Saint, You Should Quit Smoking

As I entered Bardishe Bar where Adela was.
“…!”
The atmosphere of the tavern, where everyone was happily drinking together, changed immediately.
Their reaction upon seeing me was just one.
Wariness.
Eyes filled with it looked at me.
And soon after, they began whispering among themselves.
“Damn… why does he keep coming here? Ruins the taste of the alcohol.”
“Hey. Watch what you say. Didn’t you see the Third Prince defeat the Sword Star last time?”
“That doesn’t make sense. Didn’t he lose all his power? Did he use some kind of dark magic?”
“No. In my opinion, he must be hiding something.”
Negative reactions toward me, the Third Prince, came back.
The previous duel with the Northerner. And the friendly duel with the Sword Star.
By winning consecutively in those two confrontations, the wariness toward me had significantly increased.
‘Now there won’t be any who would dare to pick fights above their station.’
Thinking that there would be fewer students who would act impudently, believing only the rumors that I had lost my power, made me feel more at ease.
However, upon recognizing the figure that appeared next, the atmosphere in the tavern changed drastically once again.
A girl walking with small steps, holding my arm with her small hand. It was the Sword Star.
The fact that the Sword Star had shown herself at Bardishe Bar. Moreover, the fact that she was holding my arm and docilely following me.
The tavern greatly stirred.
“What…? Why is the Sword Star here again…?”
“Wait, isn’t she holding the prince’s arm?”
“She’s acting incredibly demure? What kind of relationship do they have?”
“I think they must have developed feelings for each other. How else would they act like that?”
“…”
I could hear the students’ fuss, but since it was a reaction I had anticipated, I wasn’t particularly flustered.
Me, a prince, and Silvia, the Sword Star. Both of us are beings treated as those of the highest status outside the academy.
Such people walking side by side, and moreover, with the Sword Star seemingly following me around.
It’s bound to become gossip. The rumors will spread from mouth to mouth among the students who saw us two at Bardishe Bar today, but.
‘Instead, I should act brazenly.’
If I were to show shame at their reactions here.
Their mouths would become serpent tongues, secretly inflating their own delusions even more.
“…”
Moving forward calmly without showing the slightest crack in my face. That is the correct answer.
I calmly proceed towards my target. The woman wearing a hood noticed me and gave a small greeting.
“My. What brings you here, Your Highness?”
“I’ve come with something to tell you.”
“That’s nice. I won’t be lonely tonight either.”
She smiled gently from under her hood. Her voice was still dripping with honey.
But soon, a sense of unfamiliarity settled in Adela’s voice.
“But, who is that person…?”
“Ah.”
Come to think of it, the Sword Star was beside me.
I guide the Sword Star, who was dozing behind me, to sit beside me. It was somewhat fascinating how she took a seat smoothly as I guided her, even while sleeping.
Watching Silvia leaning her face on the counter and sleeping, I continued my words.
“She is the Sword Star. Didn’t you see her at the entrance ceremony?”
“Hmm- I did see her, but. I never exchanged even a single word with her.”
Then Adela brought her face close to my ear and whispered.
“…Why is she sticking so close to Your Highness’s side like that? Moreover, she seems to be sleeping.”
“There are circumstances. It wouldn’t be a pleasant story to hear.”
“Hmm. If Your Highness says so.”
Adela pulls her head back as if she won’t ask for more details, but.
In the gaze she showed for a moment, there was clear wariness.
It was like the reaction a cat would show to an enemy coveting what belongs to it.
I was curious about the reason for that gaze. But I cleared my throat to get straight to the point.
“Sage.”
“Yes.”
“Do you remember the task I mentioned before, where the entire Special Class would participate together? I asked you to join.”
“Of course. I remember.”
“This time, I’ve found a suitable task outside the academy, so I’m thinking of carrying it out.”
I quickly recite the core of this task.
That there’s a problem with the seal of the sealing stone.
That we need to go to the Boderod family.
That we need to deal with the swarming magical beasts.
After pointing out various key points, and lastly mentioning that the Saint must accompany us.
“Would the Sage join us as well?”
I concluded with these words.
I came to deliver my business, but I didn’t really think the Sage would refuse. She had given a positive response to my proposal last time.
“…”
However, after hearing my words, Adela surprisingly didn’t give an immediately positive answer.
Time passed silently as if she was deeply considering something.
The flirtatious voice that came from her lips brought up a different topic.
“Your Highness. May I ask one question?”
“What is it?”
“By any chance, is the Sword Star also going with you?”
“Hmm.”
I didn’t expect her to point out that part suddenly.
‘Is whether Silvia participates important to her?’
It was a part I couldn’t guess well.
Regardless, I told her honestly first. There’s no benefit in lying to someone I’ll meet frequently in the future.
“The Sword Star will not be joining us.”
“Is that so? May I know the reason?”
“…”
It was a topic I was embarrassed to speak about with my own mouth.
But having started, it would be proper to finish what I’m saying.
I sighed and answered.
“This is a bit uncomfortable to say, but. She said the only one she’s interested in is me, Loran, not the other Special Class classmates.”
“…”
“It seems she will only move when performing tasks with me alone, in most cases.”
“Hmm. I see.”
