Overlimit Skill Holder
Book 2: Chapter 31

「…Nn? Where am I?」

I heard a faint whisper.

「You are awake, young lady!」the maids cried.

「Please wait a second.」I stopped the maids who were about to approach the bed, while showing the magic tool.

「…What is that, Reiji?」

Looking at the young lady through【World Ruler】, her mana had slightly recovered from an almost empty state. Other than that, she seems to be healthy.

「Do you remember what happened before you fell asleep?」

「…………」

After a moment of silence, the young lady nodded.

「That was your magic eyes, my lady. It is not active right now due to insufficient mana, but I would like you to wear this magic tool to suppress its activation.」

「…That bracelet? Is it a gift from you, Reiji?」

「It’s a gift from the Earl, not me. If it’s from me, I would choose something that is cheaper and has a cute design.」

The magic tool was in a slightly rugged design to be even called a bracelet.

「…Fufu, I’d like to receive a gift from you someday, too.」

「I can’t let my lady plead for a gift. So, I’ll keep that in mind.」

「…………」

「…Why did you become silent, my lady?」

「You are being especially affectionate. Was I in a very bad condition?」

What a sharp intuition! Like father, like daughter.

「No, it happened while I was away, so I just feel a little guilty. Here, show me your hand.」

And I put the magic tool on the young lady’s left hand.

「Hmm…」the young lady frowned.

「Does it feel uncomfortable?」

「Yes, a little… But, I can handle this much–」

I removed the bracelet from the young lady’s hand and called out to the maids.

「Someone please bring a needle for sewing.」

「…A needle? Reiji, what are you going to do?」

「I’m going to adjust it.」

The maid brought back a long needle which was a little over 10 cm. I put the bracelet under a magic lamp and studied its underside.

(【World Ruler】【Dexterity】, I’m counting on you…)

Then, I started carving on the underside with the needle.

「Reiji!? It’s a magic tool! If you do that, it will break–」

「No problem. I’m already done.」

I adjusted it to slightly increase the amount of mana left for the young lady. The young lady extended her left hand, slightly scared. And I put on the bracelet on her.

「How does it feel now?」

「It’s a lot better than before!」

The young lady sounded pleased. I’m sure the bracelet caused a lot of physical stress in its previous state.

(The young lady is someone who endures something out of pride, after all…)

Let’s get over the awarding ceremony smoothly with this.

* * The day before the skill orb awarding ceremony: House Rozier’s residence *

The boy in love was feeling exhilarated. This was because he can meet his loved one again soon tomorrow.

「Good mood, Louis-sama.」

The Rozier mansion is similar to the rest of the 6 Great Duke’s, but in terms of size it was by far the best. The reason was that the Duchy, which is given to House Rozier, is adjacent to the Holy City, Kruvanyu. And it was convenient for House Rozier to have a larger mansion in order to easily make a round trip to and from the capital.

Although it was such a huge mansion, the number of people who could enter was still limited. Only a handful of nobles are ever invited, and the tea party hosted by House Rozier is held in a separate building from the mansion.

Inside the mansion was not only Louis but also a person with a deep connection—Arthur, the captain of the Holy King’s 2nd Knights Order.

「Do you understand, Arthur?」

Louis was from the head family and Arthur was from a branch family. So, no matter how old he was or even if he was the captain of the Knights Order, Louis was in a higher position.

「Shall I guess? You’re thinking about Miss Eva.」

「–!? Am I so easy to read?」

「Yeah…」Arthur said, in a good grief manner.「If you really want her, Earl Sillys won’t refuse, Louis-sama.」

「…………」

「Louis-sama?」

The boy’s expression became dark like a rain cloud, just like the sky was outside.

「Miss Eva is much smarter than me.」

「I hope you will study too, Louis-sama. You have talent.」

「Not only that… His Majesty the Holy King said–」

—Didn’t I tell you in advance that today is also the place to decide your consort?

Even if he was from the 6 Great Duke Houses, if the Holy Prince is the opponent, he cannot win.

Since that day, Kluvshrat has not been allowed to leave the Holy Royal Palace and should not have met with Eva—in the meantime, Louis was feeling impatient to develop his relationship with Eva.

