Turning
chapter-323

"Look at the dishes in this display cabinet. The gold trim is quite beautiful, isn't it? They must be very expensive."

"I saw some dishes just like these in another place earlier. They're so plain. Want to go count how many identical ones are here? It'll be quick if we use the wind ability."

"Sounds fun!"

"Why are there so many paintings of people here? I'd be too scared to come in at night, fearing making eye contact."

The Cavalry members' behavior as they explored the lavishly decorated mansion was bolder, brighter, and noisier than ever before. Watching the confused servants of the Willhem family scurrying around after them, Yuder felt a sense of déjà vu from a visit to the Apeto Duke's mansion.

‘Back then, the servants couldn't hide their contemptuous glances at the Cavalry members.’

Perhaps the reason the members were acting rowdier than necessary was that they felt those disdainful looks. Did they really need to show good behavior to those who would look down on them, whether the Cavalry members were behaving or showing more courtesy than nobles?

Comparing the present with the early days of entering the service, when they were intimidated before the Imperial Knights, Yuder swallowed his satisfaction, thinking it was truly a significant advancement.

"Yuder, shouldn't we go see the Commander soon? It seems like it's about time."

Sitting beside him, Ever, who had been wearing a refreshing expression, whispered in his ear. Yuder estimated the time and nodded, rising from his seat.

"...That's right. I'll go ahead."

"Good luck. Your role in this matter is the most important, after all."

Ever waved with a grin that was irresistibly joyful. Yuder let out a small sigh and turned his back.

Kishiar had predicted almost exactly the behavior of Duke Tain and Baron Willhem before coming to Tainu and planned to use it. The Tain family would think they were keeping the Cavalry members close and using Kishiar, but in fact, it was the opposite.

Kishiar was acting openly dissolute as Duke Peletta to lower the Tain family's guard and facilitate his later plans. To others, this behavior seemed rather like the well-known Duke Peletta, leaving no room for suspicion.

The only problem was that Kishiar wasn't the only one who had to act. No matter how wantonly Kishiar behaved, it was futile if his companions didn't support him, so everyone had been assigned their roles just before arriving at Tainu.

The Cavalry members had the role of a 'commoner group,' freely wandering the annex and thoroughly unnerving Baron Willhem and his servants. The Peletta Knights were assigned to loiter unnoticeably, lowering the surrounding vigilance. Yuder's role was entirely different from the others.

He saw the Tain family's servants gathered in front of Kishiar's nearby lodging. They were at a loss, neither daring to open the closed door nor leave, but they cleared the way, wearing strange expressions when they saw Yuder.

With looks mingled with fear, curiosity, and faint contempt, Yuder silently knocked on the closed door.

"Commander, I'm here."

"A person claiming to be me? Who am I, then?"

"...It's Yuder Aile."

At that, the closed door opened, and Kishiar poked his face out. The dazzling smile he blatantly displayed was so bright that it seemed to make the surroundings lose their light momentarily.

"Oh, my! My adorable assistant has finally arrived. Well, then, I can't not let you in. Come in, quickly."

"I, I... Your Grace. Baron Willhem has conveyed a message for... Your Grace!"

The servants of the Tain house who had gathered around were calling Kishiar desperately, but he calmly ignored their voices, gripping Yuder's waist and pulling him close. Yuder read clear astonishment in the eyes he met just before the door closed. A complicated emotion welled up inside him, and at the same time, Kishiar burst into bright laughter after looking at Yuder's expression.

"What's with that face?"

"...I was thinking whether it's really okay for me to play this role."

"Oh come on. I thought we all agreed on the necessity and purpose of the role of a cute lover to whom the lecherous Duke of Peletta is showing keen interest? If we remove some strange words from that, sure, I agreed. But that's because I didn't think I would be the one playing that role."

In the carriage on the way to Tainu, Kishiar had said that it wouldn't be difficult to portray the 'lecherous dissolute Duke of Peletta' that was rumored, but there was one problem. When asked what it was, the answer was that he would have to play with strangers whose identity was unknown.

"It's not only a waste of time but also highly dangerous. You never know who might approach with ill intent."

It made sense. However, leaving that part out wouldn't be in line with the character of the Duke of Peletta in the rumors. Therefore, Kishiar suggested adding the role of 'someone acting like a lover who is currently receiving much attention from the Duke of Peletta', and Yuder had reluctantly agreed.

