The residence of Lord Teirah was unexpectedly not very splendid. However, the furniture of good taste and each of the decorations of the residence gave it color. With the airs given off by the decoration being very uniform, it could be seen that there was only one theme being used. There was a good feeling of honesty in it; it was something that wouldn´t be felt from the tastes of the first cla.s.s citizen rich upstarts.

“Because my father has the principle of not using much money in material objects, people often say that we are being too much of misers for how we keep our house like that, . Bt even so, I really like my home.”

Willian mentally nodded at Karl´s words. It wasn´t gaudy, but it was elegant.

“In my opinion, I also think it is graceful.”

“As I said before, stop with the polite language! It is starting to feel creepy.”

“”Isn´t it obvious that doing this is impossible, r.e.t.a.r.d.””

Willian got angry at Karl, who was looking at him with dissatisfied eyes, and complained in his mind.

“”Their garden isn´t too big and their walls aren´t that high. If necessary, it will be possible for me to escape from here.””

The garden wasn´t that much wide, but as to be expected, its decoration had good taste. There was a water fountain at its center, and it was surrounded by a pound. If right now was the habitual state of affairs, perhaps Willian would be able to have a comfortable rest at that garden, but he didn´t have the spare time to be doing this at the moment.

“”I can´t find anything eye-catching in the structure of the house. Even without having a good look at it, I can already imagine how the corridors are organized.””

It was indispensable that Willian made his preparations for escaping in case Karl was to go back in his words or if Karl´s father wanted to have Willian dead.

Perhaps the chance for this to happen was low. However, the percentage wasn´t zero.

“This way. They should already be done with the preparations for dinner by now.”

Karl signaled Willian to come with a hand gesture. There were many servants in front of the door. It was possible to notice that they were wearing maid clothes of quality and that they had been well trained in their conduct and way of movement.

“…Understood.”

Willian´s expression didn´t change. Since he came all his way here anyway, he was able to set his resolve. Him meeting a n.o.ble, an existence he couldn´t even imagine about, was an opportunity that had came early for him. Yes, this was an opportunity.

“”I… won´t lose.””

His resolve was now completely set.

“Please enter, Karl-sama, Rivius-sama.”

A maid that seemed to be of old age opened the door. Then, the person sitting at the farthest seat of the table said…

“Welcome to the Teirah residence. I welcome you, Willian-kun.”

It was Lord Teirah. It was the first genuine n.o.ble Willian had seen in his life.

“It is my deepest honor to be invited by you, Lord Teirah.”

Willian deeply bowed his head. He had some etiquette imbued in his body. This too was knowledge he acquired from books. It was the first time he put it in practice. Since this was the first time he had met with a n.o.ble, such was obvious, but…

“Your hair is really as white as chalk. I was thinking the man would have white hair mixed with his hair, Karl.”(TL note: I think he is saying that he thought Willian was an old man. Karl should have told him that Willian was very knowledgeable, so it should be the case.”

Willian turned his eyes to the direction of the voice. At that direction, there was a man that had a wavy blonde hair tied together in one bundle. He looked to be slightly older than both Karl and Willian.

“I am very sorry, elder brother.”

Anger could be seen in Karl´s response.

“I am being rude to the visitor for not introducing myself already. My name is Ainhart Von Teirah. My profession is being a scholar and I am Karl´s elder brother.”

Seeing Ainhart respectfully bow to Willian, Willian himself bowed to him in reaction. Seeming that that scene was amusing for the Lord Teirah, he laughed.

“And the one sitting to my opposite side is our most beloved little sister, Lutogarde.”

The girl that was sitting to Aingart´s opposite side of the table bowed in an embarra.s.sed manner. The moment her eyes met with Willian´s, she immediately averted her gaze.

“”…Is it too disgraceful for her to meet eyes with a commoner?””

Willian´s expression didn´t change the slightest, but he wasn´t calm in his mind. Willian couldn´t help but feel that the man sitting at the back of the table, Karl´s elder brother Ainhart and even Lutogarde were looking down on him. Rather, it was definitely only him imagining that.

“Ahaha, Lutogarde is very shy when meeting new people. Really, you need to properly greet him!”

Karl puffed up his cheeks. (TL note: Rly mate? -.-) Looking at that, Lutogarde made an apologetic face.

“M-my name is Lutogarde. Nice to meet you, Willian-sama.”

“I am from Rus.h.i.+tania. My name is Willian Rivius. It is my pleasure meeting you, Lutogarde-sama.”

