Chapter 143 - The Day of the Exchange Meeting (5)

“Well then, it was good to see your face after a while. Sister.”

I kept my senses sharp on Claudio's words and actions and watched him throughout his conversation with Regina, but surprisingly, there was nothing else noteworthy.

He had just shared trivial stories, like catching up, and showed no hidden intentions.

“……Hmm.”

Thud.

After the door closed, Regina also tilted her head with a peculiar expression. It seemed she was thinking the same thing as me.

“What do you think his intention was?”

“I know. He rarely visits in a situation like this.”

When I brought it up, Regina muttered with a puzzled expression. With the nuance that it wasn't a common occurrence.

“There’s only one possible reason I can think of……”

Then she lifted her head and glanced at me.

It seemed the Princess also thought that I was the reason for Claudio's unexpected visit.

Although she couldn't pinpoint the exact reason.

And after a moment, Regina changed the subject as if to shake off her thoughts.

“……Well, there's no point in continuing to think about something we don't know. Let's set it aside for now.”

“I suppose that would be best.”

I agreed as well.

Thump.

Right after my words ended, Regina stood up from the chair she was sitting on.

“Now, shall we head to the hall? It's about time-”

And then she extended her hand to me. Come to think of it, it was about time for the Exchange Meeting to begin.

“I’ll leave the escort to you, right? Prince.”

Hmm.

Was she telling me to take her hand now and escort her to the hall?

‘No matter how I look at it, this is just asking for trouble.’

It seemed like it would attract a lot of unnecessary attention.

“Hmph?”

However, regardless of my thoughts, Regina was still smiling with her hand extended.

I would know without having to be told that there was a meaning of pressure in that smile.

Then what choice did I have?

“……It is an honor.”

That was that.

***

The escort itself wasn't such a troublesome task. At most, it was just holding Regina's hand from the front as she descended the stairs to assist with her steps.

However, when I thought about the kind of gazes I would receive when we went down to the hall… my head throbbed.

“Haa.”

It probably wasn't surprising that such a short sigh escaped me unconsciously.

This was because Rain Enlight's body fundamentally felt quite uncomfortable receiving someone's gaze.

But if I let out a sigh at such a close distance, what kind of reaction would Regina show?

“Oh my, are you dissatisfied?”

She said to me with a sly smile.

“……No. I'm just a little nervous.”

I quickly composed myself as well.

But the smile on Regina's lips showed no sign of disappearing.

“This kind of thing will happen more than once or twice in the future, so wouldn't it be better for you to adapt quickly?”

If anything, she added to the conversation.

“It's not just once or twice.”

Is that so? When I asked back, Regina nodded slightly.

“Didn't I tell you on the first day? That we might… be able to become friends. Becoming my friend means that. Living in the same world as me.”

Ah.

Was she talking about the day I first saw Regina?

If I thought of it that way, it could be so, but…….

“……Then are we… friends now?”

I asked the question that came to mind.

Because those words were like saying that Regina had acknowledged me as a friend now.

“Well?”

However, Regina wasn't the type of person to give the answer I wanted in such a situation.

She just shrugged her shoulders slyly, as if to tease me more.

“Perhaps we could go even further.”

“……”

Go further.

I desperately wanted to ask what that meant, but I didn't have the time.

Because while we were talking, we had already reached the 2nd floor.

In other words, it also meant that we had arrived at the scene where the Exchange Meeting was taking place.

-It's Her Highness the Princess……!

-It's true, her grace is as ever.

-But next to her is…….

When we, or more accurately, Regina, appeared in the hall, the scene became very noisy.

The same was true for the 1st floor, where we were not clearly visible.

It could be due to the fact that the Princess had appeared, and the presence emanating from Regina's beautiful appearance and dress.

However, what drew people's attention more than anything else was the essence of the

Princess as a being.

The essence of a being who naturally receives the attention of the people she will rule.

It meant that no one in the place could resist that essence and turn their head away. There was no reason to.

“Huhu.”

Regina waved her hand lightly towards the hall. As if showing off the余裕 of one who would one day be a monarch.

“……”

However, if there was one bad thing, it was that the gazes directed at Regina were also directed at me.

-The one escorting her is… isn't that the illegitimate son of the Enlight family?

-The ruined prince. I heard rumors that he was associating with Her Highness the Princess, but to think he would be with her at a place like this.

-Isn't this a matter that could be a problem for her dignity?

As the focus on Regina's atmosphere loosened, such voices also reached my ears.

Voices that clearly defined me as a being who could not associate with Regina.

And, voices that subtly disparaged Regina for associating with someone like me.

