no choice but to answer with a “yes”.

He’s a bit realistic even considering their reaction when reading those letters.

While pondering about those matters, Takahisa recalled Aki’s reaction when he mentioned Amakawa Haruto’s name.

「Yes.............. I’m astonished. Especially in Aki case........ She was............ Completely lost her temper........ 」

Takahisa’s replying awkwardly with a stiff voice.

「I see............」

Rio said so as if understanding what he means.

Though Satsuki can’t guess the core of the matter as of now, it seems she knows that Rio’s sending a letter to Miharu’s group, so she just listened silently.

「.............. Do you know what kind of expression Aki made after you gave the letter to her?」

In seeing Rio’s reaction, Takahisa unintentionally asked with a sullen face.

「Yeah, I can guess it somehow」

Rio’s nodding while replying with a frail smile.

That smile reflected the clear cruelty.

It’s not just for Takahisa, even Lilyana gasped by his smile.

She expected that maybe Rio is also somehow aware of Aki’s reaction.

Since he knew that Aki showed a reaction that he expected after receiving the letter.

That’s all to it.

Even so, he considered it to be known to her.

「....」

Takahisa was exasperated to Rio’s cool state in hearing him answer without even trying to hide it.

Now he surely feels the unpleasant feeling that’s gushing out from the depth of his heart.

”Maybe――”

No, there’s no doubt about it――”

”It’s not something like theory anymore, this man is definitely not how he appears to be”.

Takahisa felt so.

「Well then, is it okay to hear the message?」

So Rio asked to him.

「Yes.............. Well then, shall we go to that room」

Thus, Rio and Takahisa were changing their location to the separated room. [TL : the raw say bedroom, but that will made those fujoshi on fire instead]

☆★☆★☆★

This place was the room where Takahisa was staying at till yesterday.

「Masato aside, Miharu and Aki don’t want to meet you again」

When it is just him and Rio alone, Takahisa said those words to Rio with a stiff voice.

It was a cold hearted tone without holding back.

But, Rio was convinced with just that much.

Since Miharu and co have nothing but one or two reasons for not wanting to meet him.

First they don’t want to meet him, second is that they can’t meet him.

The natural situation was set on the table for the former case after he bid their farewell to the king of the kingdom where they were staying at with Aki’s cooperation and then gave her farewell letter to Satsuki.

In addition, he also compensated it with a authentic situation of a real reaction from Aki when she heard the question from Takahisa.

「I see..........」

Rio heaved a sigh while showing a gloomy smile.

After that, he’s locking his gaze at Takahisa.

「Can I ask something?」

And then asked to him.

「Yes」

Takahisa’s nodding as he answered with a heavy voice.

「Are you going out with Miharu-san?」

Takahisa’s staring at Rio with a surprised expression when he asked so.

Because he never expected Rio to see him and Miharu in that way.

Takahisa’s trembling lightly but,

「........ That’s right. We’re going out」

When he noticed, he already answered Rio’s question.

「I see............ Did you hear about that matter from Miharu-san during the evening party last night? 」

「........... I just confessed my love to her」

Rio replied with a disappointed tone.

「My apologies. My heart just can’t calm down when I hear that a man is trying to court her, isn’t it? 」

「No, well............」

Takahisa’s replying with a frown on his face.

「Though I shouldn’t be the one who says this, please take care of Miharu-san and co」

「.......... Of course. I’ll be the one who protects the three of them from now on」

Takahisa’s saying those words loud and clear while trying to repress his inner feelings.

「Best regards then」

Rio bowed his head as he said those words with a polite tone.

「.......... You................」

Takahisa’s tone raised an oktaf as if getting irritated in seeing Rio who is not agitated even to the last moment.

“Why are you giving up so easily?”

”Where is your pride?”

”You love Miharu, right?”

”What in the hell did you want to do, it becomes even more confusing when you act like a saint?”

It’s okay even if you say just one rebuttal, and yet――

”This is just too cowardly”.

But,

「AH..........」

Takahisa swallowed his words as he noticed Rio’s fist grasping tightly.

He knows that Rio is suppressing his own feeling.

Thereupon, now he can push aside his sense of guilt.

