The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent

Even after learning just how much the people of Belvur and the Holy Nation cherished Saint Latina Cathedral, my resolve remained unchanged.

I had known all of this from the beginning. Hearing it confirmed by others didn’t sway my opinion in the slightest.

The real issue lay elsewhere.

Hadn’t there been a similar incident in my own world? When the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris caught fire, it drew global attention. France was already a famous country, and Notre Dame held immense historical significance—not to mention the cultural treasures housed within.

Here, in a world without the internet or a global news network, the news of Saint Latina Cathedral’s collapse in Lutetia would spread more slowly. But eventually, it would reach every corner of the world, especially in countries where the influence of the Goddess Faith was strong.

And once it became known that I was the one responsible for destroying the cathedral, both Belvur and the Holy Nation would turn against me.

So would Charlotte.

Before arriving in Lutetia, I hadn’t been too concerned. I could simply rewind time if necessary. Even in the worst-case scenario where I couldn’t, I figured I’d shoulder the consequences alone.

After all, my very existence in this world hinted at some divine purpose. Surely, my actions would ultimately align with the intentions of whatever higher power had brought me here. In the end, I believed I could be understood.

But watching Charlotte’s genuine smile as she guided us around with such enthusiasm stirred a flicker of hesitation deep within me.

“Lutetia isn’t exactly unsafe,” came a voice from behind me.

“But even so, I wouldn’t say it’s safe for a woman to walk alone at night.”

It was Charlotte.

“I could say the same for you,” I replied.

“I have guards,” she said with a small shrug. “It’s not like I’ve ditched my entire security detail to wander the streets alone without any friends.”

I rolled my eyes and glanced around her. There was no one immediately nearby, but I spotted figures at the building corners and on the terraces of second-floor structures, quietly keeping watch.

Fair enough. Interrupting their princess’s stroll would certainly be out of the question.

I was sharing a hotel room with Alice, but no matter how close we were as sisters, I wasn’t about to join her in the shower. Rondarium had public bathhouses, but I’d never been to one myself. Being perceived as “male” made the idea of entering the women’s baths... uncomfortable, to say the least.

The best time for me to slip out unnoticed was when Alice went to bathe. I had been as quiet as possible when leaving, so I didn’t think she’d noticed.

“Alice was looking for you,” Charlotte said. “She was wandering the hotel, her hair still damp.”

“....”

Ah. I hadn’t accounted for that.

Was she really that worried?

“Did she seem very anxious?” I asked.

“Well...” Charlotte tilted her head thoughtfully, crossing her arms. “Her demeanor was confident, as usual. She didn’t let her anxiety show outwardly while looking for you.”

She shrugged lightly and continued, “But feelings of unease don’t only show in someone’s expression or tone. Royals and nobles, especially those trained from a young age to mask their emotions, often reveal their true feelings in subtler ways. In Alice’s case, her lack of attention to her appearance gave her away. If she were truly calm, she would’ve at least taken the time to dry her hair.”

“Is that why you’ve come to find me?” I asked.

“Partially.”

“Partially?”

“The truth is, I wanted a private conversation with you to understand your thoughts.”

“...”

I stayed silent, studying Charlotte as she spoke.

“To be honest, you’re one of the best I’ve ever seen at hiding your emotions. The feelings you do show are always the kind that don’t matter much. But when it comes to moments of real importance, you wipe all emotion from your face and act.”

Charlotte stepped closer, her shadow stretching long in the lamplight.

“But in high society, simply feigning a lack of emotion isn’t enough. Sometimes, you must smile when you don’t want to, cry when you’d rather not, and even express genuine anger over trivial matters. That’s what it means to truly embody nobility or royalty. In that sense...” She hesitated briefly, then gave a faint chuckle.

“...your approach is a bit too deliberate. Always being emotionless leaves you open to suspicion. It’s what they call a ‘poker face,’ isn’t it? If someone always looks like they’re playing poker, others will naturally assume they’re constantly betting on something.”

She took another step toward me.

She wasn’t close enough to be intrusive, but her proximity was undeniable. If I reached out, I could tap her on the shoulder.

Charlotte paused briefly, then let out a soft chuckle.

“...It’s a bit... intriguing, you know. Always keeping a blank face makes you more likely to draw suspicion. It’s what they call a ‘poker face,’ isn’t it? If you always look like you’re playing poker, people will assume you’re constantly betting on something.”

She took another step closer.

Not close enough to be intrusive, but not far enough that I couldn’t make a break for it if I had to. Could I outrun her from here?

Then again, there was no real reason to run right now.

“Are you saying I look suspicious?” I asked, deciding to keep the conversation going.

Charlotte smiled.

It wasn’t forced, nor did it seem to carry any ulterior motives. Perhaps it was genuine. Though considering she’d just lectured me about nobles and royalty needing to act out their emotions, it was hard to take it at face value. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

But... had I ever seen her laugh like this before?

“Didn’t I just say as much?” she replied. “To be honest, it would be strange not to feel wary or suspicious of someone like you. Someone your age, with your track record, who manages to stay expressionless through everything? No one could reasonably expect others not to keep their guard up.”

“...”

“...”

I said nothing, meeting her gaze in silence. Eventually, she broke eye contact, glancing away.

So... she’d been suspicious of me from the very beginning.

Not that it was surprising.

Most of the others, no matter how strong they were, still weren’t as powerful as adults. A group of knights could neutralize them if needed.

But me... My perception of my abilities and the way others saw them were completely different. I had made countless mistakes, correcting each one to produce the best possible outcome. But to outsiders, it looked as though I always achieved perfection on the first try.

Fighting hundreds without taking a single hit, singlehandedly collapsing enemy lines, navigating a maze-like path and immediately finding the critical point—it all seemed impossibly flawless.

If there were someone like me wandering around my country without restraint, I’d be suspicious too.

But Charlotte’s behavior in front of me was something else entirely.

She subtly gestured to the guards encircling us. They hesitated for a moment, their bodies tensing, but when she calmly looked up at them, they eventually backed away.

They’d still remain nearby, of course, but at least our quiet conversation wouldn’t be overheard.

With the guards gone, Charlotte stepped even closer. Not close enough to feel suffocating, but within reach if I wanted to tap her shoulder.

Her expression was clearer now, and it carried... hesitation.

After a moment of deliberation, she finally spoke.

“But... truthfully, I didn’t want things to go this way. Not like this.”

I weighed my response carefully. What could I even say to that?

“...I see,” I replied at last, my words amounting to little more than a noncommittal observation.

“When I first entered the Academy, I was wary of you. That’s why I approached you so quickly, and why I later requested a private meeting with Alice after she came to Lutetia.”

She paused before continuing.

“But...” Charlotte hesitated, then added, “...you treated me as just a friend. That was... a new experience for me. Talking to someone without any hidden motives, just having normal conversations... It’s something I’d never known before. I’m the King’s only daughter, without siblings. Every noble who spoke to me treated me as royalty first and foremost. So yes, it might sound strange to say this, but... you were the first person to address me so confidently, as an equal.”

Charlotte’s eyes softened as she held my gaze.

“It wasn’t just you and Alice. Everyone I’ve met at the Academy... Only now do I understand how much of a blessing it is to feel at ease, to simply live naturally without pretense.”

Ah...

Wait, hold on.

“I want to stay friends with you, no matter what happens. Can I ask that of you?”

Ah.

That’s not fair.