Save 61 ─ Hero returns home

"Huh, a call?"

Once Lucy went home, I told the girls to have a seat while I made some tea.

I bought tea leaves and expensive sweets back, for some reason, in the refrigerator and shelves there was no food at all.

Alisa told me that the palace requested my presence.

"That's right, Their Majesties wish to talk to you not only about the incident that happened, but also about the future."

On the way to the mansion, I told them about my fight against the head of the Cashmiro Family and that dirty bastard Derrick.

As expected, they gave me several sermons.

But they were of concern.

Alisa told me that my safety is more important than my pride or that of the Kingdom.

She said this while gently pinching my cheeks and she pouted.

Airi was also pinching me, but my arm, because I acted in a very nasty way against Derrick after the duel.

They knew Derrick was a horrible person, but, still, Airi's heart is so big and gentle with everyone, that I'm afraid it might bring consequences for her.

After preparing the tea, I served them both along with the sweets I found freshly prepared and the ones I bought.

They smelled it first, then tasted it.

A relaxed look appeared on their faces.

"It's been a long time since I've tasted your tea, it's so nostalgic, it reminds me of the days when it was just the three of us at the academy separately living our lives."

"And then after many events last year, we became a couple."

Alisa and Airi reminisced about the past.

We lived many moments, good and bad, happy and sad together.

But now, moments of joy await us.

Airi put a cookie in her mouth, I told her it was one of the ones Erselica prepared.

After hearing her name, her jaw stopped, and she returned the cookie to the plate with the words.

"I lost my appetite."

They really didn't want to see Erselica, not even something she prepared.

Apparently they still hated her.

I don't blame them, I do too for what she did to them, but knowing she was a very pitiful woman, I couldn't hate her anymore.

Alisa looked around the house curiously.

"So this is where you live with Erselica, what about your house that the embassy gave you? It would be very dangerous if besides His Highness, you were living under the same roof as that woman."

I left my cup on the plate and with all the honesty in the world I told them.

"It's covered with dust since I've liked living here, and about hers."

"It will never happen. There will never be a chance of anything between me and that idiot. They would first have to threaten me with an arranged marriage between choosing her or a very fat woman... I choose the fat one just in case."

Obviously there will never be anything between me and her, not only because we were family in our previous life, there is also the fact that she is a very pitiful woman and she is also very flat chested.

Alisa and Airi looked at me doubtfully.

"Really? Believing you wouldn't go after a woman is very doubtful. And even more so knowing the kind of woman you like."

"Like Lucy-san, she had a big cleavage like us."

Airi's tone of voice was a bit rough, her gazes focused on my mouth, waiting for an excuse.

But I had already told them.

"Lucy and I are just friends after several events, you must not doubt me. No doubt, her chest is big, but it's not as big as my Queen─"

I realized it a little late. I was trying to reassure them.

But I inadvertently blurted out my basest wish.

The Queen.

Liam's mother, Lecia von Altfode.

A beautiful woman with long, wavy, ash-blonde hair that looked like the Milky Way itself.

Beautiful navy blue eyes like pearls found in the depths of the sea.

Her face was young for a woman in her thirties.

But the best part was not her sweet personality, caring for her people and that she was a hard working woman.

It was her body.

The Queen was a woman that if I had to rate her from one to ten. The result would be infinite.

I consider her a goddess.

She is the kind of woman I would be willing to go to war for.

Of course, if she didn't want to be willingly with me, it wouldn't do any good.

The last time we met, I left a lot of gifts for her.

They were all created and sent with love.

It is because of that love for her personality and sensual body, that my girlfriends look at me with a dark look on their face.

Alisa was the first to speak to me before Airi.

"You know, there's something I always wanted to ask you, why do you call Lecia-sama ´My Queen´ instead of calling her ´The Queen´ huh?"

"There's also the fact that you mentioned her in the letters that were for us. You compared us to her, you even mentioned that you wished our hips were as wide and big as hers."

They approached me slowly.

I was beginning to sweat.

"Rudel, I'll give you a big sermon, whether you want me to or not. But there's something more important than making sure you stop thinking about Her Majesty."

"That's right, we came as diplomats to give you that message. But we must return at once to the Kingdom, we have many unfinished business that cannot be put aside."

They took my arms both of them.

