Chapter 92 — The Sacred Relic
Chapter 92 — The Sacred Relic
Translation: Godtl
"Um...."
Lelia twisted her body slightly, thinking this wasn't right, to protest.
But when she turned her head, Oscar's face was right in front of her, so she had to face forward again.
"Lord Oscar... I can't properly hold the reins like this."
The moment Lelia's words ended, Oscar placed his own hand over hers holding the reins.
Her hand was completely covered by the large hand and became invisible.
Lelia frowned looking at that.
'I was supposed to be the leader....'
When did his hands get this big too? They were definitely small before.
Amidst this, somehow her pride was hurt, and she pushed against Oscar who was clinging to her from behind.
Even if they were riding together, there was no need to cling this much, was there?
Oscar pressed his body tightly against her as if obsessed with body heat.
Lelia fidgeted trying to find a somewhat comfortable position. But somehow something felt like it was digging into her lower back, making it very uncomfortable.
Thinking something that had fallen from a pocket had shifted there, she brought her hand back, but the moment she grabbed it, Oscar seized her wrist.
"It's a bit awkward to touch in this kind of situation. As I said, I'm like this even if you're a man."
"....?"
When Oscar released her wrist, Lelia grabbed the horse's reins again.
Lelia, who had been dazed for a moment, belatedly understood the meaning of Oscar's words. And what she had touched.
'....!!!'
From the shock, her vision swam. It felt like alarm bells were ringing in her head.
Suddenly, Oscar's childhood appearance flashed through her mind.
'That cute and kind child....'
She had felt it before, but every time Lelia anew realized the fact that the friends she was close with as a child had become 'adult men,' she was seized by a strange feeling.
When Lelia said nothing, Oscar asked in a slightly anxious voice.
"Why, is it disgusting when a same man does this?"
Somehow it sounded like a slightly angry voice. Lelia was flustered.
Oscar seemed to have figured out that Lelia was 'Leo,' but didn't seem to know she was a woman.
Thanks to Kalix. Should she call this fortunate or not....
She feared what kind of expression Oscar would make when he later learned she had deceived him again.
"N-no... that's not it... it's too...."
When Lelia equivocated her answer, Oscar understood it in a different direction.
"Ah, so you're surprised? Why are you so surprised by that. I heard from Kalix that you're about this size too."
"...."
"Should I take care of it? I don't think once or twice will be enough though."
"N-no need."
Lelia answered quickly and picked up one bundle tied to the horse and placed it at her lower back.
It contained spare clothes, so it might be better. Of course, when she actually tried it, there wasn't much effect.
Oscar found that action absurd but didn't particularly point it out.
Lelia gritted her lips and began driving the horse.
Thus the horse carrying the two of them ran across the grassland and headed toward the forest.
Auraria Capital, Imperial Palace.
Lute paced around the garden of his quarters with a sullen expression. Having heard the news that Sir Raymond had left the capital, he felt uneasy.
It bothered him that after giving a holy relic as a token of gratitude, he had taken it back.
'Did he perhaps leave in a hurry because he was angry about that?'
At that thought, regret washed over him.
But he had no choice as it was Princess Julianna's request.
'Still, to just leave like that without saying anything...'
He thought they had built a deep friendship, so he was disappointed.
He had wanted to stay together for a long time and build a friendship to live like sworn brothers.
In truth, Lute didn't have many close friends.
So when he saw Romeo and his friends, he sometimes felt envious.
Sir Raymond was also close with them, but Lute believed he was closer.
That was why his disappointment and upset feelings were significant.
While he was deep in various thoughts, a servant suddenly approached.
"Um, Sir Lute. Princess Julianna is looking for you."
"...I understand."
Lute adjusted his attire in front of the mirror and headed to Princess Julianna's quarters with a pounding heart.
Recently, he and Princess Julianna had been on very good terms.
After retrieving the holy relic from Sir Raymond and giving it to Princess Julianna, things had gotten even better.
Julianna now smiled brightly whenever she saw him, and the two were discussing telling the princes about their relationship first.
Lute imagined Princess Julianna's face smiling brightly as usual and went inside.
However, what greeted Lute was Princess Julianna's face filled with anger.
"Sir Lute! This holy relic is fake!"
"Pardon?"
At the sudden words, Lute could only blink.
Princess Julianna explained as if dumbfounded.
