CH 6

Editor: Lord Asmodeus

So you see.

It seems that this insidious resentful woman is planning various ways to undermine us.

I don’t think that Count Woodroid would risk the downfall of his family to do her bidding. But, depending on the nature of his love for his wife, that’s a different story.

It’s easy for people to fall apart in the face of such an obsessive love, and it can easily lead to ruin. Looking back at the history of this country, there are several incidents that come to mind that are not even funny. There is none.

So be careful not to be caught off guard.

The Count is a very successful person in aristocratic society, so his influence in social circles is big in his own right, and he has a good amount of political voice too. If you turn him into an enemy, he’s a lot of trouble.

If you’re saying that someone like that could turn on your enemies and try to do something, then sure. I don’t feel safe leaving Angelica and her friends in Royal Capital. But then, wouldn’t that put Douglas and Michelle and the others in danger?

Danielle says that he understands the danger and that it’s better to take Angelica and her friends along for the ride. I also understood the idea of but then, wouldn’t it be better to take Douglas and the others and Michelle and the others with us?

If I’m so bitter, then Michelle, who made a habit of seducing Huey to keep him away from this country and then easily chose another man to disappear from the academy must be at the top of Mrs. Claus’s revenge list, right?

In terms of resentment, it’s probably bigger than the one against me.

“Of course it would be dangerous, but Lady Michelle and Lady Jackie will be under royal surveillance during the winter holidays, and you know, I’m sure you will live in confinement in the same place. Are you prepared to overturn that decision in favor of taking the two of you out?　And then there’s Mr. Douglas and April, both of whom, for the sake of their futures, are going to be in the social circles this winter. I think it is necessary to be in the right place. If we don’t get rid of the bad rumors now, we won’t be able to recover from a lot of things.”

My opinion was shattered by Danielle’s good argument.

What Danielle is saying is definitely true. I can understand that, too. But it’s one thing to be able to understand and another to be convinced.

Is it really okay to just do nothing when you know that it’s dangerous?

Of course, I know I can’t hold it all together and I’m not going to be able to hold it all together. I’m not going to be able to give them the benefit of the doubt for the future. I understand that you need to be able to defend yourself to some degree. But you can’t help but worry, though, can you?

I’m sure you’ve noticed that I’m having trouble coming to terms with the fact that I’m not sure how I feel about it, but Danielle raised her eyebrows as if to say, “Oh dear.”

“It’s a good idea to have a safe base of operations on your own, but why go to all the trouble of putting it all in one place where it’s easy for the enemy to get you? You don’t have to freeze up, do you?”

I was shocked by Danielle’s words he told me as if I had been hit on the head with a heavy blow.

“That’s for sure!　Even in a game of tag, you don’t try to escape from the demons. In order to make it harder to narrow down the target, it’s standard practice to spread out and run away.”

It’s not like the girls are on recess, and wherever they go or what they do, ‘Let’s do it together in a close group! Hey! What a great target for the enemy to try to round up’. Even if acting alone is out of the question, the fact that a small group of people acts separately is enough to disperse the enemy’s eyes and make it easier for them to see you. It’s a good strategy that can reduce the threat, we need to make sure we have enough safety measures in place.

Besides…

Maybe if we split into these three groups, they’re all under tight political control and they’re a pain in the ass to deal with. Michelle and Jackie, you’re in a position and at a distance where it’s easy to let go, but you can always let go for that. Plus, I’ve already returned the favor so there’s a much lower risk of it being directed at Douglas and April. Isn’t it?　I’m sure that out of the three groups, she would be most likely to look at me.

This is because the circumstances of this case are such that my actions are treated as ‘just a hot water cure’ and also as a top-secret.

It’s a good idea to have an elite member of my own shadow squad along with a competent member of the knight’s corps to guard the public, so I’m pretty much invincible with Danielle as well.

I’m sure that even the Count doesn’t know such a thing.

If that’s the case, I think that I, who at first glance seems to be able to manage the crisis better than most, should be the first target.

“You’re right!　If you can get her to turn her eyes on me that means you’re taking Angelica and her friends to the most dangerous place. That means we’re going, right?”

I yelled at the top of my lungs!

I thought we’d come to a good conclusion!

It kind of reminded me of the ‘back to square one’ square that was set up just before the goal of Sugoroku. I can’t help but feel that all my hard work has been for nothing. It feels like all my hard work is for naught.

If my place is going to be the most dangerous, I still don’t understand why I’m taking Angelica and Jessica with me.

I can’t help it if I’m in danger. It’s the role I was born to play, so I’m going to have to accept it and be prepared for it. I am. I’m sure you’re aware of the danger that will entail if you want to support the country in the future.

I’m sure Louis is aware of the danger that will accompany him if he plans to become my right-hand man in the future. I don’t think he’s the only one who isn’t prepared for it.

But it is natural for a man to treasure Angelica and Jessica more than himself. Keep them in a safe place and protect them even if they were prepared to do so, isn’t it?

In this way, I’m stuck in the labyrinth of the gap between hope and reality again and Danielle is looking at me like she’s enjoying herself.

“What bad taste. Is it that interesting to see me in distress?”

“I’ve been thinking about this for a while. Danielle is a bit of a licker to adolescents, isn’t he?”

“I’m one of those ‘pissed-off kids’ growing up in Japan, you know?　It can be sharp as a knife and hurt everyone it touches!”

I glared at him with all my might and he apologized, laughing happily, as I knew he would.

“I won’t accept that kind of apology without any heart in it!”

“It doesn’t matter, Master Kyle. Think about it some more.”

“Danielle, you know, she just slapped me in the face while I was miffed. What do you mean by ‘that’?” I don’t know if my grumpiness is the extent of ‘that kind of thing’!

“Huh?　I’m Danielle’s master, right?”

“Well, it certainly doesn’t make me feel the Lord’s dignity or anything at all!”

And the frustrating thing is, no matter how hard I try, I’m still only ever going to be Danielle’s underperforming little brother. Ugh. I’m comfortable with that position myself, and I don’t mind that. You can’t help but be angry, even if you think so.

However, no matter how angry and frustrated I am, it doesn’t mean that my trust in Danielle will change or that I will be able to defeat him in various ways, so I have no choice but to give up.

It’s really frustrating, but we’ll just have to improve our moods and continue the conversation. It’s my problem to begin with, you know.

“I’m sure you’ll be able to find a way to make it work.”

“Really, you can’t beat Danielle.”

“It’s a good idea to protect them right beside you, considering that they are in danger of being out of your reach. Don’t you agree?”

“That’s certainly true. If it’s going to be dangerous either way, it’s less stressful for me to be around to protect you. Nah.”

If you leave Jessica to Louis, there will be no problem, and the idea of being able to experience the feeling of traveling with a group of close friends is unbearably appealing.

Once that’s decided, we need to decide on a destination and make all the necessary arrangements as soon as possible!