Chapter 148 - You’re starting to look like His Majesty

“Isn’t this the painting? The one that His Majesty keeps hidden and occasionally looks at alone?”

“…Because the Queen felt irritated, she said she would get rid of it. It became a big fuss for no reason.”

“Oh, now that I look at it, it feels somewhat nice. Doesn’t the lizard look unnecessarily good-looking?”

While squirming, Ivan glanced at Ruve, who was standing with his arms folded, looking at the painting.

Ruve was taken aback.

“What? Don’t you think you’re starting to look like His Majesty too?”

“…Look like him? What are you talking about?”

“The lizard, are you jealous of it?”

“Cut the crap and think about it with your hand on your chest. Why do you think I’m acting this way?”

“… Are you hungry?”

Was this guy finally showing the true meaning of torture that he once mentioned?

Ivan took a deep breath for a moment.

Huuuu, stay strong. You’re going to get married soon.

“Why on earth did you volunteer for this task?”

“No particular reason, really. I was just bored, and I wanted to impress His Majesty.”

“Do you expect me to believe that nonsense?”

“You’re making a fuss over nothing. Do you think I’m hatching some suspicious conspiracy? Are you suddenly suspicious of me?”

Ruve, mumbling in a low voice, didn’t look the least bit hurt.

Ivan was momentarily startled but quickly regained his composure.

“No, no matter what others say, I believe you’re a true comrade. But, you know, considering the way you’ve been acting and your sudden volunteering, it’s hard to connect this mission and your impulsive act.”

“Hey, what did I do?”

“What did you do? What did you do?”

Ivan admitted to himself that he had a dirty personality, but he thought that as a loyal subject of the Northern Paladin and the King, he could turn a blind eye to minor slip-ups like pickpocketing.

There was no need to walk on eggshells all the time.

Furthermore, he believed that when facing a bunch of gangsters in a foreign land, there was no need to spill blood unnecessarily, even if they dared to provoke him.

But this screw-loose guy seemed to have no sense of romance or sentiment and simply couldn’t end things gracefully.

Moreover, it didn’t seem like he was doing it out of anger, so what was the point of scolding him for every little thing?

“I wish he had been the kind of guy who gets angry and runs wild like others. ‘…Can’t you be more flexible and have a broad-minded attitude?’ I tried to, but you’re annoying me, and I have a lot on my plate.”

“Can’t you just overlook the annoying part?”

“Why?”

“Why? Uh, I’m a bit perplexed again by your logic.”

“Because… we came here to do the rewarding work of helping the unfortunate orphans. Let’s immerse ourselves in that fulfilling and generous feeling.”

“That’s a strange way to put it. I didn’t come here with such a feeling, so I don’t really get it.”

“Damn it, forget it!”

Just then, the investigator from earlier returned and guided both of them outside the reception room.

Ivan moved his steps, glaring at his screw-loose companion.

Regardless of the situation, Ruve remained absorbed in looking back at the painting, and he didn’t show any signs of stopping.

* * *

“You’ve travelled a long way. Thank you for your efforts.”

The director of the most notorious orphanage and convent in Romagna turned out to be a man with a surprisingly free-spirited and affectionate demeanour. However, that was a common type of clergyman often seen in the southern regions.

Warmly welcoming the two Northerners, the director provided unsolicited information, always mentioning how strict and systematic the place was, claiming that it was about to burst at the seams due to the influential figures in Romagna visiting whenever they caused trouble.

In doing so, he skillfully hinted that he was afraid of upsetting Friar Basalome and thus hesitated to simply hand over the troublesome child right away.

From the director’s perspective, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable to act that way.

Even so, from the standpoint of those who came quietly just to deal with the child, making this scandal into an uninteresting diplomatic problem involving Romagna, Britannia, and Rembrandt nations instead of handling only the child, it was frustrating.

‘Calm down, for this is foreign land, and I am soon to be married.’

It was a moment of desperate self-composure for Ivan.

As they were listening to the director, Ruve, who had been wandering around, suddenly chimed in.

“So, all we need to do is bring that chubby friar here?”

“Pardon?”

“Bring the pudgy friar here and assure him that we won’t make any trouble.”

“Oh, no, please… don’t…”

“Hey, are you trying to tease me now?”

“Pardon?”

“Why are you acting so desperate huh? Do you like me?”

His pitch-black eyes sparkled mischievously.

Suddenly, Ivan became curious about what kind of distorted taste a person would have to try to flirt with Ruve.

In any case, a moment later, the two were guided to another location.

“I’ll bring him out shortly.”

While waiting for the shuffling employee to disappear, they stood at the end of a long corridor, and from the windows of the tightly packed rooms, gazes poured out like from a narrow chicken coop.

Eager and anxious expectations in their eyes…

Ivan wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.

It seemed that Ruve wasn’t in a good mood either.

“Why are they all staring at us like that?”

“Well, since visitors have arrived, our presence itself is like a glimmer of hope to them.”

“Why?”

