My Disciples Know That I Am Strong

Episode 5. Making ropes (2)

“Are you ready?”

“Neeet!”

Tina came beside me with her squirmy stride, flapping her pink dress.

It was a pink frill dress that matched her youthful appearance.

Tina’s unique naive atmosphere went well with her, and her appearance seemed to shine more.

However, it was a pity that I couldn’t erase the feeling of splendor because there were jewels here and there.

It could be said that the way we were trying to show off was aristocratic and suitable for banquets, but it was meaningless because we weren’t going to look good to nobles or emperors.

“Not bad.”

I said as I straightened her clothes.

“Ehehehe!”

Beside me, Iris and Maria were looking at me with envy. Someday I’ll let you wear them too, don’t be too sad.

“The teacher is cool too.”

Unlike Tina’s flashy dress, I was wearing a plain black tailcoat.

I gave her a nod as I loosened the cravat slightly.

“Then let’s go.”

“I’ll be back!”

Tina waves her hand. Iris and Maria bowed.

Ariel looked at me and snapped her fingers. Then, a green aura began to surround my body.

“What are you doing?”

“The protection of the wind. I’ll protect you no matter what. It’s hard when you get hurt.”

“Ariel-sama, you are Prause-sama, not anyone else. If it’s not the demon king, you won’t be able to compete with me, right?”

“Still, I think it would be better for Master not to step forward. If Master gets angry, he might destroy the entire imperial palace.”

“… ….”

I didn’t even laugh at Iris and Maria’s words anymore.

Since it was irreversible, I thought it would be better mentally not to react, so I stopped listening.

“Tina, keep an eye on Master so he doesn’t use his strength.”

“Yes! Don’t worry! I will beat up all those who approach Master!”

Don’t beat…….

“I’ll be back.”

I left the inn while being seen off by the girls.

We were going to move straight to the stable where Delma was to be, but a luxurious carriage with a harmonious mixture of blue and white stopped us.

I could tell at once which noble family the wagon with the impressive bear pattern belonged to.

“…… Why are you here?”

The door burst open at my words.

“Mr Prause!”

Calling me by name, Ella Todia came quickly.

Worn in a blue and black dress, she was the Grand Duchess admired by many.

“Ella Todia… ….”

“Yes! This is Ella Todia. Prause, how are you?”

“…… Yes.”

“Your New Year’s party banquet suits you well too. It’s inconspicuous, but neat is just what I like.”

“I didn’t wear it to suit your taste.”

I wore it deliberately to not stand out, but what kind of taste is this guy looking for?

“Rather than that, you noticed right away that I was going to the New Year’s party.”

“There’s no way someone as talented as Mr. Prause wouldn’t be invited—”

“Have you been keeping an eye on me since I left two months ago?”

I cut her off and asked her questioningly.

“… What? Caught? Whoops.”

There is no way you don’t know.

Although Ariel told me to be careful that there are people watching us all the time.

“You seem to be focusing on training children lately. Are you training an heir?”

Her gaze turns to Tina.

“No.”

“Huh~ Well aside from that, I guess even Prause-sama can’t refuse an invitation from the imperial family?”

Ella asked, raising the corner of her mouth subtly.

“That… ….”

“Yes. Because there is no need to pretend to be with the imperial family. If it’s Prause-sama, you’ll be able to rise to the rank of count in no time.”

She patted me on the shoulder as if it was okay.

It hurt. Her bones were in pain. At night, her shoulders seemed to ache.

“…… She didn’t come specifically to get attention from the imperial family.”

“Are you bluffing in front of women? Cook Cook. Cute.”

Not really.

I was thinking of going back as soon as I finished my business. He had no intention of staying long in a place teeming with aristocrats full of vanity.

It was around the time Ella was passing her words through one ear.

A tall man with brilliant blue hair came up from behind.

He seemed to be close to two meters tall. It’s 197 cm to be exact.

“Are you Prause?”

I felt like I could feel the spirit that controlled the atmosphere around me just by listening to his voice.

“Glare Todia.”

He was the father of Ella Todia and the Grand Duke of the North.

“This is the Grand Duke. You bastard has lost his manners.”

“… ….”

I wanted to apologize, but my mouth was already itching and I felt like I was about to jump out of my tongue.

“To say things suddenly, or to speak directly. I thank you for saving my daughter, but I cannot accept engagement with a commoner.”

“I don’t want it.”

I said as if to retort.

