Chapter 4: The hero is the type who throws away maturity.

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Translator: Michiko

Editor: Elena 

The princess was confused.

Gio Lufter was truly a warrior outside the norm.
Despite his humble origins, his talent was discovered at a young age, and after enduring rigorous training he finally achieved the greatest feat of a hero.

When he first arrived in the capital, he looked crude with a refined face, but the nobles around him gradually polished his appearance.
Then with the miraculous combination of his towering height and supple, well-trained muscles he had transformed into a handsome man that attracts the cheers of the women around the world.

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Even the ladies of high society admired his wild masculine charm; even though they would say things like, “He would be perfect if he was of noble birth,” they secretly pined for the opportunity to have intimate contact with him.

A hero from a humble background was a dangerous thing.
The royal family would give heroes land and titles to prevent them from being poached by other countries, and expected them to make further contributions to the country.
In particular, Gio Lufter was very popular among the people because of his origins, and it was easy to predict that granting him the rank of a low-ranking noble would be considered an underestimation of his merits.
However, if he was to suddenly be given a title on par with the high-ranking nobles, there would be unavoidable backlash from nobles belonging to the country’s progenitor bloodlines.

However, if he was given a reasonable amount of territory and the princess’s hand in marriage, the whole situation would be settled peacefully. 

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Rv pllxle zkjl vbyv oyp vbl clpv pkvwyvksd qsa csvb vbl asuyz qyxkzu sq vbkp nswdvau yde qsa vbl rakdnlpp obs bye elhlzsrle qllzkdtp qsa Qks shla vbl ulyap.
Mbl rakdnlpp alxlxclale vbyv bla casvbla, vbl nasod rakdnl, oyp yzps ldvbwpkypvkn ycswv bla rasrspyz yv qkapv.
Xa yv zlypv bl oypd’v srrsple vs kv.

Rv oyp pssd yqvla Qks yde bkp ryavu sq blaslp plv swv kd lyadlpv vs elqlyv vbl elxsd jkdt vbyv bla casvbla’p pvydnl nbydtle.

“R kdvlde vs yehkpl qyvbla vs elnkel obsx usw’zz xyaau pssd.”

Tla casvbla pyke okvb y nsdnladle zssj sd bkp qynl.
Mbl rakdnlpp oyp pbsnjle yp kq pbl bye clld pzyrrle kd vbl qynl.

Mbl rakdnlpp’p blyav oswze byhl clld qkzzle okvb fsu kq pbl oyp vsze vbspl osaep wrsd Qks’p pyql alvwad.
Gde ulv, bl nbspl vbkp vkxkdt vs zlv vbl rakdnlpp jdso vbyv bla xyaakytl vs Qks oyp wdzkjlzu.

“Ebu, szela casvbla? R’x pwal usw jdso vbyv’p obyv R oydv.
Jlpkelp, swa xyaakytl kp qsa lhlausdl’p cldlqkv, kpd’v kv?”

“Mbyv’p obyv R vbswtbv, vss.
Jwv R zlyadle vbyv Qks eslpd’v oydv vs xyaau usw.”

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“Gal usw pyukdt vbyv’p obyv Qks pyke?”

“Yes, in a private conversation.”

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The group of heroes who were going to the dangerous place underwent all kinds of interrogation beforehand.
For example, what their health condition was, what equipment they had, where to deliver their body if they died in battle, who to inform, and what kind of compensation they wanted after their triumphant return.
The crown prince had discussed such things with each of them, especially about their future compensation. 

Hearing this, the princess smiled and said, “Oh, no.”

“Gio must have said that to you because of his modest nature, Older brother.
I’m sure it’s not his true feelings.
Gio is always like that.
He compared himself with me and held back, thinking that we were mismatched.
Poor guy, he probably feels ashamed because of the difference in our status.
Even though I told him I don’t care about that, what a sweetheart.
He’s nothing like the son of a noble who gets over-familiar.”