「What did His Majesty say?」

「…No, it’s nothing.」

Kluvshrat himself might not have thought anything of it. He might not be a love rival. If so, it would mean that Louis was over worrying for no reason–Louis was taught that he should not show his weakness as a noble of the Duke family, so he refrained from telling Arthur any more.

「By the way, Arthur, your advice was bad. You said, “Boldly declare your intentions to the woman you like”. Because of that, Miss Eva told me that my first impression was the worst.」

「About that, I never thought you’d go so bullishly to the daughter of the “Cold-Blooded Lord”. If it was Miss Charlotte instead of Miss Eva, we would be discussing the marriage date right now.」

「…Is Earl Sillys really that scary?」

「You have heard what happened, right?」

Louis nodded.

However, as a rule of the noble society, he was brought up by being taught “there are two sides to every story.”

「The number of nobles he has sent to the execution table is probably the highest ever.」

「That many…?」

「Only the officials from the Budget Agency are pleased. The salary paid to the nobles has been greatly reduced. Other nobles are terrified that they will be the next target. Only noble houses above the rank of Border Earl are safe, including House Rozier of course. 」

「Why are we safe? Earl Sillys isn’t simply blaming people is he?」

「Well… but with the power of an Earl, the scope of investigation is limited.」

「………」

「What’s wrong, Louis-sama? You look sullen.」

「…It’s not fair that some nobles may have escaped with their injustice due to rank.」

「Did you hear that from Miss Eva?」Arthur asked, with an eyebrow raised.

「N-No, I thought of it.」

「Well… Things aren’t going to change for the better in a day. Even the execution of corrupt nobles by Earl Sillys was a sudden change.」

「…Is that so? But judging by the way you put it, if the high-ranking nobles were the true masterminds, then executing many low-ranking nobles would be nothing more than “cutting of a lizard’s tail”.」

「Hmm…」Arthur groaned this time—his young lord’s focus of attention is much like a real noble.

It’s a hassle to handle this, Arthur thought to himself.

「If so, then Louis-sama should acquire the power.」Arthur said, with a smile.

「Me…?」

「Yes. You are of a Duke House. You can make many reforms.」

「That’s for sure…」

「Power is not just wielding authority. Civil officials follow a man with wisdom, but this is easy if you become the superior of Civil officials. On the other hand, as a superior officer, you must have true fighting ability. Otherwise, no matter how high your position is, people will not obey you. Louis-sama, are you practicing the sword?」

「Well, I haven’t been practising a little lately.」

「That’s not good. Unfortunately, it’s raining today, but we’ll practice together once the weather clears up. If your swordsmanship is well-polished, you can even attract the eyes of military officers.」

「Swordsmanship, huh?」

「That’s something Miss Eva can’t do, only you can, Louis-sama. Take care of your sword, because you will be the sword of House Rozier.」

「I got it, Arthur.」

Seeing Louis clasping his fist, Arthur nodded. Just then, the room door opened.

「Arthur-dono, so you were here?」

「Duke Rozier.」Arthur, who was sitting on a sofa, stood up in a hurry and stretched the hem of his clothes when the Duke entered.

The Duke, who bore strong resemblance to Louis, though he was stout, he was not obese. His size was exactly like how you would imagine a wealthy man of his age.

His hair was styled all-back and mixed with gray hair. And although he was still in his late 40s, he had a dignified look.

(…Hmm? The Duke is looking pretty pale.)

The Duke’s face was pale enough to be noticed by Arthur immediately.

「Louis. I am going to borrow Arthur for a little while. We have to discuss tomorrow’s award ceremony’s security.」

「Okay, father.」

「Follow me.」

「Yes, sir.」

Beckoned by the Duke, Arthur went out into the corridor.

—He immediately felt that it was strange.

(Tomorrow’s security is under the jurisdiction of the 1st Knights Order. There is no role for me at all. Does that have anything to do with the Duke’s complexion?)

One of the reasons Arthur was able to climb up to the position of 2nd captain was because he could immediately tell when something felt wrong.