Chapter 105
I Don’t Mind!!
After finishing breakfast and getting ready, we loaded our luggage onto the carriage to head toward the Mücke Territory.
“Big sister-in-law, you have to come visit again soon! And next time, please come pick me up…!”
“Hehe, I hope I can do that. Until then, stay well, okay?”
“Yes…!”
We were seen off by Annika and Lord Markus, as well as the members of the Third Knights, exchanging farewells and feeling a slight sense of reluctance to part ways.
“Yoti, let’s drink together again sometime!”
“Rick, train me again too!”
“Yeah, I’ll stop by if work brings me here again!”
“Make sure you get stronger by then.”
It seemed that Yoti and Rick had really grown close with the Third Knights and were genuinely sad to part ways.
Hehe… the friendship between knights… it’s so precious.
“Take care, Markus.”
“…Yes, you too, brother.”
Watching these knights, I heard the serious voices of Leo and Lord Markus beside me. Although they were exchanging greetings, Markus still wasn’t looking Leo in the eyes.
It seemed they hadn’t had a proper chance to talk, and perhaps some lingering tension remained.
“Shall we go, Sibel?”
“Yes…”
It’s a bit concerning, but it’s not something that can be fixed easily. After all, they haven’t lived as normal brothers all their lives. I’m not really in a position to give advice. Even so, I hope that one day, they’ll slowly start to build a relationship.
“Hey, bro, let’s go!”
“Yeah, Almin. Don’t be so bossy!”
Yoti and Almin still seemed to get along really well. Maybe I should ask them for tips on getting along with siblings someday.
“What’s wrong, Sibel?”
“Nothing.”
I boarded the carriage and, staring at Leo sitting next to me, he immediately noticed and asked what was wrong. Leo is truly kind. Even with his own difficult responsibilities, he always thinks about me and everyone else.
“Leo, let’s create a wonderful family together!”
“Huh? Ah, yeah… of course.”
Leo already has the bonds of a real family with the First Knights, but if he marries me, we could have a true family.
Hearing that, Leo somehow blushed faintly.
“You two are really hot for each other this morning… I’m jealous.”
“Don’t tease His Highness.”
“Huh?”
Yoti and Rick muttered something meaningful while watching us, and I wondered if I had said something strange.
“When you two have kids, I’ll play with them a lot!”
“Yoti, that’s way too far in the future!”
“Oh, is that so?”
Seeing Yoti grinning and Leo still looking embarrassed, it suddenly dawned on me.
Of course… last night, we slept in the same room, so they must have misunderstood…!!
“N-No, it’s not like that! Well, it is… but what I meant by creating a wonderful family wasn’t exactly that… actually, it kind of was, but not…!”
“It’s okay, Sibel. I understand.”
“…Yes.”
Elga’s words settled the situation, but because I said something awkward in front of everyone, I had embarrassed Leo…!
The carriage ride afterward passed in an awkward silence that was hard to endure.
“Our territory is famous for its hot springs.”
“Hot springs…?”
While talking about the Mücke Territory, Yoti brought up the topic of hot springs. I had never been to one before, so I couldn’t help but feel a little excited.
“Hot springs are great! They relieve fatigue and feel amazing!”
“I’ve never been to a hot spring.”
“They’re different from regular baths! Right, Your Highness?”
“Yeah, the hot springs in the Mücke Territory not only recover fatigue but also have beautifying effects.”
“Exactly, that’s why they’re popular even for tourism. Well, it’s still the countryside though.”
“I see.”
Leo and Mirco had visited the Mücke Territory a few years ago for knightly duties. The hot springs had been very well received by the knights even then.
Hot springs… I’ve never been, but I’ve read about them in books.
In the book, everyone entered the large hot spring together.
Yes, both men and women together.
Just thinking about that scene made my heart race.
“Just so you know, it’s not mixed bathing, okay? You can’t enter with Sibel-chan~”
“I-I know that already――!”
I was caught off guard and flustered by Yoti’s sudden words to Leo. Mixed bathing… I didn’t think I would enter with Leo, but I hadn’t expected the topic to even come up!
“I don’t mind!!”
“…Huh?”
I blurted it out, and everyone stared at me in surprise. I felt my face heating up.
“No, um, it’s fine, I understand! Hot springs are supposed to be like that, right? It’s okay, I don’t have any weird thoughts!”
“…………”
Being able to enter a hot spring with Leo… how wonderful that would be!!
Even though the sea was fun, hot springs would be amazing too.
I conveyed that I had no impure thoughts, but Leo looked slightly troubled.
…Huh? Did I say something weird?
Calm down, Sibel. Don’t get too excited.
“If you ever tried to enter a mixed bath, I’d stop you with all my might…”
“Huh?”
“Sibel-chan, don’t worry. The men’s and women’s baths are separated, so it’s fine.”
“…I see, that’s how it is.”
In the book, the hot springs were mixed, but apparently in the Mücke Territory, men and women have separate baths.
“Well, if it’s just you and His Highness, I could make it a private bath~”
“Wha!? Y-What are you saying, Yoti!”
“Come on, you’d secretly be happy, right?”
“Yoti!!”
…Well!
Watching the interaction between Leo and Yoti, I felt my excitement rise even more. A private bath… that’s way too wonderful!!
To have Leo’s muscles all to myself… is that really okay?
But thinking rationally, Yoti is probably just teasing Leo in his usual manner—it must be a joke. Even I can tell now. Unfortunately…
Besides, we are going to the Mücke Territory for work. Just because the work in Tori went smoothly doesn’t mean I can relax.
Yes, this isn’t playtime. While sending Almin off, I also need to place the saint’s blessing on the magic stones.
Even though my power has stabilized compared to before, I cannot afford to be careless!
As a saint, I have to do my best!!
“…More importantly, I hope our territory hasn’t suffered any monster attacks.”
“It’ll be fine, Almin. Don’t worry so much.”
“The Mücke Territory has always had little monster damage.”
“That’s right!”
Yoti and Mirco reassured the worried Almin, but he still fidgeted nervously.
He’d seen monsters directly, after all. I understand; they are terrifying.
“Well, even if something happens, it’ll be easy for the First Knights to handle! And we have a reliable saint with us too.”
“Yes! Leave it to me!”
“You’re reliable, Sibel-chan, but don’t push yourself too hard.”
“Yes, Leo.”
I won’t overdo it, but my motivation is high. I’ll place the saint’s blessing on the magic stones and protect the peace of the Mücke Territory!
“Still, hot springs… once the work is done, it’d be nice to relax for a change.”
“Rick, you haven’t been to the Mücke Territory, have you? Our hot springs are really great! Plus, there’s delicious alcohol and skilled masseuses.”
“Hmm, that sounds fun.”
…Alcohol, hot springs, massage.
It sounds perfect for relieving fatigue.
Just as Rick said, once the work is done, I want Leo and everyone else to relax in the hot springs and recover from their usual exhaustion.
Yes, bringing rest and comfort to Leo and the knights is my joy…!
Maybe I should even study massage techniques? That way, back in the capital, I can always help ease Leo’s fatigue.
…Of course, my goal is to relieve Leo’s fatigue, not to have an excuse to touch his muscles. Absolutely not.
“I’m looking forward to it, Sibel-chan.”
“…Hehe, I’ll do my best.”
“Huh?”
Dreaming of that moment, I let my imagination run wild, and Leo watched over me warmly.