Takahisa’s averting his gaze awkwardly.

「Well, that’s all of it............」

So he tried to end their conversation.

「Has Miharu-san not said anything?」

But, Rio’s still asking.

「........... I’m sorry」

「So that’s the case........ Well then, thank you very much. See you again」

Rio then leaving the room with Takahisa standing still behind him as if feeling guilty of something.

They then finished bidding their farewell which took no more than a few minutes, and then Takahisa and co left the castle in hurry.

☆★☆★☆★

When looking at Takahisa and co who’s running toward the castle gate in a hurry to return to their kingdom,

「Are you really not going to see them off?」

Rio was standing beside Satsuki.

「Yeah. Well, I can’t go beyond this point due to those formalities. Maybe it’ll be too late even if I get the permission right now」

「I see」

Rio is nodding, and then silence is descending upon them for a while.

「....... Hey, it should be okay right?」

Satsuki asked him that with timid tone.

「Whether it’s good or bad, it’s their own desire to go with Takahisa right」

Rio’s shrugging his shoulders as he said so.

「Certainly but, must we separate like this without even bidding our farewell with them properly? To be honest, something is........」

Satsuki showed a dissatisfied expression.

In any way, the event just developed too rapidly.

It’s exactly like they just saw the ending while skipping the necessary process toward it――

It’s as if they only know the answer while omitting the whole process of solving the problem――

it would only cause an unspeakable indigestion.

Maybe if one were to think, that just how much something like reality is.

But, she definitely couldn’t accept such a end which omitted the procedure that should be treaded on.

No matter how much she was promised to meet them again.

「Tell me, what is this highly secret information of the kingdom?」

Satsuki is making a completely puzzled face.

It doesn’t seem to be true as they just gave bare minimum explanation and then left quickly.

Since she should be having a pleasant conversation with Miharu around this time.

Satsuki sighed in anxiety.

「Aren’t you going to meet them again」

Rio said so as if to sooth Satsuki.

Thereupon, Satsuki fell into a short silence as if pondering on her own.

Suddenly, 、

「...... I’VE DECIDED! I, AM GOING TO PURSUE MIHARU-CHAN IMMEDIATELY! I’M GOING TO SEE THE KING」

Satsuki declared so as she made her decision.

Surely, Miharu will also be bewildered by such a absurd situation.

She just can’t sit by when she doesn’t even know the situation of the other party.

She can accept it if they told their decision to her by themself.

When it comes to that, the matter is simple.

「Say Haruto-kun, how about going with me! Isn’t it painful if things are kept hazy in this way」

So, Satsuki is suggesting to Rio.

But, Rio’s gently shaking his head in denial and,

「I’m sorry. I can’t go with you」

Answered with a calm tone.

Satsuki is taken aback when her expectation was betrayed.

「W-Why? You must be worrying about Miharu-chan right? 」

Satsuki asked with a strong tone.

She’s looking at him with a dissatisfied look.

「......... Because I have some private matter that I have to finish」

Rio replied with a roundabout answer without telling her the truth.

「Is that the matter that you said last night? .... It’s something that you have no choice but to do in the western region 」

「Yeah, since it’s a promise with my acquaintance. I can’t delay it any longer」

「Then, it’s okay after your done with your business right. It’s okay even if you are not with me. So let’s go」

Satsuki is pressing even further as her head pushed on Rio’s chest.

「......... But, I think it’s better for everyone to not meet me again」

Rio said those words with a lonely smile on his face.

His smile is showing more persuasive power than his words. そ

「W-What is this? That should..........」

To Satsuki who is asking with a bewildered voice,

「I’m rejected. By Miharu-san. I confessed my love to her you see」

Rio told of such a fact without any hestitation.

「Eh......? 」

Satsuki face is frozen in that instant.

But, Rio kept going on with his words without even noticing the change on her face.

「They’re going out you see. Takahisa-san and Miharu-san. DId you know about this? 」

「EH—A~H— U-Uhn. I thought that they were going out since it seems there’s a rumor about that since the middle school but.......」

The bewildered Satsuki replied to him with a shrill voice.

「As I thought」

If Satsuki said so, then there’s no doubt about it.

