Chapter 19
The Second Unit of the Pierrot Knight Order, which guarded the northern villa, consisted of exceptionally skilled knights.
‘Still, it’s unsettling to leave Luigi alone. It would be reassuring if one of our knights could go as an escort soon.’
Lea, after some thought, called in Sir Biden to discuss the matter.
“We happen to have a suitable member,” Sir Biden said with a bright expression.
“He’s from the north and has been considering retirement, so he would be perfect for the escort duty you mentioned.”
“Retirement? Is he older?”
“No, not at all. He’s just turned thirty, but his injuries haven’t been healing well.”
Sir Biden added cautiously. The knight had only applied for retirement because he didn’t want to become a burden to the order, not because his skills were lacking.
“He’s highly loyal as well. Although he hasn’t had many chances to stand out, he’s accumulated considerable merit. It’s a shame for such a young knight to lay down his sword already—I tried to stop him, but….”
“I see. If his injuries are serious enough to consider retirement, is he still suitable for escort duties?”
“He wouldn’t be able to handle elite missions of the Pierrot Knight Order, but something like guarding in this remote area would be no problem at all. Even if a group of village men attacked him 17 to 1, he would win.”
That was reassuring enough.
Well, who trained him, after all? Lea nodded, thinking of her second older brother.
“Hmm. But if he’s at that level, he could just continue serving instead of retiring. Why did he apply for retirement?”
“Apparently, due to his knightly pride, he felt that occupying a position in the elite Pierrot Knight Order would lower morale.”
“Ah.”
With that kind of personality, he would be trustworthy as Luigi’s escort. His abilities and circumstances seemed well suited for the role. She made her decision.
“Alright. Then Sir Biden, please make the arrangements.”
“He will surely be grateful to Your Highness for this opportunity.”
❀ ❀ ❀
That afternoon,
Sir Dillon, a knight from the north, visited and bowed deeply.
“Thank you for Your Highness’s consideration.”
The end of his voice trembled slightly.
“I had thought my only option left was to return to my hometown and become a swordsmanship instructor. Thank you for allowing me to remain a knight of Pierrot.”
Lea nodded.
‘Seeing his face, he really is still young.’
She understood why Sir Biden had been concerned.
Thanks to her brothers, she had some understanding of what knights were like. From a very young age, they trained with swords, and only a select few with talent became knights.
To become a knight of the Duke Pierrot’s household, they must have trained intensely, spending the majority of their lives with the sword.
‘When Luian brother couldn’t even hold a sword anymore, it felt like the world was collapsing.’
Sir Dillon must have felt something similar. Unlike Luian, he wasn’t the duke’s son, so he must have also been worried about making a living.
“We can at least offer this much consideration when you’ve devoted your youth and talent to our family.”
Sir Dillon slowly lifted his head to look at Lea.
He had thought she was just a frail princess, but her demeanor—exercising authority while remaining generous—was fitting of someone from the Pierrot ducal family.
“…This is a tremendous kindness to me.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
She added,
“Don’t think of it as too much of a favor. This is an employment relationship, is it not? I’ve simply purchased your abilities and sincerity because I needed them, so don’t regard it purely as a debt of gratitude.”
Sir Dillon felt a warmth rise in his throat.
As a country-born knight from the north, he had been selected and raised by the commander, who helped him become a proper knight. For that alone, he had considered himself indebted to the Pierrot family.
He had felt immense guilt at the thought of having to retire without repaying that debt.
But now, the princess—whom he had thought his knightly life was over—had extended a lifeline and calmly said:
“I’ve simply purchased your abilities and sincerity because I needed them, so don’t regard it purely as a debt of gratitude.”
A warmth spread through his heart, which had been weighed down with a sense of indebtedness. He felt as though he could start anew and accomplish anything.
Sir Dillon knelt.
“…As my loyalty belongs to the Pierrot ducal family, so too does my sword and my life belong to Your Highness. Please use them as you wish at any time.”
Lea blinked.
‘Lately, it feels like people keep offering their lives to me. Is it just my imagination?’
Ever since she had become healthier and started living more freely, it seemed like she kept hearing words like loyalty and devotion.
What had she even done? She had simply splurged a bit like a wealthy person accustomed to capital, and paid attention to welfare.
She replied, suppressing her awkward feelings.
“Don’t use your life recklessly—use it sparingly. It’s the only one you have.”
It had the opposite effect.
Sir Dillon looked on the verge of tears.
“For Your Highness, I will not spare anything.”
“No, I said to spare it.”
“…Your Highness, may I kiss your fingertip?”
In Peyron, a knight kissing the tip of someone’s finger was a vow to dedicate their life and soul to protect them. Lea inwardly clutched the back of her neck.
