Chapter 16.
Those Two Really Do Seem Close
Chanellica and Derwin had assumed that after the princess’s banquet, they would have no further reason to see each other. But things did not go as they thought.
“Chanel! Come on in!”
As soon as Princess Lydia saw Chanellica’s soft pink hair through the window, she shouted joyfully. She had been eagerly waiting for Chanellica to arrive.
“Your Highness, what brings you here?”
“I was out for a walk and just happened to stop by.”
A lie, obviously. Even though they were in the same royal palace, the distance from Lydia’s residence to the Kaisel Knights’ building was quite far. But regardless of whether others noticed or not, Lydia was clearly excited.
Chanellica’s gaze shifted slightly to one corner of her office—her eyes met a pair of dark ones. Of course he was there.
Those two are like a set.
“Come on in!”
At Lydia’s cheerful call, Chanellica smiled, hiding her inner grumbling.
After stepping into the Knights’ building and entering her office, Chanellica found Lydia standing in the center and Derwin off to the side.
“I don’t think I’ll have time this afternoon, so I dropped by for a moment. Didn’t want to miss you.”
Lydia smiled softly. Her smile seemed to light up the room.
Maybe it was the royal blood. Chanellica couldn’t help but marvel at how small and pure Lydia’s face looked.
A week had passed since the banquet.
The very next day, Lydia had summoned Chanellica to her palace. She had asked her to teach her the Garion language for an hour a day.
“I’m sorry, but I’m a translator, not a teacher. I’m not good at teaching.”
Chanellica had politely declined. She truly had no idea how to teach a language—she had never learned how.
But Lydia was persistent. She was desperate to learn Garion.
In the end, Chanellica resorted to simply writing a few basic sentences each day. Lydia was thankful even for that. Moreover, since they were close in age, Lydia started treating her like a friend, even speaking casually.
The only problem was that Chanellica now had to be in the same room with Derwin every day. Because of that, she naturally came to learn what her mate had been doing in the human world.
“Chanel, this is Sir Derwin. He’s an honorary duke of our kingdom and currently serves as my bodyguard.”
She had wanted to ask what an “honorary duke” was, but reminded herself that she wasn’t going to care about him anymore. Still, the “bodyguard” part bothered her.
He’s always by that pretty princess’s side?
It was just a temporary amusement. Chanellica, though Derwin’s mate, had no right to interfere. Amusements were moments when dragons could live completely different lives, detached from their own. Besides, theirs was a bond in name only—there were no actual feelings involved. He didn’t even remember her, so she had no right to complain.
Still… it kind of bothered her.
Chanellica tried hard not to care.
“You could’ve just sent a messenger…”
“I wanted to see your face. I mean, we’re friends now, right? I’ve never had a friend I liked this much.”
Lydia blushed as she spoke. At twenty-two, she was both elegant and innocent. According to her maids, she had rarely had friends her own age—especially female ones.
“Thank you for coming all this way, Your Highness.”
Chanellica smiled in response. The fact that Lydia was always with Derwin unsettled her, but it wasn’t Lydia’s fault. In fact, she seemed like a genuinely good person.
“But, oh no… I didn’t prepare today’s sentences yet. I’ve been so busy.”
“That’s okay! I just came to see your face today. I thought I might miss you, but I’m glad I caught you. I’ll head off now.”
As Lydia turned to leave, Chanellica moved to escort her.
“You don’t need to. You just got here.”
“You came all this way. I’ll walk you out.”
Chanellica walked alongside Lydia. But the footsteps behind them—those of the man walking with them—sounded particularly loud.
As the three of them walked in the spring breeze, someone approached from the opposite direction—a tall man with long silver hair.
“Your Highness!”
“Sir Stern.”
Stern stepped forward, bowing deeply in a knight’s salute.
“What brings you to our Order?”
“I came by to see Miss Chanel. Oh, and you were the one who vouched for her identity when she entered the palace, weren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“How did you come to know someone like her?”
Their eyes met, checking to see if they remembered the cover story they had agreed on.
“She’s my acquaintance’s niece. She wanted to work as a translator but didn’t have proper ID, so I vouched for her.”
“I see. Thanks to you, I gained a wonderful friend.”
Lydia smiled and turned to Chanellica.