The crown prince frowned a bit as the princess spoke as if singing.
Then he said,

“I repeat, Gio has no intention of marrying you.
I’m also his friend.
I don’t want to force him into a marriage he doesn’t want.”

“Older brother, you’re cruel.
But it doesn’t matter.
I’m sure father will listen to my request.”

The princess’s smile deepened.

Her father, the king, spoiled his youngest child, the second princess, but was strict with his successor, the crown prince.
Her brother seemed to have an attachment for Gio as a friend, but her father did not.
He would put the princess’s wishes ahead of listening to Gio’s words. 

Gio was a humble and honest knight. 

For example, when the princess asked him to call her by her name, he refused, saying, “It’s not possible for someone like me to call your highness by your name.” And even when she asked him to accompany her on a long ride, he kept his distance away from the other knights and didn’t try to get close to the princess.

But the princess knew the kindness behind Gio’s unassuming attitude.
One day, the princess insisted on going to the downtown area of the capital in secret, and he volunteered to be her escort.
At this, even her nagging brother chuckled and gave his permission.

The memories of the day they went out in secret were still with her; eating amazing and colorful snacks at a popular café, going to the market, and entering an ornament store said to be popular among the young commoners. 

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In that store, the princess noticed that Gio had been staring at a certain jewel.
It was only for a few brief seconds, but it was rare for Gio to be distracted by something during an escort.

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It was a blue stone. 

If it were just that, it wouldn’t be unusual, but upon closer look, she noticed that it contained fine gold flakes that reflected the light and sparkled brilliantly, making it indescribably beautiful.
When the princess asked, the shopkeeper explained that it was a lazurite.
It is said to be a rare stone found in a misty valley in a foreign country across the sea.

From that day on, lazurite became the princess’s favorite gem. 

The princess’s hair was a stunning golden color that everyone admired, and her eyes were a light blue.
In other words, it could be said that lazurite was the color of the princess herself.
The fact that Gio had paid attention to that stone accelerated the princess’s expectations.

I’m sure Gio is thinking of me, too.
He’s just afraid. The princess believed. 

In order for Gio to overcome his status and win the princess, someone had to give him a push.
If the king had done so, Gio would no longer feel the need to hold back.

After a mutually thoughtful silence, the crown prince exhaled. 

“…We’re getting a little ahead of ourselves, but it’s all a question for when Gio comes back safely.” 

“Gio will be back.
He made a promise to me.” 

The princess was even convinced of victory.

That conviction began to waver when her father, the king, began to suffer from health problems and was often bedridden, and her brother steadily took over the official duties.
The heroes were still in the middle of their journey and the future was unpredictable. 

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The princess quickly made a move.
She began to spread rumors of the hero and the princess on the streets, and supported the salons of poets, making them talk about the poignant beauty of love between people of different statuses.
The people were moved by the songs and poems, and hoped for the realization of the young couple’s love.

On the day the heroes returned to the capital, the princess personally welcomed them. 

The princess rejoiced with tears that he was safe, but Gio kept his usual reclusive attitude.
However, people around them looked at them with encouraging eyes as they stood side by side, and it became the backbone of the princess’ love.
Even his hero friends looked at them and smiled, giving Gio a meaningful poke on the shoulder.

Was there a marriage that was desired by this many people? All that was needed was for Gio to accept it honestly.
That would be enough to convince her brother.

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Hey Gio, are you still going to refuse to marry me now?

The princess waited patiently.
She waited for Gio’s stubborn attitude to crumble smoothly as he realized the world’s support and the warm agreement of those around him. 

However, 

Gio had not changed at all, not even a little.
Rather, she felt that he was even colder than before. 

Even when the princess expressed her wish to see him, he refused through the crown prince.
She went to see him anyway, thinking, “If that’s the case, I will go see him myself!” but every time he wasn’t at home and he was often away from the capital. 

When she questioned Gio’s friends, they replied that he went to the orphanage where he was once indebted to.
It seems that since his return, he has been visiting there frequently.

