I was so proud of Sir Osvalt. As I gazed at his composed expression, I found myself swelling with pride.
“Himari wouldn’t let a meager flame arrow hit her,” said Haruya. “She was the fastest in our entire clan!”
Sir Osvalt laughed. “You might be right. Himari probably would’ve dodged it. Still, you threatened to fire your Arcane Cannon if anyone moved. What makes you think she’d take that risk and step out of the way?”
“Ugh… W-well…”
“And why would you launch an attack that you knew she could dodge? Haruya, I’m starting to sense that your plans don’t add up.”
Haruya fell silent.
Sir Osvalt was right. There was something bizarre about the way he was acting. The fact that he was threatening us with his Arcane Cannon—his trump card—should have been irrefutable evidence that he was desperate, and yet…
“Haruya. That cannon of yours… It’s not loaded, is it?”
“Huh? I didn’t expect you to try to raise the stakes, Lady Philia. I’m impressed. But sure, if that’s your game, order your knights to storm the hut. Let’s see what happens.”
Not only did Haruya appear unfazed by my accusation, he’d even managed to turn it back on me. He didn’t disappoint. Unfortunately for him, he’d failed to grasp my meaning. This time, he’d ended up in a situation he couldn’t talk his way out of.
“I’m not bluffing, Haruya. I’m simply stating a fact.”
“Oh really? I didn’t know you’d studied psychological warfare, too. I have to warn you, I—”
“I have proof—genuine proof that your cannon is empty.”
Haruya was dumbstruck.
I had no intention of taking another gamble that could lead to casualties. Even when I went into the Volcanic Miasma Zone, I only did it because Mia pledged to risk her life alongside me. Usually, I was a very cautious person.
“What about that wind earlier?”
“The wind?” Haruya repeated. “Oh. It did surprise me a little, but I’m not weak enough for it to sweep me away.”
“That’s true. It would have made things easier, but it wasn’t meant to. However, it did show me one thing.”
“It did?”
I’d been overly cautious. I was worried that Haruya might have another weapon as powerful as the Arcane Cannon, and concerned about how he would react when confronted. As I was contemplating tactics, Sir Osvalt had gotten burned.
In hindsight, I should have just pointed it out right away.
“Haruya, a cannon of that size should contain some pretty weighty cannonballs, shouldn’t it?”
There was no reply.
“If it had been loaded, there’s no way that amount of wind could have moved it. But I saw it shake a little.”
“So, that’s what the wind was for…”
It didn’t matter how sturdy Haruya was. If the wind wasn’t strong enough to move a person, but it made the cannon tremble, there was only one explanation: the cannon wasn’t as heavy as it was supposed to be.
Haruya had used an empty threat to hold us hostage.
It was terrifying to think that he had approached us with so much confidence, knowing he had nothing.
“Whew! I should have listened to my gut. I found it impossible to get a measure of you and your husband. That’s why I had to resort to desperate measures.”
“Haruya, you—”
“It’s alarming to think that a mere breeze, devoid of malice, was enough to topple me. What a crushing defeat. If it were my own greed that led to my demise, it’d be easier to come to terms with.” Looking almost impressed, Haruya raised both hands in defeat. “Still… I’m pleased I could spend my final days getting to know a couple like you two.”
This time, his surrender seemed genuine.
When he said it’d be easier to accept a demise caused by his own greed, I sensed a hint of sadness in his voice. His past had been tragic. He’d dedicated his life to serving others, only to be confronted by betrayal and death.
“Knights! Detain Haruya!” Philip ordered. “And watch out for hidden traps! Don’t let your guard down!”
At Philip’s command, the knights surged forward. A few minutes later, Haruya was in custody, showing no signs of resistance.
The look in his single eye was calm, reflecting only relief.
“Philip,” said Sir Osvalt, “bring Haruya to me. Oh, and go ahead and release his restraints.”
“Understood! Wait, what? Are you sure you want to set him free?”
“Yeah. He won’t escape again. I can tell.”
“Y-yes, Your Highness!”
Philip nodded, freed Haruya, and ushered him over. It seemed Sir Osvalt had something to discuss.
“You humiliated me back there,” Haruya said. “I never expected you to work out my bluff so easily.”
“I know.” Sir Osvalt turned to me, laughing, a joyful expression on his face. “My wife’s really something, isn’t she?”
“Sir Osvalt…”
Hearing my husband boast about me made me feel strangely nervous and shy.
“Yes, Lady Philia’s quite a saint. What impressed me more, however, was the way you shielded Himari.”
“Oh?”
“It still doesn’t make sense to me. Why would a master get injured for the sake of his vassal? I just don’t understand.”
If Haruya hadn’t been shaken by Sir Osvalt’s selflessness, he probably wouldn’t have backed down, not even after I figured out his plot. With the agility of a ninja and an arsenal of magic weapons, he could have at least attempted to flee.
“Can I ask you a question, Prince Osvalt?”
“Hmm? What is it? Go ahead.”
“How do you view your servants? I’ve never known anyone like you before. I’d like to hear your answer before I face my fate.”
I’d never asked Sir Osvalt a question like that before.
“Well, they’re people I trust to watch my back—and people I feel obliged to protect.”
“Th-they are?”
“…Is that odd? I mean, it’s just not in my nature to let someone else do all the protecting.”
When Haruya heard Sir Osvalt describe his urge to protect his vassals, his eyes widened in surprise. It was true. Sir Osvalt would never allow someone to sacrifice themselves to save him, no matter the situation. Some might call it naïve, but I loved his thoughtful nature.
I was beginning to understand why Sir Osvalt had called Haruya over to speak.
“You know what, Haruya? Meeting you feels like a stroke of fate. How do you feel about working for me?”
“Huh? What are you talking about? I could never be one of your underlings!”