“Chanel, I heard you’re working at the Kaisel Knights because of ID issues. Isn’t it uncomfortable?”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Being around all men must be tough.”
“It’s just work. The commander treats me well, and everyone is kind, so it’s fine.”
Chanellica smiled brightly. Lydia turned back to Stern.
“She’s really being treated well, right, Sir Stern?”
“Haha. I try to treat her like a real brother would. Right, Chanel?”
“Yes. He always takes good care of me.”
“I’m glad.”
Lydia continued asking questions about palace life, not as royalty or a translator, but as a friend.
“Well then, I’ll be off.”
“Please take care.”
As time passed, Lydia bid farewell and walked away from the building. Almost immediately, voices sounded behind Chanellica.
“Chanel, let’s eat lunch outside today.”
“Huh? Outside?”
“The others went out for errands. It’s just the two of us. I already told the kitchen not to prepare anything.”
“So… outside the palace?”
“Yep. There’s a place I like. My treat.”
“Wow, sounds great!”
Though she walked ahead of them, Derwin could still hear their voices clearly. Apparently, so could Lydia.
“Sir Derwin… those two really do seem close.”
Lydia said with a hint of envy, glancing at Derwin. But he simply kept walking, expressionless.
What he didn’t realize, however, was that his fist had clenched tightly without him even noticing.
Later…
Chanellica’s palace life as a translator and the princess’s friend continued peacefully.
“Next sentence, Your Highness.”
“Ugh, it’s too hard.”
“Shall we stop for today?”
“No! Let’s keep going. I’ll try harder!”
“Sorry. I’m not very good at teaching…”
“No, it’s fine! I asked you for this. Let’s go again!”
Despite her words, Lydia looked deeply flustered. Still, she diligently copied the sentences onto fine parchment.
Why does the back of my head feel hot?
Watching Lydia studying hard, Chanellica rubbed the back of her neck. Every time she came to the palace, she got this strange feeling—as if Derwin was staring at her. Maybe she was just being overly sensitive.
“But Your Highness…”
“Hmm?”
“Is Sir Derwin always with you?”
At the unexpected question, Lydia looked up.
“Oh… is he making you uncomfortable?”
“No, it’s just… he always seems to be here.”
Lydia glanced back. Naturally, Chanellica’s gaze followed. Derwin was reading a small book in one hand.
“He’s my guard, but he’s not always around. He’s only here when I meet outsiders.”
“So he’s here every time I visit?”
“Yeah. If only he were around all the time—ah! Forget I said that.”
Lydia’s cheeks turned red. Chanellica had to think about what those flushed cheeks meant.
The relationship between Princess Lydia and her mate, Derwin.
“……”
She almost asked, Do you like him?—but she didn’t. She already knew the answer.
“Ah, it’s suddenly hot. I’ll go get some fresh air.”
Lydia stood abruptly and left the room. Derwin started to follow her, but—
“I’ll go alone. Stay.”
She didn’t even look back as she stopped him. Chanellica simply watched the whole scene.
Now only she and Derwin remained.
“……”
No one spoke. Silence settled in.
Feeling awkward, Chanellica decided to write a few more sentences for Lydia. After jotting one down, her face twisted, and she scribbled over it hastily.
Why does that “so handsome” sentence keep popping out?! In writing, no less!
She aggressively blacked out the sentence, sighing inwardly.
“Where did you learn Garion?”
Breaking the silence, Derwin suddenly spoke.
Why’s he talking to me now?
Chanellica frowned, intending not to respond.
“…I didn’t learn it.”
But her mouth betrayed her intentions and answered anyway.
Ugh, seriously? Did I just blurt out the truth?
Realizing how strange that sounded, she turned to look at Derwin. He too had put down his book and was now staring directly at her.
Suddenly feeling mischievous, she said:
“Actually, I don’t know Garion at all.”
Chanellica smiled as she said it. Derwin’s expression froze.
You’re teaching Garion, but don’t know it?
“What do you mean—”
“Oh! Were you two talking?”
Just as Derwin was about to ask, Lydia returned and cut him off.
“Ah. I was just asking if he was hungry from standing all day.”
Chanellica smiled innocently at Lydia as if nothing had happened.
