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In a secluded corner of the residence belonging to the Aulanthia Frontier Count—or perhaps more appropriately, the King of Aulanthia, foremost among the princes of the Livitium Imperial Kingdom, a suspicious scene was about to unfold.

Present were Lucas Leonhardt Abel, a scion of the imperial family of the Graviol Empire and a stunningly handsome young noble (literally a prince), and Mr. Emil, a mysterious butler of indeterminate age—though he looked no older than his twenties—who had served the Aulanthia household for many years.

“Love… what a marvelous thing. Surely, you must harbor the same burning passion that I do, young master. That must be why you came all this way…”
“N-no no no no!!”

Emil began, his eyes moist and his breath warm. Lucas recoiled, shivering as a chill ran up his spine. He could feel his lower back clench instinctively.

“I—I only love one person! Just one!”
“As do I. And I am certain—it is the same person.”

Emil replied without hesitation. He stared deeply into Lucas’s eyes, resolute, his tone unwavering. Meanwhile, he began unbuttoning his white dress shirt, having already slipped off his tailcoat in a single, fluid motion. Beneath the shirt was, of course, bare skin.

“No no no no no no!! Why would you even think that?!”

Lucas was thoroughly panicking now, voice rising in pitch.

“Allow me to explain everything… by revealing my true self.”

With that, Emil let his shirt fall away, exposing his bare chest.

“Somebody help meee—JILL…!! Wait, EEEEHHHH?!”

Lucas, now nearly bent backward in horror, froze as his eyes locked onto something in Emil’s chest—right above his heart.

“…What is that…?”

At first, Lucas thought it might be a pendant. But there were no chains, no fasteners—nothing. A mana crystal, about the size of a baby’s clenched fist, was embedded there. No, more than embedded…it was functioning as a natural part of his body.

He’d learned about such a trait from his former tutor, Miss Christy.

“You’re… a demon?! A demon race, here?! Serving as a butler to the Count of Aulanthia—a man considered one of the Empire’s most elite nobles and a known supremacist against non-humans?!”

Emil offered a serene smile, his amber eyes narrowing softly.

“Correct. But only a handful know this truth: the master of the house, the previous head butler Emil Trefan, and the one who gave me my name—‘Regulus’—and everything I have, Lady Clara. No… My Lady Princess.”

He spoke of his secret with a look of bliss on his face.

“Why? Why would you tell me this…?”

A demon working in such a high-profile position wasn’t just a scandal—it could bring the entire Aulanthia household crashing down.

“Because it was my princess’s wish. And because—” Emil smiled gently at the confused Lucas. “—I wished to meet the one she trusted most. The one who gave meaning to the name she bestowed upon me: ‘Regulus.’”

Both ‘Regulus’ and ‘Leonhardt’ bore the meaning of ‘Lion.’

“Now, let me tell you everything. The story of My Lady Princess who still lives ‘till now, and the truth of the Shrine Maiden Princess Clara, hidden away by the Church.”

♢♦♢♦♢

High in the sacred Mount Clorinda, known far and wide as a spiritual peak, an old man with white hair and beard glanced wearily at Lucas, who knelt on one knee before him. Then he slowly turned his eyes to Lucas’s companions standing behind him.

First was Jesse Arland, a D-rank adventurer with plenty of experience and a user of the magic sword. Next, Eleanor Griselda Basso, also D-rank and a beastkin of the feline tribe. Then Laika Fedora Adornart, a C-rank rabbit beastkin.

There was also Pryui Shiel, an elf and Lucas’s close friend. And Ashimi Asteri, a young male elf who claimed to be Pryui’s self-appointed guardian. There was Chaton, a sleepy-eyed white feline beastkin who claimed to be a mere merchant’s assistant.

Eren Baresi, a bob-cut girl oddly dressed in a maid outfit, looked completely out of place in the mountains. Finally, there was Bruno, Eren’s childhood friend, who had grown into a capable adventurer over the past year.

All of them were young—but precious companions to Lucas.

“Hmph. I’m surprised you found this place. I left the Holy Capital over thirty years ago to train myself anew with a thousand-day ascetic pilgrimage through this sacred mountain. I thought the younger generation had forgotten me… or assumed I’d died.”

The old man muttered in front of his shabby mountain hut. Though his clothes were as shabby as the hut itself, Lucas had confirmed—and the man had admitted—that this was none other than Theodoros, the Pope of the Holy Church.

“‘Train myself anew with a thousand-day ascetic pilgrimage?’ Wait, I thought you were exiled for sexually harassing shrine maidens here and there?”
“—Shhh! He’s just sugar-coating the past. Even if it’s not true, it is true in his head now. So don’t ruin his mood!”

Bruno asked bluntly, and Eren hissed as she elbowed Bruno sharply in the ribs.

“…Seems no one here wants to listen to my story,” Theodoros grumbled, sulking as he turned on his heel to shut the door.

“Wait, please, Your Holiness!” Lucas called out.

“Come on, old man. Don’t be so petty,” Jesse added.

“Such fragile pride… truly, typical of leaders of beans,” Ashimi chimed in.

“Let go of me! How squalid of you! If anyone, I’d let those busty rabbit and curvy cat girls in! That bratty flat-chested girl and the elf can stay out. If you don’t got boobs or butts, you’re not my type.”

Eleanor, Laika, and Chaton—the ones he specified—gave awkward chuckles (Chaton still looked drowsy and practically half-asleep). Meanwhile, Eren and Pryui, who’d clearly been excluded, fumed in outrage.

Eventually, Lucas and the others managed to drag the pope back to his spot.

“We sincerely apologize for any rudeness,” Lucas said, bowing.

“You’re exactly the kind of old coot the orphanage director described,” Jesse muttered under his breath.

“Who told you that?!”
“The head of the orphanage in Consul. Apparently, she used to be a sister in the Holy Capital. She told us you were here. After all the traveling we did, turns out the clue was right in our backyard. Feels like a fairy tale. Oh—here’s a letter from her, for you.”

Jesse handed over the letter, looking exasperated.

Theodoros eyed the envelope skeptically, but the moment he saw the name and handwriting, his expression twisted as though he’d tasted vinegar. He silently broke the seal and began reading.

After reading the letter over and over, he whispered softly, “…Teressa… So you’re still…” All the bluster from earlier drained from him. Slumping his shoulders, he folded the letter with care and tucked it away.

“…Standing around talking isn’t ideal. It’s cramped, but you can shelter from the rain. Come in.” He opened the door again. “But there’s only one table and a few chairs. Everyone else sits on the floor. Except you—busty bunny girl—and you, wide-hipped cat girl. You two sit next to me.”

“You’ve got no shame, old man!”

Bruno shouted in a voice filled with shock and a twinge of admiration. As the group entered the hut, Lucas found himself remembering the long, arduous journey of the past year that had brought them to this moment.

By the way, the reason why Regulus was given the same name as Luke is because,

“They’re both beautiful boys!” (Jill says).