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1891 (1)

‘Right, even if I become the one who shakes the protagonist’s mentality, getting entangled in the narrative is still getting entangled. Damn it.’

Arthur used to say, referring to Melchior, ‘That person has about a hundred ways to achieve his will even without using his skill,’ and it was true.

Soon, the murderous intent lingering in Arthur’s eyes vanished as if washed away.

Arthur himself knew better than Kleio that this was a cheap trick. He’d seen it all his life.

‘It’s lucky your youngest brother is quick to grasp the situation. If he’d gone astray because of this, the whole world would have had to bear the consequences together.’

Anyway, the royal family is the enemy of the people and the main culprit of rising social costs.

Melchior, still maintaining his serene and gentle expression, had no idea what the second son of a wealthy family, an obvious member of a corrupt force, was thinking inside.

Suppressing a sigh, Kleio took a swig of flat soda to wet his throat and replied as clearly as possible.

“Your Highness personally wishes to break the remembered world; you will be praised as a model for all and for your courageous act. To think you would personally seek to subjugate the strange group threatening the capital—if I could add my insignificant ability to that cause, it would be an honor.”

He couldn’t imitate Melchior’s vocalization, which resonated throughout the hall like an actor’s, but this much was enough for those nearby to relay his words.

‘Everyone’s pretending to mind their own business, but it’s obvious their ears are perked up.’

This must be the ‘storm’ Dione spoke of.

‘Well, so what. If you don’t set sail just because the wind is rough, you’ll all just get shipwrecked and die together.’

“You’re always excessively modest. I saw a report stating that your guidance played a significant role in the previous breaking of the remembered world.”

Isiel’s shallow sigh from behind caught on Kleio’s sharply heightened .

When people are too dumbfounded, they can’t even speak. Even without turning around, the two were of one mind.

‘Isiel didn’t write the details in the report. She glossed over it, saying we worked together.’

Like cold water had been poured over him, Kleio’s mind calmed. Melchior’s provocation had made something clear.

‘Whether it’s due to some restriction or not, I can’t look into Chell or Isiel’s minds for now.’

If he could use his unique skill, he wouldn’t need such blatant provocations to test the kids’ reactions.

That speculation gave Kleio a bit of leeway. It was the first time since facing this person.

Kleio himself kept active for defense, and for some reason, Melchior’s ‘Insight Structure’ skill seemed difficult to use at the moment, so there was no need to be as tense as before.

With a faint smile, Kleio spoke.

“What do you mean? Modesty refers to the attitude Your Highness demonstrates. Even though no one knows what dangers may lie beyond the door of Mnemosyne, you do not forget the spirit of a knight and strive to show service and sacrifice, yet you do not seek to publicize it for honor. Such profound intent only makes me bow my head.”

“That is not something so greatly worthy of praise.”

Kleio joined his hands politely and lowered his gaze respectfully.

The Duke Cruel and Aslan’s presences wavered at the attitude so different from when Kleio dealt with Aslan.

Arthur stealthily moved behind Melchior to block Aslan and the Duke Cruel’s gazes. Focused solely on the crown prince, Kleio didn’t notice the commotion on that side.

“The only remembered world I know is just one, and since it was so perilous, I made a hasty judgment. Would Your Highness be willing to teach a fool such as me?”

His self-effacing tone was bait thrown at Melchior.

‘Honestly, not all dungeons are dangerous. There was a dreadfully harsh “City of Eternal Winter,” but the “City of Pearls” was a relaxing part. And this guy only entered the City of Pearls. He must already know the dungeon opening order, right?’

Entering only for external publicity, the danger level of any dungeon except for the “City of Pearls” was too high.

‘Besides, just because a dungeon was safe in the last manuscript doesn’t guarantee it’ll be so again. The risk of accompanying such a dangerous person is too great. I wish I at least knew the reason for wanting to go to the dungeon.’

Of course, Melchior didn’t take the bait Kleio threw.

“The spirit of a knight, you say. I haven’t achieved much in terms of martial prowess. That’s why, for a remarkable ether responder like you, your weight is not light.”

“What I have is just a small talent, and although I’m grateful, without supportive companions, I doubt I could achieve anything alone.”

‘Yeah, well… How could I figure out what this guy’s thinking? Even when the time comes, I might not know. Sigh.’

On the surface, they were praising each other, but beneath that, barbed exchanges continued a few more times.

Those watching the crown prince and the young magician’s back-and-forth saw something unusual in their eyes.

Kleio, with no hint of boldness in his appearance, was chatting with the crown prince without any nervousness, making the scene seem strange.

Chell held back from whistling when Isiel poked his side.

Of course, the second secretary of the Duchy of Speculum didn’t hold back and said things like, , only to have his foot stepped on by the consul.

Finally, Melchior picked up a glass of digestif and smiled as if a thousand suns were shining at once.

“You truly have deep camaraderie with your companions.”

Of course, by now, Kleio had grown accustomed to Melchior’s pressure, so it didn’t have as much impact as expected.

‘Wow, this guy. When he has nothing to say, he tries to smooth things over with his face… Unbelievable.’

Right after the statue of a goddess’ child seemed to move and freeze the atmosphere of the hall with a smile, as expected, the reckless Chell quickly intervened in the conversation between the crown prince and the magician.

“We live and eat together and spend all day in classes and research, so it’s impossible not to become close. To think Your Highness harbored such deep intentions, as a subject of Albion, I am deeply moved.”

At this point, there was nothing more the crown prince could say to the young students.

After polite greetings, prompted by Arthur’s joking urging and Chell’s playful New Year’s greeting, Melchior naturally walked over to Chairman Benjamin Bitton.

