The Mission to Woo Ensi

Realizing she didn’t need to be so wary, Titania relaxed. With steps as light as a breeze, she moved toward Lily and leaned slightly toward Agniell.

“You’ve gotten close to Ensi, haven’t you? Did you hold hands? No, holding hands isn’t that special… perhaps a hug?”

“That is—”

“Oh my! Was it a hug? Or maybe something similar. Heavens, to think Ensi allowed that. Lily, you were right—he really must have feelings for him too.”

Perhaps it was because she had spent so much time with the expressionless Sirius, but Titania could deduce an answer from even the smallest of Agniell’s reactions. Compared to Sirius, Agniell was quite honest; he felt less like a stoic man and more like someone who was simply socially naive.

“Did I never tell you?”

“What? Lily, you already knew? How unfair! Keeping it all to yourself!”

Lily scratched her head and apologized. She thought she had shared every bit of juicy news, but apparently, she had missed one. Watching Lily, Titania puffed out her cheeks in mock annoyance, but then she noticed Agniell looking flustered, unable to adapt to the sudden shift in atmosphere.

“My apologies, Young Lord Lacius. I was being too informal. Will you forgive me?”

Realizing her slip, Titania belatedly showed proper etiquette. She stepped back, placed a hand over her heart, and lifted her skirt slightly as she bowed. The movement was incredibly elegant.

“It’s a bit late for that, Titania.”

“Still, a formal apology is necessary.”

“……No. It is fine. You may speak comfortably.”

Having already seen them act without reservation, seeing them act with such stiff politeness felt even more awkward. Though Agniell felt a momentary sense of skepticism about the situation, he decided to endure it a little longer. Everyone here was connected to Ensi, and given that they had emphasized “the disease” during their introductions, today’s business was likely related to it.

“Is that so? Then I can use informal speech…?”

“It does not matter.”

“Thanks! Honestly, it was getting a bit awkward.”

Perhaps because she had heard so much about Agniell through Lily and Ensi, Titania had unknowingly built up a sense of internal familiarity with him. Because of this, even when she tried to be formal, casual speech kept slipping out. She looked relieved at Agniell’s permission.

“Shouldn’t we save the small talk for later? It seems everyone has forgotten why we gathered.”

“So cranky. We still have plenty of time, don’t we?”

“Still, Lily, it’s rude to keep a guest standing without explaining our business.”

“That—you’re right.”

Readily admitting her fault at Donovan’s remark, Lily decided to get down to business.

“Agniell. We know a secret you’re keeping.”

“A secret?”

“Yes. That Duke Lacius—your father—deemed Ensi unsuitable as a marriage partner because of his illness, right?”

Unlike Lily, who brought up the sensitive topic as if it were nothing, the others tensed up, unsure of how Agniell would react. Donovan, the one who had actually eavesdropped on the conversation, swallowed hard, his throat feeling dry.

“I see.”

However, contrary to their nerves, Agniell simply nodded calmly. He said exactly one thing and then fell silent, causing Donovan’s eyes to widen.

“Ensi knows too, of course. Since he’s the one involved.”

Lily, the only one not surprised by Agniell’s reaction, calmly continued.

“……Right.”

Though there was a brief pause, Agniell once again conceded easily. Seeing the conversation proceed more smoothly than expected, Luke glanced at Donovan. But Donovan was just as bewildered by the lack of tension.

“I won’t ask why you hid such an important fact, or how long you intended to hide it. That’s something for the two of you to work out. More importantly, regardless of how things turn out, we’ve decided to find a cure for the Euthia Disease within a year, by any means necessary.”

Even if your relationship ends, I can’t stand to see that disease hold Ensi back any longer.

Agniell showed no particular reaction to her determined words. To him, the reason they had called him here was more important.

“I see. And?”

Lily let out a chuckle at Agniell’s subtle urging. Tilting her head, she placed her hands on her hips in a defiantly casual stance and spoke with confidence.

“There’s only one reason we called you. We want you to cooperate with us in finding a cure, if possible.”

How about it? Simple, right? Lily shrugged and stared at Agniell with eyes that held a silent pressure. Her gaze was intense, but Agniell didn’t flinch.

“If that is the case, I will naturally cooperate. But I doubt you called me all the way here just to say that.”

You have more to say, don’t you? Luke silently admired the implication in Agniell’s words. Indeed, if he couldn’t even realize that much, he should give up his title as heir.

“True. There are some rather tricky conditions.”

“Conditions?”

“Yeah. Well, it might not be a big deal, depending on how you look at it. You just have to quit the Academy.”

“Li-Lily!”

“Ack!”

