By Zephyria 
“……”
His small head nodded up and down without denying it. He was always cute, but a child being honest for once was even cuter. I stroked Carlisle’s head, saying I was surprised he suddenly left yesterday.
Even if he wasn’t Grand Duke Graham, but just a young master from a normal noble family, a servant from another family acting so casually, even daring to stroke his head, would be a signal that they wanted to leave this world immediately. But Carlisle didn’t say anything and obediently pushed his head closer to me, as if telling me to stroke it more.
Wow. He’s really cute. Kyle, the adultery enthusiast, or the Crown Prince, who never lets you relax, or Lennox, who smiles in a way that makes the viewer uncomfortable even after you change his past. Among those crazy guys, this mild flavor is such a healing feeling just to look at. There should be at least one like this among the capture targets.
“You know, Young Master. As I told you yesterday, I don’t have much time left. There’s something I want to tell you…”
Strike while the iron is hot. I was trying to get the main point out of the way first.
“No, today my business comes first.”
Carlisle, who had straightened his head, opened his mouth in a solemn tone that didn’t suit his youthful voice. Even if he’s young, he’s still a great noble. I could feel a strange sense of pressure. I smiled brightly, saying, “Yes, please tell me.” As long as he didn’t run away from me like yesterday, there wouldn’t be any major problems, so the situation was just relaxed.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while… I’ll make a formal proposal.”
“About what?”
“You… How about leaving Hamilton and working for Graham? I’ll give you a generous salary. Exactly twice, no, three times what you’re getting now. If it’s difficult to talk to Young Master Hamilton, I can tell him directly.”
Pfft. I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Did he really not want to be separated from me that much? He ran away with such a shocked face yesterday, and then spent the whole night thinking about this?
As a smile spread across my face, Carlisle’s face became even more solemn. He was subtly sulking. Anyway, no matter how grown-up he acts, he’s still a child.
“Why are you laughing? Is my proposal that funny?”
“Ahaha, no, no. Not at all. But Young Master’s expression is so serious. Why are you making such a serious joke?”
“It’s not a joke. I’m serious, so I’m being serious.”
Carlisle stomped one foot! He frowned as much as he could. But with his small body, barely reaching my chest, it wasn’t threatening at all.
“I’m grateful that you’re serious. To give me such a precious proposal when we haven’t even known each other for long.”
“I’m glad you know it’s a precious proposal.”
“But, I can’t leave Hamilton. I won’t leave.”
Hmm. Is it about time? I can reveal my identity first and then hand over the diary. Carlisle isn’t the type to dwell on such things.
“Why? Young Master Hamilton, whom you serve, is a man with a nasty disposition who gives difficult instructions in places he doesn’t even know. Why would you… Perhaps you have family you left behind? If so, you can bring as many as you want to Graham!”
No, no. This Young Master. Can you say this without revealing your identity? From hiring outsiders in Graham Castle at will to accepting the immigration of several people, it all exceeded the level that the Graham branch family could do?
Perhaps because Carlisle’s expression was so serious, I wanted to tease him a little. I widened my eyes as much as possible and asked, “Young Master? How?
“Are you perhaps very, very close to the direct line of descent? Moving from the imperial center to the northern autonomous territory requires the permission of the lord, right?”
“…That’s.”
“Huh? Huh? Oh, what should I do! If Young Master was such a high-ranking person, then, all the things I’ve done so far…! And you ordered me to transfer to Graham, so perhaps, are you trying to punish me…!”
I took a step back, pretending to be exaggeratedly surprised. Carlisle, caught in a panic, didn’t even see the smile on my lips and waved his hands frantically, saying, “No, that’s not it!”
Oh, this cute thing. I’ve teased him enough, so I was about to reap the final reward.
Whoosh, thud!
A stray arrow from somewhere flew straight towards me and Carlisle. It was blocked by the protective barrier of the magic tool the Crown Prince had given me, but if I hadn’t habitually brought the artifact that I thought was unnecessarily excessive, our heads would have been lightly shattered before we even realized it. What, what’s going on all of a sudden…?
But there was no time for such thoughts. Before I could even let out a gasp of shock, a rough shout came from behind, “The Grand Duke is here! The inner palace garden!”
Whoosh, whoosh, thud!
Sharp arrowheads poured down on us in succession, and the artifact I was wearing like a bracelet cracked with a sound, as if its durability had run out. I instinctively grabbed Carlisle’s wrist. Who knew that the magic tools that seemed unnecessarily numerous when I received them would be so useful.
“If we don’t take this opportunity, we may never be able to drive out that dirty blood again. Everyone, run!”
“Let’s wipe out the Graham bloodline!”
