I Don't Like Him
“What?”
My heart sank at Ren's question. But I quickly pulled myself together. He must have overheard it by chance while passing the crown prince's room earlier. I was shocked enough—how must Ren feel? He'd only just started working as the ducal mage.
“No. I'm not doing it.”
“...Really?”
“Really.”
I nodded at Ren several times. If the crown prince was serious about marrying me, as his subject, neither I nor House Carpoem could ultimately refuse. But by the time the monster battles ended, his feelings would surely change. He loved the heroine, Yurina Florence, after all. Even if my presence twisted the original story, I believed their love line would play out inevitably.
“I'm the acting lord of House Carpoem. I have to protect the duchy.”
“...Yes.”
“So don't worry.”
I stroked Ren's head, just like I did when we were kids. It was an unconscious gesture. But we locked eyes and smiled as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The moisture in his green eyes, which had been glistening, now held a warm glow.
He must have been really anxious about me getting married.
I gave a wry smile. Ren had come to House Carpoem for me, essentially. He'd even followed his old boss when she switched jobs, so if she suddenly quit, wouldn't that be absurd? I fully understood his unease and tried my best to soothe him.
“You know how I got drunk last night and did something awful to His Highness? This is just to clean that up.”
“Ah...”
Only then did Ren realize he'd misunderstood, and his expression brightened a little.
“But His Highness...”
“Hm?”
“...It's nothing.”
Ren started to say more but closed his mouth. What was that? Did he overhear the crown prince confessing something like that to me? An uneasy feeling crept over me for some reason. I couldn't pinpoint why, but I wished he hadn't heard it. The last thing I wanted was for anyone to think the crown prince and I liked each other.
And so, unexpectedly, words tumbled out of my mouth.
“I don't like His Highness.”
“Pardon?”
“I absolutely don't like the crown prince. And he didn't mean it seriously either.”
He couldn't have meant it. Not yet. Not when he hadn't even realized his true love for 'Yurina'.
It's just confusion because the villainess isn't playing her role.
And above all, there was no way I'd fall for the male lead, the crown prince.
“But even I, as a man, can see His Highness is handsome, and he holds the highest position...”
“Pfft!”
I snorted at Ren's lack of confidence.
“Ren, you're pretty handsome yourself!”
“Pardon?”
“Oh, and Ian too.”
“...Yes.”
I added that last bit, mindful of Ian standing guard outside the office door. For some reason, Ren's face fell.
And it wasn't just my bias—their stats were objectively top-tier. Good looks, great personalities, high status. Ren would soon be Magic Tower Master, and Ian could rise to nobility if he kept racking up achievements at my side. I puffed up with pride and shrugged.
“So don't get down on yourself! Got it?”
“Yes, Lady Abigail.”
I flashed a bright smile at Ren, who nodded reluctantly. I resolved then and there: until Ren became Magic Tower Master and left House Carpoem, I'd take good care of him so he never felt down.
* * *
“...”
Yurina Florence peeked around the corridor's end corner, glancing across at Ian Servbo standing guard in front of Abigail's office door. As always, she was observing him secretly without his knowledge. She narrowed her eyes and let out a small groan.
“Hmm...”
Scowling suspiciously, she glared at him. The unease she'd felt since first seeing him hadn't faded over the years. All northerners had given her a strange vibe so far, but Ian was especially odd. And a swordsman who could nullify magic? Way too suspicious. Magic was the south's domain, and his ability felt like it rejected the south outright. For Yurina, who was always eyeing a spot by Abigail's side, he was someone to watch closely.
“What are you doing?”
“Eek!”
Yurina jumped at the small voice right beside her. She turned to find Sian looking down at her with a crooked posture.
“Sian, shh! Quiet!”
“Hmph.”
She pressed a finger to her lips, terrified Ian might hear, but Sian ignored her completely. He boldly pointed at Ian and asked,
“That's the guy?”
“Ack, get back, back!”
Yurina yanked Sian behind her in a panic. His arrogant, self-willed personality was a nightmare to handle. Even after learning she was the saintess, he acted the same. Unaware he was the third prince of Urgen Kingdom, Yurina just sweated bullets around him for no reason she could name.
“Is that the guy you mentioned before?”
“Y-yes.”
Yurina had once asked Sian about Ian. His magic nullification ability was shrouded in mystery. Even Illein Saiche's investigation hadn't yielded much. The Servo tribe's temple at the northern edge was so hidden no one could find it. She'd only learned about his ability after coming to this base and seeing it in action. Since Sian was an exceptional mage, she'd hoped he could help.
