Royal Road of the Extra Scribe

18

Returning to the party after changing clothes, my brother, Pherzy, approached me with a serious expression.

“Als, what in the world have you done?”

“Shh, just let it go for now, Pherzy. I’ll explain everything later.”

Pherzy sighed, then nodded his head.

“Just so you know, there are people here who either know or suspect that you are Wade.”

“Ugh. I figured as much.”

Felix and Joshua, who had worked together at the time, as well as Vice Commander Ironheart, all knew. Considering Ironheart’s affiliation, it was safe to assume that the core figures of the Helyan faction knew my true identity.

Even Erena was looking at me with suspicion.

“It feels like sitting on pins and needles.”

Before Erena could approach me, Blan intervened.

“That’s it! That’s what happened!”

A middle-ranking nobleman exclaimed.

“Could it be that Lord Casper appeared again wearing his helmet?”

It was a clumsy maneuver.

Since they couldn’t publicly announce that the Giraffe of the Kingdom of Calipha had lost to Jurass, they tried to confuse Wade the mercenary with Casper to cover that up.

This way, they could establish their influence within the Helyan faction. Casper, belonging to the Milias Viscountcy, was one of the core figures of the Helyan faction.

Since there were even rumors that Casper Milias was Wade the mercenary, this clumsy political move was being swallowed.

The nobles of the Helyan faction played along with the obvious play, knowing that Casper was not Wade.

The problem arose when the Milias Viscountcy, who should have remained neutral, acknowledged this political maneuver.

“Me…?”

Casper, who had just returned to the party, was taken aback by the sudden turn of events, but after a nudge from his father, Viscount Joseph Milias, he opened his eyes wide.

Viscount Milias then gazed in my direction with precision.

“Hmph.”

Viscount Joseph Milias raised the corner of his mouth while looking in my direction.

His intentions were crystal clear.

“He’s planning to use me.”

Casper, influenced by Viscount Milias, swallowed nervously and shouted with an anxious look.

“Y-Yes. I wore the helmet and confronted him in a duel.”

Wow! Cheers erupted in the banquet hall.

Although most of the nobles present knew it was a play, there were still some who believed in it.

The Saleon faction, aware that it was a play, chose to silently observe. They knew that without any evidence, the impostor would self-destruct if left alone.

“Winning against Juras, indeed worthy of being called Calipher’s giraffe!”

“As expected, the mercenary Wade was Casper!”

Casper seemed utterly pitiful to me.

Seeing him being toyed with by the adults’ selfishness brought back memories of my past.

“This is ridiculous.”

Erina, who came and sat in front of me, seemed disgusted by this play as well.

“Intercepting your ball in such a manner, it’s outrageous.”

“Miss Merina? What are you talking about?”

“How many times do I have to say Erina for you to understand? Mr. Wade?”

“….”

Anyway, Erina’s intuition is disgustingly quick.

She’s well aware of my martial arts skills, even though I hide my abilities as a master of the spear, so it must have been easy for her to deduce.

“The fact that the gift I gave you was broken wasn’t because of sitting on it with your butt, but because of the duel with Gilyas Melburn, right?”

“Surely not. If that were the case, you would have bragged about it everywhere.”

“Oddly enough, you’re not the type to do that. Instead, you seem to be grateful for those fools intercepting the ball for you. Am I wrong?”

She hit the nail on the head.

I couldn’t come up with any other excuses, so I was in a difficult situation.

Just then.

“Miss, please refrain from troubling behavior.”

It was Joanne, the head of the Salion family, who approached me quietly and spoke.

“Since you are attracting the attention of others, if you are not engaging in conversation with our nobles, it could lead to a difficult situation. This applies to both you and the other party.”

“I know. It’ll be brief.”

“Yes, please be mindful not to make the conversation lengthy.”

Joanne, after saying that, nodded slightly at me as a greeting with his eyes.

I shrugged my shoulders.

“It’s been a while, Joanne. How have you been?”

“Elaine indeed. Are you well?”

“As you can see, I’ve been doing well.”

“Good, it’s reassuring that nothing has changed.”

Joanne sighed, glancing at the surrounding noble youths stealing glances at me.

“You’re still attracting fervent gazes.”

“hahahaha….”

“Nevertheless, I don’t think it’s advisable to be seen in the company of Miss Erina. You do understand that, right?”

“I’ve said this before, I’m not at fault. It’s not me who seeks out, it’s the other side.”

“Yes, it was like that.”

Fortunately for me, Joanne seemed to be trying to handle the situation here.

She subtly indicated to Erina to rise from her seat, but for some reason, Erina seemed shocked.

What she found concerning was a different matter.

“Wait, why do you remember Joanne’s name?”

“Yes? I remember.”

“But I didn’t remember my, my name!”

“Well, that can’t be helped. How often did you see me?”

“Is it different with Joan?”

“It is different.”

During the two months of butler training with Joan, we faced each other every day. Even I, no matter what, would remember a face and name.

“Ugh…!”

Erina, as if not understanding, bit her lower lip.

Joan shook his head, seeming troubled, and said to me, “Miss Ilaine, perhaps it would be good for you to talk to someone else.”

“I suppose so.”

Just as I decided to use that as an excuse to get up from my seat, Denian, with his eyes ablaze, was approaching.

* * *

Various events took place at the royal party.

Returning to everyday life after the party, I was nervous, wondering if Jurass might do something, but days passed without any unusual incidents.