“It’s here!”
Soon, a group of assassins suddenly appeared from the corner of the garden. Understanding the situation could wait. I met Carlisle’s trembling eyes and said just one word.
“Run away now!”
“…I’m sorry, it’s all because of me,”
“Shh. Be quiet.”
We were hiding under the shade of a large tree. Carlisle’s face had been pale since a while ago, and I was covering Carlisle’s lips with my palm, who was muttering as if he was guilty, and closely watching the movements around us.
I was out of breath. Carlisle also seemed to have reached the limit of his stamina, but even taking a deep breath was a luxury for someone being chased. I just needed to catch my breath for even a minute and then move again.
The fact that we were able to escape safely up to this point was all thanks to the power of the magic tools that the Crown Prince had given me when I came down to the Graham territory. I had been carrying them around habitually, thinking I might be able to use them when finding the diary… I couldn’t use them to find the diary, but I used them in a different place. The Crown Prince probably didn’t anticipate this situation when he gave me the items, but still.
It was hard to believe that just a few hours ago, I was surrounded by the warm air of the garden like late spring. The forest, densely covered with conifers, was eerily silent.
Ominous black smoke was rising from Graham Castle, which was visible in the distance like a shadow. Was there a fire…? I hope Nicole is safe? I can trust the skills of the knights that the Crown Prince personally selected and sent… I tried to calm my anxious heart. There’s no point in panicking in this urgent situation.
The assassins were clearly targeting the ‘Graham bloodline’. Not the Graham Grand Ducal Family, or the Graham clan…, but the Graham bloodline. It must be another branch within the Dartmouth royal family targeting Graham.
Since it would be difficult to target the life of the Grand Duke, who had already finished growing, it was indeed reasonable to target the young heir first.
But…
But, why?
“I think it’s this way.”
“Search every nook and cranny. They definitely couldn’t have gone far!”
“Yes!”
Why at this point, this kind of thing?
Graham Ducal Palace being attacked like this was an event that appeared every time in the original game’s Carlisle route. Yes, when I was with Carlisle, who had already realized his feelings for Allen and grown into a complete adult with a weak appearance but great power, it was definitely an ‘event’. An insignificant event where Carlisle, who had wonderfully defeated the blades that threatened him, couldn’t overcome his emotions and kissed Allen for the first time.
The strong wolf beastman Graham was something to look forward to only after he had finished growing. The Carlisle Grand Duke in front of me right now was just… a helpless child. The only thing that was a bit too expensive was his life.
Use your head, Noah Hamilton. Are you going to die like a dog like this? In the end, you can’t change anything and you’ll go back to the morning of seventeen again, and go through this process again? I refuse to do that.
“There are footprints here! It’s around here!”
I gritted my teeth, grabbed Carlisle’s hand, and started running again. The Crown Prince’s unusually worried expression, which always seemed relaxed, and the magic tools that he had packed so excessively. The Crown Prince’s knights, who seemed particularly skilled. My head was spinning with various thoughts, but the only two things that were urgent right now were:
Running away. And, surviving.
“Huff, huff, cough…”
Is this where luck runs out? I’ve been out of breath for a long time, and my side is aching to the point of throbbing. The magic tool that had somehow kept me and Carlisle alive until now was supposed to increase our running speed, but unfortunately, it had used up all its uses just ten seconds ago and shattered in my palm.
“Damn it…, I’m going crazy…”
I didn’t even have enough breath to pant, but I couldn’t help but swear. I couldn’t bear it otherwise. I managed to create some distance by running away with the power of magic, but if the place that appeared in front of me was a cliff, wouldn’t that be understandable?
“Why does it have to be called the Cliff of Lamentation of all things…? Wow, it really lives up to its name…”
I muttered in vain, ignoring Carlisle, who was just panting next to me. This cliff was where the last king of the Dartmouth dynasty, driven by rebels, jumped to avoid at least a humiliating death. Just a few days ago, when Nicole said she had gone to see it with a Graham servant, I never thought I would come here myself.
“I’m sorry. It’s because of me. This is, it’s because of me. I made you get involved, I’m really…, really sorry. Actually, I’m…”
“Young Master is actually Graham Young Master? Yes, it wouldn’t make sense if I didn’t know that in this situation. I have something I didn’t say either, so let’s skip that. What’s important now is not that, but how to survive. Is there a secret passage or something nearby? Huh? There is? There is, right?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Wow. If I wasn’t being chased, I would have hit my chest and shouted. What’s the point of hiding my identity in this situation…? Wait a minute, hiding my identity? That’s right. Why didn’t I think of this sooner!
“Young Master, take off your clothes.”