Stigma Effect

In the midst of being busy dealing with terrorism, Yuriel's name appeared in the newspaper.

"What is this… ?”

It was written by the same reporter during the train incident. According to what was written, as evidenced by the alarm that went off before the terrorist attack, there was a person who had predicted the invasion of monsters in advance.

The name mentioned thereafter was Yuriel's name. There was a scene where she was hanging out of Raphlet's arms and leaving the tower.

It was a favorable article, but by no means welcomed. Yuriel's abilities were not well known except for the Albraka's generals and high-ranking officials. The knights who went on a subjugation with them were vaguely aware of it, but they didn't know for sure.

This was because Yuriel's powers were not useful everywhere, but for only monsters that appeared within the reach of her awareness.

There are many lords and nobles who are struggling with the invasion of monsters. If anyone could predict an invasion in advance, it was clear that they would want to get their hands on that person, even if they ended up doing something illegal.

In other words, the possibility of kidnapping is high.

The first article could have been perceived as a coincidence, but not by the second. Now, Yuriel's ability was confirmed. The fact that a woman unrelated to Albraka suddenly came to work in the strategy room may also have bolstered the article’s speculation.

Yuriel studied the article seriously.

It contained her name, photos, shops she frequented, and so on.

Since she only went out once, a store that Yuriel frequented included a women's clothing store that Helio said she could visit at any time.

She’s only brought one fall and one summer outfit, but now she can't go.

Yuriel drooped her shoulders and put down the newspaper.

It was time to do strength training alone. Baraha, who made guns on behalf of the busy Raphlet and Helio, decided to teach only how to handle guns. The physical training had to follow the schedule that Raphlet had written down.

Yuriel, who was changing her clothes and leaving the door, found a piece of paper that was stuck on her feet and bowed down.

"Letter?"

Originally, it would be customary to receive the letter and sign it.

Yuriel tilted her head curiously and leaned her body.

Did someone leave it in a hurry?

Yuriel's eyes widened as she read the letter carefully.

“The imperial palace, an invitation… ?”

The letter was sent by the Imperial Palace. Yuriel, who was looking around the luxurious envelope, looked at her own room and Raphlet's room alternately, estimating the distance. It was clear that it got closer to her room because it was hit by Raphlet’s foot as he came out of the door.

Yuriel hurriedly knocked on his door, thinking that a letter to Raphlet should not be thrown away so irresponsibly.

“Lord Raphlet!”

It seems that the letter arrived by mistake. Yuriel had no reason to receive a letter from the Imperial Palace.

Raphlet seemed to have returned to the room for a moment.

Raphlet, who opened the door, raised one eyebrow as he looked at Yuriel.

"What’s going on?"

“I think the letter for Lord Raphlet was sent to me by mistake. This is a letter from the Imperial Palace.”

“… Imperial Palace?”

“Yes, here.”

Raphlet, squinting his eyes, accepted the letter Yuriel had gave him.

He looked carefully at the part where the sender was written, and mercilessly ripped open the envelope without using a paper knife. A luxurious letter envelope made of high-quality paper was torn without mercy.

That envelope alone would have been enough for Yuriel's clothes. Seeing the paper being torn completely, Yuriel trembled slightly on the back of her hand.

Is it okay to treat a letter from the Imperial Palace like that??

Raphlet was tossing the envelope into the trash can and checking the contents. He quickly checked the contents and said.

“It’s not wrong.”

"Yes?"

“Yuriel, this is a letter to invite you to the royal banquet. An invitation is enclosed with it.”

“Me? Why me and not Lord Raphlet?”

“It says that they want to personally see the abilities shown in the alchemist tower…. It’s bothersome.”

Raphlet said, pulling out the invitation.

“I would rather refuse. If you receive another letter like this, bring it to me. It will be difficult for you to refuse yourself, so I will do it for you.”

“No, I will do it myself. I can say no!”

Yuriel sneaked out the invitation Raphlet was holding.

What if he sends a refusal reply on her behalf and then shows dislike to the imperial family?

“That’s enough. I’ll do it fast.”

Raphlet, who saw the invitation that Yuriel had pulled out, grabbed her wrist and slowly retrieved the invitation.

