Chapter 4

"…I'm glad. You were about to hurt not just your heart, but your body as well."

For the first time, without a chance to calm down amidst the excitement and panic, a beautiful voice rained down from above.

...Huh? Who?

To Monica's right rear, a slender young man stood softly.

---Kyaaaaa!!

If this were the other world, there would undoubtedly have been a chorus of yellow screams. Some women would have fainted, I can say that for sure.

This gentle-looking man had long blonde hair tied into a single braid at the side of his shoulder. His ice-blue eyes suited him well.

...Yeah. He's a prince.

I'm not saying this sarcastically because of his appearance. Not just his appearance, but his clothing, manner of speaking, everything is different from an ordinary person. Considering all this, his presence.

...Yeah. He must be a prince.

"I am Schueler Gran Valtar. I apologize deeply for the trouble caused by my foolish younger brother and for the delay in realizing the situation."

The super handsome man bowed his head. Then, without knowing when he had been there, or if he had been there from the beginning, he grabbed the head of the prince Egiedilus standing next to him and made him bow deeply.

"...Ah, no..."

The prince Egiedilus standing next to him seemed dissatisfied, but due to the sincerity in the beautiful young man, Prince Schueler's apology, it was accepted sincerely.

"You should apologize properly too, Egiedilus."

Prince Schueler, saying the name of the boy who seemed to bite his tongue, lightly nudged his head to encourage him.

"......I...I...I'm...sorry!"

Not wanting to apologize, he turned his face away and said it as if spitting it out without even glancing at us.

...Huh?

Lina swallowed the exclamation she was about to make with determination. After all, wouldn't you feel the same way? Whether she's a saint or something, she was summoned without her consent and couldn't return. Yet, his apology lacked sincerity and sounded condescending. Where's the apology in that?

---Thud!!

A fist landed on the head of the foolish Prince Egiedilus.

"...Ouch!!"

"...What is this apology? ...Egiedilus, do you even understand what you have done!?"

...Yeah.

At this point, I heard a completely reasonable opinion.

After being called a pig, a fatso, a saint, and being summoned, and then being left alone, it was finally nice to have someone who made sense appear.

"...What do you mean, I did it for this country—!!"

---Thud!!

A fist landed again on the head of Prince Egiedilus, who believed he had done the right thing.

"...Ouch!! What are you doing!?"

---Thud!!

Another fist landed.

...Yeah. Surprisingly ruthless, big brother.

Prince Egiedilus, in considerable pain, had tears in his eyes.

"...Do you understand? ...You performed a high-precision magical summoning based solely on an old document of uncertain authenticity. As a result, you have caused this person a great deal of trouble?"

"...!! ...Trouble... I did it for this country—"

"...Do you still not understand!!"

---Thud!!

Another fist landed, for the umpteenth time.

Wow, Lina couldn't help but turn her face away. Where did he get such strength from those thin arms? It even made her wince in pain just watching.

"You may have summoned her for the sake of this country, but from her perspective, you are nothing more than a kidnapper."

"...!!"

Prince Egiedilus was speechless. Finally, he understood the gravity of his actions through his brother's words. He might have believed without doubt that what he did was for the country. However, that was from his one-sided perspective. To Lina, it was just a kidnapping.

"...Once again, I sincerely apologize for my foolish younger brother's actions. I promise that after thoroughly investigating the situation, those involved in this summoning will receive appropriate punishment."

And he smiled... no, he smiled coldly.

---Shiver.

...Huh.

What is this unfamiliar chill?

Normally, a kidnapper would deserve appropriate punishment and treatment. ...But, Prince Schueler's smile instinctively made her react with "No good."

...This person, you shouldn't anger him. I silently whispered "My condolences" to the kidnapper in my heart.