An Extra’s Rise in an Eroge

Chapter 68 Cousins



Arthur sighed, glancing at the gathered crowd whose curious stares were fixed on them. "Do I have any other choice? Thanks to the stunt your sister just pulled, I highly doubt Alicia and I will have any peace for a stroll here."

"Hey, what did I do?" the girl protested, pouting.

Ignoring her, Arthur took Alicia's hand and started toward the carriage. However, a knight in golden armor stepped forward, blocking their path. His hand rested lightly on the hilt of his sword as he turned toward the carriage and addressed the prince inside. "Apologies, Your Highness, but I cannot allow just anyone into the royal carriage."

From within, the boy chuckled, his tone calm yet cryptic. "Oh? Are you sure he's just anyone?"

Before Arthur could speak, the girl whirled on the knight, her face flushed with anger. "How dare you stop Brother Arthur! I'll have you dismissed!" she threatened, her voice sharp as a whip.

The knight, unfazed by her outburst, studied Arthur closely, his expression showing a flicker of confusion.

Arthur let out a low chuckle, lifting a hand in a casual wave. "Have you already forgotten me, Uncle Ron?"

Recognition dawned on the knight's face, and he stiffened before bowing deeply at a perfect 90-degree angle. "My deepest apologies, Young Master Arthur. My age must be catching up to me, muddling my memory."

The other knights exchanged startled glances but remained silent, clearly taken aback by their captain's sudden deference to this unknown boy.

Arthur smiled warmly. "Lift yourself, Uncle. It doesn't suit you."

Ron straightened, his face still apologetic.

"So... can I go in now?" Arthur teased, a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Yes—of course!" Ron said hastily, stepping aside to clear the way.

Arthur strolled toward the carriage, Alicia trailing behind with an amused smile. As they passed, the girl gave Ron a triumphant look, flipping her hair dramatically. "You're lucky this time!" she huffed.

Ron sighed quietly, shaking his head as Arthur and Alicia disappeared into the carriage.

The inside of the carriage was far more impressive than it looked from the outside. The seats were covered in soft velvet, and the walls were decorated with shiny golden patterns. The wood had a polished finish, and the air smelled sweet and calming, making it feel grand and cozy at the same time.

Sitting inside was a young man with the same golden blonde hair and bright golden eyes as the girl beside him. His sharp features, strong jawline, and well-built frame made him look both handsome and commanding. He wore a luxurious outfit that only added to his royal aura.

This was Edward Hestia, the youngest prince of the Hestia Empire. The cheerful girl, Eleanor Hestia, was his sister—the youngest princess. Both were the grandchildren of the current emperor. And they weren't just members of the imperial family—they were also my cousins.

Yes, my cousins.

Arthur's mother is the daughter of the emperor, which technically makes Arthur a prince as well. Now that I was in Arthur's body, that connection extended to me. It was a strange thought, realizing I was tied to royalty.

From Arthur's memories, I knew he was quite close to his cousins, Edward and Eleanor. Being family, they visited each other often, which gave them plenty of time to bond. Their shared childhood was filled with playful mischief, friendly banter, and the occasional sibling-like squabbles.

Since Alicia and Cedric were frequent visitors to the Ludwig estate, they too became acquainted with Edward and Eleanor over time.

It wasn't just them, though—Arthur had been friends with nearly all the major noble children in the empire.

Now that I had Arthur's memories, I realized something fascinating: almost every major character in the game was someone Arthur had grown up with. It made perfect sense. Arthur's high status as the heir to the Ludwig Dukedom naturally placed him in the company of other influential families.

As I was lost in my thoughts, Eleanor's curious voice broke through. "So, Arthur, what were you doing in the market?"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

I sighed, leaning back slightly. "I was on a date with Alicia, but someone ruined it."

Eleanor's eyes darted to the window, avoiding my gaze, her expression guilty yet feigning innocence.

Edward chuckled at his sister's reaction, his amusement evident. "So, you finally confirmed your relationship?"

"Yes," I replied confidently, a smirk tugging at my lips. "Last night."

Edward caught the subtle hint in my tone, and his laughter erupted, filling the carriage. "Ha! Congratulations on 'confirming' your relationship then!" he said, emphasizing the word playfully.

Eleanor, clueless but suspicious, furrowed her brows at her brother. "Why are you laughing like that? And what's with the way you're saying it?"

