Chapter 45 …
Theodore spoke with a gentle voice, a smile on his lips—surprisingly out of character given his usual image.
“It truly is a good opportunity, so as you say, it seems we should go. And when I hear you speak of danger and potential harm, I can’t help but worry.”
“No, that’s not—”
“If a companion who has joined hands with me might come to harm, then I should share in the responsibility.”
Why is the conversation going in that direction…?
He was known as a just and virtuous ruler, but also a cold-blooded man who used people like chess pieces when necessary.
So why on earth would it matter to him if I got hurt…! If he could just sit back and reap the benefits, wouldn’t that be enough?!
“I have won martial tournaments before, so I’ll be of help at the very least—I won’t be a hindrance.”
Theodore spoke smoothly. He wasn’t wrong. He was certainly not someone who would get in the way.
“But—when Your Majesty comes close, I can’t use my divine powers! And if Your Majesty comes along, what will people say? The count will be shocked!”
I hurriedly protested with perfectly rational reasons.
“I believe you said it would be fine as long as I stayed more than twenty-one meters away. I’ll lie in wait outside the estate.”
“Ah… outside.”
I still didn’t like it. Just imagining it was burdensome. An emperor waiting for me to finish my work—how nerve-wracking was that?
“No, but if an emergency arises and the distance between us has to close—”
“Then it would be a situation I must resolve, not one your abilities could handle.”
I thought my excuse sounded quite convincing even as I said it, but it was completely useless against his eloquence.
And since the twenty-one meters had been measured by me personally, I couldn’t very well insist that it had to be farther.
I should’ve measured the distance later…
I had to come up with another excuse.
“Um… Your Majesty is incredibly busy, after all. I’d hate to be a distraction—”
“Really? I trust I haven’t appeared to you as a fool incapable of managing my own time.”
“…Th-that’s not it. I just feel like I might be inconveniencing you, so I’m sorry—”
“Aren’t we partners who’ve joined hands? You’re no inconvenience at all.”
It was like every word was a shield, blocking anything I threw at him.
When my defeat became obvious, Theodore smiled faintly.
I didn’t know what he was thinking, but one thing was clear.
He’s convinced I’m going to mess this up…!
It was unfair to be trusted so little, but I couldn’t argue with him right now.
“You said tomorrow night, correct? Come here.”
“Yes…”
In the end, I raised both hands and feet in surrender to Theodore.
Come to think of it, maybe this is for the best.
If I successfully stole the ledger while keeping Theodore twenty-one meters away, wouldn’t he finally believe me?
If I could even briefly show myself floating, it would be visible no matter the distance—outdoors, with a wide-open estate garden.
An ability I’d otherwise have to deliberately demonstrate—he was coming to verify it himself?
This is a chance.
Thinking that, I packed my things.
Lastly, I locked my door.
So that no one would notice my absence.
The maids usually prepared my bed right after dinner and didn’t enter my room afterward, but still—just in case.
The Grand Temple locked all its doors at night.
So slipping out unnoticed through an open entrance, like during the day or early evening, wasn’t an option.
Tonight, it’s the window.
It was a method I normally avoided to conserve Agatha’s strength.
[Dorothy. I’ve really been overflowing with power lately.]
The gods had recovered considerably more than before, so this time I decided to be bold.
[Lady Agatha, are you ready?]
[Yes!]
[Let’s go!]
In the darkened room, outside swallowed by night, I stepped onto the wide windowsill, wearing a worn robe over my white dress.
My body floated upward.
I even felt something gently wrapping around me.
This feeling… wasn’t there before.
Feeling as though I were seated in a comfortable armchair, I drifted gently down toward the ground.
For some reason, today felt really—
[Huh, wait. Why— Theo—]
So it wasn’t the same.
Along with Agatha’s startled voice—
“Ugh—!”
My body plummeted.
Whatever had been holding me vanished, and the ground rushed up at terrifying speed.
“Damn it.”
Then once more, something wrapped around me—firm, warm, solid.
A hot body temperature.
A scent both sweet and bitter.
“…Your Majesty?”
Eyes wide, I looked at the man who had caught me and fallen backward with me in his arms.
It was Theodore.
“No… how did this—”
“Are you all right?! Are you hurt anywhere?”
He asked urgently. Still in his arms, I answered in a daze.
“I’m fine, Your Majesty. But why are you here? What brings you—”
“I see. Thank goodness…”
Theodore let out a deep breath.
“Your Majesty, what is going on? Why—”
“I must be insane. I truly must be.”
He let out a hollow laugh.
“Your Majesty?”
“You… really flew.”
