I silently listened to August’s words.

And I learned something that I never would have known had I not listened.

I had no idea that Meyer had given magical power as a price to save me.

The scale would have pointed to the horizontal only if I had raised my soul as consideration, but since the size of Meyer’s original magical power was enormous, it seemed that he was able to weigh the scales with his magical power alone.

Meyer is so strong that there is no one to take him on without magical power, but…

Who would wish for their power to weaken? It would have been a shame about that tremendous magical power.

I just sighed.

“Thank you for letting me know, August. The Commander always keeps this kind of thing a secret from me.”

“It’s no problem.”

August shook his head. He was as aloof as the man who knew I’d ask this question in the first place.

Come to think of it, August must have met Saint Marianne… I asked carefully, looking at August’s appearance.

“August also devoted himself to Saint Marianne, but weren’t you sad that there was no reward for you?”

“Those who worship God in anticipation of reward are not qualified as priests.”

He was more determined than I thought. August gathered his hands so solemnly that I felt embarrassed.

“Just the fact that I was able to meet St. Marianne in person and witness a miracle is inspiring to me.”

August’s gaze swung under his short lashes that had landed. That was not even a slight exaggeration, he was 200% serious.

Even after a long time together, I rarely got used to such a fanatic aspect. A little freaked out, I laughed awkwardly.

“Priest August! Where are you!”

I heard strange voices in the banquet hall. It sounded like a group of healers. August gave a small sigh, as if to say that his spare time was over for a while.

Then he bowed to me to leave.

“Then I’ll leave.”

“Yes. Have a nice evening.”

He left for a while and I was left alone on the balcony.

This isn’t bad either.

I winded quietly alone, listening to the voices and orchestral sounds of the banquet hall leaking through the glass door, and the sound of grass and insects over the balcony as my friends.

How long had it been that long? Not too long, I heard a voice searching for me.

“Jun? Where are you?”

“I’m here.”

I answered half-heartedly. It wasn’t that loud, but as soon as I said it, Meyer noticed where I was and ran like wildfire.

August left and the deserted balcony slept tight into Meyer’s huge size again.

Meyer’s face showed his sinking feelings.

“I thought I told you to tell me when you were going somewhere.”

“I’m in the banquet hall.”

“But… I was surprised.”

Meyer’s chest went up and down a lot.

I wondered if it was such a surprise, but it was hard for me to say anything because my death caused the anxiety of separation.

“I’m not leaving now.”

“I know.”

Even as he said this, his hand was shaking lightly as he held mine.

I hugged Meyer. I could hear his rough breathing and his heart beating particularly loudly.

“That’s what I keep thinking.”

“What do you keep thinking?”

“What if you use the ultimate weapon again?”

While Meyer’s ultimate weapon could not be used again as it permanently removed mana, I revived and restored my soul, so I had another chance.

“I won’t use it, I won’t use it. I don’t want to sacrifice myself twice.”

“Never use it. No matter who dies.”

Meyer looked scared and anxious.

I calmed him down by slowly patting his back. He dug into my arms like a huge, ravenous beast that thought it was young.

In the meantime, I staggered to my feet and leaned my hips against the balcony railing, and he, helpless, immediately went to his knees and clung to my waist. As if he were pleading with me…

In the darkness, Meyer’s silver hair shone in the light.

I swept his hair gently. His hair, like silver threads, fell apart through my fingers.

Meyer, who loved the way I touched his hair, looked up at me, blinking slowly. His golden eyes rose with heat like bronze on fire.

“… Jun.”

Meyer’s voice calling me was hoarse.

What he was craving was clear on his face without daring to ask.

How could such a large man just look dangerous and pitiful? I can see that the love was firmly stuck in his eyes

I think I will have to stay by his side for a while after Meyer becomes emperor…

When push comes to shove, the Grand Duke has to save the people he leaves in his stead. I sighed softly and bowed my head over his face.

***

“Vince, steward of the Grand Duchy of Nokentoria. I greet the hero.”

“What do you mean a hero? Relax, Vince.”

I waved my hand.

About a month after defeating the Demon King.

Vince came up to the capital in person, as we were too busy working on the cleanup of the Demon King and the new empire that was to be built afterward to go directly to Nokentoria Castle.

