Chapter 6

※From next time, the story will return to the protagonist's first-person perspective.

---

Clearly, His Highness Alexis hates men.

To be precise, he thinks of men who direct romantic feelings towards him as scum.

However, as long as there are no ulterior motives in the realm of romance, men are not a problem.

The reason His Highness Alexis chose us as his training partners is that we have not the slightest ulterior motive towards him.

I found myself gazing into the distance unconsciously.

The commoner recruits who were designated by His Highness Alexis—there were more of them at first.

However, His Highness was perceptive.

One by one, they dropped out, and eventually, only my colleague and I were left.

What happened to those who dropped out?

---They went to the other world.

They fell in love with men, had their first experiences with men, and even became lovers with men.

Well, I'm still friends with them, but I can feel the distance in our hearts.

Rather, I feel a sense of familiarity with His Highness Alexis.

"Because he was often targeted by perverts in his childhood, His Highness Alexis took up the sword to protect himself, right? The royal castle must be a truly terrifying place if a man has to feel the threat to his chastity..."

After saying this, a sigh of despair escaped his lips.

I was still running around the forest near the village in peace.

"---Is it true that when His Highness Alexis was attacked, he cut off the attacker's manhood and fed it to the dogs in front of the writhing pervert?"

Just hearing my colleague say this made my lower body shudder.

"Since then, His Highness Alexis hasn't been attacked anymore, so it must be true..."

It means that those who tried to force themselves on him have disappeared.

No matter who the opponent is, consent is an absolute condition, right?

"---When Princess Octavia heard about the incident, she was enraged and used her power to socially destroy the pervert... Some say she even made the pervert beg to be killed..."

My colleague revealed a new fact I didn't know.

"A fitting end for a pervert... But Princess Octavia..."

"Look, over there. Isn't it healing to watch?"

Suddenly, my colleague said this.

Following his gaze, I saw Princess Octavia and His Highness Alexis petting each other's heads.

An innocent interaction between siblings, and between a beautiful girl and a beautiful boy.

I only see Princess Octavia from a distance; I don't really know her personally. All I hear are rumors.

It is said that in her childhood, she was a prodigy, even surpassing Prince Serius. However, as she grew, her brilliance faded, as if she had learned the danger of showing her true strength.

In general, she is a quiet princess, as her appearance suggests.

But occasionally, she takes unexpected actions.

For example, appointing the 'Messenger of Ongarnu' as her guard.

Even since I started working at the royal castle, the princess's guards have changed frequently. Everyone says it's a smooth transfer or retirement. There are no rumors of former guards being killed.

But why do they change so often? Isn't there a reason other than the official one?

What is clear is that since the 'Messenger of Ongarnu' became the guard, the frequent changes have stopped.

And that 'Messenger of Ongarnu'—remembering his terrifying appearance on the battlefield, covered in blood and laughing—has been tamed.

As if he was born to be a knight.

This relationship cannot be one-sided. It must be possible only because the princess wishes it and the 'Messenger of Ongarnu' agrees.

First Princess, Octavia.

She avoids deep interactions with her family except for her brother, His Highness Alexis, and is critical of Prince Serius and his lover.

---She is said to be aiming for the throne behind her gentle facade.

This is whispered by a very small group.

If that's true, the 'Messenger of Ongarnu' is her pawn.

A declaration of war through action.

When the conflict becomes real, His Highness Alexis will side with Princess Octavia...

It will be Prince Serius versus Princess Octavia and His Highness Alexis.

What are the chances of winning?

My opinion is that it's unpredictable.

Prince Serius will win, right? Prince Serius can't lose.

Yes, there's a part of me that can't say why.

---

Suddenly, something unusual caught my eye.

A sword flew towards Princess Octavia.

It wouldn't be a fatal wound, but it could still cause injury. That was the trajectory.

However, the sword was knocked down.

---By the 'Messenger of Ongarnu'.

His eyes were cold, but the clear killing intent in them pierced the soldier who threw the sword, a man in his twenties.

I also confirmed the thrower.

He was trembling with fear, his face pale, and his legs shaking.

A nobleman—someone who was madly in love with His Highness Alexis.

Even towards Princess Octavia, the only person His Highness Alexis openly shows affection to, he harbored ill will.

It was an impulsive, thoughtless action driven by emotion.

...He's finished.

The killing intent wasn't just from the 'Messenger of Ongarnu'.

