.
"I told you not to thank me for nothing!　And I don't understand!　You've got to be kidding me, you are!

　It hurts my pride, it defames me. That's a given.
　As an "unemployed" person, there were times when I was not treated like a human being.
　For such a person, Richter's words did not make sense to him.

I'm not joking, but... I'm not really a social person.　I'm not much of a social butterfly.
"......, huh?

　Oh dear, Richter shook his head.
　I don't have any reason to worry about this guy.
　Richter turns away, as if he doesn't want to be bothered.

"Oh well. It's easier to use you when you're so full of holes. Just think of it as an additional weakness for the princess.
That's not good.
What?

　He grabbed me by the shoulders. You'll be able to use it to your advantage when the time comes.

I can't be bothered with Master Lilac.
"Huh. I see. Good riddance.
Wait, Mr. Richter!
Let go of me. I'm not going to change the situation by waiting-- Let go of me!

　Richter shuddered at the thought of being grabbed by the shoulder and being stuck like that.

It's not that you're in trouble, it's that you're in luck!
Please. I want to die if I have to bother Lilac-sama with something like my lack of sociability!
There is no such thing!　Come on!　Now!　I'm not sure what to do.　That's what I'm talking about!



　Richter points at the hand that grabbed his shoulder, frothing at the mouth and yelling at him.

But if I let go, you'll run away, right?
But if I let you go, you'll run away, won't you?　What do you mean, "run away"? I have nothing to say to you!

　Futa said sadly.

You're running away, aren't you?
I'm not running away!　I never run away from anything!
"...... Really?　Then I'll let you go.
The head of the Klingbloom family would never run away. I'll let you go.

　I'll let you go.
　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.

"So what?
How do you learn to be social?
"No matter how hard you try, an 'unemployed' man can't beat a 'noble' man at socializing. If there's one thing I can tell you...

　After saying that, Richter suddenly realized.

"If there were ......, what would it be?
"I could tell you, but on one condition.
If there's anything I can do, I'll do it.
If that's not possible, ...... well, good. Yeah, there's something you can do.

　That's what you can do.
　That's what Richter had in mind.

　In exchange, it would be a small price to pay to give Futa a little advice on how to conduct himself in society.

"Are you free tomorrow night?
"Tomorrow night you have a meeting with Master Lilac.
"......, four evenings from now.
"Four evenings from now, you have a meeting with Master Lilac.
"............, seven nights from now.
"Seven evenings from now you'll have a handfasting with Master Lilac.
Are you kidding me?
I never lied to you!

　For a busy man like Richter, time off is precious.
　He doesn't have time off all year round like Huta.

　But he hadn't expected that most of his schedule would be filled with five words: lilac.

What's the point of asking about his schedule?
"It's simple. Every time you learn something from me, I'll ask for a meeting.
What?
I can't ask your highness for a handfasting, but there's no one who's a better fighter than me. ...... That's the kind of environment we've been living in. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this, but I'm sure I'll be able to do it.
"......

　Crossing his arms, Richter meditated.

　Huta blinked her eyes once or twice. Then Richter scrutinized him.

"Well? Not happy?
No, I'm happy. It's nice to be wanted.
"You're a creep.

　Richter snickered.

If it's okay with you, I'll take it. I'll have to ask Master Lilac's permission.
"Well, I'll tell you what. I'll get Lilac's permission.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're doing a lot of research on .......
I told you. I told you, if you and His Highness showed any signs of weakness, I would pounce. But...
What, are you laughing all of a sudden?
No?

　No?" Richter thought to himself, biting back a laugh.

　It's been a long time since I've seen that princess's disgusted face. Just thinking about it made his heart flutter.

"A man should never go wrong with his word, Futa.
"Oh, yeah. Of course.

　And with that, Richter left.


　Later, Richter did indeed arrange a meeting with Futa.
　However, it's another story that Lilac, who had her own Futa snatched away in a moment, sent a certain maid to accompany her to make up for it, and Richter was wooed.