Chapter 42

We were led by Claude to the first floor of the castle.

"--- Cockroach, this is your room."

He stopped in front of a certain room and said that.

Then,

"Hey, Claude? It's not 'Cockroach,' it's A·L·E·N! How many times do I have to say it!? I'm going to get angry if you keep this up!?"

Reia scolded Claude, veins popping on her forehead.

"I-I apologize, Lady Reia. However, I just can't help it..."

He bowed deeply, saying that. It seems that no matter how much Reia scolds him, he can't stop calling me a 'cockroach.'

(Well, it doesn't really matter...)

Considering I've been called a 'failed swordsman' and looked down upon for three years, being called a 'cockroach' now doesn't really bother me.

There's no point in arguing, so I slowly opened the door in front of me.

"Oh... What a nice room."

The spacious and large room was equipped with a bed and sofa that looked very luxurious. Upon closer inspection, my luggage, which I had entrusted to the airplane, had been brought in.

It seems that, as King Gris had said, I am being treated as a guest, at least for now.

As I looked around the room, Claude cleared his throat.

"I forgot to mention, I have been assigned as your... *cough* caretaker."

He just said 'supervisor' a moment ago...

"Whenever you go out, you must inform me. --- If you fail to report, you know what will happen, right?"

He showed his sword, which was sheathed at his waist, in a meaningful way.

"I'll be sure to let you know, so don't worry."

"Hmph, then that's fine. --- Rest up for tomorrow. ...Well, your miserable defeat is already a foregone conclusion."

He walked towards the exit, leaving a final insult.

"Hmph, Allen will definitely win!"

Reia, who looked extremely displeased, was about to close the door—no, she was about to close it.

"Y-Your Highness Reia, why are you closing the door? Your room is on the top floor...?"

Claude asked a very reasonable question to her, who was trying to stay in the same room as usual.

"Ah, that's right..."

Reia's clumsiness was displayed in the worst possible way.

"Y-You... Cockroach! You... You bring Lady Reia into your room on a daily basis...!?"

He turned pale, sensing the nature of our relationship from Reia's reaction.

(Claude's reaction...)

There's no way I could tell him that we live in the same room every day.

"N-No way! R-Reia, right?"

"Y-Yes! Just as Allen said!"

We quickly covered for each other, but...

"You, you, you... How dare a lowly cockroach...!"

He clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and his eyes were bloodshot.

Then,

"Your Highness Reia, I will... escort you to your room."

Claude, whose anger had turned to sadness, called out to Reia, hanging his head.

"Ah, Allen, good night. See you tomorrow."

"Ah, yeah, good night."

In the room where the storm had passed, I sighed alone.

(Sigh... This will only worsen my reputation...)

Claude will surely report this to the king.

I sighed deeply again and stopped thinking.

■

After that, I brushed my teeth, took a bath, and got ready for bed.

Looking at the clock, it was already 9:30 PM.

It felt a bit early to go to bed, but...

(There's an important battle tomorrow, so it's fine for today...)

After turning off the lights and lying down on the large bed, I felt a slight sense of discomfort.

"...Ah, I'm alone today."

I had unconsciously left space for Reia to sleep on the left side of the bed, as she usually does.

(...It feels strange...)

Usually, Reia is next to me, and we talk about friends and swordsmanship—by the time we realize it, we're both asleep.

So, lying in bed alone... felt a bit lonely.

(...I'll go to sleep early today)

I closed my eyes and relaxed my body.

The ticking of the clock echoed in the quiet room.

Listening to the regular sound, drowsiness gradually came over me.

Then, the beautiful sound of insects from outside the room added to the comfortable environment, along with the soft bed.

In this perfect space— I felt a strong sense of 'insufficiency.'

"...I haven't done enough practice swings."

I had done my morning practice swings, but...

After that, I had been in a hurry to prepare for the trip and had been on the plane all the way to Vestaria.

Then, I ate a sandwich and had a meeting with King Gris—now I'm in bed.

I haven't done any practice swings at all.

I haven't even held a sword properly.

(But, I've already taken a bath...)

If I do practice swings now and take another bath—my sleep time will be significantly reduced.

"But... I have to do it, right?"

Once I start thinking about practice swings, I can't escape the urge.

Looking at the wall clock, the hands pointed to exactly 10:00 PM.

There isn't much time left.

(...It's fine. I'll do a little practice and take a quick shower afterward.)

My sleep time will be shorter, but the quality of sleep will be better because of the practice—so it's not a problem.

"Alright, let's go!"

I changed from my pajamas into the Thousand Blades Academy uniform and quickly got ready.

"Now, I need to let Claude know."

I left the guest room and stood in front of the room directly opposite, knocking on the door with a "knock, knock, knock."

However, there was no response.

"...Claude? Are you not here?"

I knocked a bit louder, but still no response.

"What a problem..."

I can't go practice without his permission.

(Maybe he's already asleep...)

I turned the doorknob, and the door opened silently.

It seems the door was not locked.

"...Claude, I'm coming in?"

I called out just in case and stepped into his room.

The room was lit, and the furniture was arranged exactly the same as in my room.

Then,

"Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm"

From the back, I heard a cheerful whistling and the sound of a shower.

It seems he is in the bath.

(I see, that's why he didn't hear the knocking.)

I'll come back in about ten minutes.

If I enter his room without permission, it will cause trouble.

As I quietly headed for the exit, the shower stopped, and the curtain opened.

(...This is the worst timing.)

If I rush out of the room now, I might be mistaken for a thief.

It's better to stay and explain honestly.

I stood in the middle of the room, and a naked Claude approached me.

I couldn't believe my eyes.

"...C-Claude...?"

"Wh-What?"

Claude, without clothes, had a surprisingly slender body.

Most notably, her chest had two large, feminine bulges.

"...Y-Your chest!?"

"W-What are you doing here...!?"

Her cheeks turned bright red in an instant.