Chapter 312
Chapter 312
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 312
Chapter Title: On the Matter of a Female Escort Knight
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When I opened my eyes, I belatedly realized.
That I had lost consciousness.
And even that Sir Isabelle was carrying me in her arms...
“Are you awake?”
“...Yes.”
As I dazedly opened my mouth, I was a little flustered.
My body felt weak, and Sir Isabelle's face was too close.
I had never imagined being held by a woman like this, so the sight before me was incredibly unfamiliar.
“I-I’ll stand.”
“I am fine.”
Despite my words, Sir Isabelle calmly replied and shook her head, so I awkwardly shook my head as well.
No matter what, this didn't feel right.
‘A grown man being held by a woman.’
No, the very sight of me being held by Sir Isabelle would surely look strange to others.
“I can walk on my own. I really can.”
“...Hah. If you insist, then yes, I understand.”
She reluctantly set me down, and as I gently tried to find my balance, my head spun.
It felt like my head was still throbbing.
‘It was truly awful...’
Then, the situation before I lost consciousness suddenly came to mind.
Even Ariya's playful gaze as she had asked me a question.
*—Han Cheon-seong, I'll give you a choice first. It'll be much harder, but you can either suppress more of the leaking mana, or you can endure a manageable amount of pain and prevent less mana from draining away. Which do you prefer?*
I had naturally chosen the former, received a mana infusion from Ariya, and tried to endure a hellish ordeal.
As I pieced things together, I inadvertently looked at Sir Isabelle.
Within her calm gaze... I could see her disheveled armor and clothes.
‘Is it because of me?’
I felt needlessly sorry for her.
“Thank you. We're almost back at the academy.”
“Yes. But are you really all right? You don't look to be in very good shape.”
At her considerate words, I nodded and bowed my head again to express my gratitude.
“...Thank you very much.”
“It's nothing.”
*Thud.*
With each step, I felt completely drained. The throbbing headache was gradually fading, but my body was a mess.
Even twitching a finger or lifting a leg to take a step made me feel dizzy.
...Intense fatigue and a mind pushed to its limit seemed to whisper to me.
*—What's the point of saving face now?*
*—Just ask Sir Isabelle for help again. It'll be easier.*
Just as those demonic whispers tempted me, the distinct sound of her footsteps reached my ears.
*Swoosh.*
As I dazedly glanced to my side, my eyes met hers as if by chance.
*Whip.*
Feeling needlessly embarrassed, I straightened my gaze and steeled myself.
‘...Sir Isabelle would probably dislike it too.’
After seeing a different side of her before, I had been cautious. I knew it was better in the long run to maintain a good relationship with Sir Isabelle by not doing anything she would dislike.
And I didn't want to show weakness to her, who was not much older than me, a mere student.
The me of now.
And seeing the exceptional women around me, I always found my strength in one thing.
Confidence. An unflinching attitude.
...At the same time, because of my ambition to always move forward, I believed I could walk on the same level as them.
And that I was receiving more affection from them than I deserved.
‘So.’
I need to show a more proper side of myself…….
But when my vision tilted on its own, I didn't have the strength to correct it.
*Thump.*
And so, the cold touch of iron pressed against my cheek.
“Ah…”
As I dazedly opened my mouth, my heart seemed to sink.
“Hah. Just let me carry you.”
And at her voice, which seemed to land right by my ear, I couldn't bring myself to say anything.
...Funnily enough, I had no confidence.
No confidence that I wouldn't lean on her like this again.
*Swoosh.*
As Sir Isabelle gently lifted me into her arms, my face flushed red... and I simply accepted it.
“Thank... you.”
“There's no need to thank me. And if I may say one thing, I hope you won't refuse when I offer like this in the future. I only say it because I'm truly fine with it.”
Listening to her words while being held in what's commonly called a princess carry... made me feel even more humiliated.
But with her gaze fixed squarely on me, I couldn't bring myself to look away.
“......Yes.”
“That's all I need.”
*Thud. Thud...*
And so, as Sir Isabelle headed for the academy carrying me again, I could only lie there like a wide-eyed corpse, my face burning as I was held in a daze.
And for me….
Her gently swaying golden hair occasionally tickled my cheek.
…….
*Swoosh.*
“Th-Then, thank you very much, Sir Isabelle. I'll see you tomorrow.”
Set down in front of the dormitory, I spoke hastily, feeling my voice tremble.
Along with the certainty that my face was completely flushed red, my heart was pounding like crazy.
