As Yui and Filiel joked around in one corner of the courtyard, four pairs of eyes were watching them from the second floor.
“I thought she was taking a while to show up. So there she is,” the grandmaster said, sounding somewhat irritated.
The cardinal frowned at the grandmaster, who reeked of alcohol. “If you dare to so boorishly interrupt them, I’ll bury you before any horse has a chance to kick you,” he scolded, not wanting to be dragged around by the grandmaster any longer.
“I know what I’m like, but even I can take a hint when it’s that obvious!”
“Oho, that’s the first time I’ve heard that. I would’ve preferred if you had taken the hint even earlier and quietly stayed here.” The cardinal’s words were dripping with sarcasm. He had been dragged by the grandmaster to Yui’s room, only to find it empty, and then brought all the way back to the party. The grandmaster seemed to feel a bit sorry. He averted his eyes, looking embarrassed.
Bernard and Gaius just smiled awkwardly as the two of them bickered—they didn’t want to be dragged into the argument.
Bernard was deeply moved to see his son talking happily with Yui. Filiel had always behaved maturely for his age. This was surely because of the strict upbringing that came with being a member of the royal family. But Filiel was slightly tense around even Bernard, his own father, and he maintained a certain distance between them. Perhaps this was unavoidable; Filiel did it in order to keep his powerful magic from growing unstable. Bernard knew that Filiel loved him as his father, however, he couldn’t help but sense a bit of loneliness in Filiel. But now, he was smiling like a normal boy his age. He could relax around Yui because he didn’t have to worry about harming her with his magic energy.
“No matter what, I hope she becomes his wife. For his sake too,” Bernard said.
“Indeed,” Gaius agreed.
Of course, Bernard had to do something about Layce first and also deal with those who were after Yui for her talent. He returned his gaze to the two in front of him, and a doubt came to mind. “Grandmaster, Cardinal. Can I ask you something?”
The two suddenly ceased their arguing and fell silent. They looked at Bernard. “Yes?” the cardinal asked.
“You two want to recruit Yui, so why are you being so soft with her?” Bernard asked. “I know both of you have all sorts of methods you could use.”
They had consistently behaved with good sense, and Yui saw them as annoying but genuine people. However, as king, Bernard knew very well that the two of them were not as easygoing as Yui thought. They were ruthless enough to unflinchingly take action if they really thought she was necessary for their organizations. And they needed to be like this—otherwise, there was no way they’d be able to unify such large organizations as the guild and the church. Even with Layce’s protection, they could utilize coercive methods that would make it impossible for Yui to say no, and they could do this without Layce ever finding out. But they hadn’t done anything of the sort.
“Oh, were you unaware, Your Majesty?” the cardinal asked, giving Bernard a wide-eyed look.
“Unaware of what?”
“The very day we first went to her house to recruit her, I got a letter from the former king, saying that if I did anything against her will, His Majesty would take the appropriate measures.”
“From my father?!”
“I got one as well,” the grandmaster said. “At first, I thought it was strange that His Majesty was interfering in the affairs of a commoner girl, but...” He spoke to the king with an awkward politeness that he was unaccustomed to, and as he did, he looked out to the courtyard. Everyone else followed his gaze. Seeing Filiel, they understood what he meant.
“So that’s it,” the cardinal said.
The grandmaster and the cardinal seemed relieved to have their doubts cleared, but Bernard was internally agitated. “Grrrr, father...” he muttered. Anger boiled up within him—he’d been the only one left out. However, that feeling was dispersed by the cardinal’s next words.
“Well, before then, His Holiness strictly ordered me to prioritize her wishes and not push her into anything, so His Majesty’s worry was unnecessary.”
“The pope?!” Bernard exclaimed. “He was involved too?”
“Yes. In fact, he was the one who discovered her.”
This was so unexpected that it had gone beyond a simple headache; Bernard wished that he could faint right there.
“The pope...” the grandmaster muttered. “There are nothing but big shots around that girl. Even they...”
“They?” Bernard said quickly. He overreacted, sensing something disquieting in the grandmaster’s words. The look in his eyes begged the grandmaster to not make things any more difficult for him.
“Yes... They’re someone even trickier than His Majesty, the former king,” the grandmaster explained. “I tried to push her recruitment through at first, but they firmly restrained me. That was the first time I had ever been so terrified that I was unable to act.”
Whoever they were, they were able to strike fear in the heart of the battle-hardened grandmaster. This was not something Bernard, as king, could afford to miss. “Who is this person?” he asked.
The grandmaster didn’t answer, and he shifted his gaze to Gaius. When he did, Gaius seemed like he had an idea. “No!” Gaius exclaimed, his eyes wide with surprise. He hadn’t said who it was, but the grandmaster nodded, confirming his suspicions. Each of them seemed to understand what the other was saying, but Bernard and the cardinal were unable to keep up.
“Are they someone you know, Gaius?” Bernard asked.
“Y-Yes, they—”
“Wait,” the grandmaster interrupted Gaius before he could speak. “You’d better check with His Majesty first. They may not wish to be known, and you won’t like what happens if you say who they are without asking.”
Gaius abruptly clammed up. His face seemed to have grown somewhat pale.
Are they really that dangerous? Bernard thought. He felt anxious after seeing Gaius’s expression and the grandmaster’s unthinkably timid attitude.
“My deepest apologies, Your Majesty. May I confirm with His Majesty before saying anything?” Gaius asked.
“I don’t mind, but are they someone dangerous?” Bernard asked. “Judging from how you’re speaking, they’re an acquaintance of my father too.”
“No, they aren’t dangerous. If anything, they’re normally quite kind. However...there are some old memories I’d rather leave forgotten...” Gaius’s mouth went stiff, and he looked sick. The grandmaster gazed at him with pity.
Bernard didn’t know the reason, but the grandmaster’s eyes told him that he absolutely shouldn’t press Gaius, so he let him be.