“……”

My mind was full of resentment, but perhaps because of my ingrained sense of defeat, my body could feel itself instinctively shrinking.

And at the same time, I felt my way of thinking being eroded by negativity.

‘Is it really okay for me to be in this place?’

‘Isn't my existence rather harming Regina?’

‘Do I even have the right to be with Regina?’

I had put on all sorts of bluffs in front of Yuna, but when I actually faced a situation like this, I was lost in negative thoughts.

Yes, it was truly pathetic.

……As I was lost in such thoughts.

“-It's alright, Prince.”

What came to my ears was not the bustling gossip of the nobles, but a single whisper.

Regina's voice, which had a captivating and alluring atmosphere that charmed people even if unintended.

With that voice, Regina was speaking.

“You have the right to be here. I, who stand at the pinnacle of this nation's authority, guarantee it.”

“……”

“So, hold your head high. My friend.”

That she, who is at the pinnacle of authority, guarantees it.

What an arrogant thing to say. It wasn't just simple arrogance because it was an undeniable fact.

I wondered what I should say in reply, setting aside those negative thoughts for a moment.

Am I sorry for suddenly becoming like this?

Am I grateful for you saying so?

No. There was a different answer that Regina wanted.

“I understand.”

I said so calmly, completely erasing the previous wavering from my voice.

Just as she had confidently held her head high and faced the world no matter what predicament she was in in the original Arche.

Just as she had coolly and confidently committed the evil that was the only means left to her.

Just as if nothing had happened.

“Good.”

Was my choice the right answer? The whisper Regina left in my ear even seemed to have a hint of satisfaction.

***

Having composed myself like that, I remained by Regina's side and calmly attended to her.

At first, the knights of noble birth, regardless of whether they were from the Princess's Faction or the Crown Prince's Faction, seemed to look at me with contempt, but the atmosphere changed when the Princess continued to take me with her and openly protected me.

-I've heard a lot about you recently, that you're achieving surprising results at the academy.

It's truly good to see.

-The system established by the late Emperor is shining through you. The late Emperor would surely be pleased as well.

Perhaps the knights who seemed to belong to the Princess's Faction, while talking to the Princess, also left such words for me.

‘Hmm.’

Was it because of my sharpened senses? There were some who whispered while looking at me.

However, I didn't show any signs of discomfort on the outside. The reason was what Regina had told me before.

-Even if it's disgusting, endure it, Prince. If you're my knight, you have to at least do politics.

Because of this, I just calmly bowed my head and replied.

“It is an honor. I will continue to strive forward.”

This too was as Regina had advised beforehand; she said I didn't need to give long answers.

-A taciturn demeanor suits your impression, Prince, so just give short answers. Of course, you must be mindful of humility and dignity.

She said that with my achievements so far, such reticence would rather be a plus.

As Regina had predicted, I couldn't find any dissatisfaction from those I talked with.

Although there were some who looked somewhat reluctant to be talking with an illegitimate son at a place like this.

‘It’s going well.’

At any rate, the Exchange Meeting was going smoothly. I had gotten to know many knights and was also doing a good job of attending to Regina.

Still, I wanted to walk around a bit and hang out with some comfortable people.

‘Well, Regina said it would be fine as long as I stick with her only at the beginning of the Exchange Meeting… I guess I'll endure a little longer.’

Perhaps thanks to Regina's encouraging whisper earlier. I didn't feel that burdened either.

And as I was thinking that, a voice came to my ears.

“Haha, Your Highness the Princess. It has been a long time!”

The voice of an old man, who showed no signs of nervousness in front of the Princess, but rather laughed heartily.

At first glance, one might think such behavior was rude, but what was felt from that laughter and voice was not simple magnanimity or meddlesomeness.

Because the spirit and intelligence that lay within were easily recognizable even amidst that loud laughter.

“Oh my, isn't it the former Protector of the Nation.”

“It has been a long time since I was the Protector of the Nation!”

Protector of the Nation.

Hearing those words, I turned my head to look at the owner of the voice who was talking to Regina.

An old man with prominent white hair among his black hair, yet radiating a powerful aura around him without a doubt about his health.

When I saw the old man, I could easily tell his identity. No, to be precise, I had no choice but to know.

The former Protector of the Nation, Jared Augustus.

Because he was the First Astro of 『Ad Astra』, the main villain group of Arche.

Well, of course, he didn't operate under that name within Ad Astra. So shall I change it to a name more familiar to us and me?

As Salvatio, the ‘Apostle of Salvation’, who fought Serene during the previous academy attack.