EP.158 The End of Semester is Always The Busiest Time
When Kyle entered the Grand Duke Littorio's residence, he felt two distinct gazes upon him.
One filled with wariness, and the other brimming with tension.
Neither was particularly welcoming, that much was clear.
'What did I even do? Fine, I get the wariness. But why the tension? Am I going to eat them or something?'
He felt a bit wronged. No, quite wronged actually.
He hadn't done anything, yet they were already so frightened.
Anyone would think he came to demolish the Grand Duke's residence.
Well, it's not entirely impossible.
If someone were to provoke him, who knows what might happen.
Still, since this is Elga's family, he'll try to hold back - but cross the line and you're out.
"Welcome, Lady."
"Captain, I didn't expect to see you here."
"With the Young Lady returning from the academy semester, and His Grace's invited guest here as well..."
The Knight Captain glanced at Kyle as he spoke.
As their gazes met briefly in the air, the Captain sharply drew in his breath.
He had no doubts. Indeed, everything was true.
The reputation of Jonathan, and everything this young man, barely more than a boy, had accomplished.
It was evident just from meeting his eyes. His skin tingled from the sensation.
The presence of a sleeping giant within him, the source of an irresistible power.
"Captain?"
"...Ah, yes. Please, come in, My Lady. His Grace is waiting."
Elga almost reflexively asked, 'Father is?'
She knew well that he wasn't one to wait for anyone.
Unless it was someone coming to wait for the Grand Duke instead.
For the Captain to say such things, he must have been quite anticipating this meeting.
'Of course he would. Rather than a wild stallion, he's more like a prized steed that catches the eye.'
Though she didn't want to compare Kyle to a horse, it was the most fitting analogy.
That's how attractive a prospect Kyle was to both the Imperial family and House Littorio.
Until now, Jonathan had never connected with the outside world.
They didn't want it themselves, and the Empire kept its distance from their people.
Half fear of an overwhelming presence, and half deliberate ignorance trying to look away from it.
These layers upon layers meant that until now, there hadn't even been proper dialogue with Jonathan, let alone exchange.
'The Northern Margrave was the only one who maintained any friendship with Jonathan. The Imperial family completely ignored them, and the nobles thought that was the Empire showing composure. But that wasn't actually the case.'
The reason the Imperial family completely ignored Jonathan?
They had only been pretending not to notice, afraid of provoking Jonathan.
They were simply being faithful to the message to leave them alone as they would manage themselves.
Not knowing this, most nobles had misunderstood and caused trouble.
Among them was the Young Lord of Littorio, her own brother.
'Come to think of it, it's unbelievable that my younger brother is even alive.'
This was Kyle, who had snapped level 10 fighters like twigs.
That same Kyle had been provoked by another family member who was supposedly several times stronger than her.
The fact that he returned home with all limbs intact was miraculous in itself.
"My Lady."
"Young Miss!"
As they entered the Grand Duke's residence, servants and maids quickly bowed and stepped back.
Expressions of surprise, tension, and even a hint of welcome.
Observing these various reactions, Kyle thought that she really wasn't a bad noble after all.
If she were the kind of bad noble he imagined, they would all be trembling and running away.
"This way."
Elga moved forward without hesitation, beckoning Kyle with her hand.
Soon they opened an ornate door and stepped inside, revealing a vast hall.
"Wow."
A massive space with elaborately decorated walls and ceiling.
Elga smiled slightly at Kyle's exclamation.
She seemed pleased, thinking he was impressed by House Littorio's grandeur.
'Wonder how it would be as a gym.'
Though in reality, that was just Kyle's mind under Jonathan's will speaking.
"There he is."
A middle-aged man stood in the center of the hall.
Even just standing there without saying a word, dignity flowed from him.
Eyes that seemed to pierce through people and an expression that revealed nothing of his thoughts.
As befitting one of only three Grand Dukes in the Empire, his presence defied any prediction.
Elga approached him and gave a slight bow.
Leto and Kyle followed her example and paid their respects.
"We greet Your Grace, the Grand Duke."
The Grand Duke of Littorio acknowledged their greeting with a slight gesture.
Then he turned and began to walk.
The three followed silently behind him.
'He seems to have a lot on his mind.'
Elga, who knew her father's characteristics well, was slightly worried.
'I didn't expect the Grand Duke to come out to the hall himself.'
Leto seemed somewhat surprised by the Grand Duke's appearance in the hall.
'Not as good as the Imperial Palace. The Church too... or maybe not? Maybe it's on par with the Temple?'
Meanwhile, Kyle was comparing it to the other in-laws' places he had visited.
"You've worked hard, Elga."
The Grand Duke of Littorio finally spoke, addressing his daughter first.
