MHHASCD 13

As the two of us kept watch over the movements of the mother and child in Marseize, Sheila chose to leave.

Perhaps it was because she herself was now expecting a child. Perhaps it was a decision made as a mother, thinking about her child’s future.

That was why I handed over every piece of evidence we had obtained that day. What I gave Sheila were recordings of Leon. My investigation target had been the Marseize mother and child, but the materials I passed on were Leon’s actions. So it was fine. Even if the Marseize mother and child happened to appear in the footage, there was no problem.

Even so, after the separation, there was still a knight’s child growing in her womb.

If the child were born after the divorce, we would prove that the pregnancy occurred during the marriage and that the divorce was unavoidable.

It was not a child conceived through infidelity.

That distinction alone determined a child’s future. There was no reason not to do it.

Sheila pretended she was fine, but deep down she must have felt guilty about taking a father away from her child.

But if she could not live with that knight, if she could not smile from the bottom of her heart while staying with him, then perhaps it was better to say the father was never there at all, rather than endure it “for the child’s sake.”

Children are sensitive to their parents’ emotions. No matter how well you hide it, they notice immediately whether their parent is truly happy.

Parents are not invincible beings. Watching adults force smiles so as not to worry their children is something I understand from personal experience.

That said, Sheila has her own thoughts. It would be wrong for me to say “this is how it should be.” Still, whatever her decision, I want to respect her will.

And if—even someone like me—can be of use to her, then maybe I could at least become a close friend. Suppressing that slightly selfish feeling, I headed to the guild in search of a certain person.

“Got a moment. I need a favor.”

The man who stared back at me blankly was what you’d call a beast tamer. A rare profession that controls summoned monsters to attack or support.

“What kind of favor?”

“I want you to go to Marseize and delay the kingdom knight expedition unit. Two or three days will be enough.”

“With monsters?”

“Yeah. …There’s a pair of lovers among the knights who were saying they don’t want to be apart, that they wish more monsters would show up.”

“Oh?”

The beast tamer’s eyes gleamed.

“And there’s been a sign of a wyvern appearing a little ways outside Marseize…”

The beast tamer grinned. Good—he was hooked.

“Freezing and paralysis. Five gold per wyvern. How about it?”

“Keep whatever you harvest. Just stall them until I say otherwise.”

The beast tamer whistled sharply.

I wanted Sheila to face the discussion in perfect condition—preparations made on all fronts, her mind and body ready.

Helping create an environment where she could talk calmly felt like it eased something inside me as well.

After that, we flew to Marseize together and hunted wyverns. Wyverns are weak to freezing and paralysis. Once weakened, the beast tamer cast his domination magic.

If the creature is too strong, it can resist and escape, but with his skill, there was no issue.

We tamed the strongest specimen and harvested the rest. Wyvern wings, when processed into equipment, increase agility and are popular among adventurers.

Once we’d hunted enough, I had him begin the real stalling operation.

“I’ll leave the rest to you.”

“Got it! I’ll come get you again when the timing’s right.”

After parting ways with the beast tamer, I hurried back to the royal capital and headed to a certain place.

It was part of a detached palace on the outskirts of the royal castle, where the client for the mother-and-child investigation awaited.

“Well then, Asti. How did it go?”

“…Seeing you puts me in the worst mood.”

The blond, blue-eyed man looked at me with a calculating smile. At this hour, with the sun high, he would normally be strolling the garden with his wife, taking a break.

The fact that he was loitering here meant today was unlucky for me.

“You’re as unfriendly as ever.”

“You’re the one who keeps approaching out of curiosity.”

With a wry smile, the man handed the documents he was holding to a nearby subordinate.

“Thanks to you, fraudulent benefit claims have decreased nicely.”

Ignoring him, I took up my pen to compile the report. I dipped it in ink, chanted a spell, and poured in magic. The pen began to write on its own.

“Every time I see it, you really do use convenient magic.”

“Yes, thank you very much.”

Being watched was unpleasant, but if my concentration slipped, the writing would stop.

“…Oh? The Marseize mother and child are under continued observation? Shouldn’t they be confirmed as illegitimate?”

“As a future possibility, they require monitoring.”

“Huh… and that would mean the pharmacist’s wife is free, then.”

…I hate this. His irritating talent for noticing exactly the wrong things always gets under my skin.

“You have a wife and child of your own, don’t you? Surely someone who carries the fate of the nation wouldn’t commit infidelity, right, Your Highness?”

The man smiling pleasantly before me was the crown prince of the Kingdom of Baralesia—the one who had commissioned the mother-and-child investigation.

There were many investigators besides me.

After all, every extramarital birth must be investigated.

Each year, about three thousand cases arise, regardless of noble or commoner status.

Most are situations where a child was conceived during marriage but resulted in divorce for unavoidable reasons, becoming extramarital.

Cases like the Marseize mother and child were rare.

“Well, there are pharmacists in the royal palace too.”

The prince raised both hands and shook his head as if in surrender. I was relieved he backed off so easily—I didn’t want Sheila bothered any further.

“And even if a royal took interest in a common woman, it would only end badly. I do love my wife and child, you know.”

Even with laws in place, some people still commit infidelity.

The man before me could be trusted in one respect—being at the forefront of the nation, he would not do such a thing.

I hate cheaters.

“So, you’ll be the adjudicator, right?”

“No. I’m an investigator. It could be seen as bias.”

“But what if he still has that sword belt? He’s been elevated to a hero. No one present would be able to oppose him.”

I also hate people who move ahead of others and box them in.

“If there’s no justification, infidelity will be suspected. But with justification, you can protect her. As crown prince, I order you.

Protect the valuable recovery pharmacist.”

I hate meddlesome people most of all.

Because they make you feel like you might be allowed to seek happiness.

“By order of the crown prince, I comply.”

The report was finished.

I stood, submitted it to the designated place, and left the detached palace.

If Sheila became free, she would surely be in high demand. I knew that well.

It’s true—I wanted to hold Sheila as she shook and cried.

I don’t know if I’m allowed to wish for that.

—Well, I don’t even know if Sheila would accept me.

I later heard from the people I’d sent to help with the move.

Preparations were complete.

Sheila’s condition was good.

I went to retrieve the beast tamer and informed him it was over.

Some of the knights were dissatisfied, but apparently the captain told them it was training, and they took to it enthusiastically.

Before returning with the beast tamer, I also called the captain to the discussion. I needed him to speak about Leon’s conduct in Marseize.

And then, a few days later, a magic messenger bird arrived with news that Leon had returned.

Our preparations were complete. Now was the time to focus on standing in as one of those present for the discussion with the knight husband.

“Welcome home, Leon. Shall we talk?”

The line of allies standing beside Sheila were all people one could rely on.