HRB 137

Eddie blinked for a while, unable to comprehend the situation. When had he started touching me so suggestively through my clothes?

“Wait, wait.”

Eddie tried to stop Ketron in his panic, but Ketron, whose face had naturally shifted from one of pity to that of a younger lover whose desires had awakened, threw off his own top.

Eddie, blushing at the sight of his shoulders, still bearing marks from the King, and his chest, still showing signs of congestion, pouted.

He couldn’t pretend to be ignorant now that things had come this far.

“……I’m tired.”

He hastily used his go-to excuse with Ketron, “I’m tired,” but Ketron was well-defended at times like these.

“Just stay still. I’ll do the moving.”

That’s not the problem!

Ketron smiled charmingly as if nothing was wrong. And, annoyingly, he was still incredibly handsome.

Eddie had realized recently that Ketron must have understood how effective his face was as a weapon against Eddie. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to smile so seductively…

Fearing he would truly be overpowered, Eddie quickly grabbed Ketron’s thick forearm.

“I still have things I need to tell you, like a big secret in this world, and who I met after I was attacked…”

“Eddie.”

But Ketron clearly wasn’t listening to Eddie.

“We have plenty of time.”

“Let’s talk slowly, I’ll be gentle.”

Saying that, Ketron buried his face in Eddie’s neck. Eddie’s expression turned astonished as he felt a wet tongue trace his neck.

‘Huh? Uh oh?’

This happened one day, not long before the expedition.

After that, the preparations for the expedition seemed to gain wings.

Naturally, the atmosphere was more solemn than lively. Everyone didn’t believe that all those going on the expedition would return alive.

Sacrifices were inevitable, and any one of them could have been a family member or neighbor. The entire nation’s mood naturally sank into melancholy.

Ten days after Eddie woke up, the Demon King subjugation force finally completed its preparations for departure.

Naturally, Eddie was not included in the subjugation force.

Not only were his physical specs utterly ordinary, but his status was that of royalty. Even if Eddie had been a reasonably good Swordsman or Magician, his status would have prevented him from joining the force.

And Sebastian was in the same position.

“Haaaaa.”

“Haaaaa.”

On the day of the subjugation force’s departure, the two of them gathered in the mansion’s hall, sighing so deeply they seemed to be trying to collapse the floor.

Naturally, Ketron, Gerold, Ebon, and others who would form the core of the subjugation force were at the Imperial Palace making their final preparations, leaving Eddie and Sebastian alone in the mansion.

Of course, the mansion would soon be empty. Both of them were scheduled to stay elsewhere for a while.

With most of the mansion’s residents leaving for the expedition, Eddie and Sebastian had naturally decided to move their residences.

The Emperor’s persuasion that it would be better for Eddie to move to the Imperial Palace than to divide the security personnel during such a turbulent time had been effective.

As for Sebastian, he had waved his hands in refusal when Eddie suggested they go to the Imperial Palace together.

“The Imperial Palace? Just hearing the words makes me uncomfortable.”

“Still…”

“I’m genuinely, truly uncomfortable. If that’s your idea of consideration, please forget it.”

He had vehemently objected and decided to take paid leave until the expedition members returned, heading back to his family home for a while.

Eddie stared at Sebastian, who was recoiling at the mention of the Imperial Palace, for a long time before saying,

“But Sebastian.”

“Yes?”

“If you’re going to live with Gerold anyway, you’ll have to get used to noble life.”

“……”

Was Gerold just any ordinary noble? He was a direct descendant of Marquis Rivalt’s family, a key noble in the Emperor’s faction. The epitome of a young master.

If people were lined up by their perceptiveness, Eddie, who stood firmly at the tail end, would still know what kind of relationship Sebastian and Gerold had. They made it too obvious.

Instead of denying his relationship with Gerold, Sebastian chose to blush and remain silent.

In any case, the two of them, who were involuntarily moving, spent their time blankly watching their belongings, which had accumulated in the short time they had lived there, being moved.

Ketron, Gerold, Ebon, and even the Holy Sword.

Everyone who made up the mansion was leaving for the expedition. Eddie felt restless.

…What if they were to be defeated?

Eddie shook his head, dismissing the unpleasant thought. Such bad luck.

