Chapter 30

Report!

The 4th volume of the manga will be released on July 25th!!

I'll update the cover and other details later!

Thank you for always reading! (*- -)(*_ _) *bows*

Alvis returned to the room after parting ways with Edward. There, Elina had already finished her bath and was ready for bed. Sara, who had been chatting with her, was there as well. Sara prepared two cups in front of Elina, who was sitting on the sofa, then turned to Alvis, bowed her head, and left the room.

"Welcome back, Master Alvis."

"Thank you. I'm sorry for being late. I ended up talking with Ed for a while."

It wasn't that late, but it was dark enough for the full moon to shine brightly. Elina was just about to go to bed. Alvis apologized and sat down next to her.

"Weren't you talking with Sara? You could have continued the conversation."

"No, it was just a casual chat, and I talk with Sara all the time."

"I see."

"Yes."

Taking the opportunity, Alvis picked up one of the cups Sara had prepared. He smiled, feeling a slight hint of alcohol. It was a well-prepared serving, he thought. Alvis didn't drink much alcohol, not because he disliked it, but because a dulled mind could affect his sword skills. It was a remnant from his knight days. He wasn't weak to alcohol by nature; in fact, he thought he was rather strong, but he only indulged a little.

The warm drink with a touch of alcohol, prepared before bedtime, was one of the few ways Alvis enjoyed drinking. Of course, Elina's cup didn't contain any alcohol.

"Tomorrow, is there anywhere you'd like to go?"

"Are we just going to walk around the city?"

Tomorrow, Alvis had no official duties planned. He intended to spend the day off with Elina. The capital of the Belfias Duchy was not as vast as the capital city, but it was still quite large. They had already visited many places recently, so he didn't plan to walk around the city again. However, if Elina wanted to go somewhere, he was willing to accommodate her. The capital had places like museums, art galleries, and theaters, though Alvis rarely visited them.

"We walked around the city last time. It might be a burden to walk too much, so if there's a facility you'd like to visit, it would be easier for you."

"…Can we go somewhere far?"

"It depends on the place. Does that mean there is somewhere you want to go?"

"Yes. I want to go to the place where you met Shrieta."

"…What?"

Alvis was taken aback by this unexpected request. Elina knew about Shrieta. He hadn't told her everything, but he had shared the story of their meeting, the loss, and even the sins he had committed. Despite this, Elina still wanted to visit that place.

"And I also want to go to the place where you used to play when you sneaked out of the mansion."

"Wait, what?"

"Even from a distance, it's fine. Is it not possible?"

To say it was a good or bad idea, it was bad. The places where Alvis had been mischievous were not suitable for a noble lady, especially considering Elina's current condition. He couldn't approve of it.

"Even if we go from a distance, I don't know if that place still exists… Why do you want to go there?"

"While I've been here, I've heard many stories about you from the people in the mansion."

"…"

This was Alvis's birthplace, so it was natural for Elina to hear about him. As his wife, she would naturally want to know more. He had no intention of criticizing this; it was something she would have known by coming here.

"But everyone in the mansion says the same thing. You were well-behaved and smart. You always cared for others and were kind."

"What's wrong with that?"

Alvis was aware that he had acted that way. If asked if he had ever been selfish, he would probably say no. He might have been selfish with Nalys, but he had never shown such behavior in front of the servants in the main house.

"Yet, I hear stories about Nalys being occasionally selfish and causing trouble for you, and about Miraria and Valeria being mischievous, but there are no such stories about you."

"That's—"

"That's why I want to know about the times when you were mischievous. Didn't you say before that you were never a model of good behavior?"

"Well, that's true."

When Elina was trying to be a proper lady, Alvis was already far from that. He tried to be the person expected of him within the mansion, but outside, he was wild. Elina wanted to know about that side of him.

"I want to hear about that side of you."

"…Even so, it's difficult to take you to that place. I can't put you through that strain."

"I understand. I'm sorry for being selfish."

Seeing Elina's disappointment, Alvis smiled wryly and pulled her into a hug.

"Then, Elina… can you accompany me for a bit?"

"Huh?"

"I can't take you to dangerous places, so we'll need to find a suitable location… but there's someone I want you to meet. They should still be within the duchy."

It wasn't someone from the mansion, but there was a person who knew Alvis from those times. Alvis didn't really want to introduce Elina to them, but if she wanted to know more about him, there was no one else. He hadn't intended to meet them again, thinking he would never see them. However, perhaps it was wrong to do so. Elina's wish might have been a kind of revelation.