Incurable Disease (7)
Mersius, who had been resting, came out for a meal at Gergius's summons. Yet Letisia, who had said only moments earlier that she would go wake Albrecht, was still nowhere to be seen.
"...Why is Lady Letisia taking so long? I'm certain she went to wake Benefactor."
"Albrecht must simply be a late riser."
"She's not doing anything strange to Benefactor, is she?"
"...Even if she were, that would be their business, Mersius."
When Caesius spoke as if telling her not to meddle, Mersius puffed out her cheeks, looking faintly displeased with the attitude.
"Caesius, why are you like this? Benefactor is precious to me. Of course I have to be on guard."
"How long have you even known Albrecht, to talk like that…"
"Benefactor saved my life. You know how much I suffered from this illness, and you still say that?"
"Haha, my daughter. Caesius is only worried that you might be deciding things too hastily."
Hearing Gergius's words, Mersius fell silent for a moment. Then she looked at Caesius and asked, a touch of unease in her voice.
"...Caesius, do you have no interest in Benefactor?"
"Me?"
Caesius answered,
"I, the daughter of the Blue Dragon Lord Verzeus, for a mere human?"
"A mere human, you little—"
At that voice they turned, and there stood Albrecht. Caesius looked slightly flustered as she spoke.
"When did you get here? If you arrive, at least make your presence known."
"I just got here. And I never hid my presence in the first place."
Albrecht looked at Caesius and said,
"Besides, I told you to fix that way of talking. Want to get down on all fours again?"
"Th-this floor is hard."
"...That's your problem?"
Watching Albrecht speak in sheer disbelief, Mersius seemed to relax a little as she said,
"...I was fretting over nothing. Caesius, your gaze that looks at humans as if they were ants is as intact as ever."
"Compared to us dragons, humans are frail and unremarkable, after all."
"You're saying that right in front of a human?"
When Albrecht challenged her, utterly exasperated, Caesius cleared her throat and muttered,
"...Well, Albrecht. I do consider you and your companions exceptions."
"Ha. I'm so glad I made the cut."
Albrecht let out a hollow laugh, clearly unconvinced, and Caesius nodded as she insisted,
"I-I mean it. After this whole affair, I've come to see things a little differently."
"Then how about changing your view of humans as a whole while you're at it."
"But how am I supposed to change something that's simply true…"
"You really want to get down on all fours?"
"I-I'm sorry."
Caesius shrank into herself as she said it. Watching that, Mersius spoke with open wonder.
"Even with a contract, I never imagined Caesius would end up listening so well to a human."
"...It's not exactly like that, Mersius."
Caesius denied it a little timidly. The sight of her denying it after what she had just done was almost funny, but Albrecht let it slide this once and asked,
"Anyway, Letisia hasn't come this way?"
"Pardon? She said she was going to wake Benefactor. You didn't see her?"
"Uh… I did meet her, but she left first."
"If it's her, she stepped outside the lair for a moment. Perhaps she wanted some air."
Hearing Gergius, Albrecht scratched his head lightly.
"...I see."
"……Benefactor?"
"Yes?"
"Did something happen, by any chance?"
The question came out of nowhere, but there was a reason for it. The look on his face when he mentioned Letisia had been strangely complicated.
When Mersius asked, Albrecht only stared blankly for a moment and could not answer right away. Then he shook his head belatedly and said,
"……Nothing happened?"
The instant they saw that reaction, all three dragons thought the same thing. Something had absolutely happened.
And Mersius, whatever she imagined, reacted rather violently.
"How could you, Benefactor!"
"Huh?"
"How could you do something so indecent in my father's lair…! And with me right here!"
"I don't know what you're misunderstanding, but I didn't do anything weird!!"
Albrecht immediately tried to clear things up, deliberately ignoring the little addendum Mersius had tacked on at the end.
"We just talked a bit, that's all."
"About what?"
"…Private matters."
When Albrecht said that, Mersius flinched in surprise. Anyone could tell he was dodging the question—and on top of that, his expression and body language were awkward.
Surely not……
"...What on earth did Lady Letisia say to you?"
Mersius could not help feeling a very sharp sense of alarm.
"Huh? Well…… it's a little hard to say."
At Albrecht's evasive reaction, Mersius asked in startled shock,
"D-don't tell me she whispered words of love…?"
"W-why would that come up!?"
Hearing Mersius's guess, Albrecht was thoroughly flustered. That flustered look only made her more certain, and in the end Mersius—
"H-how could this…, so that woman, while I looked away for just a moment…!! Benefactor is mine…!"
"Why are you suddenly crying!? And doesn't that last part sound a little off…?"
"Mersius!?"
Mersius bursting into tears threw the atmosphere into chaos. Watching it all, Caesius gave a small shake of her head.
"……What a mess."
