I followed his instructions and took the sorcerer’s stone, holding it over the cup. I infused my mana into it, and suddenly warm water began to trickle from the stone.
“Oooh!” I heard from the gaggle of nobles who were watching from nearby.
“It’s a stone that can produce hot water on demand,” Siegfried said.
I suddenly remembered how he had teased me before, saying he would be my personal hot water attendant.
“Now you can still get hot baths even when you’re busy, hmm?” His fingers brushed lightly against the back of my neck.
So he had noticed. He probably assumed I was just overworking myself, but now I realized he’d chosen this gift because he knew I was rarely given the chance to bathe.
The realization hit me like a knife to the heart. Karina had been bringing water for me lately, so I had actually been able to bathe every day. The emotion I felt holding this stone wasn’t simply because now I could have access to hot water whenever I wanted.
“Thank you...so much.” My voice caught in my throat, and I felt my chest tighten. No one had ever given me such a thoughtful gift before.
I was suddenly jealous of Kreis, for having someone who cherished him so deeply as Siegfried. I knew I’d become Kreis, but I wasn’t his Kreis. So it sort of felt like I was stealing this friendship which was meant for someone else. But that only made me more determined to avenge Kreis.
I would save Siegfried, no matter what. A world that could let someone as kind as him die was undeniably broken.
“It’s more than I deserve,” I said when I could finally find the words. “I promise to cherish it for the rest of my life.”
A sorcerer’s stone created by the king himself, who was said to possess the strongest magical power in all the land...and one that combined both water and fire elements to generate hot water was priceless. I would have to take care that it wasn’t stolen.
Siegfried smiled. “Think of it as a gift twenty-two years in the making. It’s nothing so extravagant.”
Siegfried hadn’t known Kreis’s birthday until I sent the invitation for this party. When we were younger and the birthday parties were still being held, we hadn’t been close enough for me to invite him. And once we were closer, Kreis had never told him because he knew if he did, Siegfried would bring a gift. Siegfried had asked several times, but Kreis always dodged the question. Apparently, Siegfried had been secretly holding a grudge over it this whole time.
It would be weird to apologize now, and honestly I wasn’t sure what to say, until Professor came up and brushed against my leg.
“Hey. We’ve got company.”
Just then, a voice echoed through the hall as Albert rushed over. Yes, we definitely had company...the annoying kind.
“Well, well! I’m so honored you traveled all this way to be here, Your Majesty!”
This was the same man who couldn’t care less about Kreis’s birthday. I’d figured he wouldn’t show up until all the nobles had gathered, but clearly he’d heard Siegfried had arrived and come rushing in to save face.
“We’re truly grateful that Your Majesty has come to celebrate Kreis’s birthday today! Go on, Kreis. Thank the king!” He whacked me hard on the back, and I did my best not to grimace. He’s so uncouth, I thought. I began to lower my head only for Siegfried to stop me.
“There’s no need. He has already thanked me. More importantly, Albert, where have you been? This is a party for your son, after all.”
“I-I was checking on Gilles!”
“Ah, yes. Kreis’s younger brother. I hear he’s in ill health. Will he not be attending the party?”
“Well, normally he stays in his room, but when he heard that Your Majesty had arrived, he said he’d at least like to come and greet you...” Albert said.
“I see...”
You could cut the tension in the room with a knife. It was finally happening.
I knew that once Siegfried and Claude were here, it would be impossible to keep Gilles away from them. The only question was how them meeting here would change the story.
Originally, Claude was meant to meet Gilles first, but now Siegfried would beat him to it. And if Siegfried happened to take a liking to Gilles here, then my scheme would upset him greatly. My life could even end up being targeted over it. But if I gave up on my revenge, then I would just be choosing death anyway. I couldn’t back down now.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Majesty,” I heard a sweet voice say as Gilles appeared. Murmurs of adoration swept through the crowd of nobles at his angelic good looks.
Gilles walked over to stand beside me. “I am Gilles von Louboutin. I hope we’ll become well-acquainted.”
Siegfried turned to look at Gilles. “Likewise, I’m sure.” As I stood there beside my brother, I couldn’t help but think about how I was being compared to him. All I wanted to do was crawl into a hole and disappear.
When I was alone looking in the mirror, I thought Kreis wasn’t so unattractive. But now that I stood next to the main character, the words I’d once written flashed back in my mind.
Gilles changed the entire atmosphere of the room just by walking in. He was so adorable no one could take their eyes off him. His voice was so sweet you could listen to it forever. It didn’t take much to put everyone under his spell.
I wanted to punch my past self in the face for complimenting him so much. Obviously if I could rewrite the story, I’d describe Gilles as petty and manipulative without hesitation.
“You’re not losing to him at all. In fact, I prefer your dangerous beauty.”
Getting compliments from a freeloader who spends his entire day eating and napping isn’t worth much.
“How rude!”
Everyone kept staring, and honestly it was getting obnoxious. They were all sizing me up. This was why I couldn’t stand nobles. They were trying to figure out whether it was in their best interests to align with me or my brother, and they observed us closely.
“Thank you so much for coming to my brother’s party today, Your Majesty,” Gilles said.
“No thanks are needed. Kreis and I are old friends.”
“I’d be honored if we could become friends as well.” Gilles reached out to touch Siegfried’s arm, but Siegfried looked startled and pulled his arm back.
“G-Gilles!” And it was Albert who intervened, not me. Up until now, all Gilles had to do was give someone that puppy dog look of his or say a few sweet words, and he’d win them over. But this was the king. And acting overly familiar to His Majesty—let alone trying to touch him without permission—went beyond disrespect.
“D-Did I say something inappropriate, Your Majesty?” Gilles asked, putting on his classic “poor me” expression. He always did this. And surely even someone as kind as Siegfried would forgive him.
That was what I thought anyway, but instead Siegfried’s expression remained impassive as he directed his attention to Albert. “I understand you dote on him, Albert, but you simply must teach him proper manners,” he scolded.
“Y-Yes, of course! I deeply apologize!”
I couldn’t help but let out a quiet breath of relief when I saw how easily Siegfried turned away from Gilles. At the very least, it didn’t seem like he had taken any particular liking to him.
“Kreis, if I keep standing here, no one will be able to relax. Will you show me to my seat?”
“Yes, of course.”
Although it was my birthday party, he was the king, so a makeshift throne had been prepared for him on an elevated dais. He took a seat and rested one elbow casually on the armrest as he looked out across the room.
“So tell me... How many of these guests do you think are here purely to celebrate your birthday?”
“Not a single one, Your Majesty,” I replied.
“I’ve dismissed my guards. And no one can hear our conversation with all the noise.”