Under Alan's enthusiastic invitation, a stiffly-smiling Edna chose to flee in a panic. She didn't even want to stay and observe the afternoon's magic and swordsmanship lessons. The reason was likely that, in her eyes, Alan was too much of a loose cannon. A few more sword draws during the afternoon swordsmanship lesson might just shatter the professional demeanor she had maintained for decades.
That was something she absolutely could not accept.
Weren't swordsmen of the Water God Style supposed to be exceptionally calm? This one spoke pleasantly, acted with composure, and she had heard that most practitioners of the Water God Style served as knights in royal courts and noble houses around the world, giving them a very good reputation.
So why was this one just like Ghislaine when she first arrived at the Boreas estate, ready to draw his sword at a moment's notice?
Were all adventurers like this?
Just as Edna made her hasty departure and the group began to head down the corridor, a small problem arose.
"We're going to eat in the servants' dining hall, so Eris can't come with us."
"Why not!"
Eris stomped on the wooden floor of the corridor, expressing her dissatisfaction. Although it was a question, Eris knew very well that she was supposed to eat with her grandfather, father, and mother.
So her lip jutted out in a pout.
Rudeus ran a hand through his hair distractedly and turned to Alan, hoping he would save the day again.
But Alan seemed completely unconcerned by Eris's behavior, simply leading the way without a word.
Sylphie spoke up.
"Eris, you need to go eat upstairs. We'll see each other again soon," she said in a soothing, child-like tone.
"I know that! I'll just walk to the dining hall door! Someone will come to get me…"
Her voice trailed off.
They rounded a corner in the hallway.
Before them stood four beast-women.
They stood in a line as if they had been waiting, smiling sweetly at Alan.
Alan met the gaze of the cat-eared woman in the lead, then lowered his eyes.
"Eris, you'll be eating with us today after all."
"Huh? Really!"
The cat-eared woman, Eris's personal maid, stared straight at Alan, her smile unchanged.
"It's true. Mr. Alan is correct."
"Mr. Alan, Miss Sylphie, Young Master Rudeus."
"Lord Sauros has invited you to dine upstairs."
Led by the beast-women, the group made their way to the dining hall entrance.
The door was opened.
The first thing they saw was a massive floor-to-ceiling window.
A dining table was set before it.
Sunlight streamed through the stained glass, casting shimmering silhouettes and halos of light upon the three people seated at the table.
Philip, Sauros, and Hilda were already seated in their places. Their shadows stretched long across the floor.
Philip and his wife sat with impeccable, elegant posture, the shimmering, colorful light flickering across their faces.
Sauros, however, was sprawled back in the central chair, his legs stretched out and his arms crossed.
He spoke a single word.
"Sit."
His voice was powerful and commanding, befitting a former military official of the Asura Kingdom.
Except for Ghislaine, who, as a guard of the lord's mansion, was not suitable to join them at the table, the other four took their seats. Eris sat next to Sauros, her slightly wild posture now seeming quite ladylike compared to the source of her habits.
After paying their respects, Alan and the others sat down opposite them.
Rudeus had intended for Alan to sit in the middle, facing Sauros. 'King' facing 'king'—it made sense. But as he went to sit, his self-proclaimed 'king' gently patted his shoulder and 'guided' him into the central seat.
It wasn't until his bottom was firmly on the chair and Sauros's beard came into view that Rudeus belatedly realized what had happened.
??
How did I end up sitting here?
Where's my king?
He turned his head.
His king had his eyes lowered, stirring the vegetable soup before him with an unreadable smile on his lips.
Rudeus's mouth twitched, and his eyes darted around the room. He took in the seating arrangement at the table:
Alan was by the window, seated opposite Philip. The smiling Philip watched him with great interest, but Alan did not look up to meet his gaze.
Rudeus was in the center, directly across from Sauros. The lord sat with his arms crossed, looking down on the three of them like an old but still formidable lion.
Sylphie was near the door. She glanced at Alan, then gave Hilda a demure nod. Hilda had her head slightly turned, her unfocused gaze seemingly fixed on the vegetable soup in front of Rudeus. When she noticed Sylphie's gesture, she blinked and met Sylphie's eyes with a gentle smile.
Sauros waved away the maids who came forward to serve them.
The moment the door closed.
"The matter with Thomas has been investigated."
He was direct, making no attempt to be subtle. He turned to Alan and got straight to the point.
"Good kill."
Seeing that Sauros had nothing more to say, Philip waited a moment before adding with a smile.
"I investigated yesterday. Besides colluding with high-ranking nobles in the capital, Thomas committed many other crimes. He shielded relatives in official positions who were embezzling funds, privately skimmed profits from the potion workshop, and had over 700 gold coins in illicit funds hidden in his home."
"Initially, I was supposed to mediate and placate the various factions in the city, but Father decided to handle it personally. In a single afternoon, he 'purged' all of Thomas's dependents."
"Hmph. You're always too slow and indecisive when I leave things to you."
"Your lesson is well-received, Father."
Alan's expression didn't change, but Hilda, who was hearing the full story of what happened after Thomas's death for the first time, had a flicker of shock on her face.
Purged?
That meant they were all killed.
The officials, factions, and relatives connected to Thomas, big and small, would have numbered in the hundreds.
Yesterday afternoon, they were all turned into corpses.
Her attention yesterday had been more focused on her own emotional state, so she hadn't paid much attention to these matters. Only now did she realize how serious the situation with Thomas had been.
So, when Alan suddenly killed the man yesterday... had he been given orders?
But how was that something a tutor should do?
A tutor?
Hilda blinked rapidly, her eyebrows rising slightly.
Father and her 'dear husband's' attitude toward this boy Alan was a bit strange...
Could it be that yesterday morning was another one of her 'dear husband's' 'tests'? Was he actually testing Alan to prepare for recruiting him in the future?
She subconsciously turned to look at Philip's expression.
What met her eyes was her husband, smiling as he looked at the person across the table.
Sunlight filtered through the stained glass, illuminating his curly hair.
A stream of light brown light.
She found herself spacing out again. It was the same when Sylphie had noticed her earlier. Her gaze had been fixed on the table, seemingly unfocused, because—
Her peripheral vision had been on Alan the entire time.
And now, across from her husband.
In her peripheral vision.
The same color.
A stream of light brown light.
It was the exact same hair color.
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