Second Act The Guards’ Engagements Setting Elefas’s marriage certificate right in the center of his work desk, the demon king turns to Walt and Kyle. “What about you two? Do you have anyone like that?” His red eyes are steady, and Walt exchanges a glance with his partner before answering. “I’d really like one, to be honest.” “At this point, my work keeps me fully occupied.” “No doubt you’ll marry someday, though. Then you’ll leave me, like Elefas.” The demon king hasn’t signed his subordinate’s marriage certificate yet and seems conflicted. When Walt swiftly glances at the cause of all this, the demon king’s mage gives a tranquil smile. “You sold me off, remember?” “But you let her win you over. I believed you’d stay loyal to me until the end.” “That’s a lie. You used me in a political maneuver. It’s no use playing the victim.” “You really are starting to sound like Keith. You used to humor me more.” “I’ll consider that a compliment. Oh, my wife is working on the prototype for a new camera, and she’s incorporated your feedback into the design, Master Claude. I’ll bring it by soon.” “I see. I’ll be looking forward to that. Aileen gets embarrassed when I take her photo, and it’s adorable.” Not only has Elefas dodged Claude’s unfair criticism, he’s even improved his mood. He really has begun to resemble the demon king’s adviser, who’s making tea behind them. “And what about you two? You aren’t seeing any women behind my back, are you?” The conversation returns to its previous topic, and Walt replies in an exhausted tone. “We wouldn’t do anything that scary…” “That’s right. It’d just make more work for us.” “So there’s no one?” ““No. No one.”” They speak in perfect unison—a skill they picked up since becoming the demon king’s guards. Then Walt adds, “I told you; I’d really like one. All I did during my vacation was sleep… Oh, I’m starting to tear up.” “I see. That’s good, then. Here’s your personal history, Walt.” “Hmm?” The topic of conversation has taken a strange turn, and Walt’s smile freezes. His personal history. That was the résumé-type document people sent before marriage interviews. “…Uh, did I hear that wrong?” “I didn’t misspeak if that’s what you’re asking. I was always planning on giving you an arbitrary noble title and arbitrarily marrying you off to an arbitrary woman at an arbitrary time.” “Would you quit saying ‘arbitrary’ over and over? How arbitrary can you get?!” “Why are you angry? It means the same thing as ‘appropriate.’” “No, it does not; it means you don’t care much.” “Enough word games. Just go for now. Arbitrarily.” “Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Hang on a minute! Just me?! What about Kyle?!” He points at Kyle, who’s standing next to him, eyes wide. Claude frowns. “You may both be my guards, but sharing a wife doesn’t seem like a good idea.” “That is absolutely not what I meant! I’m asking if he gets a marriage interview, too.” “I want at least one of you to ask me for permission to marry.” When Walt hears that, he’s sure of it. He leans over the work desk, the corners of his lips curving up. “You’re playing with us, huh, Master Claude.” “Well, Elefas didn’t even last a week.” He sends a pointed glare at Elefas, who feigns ignorance. The man’s been increasingly brazen lately. It can’t be because marriage has helped him settle down, can it? “I doubt I’ll need to worry about you, but don’t make any careless mistakes with her. And don’t forget about tonight’s soiree, either.” “Listen, I haven’t actually agreed to this yet.” “Even though I’ve gone to the trouble of setting it up for you?” “I’ll listen to sweet Ailey when she tilts her head and asks me for favors, but she’s the only one!” “Aileen tells me you’re particularly good at playing the lover.” Walt flinches, stiffening before Claude’s bracing smile. The budding flowers in the vase are still closed, proof that his smile isn’t genuine. It’s the sort of smile that will whip up a window-shattering gale if he gives the wrong answer. “I’m telling you to go. Is that clear?” There’s only one possible answer. “Yes, sir, gladly!” “Serves you right,” his partner tells him with a sigh. Walt tries to stomp on his foot, but Kyle evades neatly. “That’s right. One other note about the marriage interview: You aren’t Walt Lizanis.” “Huh?” “You’re not my guard, either. You’re the third son of some noble. Isaac Lombard or something.” “Huhn?!” Walt shouts. “So he’s a stand-in? But why?” Kyle asks with a frown. “Report what you learn about the girl to Keith and me, but tell no one else. You mustn’t speak of it unless absolutely necessary, not even to Kyle or Elefas. Or to Aileen, of course. Ultimately, I’ll decide your engagement. That’s not to say that I’m taking the rumor she’s selling demon snuff at face value, however…” He isn’t just a stand-in, then. Kyle has picked up on the same thing, and he shuts his mouth. Walt lets out a heavy sigh. An undercover investigation. “It is still a marriage interview, though, so it’s a good opportunity for you. Be a gentleman and get along with her without marring your dignity as my guard.” “Leave it to me. I’m particularly good at making friends with girls.” Claude hands him the page detailing his personal history, and Walt accepts it with a smile. Attend a marriage interview to get information out of a prospective partner. Kyle is well aware that Walt is better than him at undercover missions like these—no doubt the reason why Claude chose him. He doesn’t get worked up, or feel any other sorts of childish emotions after all this time. “…Listen, are you really okay with this?” However, he still sticks his oar in. Maybe it’s habit. “What, hmm? Do you want a marriage interview, too?” “That’s not what I mean… What sort of girl is she?” “That’s clas-si-fied. You heard Master Claude tell me not to talk about it unless necessary.” “Yes, ‘necessary.’” Claude is flexible about that sort of thing, but Walt only snorts. “It’ll be fine, so you just focus on guarding him. You’ll have to protect Master Claude well enough for the both of us while I’m gone.” Which makes Kyle