Vince’s eyes were shaken with emotion and joy. Vince pressed his tears with a handkerchief and murmured.

“You’re a hero. Not only did you defeat the Demon King, but you also brought His Excellency. I’ve heard the story.”

I caught a glimpse of Meyer, who naturally sat beside me.

Although he kept it a secret from most of his surroundings, Meyer seems to have told Vince the truth as he was Meyer’s only guardian.

Meyer turned his head in spite of himself.

“I told you to bring His Excellency in somehow, but that did not mean that the Vice Commander would be sacrificed. How surprised this old man was to hear the story…”

“Haha…”

I smiled shyly. I didn’t particularly think of it as a sacrifice…

Besides, I had forgotten all about Vince’s words at the time I used the soul scale, so hearing his baptism of praise made my ass tremble.

Vince’s gaze went to Meyer’s silver-tinted hair.

He continued his story with frustrated, angry vigor.

“Thus, even though he looks just like the Grand Duke of the previous generation… When I think of the fact that His Eminence, the legitimate lineage, was tormented by such rumors, I am filled with anger.”

“Vince.”

Meyer said a few words as if the topic about his father wasn’t too sweet. Vince was so surprised by that that he covered his mouth.

“Aigoo, I’m old, I’m a fool. I’ve spewed a lot of nonsense. I would have been waiting for you anyway…”

Vince immediately interrupted and clapped his hands. As soon as he did so, he took a boy to the drawing room.

It was Eugene, the brother I sent to Nokentoria.

“Well, then, I’ll let you talk. I’ll be out for a while.”

Vince came out with the servants, and only the timid Eugene remained in the drawing room.

Eugene was sitting side by side on the couch, much larger than when I had last seen him. But he was not a familiar face.

I had seen him once at the time of the first round, and he had glanced at Meyer while he was fidgeting in front of me.

He couldn’t even look at him openly and just looked at his knee area.

It was more difficult not to notice his blatant fear. Meyer leaned back on the back of the couch, half-raised his body, and said.

“Shall I go out, too?”

“It doesn’t matter if you stay.”

I said I was fine with it.

I didn’t mean to talk about secrets, and considering the words Nova had passed on to me, I thought it would be easier to talk if Meyer was there.

Since Fabian had lured me, almost a month had passed in defeating the Demon King’s Castle dungeon, and then another month had passed.

I had an honest meeting to see how much Eugene had changed in two short months…

Still, you never know what people are like.

Sure enough, Eugen was very quiet during that time, no matter what Vince did.

Eugene hesitated and said first.

“… I’m glad you came back safely, sister.”

“I’m glad you’re safe, too. I’m sorry I got caught up in my work.”

“No, if I hadn’t been on board with the idea of making an expeditionary team from the beginning, mother and father wouldn’t have been taken advantage of so much…”

Eugene muttered.

I laughed softly. If Eugene had not been kidnapped, they would have been persuaded by money.

“Well, that doesn’t matter because it worked out.”

Calling Eugene wasn’t to pick up what happened then and get an apology.

For what it’s worth, he was a 12-year-old brother. There is a difference of almost 14 years.

Eugene’s advancement was one of the things that had to be dealt with beforehand before I received the Grand Dukedom.

That is why he was called all the way from Nokentoria. But is Eugene really remorseful and crippled at heart, or does he want to look good as a grand duke, or is he just trying to kiss up to Meyer… he continued his words.

“I… I misunderstood sister, so I made a mistake with sister’s colleague. I don’t know if you’ve heard of it, but… I’m sorry.”

“Really?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know anything because I only listened to mom and dad. Working in the Grand Duke’s castle… Only then did I realize how hard it must have been for you, sister… I’m so sorry.”

Eugene bowed his head repeatedly. I could see him not knowing what to do.

“…12 is young, but not so young at the same time. You should develop your own judgment, not just listen to your parents.”

I said so with my mouth, but the truth is that it was not easy for a child to grow up well on his own, as his parents were saying things at home.

Even if 12 years old is not just a young age in this world, as someone who has memories of this whole world, I just couldn’t give Eugene a single shot to take responsibility for his own statements alone.

With a small sigh, I brought up what I had thought earlier.

“Eugene, you have two options.”