“Ugh… so happy… Mmm…”

After finishing their playful tickling battle and dinner, Ray collapsed into sleep.

He must be having a good dream.

Judging by his murmuring, he really looked happy, almost to the point of drooling.

“Haha…”

I gently adjusted the blanket over Ray and left the bedroom.

Well, I had a lot on my mind.

Just like last night, I wasn’t ready to sleep just yet.

There was someone… I was worried about.

“Hmm hmm~♪”

That someone—Mary Lobart—was humming softly as she washed the dishes.

Wearing an apron in the kitchen, she looked just like the maid who once served the Macba household.

“Oh, Lord Arios…?”

Mary turned toward me with a slight tilt of her head.

“Is something wrong? You must be exhausted today. Please, get some rest.”

“Mary…”

Feeling somewhat guilty, I moved to stand beside her.

“I should help out. It wouldn’t be right to leave all the housework to you.”

But as I reached for a dish, Mary gently stopped my hand.

“It’s fine. Just doing this makes me happy… Much more than when I was serving Dudley…”

“Mary…”

“Lord Arios. There’s something I haven’t told you yet.”

“Huh?”

After drying her hands with a handkerchief, Mary turned to face me directly.

“That day when you were granted the 《Useless Skill》… I couldn’t do anything. You had always taken care of me, but I didn’t know what to say, so I stayed silent the whole time…”

“……”

“No matter what others say about you, my heart has always been with you. You’ve always been the kind and dependable swordsman who looked after me.”

“Mary…”

Tears trickled down her cheeks as she deeply bowed her head.

“…And yet, despite being in the Macba household, I couldn’t do anything. I’m truly sorry… I’ve carried that guilt all this time…”

No way.

She had been thinking about me this much…?

Even though I was now nothing, with no title or status…

Unable to hold back any longer, I gently pulled her shoulders toward me.

“Mary. I’m sorry. I caused you trouble too. But from now on, let’s all be happy together.”

“Lord Arios…”

Mary’s cheeks flushed pink.

“Hehe… It feels like a dream. I never imagined a day would come when you would embrace me, Lord Arios.”

Then, hesitantly, she added,

“…Um, are you and Lady Raymira already in a relationship?”

“A relationship? No, no, nothing like that.”

“I see. Understood.”

Was it just my imagination, or did she seem a little pleased?

After holding each other for a while, Mary smiled and softly whispered,

“Thank you, Lord Arios.”

Her voice was filled with warmth.

“Now I feel much better. From now on, I will serve you with all my heart, so please take care of me.”

Her shy yet radiant smile—she truly was an angel.

Meanwhile, at the royal castle of the Arceus Kingdom.

Leon Macba, the Silver Sword Saint, widened his eyes in shock.

“—Arios took down the Arceus Salvation Party’s base…?”

“Indeed.”

The one who nodded in response was Rayfar Fo Arceus, the First Prince of the Arceus Kingdom.

Leaning back in his extravagant chair, Rayfar looked down at Leon, who was kneeling respectfully before him.

“…Thanks to Lord Arios’s efforts, this whole incident is nearing a resolution. The public still ridicules him as a 《Useless Skill Holder》, but his deeds are those of a true hero.”

“B-but! There were many B-rank adventurers present, weren’t there?! Surely their efforts played a role as well!”

“Of course. That may be true, but—that’s not what I’m talking about.”

“…Huh?”

Rayfar’s gaze turned ice-cold as he locked eyes with Leon.

“You already understand, don’t you? The outrageous conduct of Dudley Claise. And yet, in such a state—do you really believe he is fit to protect the honor of Arceus?”

“A-aahh…”

“And that’s not all. If Lord Arios has indeed gained the power of a hero… Then, you, who cast him aside, have inflicted a tremendous loss upon the kingdom. Depending on how things unfold, we may need to reconsider our relationship with the Macba family.”

“Th-that can’t be!! Prince Rayfar…!”

Leon cried out in desperation, his face pale.

“In that case, I will prove it soon! That Dudley is far superior to Arios!!”

“Oh…?”

“Just give me some time! Prince Rayfar!”

“Very well. I have no wish to sever the long-standing ties with the Macba family. I’ll be expecting results.”