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Volume 6 Chapter 3 Part 3

Translation and editing by Team Foxsunes

In my head, I recalled the scene of yesterday night’s party. Wrapped in awkward-feeling garments, we received a warm welcome. The banquet party with neither chairs nor tables, where we sat down to eat, had been a first. I am sure it was not only like that for me, but there was no one who openly complained about it. Everyone participated in the party, accepting the ways they were not used to.

「In the royal capital, eating like that, sitting directly on the floor is not common. However, I and my travelling companions all had dinner while sitting. That is because we had learnt the etiquette of this province.」

When I asked the medium whether he had understood everything so far, he nodded immediately, as I had previously done myself. All good; if he had understood this, the rest wouldn’t take too long.

Although he looked a bit childish for his age, I somewhat understood that he essentially had sensitive feelings, which made me a bit relieved. He could not be a bad child. It was just that his environment had only shown this boy that he should put on a weird air of self-importance. This boy, who was to be the princess’ partner eventually, was really just a shitty brat… pardon me. I said too much. I ought to be glad that this kid is not just the impertinent, haughty “Medium”.

「In order to deepen your interaction, in a way that is pleasant for both parties, etiquette is not unnecessary. There is also a saying that goes “when in a village, do as the villagers do” and one that says “there are good manners, even between friends”. After this, you, medium, are aiming to deepen your connection with the princess. Would you let me assist you in that, even just a little?」

I bent my back and looked at the medium, who was sitting in his chair, straight in the eye as I asked this question. 

The eyes that were looking straight at me flickered for the first time in confusion. There weren’t many things that this boy who was revered and worshipped as the medium would hesitate to say. It might be something like, for example, ｢Your highness, do you dislike me?｣ After asking this question I realized that I had made a blunder. There aren’t many people who would nod in affirmation if questioned like that. But I can’t think of anything apart from this that is hard to say directly. 

It can’t be helped if he doesn’t like me. It’s frustrating that I can’t be of use to the princess but the medium is too young to be going through the hardship of learning from someone he dislikes…..I can’t force this on a young boy. The youth Heinrich would, if he was not dumbstruck by me considering the incident from last night, surely think that my existence is incompatible with the beloved child of the spirits. 

But to my surprise, the medium shook his head in disagreement. 

｢I don’t dislike you, but I can’t accept you so easily, because you scared off my friends.｣

｢Then, why did you agree to meeting with me?｣

This boy had been informed for sure that I had been chosen to teach him proper manners. He should’ve rejected me then. Something like that wouldn’t have been impossible for the medium. To be clear, my job as the instructor in etiquette is not special and I can be replaced by many people. It wouldn’t be of any hassle for this boy to take this job away from me. So, why? I tilted by head pondering. The medium took after my sentence and spoke as if it was something of no importance. 

｢It’s because, the man next to you, his name was Agedilus was it? He defended you.｣

｢Because of Edi?｣

It was I whose eyes flickered this time upon hearing an unexpected answer. But when I thought of it, it wasn’t really unexpected. 

｢Is it because he is a champion?｣

No matter how far away he was from the affairs of the common people. The medium must have heard about the defeat of the demon lord. Apart from that, my husband Agedilus Von Lancent wasn’t just famous as the head of the royal court magicians of the Holy Valgentum Kingdom, but also had the fame of being the champion of salvation. It seemed like my position had been guaranteed due to the crown of his fame…..it’s a little…no, to a great extent, unpleasant. This must be what people mean when they say, 「The ass in the lion’s skin.｣

It’s a given that I am his wife, but I did not become his wife because he was the champion of salvation, someone above the clouds. I became his wife because he was an individual known as Agedilus Von Lancent. But then society wouldn’t think so and it pains me. I swallowed the sigh that was about to leave my throat. The medium’s eyes shone in confusion, again due to my response, and he shook his head again. 

｢No, being a champion is cool and all but above all things, it is rare to see my friends like someone that much. It was the first time I see someone being liked as much as I am.｣ 

｢Is that, so?｣

｢Yes, he is loved a lot!｣

The medium nodded deeply and smiled, his smile was elegant and beautiful as if the peony had bloomed and opened up it’s many layers of petals. It could be observed from his expression that he was happy from the bottom of his heart. 

The friends that the medium talks about is something that cannot be seen with the normal eye. I was told last night that by friends, he means the spirits. According to the medium, Edi is loved a lot by them. The medium seemed to be unaware of me being lost as he passionately continued. 

｢Some of the people around me think of my friends as convenient subordinates and devalue them. Such a blasphemy. It is because of that, that I am happy from the bottom of my heat that someone like that man who is loved by my friends is around.｣

The medium who was laughing happily from the bottom of his heart, suddenly stopped smiling as his expression turned into that of a person in confusion. He didn’t notice that my eyes were fixed at his innocent expression as he continued, ｢It is because of that, that I wanted to meet you, since I couldn’t think of a life being despised by my friends. It must be really difficult to live like that.｣ 

The medium’s olive-coloured hand came towards me who was bent in front of him and he touched my cheek. His action was so natural that I couldn’t dodge it, I couldn’t do anything but accept it. The medium rubbed my cheek-line a couple of times as if to confirm something and he let out a breath. 

｢Your original fate might have been different, you could have been someone worthy of being with my friends so much no one would object to you. It’s such a waste.｣ 

His tone really reflected his regret for my loss. It seemed a bit silly to me and I started laughing.

｢It’s a great honour to hear that, thank you very much.｣

I stood up while laughing and bowed down. The medium was watching what I did carefully and frowned. 

｢Why are you thanking me?｣

The medium stood up from his chair and looked into my eyes, his copper-red eyes had pure inquisitiveness. 

｢I was talking about a what-if situation. In reality, I said that I can’t accept you, since you are being despised by my friends.｣

The medium protested that it didn’t make any sense for me to be thanking him. His copper-red eyes were squinted as if he was seeing something peculiar. My existence seemed to be out of his understanding since he had spent his entire life together with spirits unlike me.  I’m not saying that I don’t understand how he feels but like, can you conceal your emotions a little?

For better or worse, he really was honest. I couldn’t help myself but smile bitterly inside my head. But even if he looked at me like I was some weird thing, I didn’t feel like taking my gratitude back. Because, ｢I have no regrets about me being hated by your friends now.｣

This mark on my back had been left by a high-tier spirit, a spirit beast of the flames. This scar that I got while protecting that man when he was young would never disappear and on top of that my body is unable to get treated by the healing magic which is something that is the specialty of the water spirits. It would be a lie if I said that I don’t regret that outcome at all.

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