There’s no way Miharu will receive Rio’s confession since she’s already going out with Takahisa.

Might be something like that.

「The match has been decided even before I confessed my love, I tried to not think about that but, it seems the victor was already decided from the very beginning right」

Rio’s lips twisting a bit as if mocking his own foolish action.

He faintly noticed this fact when he heard about the story regarding Takahisa from Miharu last night.

He tried to confess his love but, he’s too late.

No, since he thought that they were already going out since his previous life.

The matter of Amakawa Haruto couldn’t confess his love to Miharu has always become the source of his regret.

That’s why, even if Miharu’s already going out with Takahisa, Haruto who was alive in him decided to confess his love.

This feeling never changed even after he became Rio.

But.

If his previous life has to be frank, he still believed that maybe he still has the chance even if it’s just one in millions.

So he wanted to confess his love as soon as possible.

He had to hurry.

Because he noticed that it’ll be too late if they were to have a conversation this afternoon.

So, being stirred by that thought――

Rio became impatient.

That’s why he wanted to send those letters no matter what before being separated from Miharu.

「It’s really hard right. To confess your love to someone」

His voice was filled with his tiredness.

When he thought of this and that process which existed in theory, its usefulness in reality is at minimum.

Which then came to the current situation, it’s become hard for him to think calmly with such strain in his mind.

The best he can do is only smoothing over the surface.

「Haruto-kun........」

Satsuki called to Rio as if to console him.

「I’m sorry for saying such strange things」

Rio’s apologizing as he smiled calmly at her. But, his fists are clasping so hard.

「Come to think of it, I didn’t say it to Satsuki-san right. I have to explain it properly to you」

If she were to meet Miharu later, it may be better to let her know about his circumstances.

That’s why Rio decided to tell Satsuki about his past.

「About me in my previous life――」

☆★☆★☆★

Rio was meeting with Francois Galwark in the king’s office.

Francois is sitting on the splendid chair which is located at the head of the seat with his royal knight which is at the prime of his life right by his side.

Rio’s sitting on the lower seat along with who knows how many young royal knights.

「Your majesty, I’m extremely grateful for your gift during these occasion」

Rio’s adressing to Fracois.

「Yeah. You may come frequently. It seems that Charlotte is extremely indebted to you」

Francois said those words while smiling pleasantly.

「It’s my graciousness but, I’m the one who receiving special favor from Charlotte-sama」

「Hahaha, even Satsuki-dono become quite close to you isn’t it. It’s okay as long as you come to visit frequently to have some pleasantries with them from now on」

「Ha. Though this one is unworthy of such honor, if that is what they are wishing for......」

And then, while he is replying as courtesies,

（Maybe this king is the one who ordered Charlotte to make her move）

Rio was guessing Francois’s plan.

Since it’s practically a disrespect to say his real thought here, the answer is something that only the king who sits in front of him knows but, there’s something that’s puzzling for him.

Currently, Rio has officially became part of Galwark kingdom after becoming a honorary knight.

Maybe that is just how the scenario of Galwark kingdom to bind Satsuki by using the relationship between Satsuki and Rio――

That may be the reason why Charlotte is receiving an order from Francois to approach Satsuki and Rio――

When he thinks about it now, maybe it was around the time when Christhardt and Charlotte are approaching him with friendly manner during the second night of the evening party.

Though Christhardt didn’t even think that Satsuki and Rio will dance together on the first day of the evening party.

In addition to the monitoring eyes, he considered the possibilities of other things prepared from behind the scene.

The official stance was to respect their will but, it’s a bit of a surprise when he easily surrendered the matter regarding Miharu’s, there’s a possibilities of backdoor deals in regard to defense alliance during that time frame with Lilyana.

“As expected, this person is quite a hypocrite”, was what Rio felt about Francois.

Thus, due to this reason he’s quite surprised since he didn’t want to be that close to royalties and nobilities.

Even if he acts within safety limit as to not cause anything, when the royalties and nobilities noticed his utility value, thus he moved while expecting that.

Though the young nobilities in their teens like Stead and Alphonse tended to put too much trust in the authorities given to them, those tendencies will slowly diminish as they’re entering their twenties and thirties.

