Rene propped his face up with one hand and quietly waited for Arthur to answer.
Though his actions and expression were no different than usual, Arthur couldn't accept it so easily.
Not long ago, Arthur had seen the cold eyes directed at him. Less than a few days had passed, and now, had he really come to terms with it?
No matter how extraordinary his older brother was, something like that would be impossible. Arthur had always watched him closely.
He knew how hard his older brother had worked to become someone worthy of being a king!
Yet, this man had lost the very goal he had pursued his entire life.
Arthur couldn’t even begin to imagine how immense the frustration must have been!
And yet, to think he could throw away that frustration in just a day or two?
“Don’t let him notice?” That’s a tough request. I’ve never told a proper lie to my older brother, after all.
Treat him as I always do. Even that was difficult. How did I usually treat my older brother?
“Arthur?”
“You asked about Lucy Alrn, but what exactly do you want to know?”
“It’s the usual conversation boys have. What he likes, dislikes, what he’s interested in.”
Likes. The first thing that comes to mind is that he enjoys teasing others, but that’s probably not the answer my brother is looking for.
Next, it’s about dungeons, but that’s a bit of an unusual hobby for a woman.
Ah. Now that I think about it, that kid does have a tendency to obsess over delicious food.
“She likes sweet things. She enjoys meals so much that you’d wonder how such a small body can take so much food.”
Though she’s hidden behind Freya, Lucy Alrn isn’t someone who would lose in terms of appetite.
Watching her devour parfaits as big as her torso in less than ten minutes always left me in awe.
“As for dislikes, it would be people from the Arts Sect. She really detests hearing them call themselves the reincarnation of a goddess.”
In truth, it’s not so much that Lucy Alrn dislikes them; it’s just that anyone would feel repulsed by that.
Even if you stomp on them, insult them, and ignore them, it’s embarrassing to realize they’re supposed to be the same kind of humans as me.
“As for interests, it’s probably something you’re familiar with.”
“You mean dungeons?”
“Yes. Actually, I’m doubtful if Lucy Alrn has any other interests. When it comes to dungeons, she’s so good that even a professor from the academy would step back.”
Lucy Alrn’s obsession with dungeons is a bit abnormal.
At first, I thought it might have come from a blessing she possessed, but lately, I’ve started to think the causality might be the other way around.
She loves dungeons so much that it seems like the god bestowed the blessing upon her because of it.
“What about jewelry?”
“Jewelry? I heard she liked it in the past, but recently, she doesn’t seem to care about it.”
“Cosmetics?”
“None at all. She’s even said she never once wore makeup before her maid arrived.”
“Clothes?”
“Her only options are either school uniforms or armor. She’s not interested.”
Considering she once designed our clothes, it’s clear she has some talent, but she never intends to use it for herself, so it’s meaningless.
Thinking about it, when she mocks others, she does use her appearance well, but she never seems to care about her own looks, does she?
Normally, someone with such appearance would be excited to dress up, but instead, all she does is train herself rigorously, like a machine.
“She’s really changed.”
Arthur, who thought anyone who cared about appearances like that would probably throw up blood, unconsciously raised his eyebrows at Rene’s words.
“Have you ever talked with Lucy Alrn in the past?”
“Of course I have. I followed Queen 1 around the social circles a lot. How could I not know her when I was always present at the gatherings?”
But Lucy Alrn didn’t seem to recognize him.
If she had been the problem child she once was, she might have treated him like any other weed, but that wasn’t possible. The tone in my brother’s voice carried both longing and a sense of betrayal.
“Are you curious about the details?”
“...A bit.”
“Then let’s make a bet. If you win, I’ll tell you what you’re curious about. If you lose, you’ll have to cooperate with me.”
The word “bet” made Arthur flinch. He had never won against Rene.
It wasn’t just a matter of experience. Rene adapted to things Arthur was familiar with in an instant and effortlessly crushed him.
“The fairy queen advised me. If I ask people around me to cooperate recklessly, I might lose my head.”
It was truly an impious statement, but Arthur couldn’t bring himself to call it a joke.
Even the saintess, who was rational, said she’d use the church’s power to apply pressure, so there was no need to mention what others, who had lost their wits, might say.