They brought their faces close together.

"Finish whatever it is you are doing now."

"To have a quick appointment before we go back."

I was trembling, but then I was speechless as their tone changed.

"It's true that we must return immediately, but the officials and diplomats who came need a rest."

"Shifting matters from the old to the new palace officials will take at least a day. So, let's have an appointment while we wait for tomorrow to set sail."

They made me stand up.

"Are they upset?"

They both smiled at me in a very affectionate way.

"We are, but it's more important to spend time together than to interrogate you for your vandalism overseas."

"If you say you didn't do anything. We believe you, because, trust is important in a couple."

It made me very happy that they believe me, even though I wasn't doing anything wrong.

"I would like to go and buy some souvenirs for my family and some others for the ministers who support me."

"I want to eat at a fancy restaurant. I'd like to get to know what Aster's fine food is like."

"I would like to go taste the sweets that matter to the Kingdom!"

I decided to have this day to ourselves before we go back.

◇◇◇

It was already evening.

Erselica was waiting for Rudel to return.

"When will my brother be back!"

Bell was with her.

She had met her when she hid her in Schwert months ago.

Erselica was looking out the window like a dog waiting for its master to return from work.

Bell hovered near Erselica's head.

"Master won't be back anymore. The three of them went out to eat and will not spend the night here, but in Aurora, to return to the Kingdom in Schwert."

"Ixion is with them getting everything ready."

Bell told Erselica that she would stay with her on Rudel's orders.

Erselica knew beforehand that those two would not eat her food. It was a waste, but, seeing the frightening look on their faces again caused her stomach to churn.

"But, won't they sleep at your place?"

"He said it was too dirty. I'm sorry, but he won't be back for a while."

Erselica wanted to cry.

"Stupid broooooooooooooo! When I need you the most you're gone! At this rate, we'll have to eat weeds or fish from the rivers!"

Fear flashed across her face.

Bell couldn't hold in her "laughter" any longer, and began to mock her.

"Truly, a pitiful Erselica-chan is better than a sad Erselica-chan."

"Huh?"

"Master knew your situation beforehand. That's why he left this for you."

Bell made a strange "crack" and from the sky a leather bag fell on Erselica's face.

After getting up, she opened it.

"This is it!"

In the bag was a wad of bills.

Erselica's eyes became bloodshot.

"Yay~ I love you so much onii-chan ❤!"

She hugged the bag and then rubbed the bills on her cheeks.

It was a very pitiful scene.

Bell looked happy as she looked at Erselica.

"Erselica-chan is a very pitiful woman. But, I don't dislike that side, I love Alisa-chan and Airi-chan as I love Master. Therefore, I love the different phases of Erselica-chan. Please continue, still being a very pitiful woman."

Erselica was still rubbing the money on her face, she decided to call her servants.

"Allen, Cana!"

"Yes, Master?"

Both servants appeared from the kitchen to the living room.

"You two, get your best clothes ready! We're going to eat at a super fancy restaurant!"

"Really!"

"Yes! We'll eat like kings now that those five are gone!"

"Yes!"

Allen and Cana as Erselica raised their hands.

They went to change, including Erselica.

Bell hovered near her.

"Humans of the new humanity certainly have big appetites. Quite the opposite of the old humanity who ate just enough to recharge energy."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Nothing, I was remembering my days where there were only wars and women looked like men. I'm glad that, these days, women look like women and not strong men with breasts."

Erselica was disgusted to hear of the past of old humanity.

Like Rudel, she wondered more than once. How did such an advanced civilization as they were destroyed?

While changing clothes, Erselica thought of Lucy.

(I wonder, how is she?)

(The game will now be able to run normally, but...).

◇◇◇

The guards watched as Schwert was departing with other ships.

They were glad, but...

"Why did another one stay!!!"

Aurora was anchored in the harbor.

The guards were terrified, they observed a sphere floating on the deck.

◇

I arrived in the Kingdom as the officials were being escorted by other aircraft.

So we did not need to keep up with them.

Ixion said three days would take us to arrive, but I was in a hurry for some reason.

Arriving home, I was greeted by someone unexpected.

"You want to explain to me what this is about you cheating on them?"

"Your father was right when he said it was best for you to leave engaged."

My mother, Sonia van Bradford. A middle-aged woman with black eyes and black hair that was slicked back over her shoulder came to greet me.

