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chapter 26
I stared at her face, captivated, before hesitating and speaking.
“…I’m not sure if it’s okay for me to hear such an important story, especially since we just met today.”
“I don’t think it’s such a big story. Sometimes, it’s even harder to share things with someone close.”
“That may be true, but…”
“If the knights were to hear about my past and look at me with pity… well, I don’t think I could stay calm.”
Seirin let out a soft laugh, raising her right hand to look at her palm.
“And I think that because of my past, I can be the knight I am today.”
“……”
“Well, in the end, my family is safe, and I live happily now. That’s why I can speak like this.”
I took in her figure with my eyes. A person who had overcome a weak and unfortunate past, living now with more energy than anyone else.
“If it’s you, Princess, I thought you wouldn’t dismiss my story or share it carelessly.”
I met Seirin’s green eyes, which reflected me, and nodded solemnly.
“Of course, your story will remain just between us… but what if I were someone who liked spreading rumors?”
“Then I would have judged you wrong.”
Seirin spoke quietly, her voice carrying a trace of a smile.
“But since you, Princess, are careful and wouldn’t spread my story, it seems my judgment was correct.”
“…Since Sir Adel trusted me with this, I can’t betray that trust.”
Really… that was exactly like his subordinate. I thought Arban trusted people too easily, but here was someone just like him.
Maybe that’s why my voice came out more gruffly than I intended. But before I could feel embarrassed, Seirin’s gentle voice made me shy.
“Princess, you are kinder than any noble I have ever met.”
Impossible… How could she think that after hearing my complaining voice?
I wanted to deny it, but I had never heard a compliment like that before, and I didn’t know how to respond. I opened my mouth, then closed it again.
While I hesitated, Seirin looked up at the Milky Way outside and continued.
“When His Highness inherited the title of Duke, I attended a few parties with him. I had no choice but to go, but every time, it felt suffocating.”
Seirin’s brow creased slightly as she remembered those times.
“People dressed in dazzling clothes, smiling, but constantly undermining one another. They praised each other with flowery words in front of people but gossiped behind their backs.”
She curled her lips in a wry smile, almost mocking the nobles of the past. The twisted smile seemed to reflect her feelings at the time.
“I was disgusted by them—praising those above them, mocking those below.”
That kind of thing happened anywhere people gathered, though the scale might differ. Most people are weak to the strong and strong to the weak.
Here, in a strict class society, it was even worse.
“But you, Princess, were not like that. Honestly, I was very worried when His Highness said he would take Rix and me on this trip.”
“…Why?”
“Because many nobles dislike women who wield swords and knights of commoner origin.”
This world had magic. So while not everyone started on equal footing, men weren’t necessarily stronger than women, and commoners’ blood wasn’t inferior. Prejudice was the real problem.
‘People just flap their mouths about nothing.’
If they were so unhappy, they could become knights themselves. I snorted.
“As a knight, all you have to do is wield a sword. I don’t understand why they care so much.”
“Ha! Exactly. I think so too, but apparently, other nobles don’t.”
Seirin clasped her hands behind her head and smiled brightly. Stars reflected in her clear emerald eyes. I stared blankly at those shining eyes for a moment.
Later, while talking with Seirin, I must have fallen asleep. When I opened my eyes, the morning sun was rising.
It felt nice to wake up after becoming so close to Seirin in just one day.
Like yesterday, Seirin helped me wash my hair first. I wrapped my hair with a towel to keep it out of the way and held the magical water bottle for her.
Shivering from the cool morning air, I noticed the temporary barracks were finally organized. Rix walked over, holding a few apples in his arms. My eyes naturally followed him.
He came closer, looking between me and Seirin as if he were seeing something strange. When he realized I had been watching him the whole time, he gave an awkward laugh.
“Uh, haha… Princess, is a simple breakfast with apples okay?”
“Yes, that’s fine. One apple is enough for me. What about Sir Adel?”
I asked Seirin, who was still washing her hair. She turned toward me with her eyes closed and replied:
“One apple is enough for me too.”
Even though she answered, Rix’s gaze stayed on me—more precisely, the magical water bottle I was holding.
“Princess, can I use some water for a moment? I just need to wash the apples…”
“Oh, Sir Adel. Rix asks if he can use some water.”
“One moment! I’ll wash them quickly.”
Seirin rinsed out the suds quickly while Rix and I stood awkwardly, holding the water bottle and apples.
“All done.”
Seirin wrung the water from her hair. I handed her a towel as I did yesterday. She accepted it naturally, thanked me briefly, and shook her hair dry.
“Now, Sir Rix. Wash the apples.”
I pretended to tilt the water bottle over, and Rix hugged the apples with wide eyes. If he kept doing that, the apples would get damaged.
“Th-That’s okay, Princess. I can manage this myself!”
“No, you can’t. It’s hard to handle alone. Wash them quickly. My arms are getting tired.”
“Uh… okay.”
I waved my arms, and Rix started washing the apples in a hurry. Seirin reached out to take one after he washed it, and without drying it, bit into it.
Crunch—
Delicious. I wanted one too. I silently vowed to take the next one.
I watched Rix wash the next apple, then quickly held out my hand. Rix looked surprised but handed it over.
“…Princess?”
“I want an apple too. One apple.”
“…Would you like me to cut it for you?”
“No, I’ll just eat it as it is.”
I didn’t need to make things awkward. I stretched out my hand again, and Rix handed me the apple. I bit into it as Seirin did, enjoying the sweet and tart juice.
“Wow, this is really good. Did someone put honey on it? It’s so sweet! Sir Rix, hurry and try one after washing the rest.”
“Yes!”
Seeing me enjoy the apple, Rix quickly washed the remaining apples. By the time he finished, Arban and Kal had finished organizing the luggage and approached.
Arban froze for a moment when our eyes met. Rix did the same. I was curious but didn’t ask.
“Your Highness, have some apples.”
Crunch—crunch—
Seirin and I were eating apples together. I offered some to him as well. Arban, confused, accepted an apple from Rix after glancing at my towel on my head and the apples.
Kal was already eating, so I didn’t offer. After finishing the apples and tidying the bedding, everyone was ready and checking the horses.
The rest of the day followed a similar pattern. I chatted with Seirin while occasionally talking to Arban, but conversations often faltered.
“Your Highness, how old are you?”
“Twenty-four.”
“So the same age as Sir Adel?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“……”
That’s roughly how it went. I wanted to ask about favorite foods, birthdays, height, and more, but I didn’t want to seem too persistent. Arban and I would be together for a long time, so no need to rush. That allowed me to have fun talking with Seirin.
“Princess, we need to get off now.”
“…? Yes.”
It wasn’t lunchtime yet, so I wondered why. Arban opened the door and held out his hand, which I took comfortably.
Now I understood why the carriage stopped.
“This is the start of the mountains. The path is too narrow for the carriage. From here, you must ride horses.”
Indeed, the path looked far too narrow. Up ahead, Rix and Kal were loading necessary luggage onto horses. I watched nervously.
‘I don’t know how to ride a horse…’
