Chapter 11

The protagonist is back!

I kept you waiting.

Alvis realized he had been dropped. By the time he noticed, he was already inside it. The purpose was still unclear. However, since Alvis had been dropped, it was likely that his existence was part of the purpose. He could think, but his body wouldn't move. He couldn't figure out what he should have done if he could have moved at that moment.

"Master Alvis"

In front of Alvis, who was in the water, he saw the smiling face of Elina. The surface of the water seemed quite far above. Her red hair stood out vividly. It had been the longest time they had been apart since their marriage, a few days after leaving the castle. Was that why he was reaching out to her so desperately?

"My thoughts have always been by your side."

(Ah... I understand. That's why I can't end here...)

He felt something warm in his chest. The pendant given to him by Elina. He must not betray the prayer contained within it. Even as his consciousness sank into darkness, Alvis clutched something in his hand. It was small, warm, and had a familiar power.

"..."

He thought he heard a voice, but before he could recognize it, Alvis's consciousness completely faded away.

Suddenly, Alvis felt a blinding light and opened his heavy eyelids.

"......"

After blinking several times, he finally recognized his situation. He seemed to be lying on a simple bed in a room with the curtains drawn. When he sat up, Alvis noticed that his clothes had been changed. Someone must have changed them for him. He was wearing a simple shirt and pants, none of which were his.

Just as he was confirming this, the sound of a door opening reached him. Alvis turned his face toward the entrance.

"Lord Alvis, you have awakened."

"...Lord Grays?"

Standing there was the imperial crown prince, Grays. He had taken off his coat but was still in formal attire. Without the coat, his appearance had changed significantly.

"How are you feeling?"

"...No, I'm fine."

"I see."

Grays looked more exhausted than Alvis. With his long hair tied back, Grays sat down on a chair next to the bed.

"Do you remember what happened?"

"Yes, more or less."

"I was fine thanks to you. What was your situation, Lord Alvis?"

Grays was the only one who maintained his composure throughout. He had been sitting next to Alvis, but the prime minister hardly looked at Grays, so he didn't touch much of the food. Alvis would have preferred to do the same, but in that situation, he couldn't. Even if he had suspicions, this was a place prepared to mourn the dead. He couldn't refuse. Still, he managed to keep his consciousness until the end, thanks to the medicine given to him by Foran.

"I was conscious the whole time. But my body... my limbs were entangled and I couldn't move. It was all I could do to suppress whatever was trying to enter me."

"I see."

It was a failure to have ended up in such a situation. Of course, without Dain and the others, no strategy would have worked in that situation.

"Lord Alvis, I am sorry."

"Lord Grays?"

"I was in my right mind, yet I could only watch as you were dropped."

"In that situation, there was nothing you could have done. If you had tried to protect me, we would have both been dropped."

It was likely that the same thing would have happened to Grays. Alvis didn't want to think that the imperial crown prince would be harmed, but since he had tried to harm Alvis, it was not surprising to think that he would do the same to Grays. Grays was right not to move.

"Lord Alvis,"

"The problem is what happens from here, right?"

"Yes. A night has passed. The prime minister doesn't know that you were rescued from that place. I think there should be some movement, but there hasn't been any yet."

"...Do you know what's happening in the castle?"

"..."

Silence was an affirmation. But this place was close to the castle. Moving carelessly would attract attention. They didn't want this place to be discovered by the prime minister. So, they couldn't move easily. Then, a simple question came to Alvis's mind.

This was the Kingdom of Marana, and both Alvis and Grays were visiting for the first time. So, who had prepared this place? And how had Alvis been brought here?

"Right, I haven't explained that yet."

Grays laughed as if he had found an interesting toy. He seemed to be remembering something. After a moment, he cleared his throat.

"I apologize. It was a rather peculiar person... The one who rescued you from the lake was Prince Garibas of this kingdom."

"......What?"

Garibas. Alvis knew the name and didn't particularly want to remember him. Still, he was concerned about his safety in this situation. Especially since Princess Carianne had met with such a fate and hadn't shown up at the state funeral. Alvis was momentarily taken aback by this unexpected appearance.

"Lord Grays... did you know Prince Garibas?"

"No. I had only heard that he was a bit of a fool. He does seem a bit slow, but he is very sincere."

"Yes, I see."

It wasn't a proper evaluation of a prince from another country, but Alvis didn't have enough information to disagree. He could easily imagine that his brother would give a similar evaluation.

"This place belongs to a former maid of Princess Carianne. She was executed along with the princess."

"...So, that's the connection."

With Princess Carianne. Perhaps it was the same girl he had met at last year's founding festival. Even if she had been lost, feeling pain for her would be misplaced. Even if he could have predicted this future, Alvis couldn't have saved her.

"The only ones who know about this place are Prince Garibas and a man named Brau, who was the former captain of the royal guard. I don't think anyone else knows yet. However..."

"However?"

"The former captain said he would try to contact someone on the Rubelia side. I'm curious about what happened after that."

"Someone on the Rubelia side..."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The door opened without a knock. A woman in a simple black dress and a tired-looking man stood there. There were two people in this room who could be addressed as "Your Highness." However, their gaze was clearly directed at Alvis.

"Your Highness... have you forgotten me? I accompanied you?"

"You... Anna, right?"

"Correct. I understand it might be hard to recognize me in this outfit. It's easier for me to move around this way."

Anna Field. One of Alvis's personal maids. She usually tied her black hair back, but the woman in front of him had it straight down with a barrette. She looked like an ordinary town girl.

Anna came to the bedside, gently took Alvis's hand, and knelt down.

"I'm relieved to see you safe, Your Highness. Please take care of yourself."

"Ah, I understand. I'm sorry for worrying you."

"No, it's enough to see you here."

Although she usually took care of him, Anna seemed a bit different now. Was it because of her clothes, or the different aura she exuded?

"I've arranged to inform the others of your safety from the back. Even if something is conveyed from Marana, the king and others won't believe it. The problem is the people inside the castle, like Lord Leoiadur."

"Yes... I see."

"How much can you move? I need to know how much you can defend yourself."

Alvis checked his condition again. Despite being dropped into the water, he didn't have a fever, feel sluggish, or have any injuries. The effects of the drug the prime minister had given him had worn off. His beloved sword was also nearby. With the means to defend himself and no ill health, he could move freely.

"I'm fine. I can move as usual."

"Understood. Then, I will infiltrate the castle to gather information."

"Anna alone?"

"Please leave it to me. That's part of my job."

Alvis understood the meaning of Anna's smile and wink. She was that kind of person. He could trust her completely.

"Got it. Thank you."

"Leave it to me. Crown Prince, please don't leave His Highness."

"Understood."

The implication was that Grays, who couldn't defend himself, shouldn't move around on his own. There was no need to ask how Anna knew about Grays's lack of combat skills.

"Then, Captain, I'll leave this to you."

"Understood. Be careful."

"Of course. Goodbye."

With that, Anna jumped out of the window.

"Quite a character, Lord Alvis."

"Hehe..."

Alvis could only laugh wryly at Grays's comment. But it was true that a path had opened up. Although he didn't like relying on others, he needed to know the situation first.

"Richt... I hope he's not doing anything reckless."

The friend left in the castle. He was surely causing worry by not returning. Alvis understood from their past interactions that he wouldn't stay put. He hoped Richt wasn't doing anything rash. All Alvis could do now was hope for his safety.