Whatever judgment Adela was making upon hearing my words.
She tapped her lips with her white, slender finger.
That sight was quite perplexing to me. It seems her thoughts have changed from before after recognizing Silvia’s existence, but.
‘Why in the world?’
I couldn’t understand why she was showing such an attitude, which part of what the Sword Star said grated on her nerves.
While I was looking at her with such questions in mind, Adela muttered in a small voice.
“Indeed…. It’s not that she’s guarding against Your Highness being with others, but rather a strategy to make him spend time only with her.”
“…?”
“I can’t let my guard down. She’s called the Sword Star, but her mind works quite well…?”
Saying that, she pierces the Sword Star with a sharp gaze. In Adela’s pitch-black pupils, there was an even stronger wariness than before.
Regardless, Silvia was sleeping, but.
Adela silently stared at the Sword Star’s appearance for a moment, then spoke to me again.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I must tell you that I won’t be able to join you either.”
“Excuse me?”
I never thought she would actually express refusal.
Calming my confused mind, I calmly asked her back.
“May I ask why? Didn’t you say last time that you were okay with my proposal?”
“Of course I did then. Actually, even now, there’s no specific reason why I shouldn’t go. There isn’t, but….”
Adela trailed off there.
And then, shifting her gaze from me, she looked at Silvia who was soundly sleeping with her face on the counter.
“…It would be funny if only I went with you in this situation.”
“What do you mean?”
“Anyway, isn’t it enough for Your Highness if only the Saint participates? The sealing stone issue will actually be under the Saint’s jurisdiction, right? The rest is just being present together?”
“That’s true, but….”
Unlike Adela or Silvia, it’s true that I don’t intend to give Rinet a choice.
Because this task absolutely requires a Saint.
I just don’t understand why Adela doesn’t want to go either.
“I’m sorry for showing inconsistent attitudes, but. I hope you understand my feelings.”
Seeing Adela speaking to me as if apologetic, I sighed inwardly.
‘There’s no choice.’
It’s not good to force someone who doesn’t want to go. From a broader perspective, it would be reasonable for me to yield here and wait for the next opportunity.
I decided to leave my regret behind and make a request to her.
“I understand. However, I ask that you follow along in cases where everyone truly needs to be together.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’m not such a willful woman.”
With that, the conversation came to a tentative conclusion.
Having finished my business, I thought it was time to return.
It would be fine to stay longer and spend more time, but it’s not good to show a conspicuous appearance to the students for too long.
“My business ends here. Let’s meet again next time.”
I stood up to return to the Imperial dormitory. I also took the hand of the Sword Star who was sleeping beside me and helped her stand.
“Ughak.”
Silvia, whose body was forcibly raised, let out a short groan.
Then, she mumbled with a sleepy voice.
“Yawn…. Is it over?”
“Yes. Let’s go back now.”
“Okay….”
Silvia opened her small mouth to stretch out a yawn, and.
With a passing tone, she threw a question at me.
“By the way, should I sleep in your bed today too? And you’ll sleep in that spare thing or whatever?”
Why is she suddenly asking that? We could have talked about this after returning to the dormitory.
I thought it was an unexpected remark, but I gave a sincere answer.
“No. If you’re going to end up coming to my side anyway, it’s better to just use one bed from the start.”
“I see….”
As soon as the conversation ended, Silvia immediately started dozing off.
Thinking she might fall asleep standing if left alone, I was about to take her hand and leave Bardishe Bar when.
A woman’s very trembling voice was heard from behind.
“Um, Your Highness.”
“Yes.”
The tone, which was usually filled with composure and sweetness, was now filled with confusion.
Sometime during our conversation, Adela had also risen from her seat. And it seems she had stood up quite hurriedly. She was standing awkwardly.
She was so flustered that even her hood had fallen down.
Gulp- She swallowed and said one thing to me.
“I-I’m asking just in case.”
“Yes.”
“…Are you sharing a bed with the Sword Star?”
“…”
‘Oh no.’
There’s no way she couldn’t have heard the conversation just now. I acted imprudently.
I quickly racked my brain for how to answer. Giving the impression of having female affairs could affect our future relationship.
‘Should I speak honestly?’
I thought about revealing everything to prevent any misunderstanding, but.
No. I don’t have the time or luxury to explain everything here. There will be a more appropriate occasion next time.
After thinking, the judgment I made was a repetition of before.
“There are circumstances.”
“…”
“It wouldn’t be a pleasant story to hear. I’ll tell you when there’s a better opportunity.”
Silence.
Whether she had any mental consideration after hearing my words.
After staying quietly silent, the final words Adela returned were emotionless.
“…Yes. It really doesn’t seem pleasant.”
Then she smiled gently and bowed her head to greet me.
There wasn’t even the slightest crack in that smile.
Thus, it seemed like she was maintaining her composure without being mentally shaken, but.
“…”
No matter how I looked at it, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Adela was silently sharpening her knife.
In the end, leaving her greeting behind, I took the Sword Star’s hand and returned to the dormitory with her.
A sigh naturally escaped from my lips.
‘It’s deeply concerning.’
Somehow, the relationship between the Special Class classmates doesn’t seem as good as I thought.
It was quite subtle that I had the intuition that the reason was because of me.