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As someone who was merely munching on popcorn from a distance, this was an incredibly absurd rumor. I have no idea why such a rumor started, but according to the newspaper, an imaginative someone named Fieren said it as a final act of defiance.

However, there was enough truth to that, since I passed on a speech to Arwen and provided various forms of assistance. Since there’s nothing particularly wonderful about trying to compete with Arwen and she has also been of great help to me. Nevertheless, it seems that Fieren has simply concluded that Arwen and I are in a romantic relationship based solely on these reasons.

[Ters Kingdom. There was no Xenon Cloud in the Hask region. The villagers had never heard the name before…]

[The Council of Elders in Alvenheim has undergone dissolution procedures, and the Grand Councilor Fieren Gerit Stormwalker received the punishment of having both ears severed. Additionally, the three individuals, including Kalas, who directly attacked Xenon, will remain imprisoned for eternity…]

[Kalas’ confession. The pact was false, and all information about Xenon is lies. So, what about Xenon’s right hand now?]

Furthermore, there were investigations into Xenon’s information spread by Fieren’s final stunt, but naturally, nothing turned out to be true.

From the perspective of the Ters Kingdom, they must have been disappointed as they merrily made their way to the Hask region, only to find nothing. Perhaps they felt really unfair..

Fieren once again became the laughingstock after suffering another setback, but Xenon’s identity once more turned into a mystery. While it’s ‘true’ that the right hand was injured, the situation was rather confusing, as Kalas and his group invaded and ended up being countered, creating a tangled scenario.

[The Queen of Alvenheim would have noticed this fact in advance and informed Xenon. All that was needed was a pretext.]

[Will it end in tragedy like Kair and Elisha, or will it continue like Xenon and Mary?]

[In a situation where the attention of many people, including the citizens of Alvenheim, is focused, Queen Arwen is avoiding answering, stating that state affairs are a priority.]

Of course, more than half were paying attention to my relationship with Arwen. At first, I thought it would just be baseless rumors, and that it would quickly dissipate like bubbles after a while. But as time went on and neither side provided any explanation, signs of them trying to establish their own conclusions were gradually appearing.

If things continue like this, they might really conclude that Arwen and I are lovers, so I hurriedly sought opinions. First and foremost, it was Marie and Cecily. Marie didn’t stay at the mansion and immediately returned, only to come back as soon as she heard the news.

In the end, because we didn’t know what else might happen, we decided to have her stay at the mansion for the time being. My parents were aware of the situation and readily accepted.

“Using this situation might not be a bad idea, right?”

After the three of us discussed it, surprisingly, Marie presented a positive opinion. It was even more surprising because she had conceded a step to Cecily, and her expression showed unexpectedness. It seemed that Cecily felt the same way.

“For what reason?”

“After all, it’s not like you’re really dating, right? If we use it well politically, it should work out. It’s a gain for the queen too, not a loss. It would be easier to think of it as a strategic marriage concept.”

I nodded as I listened to Marie’s explanation. Indeed, making use of rumors in a strategic marriage fashion didn’t seem like a bad idea. Arwen could maximize her popularity among the citizens, and I could easily play along with such a narrative. However, we needed to clarify matters before revealing my identities.

If we were to disclose our identities, it would be necessary to acknowledge the fact that Marie and I were engaged, not to mention Cecily too. Otherwise, there was a risk that unfavorable rumors could spread.

“But Marie, Isaac is only 17 years old. Isn’t it too young to label him as an elf’s lover?”

Cecily, who had been pondering deeply, expressed a slightly negative opinion. Her concern stemmed from the fact that the rumors about me and Arwen being lovers were circulating due to my undisclosed identity.

Although there were occasional speculations that I might be an elderly sage, opinions had gradually emerged suggesting that my age might be surprisingly young, starting from the contamination of the World Tree’s roots. Prophets or regressors didn’t necessarily have to be old.

“Again, I’ve never said they would be in a romantic relationship. They just share a ‘connection’; but never held feelings for each other. Time-wise, it’s not an issue. Remember when Isaac coincidentally met the Queen during the previous exhibition? We can spin the story around something like that, right?”

“A story?”

“Yeah. Something like, ‘We met when I was around 10 years old, and we’ve been in touch ever since. Oh, the Queen also likes reading? What a coincidence! We’ve been recommending books to each other, and it’s evolved into this over time.’”

“Hmm…”

It feels like strange rumors would be circulating more and more. For instance, situations like me confessing to Arwen after growing up from my childhood, or the opposite scenario, and so on.

These kinds of situations are common even among the same humans. The story of a kid growing up and confessing to the adult they’ve had feelings for since before. It’s often explained as a situation where the roles were reversed.