look at the person he’s supposed to be guarding. Beneath the glittering chandeliers, the emperor and empress are dancing the first dance of the soiree. The empress glances up at the emperor, blushing; she’s still in the flower of her youth and looks lovely. It’s hard to believe that this is the same individual who not only dressed as a boy but ran around the academy in a full-body duck costume, pretending to be security. …Marriage, huh? He’s always thought it isn’t for him. Nameless Priests live only to twenty-five or so, and it isn’t unusual for them to die before twenty. However, the demon king did something to him, and as he turned twenty, Kyle gained a life that was completely different from the one he’d anticipated. Once he got used to it, it changed the way he thought about things. Elefas’s recent marriage is also a major factor as to why Kyle has begun to think, in a vague way, that marriage and family are no longer just for other people. At the very least, he knows that something like a political marriage is a possibility for him. If I don’t find someone who’ll make a suitable spouse for the emperor’s bodyguard—someone Master Claude will approve of—then I’ll probably end up with an arranged marriage as well… That thought shifts his focus to Walt again. “…Who’d have thought Master Claude would make you do something like this?” “Y’know, you’ve really been messing with me tonight. It’s because I’m good at this stuff. What’s your problem?” “You being good at this stuff is my problem. Unless you’re conscious of the fact that things aren’t the way they used to be, someday you’ll forget where the boundary is.” Just for a moment, Walt’s face goes blank, but he quickly hides behind his usual indecent smile. “I don’t want to hear it from a guy whose first love was sweet Ailey.” “Wha—?!” “Worry about your own feelings before you worry about me. Whatever Master Claude says, you know he’s soft on us. If you keep thinking you need to find a partner who’s suitable for the emperor’s bodyguard, you’re gonna be single for life.” Walt’s read his mind. Fighting back an irritated tsk, Kyle gives him a sidelong glare. “That goes for you as well.” “Hey, I’m confident I can find somebody on my own. Someone older, if possible. I’ll tell you what, though, I’m seriously jealous of Elefas.” “…Enough. This isn’t the place to argue.” “I’m with you on that.” They’re currently guarding the emperor. They must be the very image of handsome bodyguards who’ll refuse any young noblewoman who speaks to them by telling her We’re on duty. It also goes without saying that they mustn’t let themselves be seen arguing. “I’ll go outside and patrol,” he says, planning to reset his mood, and Walt gives him a light wave of acknowledgment. Taking care not to walk too quickly, Kyle turns away from the ballroom, where the guests are applauding the imperial couple’s dance, and goes out onto the terrace. The soiree is being hosted by the d’Autriche family at their estate. Although he knows the imperial castle better, they have been given a certain amount of information regarding the venue and been briefed on the security arrangements in advance. Most of all, since Duke d’Autriche is the empress’s father, there is almost no possibility that he’ll try to harm the emperor, meaning that this “patrol” won’t be much more than a stroll. I do tend to find myself in all sorts of unsavory situations. Not that I enjoy them… Normally, Walt would have gone out on patrol with the goal of slacking off, while Kyle would have been the one to stay in the venue—but he feels an odd sort of irritation. Walt’s probably tense about his mission as well. The term demon snuff is a vivid reminder of the place where they grew up. That said, the church has since aligned itself with Claude, and while the sale of demon snuff was formerly run by organized crime, the majority of dealers these days tend to be amateurs. There won’t be much danger. He won’t let the past haunt him. Time to get his head in the game. However, the moment he goes to straighten up, he hears a suspicious noise. Kyle glances to the side and sees some thick bushes that are easily taller than he is; voices are coming from behind them. If he remembers right, the only thing past here is an old square gazebo. In other words, it’s a perfect place for a secret meeting. Is it a lovers’ tryst, or someone plotting something more sinister? From experience, he knows the former is more common. The thought makes him tired, but since he is on guard duty, he has to listen in. He can’t make out the words, but… Is that an irritated man’s voice, and the faint sound of a woman crying? Is something wrong? As he narrows his eyes, he hears something fall with a metallic crash. Don’t tell me he’s getting violent. Kyle quickly scans the area. He would have to go all the way back to the entrance of the garden to circumvent the bushes, which would take time. Tsking in irritation, he backs up, then launches himself off the stone-flagged path. As he easily clears the bushes, he sees a woman in a gown. She’s seated on the lawn with her head drooping, and she’s much closer than he expected. Not only that, but she peers up and locks eyes with him while he’s still in midair. Those eyes are a lovely deep green. Since she’s crouched down, her skirts are pooled around her like the petals of a flower. Is it the tears in her eyes that make them seem to shine? She looks like a fairy who’s quietly appeared in the light of the full moon. Kyle gazes at her, unable even to blink, and comes to his senses only after he’s landed. For some reason, there’s a cupcake and whipped cream plastered to the girl’s soft golden hair, and large stains—probably wine, from the color and smell—on her beige dress. There’s an overturned tray on the lawn, with a dessert stand and shards from broken glasses. Sweets are scattered all over the place. That must have been what he’d heard earlier. He doesn’t see any other people. I thought someone else was here. Was it just my imagination?
Chapter 124
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