Chapter 74
“Tia? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
Killian bent down to check my complexion.
“Is it because you feel sick? It’s okay if you throw up, Tia. It’s normal to feel queasy the first time you see something like this. Don’t worry.”
Adel lightly patted my back.
“N-no, it’s not that…”
What should I say? No, wait—why is Achilles following Adel?
Unsorted thoughts clogged my throat.
“Guys, let’s just…”
I was about to say we should head back to the palace when Killian suddenly hid me behind his back and gave Adel a look. Adel cracked his neck with a loud crack, crack.
“Why.”
“Shh.”
Killian pulled out a dagger and tossed it, which Adel swiftly caught.
“Tia, you don’t like blood?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Not really.”
“Got it. No blood then.”
I had no idea what was going on.
Should I stop them? Or not? While I was debating—
“Wait!!! Stop, Adel!!!”
Something happened that forced me to intervene.
I never imagined such a scene. And it was happening so much sooner than I’d ever expected.
“So you’re telling me.”
“Sir Jerron.”
“That we didn’t even know—”
“He’s your bodyguard?”
When did those two start finishing each other’s sentences so smoothly?
Killian and Adel were alternating lines. I glanced once at Jerron sitting beside me, then again at Killian and Adel sitting across, and answered,
“Not right now, but soon?”
At this point, I had no choice but to brazen it out.
“I was testing whether Sir Jerron would make a suitable guard knight, but I didn’t know today would be part of the test? Hahaha. I guess it was a test of his abilities in an outside setting?”
“Aha!”
“What do you mean, aha.”
Killian nudged Adel with his elbow.
“Sir Jerron doesn’t seem like just a guard. Right, Tia?”
“Huh? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
What on earth does he know to be saying something like that?
I puffed my cheeks slightly, then declared firmly again.
“It’s true. I just wanted a guard my own age, so I chose Sir Jerron from among the new recruits to the Imperial Knights.”
“Because he’s handsome? Or tall? Or maybe because he’s dependable? What exactly was the reason?”
Adel gleefully kept tossing tricky questions, clearly just enjoying herself.
“W-what? No. I mean—cough! Not exactly for those reasons, but… not that they aren’t reasons, either, but…”
Even I didn’t know what I was saying anymore.
Adel tilted her head, looking like she wasn’t even interested in the answer.
“But now that I look at you two, you resemble each other quite a bit.”
“In what way, exactly?”
Killian retorted more curtly than usual. The uncharacteristic sharpness in his tone caught my attention—until Adel suddenly clapped her hands.
“See! Their hair color is the same. Of course, our Tia’s hair is uniquely dark as the midnight sky and shines like the Milky Way, so no one could ever truly compare…”
Aww, our Tia.
Want to swap hair with me?
Adel wriggled her body playfully as she asked.
“Adel, you keep derailing the point. Just shut your mouth.”
“Hey, Killian. Why don’t you shut up for once? Just because you have a mouth doesn’t mean you can say whatever you want. Seriously? You clearly haven’t been beaten enough lately.”
“I’ve never been beaten at all.”
Adel and Killian started bickering again.
Back then, their quarrels used to make me nervous. But now… it almost felt nice to watch—no! Focus, Tia!
“Okay! Killian? Adel? Enough!”
I waved my hands.
“Why don’t we just send Jerron back and talk among ourselves? Jerron looks pretty confused too…”
“Shall we?”
Before Adel could agree, Killian shook his head.
“No. I want to hear it now. I get the feeling Sir Jerron came not to save Tia, but to save that guy earlier.”
Persistent, my most stubborn—yet favorite.
“Th-that’s impossible, Killian.”
Seeing that he had no intention of listening, I inhaled deeply and exhaled.
And then, the long-silent Jerron finally spoke.
“I will explain, Sir Märchen.”
No! Just stay quiet!
I tried sending telepathic signals with my eyes, but Jerron ignored me and continued.
“It is true that I was assigned as Her Highness’s bodyguard knight. You can confirm this with Sir Briburn right away, so I won’t waste words explaining further.”
“That alone doesn’t answer all doubts, Sir Jerron.”
“Yes. As for what you mentioned…”
“Go on.”