“What’s the subject of the bet?”
“Let’s have a spar. I wanted to clash with you, now that you’ve grown so much stronger than before.”
The day after conquering Garad’s castle, I decided to keep my promise to Benedict.
Though I didn’t think every day was precious, I had ended up weak again after using my powers at Garad’s castle.
If I couldn’t do anything, at least I should ease Benedict’s heart.
“Useless Erin. Do you really need to focus this much when you’re playing with someone like that?”
In the mirror, I saw myself wearing a black dress I had once received from the perverted apostle.
If I kept my mouth shut, people might even think I was a goddess who came down from the moon. Maybe it’s thanks to Erin’s improved makeup skills.
“The young lady’s reputation has spread across the entire continent. When you go to places crowded with people, you must always be cautious.”
“Really? I’m already much prettier than other ugly girls without doing anything, though.”
“That may be true, but with your appearance, you don’t even allow jealousy from others.”
Well, people who are jealous will always find something to be jealous about, right?
Well, it’s a shame to remove the makeup I put on, but I’ll leave it as it is.
Sigh. You really are beautiful. If you were just a little more mature, I’d have tried my best to talk to you.
Please, have some dignity. You old man who’s over several hundred years old.
I have dignity! I’ve complimented you like I would my granddaughter!
Ignoring the old men bickering, I skipped out of the room, and Benedict, who had put in even more effort than yesterday, was waiting for me.
Chuckling at the sight of the ogre being forced into a suit, I noticed Benedict was looking at me in a way that seemed like he couldn’t see me properly. I lifted my lips into a smile.
“Why, why is it, Lucy?”
“Did you freeze up? Why aren’t you looking at me?”
“Well, it seems I slept wrong, and my neck is stiff.”
“Is that so?”
If that’s the excuse you’re going to use, maybe you should stop just glancing at me.
Hmm. Did Garad teach him that? I can easily see his weaknesses now. I even have a good idea of how to play around with them.
“Yikes!?”
“What’s wrong, Lucy? Did Lina do something again?”
I screamed on purpose, and Benedict immediately turned his head. Realizing I was just playing around, he turned back, but that didn’t change the fact that what had just happened was still there.
“Wasn’t it your neck?”
“Well, that’s...”
“Hmph. What kind of bad imagination did you have that made you lie? I’m so curious!”
As I clung to him, asking him to tell me, Benedict began sweating coldly before cautiously opening his mouth.
“I was worried that our angelic daughter might ascend to the heavens!”
I let out a chuckle at the sight of Benedict, who seemed embarrassed after saying such a disgusting thing and covering his face with his hands.
I could tease him as much as I wanted, but I decided to stop here. If I kept this up, Benedict would break before we even reached the capital.
Sigh. I wish I had a daughter like that.
...I agree, even if it’s embarrassing.
Ignoring the old men’s nonsense, I skipped over to grab Benedict’s finger and dragged him outside the mansion.
Since I decided to have some fun, I might as well enjoy it properly! First, let’s head to the capital’s best restaurant!
What kind of food will we get there, a place much higher-class than the academy’s restaurant? I’m so excited!
Using teleportation magic, I arrived in the kingdom and staggered from motion sickness, sitting on Benedict’s shoulder.
From above, I could clearly see people’s gazes directed at me.
Just a few months ago, I would have hated situations where I received this much attention.
Most of the people’s gazes were filled with negative emotions like disgust and hatred.
Even now, those emotions haven’t completely disappeared, but their intensity has significantly decreased compared to before.
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What once would have been pure hatred was now replaced by admiration, surprise, wonder, or even a strange mix of reverence.
It was still a bit overwhelming, but it was far better than the negative emotions from before.
Just recently, I thought I’d rather have them curse at me. I wonder if this is the influence of having gained the power of Embrace.
As I pondered, lazily walking along, the fairies hidden in my hair suddenly revealed themselves.
What’s this? If they’re going to be obnoxious, they’ve already done it, haven’t they? Do they still have something to say?
Inside? Dangerous? Shouldn’t they elaborate?
Frowning, I thought they wouldn’t be saying this for no reason, so I headed in the direction they were pointing.
There, I saw Arthur, bleeding from his head.