Chapter 143
“So warm…”
In a recreational area adjacent to the greenhouse, I muttered a short soliloquy and sprawled on a warm desk that had basked in the sunlight shining through the warehouse glass .
It was a bit unprincess-like, but no one was looking this way anyhow . My guard remained outside of the room whereas both Lutz and Theo were out on an errand somewhere .
Miss Irene was absent all the same, and Nero didn’t want to come out of my room because it was too cold . In other words, I’m alone . But I’m not lonely . Not lonely, I say!
It seems Lutz and Theo are getting busier lately so I haven’t gotten a chance to see them… Miss Irene is occupied with something as well, is there something going on?
Speaking of ‘something,’ that magic circle I saw in my father’s study popped into my head .
Though I was sure it was related to that in some way, I didn’t know how to connect the dots together .
In the first place, I don’t even know what that magic circle’s for . It’s no use even if I try to think about it, huh?
I heaved out a large sigh .
After changing gears, I spread the paper out onto the desk . It was a map of the Nebel Kingdom . More specifically, the area where it bordered the Kingdom of Raptor .
Target: the Demon Lord’s location .
This was an unreasonable task given by my father, whom I had only been reunited with just a little while ago .
‘What the hell are you trying to make your daughter, a young and pure girl, do!?’ was what I’d like to retort .
But refusing wasn’t an option, because its revival was something inevitable . The resurrection of the Demon Lord that everyone feared simply couldn’t be left alone . That was why I specifically had Sir Leonhard on lookout duty .
But, I was still hesitant about bringing it home .
It’s been sealed like that for hundreds of years already, if we poke at it from a wrong angle, who knows what will happen? If it looks safe, might as well just leave it alone, right?
So in the end, I would only be following the footsteps of our predecessors . I would be sitting on the fence while lamenting my indecisiveness .
“As usual, I’m really talented when it comes to putting myself in danger . ”
It was the same with the epidemic .
My father blocked any possible means of escape at just the right time .
I then get to choose between giving up or dragging my feet through the hard journey laid out in front of me, and being the stubborn princess that I am, I always ended up gritting my teeth following the latter choice .
I was totally dancing on the palm of my father’s hand, but this was also good for me, so might as well give it a go .
And it isn’t all bad this time around .
“Ufufu…”
I let out an eerie laugh by myself .
I couldn’t stop grinning .
Because the person who will accompany me on this low-profile trip is none other than Sir Leonhard himself!!
With this alone, I can endure all tenーno, even a hundred hardships!
I don’t even mind if you indiscriminately throw a spanner or two more my wayーno, that’s obviously a lie . This one ridiculous job is enough .
Good thing nobody saw me making a hundred dubious faces when the door opened with a low creak .
Is it Sir Leonhard!?
I quickly straightened up my posture, my mind racing with the face of my beloved . I held my cheeks loosely and tidied up my facial expressions .
Add on one throat clearing, I finally masqueraded a calm reply .
“Yes?”
However, the voice asking for permission to come in belonged to someone else entirely .
I was surprised, but allowed them in all the same . The one behind the door was a knight . It was Klaus, who should’ve been receiving medical attention .
It’s been a while since I’ve last seen him .
He went back to rest at his parents’ residence, so this would be our first time meeting face-to-face in three months .
“Klaus…”
When I stood up to meet him, Klaus promptly knelt down in front of me .
Klaus was wearing the Imperial Guards uniform, so seeing him do that painted an unsavoury picture . His movements were far from stiff and his complexion had been restored . It was unimaginable to think he was still recovering from a severe injury only recently .
“I am terribly sorry for my long absence . I will be back in service from tomorrow on, so I am taking this opportunity to say hello . ”
“Are your wounds all healed up?”
“Yes, they have completely closed . I will feel stiff if I use my arm strenuously, but otherwise, there are no problems . ”
Klaus nodded as he explained his current condition .
“Is that so? I’m glad . But I ask that you don’t overdo it just because you’ve gained back your strength . ”
Gently letting out a relieved sigh, Klaus’s face broke into one of happiness .
“Your words are more than I deserve . ”
But if you’re happy with just some words, you’re going to make me feel sorry for you instead, you know . I still feel guilty whenever I remember all the different times I’ve treated him coldly .
Was it that bad though…? Yeah, I guess it really was . I’m really sorry .
While I was reflecting on my past behaviour, I noticed Klaus’s line of sight falling upon the map on the table .
Speaking of which, Klaus said he’ll be back tomorrow, but since I would be gone by then, I guess I’ll be away from him for a little longer .
And it’s been decided that my escort partner this time was Sir Leonhard, there’s no way I can take Klaus with me as well .
