“No. I told you it doesn’t smell bad. And I said it smells fragrant. Fragrant enough to want to make a perfume out of it!”
“Huh? Per… fume?”
“Fragrant enough to want to make a perfume out of it… didn’t I tell you that? Hahahaha. Got you!”
Celestia was sometimes so adult-like it was hard to believe she was the same age, but other times she was so creative she was eccentric. How could she have thought of making perfume from sweat? Killian, who was genuinely worried that he smelled bad, burst out laughing at Celestia’s words. In the meantime, Celestia had quickly run away and was now far away. He was so curious about her expression. Just as Killian was about to chase after his precious friend, Lord Brivan stopped him.
“Killian.”
“Yes, Master.”
Killian stopped in his tracks and bowed his head to Lord Brivan. Even though he was told he didn’t have to, Killian always showed his master, Lord Brivan, his sincerest respect. Unlike usual, Lord Brivan returned Killian’s greeting with a nod and knelt on one knee in front of him. Surprised by Lord Brivan’s posture, Killian took a step back.
“Master! Why are you doing this!”
“Right now, I am not the Master of Young Lord Marchen, but merely a representative of Her Highness, Princess Celestia.”
Lord Brivan said that and carefully handed Killian a long box that he had placed beside him. Before Killian could express his confusion, Lord Brivan added an explanation.
“This sword was specially bestowed upon Young Lord Killian Marchen by Her Highness, Princess Celestia.”
“What? Tia… no, Her Highness, for me?”
Lord Brivan handed the sword to Killian, who still hadn’t fully grasped what was happening.
“I hope you will wield this sword for the glory of the Salient Empire and Her Highness, Princess Celestia.”
Killian, who held the box containing the long sword in his arms, nodded. His heart pounded. The little boy’s eyes, which had rarely teared up after meeting Celestia, became moist. After a moment of silence to compose himself, Killian knelt abruptly in front of Lord Brivan. When he looked up, his eyes were clear and bright, like a sky that had cleared up after the rain.
“Master.”
“Yes.”
“Please teach me the Knight’s Oath.”
“The Knight’s Oath? Killian. That’s not something you should offer lightly…!”
“Please, teach me, Master.”
The Knight’s Oath was an extremely heavy and solemn vow that dedicated the sovereignty of one’s life and death to the object of the oath. It was not an oath that could be broken if one changed their mind or regretted it, so Lord Brivan was so flustered by Killian’s words that he unknowingly held his breath. However, Lord Brivan had no choice but to nod at his apprentice’s resolute and determined request. Deep down, he secretly hoped that Killian, a seven-year-old child, would not understand the oath.
A little while later, Killian, wearing a sword on his waist that fit his hand perfectly and was neither too heavy nor too light, headed for Celestia’s palace. His friend, who was too cute to be a princess, had surely run away because she was embarrassed by what she had said. As he walked to the bedroom, Killian repeated the Knight’s Oath he had just learned from Lord Brivan over and over again in his mind. His ribs were swelling and his breathing was fast. At this rate, he might not be able to stand in front of Celestia. No, he might faint. However, the moment he received the sword bestowed by Celestia, Killian made a promise to himself.
He would not be greedy for a return on his shallow feelings, and would remain by Celestia’s side with unchanging loyalty, even if it was one-sided. Forever. That was the best resolution Killian, who had grown up too quickly for his age due to various abuses and coldness, could make.
Killian was pacing in front of Celestia’s bedroom. It had been a long time since the sounds coming from beyond the closed door sounded like someone whispering in front of him.
“He said he wouldn’t come anymore? Of course he wouldn’t. Ugh.”
He didn’t know why she was mistaken that he wouldn’t come anymore, but he was grateful for the cute pouting sound she made in her disappointment. Liz, who had finished drying Celestia’s hair, came out of the bedroom, saying she would bring some warm tea. Startled, Liz saw Killian standing in front of the door and raised a finger to her lips, her eyes full of warmth.
Every time he met her, he felt that Liz was the best maid with a good personality and quick wit. She sometimes made dangerous jokes and played pranks that made him wonder if they were appropriate, but the look in her eyes when she saw Killian, Adel, and Celestia was always filled with warmth. She was like a big sister.