While the inside of the lair descended into chaos, Letisia stood quietly outside, waiting for something. Before long, the presence she had been waiting for appeared before her eyes.
"You're back?"
"Peep!"
It was Sylph, the wind spirit. She had been waiting for the spirit she had sent to the companions still remaining at the front line, to inform them how long they would need to stay. Not only would it have delivered the simple message—if the others had any news to send this way, they would have attached it as well. And sure enough, a small scrap of paper was tied to Sylph's leg.
Letisia untied the string and unfolded the note. The moment she read its contents, she was startled.
"...They're going to the Empire first?"
Erinn and Ser-Aria will return to the Dern Empire first.
Freya and Clara will remain at the front line.
The note stated that Erinn and Ser-Aria would return to the Dern Empire ahead of the others, with a brief addition that Freya and Clara would stay behind at the front. It did not, however, explain why they were rushing back to the Empire. The paper being too small… that excuse did not hold water; it meant they had deliberately chosen not to tell her.
There's information that must not leak…
Letisia reasoned that was the sensible explanation. After recalling the spirit, she pondered for a while, then muttered under her breath on a sudden thought.
"...Have they found some way to deal with the Military Minister?"
When Letisia's spirit arrived with word that they would need to stay roughly five days, Erinn had fretted over many things. In her heart she had wanted to wait until Albrecht returned before moving, but if they were going to make use of the information Karna had thrown their way, it was better to act as soon as possible.
"I'll go first, Freya. You stay here with Clara, and once Albrecht and Letisia come back, cross over to the Empire with them."
"Yes, I understand."
So they had no choice but to split up. Under normal circumstances only Clara, who had left the party, would have remained, but Erinn could not leave Clara alone in a place like this while her wounds were still unhealed. She left Freya behind as well, both to keep Clara company and to help tend the wounded at the front.
Thus Erinn and Ser-Aria reached the Empire's border a step ahead of their companions. The moment they arrived, people came out to meet them.
"Hero Erinn!"
"Oh my~♡ Uncle, what brings you all the way out to greet me~?"
It was Left General Salisius and soldiers of the Empire.
"What were you thinking, moving without a single report!? Do you have any idea what kind of talk this has stirred up in the military ministry!?"
"Hmm~? Something about the Hero committing a grave crime against the Emperor's orders~?"
"If you know that well, why did you do it?!"
"What, Uncle~♡ So you didn't come to greet me—you came to arrest me~?"
"...Why ask something so obvious?"
Salisius heaved heavy sighs as he spoke.
"If you were going to suppress that legion, you could have at least filed a report before you went. Why did you move on your own and blow this into such a huge affair?"
"Uncle, you're saying something funny. You think the Empire would have sent me~?"
"…."
Salisius could not answer. At that, Erinn gave a small snort of laughter and said,
"And I produced clear results, didn't I? Thanks to that my reputation rose another notch, and the Empire's prestige benefited right along with it—so what's the problem~?"
"...Yes, that's true. But you know as well as I do! The Military Minister does not see it that way!"
Salisius exploded about the present situation, as if to say, You know this perfectly well, so why are you doing this?
"Everyone else—His Majesty included—wanted to let it slide because the results were so clear… and she sent me down here to arrest you, saying it had to be done by the book!"
"I came back to deal with that woman anyway~."
"What?"
"Uncle, arresting me is fine… but can you buy me a little time~? Give me just a bit of time and I'll come along quietly~♡"
At Erinn's request, Salisius furrowed his brow.
"What are you planning to do?"
"What else… I'm going to drag that woman I can't stand down from her seat."
"What?"
Salisius spoke as if he could not believe his ears—as if she were talking nonsense.
"How do you intend to drag down the rightful heir of House Achilles? Did you take a blow to the head on the battlefield or something?"
"Watch how you talk, Uncle~♡"
"You're the one who said something that makes no sense by any common standard…"
Erinn asked Salisius,
"Isn't this something you want too? Because of that Military Minister, the Grand General you serve has no real power~♡"
"……."
Salisius did not deny it. Yet because he, too, stood under the Military Minister in the chain of command, he did not affirm it either. Of course Erinn was not about to miss the meaning of that silence.
"Just three days~."
"...Three days is cutting it very close."
"'Cutting it close' means it's possible. You're the Left General—show me at least that much ability~♡"
Salisius let out a long sigh. Then he asked,
"Three days here, or three days after we go up to the capital?"
"Waiting here is fine~♡ I'll be right back."
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Obern."
At the word Obern, Salisius's eyes went wide. That city belonged to the Achilles Duchy.
To Erinn, who stood in opposition to Yureinia Achilles, it was practically enemy territory. Salisius asked her, still unable to understand,
"...What are you planning to do there?"
In answer to Salisius's question, Erinn raised a finger and lightly pressed it to her lips.
"Secret~♡"