Willian carefully told his false story. No, in fact, he [himself] was without doubt Willian, who came from Rus.h.i.+tania, so there weren´t any lies.

“I guess I am the last in the self introductions. I am Lord Teirah, Louran Von Teirah. I will be in your care, Willian-kun, Karl´s friend and benefactor.”

Willian was slightly troubled at how a n.o.ble had lowered his head to him.

“Now, have a sit. Albeit it is a meager one, let´s have dinner.”

“…Excuse me.”

The arrangement of the seats was that Louran, the head of the house, was at the back; to the left was Ainhart and Karl, and to the right was Lutogarde, and now…

“…Uhm, is it fine for me to sit here?”

“Ah, yes, by all means.”

Lutogarde answered in a very meek voice. Willian sat down.

“Fill your plate with the dishes of your desire and let´s start our dinner.”

With Louran´s call, the dinner started.

“”I don´t recognize this taste. What am I eating right now?””

Every single one of the cuisine lined up in the table were tasty food Willian had never eaten before. But even so, he was having trouble with the table manners, was also worried about how the conversation would go, and in addition to that, he had to talk about Rus.h.i.+tania, his home country he actually had never been to. Because of the extreme feeling of tension and the too tasty of a food he normally wouldn´t be able to eat, his tongue became completely numb of taste.

“…But it seems Willian-kun has been studying very well.”

“No, this is nothing to be that proud of.”

Putting his elbow on the table, Louran smiled.

“No, it is quite something. For you to be that much fluent in a language of another country, and also even paying mind for learning the etiquette of another country, and the intelligence you have show during parts of our conversation. In addition to all that, at least as far as I heard from Karl, you are also strong.”

Willian was scared of that smile. It was obviously a smile that was different from the one Karl was doing. Louran´s gaze was one that was a.n.a.lyzing him. He had been thinking there was something strange with Willian since a little ago.

“”Is this man testing me?””

It was an act for the sake of making Willian delve inside more detailed subjects regarding Rus.h.i.+tania. Thinking about that now, perhaps all the self-introduction from before had also been something for the sake of examining the man called Willian.

“Despite not being very knowledgeable about it, I desperately studied about Arcadia after deciding I was going to come here.”

“This is incredible. Studying the language of a country so distant from your country Rus.h.i.+tania shouldn´t be something average.”

Willian´s back was soaked in sweat. The other three were listening to their conversation as they ate their food; they couldn´t even begin to understand the tension Willian was feeling right now.

“However, why is it Arcadia? It could have been Ostoberg, which is also one of the seven kingdoms. The closest to Rus.h.i.+tania of the seven kingdoms is the kingdom of Estaado, and walking a bit further from there, there should be the kingdom of Nehderks. If you want to rise to the top, then it should be the superpower, Garias, and by crossing the sea, there is also the developing kingdom of Arkland. I am having the feeling there aren´t any reasons for you to have chosen Arcadia.”

Willian also used to have the same doubts about this question. Why had Willian chosen Arcadia. Willian wasn´t a person to leave such a question that would definitely be asked to him buried.

“…My explanation for that might sound a little rude, though.”

Willian was making a humble face. Looking at it, Louran uttered an “Oh”, with his increasing interest showing on his voice.

“The superpower, the kingdom of Garias, is less than average for raising your fame. There aren´t many countries that would pick up a fight with that country, so there aren´t any opportunities to get achievements there. Even if I raise my name at the developing country of Arkland, I will still have my doubts on whether I would be able to go back to my home. And not to mention, the kingdom of Estaado had been known for having invaded my country a long time ago… The remaining choice is either Arcadia, Ostoberg or Nehderks. But between those three… there is a decisive difference that sets it all.”

Willian was smoothly giving his explanation. Everything was the pure truth Willian had heard from the [person himself]. There weren´t any reasons to be anxious about that. There was no doubts all this was the truth.

“The difference would be on how foreigners are treated. Compared to Arcadia, who consider foreigners as people of their own country, giving them the t.i.tle of third cla.s.s citizens, Ostoberg and Nehderks at most treat foreigners as nothing more than foreigners. I left my country to make a name for myself. In that case, I think it is inevitable that the place I need to enlist myself at is Arcadia.”

He didn´t put in even a single lie. If there were any lies found, he would be seen as nothing more than a scammer. However, even with that said, the identification doc.u.ments were still making lies become the truth…

“You are quite the ambitious person.”

Ainhart said..

“I am grateful for the compliment.”

Willian bowed his head to Ainhart.