"Today, a priest came to see His Majesty the Emperor in the neutral zone, so I went to ask. But that priest said this is fake!"
"Th-that can't be..."
Lute hurriedly received the holy relic from Julianna and examined it closely.
It was exactly the same as the holy relic he had possessed. It was certain.
"The priest also said he's never seen such an elaborate replica before. He said at this level, it's proof that there's an alchemist of truly outstanding skill."
"But this is what I've always carried with me! It even granted my wish when I was young. There's no way it can be fake..."
"Don't you think Sir Raymond might have switched it?"
"......!!!"
"This is an item of tremendous value, Sir Lute! There would have been plenty of people wanting to buy it for a large sum."
"B-but..."
"Sir Lute, you also said that to him. That it was a truly important item."
"...."
"This won't do. Let's report him together!"
"Report him?"
"If he replicated it during the short period you gave it to him, there might be an alchemist of outstanding skill within this capital. We need to investigate."
"But, Your Highness..."
"This is a matter concerning the safety of the empire. An alchemist of such outstanding skill could be a threat!"
"...."
Julianna's words were not wrong.
If this was truly a fake, it meant that there really was an alchemist of that caliber close by.
After the war ended, the Temple had been devoted to finding alchemists again.
The priest's visit today was also to request cooperation from the Empire.
'What's the probability it was a fake to begin with?'
Lute agonized over it, but that couldn't be.
The holy relic definitely emitted a sacred light and granted his wish.
Moreover, since then, he had never once let it leave his body.
No one knew that Lute had this, so there couldn't have been anyone who could have stolen it.
If it had been switched with a fake, it was definitely Sir Raymond.
Lute couldn't believe that fact.
"Sir Raymond wouldn't do that. He wouldn't betray me..."
"Sir Lute. Get a hold of yourself! I've told you over and over. He's a shameless man wearing the mask of a gentleman and a sodomite!"
"...."
"The priest said he would thoroughly investigate Auraria Capital because of this holy relic. My father was not pleased."
At those words, Lute's expression darkened. He was already in a position where he needed to gain the Emperor's favor, and now he was going to incur his dislike.
"On top of that, the Temple might pin all the blame on Sir Lute."
"But I..."
"I'm sorry. If I had known it was fake, I wouldn't have done that... I just thought that if it was confirmed to be a holy relic, I would go to the neutral zone with Lute personally to donate it."
"...."
"If the Temple becomes greatly grateful to Sir Lute, then my father would come to like Sir Lute too... That's why I did that."
Julianna made a crying face, seeming upset that things had turned out this way. Lute comforted her.
Yes, Princess Julianna's words were right.
Before being falsely accused, it was better to report Sir Raymond who had betrayed him.
However, he still couldn't believe it.
That Sir Raymond, who had so actively helped him, would do such a thing.
'Could it be... did he know about the existence of the holy relic from the beginning and treat me well on purpose?'
That thought gave him chills.
"Also, he left the imperial capital in a hurry, right? Maybe he did that because he was afraid the replica would be discovered!"
At Julianna's speculation, Lute squeezed his eyes shut.
Right. That was certain. Otherwise, there was no reason to leave so hastily...
"Also, Prince Romeo and his friends also left the imperial capital today."
"Those people too?!"
"They might be accomplices. Isn't it too suspicious? There's no other reason to suddenly leave."
Julianna's words were right. Lute made up his mind.
"...As Your Highness says, I will report him immediately."
The sky was already dark, though evening had not yet come.
It was around the time they had passed through the grasslands and entered the vast forest.
Suddenly the sky darkened, and rain began to pour down.
Thinking it was just a shower, they pressed on, but the rain only grew fiercer.
The black sky visible between the leaves and the pouring rain did not seem ordinary.
"We should take shelter until the rain stops."
At Lelia's words, Oscar did not answer.
After wandering for some time, the two discovered a dilapidated house that appeared to be a forester's hut.
After putting the horse in the small stable, they went inside.
It seemed the forester had long since abandoned the place, for the interior was cold.
Lelia walked to the old fireplace and sat down.
She needed to start a fire....
But with no firewood available, she would have to use an alchemy item to kindle a flame.
Lelia turned her head to glance at Oscar, then immediately looked back ahead.
Oscar had removed his upper garment and was wringing out the moisture.
The sound of water dripping onto the floor was like arrows piercing her heart.
Just like Kalix, Oscar did not appear particularly large when clothed.