Surprisingly, Lute poured out his worries quite readily.
Even when reading the original work, I did feel he had a simple personality....
In any case, the fact that he wasn't being guarded was a good thing for her.
Perhaps having already seen Romeo and knowing he was a relative, he had let his guard down.
"So... I really can't figure out what I should do."
"...."
However, Lute's worries were quite troublesome in nature.
'That his life's greatest worry is how to confess to Yurianna....'
Lellia felt somehow deflated and leaned back deeply against the bench.
The thought 'what a blessed life' crossed her mind, but she soon erased it.
Lute was one of the heroes who had suffered through the battlefield for years. Thinking such things about him was rude.
But annoying was still annoying.
'Why exactly do I have to be the bridge between the original male lead and female lead?'
Lellia gazed at the small text of the quest list visible in the corner of her vision.
There were two quests in progress.
One was Calyx's, and the second was a sub-quest.
[Sub-Quest]
∙ Help the love confession of a young man fallen into worry
Lellia secretly let out a deep sigh without Lute noticing.
Having poured out all his worries, Lute now seemed embarrassed and scratched the back of his head.
"Sir Raymond, I strangely find myself pouring out my worries to you. I suppose it's because you seem to know women well."
"...What do you mean?"
Lellia asked in surprise. She wondered if he had noticed she was a woman.
But Lute waved his hand and said.
"It's just that you seem to be the type who's quite popular with women. I only recently learned this after coming to the capital.... Apparently, among the capital's noble ladies, men with beautiful appearances like yours are popular these days."
"Ah."
"I'm completely lacking that delicate vibe.... Ah, surely Yurianna doesn't like your type, does she?"
Lute, who had been looking at her with gentle eyes, immediately grew guarded and asked.
Then immediately became crestfallen and answered his own question himself.
"Ah, that wouldn't be it. Seeing her go with Calyx earlier...."
Lellia watched him ask and answer himself for a moment, then questioned.
"...Come to think of it, why were the two of you suddenly taking a walk? You shouldn't have had any prior connection."
As far as Lellia knew, that was the case.
At the mention of that topic, Lute bristled.
"I don't know either. After the banquet ended, Yurianna suddenly approached Calyx.... She kept looking at Calyx throughout the meal too. Surely she hasn't fallen for Calyx, has she?"
"...Well, she could fall for him."
Calyx was a man with a handsome appearance even if you watched him do a hundred forward rolls.
Honestly speaking, Lute was also good-looking, but in terms of charm, Calyx was a cut above.
Tall, handsome features, alluring dark skin that women would like, a body that was both tall and thickly muscular.
His personality was a bit... like that, but that too was part of Calyx's charm.
At that moment, Lute laughed with a deflated sound.
"Even so, he's a cripple, isn't he? How could she like someone who can't see before him...?"
"......?"
Lellia doubted her ears.
In the original work, Lute was a very upright young man. He wouldn't say such rude words so carelessly....
Lute too seemed to realize his mistake belatedly, squeezing his eyes shut. He tried belatedly to take back the words he had let slip.
"Of course, I don't mean to disparage Sir Calyx. But... but... I apologize. Please pretend you didn't hear that."
Right, but it must be because he was blinded by his love for Yurianna.
Even in the original work, he was someone whose way of thinking would completely collapse when it came to matters related to Yurianna.
Lellia suddenly didn't want to proceed with the quest anymore.
It was unpleasant.
If Calyx hadn't injured his eye, the war with the mad dragon wouldn't have ended.
Lute, who was criticizing a friend precious to her, was instantly perceived as an enemy.
Lellia stood up abruptly, overcome with sudden displeasure.
"It's getting late. My body isn't well, so I should return."
"Ah, understood. Thank you for listening to my worries today, Sir Raymond."
"Yes."
Lute grabbed Lellia as she turned to leave.
"By any chance, could you listen to my worries again next time? It's difficult to talk to anyone else...."
"......"
Lellia irritably gazed at the quest window visible in one corner of her vision.
'Right, endure it for now. Endure it... the moment the quest ends, I'll punch his face.'
She barely managed to squeeze out the strength to nod, and Lute's face brightened.
That was when it happened.
"What are you doing here?"
It was Calyx and Yurianna who had gone that way earlier. They seemed to have turned back this way and discovered Lellia and Lute.
Calyx raised one eyebrow and looked back and forth between the two.
"......"
Yurianna also looked at the two with curiosity-filled eyes. Then her eyes met Lellia's directly.
And Lellia couldn't help but be flustered by Yurianna's following action.
The moment Yurianna's eyes met Lellia's, she stared intently at her, then turned her head as if shy.
As if shy.
Shy...?
"......"
Lellia was greatly flustered.
Why on earth?
Lute's gaze, which had been staring at Yurianna, turned toward Lellia.
Lellia's body flinched at the intense gaze she felt on her left cheek.
Lute was glaring at her as if he would kill her.
'He's glaring at me like that because of Yurianna? Suddenly?'
After begging me to listen to his worries until just now...?
Lellia found Lute, whose attitude was changing like wildfire, absurd.
"What are you doing? Let's go."
Calyx, who had been watching quietly, spoke.
"Ah, so you two knew each other...."
Yurianna murmured as she watched that sight, then stepped forward and greeted Lellia.
"Nice to meet you. I am Princess Yurianna."
Saying that, Yurianna naturally extended the back of her hand.
It was an very elegant and confident attitude. Extremely princess-like.
"......"
Honestly, she didn't want to, but she couldn't help it.
Right now, she was 'Raymond Lebester.' In other words, in a male identity.
Lellia recalled gentlemanly etiquette, took the tip of Yurianna's hand, and lightly kissed the back of her hand.
After lifting her waist back up, she saw Yurianna with a flushed expression and the ladies-in-waiting whispering behind her.
And Calyx, with an expression as if he'd seen something strange at her impeccable etiquette, also came into view.
Lellia pretended not to see Calyx's face and spoke.
"It is an honor to meet you. I am Raymond Lebester, staying at the imperial palace by His Majesty the Emperor's consideration."
"Ah, the distant relative of Prince Romeo, I presume?"
"...That is correct."
"Ah...."
Yurianna let out an incomprehensible exclamation and surveyed Lellia.
For Lellia, it was only baffling.
When she slightly turned her head, her eyes met Lute's narrowed eyes.
Lute was speaking with his eyes.
'You said you'd help, and now you're interfering like this?'
Lellia ignored that gaze and looked at Calyx to escape this place quickly.
When she raised her eyebrows as if to say let's hurry and go, he took the first step.
Lellia lightly greeted Princess Yurianna and the ladies-in-waiting standing behind, then hurriedly followed after Calyx.