Chapter 71: 54

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Sapphiras Perfectio, 2nd son of the Earl of Aldridge

Percival Belisario, 3rd son of Margrave of Vanderwall on the Eastern Frontier

 

“Sapphiras?”

Sapphiras, who was lying down, became quiet without pause. I called out to him, but he didn’t answer, so he must have fallen asleep. The sun is reasonably warm, but it is surprisingly cold near the water. I took out a thin cotton blanket from the luggage compartment and draped it over Sapphiras.

As soon as the sapphire eyes, which have a strong will, are hidden, the face becomes innocent.

I felt softened by the sight of Sapphiras sleeping unprotected, and gently combed his still damp hair, sliding my fingers through it two or three times to feel its softness. Sapphiras, who is completely asleep, will not notice that I have touched his hair.

I felt a slight pang of guilt and gently pulled my fingers away, knowing that I couldn’t do this to him when he was awake.

Sapphiras was fishing enthusiastically. The fishing requires the pseudo bait to fly a long way, so it is more strenuous than expected. However, Sapphiras seemed to be using magic to send the pseudo bait flying. As ever, he managed the subtle manipulation of magic without any difficulty.

Even in the battle practice, Sapphiras was adjusting his strength so as not to injure the soldiers. There are a certain number of people in Vanderwall who can use strong magic, but when it comes to those who can manipulate magic as accurately as Sapphiras, the number is much smaller.

I’m really glad that the guild registration starts at 16. If he had been able to register at 14, like in the past, Sapphiras would have left the academy without any regrets and become an adventurer on his own. I am sure this is also a coincidence of the Goddess. I should be thankful for that.

As I quietly watch the surface of the lake where the wind blows so as not to wake Sapphiras, a trout leaps to the surface, its body shining brightly. The sound of the water hitting the surface of the lake reminded me of the scars on Sapphiras’ white back.

The scars running down his back were painful and unbearable to look at, as if he had been flogged. It was an unbelievable act to whip such a thin body to such an extent that it left scars. I had heard that he was treated coldly because he was found to have no magical power, but I had never imagined that he had even been subjected to severe corporal punishment. Sapphiras said it as if it was nothing.

I clenched my fist with anger that I could not direct anywhere.

The first time I met Saphiras, he was very skinny, although he has finally gotten into a healthy body shape recently. His older brother and younger brother were in decent shape, but only Sapphiras was unnaturally thin. He was probably not even fed properly in the house of Perfectio.

If you are born into a noble family, you are naturally educated strictly. They have responsibilities to bear. Protecting the territory and the people you are given. It is also the duty of a nobleman who is supported by his people.

I was also born in this land of Vanderwall, and from an early age I was taught to hold a sword and fight magical beasts. Sometimes I ran away from the severity of the training, and sometimes I cowered from the horror of the magical beasts. However, I was able to endure even the most rigorous training and the subjugation of magical beasts because of the love of my father, mother and older brothers.

Earl Aldridge treated his own son unfairly on the sole basis of his lack of magical power. Even his mother was not on Sapphiras’ side, and even though they were brothers, she gave her eldest and third son sufficient education and affection, while giving none of it to her second son.

What was Sapphiras thinking in the midst of such a family? When I think about his feelings, an indescribable feeling wells up, and I don’t know what to do.

But Sapphiras, who was treated coldly because of his lack of magical power, uses magic without incantations, and is even able to use transfer and summoning magic. Without doubt, he is the most talented wizard among his siblings. However, his own father, Earl Aldridge, also known as the Earl of Magic, could not see through his talent. It means that Miss Aurora had a better eye for detecting talent than he did.

The current position of Earl Aldridge is somewhat delicate. Although he is known as the Earl of Magic, he has no notable achievements to speak of. In fact, despite his position as advisor to the Royal Order of Magicians, he has become a nuisance to them. If he had been a person of character, even if he was only an average magician, the Earl’s position would have been very different. Whether or not the Earl is aware of the danger at his feet, he would have realised at the Duke’s tea party that Sapphiras is an excellent wizard, if he did not have such clouded eyes. His son, who had been oppressed by him, was the one who solidified his position as the Earl of Magic. It is already too late, though, to realise that value now. No matter how much he pleads with Sapphiras, he won’t return home, and Duke Bloomfield probably won’t let the already declining Earl Aldridge approach.

_And you don’t think anything of that child being taken by the royal family or the duke?_

It is Mother’s words that I recall. After all this time, I understood correctly what Mother wanted to say.

The magic of Sapphiras, who alone could conquer the rebels who occupied the royal city of Worstitters, would be coveted by those who need it.

We don’t know for sure about the royal family, but at least Sapphiras, who feels indebted to the duke, might try to return the favour in his own style.

“Certainly, what Mother said has a point……”

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If Vanderwall had been behind it, there would have been less unnecessary worry. But it doesn’t matter. Now that he is no longer a noble, he should be free to live his life.

I look down at my clenched fists.

The sun was setting, but there was no sign of Sapphiras waking up.

Sapphiras has a tendency to misjudge his own physical strength and move around even when he exceeds his limits. I wondered if he was pushing himself too hard, but it seems he doesn’t know his limits either. It is probably a side effect of being brought up in confinement.

He fell into a coma as soon as he returned to the academy after the Worstitters incident, had an attainment test without much time to rest after that, and then this long journey to Vanderwall. Perhaps he has not yet recovered his strength. If possible, I’d like to let him sleep until he wakes up naturally. Even though it is the season for swimming, it gets quite cold around the lake once the sun goes down.

First, I put away our fishing rods and lunch boxes and put them away in the luggage compartment. I called Matteo over and put the reins on. It’s about time, I think, and I wake Sapphiras up.

“I-I’m sorry……you brought me to the lake, but I’ve been asleep most of the time. I even made you clean up.”

“We came here to relax.There’s nothing to worry about.”

“But Percival was bored, weren’t you?”

“No, I was relaxing too.”

Sometimes it’s necessary to have some time to do nothing. Once again, I had a lot to think about.

On the way back, Sapphiras asked about the butter sautéed trout. Apparently, he had never had sautéed trout before. When I explained what kind of dish it was, he listened attentively.

If you’re born into a noble family, you’ve probably had at least a mouthful of sautéed trout. He didn’t know that you have to be 16 years old to register as an adventurer with the guild, which everyone knows, but on the other hand, he knows a lot about things that everyone else doesn’t know. Sapphiras’ skewed knowledge shows how distorted his environment has been.

I wanted to hug Sapphiras tightly as he laughed and said he was looking forward to dinner.

I want to be the one who defends Sapphiras’ freedom, no matter who he has turned against.

Back at the castle, I leave Sapphiras in Susanna’s care and deliver the trout to the kitchen, asking the head chef to sauté it.

“Ara, Percy. Welcome home.”

“Mother, I’m back.”

“How was the long ride? Did Sapphiras-san enjoy it?”

“Yes. It was a very good time. The trout that Sapphiras caught will be on the table tonight.”

“Well, yes. I’m looking forward to it.”

Mother is in a good mood and heads for the kitchen. She will probably discuss the rest of the menu to accompany the sauté with the head chef.

Mother has been in a good mood since Sapphiras arrived. Kingsleigh-dono seemed to like him, too.

It is true that Sapphiras has a mysterious charm that attracts people. On top of that, he has that look. There will be many people who will want to stand next to him. I don’t know if it will be as a companion or a party mate.

Right now, I don’t have the strength to protect what’s important to me. I’m not strong enough to stand next to him with dignity.

“……I need to get stronger.”

Standing side by side with him, or at least not be a liability, so that we can go to the ends of the earth together.

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