At The Lord’s Manor

Let us rewind time a bit.

After enjoying smoked meat from a street vendor, Arthur and his group were heading leisurely toward the lord’s manor.

“Doesn’t this look weird on me?”

“Not at all! While your usual gentle look is wonderful, this spiked-hair Arthur is just as splendid!!”

Inside the carriage, Marianne had stirred up a bit of a fuss. After all, Arthur was the second prince and one of the royal heirs—meaning he had many enemies. This journey was therefore a secret one.

While he only wore a hood at the street market, now that he would be meeting a noble—even a regional one—he was in full disguise.

“Let me confirm this again. I trust you, Lord Arthur, but under no circumstances should you respond to the name ‘Arthur’ from here on. You are now Baron Richard.”

“Yeah, I got it. I’m not Arthur. I’m Richard—a provincial noble who can only use basic healing magic, right?”

Arthur replied with a smug look, possibly because he’d memorized the setting out of fear of Morgan’s wrath. A bit concerning, to say the least.

Incidentally, he had practiced a game with Kei in which he wouldn’t respond when called “Arthur,” but the success rate was only 50%. Again, very concerning.

“Just as expected. Lord Richard is a subordinate of Lady Morgan and has come to Dorf to teach the children dwarven techniques by her recommendation—please don’t forget that.”

“Ah…”

Arthur winced instinctively at the name he didn’t want to hear. Yes, his temporary identity was as Morgan’s subordinate. The small-hearted Arthur found this personally annoying.

What’s more, when he said he wanted to accompany the children to help them learn dwarven crafts, Morgan had seen him off with a radiant smile and said,

“You don’t need to tell me your real reason. Knowing you, I’m sure you have something in mind. Let’s compare answers when you return.”

Of course, Arthur had no such deeper motive. From his perspective, he was thinking, What the hell was she talking about? But it suited him fine to let her think that.

“Also, I won’t be healing any nobles this time. So be careful not to get hurt.”

“Why… not…?”

The reason was obvious—because Marianne was a noble lady. But Arthur couldn’t say it was written in the Good Deed Notebook, so he struggled to come up with an explanation.

Just then, Marianne’s eyes widened, as if she had figured something out.

“I see! Right now, you’re merely a provincial noble. If you used strong healing magic, it would raise suspicions. So you won’t heal someone as special as me—or any well-known nobles. That’s what you’re saying, right? I’ll inform everyone else. You were trying to prevent us from unconsciously relying on your healing abilities… how thoughtful, Lord Richard!”

“Ahh…??”

Marianne’s eyes sparkled with emotion as Arthur responded, a question mark metaphorically on his face. Their carriage soon arrived at the lord’s manor, and Arthur and Marianne were shown inside.

The lord who greeted them was a man in his fifties. For some reason, he looked pale and sleep-deprived.

“It’s been a while, Lord Edward. This is Lord Richard, whom I introduced in my letter.”

“…I am Richard. I thank you for allowing me to teach the villagers dwarven techniques.”

After Marianne’s introduction, Arthur gave a slightly delayed but graceful bow. Of course, Arthur couldn’t improvise; his lines were prepared in advance, and Marianne would support him.

In fact, Marianne had just tugged at his hem out of Edward’s line of sight to signal him. He looked like a poorly made toy.

Normally, one might think Is this guy okay?, but because Marianne was a bit naïve and blindly devoted to Arthur, she didn’t seem to mind.

“Ah. Don’t worry about it. They’re not trying to keep the techniques secret. But the training is strict. Let’s hope they don’t run away.”

Nodding at Edward’s words, Marianne then tilted her head as she looked at the empty seat beside him.

“Come to think of it… Where’s Prim? I was hoping to talk with her after so long…”

“I’m sorry… Prim is sick right now… she can’t get out of bed.”

Upon hearing that the lord’s daughter was ill, Marianne’s face turned sorrowful, and Arthur tried his best to mimic her expression.

“I see… I do hope she recovers soon. Is it serious?”

“Yes, it’s quite a severe illness. But don’t worry about Prim—I have a solution in mind.”

Edward smiled as he said this. But were Arthur’s eyes just playing tricks on him, or did those eyes seem somehow dim?

“Lord Glutton is said to be mediating with Lord Arthur. If I offer an accessory made of ‘Orichalcum’—a treasure slumbering deep within Dorf’s mines—as tribute, she’ll be cured. Haha, it’s rare indeed, but my daughter’s life is worth more than anything.”

“Lord Arthur…?”

Was that true…? Marianne looked at Arthur in disbelief, but he kept a straight face.

‘I see… So you have a plan in motion.’

Marianne nodded to herself in understanding, but of course Arthur had no such plan. What he was really thinking was—

‘Yessss!! I didn’t respond to my name!! I actually pulled it off!!’

Indeed, now slightly more socially aware, Arthur celebrated inwardly with a smug grin.