The Returnee Wants Peace

The spatial gate and Madame Marselle’s clothing shop were both located in the center of Aden.

Of course, the center itself was quite large, so it wasn’t a distance one could cover in a single bound.

It was amazing that she even noticed their eyes had met.

However… common sense didn’t seem to apply to that person.

‘…What’s this, suddenly?’

The footsteps of the deeply hooded figure gradually quickened.

Before she knew it, his movements as he ran towards them were extremely light and agile, like a feather.

Seeing the fragments of emotion seeping through with each step, Rosha slowly sat up in the moving carriage.

Koko, who had been peering out the window, muttered softly:

“It’s that fellow.”

“Huh?”

“Can’t you tell just by looking? His mana is all mixed up.”

Indeed it was. Seeing the unrefined magical power all bundled together, someone suddenly came to mind.

But if there was a difference from her memory…

‘That’s not the mana of just one person?’

She could sense an enormous amount of magical power, enough for at least a hundred people. He didn’t even seem to be trying to hide it.

“…We can’t clash here, so we need to leave the city first.”

Froy, frowning, knocked on the carriage wall three times.

Soon the speed increased, and the knights on horseback escorted the carriage leaving the city with tense faces, staying close.

The problem was that the pursuer also came running even faster.

Whoosh-

As the hood he was wearing came off in the wind, clean silver hair was revealed. Only then did the knights realize his identity and shouted like lightning:

“Sir Nox! Stop!”

“Can’t you see it’s House Echerzen’s carriage!”

However, Nox paid no attention to their shouts and even drew his sword.

At that ominous aura, the knights immediately drew their swords too, but fortunately, Nox’s target wasn’t them.

Crash!

Nox, who had sprung nimbly from the ground, shattered the road in front of the carriage with his sword.

With just one horizontal slash, as if releasing a sword aura, the road was overturned and stones scattered.

“…It can’t be helped.”

Finally, the carriage came to a stop by the roadside.

Seeing Nox approaching still holding his sword, the knights resolutely blocked his way.

“Sir Nox…! What on earth is the meaning of this!”

“You didn’t stop the carriage.”

“If you keep approaching like this, we’ll have to assume you intend to harm His Grace!”

The knights all pointed their sword tips at him.

Regardless.

“I have no interest in your Duke…”

Nox, who was about to retort, stopped speaking as he saw the carriage door open.

His gaze remained fixed on Rosha, who was getting out behind Froy.

For a moment, his face looked as if even thoughts had stopped flowing.

He didn’t seem to hear even Froy’s words about billing the imperial palace for the cost of damaging the road.

Clang, the sword he was holding fell to the ground.

With each step he took, the knights’ swords blocked his body, but Nox didn’t care even as blood flowed from the cuts all over him.

“…!”

The knights, who had stepped aside at Froy’s gesture, showed slight agitation.

It wasn’t just because blood had finally been shed.

Besides the red liquid flowing down his neck, they saw something clear and transparent rolling down his cheeks.

It was tears.

Nox, who wiped away the rolling tears with his palm, muttered very softly:

“…I waited for you to come. For a very long time.”

Without even a hint of sobbing, he stared at her persistently with his eyes wide open, rippling like the sea.

Naturally meeting that gaze, Rosha became extremely flustered.

No, why are you even crying…

* * *

—Are you alright? His Majesty the Emperor said that Sir Nox had run out of the imperial palace to see you. I was worried that something might have happened.

Cedric’s voice flowed from the crystal ball used for communication.

It was a call that came as soon as she returned from Madame Marselle’s clothing shop. Rosha answered with an ambiguous expression:

“Yeah, actually I just met him and I’m on my way back.”

—Really? Is he with you now?

“No.”

Nox had stayed behind to repair the damaged road, at least roughly.

It was because of Rosha’s reproach that how would other people travel if he left the road so destroyed.

‘…I didn’t know he would listen so well.’

Sir Eola said there were many rumors about Nox.

A young man who strangely resembled the former Emperor, but only had the name Nox without a surname.

Naturally, the theory that he was the hidden son of the Emperor was mainstream.

The former imperial chamberlain who had retired to the countryside vehemently denied it, but the question remained as to why the current Emperor allowed Nox to stay in the imperial palace.

There were also theories that he was an identical twin of the current Emperor, or an experimental subject of the former Emperor, but.

What’s clear is that Nox, unlike his appearance, has childlike aspects.

—He’s repairing the road he destroyed himself…? Even though he destroyed the imperial palace countless times, he never did that even once…

Cedric laughed helplessly as if he couldn’t believe Rosha’s explanation.

But only for a moment.

—No. It’s natural that he listens if you say it.

“…Natural?”

—Yes. To be honest, I don’t want to take his side, but he played a big role in successfully resolving the trials while you were gone. Her Majesty the Emperor left a prophecy that you would return when the red moon disappeared.

Upon hearing that prophecy, it’s said that Nox took the lead in cutting down demonic beasts more than anyone else until the twentieth trial related to the ‘red moon’.

And when the red moon rose…

‘He waited for my return while secluded in the imperial palace.’

A corner of her heart throbbed.

Rather than something grand, it was an emotion that should be called pity.

What was she to Nox?

Now that the former Emperor, who was no different from his creator, had died, she might have become his first friend and someone close to his everything.

‘…It’s burdensome.’

Just as she felt a strange sense of responsibility, as if she had taken in an abandoned dog.

—Oh, right. If you’re done with your business at Echerzen Duchy, how about coming up to the capital soon?

“Huh? There’s still more than ten days left until the marquis investiture ceremony.”

Of course, as Cedric said, all her business here was finished.

There were some small tasks left like making a shrine, but these could be done anywhere.

However, for some reason, she wanted to stay with Froy.

‘I also need to… break the allure magic.’

Since he had agreed to help break the allure, wouldn’t it be right to break it completely here before leaving?

However, Cedric’s next words were beyond her imagination.

“…W-what? What did you just say?”

Even to Rosha’s dumbfounded question, Cedric explained kindly again:

—Along with the marquis investiture ceremony, Her Majesty the Emperor intends to officially announce her engagement to me. I agreed too.

Strictly speaking, this engagement isn’t completely nonsensical.

Cedric is already twenty-six this year, past the prime age for marriage, and the current Emperor Illien is also of similar age, just two years younger.

In fact, it’s not even marriage but an engagement announcement, which should have been done long ago at their age, but it’s been greatly delayed due to the trials.

“Isn’t that right? There’s no need to hurry like this, Rosha.”

Nod, nod.

“As far as I know, there’s no special relationship between the two. It seems to be an engagement based on political context… Is there any reason to react so sensitively?”

Nod, nod.

At Froy’s words, Nox, who had finished repairing the road and returned, rarely agreed. Yet he diligently followed Rosha with his eyes as she busily packed her things.

But there is a reason why she is reacting this way.

‘If Cedric enters the imperial family, who will be the head of the family?’

There’s no way Cassis could do it. That would ruin the family.

It might be too harsh on Cassis, but there’s no helping it in this regard.

I absolutely oppose this engagement!