Re:Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu (LN) - Volume 20 - Chapter 5.4

5 

 After that they met many more times in this place, always by chance. She would just come and sit on the wall to look at the flowers while he practiced in the square. 

Theresia pretended that the young man's training didn't interest her, but in fact she surreptitiously watched them with admiration. It wasn't that his technique impressed her. With the blessing of the Sword Saint, she could see all the shortcomings. To be honest, she was already sick of that aspect of her power. She had grown weary of the mistakes made by others. However, she could look at the boy endlessly, even though he was still doing something wrong. For there was a tremendous enthusiasm emanating from him. 

- Am I crazy? 

There was so much purity in his movements. Theresia had often heard declarations of devotion to fencing, to living for the sword. 

Bullshit. But that's all that really matters to him. That's why he's so passionate. He has only a sword, only a sword he loves, only a sword he can love... A man as pure as steel. 

- I think I've lost my mind... 

She felt her cheeks burn, but continued to watch him out of the corner of her eye. 

I am the Sword Saint. The God of the Sword loved me, made me a creature of perfect weaponry, even though I didn't want it at all. And that means I stand where he wants to reach. Or does it just seem that way to me? Maybe. Maybe I just want him to think of me that way someday... 

- I'm really confused... 

All she had to do was look at the sword, and she already knew everything about it. Everyone immediately revealed all their secrets to her, even Dragon Sword Reid. 

He was the only exception. He was the only steel that wouldn't bend to her will. 

That's probably why it intrigues me so much. 

- Wilhelm Trias," he introduced himself. 

It happened only three months after they first met. Though they had seen each other so many times in that time, he had never asked her name. Finally, she lost patience and pushed things forward on her own. 

- I used to call you "flower girl" - he muttered gruffly. 

What an ill-mannered raghead. He doesn't care about anything, he only thinks about himself. He leaves when he pleases. He plays with me. Just remember what happened when I confessed that I created that meadow. He said then that he hated flowers. A boor and a boor! But he doesn't do it on purpose. He just can't talk in such a way as to please the other person. You can tell that's who he is. Maybe that's why he reminds me of steel. 

At the same time, she thought that she herself was a hopeless case. A Sword Saint should be a person who easily bends any weapon to her will. And she was letting this boy play with her. She didn't understand then how much she needed someone like that. 

- You like flowers? 

- No. I hate them. 

- Why do you carry a sword? 

- Because I don't have anything else. 

Such exchanges have already become routine with them. 

What kind of answer do I expect? Do I want him to say the same thing every time? Or am I hoping for a different answer? Or am I all the same as long as I hear his voice? 

Everything around her was changing and Theresia remained the same. She wasn't sure if she expected change or constancy from William. And he answered the same way every time. 

That day Theresia came first. She sat on her wall, admiring the flowers, and waited for him. She couldn't wait. She understood now that he wasn't coming here for the views. 

- Wilhelm... - She turned, sensing his presence. 

She saw him at the entrance to the square and her heart grew warm. She smiled and ran to him joyfully with open arms. 

Suddenly she stood up. A charming smile bloomed on William's face for a moment at the sight of her, and then the boy 

- when he realized that he had become disheveled - he hid his face in his hands so that Theresia would not see that his eyes were streaked with tears and his lips began to tremble. 

Was he so touched to see me? 

She didn't know how to react. Until now, she had focused on killing, not comforting. 

Finally, she decided to approach him. 

- Wilhelm... - she whispered. She was afraid that with her words she might hurt him and push him away, but she was more frightened by the thought that by keeping silent she would lose him. 

She touched his trembling hands. She felt a warmth radiating from him that made her make a decision. Wilhelm was like a sword, but unfinished. He changed in the fire of feeling, changed under the forceful strokes. The Sword Saint knew all about swords. She looked at Wilhelm and felt that she wanted to learn a lot about him too, to know him and understand him. 

- Do you like flowers? - She asked as always. 

If someone was watching this scene, hearing this question, they would probably tap their forehead. But they... understood the message. 

- I don't... but I don't hate them anymore. 

Theresia feared that someday, by asking him that THEIR question again, she would hear something she didn't want to hear, that she would be rejected. But that didn't happen. He answered differently, and she felt that she loved the change and him alone. 

A sword that changes in fire only becomes stronger, harder. 

- And why do you carry a sword? 

This question will surely be answered differently too. Will I hear what I want? 

- Because I couldn't... I couldn't think of another way to protect others. 

Before, he answered that there was nothing else. Because that's the way it is... He only loves the sword. That's the way he is. And that's good. 

After that they never returned to the conversation about flowers. They began to talk about other subjects and laughed more often. It amused her and at the same time it made her more and more happy. 

- I was knighted the other day! I was knighted. 

She never forgot the fire that burned in him then. 

Theresia didn't know how to handle people, she always kept to herself. She rarely understood subtext, but this time she would have to be stupid not to know why he said it. Only those who have shown exceptional bravery on the battlefield are belted. 

- Oh, congratulations! You are one step closer to fulfilling your dream! - she replied innocently. 

Just so I don't turn red now! 

She focused all her energies on just that. It worked. 

- Dreams? 

- You want to protect others, right? And a knight is someone who does just that. 

Wilhelm immediately nodded, acknowledging her point. He was usually boisterous and difficult to deal with, but there were times when he showed the sincerity and earnestness of a child. 

I wish I was one of those people he wants to protect... 

Always confident, she now acted conservatively. She didn't know yet that later she would hate herself for it. That she would dwell on how stupid she had been for not doing anything, even though she knew he felt the same way. How much she would regret that mistake. 

Little did she know that she would soon come to the conclusion that all her life she had only made mistakes.