“Klaus… To tell you the truth…”
I couldn’t think of a way to say it, and I ended up just clumsily tripping over my words .
But Klaus nodded, as if he had remembered something .
“I’ve already heard . I have been informed of where you’re heading and of the person who will be escorting you . ”
My eyes opened wide from those unexpected words .
Klaus made a sour face when he saw my surprise .
“Were you worried that I would argue with the commander over this?”
It was difficult for me to say it to him, but that was the correct answer .
Although he was right on the money, I was hesitant to confirm it outright, and to say otherwise would make me a liar .
So I kept my mouth shut, but apparently my face had already told him everything he needed to know, so Klaus only smiled .
“Thank you for your concern, but please do not worry . ”
What do you mean?
Tilting my head to one side in puzzlement, I tried to make out the meaning behind his words .
“It was a relief to hear that your escort is the commander himself . If it’s him, he would surely be able to protect you no matter what happens . ”
“!”
My eyes were as wide as they could be .
Eh…!? What the heck happened!? Klaus!??
Do you have a fever?
I was dumbfounded . Klaus always got a bit touchy whenever the topic concerned Sir Leonhard .
But not only had he been acting like a gentleman since a while ago, he was also openly respecting Sir Leon on top of that… What’s wrong, Klaus? You’re looking more and more like a normal knight, you know!?
Perhaps he couldn’t stand my gaze, Klaus furrowed his brows, troubled .
“Your surprise is written all over your face . Do you think I am a fake?”
“I know it’s rude, but yes, I think so . ”
When I gave him my honest opinion, he became even more embarrassed .
I’m really sorry, but I was half-serious about the fake thing . In fact, I actually think you’ve got a zipper somewhere on the back of your Klaus costume… Sorry, I went too far .
“I’ve learned of my weaknesses on our last trip . I’ll never forget how I risked your life so many times because of my own immaturity . ”
“Klaus…”
“I’ve never been servile nor obedient, and I am weak . Even more so now that I have recently recovered from my injuries . I couldn’t do any proper training, and therefore I doubt my body in its current state would move as I wish, so I intend to return to the ranks and remove myself from the role as your royal guard for the time being . ”
He was like a different person .
If I told the Klaus from a year ago of his words today, it would probably blow his mind . But the most mind-blowing thing of all was how he was able to speak to me calmly right now .
“While you are away, I shall work my hardest and grow even stronger, so please come back safely . ”
I was left stunned as Klaus hung his head .
That Klaus…? Actually becoming a splendid knight?
I had never doubted his skills with the sword, but always had slight qualms with his personality . It wasn’t to the point of having a bad personality, just… how do I put this, perhaps it would be more accurate to say he was a perver—ahem, cough, cough . He sure has changed a lot, hasn’t he?
Maybe I should change how I perceive him from now on…
Klaus is an earnest and dutiful knight .
“Lift your head up, Klaus . I can see your sincerity . ”
I confirmed his intentions through his eyes as he raised his face .
He—Klaus—had certainly changed .
“I may have misunderstood you from the very beginning . ”
“Princess Rosemarie?”
“I apologize for the horrible ways I’ve treated you all this time . I’ll try to change it from now on . ”
“Eh?”
For some reason, he was left stunned .
Why are you so surprised? And if it’s not my imagination… isn’t your face getting paler by the second?
“…Do you mean that you will begin to treat me politely?”
Looks like Klaus had misunderstood my words and his expression was deteriorating by the second .
“No, that’s…”
“…I don’t want that,” a small voice slipped out .
What do you mean you ‘don’t want it’?
So it’s better if I give you the cold shoulder instead?
It wasn’t my imagination after all! So you do really like it that way!?
This time it was my turn to go pale .
Noticing this, Klaus immediately shook his beet-red face .
“Y-You’ve got it all wrong! It’s not like that!”
Then what the hell did you mean?
“I meant it in a different way! When you shed away your usual formal attitude, I was really happy because it was my only proof you were comfortable around me . Whenever I, a mere knight, think of the fact that I’m the only one you’re looking at with such cold eyes, I…”
Even if you act like a blushing maiden in love, honestly, I can’t find this to be anything other than creepy as heck . Also, what the hell was with that ‘you’ve got it all wrong’ thing? Aren’t my womanly instincts on point as usual?
Klaus got more and more desperate when I began my retreat and took a step back .
“Princess Rosemarie〜!”
“Klaus . ”
“Y-Yes!”
“Please step away from me . ”
More specifically, exactly three metres down that way .
When I told him that, Klaus’s pitiful voice calling my name was the only thing left echoing in the room .
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