After the war, my situation with my family got weird.

Before, they didn't talk to me much.

But now it's different.

I feel a little scared.

She grabbed my ear and stretched it as punishment.

"It hurts! Stop! It's a mistake!"

"Really?"

"Yeah! I mean, yes. It was just Bell's mistake."

Apparently, the issue of my false infidelity somehow spread with my family.

But, it was rare for my mother to come to greet me.

Behind her was someone who didn't criticize me. Or so I thought.

My sweet little sister, Pola van Bradford, a little girl with black eyes and black hair, but with a smile more charming than my girlfriends. Her hair was pulled back in pigtails.

"Rudel onii-chan, it's bad to cheat on your girlfriends. Think about how they would feel knowing you're unfaithful. I don't know what cheating is, though. Mom, what is cheating?"

"It's what happens to your father when he tries to overdo it with the maids."

The women in the family came to see me, it was weird that. I expected my father and brothers to come and do it.

Since, there is something I want to ask my dad.

"More importantly, there's something I want to talk to you about."

"Is something wrong?"

"Yes. It's something a son should do for his mother."

I wondered what she wanted, and even more so, being the first time she asked me something by looking me in the face.

This terrifying face that she engendered in her womb.

◇◇◇

Lucy woke up.

She was hungry.

She had cried all night.

Her hair was a mess.

Her eyes were red from how hard she cried.

Opening the door, she found Diana preparing breakfast.

"...!"

Diana became aware of her sister's presence.

"... Good morning."

"... Good morning..."

Lucy took a seat.

Diana walked over to her and placed a plate of scrambled eggs with bacon and orange juice on the table.

Lucy took a forkful, but immediately put it down.

The saucer and juice reflected Rudel's face for some reason.

She stood up.

As she did, something fell out of her pocket.

Diana bent down to pick it up.

But she was speechless at the sight of it.

"Big sister, this is it!"

Lucy touched her left shoulder. She lowered her gaze.

"... I'm sorry, your big sister is an idiot. And, don't worry, nothing happened."

Diana watched as Lucy covered her right hand. She was curious if she had cut herself.

When asked what it was, Lucy said.

"... I-It's nothing, I just slept on my own arm, that's all."

Diana knew her sister was lying, the reason for hiding it was clear to her. Since, it was a game event.

(The way she acts, the emblem had to appear. My sister is not the kind of woman to hide things unless they are serious.)

She pulled up a chair.

"Sister sit down, let's talk."

Lucy heeded her.

"Tell me, what's wrong?"

Lucy was still downcast, but she opened her mouth to shoo Diana away.

"He... has girlfriends."

"Girlfriends? Wait, who's 'he'? ... You're not talking about─!"

Lucy nodded slightly.

(It's unbelievable, that guy is just as horrible as that girl. But wait... wasn't the romantic situation about women supposed to be very different over there? I remember that they were the ones in charge in the social field. Or is that, is the reality of the game with the current one different? Damn, I should have asked them more details about the Kingdom!)

Diana was pensive while Lucy just stared at the Rudel-shaped plate.

She wanted to try to cheer her up.

"N-Never mind, sister! I'm sure there are better men than that guy! You see, he's a very strange boy! He may be a nobleman, but he's from a very insecure country. His face is weird and he's surrounded by weird people, surely those girlfriends are just as weird as he is."

"... They are beautiful. Equal or similar in beauty with the princess of Rosenberg Household. I can't compete against them. Besides, the way he talked to them and the way he talked to me, he gave me to understand that I was never even a love interest... I lost from the moment I decided to live with him..... oh my gosh, I'm so stupid, how did I not realize it before? It was for that reason that he never wanted to touch me despite living under the same roof..."

Lucy clutched her head. Without meaning to, the Priestess Emblem was peeking out. Diana said nothing.

Just, she stood up and left Lucy alone.

She thought.

(This is for the best, this way, the game will progress in such a way that no outsider will interfere. The remaining targets should make her fall in love. Besides, loneliness is best at a time like this.)

Diana thought that the best thing for a sad person, was to leave her alone.

In her previous life, she did the same with her younger sister.

But, that sister committed suicide.

Diana, was making the same mistake.

Lucy was left alone crying in that sunlit room.