It seemed the issue of trust had been resolved far sooner than I expected. I’d thought he’d see me fly at the count’s estate, not here.
A bewildered Theodore was something I’d never seen before.
Still lying atop him, I quietly looked down at his face.
Somehow, his cold blue eyes seemed a little gentler than before.
“You saw me… flying, didn’t you?”
“…Yes. You just… floated up like that, and then came drifting down… I saw it.”
For someone who worshiped science and detested the supernatural, it must have felt strange even saying those words.
Sure enough, Theodore let out a long sigh.
He must be feeling quite conflicted.
Still, he must know now that I hadn’t been lying. I was simply pleased with the swift results.
“So… it was all real. Everything you said.”
“If you think there might be some trick involved, would you like to examine it?”
“If such trickery were possible, I’d replace all my engineers and hire you alone.”
He spoke with his usual sarcastic humor.
“Haha. I wouldn’t be much help with technological development.”
Very good. Everything’s going smoothly.
I was smiling brightly when suddenly—
“…I’m sorry for coming within twenty-one meters, Saintess.”
Out of nowhere, Theodore apologized.
“Seeing that… I approached without thinking.”
“Ah.”
“It was only one step. I didn’t expect it to turn out like this. It was my fault. I apologize.”
True.
Whether or not he believed me, things could’ve gone terribly wrong just now.
So an apology was certainly warranted.
I knew he was someone who readily acknowledged his mistakes and apologized when necessary—but—
Seeing that subdued expression, when I was so used to his angry face…
This is refreshing…!
A mischievous urge rose within me.
I lifted the corner of my lips slightly and spoke teasingly.
“So it was because of Your Majesty that I fell?”
This was a rare chance—a precious opportunity to tease someone who was always terrifying.
One I absolutely couldn’t miss.
“…I’m sorry. I apologize.”
“Oh, it was so scary while I was falling. I thought I saw my great-grandfather waiting for me.”
“I’m sorry. Truly sorry.”
“You’re really that sorry?”
“Of course. You could have died from a fall like that. I’m truly sorry.”
I grinned. Watching Theodore fluster like this was unexpectedly fun.
“Then perhaps you could kneel and beg—”
I’d gone too far. Speaking playfully, I suddenly realized it and quickly shut my mouth.
I cautiously checked his reaction, wondering if he was angry.
“Unfortunately, an emperor cannot kneel.”
Thankfully, he wasn’t angry.
“So I’ll have to find another way. Is there something you need? Perhaps one of my islands—”
Not only was he not angry—he was escalating it.
It felt like he was teasing me back.
“No, I’m fine.”
After all, he’d dashed nearly twenty meters with superhuman speed to catch me. I was grateful, if anything.
Before things turned against me, I quickly abandoned my plan to tease him.
“There’s no way you’re fine. If you saw your great-grandfather while falling, that means you were terrified—”
“I don’t even remember what my great-grandfather looked like, Your Majesty. I was joking.”
“But still. You nearly got seriously hurt.”
He’s not joking at all.
As we bickered, it became clear he was being sincere. Such a rigid man, especially for someone so young.
“I wasn’t hurt thanks to you catching me, and now you can trust me, too. So it’s fine.”
I promptly forgave him.
I wanted to tease him a bit more… but it felt like I’d end up being punished instead.
“Saintess.”
“It’s really fine, Your Majesty. Truly.”
Theodore calling me with furrowed brows, almost pleading, felt strangely unfamiliar. I met his eyes directly and said firmly,
“Just get along well with me from now on. You trust me now, don’t you? I look forward to working with you.”
I smiled brightly. After all, getting along was best.
Expressionless, Theodore quietly looked up at me.
In his blue eyes, my reflection shimmered.
This part of the building wasn’t used much, so it was quite dark. Only a couple of distant windows glowed faintly.
Even so, I could see him clearly.
He’s beautiful.
Patterns like wispy clouds spread across his blue irises. They were so beautiful I found myself staring blankly.
Theodore was looking at me, too. Holding each other’s gaze like that gave rise to an indescribable feeling—like being pulled in.
I could still feel the heat of Theodore’s hands gripping my back. The solidity of his much larger body, too.
A distinctly masculine presence.
Handsome men are dangerous.
Gulp.
I swallowed. The moment that thought crossed my mind—thump, thump. My body trembled with my heartbeat.
Calm down, heart. He’s a terrifying emperor.
…But this doesn’t feel like my heartbeat.
Focusing more closely, I realized it wasn’t just my heart I could feel.
Theodore’s heart was pounding, too—so close that I could feel it.
Why was he so startled? The look on his face as he gazed at me was strange somehow.
Could it be…?