The letter she was holding with the thumb and index finger of her two hands slid upward and scratched her finger. Yuriel's spine stiffened as she felt the rough surface slipping away while scratching her fingers.

Her whole body reacted to the slightest sensation.

Yuriel remembered Raphlet's words he had heard yesterday.

Raphlet’s lips, who muttered that she would not be able to accept him, Yuriel would never know what he was thinking when she looked at his lips.

What would Lord Raplet think of me if he found out that my body floated just from the barely caught wrist?

Yuriel opened her mouth blankly, looking at her wrist held by Raphlet's fingers.

Raphlet looked down at Yuriel, who was concerned about her wrist, and relaxed his hand.

Looking at Raphlet, Yuriel touched her wrist and bowed her head to him.

“Well then, please. Lord Raphlet!”

To hide her flushed cheeks, Yuriel bowed her head and ran out of Raphlet's room.

＊＊＊

“It’s here again.”

Yuriel squatted in front of the door and supported her chin with her hands. The envelope that was lying in front of the door was getting more colorful day by day.

She wondered if there was a limit to Raphlet's refusal. Yuriel looked at the letter quietly, and quickly hid it in her arms before Raphlet saw it.

At the training ground, an appropriate counselor was prepared in its own way.

“Baraha, Sir Helio.”

There were two people today. Helio, who was next to Baraha, greeted Yuriel with a smile.

“Hello, Miss Yuriel. You said you were acquainted with Commander Barraha?”

"Yes."

Helio asked with a smile. Yuriel roughly answered his question and took out the letter she had put in her pocket.

“Can you take a look at this more than that? I was worried about asking only Baraha, but I'm glad. I would like Sir Helio to take a look at it as well.”

"Letter…? Oh, that. This is a letter from the Imperial Palace.”

As soon as Helio saw the letter, he recognized the sender.

“I think it enclosed an invitation, is there something wrong with that letter?”

Helio, who knew the contents at once, asked in wonder. It was a look of no interest.

“It’s been a while since the invitation came in, but I turned them down every time. And yet they keep coming....”

“How many times have you rejected this?”

“Nine times… ?”

“That’s crazy.”

The outrageous accusation was directed at Yuriel.

Yuriel blinked her eyes when she heard that she was suddenly crazy.

Helio continued speaking in a soft voice. An explanatory face like the face he had while dealing with a country bumpkin girl when they first met.

A soft voice poured out at Yuriel, as if he was dealing with another person who was far distant.

“To refuse the princess’s invitation nine times for no particular reason. If someone of Miss Yuriel’s status did something like that, it's like singing a song saying you want to die. Why did you refuse?”

“Oh, I didn’t say no…. Lord Rafflet said I don’t have to do anything, so he refused instead.”

“General Raphlet refused.”

"Yes."

Helio's voice became softer.

Yuriel, who had been watching his elegant expression, asked with a trembling voice.

“I, I wonder if there will be any disadvantages to Sir Raphlet? Unlike me, Sir Raphley is a nobleman and a leader....”

"I don’t know. I don't think the princess will stand still. If Miss Yuriel had refused directly, someone from the Imperial Palace would have already come. You would have been dragged and forced to attend the banquet.”

Helio said terrifyingly. Yuriel's face turned pale as she heard his words.

“Will Lord Raphlet be taken away?”

“That princess can’t even take that person. Instead, she’ll bully him.”

“No, no… .”

"It's okay. She won't bully you because it's no fun to bully you."

Helio spoke as if he knew the princess well. Helio said, taking the letter from Yuriel's hand.

“Send a reply as soon as possible. Say you’ll attend. In this case, I will be much more helpful than General Raphlet.”

Banquets and leisureliness. Gorgeous attire and speech were not areas that Raphlet was well acquainted with. What he was accustomed to was destructive things such as training, combat, and the way he dealt with monsters.

Helio smiled as he pulled out the invitation from the letter.

“I wouldn’t mind if it was someone else’s business, but Miss Yuriel is special, so I’ll help you.”

“Spe,cial?”

That can’t be true. Yuriel stuttered in a small voice.

“There have been no deaths since Miss Yuriel worked in the strategy room. That alone makes you special enough to me. You have a relationship with Commander Baraha too, so I have every reason to help.”