Donovan pushed Lily aside for her overly blunt explanation. Since Donovan never skipped his physical training as an adventurer, the caught-off-guard Lily was easily shoved away. Even though his conversation partner had changed in an instant, Agniell just blinked blankly.

“Honestly, it’s hard to look for a cure while balancing schoolwork. It’s better to think of it as taking a break from studies rather than quitting!”

“I think there’s a contradiction in the phrase ‘taking a break.’ That shouldn’t be possible.”

Donovan, who had heard similar things before, nodded as if he’d expected that reaction. Since it wasn’t a commonly used method, it wasn’t strange that Agniell didn’t know about it.

“Yes, for commoners, that’s true. But for nobles, if the family requests it, they can buy about six months to a year. This time is even credited as ‘practical training,’ so there are no issues with promotion or graduation.”

“……I see. I believe I have heard of that.”

Agniell rubbed his chin, finally understanding why Lily had called it “no big deal.” He wondered if his father would permit it, but it was certainly a viable method.

“Leaving the Academy is one thing, but how do you plan to find a cure? I assume you have something in mind.”

He didn’t think they were proceeding blindly. They must have a plan if they had reached the conclusion of leaving the Academy. Strength returned to Agniell’s voice. He felt as if a faint breakthrough had appeared in a task that had previously felt hopeless.

“First, we plan to set up a base in the Imperial Capital. It’s where vast amounts of information and goods gather. Most importantly, the research facility Ensi prepared is in the capital. I’ll be participating in the new drug development process there.”

“Ah, for the record, I’m not going. I’m heading back to the Celine Duchy to look through the archives remaining in the Grand Duke’s castle.”

“I’ll have a base in the capital, but I plan to collect information by exploring ruins, so I won’t be there often. There’s a specific lead I’m following.”

“I’ll be in the capital too. I need to check the Imperial Library first. Ensi can’t enter the Restricted Section, but I can. Shouldn’t I move in his stead?”

Luke, Titania, Donovan, and even Lily answered without hesitation. It seemed their roles were already well-defined.

“What is it that I should do?”

“You? You need to seduce Ensi.”

“……What?”

These people seemed capable of finding information, conducting experiments, and handling the necessary funding. Agniell, who couldn’t figure out his role, asked directly, but Lily’s answer seemed to have nothing to do with finding a cure.

“I mean—look. Even if he acts otherwise, Ensi is a bit of a pessimist. He keeps trying to give up before he even tries!”

“She’s right. Ensi is the only person who is skeptical about this whole thing.”

“He definitely has feelings for you—but even if he accepts you, I’m still worried. I get the feeling he’ll just say, ‘I’ve made enough memories, so it’s fine,’ and give up on the future.”

“It’s not just a feeling; he definitely will. He’ll probably even call those memories a form of greed.”

Lily, Donovan, Titania, and Luke poured out their grievances about Ensi in that order. Though they had only known him for a year, it was enough time to grasp his personality. They let out heavy sighs as they imagined the likely future.

“So, Agniell! You stay close to him and woo him so that he keeps wanting more!”

“Above all, if Ensi gives up, there’s nothing I can do. Finding information costs money, and Ensi is the one who holds the purse strings.”

“Development is the same. Do you think experimental materials just pop out of the ground? If Ensi gives up and cuts off support, we’ll just be twiddling our thumbs.”

Luke and Donovan, who frequently suffered financially due to their professions as a wizard and an adventurer, muttered gloomily. Titania gently comforted the two as the atmosphere turned murky.

“So, the conclusion. In order to make sure Ensi doesn’t give up…… Agniell, we desperately need your help.”

“……Is that really all it takes?”

The role they were offering him felt strange. When Agniell asked without hiding his suspicion, Lily’s eyes flashed.

“All it takes? All it takes?!”

“It’s not ‘all it takes,’ it’s the core of the mission. No matter how important finding a cure is, it’s a problem if you forget the fundamental reason why we’re doing this.”

Lily thumped her chest, frustrated that Agniell didn’t understand the importance of the task. Luke also clicked his tongue and offered some advice.

“There’s also the ‘Placebo Effect,’ right? Ensi has lived a negative life for so long. Living while receiving plenty of positive emotions like love, trust, and happiness should be good for his health, shouldn’t it?”

“Titania, I don’t think that’s the right example.”

“Oh, is it not?”

Titania tried to chip in, but quickly covered her mouth at Donovan’s quiet whisper. As she gave an embarrassed smile, Donovan smiled back at her.

“Anyway, we’ll let you know if we need other help, so you just focus on wooing Ensi.”

“I believe I understand what you are trying to say. I follow you, but……”

“But?”

“Seducing—or wooing him. Exactly how do I do that?”

“……Ah.”

At the completely unexpected question, the mouths of Lily and the other club members snapped shut.