Chapter 64

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I always find it helpful. I rely on you.

After the audience with His Majesty the King and Her Royal Highness the Queen, an announcement came from the palace that Cain should return for sword training, thus ending his suspension.

Morning sword training at the castle and afternoon lessons with a private tutor at home resumed.

During Cain’s suspension, it was decided that Geraint Velfadia and Chris Velfadia, the sons of the deputy commander, would join the sword training, as Arundilano alone had limitations in training with adults.

"Nice to meet you. I am Geraint Velfadia, the eldest son of Fabian Velfadia."

"Nice to meet you. I am Chris Velfadia, his younger brother."

Both had their father’s short blue hair and, despite being six and four years old, they had a dignified and spirited appearance.

"Nice to meet you. I am Cain Elgrandeur. Please take care of me."

(He’s the target for the Holy Knight route, huh...)

While Cain greeted them with a smile, he observed Chris out of the corner of his eye.

Indeed, Chris resembled the 12 to 18-year-old character from the game. Blue hair and light blue eyes, with a slightly droopy, sweet face.

At this young age, he just looked like a spoiled child.

Due to the age and size differences, the natural pairings were Cain with Geraint and Arundilano with Chris.

Training with Geraint was easier because they were similar in size. With adults, he could only hit their waist or stomach, and with Arundilano, he would accidentally hit his head when aiming for his torso.

Arundilano, who had always felt that everyone held back during training, seemed to be going all out with Chris.

"Our grandmother was Arundilano-sama’s nanny. So, we’ve been playing together since we were little and are good friends."

When Cain was watching Arundilano and Chris sparring, Geraint explained.

"Step-brothers?"

"Sort of... Our mother wasn’t a wet nurse, so we’re not exactly step-brothers."

Geraint spoke in a composed manner for a six-year-old. Compared to Selenosta, who used to laugh heartily while boasting about being the strongest rock, Geraint was quite mature.

"It’s good that His Highness Al has a friend his age."

When Cain said this, Geraint smiled and replied, "It’s good for you too, right?"

After the day’s training, as the two were about to leave with Fabian, Cain invited them to lunch.

When Cain asked Arundilano, "Is that okay?" Arundilano happily replied, "Sure!"

During lunch, Geraint showed a more age-appropriate side.

He threw food he didn’t like onto Chris’s plate and took food Chris didn’t like from his plate.

It seemed their likes and dislikes didn’t overlap, making the exchange of vegetables between their plates smooth.

"Geraint, Chris, you shouldn’t be picky eaters."

When Arundilano, puffing out his chest importantly, pointed this out, the Velfadia brothers looked embarrassed. However, Chris scowled and retaliated.

"Arundilano-sama can’t eat tomatoes either!"

As expected of childhood friends. They knew each other’s likes and dislikes, but this attack no longer affected Arundilano. Cain glanced at Arundilano and, as expected, saw a smug look on his face.

"Hehe! I can eat tomatoes now!"

Saying this, he speared a tomato from the vegetable plate with his fork and put it in his mouth.

Immediately, he squeezed his eyes shut, frowned, and chewed three times before swallowing with a gulp.

He then drank water from his cup vigorously.

"See!"

He puffed out his chest proudly, but it was clear he hadn’t overcome his dislike.

"You can eat them, but..."

"You’re still picky..."

"Facing and overcoming difficulties is admirable. His Highness Al is great."

Disliking food is difficult to change. If you don’t have to eat it, you don’t want to. That’s natural.

"Disliking food isn’t something that can be changed. Disliking it but still eating it is what’s great."

Cain said this to the brothers and absentmindedly patted Arundilano’s head. Arundilano, feeling proud of the praise and the pat, looked even more smug, but Cain, who was looking at the brothers, didn’t notice.

"How about starting by exchanging half of the food you dislike?"

The brothers looked at each other at Cain’s suggestion. "I’m not forcing you," he added, but they returned half of the disliked food to their plates.

Geraint put it in his mouth with a pained expression, and Chris pinched his nose, squeezed his eyes shut, and swallowed, then groaned.

Cain smiled at this.

They were good, honest children. For the Holy Knight route, it would be best to go with them to the Demon Forest to slay monsters or to preemptively deal with the Demon King.

"His Highness Al, next time, let’s work on pretending to eat food you dislike without showing it."

Cain casually gave Arundilano a task.

It’s difficult to like something you dislike, but pretending to eat it is important for nobles.

Although it might not come up, if Arundilano made a face while eating tomatoes during an inspection of a tomato farm, it would be embarrassing.

"Does Cain have anything he dislikes?"

Arundilano asked Cain from beside him.

He might not believe that Cain could eat something he dislikes with a straight face.

"Yes, I do. It’s on today’s lunch. See, I’m eating it with a straight face, right?"

Smiling, Cain showed them by eating a slice of onion. Arundilano, Geraint, and Chris watched Cain’s meal closely, trying to guess what he disliked.

"It’s cabbage, right!? You looked a bit serious!"

"Maybe not. Is it leek? You ate it with tomatoes."

"Then it’s tomatoes! You ate leeks with tomatoes because you dislike tomatoes!"

Cain deliberately ate with a straight face or a sly smile to confuse the three children.

This lively lunch became a regular habit after training from the next day on.

By the way, there were no carrots in that day’s lunch.

Cain had no intention of revealing his weakness so easily.

Thank you always for the bookmarks, ratings, and comments.

They are very encouraging.

There were many reactions to the hoya and carrots.