But Sian had been openly displeased.
A mere swordsman with magic nullification? How arrogant.
As a brilliant mage, his pride was immense. Like Yurina, he found Ian's very existence unsettling.
If such a guy really exists, I'd love to spar with him.
His eyes had sparkled with fighting spirit. And now, with the target right in front of him, Sian drawled boredly,
“He's handsome.”
“Right? He's handsome... no, wait, no.”
Yurina, who had started to agree, shook her head vigorously. Ian had grown into a rare beauty, sure, but that wasn't her focus. She had Illein—a total hunk—by her side constantly, and Sian next to her was no slouch either. His looks rivaled anyone's. The only downside was that stuffy turban wrapping his head so tightly.
Yurina glanced at the sky-blue hair peeking from under Sian's turban. A custom from his homeland? Or just hiding the color? He concealed it so thoroughly it drove her nuts. They weren't close enough for her to ask outright, but it was one of her nagging curiosities.
“So, what do you think now that you've seen him?”
“Hmmm.”
Her question about Ian came first, so she whispered it. Sian let out a long groan, his brow furrowing deeply. His ordinary brown eyes seemed to flash amber for a moment. As Yurina puzzled over it in her head, Sian was lost in his own thoughts.
What an odd guy.
As a spirit summoner, Sian could sense not just mana but other presences too. Maybe because of his elven blood, enhancing his affinity for nature. People each carried a unique soul scent. But the harsh north dulled that affinity in its people, leaving them with foul odors instead. They still had their own scents, yet this Ian gave off nothing.
Is he even human?
Absurdly, Sian considered it seriously. A human without a soul scent? That screamed non-human. He inwardly agreed Yurina's worries had merit.
“Sian, what do you think?”
“Wait a sec.”
He brushed off her prodding with annoyance. Scent aside, he wanted to see that magic-nullifying sword aura with his own eyes.
Guess I'll have to fight him for that.
His eyes ignited with battle lust again. Yurina shot him a weary glance. He was clearly plotting a fight in his head. As she opened her mouth to protest,
“Sian, not again...!”
The office door burst open, and someone stepped out.
“Eek!”
Yurina flinched back in surprise. Abigail and Ren emerged. Seeing Abigail reminded her of last night, making her heart race. Did she remember what happened? Things had been chaotic then, but in hindsight, Abigail had seemed off. Thinking the proposal to live together wasn't sincere made her chest ache sharply. But she wasn't avoiding her because of that. She just didn't want to get caught spying.
From the corridor's end, Yurina peeked out, admiring Abigail. Her uniform looked so cool today. Her eyes sparkled with affection and admiration—until Sian gave her a cold side-eye.
“Huh? Yurina?”
“Eek!”
But her hiding was for naught; Abigail sensed her presence and turned immediately. Spotting the yellow head poking out, her sharp eyes identified her. Yurina jolted.
“What are you doing here?”
“Ha, haha. Lady Abigail.”
Yurina forced an awkward smile and shuffled out from the corner. Abigail approached with a puzzled look, her beautiful red eyes full of questions. She gave Sian a slight nod before turning back to Yurina.
“Here to see me?”
“Y-yes! Of course.”
Her conscience pricked her, but she nodded with a smile. Glancing over, Ian stood expressionless behind them. If Abigail had noticed, her guardian surely had too—and yet he'd ignored her without a twitch. He knew she was watching and simply didn't care.
I just don't like him.
Yurina pouted inwardly, but her face melted at the sight of Abigail.
“Are you feeling better?”
“Uh, yeah.”
Abigail nodded awkwardly, recalling last night again. She cleared her throat and spoke.
“Ahem. Did I... do anything stupid?”
“...Pardon?”
Stupid?
That word flashed her back to Abigail's sweet words. A mistake. The proposal was a mistake—one she didn't even remember. Yurina shook her head, unable to shake off the sudden disappointment.
“N-no. Nothing happened.”
“Really?”
Abigail eyed her dubiously, but Yurina smiled as if all was fine.
“Where are you headed?”
“Oh, just to the mess hall for food...”
“Can I come too?”
“Sure.”
Abigail nodded easily and fell in beside her. As the two headed to the mess hall side by side, Ren and Ian followed silently. Sian, gauging the mood, trailed after—sticking playfully close to Ian's back, his eyes twinkling mischievously.