The princess received the information by appealing to his friends that she was worried about Gio’s well-being.
The orphanage where Gio grew up was now run by his childhood friend.
It was said that Gio gave most of the salary he earned from his knighthood in the royal capital to his childhood friend.

“I doubt that anyone would usually go that far, no matter if it was the orphanage he grew up in.
I wonder if that guy got hold of Gio’s weakness.”

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From listening to their conversation, the childhood friend seemed to be a terribly boring person, and Gio’s friends expressed their suspicions of him in front of the princess. 

The princess understood.
That person would probably die of old age in a poor orphanage, with no talent like Gio’s, with no one to help him, and with no chance of marriage.

Ah, Gio.
How kind.
You think you shouldn’t be the only one who’s happy because your childhood friend is still unhappy, right?

The princess quickly made another move.
She gave him money that was more than enough for a commoner who grew up in an orphanage, and hoped that she helped him improve his life at least a little.
She hoped that he would start his own business or get married with that money and become happy.

Somewhere far away where he would never be involved with Gio again.

“What did you say to him?”

They had been ushered from the audience room to the guest room, which was used by the crown prince to spend time with his closest friends, and as soon as the door was closed, Gio questioned the princess. 

He no longer used honorifics.
The crown prince did not rebuke him either.
In addition to the fact that Gio and the crown prince usually spoke casually in private conversations, the situation was already out of the norm in the first place when he directed that much murderous intent at the royal family. 

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The crown prince had a headache, thinking that his qualities as a king were being tested at a time like this.
But he’s never seen Gio so irrepressibly furious before.
It would be quicker to solve the problem if he listened first rather than interfering.

“Gio, why are you angry? The person said he wanted to start his life over in another land.
I only offered my help in return for him having been a good friend to you.
I wanted him to leave his miserable past behind and be happy in a new place.”

The princess argued with a pitiful quivering voice. 

I cannot understand Gio’s feelings.
Why does he have to do this just because one person, who was dragging him down, is gone?

“He was happy too.
I’m sure he’ll live happily somewhere.
So why don’t you stop being reserved and be happy? I’m sure the children at the orphanage you’ve always cared about will be happy to see you and I married.”

Gio listened to the princess’s claim with an icy gaze that went beyond hatred.
The more she spoke, the lower the temperature of the air in the room seemed to drop, and the princess’s words, cornered by Gio’s murderous intent, kept slipping and spinning.

“Hey-ey, I heard that the orphanage is to be moved to your territory.
Before that, would you take me to the orphanage where you grew up? I want to see the house where Gio grew up.”

In response to the princess’s sweet begging, Gio, who had been silently listening to the princess’s speech, gave her a blatantly mocking smile.

“Really? So you went all the way to give him money, but you didn’t see the house I grew up in? How dare you blabber on about something you don’t care about? It’s amazing what women are capable of.
No, it’s wrong to lump all women in together.
It’s not every day you see such a disgusting kid.
I’ve tolerated you because I thought you’re just a kid… how dare you take advantage of me like this?”

The princess’s eyes widened as if to say she had heard something unbelievable.
Gio didn’t care, and continued to curse and swear.

“Marrying you? You make me laugh.
I don’t want to be rewarded for risking my life in battle with a punishment.
I feel sorry for the man who will take you as his wife.
I’m sure he’d probably end up spending the whole day just trying to hold back the urge to hit you.
Even if you have money and noble blood, you don’t have discipline, and this is the result.”

Even as he chastised, the magic surrounding Gio was slowly becoming more and more intimidating.
Gio, who had always been a gentleman, had changed so much that she couldn’t comprehend it and felt as if her mind was going blank.
The princess was trembling all over with fear and confusion.

“Hey, don’t you dare speak any more nonsense to me.
Answer the question.
What did you say to him?” 

“Hi──”

The princess fainted as the person she was in love with hurled unbelievably foul language and malice at her, showering her with an unfamiliar killing intent.

TN: I found images of lazurite on Google but it didn’t seem beautiful.
I wonder if the local shops have lazurite.