[BL]The Hero and his Party Won't Let Me Go-Chapter 57: Ch : Victory Ceremony - Part 2

"They’re here."

"Prince Kaiden is finally back. I can see him and Liam."

"Lady Reina is here as well. But what about the companion...? Is he in the carriage?"

People were excited to have Prince Kaiden back. But they were even more excited to see his mysterious companion that had replaced Lady Sera.

Everyone knew how important Lady Sera was to Prince Kaiden, but a companion was a sacred bond between the hero and their special person. So everyone wanted to see what would happen once the two met.

"Do you think it’s because Prince Kaiden does not want to disappoint Lady Sera by letting her see him with his companion?"

"Who knows? But it’s getting so exciting."

Shuu could barely make out what people were talking about, but he could not focus on it. He had started to feel motion sickness, something he had never felt before.

"Are you alright?"

Nero asked Shuu with an almost knowing look on his face, but Shuu was not sure what that was about.

"I... don’t think I am alright. I feel like my lunch is about to come back up. But I can endure for now."

Shuu promised as he leaned against the carriage seat’s back and relaxed himself. Nero’s silent support was much appreciated.

Outside, Prince Kaiden finally reached the Royal Palace and got off his horse. A form dressed entirely in white collided with his form, and his heart skipped a beat.

’Shuu... no, wait-! It’s Sera...’

Prince Kaiden’s heart skipped a beat, but it immediately calmed down once he saw the familiar face looking back at him.

He felt a little excited to see her, but the crashing feeling he often had when he saw her was no longer present.

"You are finally back. Are you unharmed...? You don’t look hurt. Let me check you out."

Sera grabbed his face and turned it around before a cough made her let go of Prince Kaiden.

"I am glad to see that you are finally back, brother. On behalf of everyone you saved, I would like to extend our greetings to our current hero."

Prince Yunn bowed to him, and the others did as well. Prince Kaiden took it all in, but his attention kept going back to the carriage where Shuu and Nero were.

Liam and Reina had already walked up to his side, but the other two had yet to appear.

"Kaiden, should we go inside? You must be exhausted and hungry as well. We have prepared a feast for you and your companions. Just come with me..."

Lady Sera grabbed his hand to tug him inside, but Prince Kaiden only half paid attention to her.

Most people did not notice that he was distracted, but all those who knew him well noticed where his eyes were looking-at the carriage.

Prince Yunn was the first to move, and he quickly headed toward the carriage before opening the door.

"Ah, I almost forgot. I should greet your companion who helped you out on this journey. I am excited to meet him as well."

There was a tense silence around the clearing.

Everyone knew that Prince Yunn did have a bone to pick with Lady Sera, so he took every chance to make her uncomfortable. But usually, Prince Kaiden put an end to it and ordered Prince Yunn to stop.

But this time, he did not do that and only nodded toward Prince Yunn’s actions.

Even if he and everyone else noticed that his actions were putting Lady Sera in a difficult position, it did not seem as if he was about to take his permission back.

’Oh! Something is different. Usually, my brother would immediately tell me to stop playing, but things seem different when it comes to his companion. Maybe I can use this to push Sera out...’

That would be a huge blessing.

Prince Yunn opened the door and extended his hand inside, and a delicate hand appeared on his own.

The person who walked out was dressed in white from head to toe, and the heavy ceremonial garments seemed to be weighing him down. A veil covered his head, not allowing anyone to see the companion’s face, and Nero accompanied the companion outside.

Nero was in his adult form and took Shuu’s other hand to support him all the way to Prince Kaiden.

"Shuu, are you fine? You were feeling sick earlier..."

Prince Kaiden asked, but Sera coughed to stop him and turn everyone’s attention toward Shuu.

"Ah, so you are Shuu? I have heard a lot about you. Thank you for helping Prince Kaiden all this time when I could not do that. But don’t worry. You don’t have to look after Prince Kaiden anymore. I will look after him."

There was a hushed silence, and it was broken by Prince Kaiden’s sigh.

Sera understood it was the warning it was, but she still pressed on before she could be asked to stop.

"Anyway, I have a favor to ask you. Now that you are no longer Prince Kaiden’s companion and your journey is over, would you please hand over the goddess’s relic to me as a token? I believe that the real companion should have it."

The silence got even worse.

This ceremony was as insulting for Shuu as it could be, and even he felt stunned by Lady Sera’s words.

"Lady Sera, that is not appropriate-"

Liam started to speak, only for Prince Kaiden to speak up first.

"Sera, stop it. That relic belongs to Shuu, and he should have it. No one has any right to take it away from him."

Now it was everyone else’s turn to be stunned. Prince Kaiden had never spoken to her like this or told her off.

Being spoken to like this made Sera’s face burn, but she was adamant about getting what was hers. Her retainers and other priests had assured her that she needed to have that relic as a sign that she was Prince Kaiden’s companion.

"I... don’t mind. Now that the journey is over, I won’t need the relic anyway. It’s better if someone else has it."

Shuu’s voice was soft, and everyone felt stunned as he spoke and took off the bracelet. He held it toward Lady Sera, and she reached for it with a gleeful expression, only to be shocked as the bracelet formed a barrier around itself and Shuu, pushing her out.

"W-What the-"

"The artifact rejected you, Lady Sera. If you try to grab it, you will get hurt quite badly. It will be best if you pull away."

Lady Sera’s face went from red to white and then red again, and Shuu wore the bracelet back as the air turned awkward.