It was also from His Highness Alexis. He would hate it more if Princess Octavia were injured than if he himself were injured. Even if she wasn't injured.

And the strongest person here is His Highness Alexis. Princess Octavia is a woman, so even though she is older, the authority to make decisions lies with His Highness Alexis.

Probably, behind the scenes, His Highness Alexis will take action to punish him.

In the silent training ground, His Highness Alexis picked up the knocked-down sword and spoke with an angry expression.

"The one who had this sword. Come forward and name yourself. Otherwise, it will be considered an attempted assassination of my sister."

The 'Messenger of Ongarnu' extinguished his killing intent. He was letting His Highness Alexis take control of the situation. He seemed to be focusing more on Princess Octavia's protection.

The person who threw the sword—probably the culprit—wanted to run away, but that wasn't allowed. After all, he had tried to harm a royal. Even if it was clearly an accident, running away would mean losing the chance to explain. It would be confirmed as an attempted assassination of the princess.

He must have been very anxious. The culprit, who was only a short distance away, fell twice while running.

And he stood before His Highness Alexis like a condemned man.

"It's, it's Erel Barne! T, that sword is m, mine. M, my hand slipped—!"

Before His Highness Alexis could react, Princess Octavia did.

"Oh... So it was an accident, then?"

The atmosphere in the training ground shifted.

Princess Octavia closed her fan with a snap.

"If it was an accident, then there's nothing to be done. Alex, everyone makes mistakes. Don't get so worked up."

"But—If something had happened to my sister...! It can't be overlooked. Punishment is necessary!"

"Punishment... Is that a fitting punishment for this soldier's careless mistake?"

Of course, it's not...

"I'm not saying not to punish him. But shouldn't it be appropriate?"

"R, really?"

The culprit, brazenly, asked.

"Yes. I think so. Or do you want a harsher punishment?"

Asked in return, the culprit immediately shook his head.

"Your kind words, I, I am grateful—"

"It's fine."

Princess Octavia smiled.

"You are from the Barne Viscount family, aren't you?"

The culprit showed confusion on his face, beyond gratitude to the princess.

"Y, yes. My father currently holds the title of Viscount Barne..."

"Also, you have an older brother."

"!"

The confusion on the culprit's face turned to shock and caution.

Princess Octavia beckoned the culprit. Hesitant at first, he approached when Princess Octavia nodded, urging him to hurry.

His Highness Alexis seemed to want to stop him, but did not interfere.

The fan was opened, and Princess Octavia seemed to be saying something to the culprit that only he could hear. The culprit responded, and the exchange continued.

Eventually, they separated.

"Thank you for your cooperation."

The culprit nodded solemnly in response to her words.

"Yes..."

"Brother..."

Frowning, His Highness Alexis called out to his sister.

"There was no ill will towards me. It was just an accident. But since he offered to apologize, I asked him to do something for me."

"Asked him... What kind of—"

"---A secret."

Princess Octavia put her index finger to her lips.

"I'm glad you're worried. But please, don't give him a harsh punishment, Alex. This is a request from me."

Reluctantly, His Highness Alexis nodded.

"---Understood. I'll tell the others."

Thus, the judgment was made.

"By the way, Alderton."

Finally, Princess Octavia called out to the guard, the 'Messenger of Ongarnu'.

"Thank you for protecting me. I'm grateful."

"---Yes."

And with that, the princess left.

The culprit—Erel Barne, whose name I now remembered—was assigned five hundred sword swings and other training exercises.

Princess Octavia had said what she did to His Highness Alexis, and His Highness Alexis had mentioned "everyone."

That's why the punishment was lenient.

Therefore, Erel Barne wouldn't be beaten to a pulp in the dark. If that happened, the ones who did it would be punished.

After the training ended, I caught a noble-born recruit and asked him.

"Hey, is the Barne Viscount family famous?"

I always find it easier to ask someone in the know about noble matters.

"Erel... He got lucky. ---No, the Barne Viscount family isn't particularly famous. Their territory is small and far from the capital. It's a poor, rural area with no benefits."

"What about his brother?"

"Well... Since the princess mentioned it, he must exist."

"Is he famous among the nobles?"

"No, I don't know him."

The mystery only deepened.

---

---Later, my colleague and I were assigned to His Highness Alexis.

By the way, I haven't been influenced by the nobles' views on love.

I have no plans to be in the future.