"I have come to fetch you."

  It wasn’t the crack of dawn, but the old gentleman arrived at the house during the bustling hours of the market.

  "Mr. Lotus, it’s been a while.""Yes, Lord Liberta, you seem well—that’s what matters most."

  Unlike the person who came with Lady Esmeralda, this was my first time seeing him since the Stampede. I remember how, amid the hostile gres, he was the only one who welcomed me with a calm gaze.

  If I recall correctly, he was a direct subordinate of His Grace the Duke.

  "Today, I’d like to bring one more person besides myself.""You have a companion? That’s no issue, but who might it be?""Me."

  After the conversation at the entrance and securing permission for her to accompany us, Cudia made her entrance.

  "! You—no, my apologies. Understood. Lady Cudia, please come this way."

  For a moment, Mr. Lotus’s eyes widened upon seeing her, but he quickly composed himself and guided us to the carriage.

  "You’re even remembered by the Duke’s household, huh?""It’s a remnant from my time as the Archbishop.""Don’t jest. Any noble who doesn’t know of you is so ignorant they hardly deserve the title."

  After boarding the carriage with Cudia, Mr. Lotus joined us as well. When I asked about her fame, he gave a wry smile and said it’d be stranger if people didn’t know her, then instructed the coachman to depart.

  "By the way, may I ask what your retionship is?""I’m his guardian.""I’m the one being guarded.""...If I may, and I don’t mean to pry, but how did such a retionship come about?""I swear to the gods there’s nothing untoward. That’s all I can say.""I see. That’s enough for me."

  Originally, the invitation was meant for me alone, but with an unexpected celebrity in tow, Mr. Lotus must have felt compelled to confirm things.

  Still, as Cudia said, while my status as a reincarnator hasn’t been exposed, it seems they’ve guessed I’m somehow connected to the divine. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have sent someone like Mr. Lotus, the Duke’s personal attendant, to fetch me.

  The carriage began moving slowly, then picked up speed.

  The curtains were drawn over the windows, so I couldn’t see outside, but I doubted we were being taken anywhere suspicious.

  "Mr. Lotus.""Yes, what is it?""Do you know anything about the reason for this summons?""I’m afraid I can’t say. But I don’t believe it’s anything unfavorable for you, Lord Liberta.""Is that ‘not unfavorable’ by noble standards?"

  I thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask, but no answer came. Even the vague response left me uneasy.

  And I wasn’t the only one who noticed. Cudia, seated beside me, asked a question I couldn’t.

  "......You may take it that way.""I see. Understood. Liberta, it seems you’d best be careful not to nod thoughtlessly.""Right."

  The common sense of nobles and commoners differed. Cudia, who knew both, confirmed through her questioning that the Duke’s summons was trouble.

  I’d braced myself for it, but resignation settled in—of course it would turn out like this. Still, now that things had gone this far, I wished they’d just tell me the details.

  A gnce at Mr. Lotus across from us revealed nothing but a fwless gentlemanly smile. He clearly had no intention of speaking.

  With the conversation stifled by the awkward atmosphere, the carriage continued in silence until we arrived at the Duke’s estate.

  "Welcome."

  This time, unlike before, maids and butlers lined up to greet us. No one directed hostility at me; they treated me as a proper guest.

  Yet, knowing this decorum was the result of the purge left me with mixed feelings.

  They’re not afraid of me, right?I tried to read their expressions, but with their heads bowed, I couldn’t see.

  "Lord Liberta, Lady Cudia, the master awaits you inside."

  Led by Mr. Lotus, we proceeded through the mansion, unsure of how the Duke’s household truly saw us.

  Hoping at least that there was no lingering resentment, we were taken deep into the estate, arriving at a room with an ornate door.

  I didn’t recall coming here before.

  "Your Grace, I’ve brought Lord Liberta."

  A knock, then confirmation from within. The door opened slowly.

  "Please, the master is expecting you."

  A maid appeared and ushered us in.

  Of course, without automatic doors, someone had to open and close them. But the fact that they employed people just for that drove home how different nobles were.

  We had Ingrid, our maid, but at home, we handled dishes and doors ourselves. My commoner sensibilities were showing.

  Passing the bowing maid, we entered the room under Mr. Lotus’s guidance.

  Inside wasn’t a conference room for discussions but a salon furnished with luxurious decor, designed for rexed, genteel conversation.

  There sat the Duke, who rose slowly upon noticing Cudia.

  "Well, well, Priestess Cudia. I hadn’t expected to meet you in such a setting.""Nor I, Your Grace. Today, I’m reminded that the gods weave many threads of fate."

  They were acquainted, and it showed in their measured rapport.

  "I appreciate you receiving us despite the suddenness of our visit.""Not at all. Lotus informed me. So, you’ve become his guardian? We’ll discuss that ter. For now, please, take a seat. Liberta, do you take sugar in your tea?""No, I’m fine.""Is that so? I’ve prepared sweet pastries as well. Don’t hold back—enjoy them."

  His tone with me was still cautious, as if gauging the distance between us.

