"Laurent?"
Romani Archaman's voice echoed from the communicator. He repeated the name once, then tapped his left palm with his right fist—a gesture that said he'd just connected a few dots.
"I remember now—Laurent was Jeanne's childhood companion during the Hundred Years' War!"
His exclamation immediately caught Laurent's attention, though Laurent's hand was still gently brushing Jeanne's cheek. Jeanne only blushed, offering no resistance.
"Who's speaking?" Laurent asked.
Once Laurent's identity was confirmed, Romani visibly relaxed. If this man was truly Jeanne's childhood friend, there was no need for alarm—he had to be on their side.
"Oh, sorry, sorry! Forgot to introduce myself. I'm Romani Archaman. Just call me Roman."
Laurent glanced at the rest of the group, prompting them to introduce themselves as well.
"I'm Mash Kyrielight! It's a pleasure to meet you."
"I'm Ritsuka Fujimaru. Just call me Fujimaru."
Laurent tilted his head slightly, puzzled. He'd learned a bit about this Holy Grail War, but he still didn't recognize any of them.
Roman went on, sounding thoughtful. "Still, it's strange. Historical records barely mention Laurent at all. How did he become a Heroic Spirit? Our research only lists him as Jeanne's childhood companion—nothing else."
Jeanne opened her mouth to explain, but Laurent stopped her.
"If I mention the name 'Évigi,' maybe that'll make sense to you."
"Évigi? É–Évigi?!"
Roman's shocked voice cracked through the communicator, disbelief plain.
"What's wrong, Dr. Roman?" Fujimaru asked quickly.
"Plenty! Historically, Évigi was a tyrant of England. Though he ruled only one day—before his coronation, even—he was already infamous for cruelty. Under him, the people suffered terribly; he seized all power for himself. He even took Jeanne from Rouen and conducted her execution on his own lands. In the end, Heaven struck him down the day of his coronation for his sins and his obsession with immortality. There's even a legend—but never mind, it's just hearsay."
"Then… does that mean this man isn't Laurent, but Évigi?" Fujimaru asked, still confused.
"I'm not certain," Roman replied. "But if he is Évigi, that would explain a lot."
"In simpler terms, Laurent and Évigi are one and the same," Laurent said evenly.
Everyone froze in shock—Roman most of all.
"T-that can't be! You were Jeanne's dearest friend—you loved her! How could you do that to her? Évigi was the one who executed Jeanne in the end!"
"That's exactly why I did it."
Laurent chuckled softly, unwilling to explain further. That was something only he and Jeanne needed to understand.
"I… I still don't get it," Mash said hesitantly. "If you loved her, why would you hurt her with your own hands?"
Laurent met her troubled gaze but stayed silent. Explaining it all would be tedious.
Instead, he turned back to Jeanne. Because of their height difference, he had to lower his eyes slightly—Jeanne was only about 158 cm. Such a tiny girl, really.
"Laurent, I—"
Jeanne tried again, but Laurent gently ignored her. He lifted her right hand instead, studying the ring on her finger.
"So… you finally said yes after all," he murmured.
Then a warm smile spread across his face.
"In that case, we can officially call ourselves husband and wife now, right?"
"Eh…? Ah—um, yes…"
Jeanne's face turned crimson. Her heart, which had just begun to calm, started racing again.
Why… why does Laurent seem so much more attractive than before…?
"Anyway, don't overthink it," Laurent said lightly. "Just call me Laurent. I don't plan to keep using the name Évigi."
"Understood—but we still need to confirm one thing," Roman said. "Laurent, are you on our side?"
Without hesitation, Laurent replied, "I'm on Jeanne's side—not necessarily yours."
Roman laughed softly. "Ha, that's very much like you, Laurent—no hesitation at all."
Laurent shrugged. "We just met. How could I trust you so quickly?"
"Fair point. Still, having you here makes us feel a lot safer."
"Alright, enough chatter. Jeanne, bring me up to speed," Laurent said.
"Right."
Jeanne hesitated, flustered as Laurent's hand returned to her cheek.
"Laurent… your hand…"
"Don't mind me. I just wanted to touch you a little. Go ahead."
Roman, Fujimaru, and the others watched awkwardly, a light sweat forming as they took in the scene.
"This… this is the first time I've ever seen the Holy Maiden like this," Roman muttered.
Even Mash blushed, sneaking a glance at Fujimaru beside her.
"By the way, you've really grown into quite the figure," Laurent said bluntly, his gaze roaming freely over Jeanne. "That dark version of you I saw earlier—is she the same person?"
"I'm not sure. Even my own memories are unclear. I came here as a Ruler-class Servant, but I can't even identify the other Servants' true names…"
"No wonder that woman immediately recognized me as Évigi and tried to kill me."
"Wh-what?" Jeanne's eyes widened. She quickly looked Laurent over. "Are you hurt?"
As she examined him, her eyes fell on the cross necklace resting on his chest. She paused, and Laurent noticed her stare.
"Oh, this? It just appeared with me somehow—probably because I was wearing it before."
Jeanne's expression dimmed. "Laurent… are you still angry with me?"
"Ha—how could I be?" Laurent grinned playfully. "Although, if you kiss me right now, maybe I'll forgive you completely."
Jeanne's blush deepened, her shy face clearly weighing the idea…
---
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