Meanwhile, Alicia's face turned a deep shade of red, her eyes glued to the floor as if she wished it would open up and swallow her. She reached out, pinching my side sharply.

"Ahh!" I yelped, jolting in surprise. "What was that for?"

She glared at me, her cheeks still flushed. "Stop saying unnecessary things!"

Edward only laughed harder, while Eleanor looked between all of us, utterly perplexed. "What's going on here?" she asked, her voice tinged with exasperation.

Edward waved a hand, still grinning. "Don't worry, Eleanor. You'll understand when you're older."

This earned him an offended huff from Eleanor. "What do you mean? You are only one year older than me."

This earned an indignant huff from Eleanor. "What do you mean? We're the same age!"

Alicia buried her face in her hands, muttering, "This is so embarrassing," while I couldn't help but chuckle at the chaos I'd unintentionally caused.

The carriage filled with laughter, the lighthearted mood breaking through the earlier awkwardness as we continued our ride.

"So, Edward," I began, glancing at him. "Aren't you a second-year student? Aren't you supposed to be at the academy? Why are you out and about—and with such grandeur?"

Edward leaned back with a relaxed smile. "Elder brother Ray got injured during a recent skirmish with demons on the battlefield. I took leave to visit him. I would've gone back earlier, but since Eleanor is about to join the academy too, I decided to wait so we could travel together."

My eyes widened in concern. "Brother Ray was injured? Is he okay now?"

Edward waved a reassuring hand. "Don't worry, he's fine. He's already recovered and has returned to the borders."

"That's a relief," I said, nodding. Then I raised an eyebrow. "But still, why all the pomp and show?"

Eleanor chimed in before Edward could answer. "Mother said that people from other nations would be visiting the capital for admission season, so we need to display the dignity of the royal family."

I chuckled at her answer. "Ha! That's so like Aunt Amelia."

Eleanor puffed up her chest with pride. "Of course! Mother always says the royal family must maintain its reputation."

Edward sighed lightly. "She does have a way with grand gestures. I just hope it doesn't cause more trouble than it's worth."

I grinned at the thought, imagining Aunt Amelia orchestrating every detail of the display. "Knowing her, she's probably already planned out every moment of your public appearances."

Eleanor giggled. "You're not wrong!"

The lighthearted chatter carried on, making the journey even more enjoyable as the grand entourage slowly made its way through the streets.

"So, Edward, where were you off to?" I asked curiously.

"I was on my way to the embassy," Edward replied casually.

"Hm? Why?" I raised an eyebrow.

"The elf princess is joining the academy this year," he explained. "Some members of the elf royal family came along to escort her. I'm going to greet them."

Eleanor leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. "Would you like to join us?"

I hesitated. "Will that be alright?"

"Why not?" Edward said with a shrug. "Technically, you're also a prince, and Alicia comes from a major noble house. Besides, I think the princess will enjoy meeting her future classmates."

"Well, if you put it that way," I said with a nod.

"Yay!" Eleanor cheered, clapping her hands together.

Edward sighed, shaking his head. "Eleanor, when will you start acting your age?"

She pouted and crossed her arms. "What do you mean? I am acting my age! You're the ones acting like boring old men."

I couldn't help but laugh at her response. "She's got a point, Edward. Maybe we're the ones who need to lighten up."

The carriage came to a stop after what felt like an overly long journey—thanks to all the pomp and grandeur slowing us down.

As we stepped out, a scholarly man dressed in formal attire approached us. His neat appearance and calm demeanor screamed "bureaucrat."

"Greetings, Your Highness," he said with a polite bow. "I am Amon, the officer in charge of this embassy."

Edward nodded in acknowledgment. "Hello, Amon. Are the guests from Everveil Kingdom in the building?" he asked, already striding toward the entrance.

"They're in the garden, Your Highness," Amon replied, walking briskly to keep up. "However, there are others present as well."

Edward slowed his pace and turned, frowning slightly. "Who else?"

"The druids from Mirkwood Forest," Amon informed him, his voice steady.

Edward's brow furrowed. "Why wasn't I informed about this earlier?"

"They arrived just an hour ago, unannounced," Amon explained apologetically. "I didn't have time to send word ahead."

"Hm," Edward said thoughtfully, before glancing at me with a raised brow. "Looks like this meeting just got more interesting, wouldn't you say?"


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