“Why, indeed.”

For some reason, rather than annoyance, Ivan felt an unfamiliar strangeness, an indescribable strange emotion, rising within him.

Was this guy always so difficult to communicate with?

No, was he really that difficult to deal with?

Though he was a bit of a screw-loose, he didn’t seem this stifling, right?

“… They’re hoping that one of them might be chosen to leave with us. They live every day with that hope in mind.”

“Ahh.”

As if he just understood it, Ruve nodded, crossed his arms, and stared into the empty space with a pensive expression.

Ivan silently glared at him.

What the heck was wrong with this guy…

“Oh, but you know.”

“What?”

“I heard something about the Queen having lived in a similar place when she was young. I wonder if it’s true?”

“Whether it’s true or not, what does that have to do with us?”

It was one of the various rumours that emerged like a waterfall after the fall of the Borgia family.

The story of the current Britannian Queen suffering in her youth due to her father’s disapproval.

“Just, I somehow feel like it might be related to what His Majesty is concerned about.”

“If it’s related, what does it have to do with you? Why are you interested in something uncertain?”

“Is it wrong to be interested?”

“There’s nothing wrong with it, but why the hell-”

“Hey, you!”

Suddenly, a loud commotion erupted, and both men turned their heads in unison. The door that the employee had disappeared through was now wide open, and a small figure dashed towards them.

Then, before anyone could stop him, the little boy immediately latched onto Ruve’s neck!

“What is this?”

Ruve made a puzzled expression and quickly shook off the child that clung to his leg without hesitation.

The boy fell to the ground and bumped his bottom.

“You crazy brat!”

Ivan yelled in anger.

Ivan thought the little boy, who was supposed to start crying at that point, would run away. But instead he bravely stood up again and fearlessly clung to Ivan’s leg, shaking off the dust.

Everyone seems to be crazy except for me.

As he started to feel confused, Ivan expected Ruve to lose his temper and kick the child away this time.

However, instead of doing that, Ruve turned his head and looked at Ivan with a questioning expression.

It seemed like he was asking, “What should I do?”

Ivan decided to stop playing along with him.

“Isn’t it enough to hug him? It seems like he likes you.”

“….”

“I-I’m sorry!”

The employee, who had rushed in a bit late, hurriedly pulled the child away.

He started saying something and finally revealed that the child was the one they were looking for.

“Ah, I see.”

In response, Ivan reflexively recalled a memory of Enzo.

Ginger-coloured hair, deep blue eyes, and his uniquely carefree gaze.

Though it might be difficult to find these traits in a child who looked no more than three years old.

“What do you think? Do you see any resemblance?”

“…Given that there’s a huge age gap, it’s hard to say.”

While the child was saying his “farewell” to his friends and the director, Ivan and Ruve came out and waited outside.

Sitting on the stairs and looking out at the grapevine garden, they didn’t exchange a word for a long time.

Surprisingly, it was Ruve who broke the silence first.

“You don’t seem to like me either.”

“What?”

“You’ve been glaring at me since earlier. What is it this time?”

Ivan stared at Ruve’s half-smiling face for a moment and then growled half-impulsively.

“I should have known since the time you let out strange laughs…”

“What?”

“I mean, when you laughed while torturing people.”

“What are you talking about? Besides, you laughed too when we were torturing them.”

“That’s… Damn it, anyway, you’re weird! The more I see you, the weirder you seem! Why the hell did you volunteer for this mission? No, what the hell are you thinking in general?”

“Here we go again. Why are you like this today?”

Unlike Ivan, who was on edge, Ruve had a nonchalant expression that conveyed that he couldn’t quite understand, or more precisely, he didn’t know why Ivan was worked up. Ivan suddenly barely suppressed the impulse to punch that face.

“The more I think about it, the more strange things there are about you! Damn it, tell me honestly, isn’t it tough for you? Pretending to be happy, pretending to be angry? Pretending to be sad and pitiful? It must be exhausting!”

“You’ve got no idea how delicate my personality is.”

“Stop with the bullsh*t, you lunatic! Am I right?!”

“The lunatic among us isn’t me, it’s His Majesty…”

“If our Iz is just a lunatic, then you are a creepy swindler, you crazy b*stard! And don’t subtly change the subject. Have you ever felt true camaraderie, friendship, or sincerity even once?!”

“No. I hate the slimy interactions among us.”

“Damn it, I hate that too! So, is it okay with women then?!”

“Well, honestly, I’m not sure.”

Ivan snorted triumphantly as he looked at the flustered Ruve, thinking he knew this would happen.

“I knew it!”

“Be honest, have you ever felt affection for anyone in your life? Even your family…”

“No.”

“At least it’s good that you’re honest. Have you ever liked anyone? You keep complaining about guys, but is it different with women? In my opinion, you haven’t even experienced innocent feelings like a first love, and probably up until now…”

“I had a first love. It’s the Queen.”

It was a quick and straightforward answer, just like before, but this time Ivan showed no reaction at all.