‘I literally just told him not to risk his life—why is he not listening?’
Why did he keep misinterpreting her words?
Just then—
“Denied.”
Helix suddenly burst in through the door, approached Lea, and physically blocked Sir Dillon.
“…Lea is currently training as a mage, so unnecessary contact could disrupt the mana within her body.”
“Is… is that so?”
Sir Dillon stepped back in surprise.
Wait, really?
Lea, even more surprised, quickly took a step back as well.
Helix stood firmly in front of her and warned him further.
“Be careful.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Sir Dillon, having composed himself, bowed respectfully toward Lea and withdrew. Helix silently watched him leave.
After the door closed, Lea asked,
“Is it really true that contact can disrupt mana? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“…It’s not usually that dangerous.”
Helix turned his head away, avoiding her gaze.
Something’s suspicious.
Lea narrowed her eyes. Given how carefully Helix always looked after her health, it seemed unlikely he would omit such an important warning.
“That’s a lie.”
“……”
“Why would you lie about something that doesn’t suit you?”
Helix frowned without responding. Thinking back to Sir Dillon’s gaze, he felt uneasy.
“Do you dislike Sir Dillon? Is he uncomfortable to be around?”
“No.”
Helix quickly denied it. He had no ill feelings toward the knight.
But that gaze.
Those blind, devoted eyes that people around Lea tended to show—it bothered him.
“So what, do you just dislike that I’m popular?”
“…No.”
“It doesn’t really sound like ‘no’ though….”
Lea trailed off playfully, her voice stretching out. Her eyes curved as she smiled. Helix looked down at her quietly.
“…Lea, you’re too unguarded.”
“Huh?”
“You trust people too easily and let them get close. That’s why they act like that.”
“Like what?”
“Crossing boundaries quickly and acting blindly.”
Helix spoke bluntly.
“That knight just now, and your personal maid Janet as well.”
Well… I did think it was a bit excessive, but still, calling it crossing boundaries and blind devotion seemed a bit much.
Lea objected.
“As for Sir Dillon, he’s a knight of Pierrot, so that’s understandable. And Janet’s case is special—you’ve seen it yourself.”
“I understand you have your reasons.”
“Then why are you saying that?”
Lea shot back.
“Helix, even if you’re my contract partner, that doesn’t mean you can say things like this.”
Helix fell silent for a moment. She was right.
But watching from the side, it felt… unsettling and nerve-wracking.
“…I’m just telling you to be careful.”
“About what?”
“The culprit behind the dragon’s mana contamination hasn’t been identified. There may be spies or collaborators within, yet you go around trusting and accommodating them so easily….”
“But if I hadn’t done that, you wouldn’t have been picked up either, would you?”
Helix flinched.
“…You’re right about that.”
After voicing his concerns, he readily acknowledged her point when it made sense. Helix furrowed his well-shaped brows and nodded.
Strange.
Lea stared at him. With his tall build and cold expression, brows tightly knit—
Why did he look cute?
Suddenly finding him endearing, Lea unconsciously reached out and pressed her finger against his furrowed brow. He raised his eyebrows slightly.
“What are you doing?”
“Uh… because you looked cute?”
“What are you talking about?”
Helix frowned even more, hearing something he had never been told before.
“No, I mean—it’s a compliment? Really! It’s compliment time!”
Even as she said it, Lea wasn’t sure what she was saying, but since she couldn’t take it back, she pressed on awkwardly.
“Ah, your eyebrows are handsome too.”
“…Isn’t that something you just tack on anywhere?”
Despite his sharp tone, Helix gently took her hand and lowered it.
See? He has a soft side. Lea chuckled.
“Why are you laughing?”
“It’s nothing. By the way, what brings you here at this hour? Didn’t you say today’s magic class was canceled?”
❀ ❀ ❀
“I came because I had something to discuss.”
Helix gestured toward the plate of tigone fruit Lea had been eating from.
“…About the tigone fruit.”
“Yeah.”
“Remember when we went to investigate the tigone flowers last time?”
He explained.
Tigone flowers are originally purple.
If they appear blue, it means they are contaminated, so Helix had quickly examined the tree and its surroundings.
“The tree you saw was the only one contaminated, but we couldn’t find the source. Tigone trees react easily to negative mana….”
“So it’s not a barrier issue?”
“Since only one tree was affected, it doesn’t seem to be the barrier. The barrier itself was intact upon inspection.”
He spoke seriously.
“It would be best to investigate the area around that tigone tree again.”
Lea nodded.
“Hm. Now that you mention it, that is suspicious. Let’s investigate it together.”
“…Together?”