“Fumu, perhaps it is as you say. Arkland if there is the opportunity for it, and Arcadia otherwise… Ah, sorry for having asked you so many things. The dinner could have ended up getting cold. Now then, please eat to your heart´s content.”

As if the questioning had ended for the time, Loulan declared that Willian could go back to eating his dinner. Willian nodded. Now, all the people that were present at the place had their mind focused on the food.

“Ah, could I ask you one last thing?”

“…?”

Willian finally became relieved. But that was until Louran talked to him again, as if he had seen through that and was only waiting for the timing.

“Isn´t Karl a nuisance for you who is so ambitious?”

In an instant, the mood of the room became petrified. Karl loudly stood up from his seat.

“…What are… you saying?”

Willian was at loss for words. It was obvious. There was no way he could answer that question in his current situation. It was inevitable he would get Karl´s dislike by that. In result of that, as far as the influence Karl had as the son of a n.o.ble, it would an easy feat for him to have a single foreigner murdered.

“Yes, please don´t mind about that. It´s just that I don´t like very much that Karl is going to war. Like Ainhart had said before, he is a scholar, and because of that, he won´t accept becoming the heir. In order words, Karl must be the one to succeed the Teirah household. I want him to learn things about the business we do, and if he is going to give up on that, it would be best if he does so early on.”

Karl was about to glare at his father, but because Louran´s gaze was by far much sharper, Karl was suppressed without him even having the chance to say any word. As to be expected, there was no comparison.

“I am aware that Karl doesn´t have talents that suit the military. Let´s put an end to this dream. I will entrust my son to you. If it is your words, he might be able to wake up. Could you make him give up?”

Karl was looking at Willian with eyes that asked for help. Willian swallowed the saliva in his mouth.

This was an extremely difficult situation for Willian. If he was to stand for Karl, he wouldn´t do so for Louran, and if he was to stand for Louran, he wouldn´t do so for Karl. In terms of power, it was clear the Louran was the one most powerful. In that case, it was only logical that Willian needed to follow Louran´s will.

“”However, resentment from that will remain. The feeling of trust that Karl has right now will be destroyed, and the moment this turns into hatred, all the violations I had done will become a big vulnerability…”(TL note: Not sure about that because the word used here is ->s.h.i.+ppai

Willian had committed violations before. They were things Karl had ignored. At the present moment, it could be said that he doesn´t mind about them, but it was inevitable that he would change his mind about that if he was to be betrayed. For all the trust he had, his anger would only become more intense.

“”To begin with, is there any necessity for me to stand on Louran´s side? If he really wanted to have Karl stay away from the battlefield, my opinion would have been unnecessary. At most, all this is only feigned. However, those are only a.s.sumptions. In either case, I will face against both of their opinions!””

Willian looked at Karl for only an instant. Karl head was hanging down. He was biting his lips, having his clenched hands trembling, and he was also making a frustrated face. Karl was aware of it. He knew that he didn´t have any talent. Since he had gone to war, he ended up becoming aware of it…

Willian let out a small sigh. It was as if he was making sure whether it was really fine to do what he was about to.

“Karl-sama…”

Karl became surprised in reaction. Louran looked at Willian with a composed att.i.tude.

And then, Willian said…

“Karl-sama. No, Karl… I need you!”

Willian had set his resolve. Karl became moved by those words.

“At that time I still didn´t know you were from a n.o.ble family, I was about to betray you. In the middle of the battle, I didn´t have the spare time even for myself and many of our companions were in danger too. I was hesitant whether it was right for me to go save only Karl himself despite everyone else, so I averted my eyes from you for one time. Even if I saved you in the end, it is the reality that I had been about to leave you to your death. Without any twists to the truth, it is a fact that I had hesitated at that time.”

Because of the sudden confession, aside from Ainhart and Lutogarde, even Louran had his eyes open wide.

“Karl told the me who had abandoned him for that instant that I was his friend. He forgave the stupid me who had been about to leave him to his death; a simple foreigner and third cla.s.s citizen like me. He even called me his friend. To me, Karl is a friend that is impossible to replace. It was the first bond I was able to make in this country.”

The first one to become surprised after hearing Willian´s confession was Karl himself. Willian continued his speech. He didn´t give him the time to think over what had been said.

“Indeed, Karl might not have talent to be in the military. However, I believe that Karl has an even more important power. It is the power to bond people together, the power to have people open themselves, the power to gain the trust of people. This power perhaps might not be of any use to a solder. However, how would this fare for someone that commands? What if he was to stand above people? This definitely would become the most powerful talent to have over any other. Therefore, I absolutely need Karl!”

