Argenti gazed at Stelle, his eyes sincere and ardent.
"Speaking of which, when we last met at the celebration in Belobog, I gave you a cursory introduction to Beauty. I am most curious: do you acknowledge this ideal and believe in Idrila?"
Stelle nodded, then shook her head.
Watching her reaction, Argenti said with a smile, "I understand. Perhaps you acknowledge my ideals out of kindness, yet still know little of Beauty in your heart... What a beautiful act.
"I respect differing ideals... But as things stand... Since you do not know of Beauty's existence, I can only make it manifest in a knight's way-"
Argenti was still Argenti, ready to launch straight into a duel celebrating friendship. However...
Stelle shook her head vigorously. "How could I not know Beauty exists? My Little Fish was made from a Fragment of Beauty."
Before he could summon his lance, Argenti froze on the spot.
Then the knight with long, fiery-red hair slowly turned to look at Jiang Yu.
Looking somewhat dazed, he murmured, "Oh my Idrila... I should have realized long ago... That faint sense of being watched after leaving Jarilo back then..."
At that, Argenti came to his senses and blinked. Without trying to conceal anything, he addressed everyone openly:
"My sincerest apologies. Please forgive my verbal lapse. The information I received just now dealt quite a shock to my mind."
Cirrus, who had been floating nearby, shook herself and drifted over to Jiang Yu. "Does he have to talk like that?"
"That's his courtesy and his conviction. Whether we like hearing it or not, whether we're used to it or not, what can we fault him for?" Jiang Yu blinked as he spoke to Cirrus.
Cirrus narrowed her eyes, her tone odd. "That doesn't sound like you. Since when have