  As directed, I took the seat opposite the Duke, while Mr. Lotus remained standing behind him. Cudia sat beside me, and the maid who had opened the door served tea for both of us.

  "This is fine tea.""It’s grown on my estate’s pntations. A personal favorite.""I see."

  I took a sip. It was delicious, but I couldn’t discern its quality. Cudia praised it outright—whether out of politeness or as mere courtesy, I couldn’t tell.

  "Does it not suit your taste?""No, it’s delicious.""Good, then."

  Had my silence been taken the wrong way? No, probably not.

  "Hmm. Before we proceed, one thing I’d like to confirm. Priestess Cudia, the fact that you’ve become his guardian—am I to take it as what it implies?"

  His mood wasn’t soured. This was just a casual prelude.

  The main topic was coming. This was a probing question—what did it mean for Cudia to have taken me under her protection?

  "He cks awareness of it, and I have no definitive proof. Isn’t it the same for you?""It’s undeniable we’re in simir positions. But with you seated beside him, my confidence has grown."

  Circumspect words, spoken because walls have ears. To an outsider, it might seem meaningless, but in noble society, what goes unsaid often matters most. Such conversations, where you had to read between the lines, were common in the game, and deciphering them had always been a hassle.

  In short: I had no memory of receiving divine orders to become a hero, but the circumstantial evidence was piling up, hence Cudia’s guardianship. The Duke, too, had sensed something and was now confirming it. Cudia’s presence only strengthened the pusibility.

  God, nobles are exhausting.

  Propriety demanded this dance, but listening to it was tedious.

  "Whether it’s divine guidance is for the gods to know.""Indeed. But even so, Liberta’s talents are invaluable.""Shall we proceed to the main topic, then?""Yes. With Priestess Cudia here, there’s no point in obfuscation. Lotus, the item.""At once."

  Was this stylistic elegance, or just the default? The tter seemed more likely, meaning I’d have to get used to such exchanges if I wanted to deal with nobles.

  With little further conversation and no chance to sample the pastries, the Duke cut to the chase.

  "The reason I summoned you is simple: I need your wisdom.""So, it’s about the dungeon?""Perceptive. I expected no less.""I couldn’t think of any other reason I’d be summoned."

  As I’d guessed, the dungeon was the issue.

  "I heard the攻略 (clearing) was progressing smoothly.""It is. There are no major problems. Or rather, there weren’t, until unnecessary interference arose.""Interference?"

  Dent had told me the clearing was on track. Given time, the dungeon would be dealt with. But I’d also heard adventurers from the west were causing disruptions.

  Was that the Duke’s "interference"?

  "Originally, the knights and the adventurers’ guild were to colborate in defeating the boss, the Dulhan, and eradicating the dungeon. But then someone decided to meddle with the attached wyvern dungeon.""...""Your silence is understandable. It’s nothing short of folly. Faced with the camity that recently threatened the capital, they cim they want to offset the damages—a noble sentiment, if hollow. In truth, they’re loath to pass up the rare materials from dungeon-born draconic species."

  The problem seemed to stem from a separate faction, distinct from the adventurers.

  "Forgive me, but if the instigators took charge and spearheaded the dungeon assault, wouldn’t that cool their heads?""I’d love nothing more, but my recent successes have become a problem. They’ve decred before the king that I alone can minimize casualties while sying the dungeon’s boss, the wind drake.""..."

  It seemed someone wanted the Duke to fail. His resolution of the Stampede had earned him the king’s favor and raised his standing. Those who resented it had now joined forces to outvote him.

  The emphasis on "minimal" suggested the court had been mired in excruciatingly roundabout debates.

  "Are the western adventurers perhaps...?""Indeed. They’re here to sabotage me.""Quite the mess."

  From the conversation, I’d guessed at an unpleasant connection—and, sure enough, there it was.

  Cudia sighed, her exasperation pin as she sipped her tea. This is why nobles are insufferable, her expression seemed to say.

  "Frankly, if we disregard casualties, we could clear it. But I can’t ignore the toll.""And as the Duke, your reputation is also at stake, leaving no room for retreat.""...Precisely."

  Likely, the other three ducal houses were behind this. Who else would dare provoke Edelgard?

  Majority rule was a terrifying thing, especially when powerful houses colluded to undermine you.

  "What’s the king’s stance on this?""He told me to do my best without overextending. At worst, he’s assured me that defeating the Dulhan alone would suffice.""That sounds like him. But if you compromise here, the other houses will seize the chance to gloat."

  The king, too, must have sensed this. Do your best without overextending—a seemingly contradictory phrase, but not if "your best" meant minimizing casualties.

  The other ducal houses, however, would twist those words.

  If the Duke slew only the Dulhan and not the wind drake, what then? The answer was obvious.

  Rumors, embellished and widespread, would spread not just through the capital but across the continent.

  The Duke who fled the dragon—such whispers would dog him.

  For a noble, especially a duke, reputation was everything. Even baseless rumors would sting.

  Hence this summons.

  "Apologies for the wait. Lord Liberta, would you take a look at this?"

  Well then, what should I do?I suppose I’ll have to find the optimal path.