Episode 120

I couldn’t hide my surprise at Sir Rigard’s sudden change, but then I realized something.

Huh…? No one else has even changed their expression.

The escort soldiers and servants, of course, and Refy and Alicia as well.

Ah, Alicia does have a somewhat displeased look and a different expression than usual, but it’s not one of surprise.

In other words, this behavior from Sir Rigard is probably his usual self.

Seeing the somewhat exasperated expressions around him, my guess wasn’t far off.

Sir Rigard, who had raised that question, was clinging to Alicia’s waist.

“Alicia! Please! Big Brother is scared! I’ve never cleared a dungeon even once, so please take my place!”

What on earth is this man saying?

At a statement that tried to put the dungeon clearing on Alicia, she let out a sigh.

“Brother. Cut it out. How can the one who’s supposed to inherit the house be so pathetic?”

“Don’t say such cruel things, Alicia! It’s not like I wanted to inherit the house! I was simply born first, and if I could, I’d gladly give it to my younger brothers…!”

What a pathetic proclamation.

Putting the content aside, the composed manner he showed when declaring it still carried an echo of Lord Goral.

I couldn’t help but understand what Alicia meant by “in front of others.”

“So you’d be okay with being banished from the family?”

Alicia said it coldly, and Sir Rigard let go of her.

His cheeks twitched; his face was pale.

He shook his head vigorously and cried out.

“I-I don’t want that! That’s not fair! My younger brothers can just live off the family’s money all carefree, right?!”

“They’re not going to live carefree either. They’ll just be assigned to oversee various parts of the domain, like you are now.”

“U-uh… t-then I’ll do that and someone else can take on the lordship!”

“So――”

Alicia responded to Sir Rigard’s words with an exasperated air.

As I watched Alicia and Sir Rigard’s exchange, Refy snuck over to us.

“That’s Lord Rigard. He will be the next head of the Barnast family.”

“…I-I see.”

I couldn’t respond further to Refy’s words.

My first impression was that he looked extremely anxious.

Among nobles, the eldest son generally inherits the family.

However, that rule apparently doesn’t apply if something unfortunate happens to the eldest son.

In practice, looking at noble history, there were times when the eldest son died in some accident, and the second or third son inherited the family.

…Well, even if it appeared to be an accident, there were actually cases of assassination or poisoning.

As I remembered studying such things with Alicia, she came over to me.

“Faik. For now, let’s go to the room.”

“…I-is that okay?”

“This isn’t good! Alicia! Please! Join the strategy meeting with me!”

Sir Rigard was clinging to Alicia as if about to burst into tears.

The sight was utterly pathetic. He even had a bit of Lord Goral’s aura, which made it look as if Lord Goral himself were clinging to Alicia and crying.

“…Of course, I’ll take part in that too. For now, we’d like to go to our room once. Is that okay?”

“Ah, ah…! Alicia! And Faik, we’re counting on you too!”

“Huh, me too…?”

“Yeah…! I heard you can fight too! Someone to fight in my stead is very welcome!”

“Faik is only accompanying us as a blacksmith. Brother, do you understand?”

“Ha ha ha. I understand. Still, having more comrades is reassuring, isn’t it?”

“That may be so, but…”

Sir Rigard flashed a full-beam smile and gave a thumbs up.

I thought being able to boldly make such a pathetic declaration was a kind of talent.

Thinking that, I left Sir Rigard’s study with Alicia.