Chapter 57

“Why are you so against this? Aren’t you seeking revenge? We have to use every advantage we can get.”

“This is different. You don’t need to get involved with the Second Prince. It won’t affect the plan.”

“My guild will introduce uniforms, and every guild created after mine will follow suit.”

“So?”

“That’s why we need to secure a designer now! Before another guild snaps him up!”

Duke Ruthius stopped and turned to face me. I met his gaze directly.

“If we miss our chance with Louis, the Emperor will snatch him up. Are you still going to say this has no impact?”

“…”

“I don’t know about you, Duke, but I refuse to compromise on anything that might help *him* in the slightest.”

After scrutinizing my face for a long moment, he spoke.

“Is that the only reason?”

“What do you mean?”

“There are many designers. We could hire any number of famous ones instead of him. You know this, don’t you?”

“…”

“And yet, you accepted his ridiculous demands. That means you have another reason.”

“Another reason?”

“To fulfill some personal desire, for instance.”

I flinched.

He spoke as if he could see right through to my desire for designer uniforms—a dream from my past life.

Hit squarely where it hurt, I instinctively averted my gaze.

“P-Personal desire? I just don’t want to lose him to someone else.”

“Is this really necessary?”

“Yes.”

“Even when there are alternatives?”

“I don’t want anyone else.”

“…Is he really that good?”

Duke Ruthius asked, his voice laced with a sigh.

He seemed to have realized he had no choice but to back down on this matter.

With the mood lightened, I gave a small shrug.

“Of course. He’s the best.”

“Take away the beauty, and there’s nothing left.”

“You must not know because you’re from an older generation. These days, looks are everything.”

“Everything?”

“When you have no information about someone, you have to rely on what you see, right? Appearances are that important.”

“…”

“Should I be more direct? It’s the same reason a handsome villain is far more popular than an ugly, kind person.”

“…”

“Honestly, isn’t that how you were able to marry Mother?”

At the mention of Marcella, Duke Ruthius clenched his jaw.

“I don’t know how such a misunderstanding came about… but Marcella did not love me for my looks.”

“Did you ask her yourself?”

“…”

“Then do you believe your inner self is beautiful enough for someone to love?”

“…”

“You should be glad you’re handsome.”

Struck speechless, Duke Ruthius fell silent.

“So, you’ll arrange the meeting with the Second Prince, right?”

“…Fine.”

My heart feeling much lighter, I started walking again.

The path to the parking area was behind the main street. It was shaded and deserted, unlike the bustling thoroughfare.

*It’s nice and quiet.*

The thought had barely crossed my mind when a group of burly, muscular thugs appeared across the street.

The reason I judged them to be thugs was simple.

*Are masks in fashion these days? Suddenly, I want to see that masked Paladin. You could feel his handsomeness even with his face covered. These guys, on the other hand… not so much.*

Duke Ruthius and I stopped at the same time.

“Duke Ruthius, Princess Astell. You’ll have to come with us for a moment.”

As if he couldn’t be bothered to speak to mere ruffians, Duke Ruthius arrogantly turned his head away.

*Ugh, what a difficult man.*

I stepped forward and asked in his stead.

“And who are you?”

“You don’t need to know that. You’ll just be staying in a safe place for a few days. As long as you do as we say, nothing dangerous will happen. Come quietly.”

Kidnapping and confinement? What’s the reason?

“Sorry, can’t. My dad told me not to follow strangers.”

Only then did Duke Ruthius tilt his head slightly.

“When did I ever say that?”

“…Duke, please be quiet.”

“Did you have another father besides me?”

“…Is that really what you’re curious about right now?”

“Yes. I need to know immediately.”

“It’s what parents are supposed to tell their children! You never even told me something that basic, so what right do you have to interrogate me about it?”

“Ah, I see.”

Despite my scolding, Duke Ruthius merely twitched an eyebrow.

He looked so infuriating that I was about to let him have it, but one of the thugs cut in, looking flustered.

“What do you two think you’re doing! Are you ignoring us?”

Duke Ruthius and I nodded in unison.

“Yeah, we’ve been ignoring you for a while now.”

“It seems you’ve only just realized.”

“You’re slow for a lackey. I don’t know who the mastermind is, but their standards are obvious, aren’t they?”

“I would never entrust a job to someone like this. I’d rather handle it myself. Minimizing the number of people involved is the shortcut to success. You should remember that.”

“I already know that.”

Seeing that Duke Ruthius and I were about to start bantering again, the thug recoiled and roared.

“Enough! Stop it! I see you’re trying to stall for time, but we’re done playing games. Now, decide! Will you come quietly! Or will you come after we’ve shed some blood!”

“You’re the ones who need to choose. Will you give up quietly and walk away, or will you crawl away after I’m done with you?”

The thug flinched, then sent a signal somewhere.

The group then grew from three to five.

I grumbled to Duke Ruthius.

“Why do you wander around without an escort, Duke, getting us into situations like this?”

“…Are you saying this is my fault?”

“Well, it is. If you just had an escort, we wouldn’t have run into scum like this.”

“A Sword Master does not keep an escort.”

“Seriously, what era are you living in? Do you think you’re still in your twenties? You’re at an age where you should be using a cane.”

Duke Ruthius’s eyes narrowed sharply.

I ignored his glare and continued grumbling, then frowned.

The group I thought was five had continued to grow.

“Fifteen? You’ve got to be kidding me. You cowardly bastards.”

“Astell, such foul language. Maintain your dignity.”

“You want to lecture me in a situation like this?”

“Dignity is not something you maintain only when the time and place are convenient.”

“So I’m supposed to handle these guys by myself while you worry about dignity? How convenient for you.”

“What makes you think you’re alone?”

I turned and looked up at Duke Ruthius. Keeping his gaze fixed forward, he continued.

“I may be rusty, but I’m not so pathetic as to hide behind my own child.”

“…”

As a Sword Master, he must have been a master of combat.

But that was in his prime. A past that was now more than twenty years gone.

Besides, since he could no longer hold a sword, he wouldn’t have been able to train.

*He’d be lucky to display even a quarter of his old skill.*

Duke Ruthius couldn’t possibly be unaware of that, so his words were a declaration of stubbornness.

A warning not to even think about leaving him out.

My head throbbing, I pressed my temples.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay? What will you do if you jump in and break a bone?”

“I was a Sword Master. I can handle this many.”

“That was a long time ago. You’re at an age where you should be worried about osteoporosis.”

“…Just how old do you think I am? Eighty? Ninety?”

“Even so, you can’t even hold a sword. Your legs must hurt, so why don’t you just sit over there and watch?”

Duke Ruthius’s eyebrow twitched in annoyance.

“Even back then, I never needed a sword to deal with rabble like this. The power I built myself could be wielded freely.”

“…”

“Ah, but I suppose you wouldn’t understand, having gained the power of a Hunter overnight. Why don’t *you* sit over there and watch?”

“…I’m plenty strong even without a Hunter’s power, you know.”

“Then shall we see that skill?”

“Fine by me. I wanted to see the skills of a Sword Master anyway. But just fighting is no fun, so let’s make a bet.”

“A bet?”

“Whoever takes down more of them gets a wish granted by the other. How about it?”

“…”

“Are you afraid the gap between us will be too embarrassing? Fine. I won’t use a sword either. Or hey, maybe I won’t even use my hands.”

Duke Ruthius spat the words through clenched teeth.

“You… will regret saying that.”