If it were in my past life, it would have been seen from various perspectives, but in this world, most things are just accepted and moved on from. Moreover, with the increasing prevalence of love between different species, even the seemingly impossible isn’t entirely out of the question.

Still, there doesn’t seem to be a better solution for the current situation.

“It seems okay. But I should ask Arwen for her opinion as well.”

“Should I call her right away?”

“Yeah. But I need to get permission from my parents first.”

“Just be careful not to let Dame Adelia find out.”

As I got up from my seat and headed outside, Marie cautioned from behind. She had also learned the fact that Adelia had become my guardian knight.

Then, there was a subtle expression change as if she sensed something. Most likely, being astute as she was, she might have caught onto the fact that Adelia had some favorable feelings towards me.

For now, she’ll continue to see us as close siblings, but if Marie were to find out about Adelia’s true status and background, I don’t know how she’ll react. Knowing Marie’s personality, she’ll probably show understanding.

‘Still, it’s not the right time yet.’

I’ve heard something subtly from Mother. If I really want to accept Adelia, I should decide after hearing her choice when I reveal my true identity in the future.

I am not a fool, so I know very well what that choice is. It’s probably closely related to the Kingdom of Ters. Even though she is currently keeping her distance and watching from afar, human hearts are prone to desires. Especially considering Ters’s status as a cultural powerhouse, they will surely make efforts to establish a connection with me somehow.

There’s a strong possibility that by granting Adelia the title of royalty rather than a commoner, they can link me to her. Furthermore, the fact that we were known to be close adds to the strategic advantage.

‘Once my identity is revealed, things will become truly difficult.’

We recently faced a crisis, but luckily we overcame it and even managed to create the best situation. The rumors about Ardwen and me were unexpected, though.

Afterward, I explained everything to my parents. They told me to handle it as I see fit and respected my decision.

When I asked where Adelia was at one point, I was told that she finished all her training and is currently taking a bath. Since there’s plenty of time to talk, I can set a later date for our conversation.

With my parents’ approval, I returned to the bedroom where the two women were waiting. Even in my absence, it seems they were engaged in a lively conversation; their expressions were as bright as sunshine.

“What were you talking about?”

“Nothing important. So, did you get permission?”

“Yes. They said we could talk privately. Father also mentioned that from now on, I can handle matters related to me on my own.”

After this incident, my father said he wouldn’t intervene unless I directly asked for help. Well, this time he was just a collaborator; he didn’t formulate or execute any part of the plan, after all.

I walked towards the desk, carrying a piece of magic paper to summon Siris. Cecily had seen it many times, but Marie was seeing it for the first time, looking at it with an expression of fascination.

“If you tear that, you can summon [someone]?”

“Yeah.”

Rip-

I briefly answered and tore the summoning paper without hesitation. The torn paper immediately transformed into blue particles and scattered into the air.

“Did you summon me?”

Soon, Siris was summoned in mid-air. She greeted politely with her distinctive husky voice.

Marie’s expression of fascination at seeing a Dark Elf for the first time in her life didn’t last long. She was taken aback by Siris’ revealing attire. Even though she was wearing armor, it was practically no different from underwear, so it was only natural to be surprised.

“Is, is she really a Dark Elf? But her clothes…”

“It’s because of the Dark Elf’s abilities. You’ll get used to it as you see more.”

“Ugh…”

Surprisingly, Marie seemed weak in situations like this. She turned her gaze elsewhere, embarrassed. However, with Siris’ figure being what it was, she occasionally peeked and eventually stared openly.

Cecily gently smiled, her eyes twinkling, as she softly stroked her hair while she found the mentioned story amusing. Siris herself didn’t seem to react much.

Taking a brief moment to admire Siris’s impressive figure, I cleared my throat to break the atmosphere and made a request to her.

“Siris, could you possibly call Arwen for a moment? If it’s too taxing, you could even assume the role of a messenger. The conversation might end up being a bit lengthy.”

“Understood.”

Upon hearing my request, Siris promptly teleported away. During her absence, I didn’t forget to play a prank on Marie.

“Marie, are you really shy about it?”

“Well, still… this attire is…”

“But you wore something even more revealing on our first night.”

“I, I covered up everything important back then! That’s not armor, just underwear!”

With a bright red face, Marie let out an embarrassed squeak. Sitting beside her, Cecily watched this unfold with an enigmatic smile.

If Marie found out that Cecily had donned a garter belt during our first night, what kind of reaction would she display? I wanted to play a mischievous prank, but I decided to leave it at this level.

“…Isaac.”

“Yes?”

“Do you happen to like this sort of thing?”

“I don’t dislike it.”

“…I see. So, you actually enjoy this kind of thing…”

It somehow feels like I’ve given Marie unnecessary motivation, but let’s just overlook it.

