Chapter 5 — The Framed Cuckold and the Clingy Actress

Part 1 — Exile, Then Saving the Nation

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Ellie eyed Meg, who was half hiding behind me. The air noticeably cooled. Definitely just my imagination… right?

"Brother?"

Ellie, hey. Your face is terrifying. Saints aren't supposed to look like that.

"Wow. Not even a month out here and you've already brought home such an adorable girl. You're certainly keeping busy. Should I expect an invitation to the wedding?"

Great. Instant misunderstanding, zero context. Her imagination is less "vivid" and more "natural disaster."

"I can already guess what you're picturing, but you're wrong. These kids are just labor—disciples at best."

"D-disciples? I see."

The murderous aura evaporated. If we had a medic around, they'd be telling the family, "He pulled through." Of course, the top medic in question was the one causing the crisis.

Still, nice recovery, me... though there's nothing to "recover" from when I'm innocent.

"Um, Dan? Who is she?"

Meg peered between us, nervous and curious.

"Sorry. This is Ellie—my best friend's daughter and a former colleague."

"That introduction's pretty cold, Brother. Or should I call you Dan now? ...Anyway, I'm Ellie. Dan and I grew up together, worked together, the whole bit. We'll be living together from now on, so nice to meet you… and you are?"

"Greetings." I nudged the twins. "This is Meg, fourteen. Dan saved us and is teaching me magic. It's nice to meet you, Ellie."

"I-I'm Bill, also fourteen! Master—uh, Dan—teaches me the sword! P-pleased to make your acquaintan—"

Stop flailing that handshake like you’re sparring, kid. And Ellie, stop trying to dominate children. It's tacky.

Priorities, though.

"What do you mean 'live together'?"

I knew resistance was futile, but I had to try.

"You asked me so passionately to follow you. A girl can't refuse when a man says, 'Come with me!'"

"I... can't swear I never said that, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't that dramatic."

She looked shocked. Why?

"Cruel! I quit my job and came to this frozen frontier because I trusted you!"

"Wait. You actually quit? Get back to the capital—"

"How could I? I gave up everything to rely on you, and now I have nowhere else to go."

Could you at least lie less aggressively? You still have your Church post and your parents.

"Master... that's harsh."

"Dan, a gentleman shouldn't go back on his word."

What? Now I'm the villain? Bill, wipe that look off your face. Meg, don't lecture me. I'm your teacher!

"Hold up! Calm down, both of you!"

Let's talk this out.

Ellie stuck her tongue out. Cute. Annoying, but cute.

◆◆◆

We signed the quest completion report the crowd shoved at us, and the hired adventurers hauling Ellie's baggage turned tail for town. They left muttering "Go explode" and "May you stub your toe on every piece of furniture." Charming.

Over dinner, the twins grilled us with questions. I couldn't spill much about my past, so I mixed in some harmless fabrications with true stories. It kept them happy until Bill started nodding off.

"First real fight takes it out of you. Hit the hay," I said, sending him off with Meg. Then it was just Ellie and me on the bench, silence stretching between us.

"Brother, I have a lot to ask, but start with this: Why did you leave the army? Why are you officially 'dead'?"

"That's two questions."

"Don't deflect."

She jabbed my shoulder. Ow. As if I wanted to admit this.

"It isn't complicated. I was cheated on."

"What? That can't be true."

"Wish it weren't. Turns out it was going on from the start. She's already pregnant." Was it even cheating if I was the side guy? Creepy.

"A princess can't exactly stay engaged while carrying someone else's child. So the bureaucrats and Parliament decided to declare me dead and marry her off to the court count."

Better for her, really, to marry the man she actually wants.

"I see. Then I suppose I'll offer Princess Tarin my warmest congratulations." 

----- End of chapter -----