Watashi wa Teki ni Narimasen! - Chapter 30.2

Chapter 30.2

Perhaps it was because I was thinking of such things as I walked .

I returned to my room as usual and let out a deep sigh . Just then there was a knock on the door and I opened it without even thinking .

“Yes, who is… Ahh!”

“There is no point in confirming it after you’ve already opened the door, Kiara . ”

It was Reggie who was standing there .

“Is it not a little hurtful of you to be surprised at the sight of my face?”

“Ah, no . I just hadn’t expected it at all, and was surprised…”

While I was still answering him, he once again invited himself inside the room and closed the door shut . Um, I’m pretty sure I saw Grol waiting outside the door again as well!?

“Reggie . You and I are now grown adults . Don’t you think this is troublesome?”

I said as I pointed to the door . But Reggie’s expression did not change .

“I don’t think it is . Do you, Kiara?”

“Uh, well, you are the prince . What if there should be rumors…”

That would be trouble would it not? A person who was to one day become king, visiting the quarters of servants . He would be seen as a debauchee, it would harm his reputation wouldn’t it?

“I do not care about rumors . But perhaps I should be worried about your reputation instead? Would you hate it for there to be rumors about us?”

I couldn’t say that…

If anything he was handsome, close friend that I almost wanted to boast about to everyone . I’m sure there were many who would love to have such rumors about them . Even I did not hate the idea .

But on the other hands, Reggie was much too advanced . I couldn’t ever think he would seriously care for me as I was now . Completely powerless .

Perhaps it was because he had no intentions towards me that he could so casually walk into my room?

Such doubts entered my mind as Reggie continued in a whisper .

“Nevermind that . Where have you been all this time?”

It was a sudden change of direction and I was almost unable to follow him .

But it seemed that my inability to immediately answer had made him suspicious .

“Was it something so terrible, that you cannot tell me?”

“A-, I…”

Can’t say .

I could not tell him! I had almost said ‘As if could tell you!’ but thankfully, I stopped myself!

I had broken my promise with Reggie and attacked a magician, captured one of his men(though it was actually Cain who did it), and was currently thinking about capturing a magician again depending on the results of the prisoner’s questioning .

Even though I hadn’t spilled anything yet, it seemed like Reggie’s smile was darkening by the second…

“I did say that I would have to punish you if you were bad, did I not?”

Reggie, you do realize you sound like some ogre trying to scare children!?

Even as I poked fun at him in my heart, my mind was in the eye of a storm .

Eh, what? Was he saying that because he knew everything?

I could feel the sweat running down my back now .

Reggie came one step closer . I instinctively began to take a step back .

“Why do run if you haven’t done anything underhanded?”

I stopped once he said this, then he pulled me over to the sofa to sit down .

Right next to him . His hands were still covering mine . It was the perfect position for him to question me . Inside I was shaking, but I was determined to not allow myself to accidentally confess .

“First, it was a good thing that you helped my aunt . But I hear that while you acted as a decoy, that you rolled up your skirts?”

“I did no such thing! As it would be very difficult to run, I just want to free my legs a little… Ahhh!”

I nearly covered the sides of my face with frustration after refuting it . But Reggie grabbed both of my hands before I could . And now he was leaning forward towards me .

“Well, it seems that you were saved from the danger because of it . So I will have to endure it . ”

“You aren’t mad?”

“The matter is on hold… I will unleash whatever feelings I have about it on Alan instead . ”

I found myself leaning backward on the sofa as his face got ever closer .

It was quite amazing that the beauty of his face held up at this distance! Though, perhaps I was only thinking of such nonsense because I wanted to escape from this fearful moment .

Also, he would what with Alan? I didn’t understand it, why was Reggie so upset about all this in the first place?

“Um, why are you… You’re not even my father and…hhh . ”

Reggie’s lips were right by my ear .