“What?!”

He stares at me with glowing eyes.

“How dare you ignore the ‘only’ daughter of the Todia family?!”

What kind of misunderstanding is this man doing?

Does it make sense that he told me he couldn’t approve the engagement and then thought he was ignoring me because I was giving up?

No matter how much there is a ‘daughter fool’ setting, it’s too much.

“I never did.”

“This, this bastard is half a horse…… ! Who do you think is standing in front of you right now?!”

Exudes a sense of intimidation. The feeling of pressure on my shoulders seemed to be on top of gravity magic.

As expected, I thought that the atmosphere was different from the mage recognized by the empire, but I didn’t think an apology would come out of my mouth at all.

That said, I couldn’t accept living like this forever.

‘Stop it. From the beginning, I never thought that a commoner like me would be matched with Princess Ella.’

“In moderation, right? Or are you going to have a fight here?”

[Skill [Survival] Is activated.]

“Kuu!”

Glare, who met my eyes, warmed up without realizing it. Suddenly, he had a staff in his hand.

In response, Tina put her hand on her sword. If she used magic, she had the momentum to cast it.

“You bastard…… ! What is it, that vicious life!”

“Glare!”

Todia’s family’s knights quickly protect Glare.

“Lady Ella, that person is dangerous! Get off!”

“Keuuu… ! Live this! This feeling oppresses my body like cold blood! I think I’m going crazy.”

I really feel like I’m going crazy because of you.

As if the worried voices of her knights couldn’t be heard, Ella wrapped her arms around her own and did not hide her excitement.

“…… Prause, stop it. Even if it’s Prause-sama, it’s difficult to turn the Grand Duke’s family into an enemy. Shouldn’t we be engaged too?”

She laughs and pats me on the shoulder. I grabbed Ella’s hand and let it go.

“I am not engaged. Don’t talk your way.”

He said as he relaxed his eyes.

“Don’t worry, I won’t pretend to know the Todia family at the New Year’s party. Let’s go, Tina.”

“Yes!”

Taking her first step, Tina followed me, removing her hand from her sword.

* * *

The street in front of the inn where Praus and Tina have left, leaving only the Todia family.

“Ella, that guy is dangerous.”

Glare approached Ella and gnashed her teeth.

Since Glare had already heard Prause’s rumors, he deliberately created the atmosphere to gauge his strength.

However, he had no choice but to be wary as he tried to bend his knee with a force stronger than himself.

“Oh, really… …. I was going to enter the banquet hall with Prause! You ruined it because of your dad!”

“Oh, you can go in with Dad.”

“Oh, really! Stupid dad! Don’t talk to me for the rest of the day!”

“Eh, Ella…… !”

Glare crouched when Ella got angry.

The only person Glair, praised everywhere in the empire, could not defeat was her own daughter, Ella Todia.

He said that he feared more when his daughter was angry than when his wife was angry.

* * *

Show the invitation to the gatekeeper and enter.

No nobles came to the banquet in an old wagon, so the gatekeepers looked at each other and wondered several times, but they let them pass.

“Oh… ….”

It was a magnificent castle that could not be compared with anything else.

Even when I tilt my head back, I was amazed at the huge outline that I couldn’t see the end of.

“It’s huge. Teacher.”

“I see.”

“Thanks to Prause, I can even enter the imperial palace. It’s something the world doesn’t know.”

It seemed as if it was several kilometers away from the walls of the imperial palace to the building.

It wasn’t just nobles riding in wagons.

“What kind of person is the emperor who lives here, so he is treated like this?”

“…… It’s not because the emperor is outstanding, it’s because he inherited the ancestors who made great contributions to the establishment of the empire.”

Is it a bit harsh to express it as it is?

After all, he went through the succession war and took the throne.

Whether he intended it or not, the succession war meant that all beings born into the imperial family were subject to check.

He had to cut off all his blood relatives to become emperor.

So, even if he was not interested in the wealth or honor of the imperial family, since he was born into the imperial family, he had no choice but to be prepared to win or die.

Unfortunately.

“How would it feel to live in a place like that?”

“At least I won’t even be interested in how other people live.”

The position of the royal family also means that they are as busy as they are, but I said it in the sense that they will pursue only profit, not enough to judge everything through text.

“… We will never live there. Don’t think.”

“Yes. I don’t even think. To live in a place like that. I like to eat delicious food and sleep with my master like now.”

She smiled softly as she said that.