When we arrived at the academy, I had asked her to put me down several times, but Sir Isabelle had insisted on carrying me all the way to the men's dormitory.
I couldn't begin to describe the humiliation I felt under the gazes of the few academy staff we passed on the way.
“Yes. I will see you tomorrow morning. Please, get some rest.”
Despite everything, Sir Isabelle turned away from me with a faint smile, and I dazedly watched her leave.
‘Hah…….’
A deep sigh escaped from within me, my emotions a tangled mess.
My body was still weak. I could tell it wouldn't be easy to even walk to my room in this state...
My impression of Sir Isabelle had changed a little.
‘I know she's a very good person, but..’
It was a bit strange trying to define exactly what kind of person she was.
Her considerate attitude as my escort knight, her concern for my safety, and the way she dedicated most of her day to me were all things I was very grateful for.
But... her carrying me like she did just now, and her unreserved physical contact, were unexpected actions from my perspective.
Even though I knew it was out of necessity.
“I thought she'd be a little more stern.”
I mumbled dazedly, needlessly fiddling with my cheek.
...It felt as if her golden hair had left a faint trace on me.
***
*Clank, clank. Thud!*
The clasps of the armor were undone, and the heavy metal plates fell away from a very slender female form.
Though it was a sight no one had ever witnessed... at a glance, it was quite abnormal.
One could tell just by looking that the armor's weight was anything but ordinary. Yet she lifted and set it down repeatedly with her slender arms as if it were nothing.
*Thud. Thud.*
After removing all the armor, the blonde woman began to unbutton the white shirt that had been hidden underneath.
“...”
Isabelle abruptly stopped her hands.
Even without meaning to, even trying to ignore it, she paused at the strange scent she could perceive.
“Hah……”
Her eyes narrowed as a deep sigh escaped her lips unknowingly.
It wasn't just the armor she had just taken off; a strange scent lingered on the shirt underneath as well.
She knew it wasn't her own, but his... it was unmistakably his scent.
“...”
Having stopped midway through unbuttoning, she stared at her disheveled shirt and ran a hand over her face.
*Rustle.*
She gently rubbed her eyes, trying to calm her mind.
It hadn't been a particularly eventful day. Just a day that passed like any other, a light routine.
So while her body wasn't tired in the slightest, her mind was a little weary.
It was only now truly sinking in.
The fact that she was escorting a man, and that she would have to endure even more intimate actions than this in the future.
“I was only doing what I had to do...”
She spoke as if to herself, removing the hand that covered her face.
Right now, her mood was not particularly good.
Until now... she had never had any significant contact with anyone, let alone a lover. Since childhood, she had dreamed of becoming a Golden Knight, and in the years since achieving that dream and serving the royal family, she had thoroughly controlled her personal feelings.
She believed she had to focus on her duties.
So. Naturally, for me... it was the first time.
Holding a man for so long, conversing with him up close, and spending time together like this.
Perhaps that was why strange thoughts sometimes crossed her mind.
“Is it really okay for me to be spending my time like this?”
Her eyes fell on the neatly placed golden armor she had removed... and she felt a small sense of regret for herself.
*Swoosh.*
As she clenched a hand that had lost even its calluses after reaching mastery, the thought that she was a woman suddenly struck her.
“Is it right for me to get so used to a man like this?”
Was it really right for me to have lived my life avoiding contact with everyone for this...?
“......”
Such emotional turmoil did not last long.
*Click...*
She continued unbuttoning her shirt, shaking her head.
‘I'm overthinking this.’
Perhaps the mindset of being the second daughter of a marquis was still deeply ingrained in her.
Perhaps the fact that she had to protect and be in physical contact with a commoner man, as if she were his caretaker, felt more significant because of it...
*Rustle.*
After taking off her shirt, she naturally moved to her trousers.
Stripping off everything, she stepped into the shower.
*Shwaaaaa...!*
Amidst the thick steam, a stream of hot water immediately began to beat down on her entire body.
As her body relaxed under the spray, she let her mind go.
“I need to change my mindset.”
Han Cheon-seong.
There was no need to consciously see him as a man. I am merely the knight who must protect him, and he is merely the one I must escort.
It was a very simple answer.
Therefore, there was no need to clutter my mind with needless thoughts.
“And besides, that man already has a lover.”
She spoke unconsciously, and a laugh escaped her.
It wasn't a relationship where they would even see each other as potential partners in the first place. He already had a lover, so there was no chance of them being drawn to each other.
Yes, it was just a fleeting, audacious thought.
“...”
*Slap.*
She lightly slapped her own cheek and then shook her head.