“It’s all a misunderstanding. I entered only to rescue Her Highness, and have no connection whatsoever to that man.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. When Her Highness went into the alley and did not return for some time, I went in. The moment I stepped inside, I felt killing intent and drew my sword only to defend.”
“Unbelievable.”
Killian clicked his tongue mockingly and ran a hand through his hair.
“Sir Jerron, if it was truly to protect Tia, you should have chosen a different method. To recklessly unleash your aura without even assessing the danger to Tia…”
“That was…”
Interrupting Killian, Jerron lowered his head and spoke with sincere humility.
“I apologize. I am still an inexperienced knight, and my emotions got ahead of me. I made a mistake.”
Killian fell silent at Jerron’s respectful apology.
Phew, thank goodness. Let’s patch this up fast!
I slapped Jerron’s shoulder in a rough but comforting way.
“It happens! It happens! These two are my closest friends and they’re incredibly strong, so of course you were startled. And when you’re startled, mistakes happen. Just don’t let it happen again, okay?”
“Yes, Your Highness. I am ashamed.”
Jerron bowed his head to me as well.
“It’s fine. Go on back now.”
“Are you sure… that’s all right?”
“It’s fine, right?”
Jerron and I both looked to Killian. Killian rubbed his furrowed brow, then grudgingly muttered,
“Why are you asking me, Tia?”
“Because you’re making that nasty scowling face! Anyone would think you’re the master here!”
Adel smacked Killian on the back again.
“Argh! Adelaide Luwendiff! You—!”
“Adel!”
I shot her a glare, and she grinned sheepishly while rubbing Killian’s back.
“Sorry, Killian.”
“It’s fine, Adel.”
An unconvincing reconciliation.
Breaking the silence, Jerron rose to his feet.
“Your Highness, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll return to the palace. I feel I’ve disturbed your time with your friends. I’ll devote myself to training so I may become a knight worthy of protecting you.”
Was he always this eloquent?
I was secretly impressed as I saw him off.
That night, I summoned Jerron. There was still unfinished business between us.
“Jerron.”
“Your Highness, I apologize for today.”
“No, more importantly…”
It felt wrong to press him when he apologized first, so I started by asking about the guild member.
“That guild member earlier—is he all right? He looked badly hurt.”
“Ah… he was treated well. He’s resilient, so he’ll recover.”
“I see…”
I drummed my fingers on the table. How should I bring this up? Why had he assigned someone to shadow Adel?
The worst-case scenario was that Jerron was betraying me as a double agent.
If that were the case… I might be able to handle it.
I was just about to open my mouth when Jerron beat me to it.
“Your Highness, forgive me.”
“Huh? F-for what?”
My fists clenched.
Was he about to admit betrayal?
Ugh… I really read too many romance-fantasy novels in my past life.
Bloody betrayal scenes flashed in my mind, and I swallowed hard.
“It is true I placed someone to watch over Lady Luwendiff. But I never expected it to be exposed like today.”
Apparently, his original watcher had been sent elsewhere temporarily, which was why it got noticed.
Jerron whispered this almost like an excuse, then looked straight at me.
“Why… did you put someone on her?”
I’d asked him to investigate Adel’s teacher, sure, but never to shadow Adel herself.
At least if he explained, I’d have something to respond to.
Jerron tilted his head slightly, then answered.
“When you asked me to find out about Lady Luwendiff’s master, I sent someone to the temple. But they told me Lady Luwendiff was never assigned a master.”
“What?”
“They also said she hasn’t visited the temple since completing basic training. That felt suspicious, so… I assigned someone to her. If she was being trained, eventually she’d meet a teacher. I thought it best to catch that moment.”
“Ah… I see.”
That made sense. Of course—Jerron had only been acting in what he thought was the best way to fulfill my order.
“In that case, I understand. Thanks for telling me, Jerron.”
“No, Your Highness. I only wanted to bring you results sooner, but if this displeased you, I’ll be more careful next time.”
“It’s fine.”
I wrinkled my nose and reassured him.
Thank goodness. It wasn’t betrayal. Whew.
Relieved, a yawn slipped out.
“Ha-aahm… oh right!”
I almost forgot the most important thing!
“Did you find out who her teacher is?”
“Ah, about that…”