“Isaac.”

“Oh, you’re here.”

A little while later, Arwen appeared with Siris. As soon as Arwen appeared, Marie quietly stood up from her seat.

Although it was not an official occasion but rather an informal gathering, Arwen was still the queen of another country. Moreover, this was their first meeting, so it was important to make a good impression.

“Hello, Your Majesty. I am Marie Hausen Requilis, the daughter of Duke Requilis. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“I am Arwen Elydia, the queen of Alvenheim. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

The two women exchanged greetings according to the customs of their respective countries. Cecily had met Arwen once before, so a brief exchange of glances was enough.

Eventually, they all took their seats around the round table. However, Siris remained standing beside Arwen.

“So, what is the reason for summoning me to this place?”

“Well, actually…”

I conveyed to Arwen the story I had told her before. She seemed startled when she heard the rumors that were currently circulating, but soon she listened attentively as I explained one thing after another.

After a while, when the explanation was over, Arwen displayed a contemplative expression. Occasionally, she would meet my eyes and seem like she wanted to say something, her lips moving as if about to speak, but I patiently waited in silence.

About a minute had passed like that. At around that point, she seemed to have judged what things were better than she thought and nodded her head. It was a sign of agreement.

“It’s a good approach. We don’t have to deny the rumors, but we should make it clear that it’s not a romantic relationship, just a simple connection…”

“Simply showing goodwill towards each other should be enough. But we should draw a clear line.”

“How so?”

“Maybe something like having an engagement partner?”

“An engagement partner…”

Arwen looked at Marie at the mention of the word “engagement partner.” Marie smiled beautifully as soon as their eyes met, then lowered her head slightly.

It was somewhat amusing how she was making an effort to divert her attention from Siris. Her hand, clenched into a fist under the table, was trembling slightly.

Meanwhile, Arwen glanced at Marie with a subtle expression, then turned her head to the opposite side and looked at Cecily. Her face became even more complex and intricate.

What could she possibly be thinking? I waited quietly until she decided to speak.

“…Alright. Let’s decide to do that, then.”

“No issues, right?”

“Issues with that… Isaac.”

“Yes?”

Arwen gazed at me with gray eyes resembling galaxies. After her lips quivered once more, she spoke with effort.

“When you see a glass filled halfway with water, what kind of thoughts come to your mind?”

“What?”

“I asked what thoughts come to your mind when you see a glass filled halfway with water. I want to hear the opinions of not just Isaac, but also all of you.”

Arwen also sought the opinions of Marie and Cecily. Since it was an unexpected question, both the women on my sides, and me, showed slightly startled expressions.

However, Arwen seldom spoke unnecessary words. Surely, there must be meaning behind that question.

While I pondered deeply, Marie promptly expressed her thoughts.

“I lack the insight to understand what the Queen is asking with such an ambiguous question. Is there any significance to it?”

“Let’s start with trust.”

“Trust… I cautiously offer the opinion that it might mean to have a drink and regain composure, rather than just a glass of water.”

“…”

Marie spoke her mind without hesitation. Arwen’s reaction to her words was quite interesting to observe. Her already pale complexion seemed to whiten even further.

Meanwhile, Cecily, who had been thinking deeply, offered another perspective.

“Could it mean that it varies depending on one’s perspective? Some might think the glass is only half full, while others might see it as half empty.”

“Hmm…”

With a hint of hesitation in her voice, Arwen nodded while lowering her voice. It was a sign that things were somewhat fine but not entirely clear.

The only remaining person was me. Since it was called a “trust,” there must be some significance to it.

I can’t help but wonder what kind of joke Luminous might have played again, but at least I should offer some positive words, like interpreting it as a premonition rather than just a dream. Otherwise, I might feel unnecessarily down.

With that in mind, I looked straight at Arwen, who had an expectant look in her eyes, and voiced my opinion.

“It’s ambiguous, but it could have various meanings. It could mean filling up the remaining portion of the cup, or on the contrary, pouring the water on the ground. Depending on one’s intentions, they could choose to fill it or empty it, right?”

“Filling it up or emptying it…”

“It could indirectly express the idea of making a choice. It might not be about filling the water, but rather smashing the cup altogether. It’s so vague that even I’m not sure.”

“… …”

Arwen, having listened to my response, seemed to deeply contemplate for a moment before raising her head and looking into my eyes.

For reasons unknown to me, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, showing a relieved expression.

“I understand. It seems I did well by seeking opinions from your companions.”

“So, can you tell us what kind of question led to this trust being bestowed upon us?”

In response to my question, Arwen’s smile grew even brighter.

“It’s a secret.”

She gave a response that could sound somewhat teasing or alluring.