It seemed my investigation had failed.

“No, maybe I simply didn’t investigate.”

He didn’t seem to harbor any lingering feelings, thinking he had cleanly handed over Eonia, nor did he show any regrets like trailing her or something.

Thanks to that, Eonia was receiving treatment safely in a city with skilled priests.

The only thing of note was that Kasper, leveraging my reputation, was gaining prestige.

“Wade the mercenary defeated the Jurass Vermilion family!”

“Wade the mercenary was a hero of Milias!”

Rumors like these spreading domestically were elevating Kasper’s status significantly.

While other nations were skeptical of such baseless rumors, the citizens within the kingdom were easily swayed by this idolization.

The citizens of Julia would stop their work to gaze at Kasper passing by, as if watching animals in a zoo, and it was said that various rumors were circulating like a flood.

“It’s so blatant.”

The intentions of the Marquis of Milias were clear.

It was evident from the letter I received.

“I want to meet and talk. Wade.”

A letter stamped with Joisette’s seal.

It was so clear what proposal would be made that I needed to prepare for it.

“For now, I need to delay the timing as much as possible.”

Fortunately, they didn’t seem eager to rush things, as they didn’t send anyone or employ any coercive tactics.

I decided to spread rumors about health issues, so I wouldn’t have to go to the academy I was attending.

I planned to take advantage of that gap to start working on that matter.

The Iron Fortress of Rosenburg. It was about recruiting him.

To keep from being played by others, what I needed was a backing.

As long as I had a force watching my back, I wouldn’t be played by that insidious game.

“There are three candidates.”

Rosenburg was one of them.

Count Rootger Rosenburg.

Though he may have lost his influence now, the Baron Rosenburg was one of the top noble families within the Albad Empire in its prime.

If I could win him over, perhaps I could find a way to restrain Viscount Millias.

“Of course, that alone may not be enough.”

For now, it was a helpful lead.

I headed towards Calon Sanji, where Rootger was reportedly spotted, accompanied by Yumir.

Near the border between the Kingdom of Beccabia and the Kingdom of Albad, rumors of Rootger being seen were circulating.

Upon reaching the village near Sanji, I was able to trace their tracks in a modest tavern.

“Those two are authors.”

Two men distinctly different from mercenaries, with a refined demeanor that did not fit the description, yet not quite the appearance of regular soldiers or knights.

I addressed the innkeeper in a voice loud enough for the men to hear.

“Innkeeper, do you have any critically ill patients here?”

“What do you mean?”

“I see some herbs. Is that Ruer’s grass over there? And next to it, is that Sisso’s stem? Both are quite potent herbs, so I thought there might be a critically ill patient.”

“hahahaha, I’m just keeping them. There are… patients, yes. But I don’t know the details.”

As the innkeeper mentioned patients, he glanced at the two men. The men, now fixed on me, were urgently discussing something.

“Well, it might be unwanted interference, but when using Ruer’s grass, it’s best to be cautious. It’s an herb, but if prescribed to a patient with a fever, it could act as a poison.”

“T-then would you personally take care of it?”

The innkeeper, now standing close, pointed towards the men.

With a subtle blend of caution and politeness, they spoke to me.

“May we have a moment?”

“What is it?”

“Um…!?”

Seeing my face hidden in the hood, they frowned with a hint of arrogance. Their vigilance was heightened upon seeing my concealed face.

“Hmph, it seems the matter has disappeared with that attitude.”

“Oh, no. If it was unpleasant, I apologize. If it’s not inconvenient, I would like to ask for your name.”

“I’m not in a position to easily disclose my name. I decline.”

Whether the man continued speaking out of a rough understanding and moved on, or out of sheer urgency, was unclear.

“Well, I suppose it’s fine about the name. But I have one request. You seem knowledgeable in medicine, could you perhaps look at a patient?”

Alright, I took the bait.

Had I known it was a trap, I wouldn’t have gone through this theatrical performance. So, I hesitated a bit.

“I’m in a hurry.”

“If you could just… somehow.”

“I don’t want to repeat myself. Let’s end the conversation here.”

Then, another man who had been silent spoke up. In a somewhat aggressive manner, he urged me.

“You said there was a patient! Follow quietly!”

“…They were annoying. Yumir, get rid of them.”

At my command, Yumir emitted a subtle aura of aggression. Feeling the menacing vibe, the men hastily stepped back, drawing the swords at their waists.

The innkeeper, alarmed, shouted, “Please, take it outside! Please!”

“…Hm. I apologize. It seems it’s better for me to get up from my seat.”

Thud! I placed a fairy tale on the table and stood up.

As I was about to leave the tavern without any lingering attachments, a man thumped his head against mine.

“Please! I apologize for my rudeness earlier, so please check on the patient… our lady’s condition!”

Yumir’s helpless plea had an effect.

Thanks to that, I was able to demonstrate my exceptional presence.

That should be enough. Now, all that’s left is to agree.

“Hm, but aren’t you the one not banging your head?”

“…Huh?”

The hot-tempered man, who was standing there dumbfounded, groaned in confusion.

The man next to him, who was thumping his head, growled in a low voice.

“Hey, George. If you don’t want to get kicked, bang your head.”

“…Yes!”

Whether he was polite or not, the hot-tempered man soon banged his head.

I pretended to be uninterested in their actions and decided to follow them.