From her excellent grades at the academy to the process of securing her position as successor, everything had gone well.
Elga smiled slightly at this praise.
"You too have worked hard, Leto."
"Thank you, Your Grace!"
"Is that why? You look quite tired."
Leto had been feeling increasingly uncomfortable in this situation anyway.
Now he understood why Ian focused solely on training.
When using his body, all worries and concerns naturally disappeared.
"You've done enough escorting my daughter this far. Feel free to go rest."
"I am grateful once again for Your Grace's consideration."
Fortunately, when the Grand Duke provided an escape route, he quickly disappeared.
"..."
Well, at times like this he's not completely clueless after all.
If it had been Ian, he might have insisted he wasn't tired and stayed.
"Kyle Jonathan."
Now it was his turn. As Kyle responded with a "Yes," the Grand Duke continued.
"I've heard all the news. Remarkable, truly. It's difficult to find words to express it adequately."
"You're too kind, Your Grace."
"Humility is a virtue that every person should possess. However, excessive humility isn't always good. Sometimes, rather than showing humility, it's better to demonstrate one's own worth."
The Grand Duke's eyes conveyed that now was such a time.
It meant that it wouldn't hurt to boast a little just this once.
After pondering briefly, Kyle considered how to respond and opened his mouth.
"It really wasn't much at all."
"Hmm."
"I think I yawned about four times because it was so boring."
At this, the Grand Duke cracked a smile.
"Indeed, just like someone from that place."
The moment those words were spoken, Elga clearly saw her father's expression.
There was an obvious sense of regret that he couldn't hide.
At that moment, Elga intuited why the Grand Duke showed such a reaction.
'He's certain the Imperial Family will make the first move.'
They should have kept him close right after he broke the Western Kingdom Alliance's momentum.
But for various reasons, and due to concerns about external appearances, they had delayed.
During that time, Kyle had raced ahead madly to unreachable heights.
This was her father who had warned her to prepare for competition with the Imperial Family.
He must know that as a Grand Duke's daughter, she stood no chance. That's why he said those words.
The meaning behind preparing for competition was that she would need to ascend to the position of Grand Duke.
Only then could she compete with the Imperial Princess and the Empire's Top 10.
"Kyle was certainly amazing. Almost unbelievably so. Kyle, please tell Father in more detail during dinner, like you told me before."
"But wouldn't it be the same as what I already told you, Lady Elga?"
"Still, I want to hear it again too."
And so, Elga demonstrated her closeness with Kyle to the Grand Duke.
That ultimately, what mattered most would be that man's heart.
That as long as she stood above the Imperial Princess, it didn't matter how great the Imperial Family was.
"You two seem quite close."
The Grand Duke, who had finally stopped walking, threw out what seemed like a self-directed question.
His gaze was directed at Kyle, not Elga.
Sensing something there, Kyle pondered briefly before parting his lips.
"Yes, Your Grace. We are close. She's a good person."
"...Is that so. Indeed."
The Grand Duke of Littorio turned and began walking again.
In that brief moment, Elga clearly saw her father's face.
The faint but unmistakable smile on his lips.
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**
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After taking a brief rest in the room, Kyle headed to the banquet hall with Elga.
Throughout the walk, Elga brought up various topics, mostly about academy matters.
She didn't mention anything related to House Littorio or the succession to the Grand Duke position.
'I suppose she's determined to keep her word.'
At first, they had joined hands to help her ascend to the position of Grand Duke.
But Kyle knew that had changed at some point.
Rather than using him to achieve the position of Grand Duke, Elga now seemed to be hoping to receive a more definitive answer after ascending to the Grand Duke position.
This is getting worrying, the scale keeps growing bigger and bigger.
The Imperial Princess of the Empire's Top 10, the Saintess of the Church, the future Witch, and one of only three Grand Dukes.
If he weren't Jonathan himself, he doubted he could have handled any of it.
"Please, sit."
Upon arriving at the banquet hall, the Grand Duke offered them seats.
At the massive table, the Grand Duke sat at the head, with Elga and Kyle to his right.
And there was another seat prepared on the opposite side.
"I hear you pay great attention to your diet. Is that correct?"
"Ah... yes, but how did you know?"
"I have my ways. While it may not be quite the same as your usual diet, we've tried to prepare something similar."
For a noble house to serve food that wasn't greasy or heavily seasoned.
That alone deserved applause for the extraordinary effort.
If anything, it seemed almost too accommodating.
Creeak-.
"Ah, and also."
The Grand Duke of Littorio, who had been strangely observant of Kyle since entering the banquet hall.
The reason for his behavior became clear with his next words.
"There is one more person who will be joining us at this table."
In the direction the Grand Duke indicated stood a young man who hadn't quite managed to hide his gaunt appearance.