This was how Ermes von Frenbreed and Katia von Trackia continued their activities.
Sometimes, just as before, they would repel monsters that other nobles had been struggling to deal with.
Other times, they would venture into high-difficulty dungeons and bring back several useful magical tools—though nothing quite on the level of ancient magical tools.
Naturally, some of those monsters were at a level where even a modest amount of Bloodline Magic was far from enough to handle them.
But Katia, guided by Ermes, grew stronger by the day as she honed her command of magic. And Ermes, who in combat handled everything except raw firepower—providing every conceivable support role—also served as Katia's perfect bodyguard.
Thanks to him, they no longer even needed a guard knight, so the two operated as a pair more and more. Their lighter footwork created a virtuous cycle, allowing them to be active on a broader front.
On top of that, when it came to those they saved, they never adopted the needlessly high-handed attitude typical of other nobles, and that kindness was spoken of among the common folk with growing fondness.
Little by little, the pair—a young, beautiful duo comprising a duke house's lady and her extraordinarily capable servant—spread their name among the people. And among the nobles who caught wind of it, more and more began to re-evaluate Katia.
That, of course, was equivalent to more people questioning the judgment of the Second Prince, Aster.
First, perform so well that no one could complain, then chip away at his influence.
That objective was progressing smoothly.
◆
One such day—on a rare stretch of full rest that was unusual given how busy they had been lately.
Ermes had been asked by the Trackia household's chef to run errands in the castle town.
On his way back after buying everything he needed, he happened to glance into an alleyway—and that was when the scene came into view.
(...A commoner boy and...a woman?)
The boy was probably a common child living nearby, dressed in simple clothes.
Opposite him, with her back to Ermes, was a hooded figure. From her voice, she was likely a young woman.
From what Ermes could overhear, it seemed the boy had somehow hurt himself, and the woman was comforting him.
Actually, that voice—there was something familiar about it, and the moment the thought crossed his mind—
"[Angel's hands set the heavens aright; upon a mortal's blessing rests a crown of flowers; deep compassion fills the earth]"
"!?"
"Bloodline Magic... 'Star Corolla.'"
Along with a chant Ermes clearly recognized, a cerulean light spilled from the hooded woman.
It was drawn into the boy's knee, and—like it was melting away—the scrape there vanished.
"I-I don't feel any pain anymore! That's amazing! Big sis, you're a mage!?"
"Yes, something like that. But if people find out I used magic without permission, they'll get angry... So could you keep it a secret that big sis healed you?"
A lovely voice carrying a hint of playfulness. And perhaps captivated by the beauty glimpsed beneath the hood, the boy flushed red.
"O-Okay! — Thank you!"
With a big bow, the boy dashed out of the alley past Ermes.
The woman watched him go with a gentle smile, then stood and began walking toward where Ermes was—
—and their eyes met.
"Wh—? A-You are...!!"
She, too, stared wide-eyed at the sight of him.
Beneath the hood, glimpses of pale blond hair, deep blue-green eyes, and a youthful, gentle beauty could be seen.
Sara von Hartmann.
The new fiancée of the Second Prince, Aster. In other words, someone from the opposing camp—and Ermes had coincidentally crossed paths with her.
"The lady Katia's—retainer—!"
The instant she recognized Ermes, Sara's face twisted with panic and fear. She spun around, ready to flee on the spot.
However, she was currently in a dead-end alley. The only way out was to reach the main road, and the route went directly through where Ermes was standing.
The moment she realized that, her expression collapsed into despair.
"...P-Please... spare me..."
She sank to her knees and bowed her head in supplication.
"I-I am His Highness Aster's fiancée, but... I have practically no influence. I'm nothing more than a figurehead... so..."
"...Well, to begin with—"
He felt a twinge of guilt interrupting her when she was so caught up in her emotions, but—
"I have no intention of doing anything to you here and now."
"Eh?"
Sara looked up with a blank expression.
He could more or less guess what she was thinking. She probably assumed he intended to kidnap her or something along those lines and use her as a bargaining chip against Aster.
After all, word of Ermes and Katia's recent exploits had surely reached her ears, so she could predict his purpose as well.
But.
"Just as you say, even if I were to take you, I doubt His Highness would move. And we intend to make him acknowledge his mistake by our own methods. ...Besides—"
Even so, she was undeniably someone who had taken part in belittling Katia at that party.
Perhaps she had uttered a few barbs of her own, but the reason he would not press the matter was—
"Lady Katia has been worrying about your well-being."
"!"
"Even after you made statements admitting you were bullied by her. ...I don't know you well, but I've come to understand clearly enough that you have your circumstances. That's why I won't blame you here, nor do I have any intention of doing anything to you."
He stated this firmly, then looked at her to show he meant every word.
She listened to Ermes in a daze, and then—
"...!"
A large tear spilled from her eye.
"Eh?"
"I-I'm... so sorry...!"
And from there, the tears flowed without stopping.
Wiping away the tears that kept welling up one after another, she spoke in a halting voice.
"After saying all those things... I thought... you'd definitely hate me... but you were worried about me... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."
"..."
Just as he had guessed—there had been circumstances. Or rather, they weren't even that complicated.
Simply put, she hadn't been able to defy Aster. Watching her cry, Ermes was certain of that.
He guided her, for the time being, to a spot where no one was around.
It wasn't just because he couldn't very well leave a crying woman standing there.
More than anything, he wanted to know.
The reason she had ended up like this. What kind of exchange this girl had once had with Katia—who never liked to talk much about herself—at the school they had both attended, and what had happened there.
Nine times out of ten, Aster was involved.
Rather than relying solely on the impression from the party, he would once again consider their position toward these people, drawing on past actions and the accounts of many others.
If he simply made one-sided judgments based on one-sided information, he would be doing the same thing as Aster and his people, whom they were now opposing.
Moreover, his master had told him that holding a multifaceted perspective was important even in magical analysis.
In that sense, running into Sara here had been fortunate.
As he thought this over, Ermes began organizing in his mind what he wanted to ask her.