“It was me who advised it and had Alan and the Margrave pick up you . Why should I not feel a sense of responsibility? I feel that it is my role to inform you if your actions are inappropriate . In the end, I am your guardian . ”

“Uhh…”

I suppose I would have to be satisfied with that . It was true that the Margrave took me in due to the prince’s wish to help a poor child . Perhaps he did have a responsibility as it was he who had pushed this burden onto the Margrave household .

“So, where had you been earlier today? In fact, I’ve heard that you and Wentworth have been leaving the castle grounds regularly?”

He, he…clearly knew . I understood now .

He had heard about my actions from someone and knew that I had broken our promise . That was why he was questioning me . That was the only explanation for this .

“Of course, you would not be at fault if you were acting on orders . I even asked you know? And then the Margrave told me that I better hear the story from you . ”

Lord Vayne… That was no help at all .

He had put me in a most hopeless situation .

“So…you already know?”

I say . Reggie’s face is so close that I can see his pores as he frowns .

“…About how you broke the promise you made with me, you mean? There should have been no need for you to rush, Kiara . I’ve been doing everything that I can to change the situation . ”

“You mean the place to conduct negotiations with Salehard?”

He nods .

“Salehard is also sending a member of the royal family to negotiate . They will surely bring a sizable escort as well . I have also asked that two nobles with neighboring lands station their men near their borders . It is possible that the monsters appearing in Everal will attack them as well . Or so I told them . I have also called reinforcements of my own men, so they will slowly be making their way through the Everal territories . Though it is under the pretext of monster slaying, so it will not be too many . ”

“Reinforcements? Really!?”

If there were reinforcements, perhaps the enemy would not be able to penetrate the castle even if it were under a siege .

I couldn’t help but smile in relief . Reggie smiled back .

“You finally smiled, Kiara . ”

He said as he let go of my hands and then gently caressed my face .

It was the kind of gesture you’d imagine to occur between two lovers . My heart started to pound furiously .

“But, I suppose that my efforts were not enough for you . I wonder how far I must go until you are satisfied . ”

“That’s not it, Reggie . I too do not want you to die . And so I must do everything that I can…”

I tried to explain because I wanted him to understand, but my words were cut off .

It was because Reggie had embraced me, his hands supporting my head .

My mouth was now buried in his shoulder and I couldn’t say anything, but I felt his lips brush against my ear and a chill went down my spine .

“Even though the Princess of Thorns refused to say anything, there is no guarantee that you will come out safely . It’s not a definite thing . If you…if it turned you into sand . If it happened to someone else, perhaps I would be able to accept it as their own decision . But, I don’t know what I should do when it comes to you . And so I stopped you by making you promise . What promise would it take to prevent you from doing it? Must I lock you up in a room somewhere? But I’m sure that you would find a way to escape . I would keep you away with chains if I could, but I don’t want you to hate me . ”

I was overwhelmed by the passion in his voice .

He wanted to keep away from the path of death so much that he would lock me in a room with chains . It was a fearful thought, but at the moment I didn’t feel like I could have rejected him . I was being washed away by his passion .

He didn’t want me to die . It was only I who made him feel this way .

I did not think that hearing those words would cause me this much pain . There was a burning in my chest and I felt like I could not breathe . If this was Reggie’s idea of a punishment, then it was much too cruel .

I face upward, searching for air . My eyes meet his blue ones .

There was a longing in his eyes, I was sure that my own eyes were looking at him in the same way at that moment .

And so, we were probably both thinking of the same thing . We didn’t want the other to die . And there was nothing we wouldn’t do for that purpose .

We had the same wish, but we could not come to an understanding .

But even then, I wanted to at least express the strength of my feelings . Those feelings were bringing our bodies closer together– .

But then there was a strong knock on the door .

At the same time, there was an echo coming from the window . It was the sound of a hammer striking the alarm bell .

I returned to myself and quickly pulled away from Reggie and opened the door .

Grol was standing there with a severe expression .

He addressed me and Reggie who had now stood up .

The man that I and Cain had captured had finally confessed .

Ruain’s army was approaching and had already reached the border .