It's Not Like I Want to Play the Role of a Misunderstood, Good-for-Nothing Prince in a Villainess Story! - Chapter 26 – People Put Themselves on a Shelf

It was a mutual strike.

The wooden swords had unusually high durability, but both broke, leaving only the handles.

Hm? What happens in this case?

Beldiha’s stopping voice rang out.

When the draw was called, Larba quietly murmured “thank you” before heading into the mansion with his head hung.

“Onii-sama!”

Sierra ran after Larba, and the watching servants were flustered.

What should I do about this?

“That unique fighting style of yours, Prince, is from the Jet-Black Knight’s?”

“Ah, yeah. I’m learning from Rubert, so that’s why.”

“Huh… not bad.”

Beldiha grinned.

But that expression where I can’t tell what he’s thinking is scary.

While talking like that, I heard the sound of clapping.

Gaizel walked over while narrowing his eyes.

“That was an interesting match. Those wooden swords use Himsia wood, a specialty of our territory—they flex well and are furthermore sturdier than ordinary wooden swords, but… my my, to think it would end with weapons breaking.”

I certainly thought they were good wooden swords though.

“Our house’s troops are already fighting in the forest. I was hoping you could join them, but Sir Beldiha, when will you depart?”

“Considering map confirmation and other preparations, three… no, two days from now perhaps.”

“Understood. Let’s finalize those details tomorrow.”

The two were deciding the monster subjugation schedule.

Wait?

“What about Larba-san?”

He went into the mansion, but are you taking him along after all?

Gaizel shrugged his shoulders as if troubled.

“Within the house, only Unit Captain Shinter could beat Larba, so he probably didn’t expect to lose to someone his own age.”

“Got conceited, huh. When they get a bit strong, everyone catches that disease and becomes arrogant. They should have humble hearts, you know.”

Behind Beldiha who spat that out, Debut and Garim were staring with incredible eyes.

Then they kept glancing at me.

Don’t worry. I’m with you guys in spirit, but I won’t say it because I’m scared of what comes after.

I mean, that’s quite harsh words, but isn’t he angry?

Glancing at Gaizel, I noticed Gaizel had narrowed his eyes and was staring intently at me while stroking his beard.

What? Could you be angry at me? Like ‘a subordinate’s mistake is the superior’s mistake’?

“Um…”

“Thank you for breaking off his arrogance.”

“Ah, no no.”

Unexpected gratitude.

“Well then, we’ve prepared lodging, please heal your travel fatigue.”

We left the mansion and headed to the prepared inn.

And we all groaned “Ooh…”

The prepared inn was truly a magnificent inn.

Though off the main street, the five-story building was wide horizontally too.

This inn apparently ranked in the town’s top 10 best inns.

For now I had them prepare hot water in a tub and washed off my sweat before eating.

After that, while soldiers led by Debut and Garim rushed about with preparations, I relaxed with Beldiha and others.

“Still, to have such an inn prepared… Marquis Ribauto is an accomplished person.”

The bearded soldier named Tarsen approached and spoke to Beldiha and me.

“Is it usually different?”

“Of course… depending on the noble, there are cases where we can’t even enter the town.”

“Seriously…”

There are guys like that even when requesting reinforcements…

“With counts and above, pride gets in the way, and with viscounts and below, they lack the means—that’s the reasoning, I suppose.”

“Heh, worthless. They think of us as convenient slaves or something. Pisses me off, right?”

Beldiha cursed while drinking sake.

Does he have some unpleasant memories?

Watching him, Beldiha pointed at me with his reddened face.

“Listen well, Prince. If you ever change your attitude in the future, I’ll change mine too, so be prepared.”

“Yeah, got it.”

When I immediately answered, Beldiha said “Tch” while now glaring at Tarsen.

“Oi Tarsen, did you hear? What an impressive prince.”

“It seems so.”

“Can you trust him?”

Tarsen briefly glanced at me.

Could you do that when I’m not present?

As I felt slightly awkward, Tarsen laughed.

“It’ll be fine. Otherwise the captain wouldn’t ask in front of him, would he?”

“…………”

Beldiha glared at Tarsen once more before standing up.

“Captain, where are you going?”

“Drank too much, going to sleep. Departure is in two days, got it?”

“Yes, leave the preparations to me.”

Saying just that, Beldiha returned to his own room.

“Sorry about that.”

While seeing him off, Tarsen apologized to me.

“The captain isn’t a bad person at… no, he was a bad person. He said nothing but rude things, after all.”

“Ah, it’s fine. I don’t particularly mind. More than that, are you pretty high-ranking?”

“I’m the captain’s aide. In terms of rank, I’m right after the vice-captain? Since the vice-captain didn’t come this time, I’m effectively second.”

No wonder he was calm even when talking with Beldiha.

“But that’s good.”

“Good?”

“The captain seems to be enjoying himself.”

Enjoying himself… is that so?

Even recalling it, I only remember him with a reddened face from drinking sake, being drunkenly difficult.

When I tilted my head, Tarsen laughed.

“As you can see, the captain is a moody person whose hands come out before his mouth, but you haven’t seen them come out even once yet, have you?”

“True.”

“He’s probably in a good mood.”

“Huh.”

I don’t really understand though.

“If you’d like, shall I tell you some episodes of when the captain’s hands came out?”

“Sounds good, tell me.”

By that day alone, my stock of unknown Beldiha misconduct stories exceeded ten.