The attendants cleared the tables and brought out grappa and limoncello for digestif. For the children who didn’t drink, lemon sherbet was provided.

Before long, the giant pendulum clock in the center of the hall pointed to midnight. As the chandelier’s lights dimmed, the golden glow filling the hall became even more brilliant.

The younger guests stood up in pairs and approached the windows, from which all curtains had been drawn. On the windowsills hung lush mistletoe branches, richly tied with gold and red ribbons.

The music stopped, and the noise of people grew.

Thanks to this, conversations in small voices at secluded tables would not be easily overheard.

Chell and Arthur, without any prompting, downed their digestifs in one go, and Behemoth, not to be outdone, buried its snout in its own glass and slurped.

Seeing that, Kleio felt a bit more at ease. Even though he was less tense than before, he still felt drained when facing Melchior.

Kleio slumped against the back of his chair.

“Phew… I feel like I’ve aged ten years.”

He had already emptied his plate and, seeing Lippi and Leticia eyeing him eagerly, evenly divided two scoops of sherbet between them and drank a bit more water.

After setting down his empty glass, Arthur dragged his chair over and sat next to Kleio.

“Rei, you already look young enough, so even if you age ten years, you don’t need to worry about looking middle-aged.”

“I’d like you to keep your mouth shut for now. I’m starting to dislike that voice.”

“That’s too much… It’s said that siblings or fathers and sons tend to have similar voices.”

“Just don’t resemble him in any other way.”

“Hey Rei, even if he wanted to, that’s not something Arthur can do.”

As Chell cut in, giggling, the twins, who were neatly eating their sherbet with silver spoons, joined in.

“That’s right. His Highness is just so beautiful.”

“So beautiful you feel your eyes might burn if you look too long.”

“Whose side are you two on, really!”

“Everyone, lower your voices a bit. Even if the hall is noisy, it’s still crowded with people.”

“Isiel, you’re right to worry, but it’s almost the New Year!”

Those gathered by the window crossed their hands in front of them and sang the New Year’s song. Not knowing the lyrics well, Kleio just pretended to sing along.

The orchestra played a lively arrangement of a well-known traditional folk tune, weaving together the voices of the people.

The New Year’s countdown began.

Except for the elderly, even the crown prince and the captain of the knights went to the window, so Kleio couldn’t dawdle anymore and was dragged along by the twins.

‘3, 2, 1…!’

Boom—

Bang!

Countless fireworks exploded beyond the long casement window frames.

It was the New Year’s fireworks.

Before he knew it, pressed by the crowd, Arthur, Chell, and the twins had disappeared, and only Isiel remained by Kleio’s side, grabbing his shoulder as he was jostled about.

It was a careless touch, but thanks to it, Kleio didn’t get his legs tangled in the princess of the Kingdom of Fedre’s stylish wire crinoline and skirt.

“Thanks, Isiel. If not for you, I might have seriously offended her.”

“Indeed. I used to think it was just the alcohol, but you’re the same even when sober. No matter how much I tell you to train yourself.”

“Uh, um. I’ll really do it starting this year.”

“Yeah, right. You say that, but every morning you can’t get up, get whacked by the cat, and still refuse to leave your bed.”

“What can I do if I can’t get up.”

“Fine. Don’t overdo it. Just take care of your health.”

And then, the two boys and the girl just gazed at the fireworks in the commotion.

The continuing scatter of lights colored Isiel’s profile in various hues.

She wore neither a diamond tiara nor a veil of crystal and pearls, but Isiel shone and stood out more than anyone else in the world.

It was the light of strong will and burning vitality.

In both her original life and her newly gained one, Isiel was a girl clad in virtues distant from Kleio himself.

The title this child would later earn was ‘Knight of Fire and Antagonism.’ The one to lead the legion and realize her lord’s will on earth.

But right now, Isiel was just a young student, standing isolated among affectionate couples and feeble classmates, furrowing her brow, searching for a way out of a predicament.

The festival of light ended, and a new light would return with another year.

Until then, it was a time without light.

Beneath the mistletoe before sunrise, no kiss is condemned.

Lovers and paramours, whether in conventional or unconventional relationships, exchanged kisses permitted only on this night—short or long, shallow or deep.

With a subtle expression, Isiel quietly let go of Kleio’s shoulder, which she’d been holding as if it were nothing.

Kleio, who was staggering a bit, was saved from falling by a huge furball crashing into his shin.

It was Behemoth.

“Eowwoooooong! Wongnya! (My beautiful tail almost got stepped on! Hurry and pick me up!)”

“There, there.”

As Kleio strained to pick up Behemoth, the cat, digging its front claws mercilessly into the boy’s thin shoulder, stretched its long body to get a better view of the fireworks.

Because Behemoth waved its tail like a flag, the twins, spotting it, pushed through the crowd to rush over.

“Rei, there you are! Suddenly people started pushing in!”

“Ugh, really. I couldn’t even use ether to push back, it was so awkward!”

Finally, Chell, who found Kleio, ruffled his hair carelessly.

Drained, Kleio couldn’t even withstand that and staggered. Behemoth lost its balance and stretched upward, bouncing away.

Because of that, the kiss Kleio received beneath the mistletoe was the brush of a cat’s snout on his cheek.

The twins jumped excitedly.

“Ah! I want to kiss Motti too!”

“Me too, me too!”

“Kyahhh!”

Dodging the twins who lunged at him, Behemoth darted onto the stand.

The bubbles of freshly uncorked champagne splashed to the rim of coupe glasses. Amidst fireworks and snowstorms, 1891 was beginning.