While Eddie had been incapacitated, Gerold and Ebon had already decided to join the Demon King subjugation force, and Eddie couldn’t change that outcome.

“I told you, I’m going to kill that Demon King bastard!”

Ebon, who openly displayed his loyalty to Eddie, was a given.

“It’s for you, for my brother, and for the country. You don’t need to feel indebted.”

Gerold spoke indirectly like this, but he didn’t deny that the expedition was for Eddie’s sake.

Neither Ebon, who had been shouting about defeating the Demon King while Eddie was unconscious, nor Gerold, who advanced with anger built up from the depths of his being, could be stopped.

His own created characters were going on an expedition to protect him. In a way, it could be considered romantic, but Eddie’s heart was just heavy with complexity.

Their specs were so outstanding they would stand out like needles in this world. Enough to be worthy companions for the Hero.

That must be why they were chosen as Ketron’s second companions.

Eddie just felt uneasy. Gerold and Ebon going on the expedition felt like a story unfolding exactly as it was written.

But the story was gone, and their joining would undeniably contribute greatly to humanity’s victory.

All Eddie could do was hope the three of them would return safely.

“I’m a spirit attached to a sword, so I have to move according to Ketron’s will, but still…”

The Holy Sword, Albatross, with its radiant beauty, openly expressed its disappointment.

“If I were human, I might have just stayed by your side? That would have been more interesting.”

The Holy Sword, saying this with a suggestive expression, was forcibly returned to its sword form by Ketron and dragged away, suffering indignity.

So, on this day when everyone left for the Imperial Palace to prepare, Eddie, having finally finished his moving preparations, headed towards the Imperial Palace.

“Good morning, Paki-nim.”

The one escorting Eddie to the Imperial Palace was none other than Augustine.

“Hello, Augustine.”

Eddie smiled awkwardly at the battle priest, who always boasted a refreshing smile. Augustine, who had learned Eddie’s true identity and regained his memories, seemed to have a slightly… how should he put it.

More clingy* demeanor. In the past, there had seemed to be at least a thin wall, but these days, he seemed to have no reservations when interacting with Eddie.

It was probably because the title of “friend’s lover” took precedence over being a prince.

Of course, the honorifics naturally changed to Paki-nim, and his speech became polite, but the psychological distance had clearly shortened.

“I’m sorry to bother you when you’re busy.”

“No, no. It’s fine. It’s Ketron who needs to run around frantically, not me.”

Augustine laughed heartily, saying, “It’s convenient not to be in a position where I need to be on the front lines.”

“Besides, it’s something that guy insisted on. Your safety seems to be the most important thing to him.”

Eddie couldn’t help but blush at those words. He had never done it before, but it felt like he was flaunting his relationship with his friends in a showy, dramatic way.

In any case, it was obvious that Augustine had gone out of his way to personally escort him, as he was one of those departing today, so Eddie thanked him and bowed several times.

Once they were in the carriage together, Augustine started it moving, then glanced at Eddie with a smile a few times before slowly opening his mouth.

“Why do you have that look like your country is falling?”

Instead of pretending ignorance and asking, “Me?”, Eddie gave a bitter smile.

“Because it feels like my country is about to crumble right now…”

Even though he had just spoken carelessly, Augustine understood Eddie’s words perfectly.

“Are you worried about Ketron?”

“Yes. And about you, Augustine-ssi.”

At that, Augustine smiled and said, “Thank you.” It wasn’t mere politeness; it was Eddie’s genuine sentiment as well.

Whether it was the Augustine he first encountered in the original work or the Augustine he met in person, he was a person who was the embodiment of bright energy, so earnest. Eddie felt the same way about not wanting to lose him.

“Still, it’s nice.”

It wasn’t the most appropriate response to someone expressing worry, especially to someone with Augustine’s personality. Eddie tilted his head.

“What is?”

“That there’s someone who worries about him and wishes for his return.”

Ketron is an orphan. He was a person who always had nowhere to return.

As he grew older and met companions, his companions became his nest, but he lost even that through a painful betrayal.

For him, the place to return to, and the person who most wished for his return, was none other than by Eddie’s side.

“It’s fortunate that you found him.”

Seeing Augustine genuinely grateful for that fact, Eddie said nothing.

The carriage, picking up speed, gradually approached the Imperial Palace.