Willian declared. To be fair to himself, Willian didn´t have the confidence that this kind of route was even viable. Whether it was the correct answer for him to choose Karl´s side, or whether he should have chosen Louran´s side, or whether he should have dropped all the pretense to begin with, he didn´t know what he was supposed to do. The situation he was now wasn´t one he could make all of it off as a joke. The person he was dealing with also wouldn´t allow him. Loulan Von Teirah wasn´t soft to that point.

“But if he dies as a soldier, there won´t be any meaning to it.”

Louran´s cold words pierced through Willian.

“I will protect him. No matter what may happen, in the name of my motherland, and more than anything in the name of our friends.h.i.+p, I will protect him.”

Since he came all the way here, Karl would keep his stand even if he was to die. If he was to rub the lord in the wrong way, it would be fine for him to run away from the residence. Since he was close to the door, it would be possible for him to escape. He memorized the way outside the house. He had already gone his way to outside the kingdom too. It would be fine even if he was to get all covered with human s.h.i.+t for that sake.

“Father!”

Karl´s voice resounded through the room. Louran turned his frigid eyes away from Willian and now was looking at Karl.

“!?” (ッ！？)

Karl´s had pretty much never went against his father´s words. He had never received such a cold gaze from him before. But even so…

“I-I, indeed am weak. I became aware of the reality with the war. I am weak. It is a fact that won´t change. However, if I am together with Willian, I have the feeling I will be able to become stronger. I will become strong and be able to stand alongside him. I want to become a man worthy of being his friend. That´s why there is no way I can run away now! In the name of my friends.h.i.+p with Willian, he who said that I was necessary to him!”

Karl has for the first time gone against his father. This was different from a child that had been spoiled by his father and was now talking about his selfish desires. It was a firm opposition. Ainhart, his brother, was surprised. Those were caustic words that he would have never imagined coming out of Karl´s mouth.

“…Fumu. I am beaten. Well, I wasn´t being that much serious about it though.”

Before one´s notice, Louran´s eyes became mild. It was as if his cold gaze had been blown away, and that now the usual Loulan was the one sitting there.

“It´s fine, do as you wish. Sorry there, Willian-kun. I ended up having you caught with our family affairs. But it was really fortunate I asked you that. Thank you for becoming Karl´s friend.”

Karl blushed. He was giving glances to Willian. Becoming embarra.s.sed, Willian averted his eyes from him. And due to that, Karl made a happy expression. (TL note: Is there a hidden yaoi route there or something?)

“Only, you should think about the family´s business a little bit. Karl, since our company has many employees, please keep in your heart that we mustn´t let them be thrown to the roadside. Also, you must definitely not die. Can you promise me that?”

“Yes father!”

Becoming satisfied with Karl´s response, Louran turned his eyes to all the people in the room.

“Oh my, I am really sorry. Now then, let´s once again proceed with our dinner. If we let it cool down, our old caretaker will get angry at us.”

With a clap of his hands, although with a few difficulties, they went back to eating their dinner.

The strange mood from before faded away to its last pieces, but even so, Willian still couldn´t feel the taste of the food in the end.

“You can use this room.”

After finis.h.i.+ng the dinner, Karl guided Willian to one of the rooms of the second floor. Right now, both were standing in front of it.

“Thank you Karl.”

Willian extended his hand for a handshake. Karl happily took his hand.

“Don´t worry about it, Willian.”

Their friends.h.i.+p had been accepted by Karl´s father. If that wasn´t the case, it would have been impossible for him to have gone against the will of the head of the family. It was exactly because this would have normally been impossible that this friends.h.i.+p became mutual trust.

“Then, see you tomorrow.”

“Yes, see you tomorrow.”

The hands that were firmly holding each other now broke off, slowly leaving to each side. Both were looking at the position they were holding their hands with regretful eyes. Noticing that, Karl showed a happy smile while Willian showed a wry one.

“Good night, Willian.”

“Good night, Karl.”

The two of them went their own ways. Karl turned his head a few times as he waved his hand.

On the other hand, Willian just waved his hand for a little. After that, he entered inside the room that was given to him.

Leaning his back at the door…

“Fhuuuuu….”

Willian gave a very long sigh.

“I pulled it through, I guess.”

A feeling of coldness gradually started to embrace his back, which was now dry from all the sweat.

“The room next to mine has n.o.body living at. Because my room is at the corner, it should be fine even if I don´t pay too much mind about those things. This is enough. This should definitely be enough, myself.”

