When Silver first removed his mask, Elna couldn’t understand the situation.
Even when she was told that Silver was Arnold, she couldn’t accept it.
However, as she watched Arnold fight, she gradually came to terms with it and the possibility that he might have been a fake quickly vanished.
Elna and Arnold had known each other for far too long to make such a mistake.
Because of that, she wanted to vent her complaints and dissatisfaction.
Why did he keep it a secret?
Why did he pretend to be dead?
He could have just told her.
With those turbulent emotions, Elna approached Arnold and called his name.
But seeing his trembling shoulders made everything else irrelevant as when he turned around, he looked like a lost child. While imagining the sheer burden that he must have carried with that secret, her complaints immediately disappeared.Arnold had never shown his true vulnerabilities to others since it was just his nature.
Even to those close to him, he wouldn’t show anything that could be considered a weakness, so when he was down, he preferred to be alone.
Of course, this wasn’t always the case, but he was bad at relying on others and believed that showing a shred of weakness would be a burden to them.
Seeing Arnold in such a vulnerable state made Elna understand that.
“Don’t cry, Arn...”
“Elna...”
“I’m fine. Don’t blame yourself so much...”
She hugged him tightly.
It must have been hard for him.
It had also been hard for her too, to the point where she wanted to die.
But watching him, she could tell. He didn’t do it because he wanted to and she knew he wasn’t that kind of person.
Arnold, who hated trouble, still took on this burden to help others. And she knew that she was one of those people he was trying to protect.
“I...”
“It’s okay... No matter what, you’re still Arn...”
“Elna... I...”
“It’s okay... As long as you came back to me... that’s enough. I forgive you.”
She didn’t voice her complaints or dissatisfaction as currently pointing them out to someone so close to breaking wouldn’t help now.
She understood how much he must have blamed himself. And he had probably been struggling, while unable to find peace, yet he kept moving forward.
“I’m sorry...”
As Arnold buried his face in her shoulder, Elna gently stroked his head.
Why did he act as Silver?
Was it because ancient magic was taboo for royalty?
Why did he fake his death as Prince Arnold?
Was it because it made it easier to move?
If everyone thought he was dead, he could operate more freely.
She could understand the reasons now when she thought about it, and if he had told her beforehand, she might have accidentally given it away.
So he couldn’t tell her. No, he wasn’t able to.
He knew all too well that she couldn’t keep a secret.
If he could have told her, he would have.
Keeping secrets was painful, and It would have been much easier if he could have revealed everything.
“I’m sorry... Elna...”
All he could do now was apologize.
While trembling slightly, he kept repeating his apology to her. This wasn’t the usual carefree Arnold, but Elna knew this was also a part of him.
The deeper his love for those close to him, the greater the shock he would feel when something happened to them.
Especially if he believed that it was his fault. She could imagine how he must have constantly blamed himself.
“That’s why I said I’ll forgive you...”
“...”
“But... just this once. I won’t forgive you if you die again.”
“...Yeah.”
“...Welcome back. My prince.”
She hugged him tightly, wanting to confirm that he was really there.
She could hear his heartbeat.
He was alive, and that was enough for her.
She could voice her complaints later, but right now, she wanted to rejoice in his being alive and reassure him.
If she couldn’t do that, she couldn’t be Arnold Lakes Adler’s childhood friend.
“So... Master is Prince Arnold, and Prince Arnold is Master...” TL: She meant “Master” as in like teacher here
“No one would expect the royalty of the Adrasia Empire, where ancient magic is taboo, to be Silver. However, it’s only natural now considering that he’s descended from the Mad Emperor. He has both the talent and the environment. It now makes total sense.” ṝ𝒶N𝐎ꞖΕ𝘴
Meanwhile, Ingrid shrugged.
The rampage caused by the former Emperor was a taboo for the imperial family. So subconsciously, they had excluded the possibility.
It was unthinkable as anyone who knew the Adlers knew how much they cherished their people.
Hence, ancient magic became forbidden after the Emperor attacked the capital.
That was the perceived cause.
It was a stain, a threat to their very existence.
After such an event, it was unimaginable that anyone would still study ancient magic.
“So, Prince Arnold is Master, and I am Prince Arnold’s disciple...”
“I understand your confusion, but calm down, Chloe.”
“But… but!! I never thought that he was a prince!?”
“He’s not one to worry about disrespect, is he?”
“But still!”
“It’s a master’s duty to forgive their disciple’s disrespect. Besides, this doesn’t change anything, right?”
“Well... that’s true...”
Knowing the true identity behind the mask didn’t change their relationship. But if he had been a problematic person, it would have been different.
At least...
“It’s good to know that he’s someone you can respect.”
“Yes... you’re right.”
She wasn’t disillusioned after he took off his mask.
It was surprising, but not strange since he had always been sincere about helping the people.
As an adventurer, he was someone to look up to. And knowing that he was Prince Arnold, it made sense.
As a member of the imperial family, as an Adler, it made complete sense to care about the people.
“Sorry to interrupt your touching reunion, but the barrier is about to disappear.”
Though feeling a bit intrusive, Ingrid quietly spoke to the two.
She understood the purpose of the barrier as the enemy likely had multiple ways of observing them, whether through scouts or magical devices.
The barrier was to protect against that, but it was reaching its limit.
The barrier was strong, but Arnold’s extraordinary display of power was all too much for it to withstand.
Hearing Ingrid’s words, Arnold quietly put on his mask.
And at the same time, the barrier disappeared.
Then...
“You left me behind Silver!? No fair! Where’s the enemy!? I haven’t had a good fight recently! And I was thinking that it’s about time to...”
As soon as the barrier vanished, Jack landed beside Silver.
He readied his bow while scanning the area.
“But... where’s the enemy?”
“Why are you always like this?”
Ingrid sighed.
Seeing Ingrid, Jack’s eyes widened.
“No-Name!?”
“Who else would it be?”
“You took off your mask... Wow, you look even younger up close! You’re just a little girl!!”
“Don’t you have anything else to say...”
While sighing at Jack’s reaction, Ingrid quietly turned her gaze to Silver.
“Thank you for letting me handle this, Silver. But let’s talk about it later. Let’s go inside first since we all have a lot to discuss.”
After nodding at Ingrid’s words, Silver silently opened a teleportation gate.
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