Liz quickly brought in a tray with warm tea and tea foods and offered the handle of the trolley to Killian.
“Pardon?”
“You’ve been waiting for a long time, Young Lord? Please go in quickly. Her Highness will be so surprised, won’t she?”
“Thank you.”
“Have a good time. Call me if you need anything.”
Wink.
Liz opened the bedroom door.
“Tia, I’m coming in.”
“…Ki-Killian?”
“Can I come in, Tia?”
Celestia, who had been pouting as if glaring at an invisible Liz, awkwardly raised the corners of her mouth when she met Killian’s eyes.
“Were you too embarrassed to give it to me yourself and ran away?”
“Huh?”
“The gift, I mean. Thank you. I’m so happy.”
He could see her eyes, which held the light of a new leaf, rolling around, so she must have been truly embarrassed. Killian was pleased even by that and continued to speak. His heart fluttered with every word he spoke, meeting her eyes that sparkled like stars. It meant that the fact that Celestia had given him a sword was undeniable.
“Master told me. You went to the blacksmith yourself to make this sword. I’m so touched that you went to such lengths for me. I’ll train hard and become a great Marchen.”
Celestia, who was avoiding his gaze, what she was thinking, widened her eyes when Killian called her name.
“Tia?”
Then she smiled brightly as if nothing had happened. It was the same smile she always gave Killian.
“No, Killian. I’m happy that I could give you a sword.”
“Speaking of which, Tia. I have something to give you, too.”
Killian gently tugged on the end of my sleeve.
“Could you stand here? I learned this in a hurry, so I don’t know if it’s right, but…”
“Uh, okay…”
I felt an uncomfortable feeling for some reason, but Killian’s mind was already so full of the Knight’s Oath that he couldn’t think of anything else. The fact that he could dedicate the Knight’s Oath to Celestia made him feel like he was floating. The high spirits rose to his throat, and his voice trembled.
“Her Highness, Celestia Mond, the small star of the empire that shines most beautifully.”
“Ah… Killian. This…”
As expected, the smart Celestia knows about the Knight’s Oath.
To make a perfect oath without any mistakes, Killian suppressed his wild breathing and spoke slowly.
“You are the light that illuminates my path, the reason for me to love my days; to you, the owner of the sword I wield, I swear to offer my everything until the last day of my life.”
Killian, sitting in an unmoving posture, reverently and solemnly offered his sword to Celestia. The hand offering the sword was wearing the bracelet that Celestia had made for him.
“Killian, I cannot accept your oath.”
“Tia?”
Before Killian’s eyes could be filled with confusion, Celestia smiled brightly and said.
“Let’s make the oath after you become a knight first.”
“Ah… ah!”
Killian quickly moistened his suddenly dry lips and replied.
“Yes, after I become a knight. I’ll do it again then, Tia.”
With a dazzling smile, Killian replied. He now had two things to look forward to with Celestia in the future, in addition to the time capsule. He decided to write down the fact that he was even happier because Adel wasn’t there in his diary and not say it out loud.
While Killian went to wash up and get refreshed, I was biting my lip and shaking my legs.
I know.
“All romance fantasy novels are like this, what can you do?”
I knew too well that if an outsider got involved, the story would get all twisted, so I tried my best to maintain the balance… but I never expected to receive the Knight’s Oath from Killian while Adel was gone. The Knight’s Oath is similar in nature to a subjugation curse. The only difference is whether the subjugation is voluntary or coercive. Once the oath is uttered and the covenant is established, the knight is forever subjugated to the lord.
How much effort did I put into getting rid of that subjugation curse = death flag, so why is the Knight’s Oath coming out of nowhere? I stopped it with a flimsy joke, but I was seriously scared. I still felt cold sweat running down my back.
“Phew. That was a close call. From now on, I’m going to put up a complete iron wall!”
I have to stop him from even mentioning the word ‘oath.’
As I was making that resolution, Killian, who had finished showering, returned. A fresh scent like an orange filled the room. My nostrils flared involuntarily.
“Tia?”
Forget the Knight’s Oath, the perfume… can’t I really make it? For the sake of environmental protection, I have to make it into a perfume. 100% carbon reduction is possible. Look. The earth is breathing.
