WCMP 46

chapter 46

‘I never imagined I’d meet him like this… not even in my wildest dreams.’

“But why did Arban let you come like this, so carelessly, as if anyone could see you…”

I muttered to myself, and Yullen answered.

“I asked Eli to bring me here.”

Then, before I could react, he jumped from the table straight into my arms, and I instinctively caught him.

“You—what if you’d fallen?! You can’t just jump like that without warning!”

“It’s fine. My wings aren’t just for show. And what does it matter if I get hurt? I can heal quickly anyway.”

He spoke lightly, as if it were nothing, but I frowned.

“Even if you can heal quickly, it still hurts. If possible, it’s better not to get hurt at all.”

It wasn’t just words—it came from experience.

During our travels on horseback, I had relied on Yullen’s divine power many times, but still, nothing beat avoiding pain altogether.

He stared at me for a moment and blinked once.

“…I see.”

“Yeah. Anyway, what brings you here?”

“Oh, my master’s presence is keeping my mana from recovering properly.”

“…So?”

“So I said I want to stay here until it recovers to some degree. Oh, this is what my master asked me to tell you.”

…Since when do you speak for him?

I felt a slight headache as I looked down at Yullen, those big, innocent eyes fixed on me.

Still, I decided to check the letter he was holding in the basket first.

I was curious what Arban would have written, sending such a surprise gift (?) without so much as a word to me.

The letter was surprisingly brief.

It explained that Yullen wanted to come see me since my presence might aid his recovery, and that his master had agreed, so he’d brought him along.

‘Are you kidding me?!’

I clenched the letter in my hand but continued to read the postscript.

It said that if I didn’t want Yullen to stay, I could send him back.

‘This is troublesome, really troublesome!!’

I glanced at Yullen, who was craning his neck to watch me read the letter. His little head looked pitiful, and I felt uneasy.

I couldn’t just send him away after coming all this way—but telling him to stay happily seemed risky too.

Then a sudden question popped into my mind.

“…But aren’t you bound to the Holy Sword? If you stay with me, that means being far from Arban and the sword. Does that bother you?”

“That doesn’t matter. The Holy Sword is just a conduit linking me and my master. Even without mana, I can return to wherever the sword is.”

“Really?”

I fell silent, lost in thought, and Yullen quietly asked while looking up at me.

“…You don’t mind staying here?”

Even though his voice was calm, there was a different nuance than usual—he seemed to be reading my expression.

“Why would I mind? Of course I don’t.”

When I answered without hesitation, I felt the soft brush of his wagging tail along my arm.

‘Good. If I had hesitated, Yullen would’ve been hurt. That was the right choice.’

Even if it was a bit bothersome, once his mana recovered, he wouldn’t need to stay long anyway.

With that in mind, I hugged Yullen tightly.

I hid Yullen in the dress room and returned to the reception hall.

The cleaning time had already passed, so no one would enter, but I locked the door just in case.

Back at my seat, I sipped the now-cold tea and resumed my conversation. Suddenly, Seirin spoke up.

“You mentioned wanting to learn horseback riding after returning from the mountains. Have you started?”

Ah, right. I had planned to start formal riding lessons after returning but had completely forgotten.

Looks like I’ll need a personal tutor, not just Amon’s.

“Not yet. I should start soon.”

As I was thinking about notifying the head maid once everyone left, Seirin continued.

“Do you already have someone in mind?”

“No, I’m planning to look for one now…”

“Then, how about me?”

I was surprised and looked at her.

“Since you’ll be accompanying the young master during training anyway, I thought I could teach you riding while he’s practicing swordsmanship.”

“Of course, I’d love that. But… then wouldn’t your duties be compromised?”

“You know now, don’t you? Being a bodyguard is mostly ceremonial, as your position demands.”

True enough… For now, Amon was the only one with enough skill to rival Arban, and that was far in the future.

“If you request it, I’m sure His Excellency will agree without hesitation.”

