Epilogue
“Wendy, that new alchemist (or so she claimed), went missing, huh?”
“Well, she could barely mix a potion, so no surprise there.”
“Still, I wonder what that pervert alchemist is up to these days.”
“Yeah, losing his alchemist job means he can’t take disciples to harass anymore.”
“Maybe he’s hiding somewhere, writing smut novels now?”
“Haha, that’d be his true calling!”
The laughing man and woman pass by as I hurry away.
“Ugh, my reputation’s as bad as ever,” I mutter.
After resolving the Holy Mother Church incident, I returned to the capital, only to find my reputation unchanged.
Since we kept the resolution of the Holy Mother Church case under wraps, it didn’t boost my fame. …Though, recalling that conclusion, if it got out, even worse rumors might’ve spread, so maybe keeping it quiet was for the best.
“Your reputation’s as wonderful as ever, isn’t it?”
“How twisted does your brain have to be to think that’s wonderful… Wait, uwaaaah!?”
I scream at the familiar figure suddenly standing beside me.
Why is she here?
“What’s wrong? Yelling like that in the middle of the city will startle everyone,” she says.
“Then don’t startle me!”
Before me stands the princess revered by the kingdom… or rather, Alicia, my travel companion with unmatched magic, audacity, and perversity. Despite being royalty, she blends effortlessly into the city crowd.
“Sorry, but those wonderful rumors got me excited,” she says.
“What’s wonderful about them? Why do I have to be a smut writer?”
“Well, if you became one, you’d write about what happened on our journey, right? The thought of everyone in the kingdom reading about what you did to me…”
Alicia’s cheeks flush as she says this.
As always, she’s… getting worse with every conversation.
“Fine, I have a ton of questions, but let’s get to the inn first!”
“Alright,” she agrees.
And so, I rush us to the inn before Alicia can say anything weirder in public.
“Ugh… First, why are you back?”
“What? Didn’t I say the Commoner’s Training lasts a year?”
Alicia answers as if it’s obvious. I doubt anyone in the palace expects her to stick to it for a full year, though.
Yet, she’s already settled into my cheap inn, brewing tea for me by hand. For a princess, her actions and speech are practically those of my servant.
“Yeah, but are you seriously planning to keep this up for a whole year!?”
“Of course. As a royal, I can’t speak falsely. Or do you think I’m lying, Magnus-san?”
“I constantly wish everything you say was a lie,” I retort.
“It’s fine. The time I spent back at the palace handling the aftermath doesn’t count toward the year. It’s a freebie,” she says.
This isn’t working. We’re not on the same wavelength at all.
So, of the year I’m stuck with her, only about a week has passed? That thought alone exhausts me.
“I’d rather it counted, but that’s not the point… Fine, whatever. So, how did that case wrap up?”
It’s annoying that she’s back, but I was curious about the outcome, so I’m a bit glad to hear it directly.
“Yes, my additional investigation found that the church seemed vaguely aware of the Holy Mother Church issue but was blocking external probes,” she says.
Well, if it got out that their corruption led to a cult eating away at their organization, the church’s authority would take a hit. Plus, if the incident blew up, the masses might’ve sided with Lestia over the church.
“So, I reported the situation while keeping the Holy Mother Church details hushed. The kingdom usually defers to the church, but given the gravity, I arranged a meeting with the archbishop alongside a minister,” she explains.
It’s hard to imagine from her usual self, but she clearly plays the proper princess at the palace.
“As a result, we agreed to keep this quiet in exchange for the church returning to its original mission of helping the poor,” she continues.
“I see.”
I’m not sure how much they’ll follow through, but with the kingdom holding leverage, it should have some effect. I hope.
“Also, Viscount Baltar, who failed to handle the cult and had other offenses uncovered, was forced to relinquish his title and is under house arrest. Misha-san, meanwhile, will serve her sentence in prison,” she adds.
Hearing that scumbag viscount got punished puts me at ease.
Misha’s probably better off atoning properly than enduring that treatment.
“And the Holy Mother Church has ceased its activities. With the viscount’s house in chaos over succession, it’s being monitored for now. But Wendy-san, was it? She was jailed for other crimes,” Alicia says.
“Other crimes?”
“Yes, it seems she was caught selling fake potions when she couldn’t fulfill orders,” she explains.
“That’s good to hear.”
I wish my own false accusations would be cleared soon.
“So, with my palace duties done, I’m back for the Commoner’s Training,” she concludes.
“It’s great the Holy Mother Church case ended peacefully, but don’t treat this like a part-time job!”
Though, even part-time jobs last longer than this, don’t they?
Then, a critical question hits me.
“Wait, what about your engagement? Wasn’t that why you ran away in the first place?”
“Oh, that’s on hold since the church caused such a scandal,” she says.
“Ah…”
Political marriages happen when the other party is worth aligning with. With the church’s scandal, it makes sense that her engagement to the archbishop’s son is paused.
Then, a realization dawns.
“Wait, does that mean this was your plan all along…?”
“Who knows?” Alicia says with a sly grin.
“Well, I also came back because the kingdom has plenty of other issues that are hard to address openly, and I want to investigate them. Plus, there’s one thing left undone from this case,” she adds.
“Undone? What?”
I rack my brain, but nothing we could handle comes to mind. Alicia, brimming with confidence, declares:
“I haven’t gotten my reward from you, Magnus-san!”
“Reward?”
A bad feeling creeps in, but I can’t help asking.
“Yes! I think I did a great job assisting with the Lestia-san showdown,” she says.
Assisting? Sure, it ended peacefully thanks to her, but wasn’t she just pushing her fetish? How many times was I called a “pervert” during that?
“Plus, I worked hard on the palace aftermath! I breezed through it earlier, but getting that resolution was tough!” she insists.
“That’s impressive, but… you’re a princess and technically the client here. Why do I, the hired guy, have to give you a reward?”
I retort sincerely, but Alicia’s face lights up for some reason.
“True… This level of work is just expected of me. Such stoicism! As expected of the one I call Master!”
“That’s not what I meant!”
I feel like she’s deliberately twisting my words, but I can’t find the right ones to correct her!
Seizing the moment, Alicia presses on.
“Sorry, I got cocky thinking I did well. Please punish me for my arrogance!”
“Here we go! You pervert!”
“Yes, I’m a pervert! So please, Master, educate me more!”
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With that, Alicia suddenly drops to all fours right there.
“Damn it, this is what happens when I’m with you!”
A whole year of this!?
Yet, as I think this, I realize a part of me is… enjoying it.
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