"So you wish to keep your abilities hidden. But they will be revealed sooner or later. Teleportation magic... I shall naturally order everyone in the manor to keep silent, but should the royal palace come for you, you'll either end up a caged bird or be executed as a threat if you refuse."
"Oh no, if Your Grace keeps your lips sealed, I'm sure half the nobility won't say a word either."
"I intended to respect your wishes regardless. However, it might be wise to make it known that no one should lay a hand on the adventurer Alan."
"Speaking of which, were Viscount Momentum and Count Fanda part of Your Grace's faction?"
"Those two are not my allies. Don't tell me..."
"You've guessed correctly. They treated me unjustly. Power is nothing but a fragile thing in the face of pure violence. After all, power itself is merely force backed by the violence one can mobilize."
"Where that line of thinking leads is nothing but a blood-soaked path of carnage. That is precisely why I gave up my claim to the throne."
"As the rumors"
"say,"
"you are quite the impressive man. You endure and swallow so much, yet I couldn't do the same. Playing the polite person who holds back for others' sake is never worth it—you'll only get trampled."
Thinking back on my unpleasant past life, I might have gotten a bit emotional.
Reading the mood, the Duke smoothly changed the subject.
"So you've been working as an adventurer. Would you take on a commission?"
"As long as the contents of the commission are to my liking."
At this, the knight who had been standing silently like a decorative piece by the Duke's side let a faint killing intent slip.
Well, what I was saying would normally be considered treasonous, after all.
Refusing a Duke's commission was simply unthinkable by this world's standards.
"Enough. Don't pick a fight with someone powerful enough to rescue his daughter unharmed from the Mist of Shadowy Fog. That would be a costly mistake. Now then, Alan—I'd like you to accept this."
And with that, the Duke held out a pendant adorned with lavish decorations.
The design engraved on it was a crossed sword and eagle, the family crest of the Duke's household.
"What exactly are you trying to do with this? It's not impossible that I might brandish it around and misuse it, you know."
"The value of that pendant wouldn't be clear to a commoner. However, any noble who is my associate would understand. If some noble foolishly picks a fight with you by mistake, seeing this will make them back down. Talented people are precious. I don't want to lose one needlessly."
"If I have this, won't I be glaringly eyed by the Royal Family?"
"You might draw the ire of the Royal Family's extremists, but it's fine to cut down such people if they come after you. More importantly, I believe its protective effect against evil outweighs that risk."
Well, if that's the case, I'll accept it.
In the worst case, if it has no effect, I can just return it...
So, I stayed at the Duke's mansion that night. Lady Nina did call for me, but she only formally expressed her gratitude again, and that was the end of it.
Thinking "maybe it's a honeypot trap," I realize my mind might be getting a bit grimy.
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Skill: [REVERSE], [DIVINE EYE], [SWORD SAINT], [GENTLEMAN THIEF], [DARK MAGIC], [ROCK-IRON MAGIC], [HOLY MAGIC], [SPACE-TIME MAGIC], [SCORCHING HEAT MAGIC], [FREEZING ICE MAGIC]
Rank: Bronze
Thank you always for your readership!