{Chapter 71} A Slightly Jealous Anna
"Let's go."
"..."
Standing at the city gate, Anna, Helga, and Louise were there to bid farewell to their friend.
There were no lengthy words at parting, nor any lingering sentiments before leaving. Atala set off on the road to the royal capital.
Because they knew they would surely meet again in the royal capital, they remained so calm.
"What should we do next..."
Only when the figure in the black robe disappeared at the end of the road did Anna speak.
"How about just sleeping until the day we go to the royal capital?"
"Senpai, you'd probably have to sleep for a long time then," Louise said, looking at Anna beside her.
"Senpai, you're not reluctant to part with Atala, are you?"
"...Impossible."
"You hesitated, didn't you?" Helga immediately chimed in from the other side.
"Shut up."
Not wanting to engage in this trivial conversation with the two, Anna turned and walked back into the town.
After exchanging a glance, Louise and Helga quickly followed.
"Senpai, are you planning to submit your resignation today?"
"Yeah, I don't see any point in staying any longer."
After seeing Atala off, since they were nearby, Anna decided to come to the knight's order to resign.
"Since Anna doesn't want to stay, resigning sooner is a good thing," Helga nodded.
"...By the way, I haven't met this acting commander yet," Anna said, turning to Louise.
"Lou... is this person easy to talk to?"
"Easy to talk to... probably not?" Louise shook her head.
"I'm not very familiar with him, but every time I see him, he always has a stern face. I've never seen any other expression."
"Always stern-faced... could he be expressionless?"
"If he hears that, Anna Senpai might lose her knighthood."
"...Is he that petty?"
"Of course not, I was just teasing you."
...You admit to teasing me just like that?
Seeing Louise's nonchalant expression as she teased her, Anna twitched her mouth but ultimately refrained from further comment.
Fortunately, after a brief chat, they arrived at the familiar office door. Anna glanced at the two beside her, then knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Anna pushed the door open and saw a man who, by normal standards, was quite handsome.
Flame-like short hair, delicate features, a healthy complexion, but the stern expression was a major drawback.
"...Oh, it's Knight Anna, and Lady Louise and Countess Helga... What brings you here?"
His tone was varied, but his face remained the same stern expression, as if someone owed him money.
"...Uh, how should I address you?" Anna was momentarily stunned by the young age of the acting commander but quickly regained her composure.
"My name is Bryan," he said, followed by the customary self-introduction.
However, this self-introduction was somewhat special.
"Bryan Rian Balleria."
"Rian Balleria...???"
Why did that surname sound so familiar to Anna?
"...Are you from the House of Celestials?" Helga was the first to react.
"Please don't use that pure-blooded term..."
"Ah, sorry, force of habit."
"House of Celestials... ah!"
Now, it was Anna's turn to understand.
The so-called House of Celestials was the former imperial family of the Carrick Empire.
Although the empire eventually dissolved, the Carrick imperial family did not suffer any mishaps and still held considerable prestige within the territories of the former empire.
The term "House of Celestials" was coined by those who still reminisced about the glory of the Carrick Empire.
"I remember now..." Helga seemed to recall something, showing a rare expression of astonishment.
"Bryan... you're the current head of the Rian Balleria family?"
"That's me."
The head of the House of Celestials, not only accepted Duke Latimir's dispatch to organize an investigation team to this border town but also served as the acting commander here?
It felt as absurd as the king appearing before you and running a pancake stall.
"So, what brings all three of you here?" Bryan didn't waste time on small talk and got straight to the point.
Having recovered from the initial shock, Anna took out her resignation letter from her pocket.
"Uh, I intend to resign from my position in the knight's order."
"...You're resigning?"
Although his tone was full of doubt, his face remained the same stern expression.
Now Anna really wondered if he had facial paralysis.
"Yes, after these six months, I feel this job isn't quite suitable for me," Anna nodded, giving a casual reason.
"Is that so?" Bryan carefully read the contents of the resignation letter. "That's a pity."
As he spoke, he signed the letter with a quill and then filed it away.
"So, Knight Anna, what are your plans afterward?"
"Being a free knight sounds good. I'll probably become an adventurer or something..."
"In that case, if you don't mind, I could write you a recommendation letter for the White Wolf Knight Order or the Iris Knight Order in the royal capital..."
"Hey! Bryan!" At this moment, Louise suddenly interrupted Bryan.
"If anyone's going to arrange that, it should be me, not you!"
"Fair point."
Louise's tone didn't seem very respectful towards Bryan, and his always stern face finally showed a trace of a wry smile.
"Louise, isn't that a bit..."
This Bryan was of the House of Celestials, and the head of the clan at that.
The influence of the House of Celestials far surpassed that of a mere duke...
"It's fine, it's fine. Not only is Bryan not that petty, but my relationship with him isn't that great either," Louise waved her hand.
"You still remember that."
"Of course I remember! Especially since my girlfriend is here!" Louise said, taking Anna's hand.
"Oh... now that you mention it," Bryan's wry smile was fleeting, quickly returning to his usual stern expression.
"May you live happily together for a hundred years?"
"...Ugh, that's disgusting."
Seeing the two of them chatting so familiarly, Anna, who had been somewhat uneasy, suddenly calmed down, even feeling a bit inexplicably annoyed.
"Lou, what exactly is your relationship?"
"Ah... we've known each other since childhood," Louise said nonchalantly, but noticing Anna's gaze, she quickly added,
"But we haven't met many times, Senpai, don't misunderstand."
"But Senpai, the way you look now, are you jealous?"
Seeing Louise's smug expression, Anna's hand went to Louise's head, ruffling her hair.
"Wait, wait! Don't mess it up! My hair's getting messy!”