The first class royalties and nobilities were cunning people who make their move without anyone noticing about their preparation.

And then to win in term of cleverness from someone who has utility value by the time the person noticed that there’s an expectation place to him, most of the case, it’s already too late.

historical

Since most of their trick is by coming calmly from the front with a smile on their face and wanting to do handshake with right hand while hiding a knife with their left hand.

「Well then, I wonder what is your business for coming today?」

Whether he can guess Rio’s intention or not, Francois is addressing him with a haughty speech.

It’s not like it’ll change something if Rio muttered one of his grudge here.

Rather, it’ll cause him even more unwanted trouble for picking a fight with the king.

「I came to present an item to express my gratitude for my investiture as a honorary knight. And using this occasion, I’m also going to report my family name」

So, Rio is starting to tell Francois about his business while putting an insincere smile on his face.

「Hou. So you already have a name in your mind but, what is the item in your hand? 」

「Ha. Since I heard that your majesty is someone who loves liquor, I brought a liquor which I’m bringing along from the Yagumo region. Though I’m worrying about whether it’s according to your palate, since it’s currently not in the market, the matter of this one as an extremely rare item is guaranteed」

When Rio said so, curious light ignited inside of Francois’s eyes.

「Hou. You’re extremely prepared aren’t you. I will enjoy the taste」

「I beg for your pardon. In fact, I already made an arrangement for Liselotte-sama who has Rikka firm to manage the circulation of this item, if this item is to your taste, you might be able to get one in your hand with that connection」

「I see. I see, it made me even more curious if Liselotte is the one who is managing the circulation of this liquor. Now I’m even more excited since I can drink this one even before it is sold in the market. I’m going to enjoy it soon」

「It’s my pleasure if it’s to your liking」

The liquor that Rio presented to Francois right now is a liquor that is made by Rio himself by using the sake brewing knowledge of Karasuki kingdom and the brewing knowledge of Seirei no Tami.

That’s why it’s definitely not a lie when he said that it’s a liquor from the Yagumo region.

「Yeah. Then, may I hear what is your family name? 」

After nodding in exaggerated manner, Francois then looking at Rio.

Family name is playing an important role and it should even be called as the face of the noble.

So far, Rio has been using Haruto as his alias.

Though he held a faint antipathy at using the name of a dead person at first, everything might be alright if he is using that name as an alias.

Though he can’t stop the flow of events in which he is receiving a peerage with an alias even if he wants to stop it, it may not be a really desirable situation.

But, in case his reported name is being approved by Francois, Haruto’s name, along with his family name won’t be treated as an alias and become a common name.

And then, when he’s going to decide what his family name will be, one candidate appeared right in his mind.

But, is it really okay to use that name.

Even Rio was worrying about it.

Because he gets the feeling that it’ll be similar to resurrecting the dead if he’s calling himself with that name.

Because he didn’t have such self-confidence with such identity swing since maybe Amakawa Haruto wasn’t his support and nothing more than memories that lost his body.

But, maybe it’s not something that he has to ponder too hard about since he can finally move on a bit after confessing his love to Miharu and write those letters to her.

Because he thinks that the most important thing is not who are you, it’s his feeling that matters.

That’s why, Rio will call himself.

「Amakawa――」

Francois’s eye opened wide when Rio told his name with short words that he ism’t used to hearing.

「From today onward, I will call myself Haruto Amakawa」 [TL : In japanese it’ll be “Amakawa Haruto” while in english it’ll be “Haruto Amakawa”]

So he is following his previous short word with the resolute tone in the next sentence.

Francois is squinting his eyes as he stared at Rio.

A while later, a smile is forming on his lips and then,

「It’s decided then. O Haruto, in the name of Francois, the king of Galwark, hereby I officially approved your family name as “Amakawa”」

Francois gave his permission for Rio to use Amakawa as his family name.

「Thank you very much. Your majesty」

Rio’s bowing his head in silent.

Year 1000 of Sacred Calendar, a certain day in spring season.

From this day onward, Rio become a honorary knight of Galwark kingdom both in name and reality.

It was the moment of the birth of the black knight, Haruto Amakawa.