The next day, Kishiar handed over that role to Yuder Aile in front of everyone. When Yuder protested, Kishiar silenced him with a perfectly reasonable explanation.

"There's no one better suited for this role than my constant companion. If I chose someone else, I would have to deliberately exclude other people around me, including my assistant, which would be bad for the progress of the plan. Also, once they know your true identity, they will start watching and attempting to trap you. By accepting this role, you could easily avoid such annoyances and dangers."

The fact that Yuder was a man wasn't a reason to refuse. Everyone knew well what Kishiar's and his second gender were, and since they were different, it would be better for embellishing the situation, and it would be easier to correct the facts afterward using the primary gender. Yuder was silent for a long time, looking at Kishiar, who calmly stated that everything had worked out well. Yuder didn't know when Kishiar had started planning this, but it was utterly foolproof.

However, to perform such a role while not holding hands with the other party in the present relationship seemed too cunning. It was even more so when he thought of their relationship in his previous life that Kishiar would not know about. But excluding those personal reasons, which he couldn't tell anyone, Kishiar's choice was highly efficient. That was the biggest problem.

Kishiar finally said that he would change his mind if anyone else volunteered, but of course, no one did until they arrived at Tainu.

And so, Yuder ended up with the single unique role.

‘I was wondering what I would have to do since he was so confident that there was no need for me to do anything special on my side, but…’

Kishiar's ability to control the reactions around him with slight changes in expression and small gestures was outstanding. Looking at the faces of the servants they had encountered earlier, it seemed that even if Yuder did nothing, everything would go according to that man's intention.

"By dinnertime, the rumors should have spread nicely. I'm looking forward to seeing Baron Willhem's expression at the feast."

Baron Willhem from Yuder’s previous life had died fleeing when the western area suffered heavy damage from monsters, so this was the first time anyone had actually seen his face. Yuder thought he looked remarkably weak for someone who had meddled with the Western Mage Union and Cavalry in order to profit, despite being a cunning schemer.

"When may I leave from here?"

"The servants of Baron Willhem are still waiting outside, so it's not wise to leave too soon. How about we have some tea together?"

"I understand. But do you intend to keep ignoring their summons? From what I heard earlier, it seems they have come to convey Baron Willhem's message."

"It's a request to come to the banquet with the person I'm designating. Probably wants to gauge my intentions by sending his family. It's not even worth responding to."

There was nothing more to say. Yuder sat down as Kishiar suggested and they drank tea together. Even if it was to kill time, he later thought that consuming most of the many refreshments on the table by himself was a bit excessive, but Kishiar didn’t seem to mind at all.

"Would you like to eat more?"

"No, I'm fine."

He probably wouldn't be able to eat much for dinner due to consuming so many refreshments. After judging that enough time had passed, Yuder rose from his seat to leave. Kishiar opened his mouth, striking a pose befitting a stubborn duke, resting his chin on his hand.

"Yuder."

"Yes."

"Before you go, I want to make one thing clear."

"Please, speak."

"The ensuing scandal is entirely my responsibility."

A nonchalant word made Yuder's mind stop for a moment. He couldn't take his eyes off Kishiar's smiling red lips, listening to the words that followed.

"No matter how much a role is just a role, and not real, it may be perceived differently by those who might misunderstand. I'll bear all responsibility for it. So don't even think about it, or accept anything else."

Yuder couldn't remember what response he gave to those words. When he came to his senses, he was already outside.

The two or three servants who had not given up and were still waiting outside the door were astonished and averted their eyes at the sight of Yuder. If their previous gaze had been one of fear and curious admiration towards the awakened commoner, this one clearly revealed a primary-colored curiosity on top of that.

However, that only brushed by Yuder momentarily. Watching the sticky glances that were shot past the door behind him, Yuder felt as though he had realized the meaning of what Kishiar had just said.

'Did he seriously say that I don't need to do anything on my end…?'

In the blink of an eye, his doubts turned to confusion, and his confusion to a numb emotion. Suddenly, an old memory that had tediously followed him from his previous life to now went pale. The old and rough resentment that never completely disappeared, even when suppressed, lost its place and wandered restlessly, but Yuder could not turn to look at them.

Even after the frightened servants had slowly disappeared from Kishiar's door, Yuder stood for a long time, dumbfounded, staring at the ground.