I found myself swayed by the sparkle in Seirin’s eyes.

Honestly, it was an incredibly tempting offer. Learning horseback riding from Seirin herself?

Still, I wondered if Arban would readily agree to such a request.

Regardless, I nodded.

“I’ll ask him, then.”

If he refuses, I can find another tutor. If he agrees, nothing could be better.

It was a little uncomfortable asking another’s bodyguard for a personal favor, but…

‘I’ll just ask. I’m expecting a refusal anyway.’

I checked the time—it had already been two hours. The training should be ending soon.

“Thank you, Your Excellency.”

“Good work.”

At the training grounds, the lesson was still in progress.

I quietly waited to the side so as not to disturb them, then approached as they exchanged greetings.

“Good work, Your Excellency. And Amon, well done.”

I smiled at their brief reply and gave Arban a look.

“…Do you have something to say?”

I shivered.

‘How did he know just from one glance?’

I calmed my racing heart and spoke.

“Um… Your Excellency, would it be alright if I learned horseback riding from Sir Adel while Amon trains?”

It felt sudden, and I worried it might be too random.

“Wouldn’t it be better to hire a proper tutor?”

“Of course, but Sir Adel is skilled, and it seems better to learn from someone I know.”

I nervously fidgeted, trying to explain.

“I know it’s not proper to ask a bodyguard, but…”

The more I spoke, the more shameless I felt. I began to regret asking—but Arban spoke casually.

“If Sir Adel agrees, then do it.”

Huh? I lifted my head in surprise.

He appeared in my vision, his face impassive as always, though I thought I saw a faint smile.

“…Really? Are you sure?”

“Yes. It’s more efficient than just standing there, and better for Adel too.”

“Thank you.”

I smiled at him, still a little bewildered.

Arban always had been like this—trusting even the most unreasonable requests, granting favors that gave him no benefit.

‘He seems lenient only with me… but that’s probably just my imagination.’

I shook my thoughts away.

“How about the basket? Can you keep it for now?”

“Yes. I’ll hold onto it for the time being.”

Calling Yullen a “basket” made sense here; it was a public space, so I couldn’t use his name.

Thinking back on my surprise earlier, I muttered to him.

“Next time, please at least give a warning. I was really startled.”

“I apologize. I didn’t intend to bring him, but when I mentioned I was going to the manor, suddenly…”

His voice trailed off unusually, so I followed his gaze.

At the end of it, I saw Amon curiously watching us, and I could only answer roughly.

“Well… then, I suppose there’s no choice. I’ll take good care of him.”

“Thank you very much.”

After Arban and the knights left, I locked the door and faced another problem.

On the large bed lay a silver baby dragon, completely sprawled out.

‘…How on earth am I supposed to hide you?’

I sighed heavily, staring at him, and Yullen, lying on his back, spoke up.

“Why? Got a problem?”

Yes. You’re the problem.

“Ah, Yullen, how did you hide at Arban’s manor?”

Even though it was only for two days, I thought maybe I could follow the same method.

“When my master was in the bedroom, I stayed there. When he was in the study, I stayed there.”

“But Arban wasn’t alone—there must have been servants and attendants coming and going. How did you avoid being seen?”

“Well…”

Yullen suddenly avoided my eyes, glancing around nervously, then spoke hesitantly.

“…I hid in a drawer.”

“A drawer?”

“There was a lockable drawer in my master’s desk just big enough for me. So when he left for meals or other things, I slept there.”

“……”

“Since there wasn’t really a place to hide, I just stayed there when told to hide…”

I gaped in shock at his sulky words.

My goodness… Arban really was careless.

Even in his own house, he didn’t designate a proper hiding place—just left it to Yullen to figure out.

“You… you stayed in a drawer… no.”

I shook my head.

It had been an unavoidable choice for him.

‘Then what about me?’

I couldn’t hide Yullen the same way as Arban did.

We might spend weeks or months together, and hiding him like that would be difficult—and pitiful for the little guy.