With his exhaustion coming at him all at once, Willian´s expression became a weak and completely exhausted one. It was an expression he wouldn´t show in front of anyone. Willian sluggishly walked towards his bed, and then he fell with his back onto it.

“I am much more tired than at those times in the battlefield. This s.h.i.+tty thing…”

His abusive language lacked its usual force.

“Those n.o.bles… Are all of them jerks like that?”

Willian remembered about Louran´s surveying gaze and the conversation between them. Thinking back about it now, it was possible to imagine that their whole conversation had been a test to see if he could be trusted. This was the difference in experience. All the people he had seen until now couldn´t be considered real actors.

“So that is how a baron, the fifth one, is like?”

The top was feeling even more distant to Willian.

“…Hm?”

The stairs were a bit far from his room, but even so, he was able to hear footsteps from there. That person who went up the stairs came towards his room and was now standing right in front of his door.

“…”

Fixing the position of his body,  Willian turned his head to the door.

“You don´t need to open the door, Willian-kun.”

The owner of the voice was Louran. Willian´s feeling of tension increased.

“You are very smart. At that time, you were deciding which side to take; whether to take Karl´s or mine. ….No, since then, you´ve been choosing the most suitable words and actions all the time. You are smart; so very smart. But you might be a bit too much smart.”

Willian wasn´t able to say anything. Who in h.e.l.l was the one that was now standing at the other side of his door? It was different from everything he had experienced until now.

“I don´t know what you were thinking by coming to this country. I am considering the story you´ve told us a bit ago with a grain of salt for now, but I am not softhearted enough to be believing in that. Isn´t it obvious? For a person like you that is so strong and intelligent, because of how excellent you are, there isn´t any reason for you to go to another country to begin with, or even for you to name yourself as a simple foreigner. The risk of making a name in another country makes doing that illogical; there wouldn´t be any reason for you to do that.

A cold feeling was going through Willian´s skin. It was a feeling that was similar to when Kail was preparing for battle or at the time he confronted with him.

“That´s why I cannot believe in your story.”

Forgetting even to gasp, Willian kept only staring at the door.

“However, I will recognize that you are very capable. In that time you are being Karl´s [friend], I believe you and I are going to become good friends.”

Willian was clenching his teeth. He had already been seen through. The reason for all the acting from before…

“Please be good friends with Karl. That child is too gentle and too simple-minded. I sincerely wish you won´t betray him. Alas, I don´t want to become your enemy.”

His opponent was too strong. The Willian of right now couldn´t compete. In the end, all he was able to protect was the lie called [Willian]. All the rest had been exposed.

“Sorry for having you follow that old man´s conversation. You should have got tired because of that, right? You should have a good rest.”

The presence that was at the other side of the door had vanished.

“Ah, that is bad. I can´t win against him.”

His complete exhaustion was showing in his face, but on the other hand, at that same face there was a smile.

“What a man. That Lord Tirah.”

Willian was acting very cautiously. However, Louran had been able to clearly see through his over cautious att.i.tude. There was no mistake that Willian´s actions at that time had been very funny to him.

“”There was no meaning to all the cheap drama I engaged with Karl. No, perhaps for Karl there is a meaning to it.””

The response that inspired Karl. In result of that, Willian was able to win his trust, but the problem was on how Louran interpreted that. That was where the scary part was at. Only…

“”In short, would this mean that as long as I am protecting Karl and as long as I am being useful to the Tirah house, all that scene from before will be overlooked? Without giving any interest to my cheap drama, they only wanted to know whether I was going to protect Karl.””

War had value to the n.o.bility. If their own son is serving the army, people would look differently at them. Willian didn´t know what Louran thought in regards of that, but there was no mistake that he wanted to draw in a win-win situation for the two of them.

“”Well, to me, this is definitely not a bad condition. They shouldn´t pursue the matter of me having abandoned him once, and for a foreigner like me, it is very nice for me to be under a n.o.ble family. I will make use of you as much as I can.””

Most of the reason why Willian gave that speech from before to inspire Karl was because not only Karl himself aimed for the top, but he also had useful qualities in him. From what Willian learned at their time at Raconia, it was definitely not a lie that Karl was necessary in other to make up for what Willian himself lacked. Because it was a win-win exchange, both would get the benefit. Willian believed in benefits; this was all there was to it.

“”Today´s defeat was a complete disaster. However, one day, I will definitely win against him.””

Willian extended his hand to the ceiling of his room.

For now, he needed to reach for that ceiling. Reaching his hand to the skies was something for later on.