Chapter 297: Between Lover and Pet Dog (3)
Chapter 297: Between Lover and Pet Dog (3)
The Princess I saw after all this time was exactly the same.
She was still as clueless as ever, yet remained utterly devoted to me, and she continued to follow me around, calling me "Sir Ian."
Only about two months had passed.
It wasn't as if a great deal could have changed in that time. It was simply that my own sense of time had been warped by the high-density events I’d experienced, starting with the Subordinate of the Evil God.
Nevertheless, sixty days is a long time for someone in the prime of their youth.
It’s bound to feel long to anyone. Even more so if they were desperately waiting for someone.
The Princess was exactly that case.
Reunited with me at last, the Princess looked up at me with sparkling eyes, her hands clasped together. The vibe that she was happy just to be looking at me was practically radiating off her.
She truly was a difficult woman to deal with.
Objectively speaking, I wasn't in a position to receive such admiration from her.
Though it had stemmed from a misunderstanding, there was a time when we were in extreme conflict. Furthermore, despite the circumstances, I was the one who had actually assaulted the Princess in front of a crowd.
If not for the Dragon Blood Runes, I wouldn't have had a leg to stand on even if I’d been executed on the spot.
As such, most of what I’d done to the Princess consisted of bad things.
And yet, she liked me so much.
As if just meeting me was enough to make her heart flutter.
I couldn't fathom the reason why.
I could only speculate inwardly that she was simply excited to meet someone who had shown her unconditional kindness after a long time.
There were days when that favor felt burdensome. Right now was one of those times.
Still, it had been a while.
There was no way I could dislike a pretty junior who followed me around because she liked me.
I offered a greeting with a faint smile.
"…It has been a long time, Your Highness."
"You're so cool, Sir Ian!"
The exclamation burst out of her without warning.
I turned a bewildered gaze toward her.
However, the Princess already had the bearing of a prophet preaching the truth. In other words, she seemed to believe that the claim 'Sir Ian is cool' was an absolute given, and she didn't doubt for a second that anyone would question it.
Before I could even process my embarrassment, her praises came pouring down.
"I heard! I heard you defeated a Subordinate of the Evil God! When I heard you almost died, honestly, my heart ached so much… but as expected, Sir Ian is a knight among knights! How could you charge at such a monster without fear…?"
"…Wait a moment, Your Highness."
If I let her continue, she looked ready to extol my achievements for several minutes.
I first silenced her, then took a quick look around.
Fortunately, there weren't many people on Central Avenue.
Vacation wasn't over yet, and it was still early morning. Unless they were waiting for me in advance like the Princess, not many people would choose to be out at dawn.
Actually, if we were talking specifically about the Academy, there were plenty of people like that. It was just that they were already holed up in training rooms or the library by now.
Still, just in case, I gave the Princess a cautious warning.
"Your Highness, you know, right? That incident is still confidential… There would be an uproar if word got out that a Subordinate of the Evil God appeared."
"B-but there were so many witnesses and the evidence is so clear that most people probably know anyway! Besides, there's no reason to hide your heroic exploits, Sir Ian…!"
"…It’ll just get exhausting."
It was a remark laced with a sigh.
It wasn't that I disliked the idea of my deeds being known far and wide, my reputation soaring, and receiving praise from many. Every human has a desire for recognition, don't they?
I was no different.
It was just that, for now, my desire for rest was stronger.
After digging into the secrets of my family and surviving a near-death crisis, I’d had to deal with all sorts of events, including Senior Elsie’s confession. The physical and psychological fatigue I’d accumulated was immense.
In any case, the fact that a Subordinate of the Evil God had appeared couldn't be hidden forever. It was too significant an event to simply bury.
If so, wouldn't it be better to enjoy a brief period of peace?
This was a very common-sense judgment.
However, the Princess seemed to take my desire in a different way.
Her light gray eyes turned dreamy again.
"Even possessing the humility to not crave honor… you're wonderful, Sir Ian. As expected, you're different from those humans steeped in greed…."
I started to say something in response, but then I smacked my lips and gave up.
The Princess, who was hopelessly clueless, was like this whenever she didn't have the Dragon's Eye. Unless those rose-colored glasses were removed, the day she would understand my true feelings on her own was far off.
In the end, I decided to change the subject.
"More importantly, have you heard from Sir Irene?"
"…A-Ah! Y-yes!"
The Princess, who had been staring blankly at me, answered with a start as if she’d just remembered. She nodded hurriedly.
"I heard… that she still has training left and will stay at the mansion a bit longer. Thank you, Sir Ian. For taking care of even my subordinate…."
As she bowed politely, I could feel her sincerity. Her affection for her subordinate seemed genuine.
Well, I suppose that’s why she’s still keeping Sir Irene around even after she ended up in that state.
Sir Irene probably wasn't that despondent from the beginning. It was highly likely she’d been broken by a series of shocking failures.
If so, even I wasn't free from the weight of that guilt. To be precise, the 'me' from the future should be held responsible, but I couldn't say that man and I were completely unrelated.
Therefore, I didn't deserve the Princess's gratitude.
"No, if anything, I received a lot of help from Sir Irene. She, uh, provided an important eyewitness account…."
Trying to praise Sir Irene all of a sudden made all sorts of nonsense come out of my mouth.
Providing an important eyewitness account? That wasn't a role an escort knight should be playing, unless they were an intelligence agent. Even more so if it happened during a moment when they failed to protect their charge.
And I didn't even know if that testimony was an 'important eyewitness account.'
On the day I left the mansion, Sir Irene had emphasized it to me once again.
"A-at that time, I remember a flash before my eyes…!"
"Yes, I understand… Thank you, Sir Irene. Please take good care of Ria."
Of course, I hadn't listened to a word of it.
Anyone could say they saw a flash before their eyes. If I were hit by someone and knocked unconscious, I was confident I could repeat the exact same testimony without missing a single syllable.
With a hollow laugh, I exchanged pleasantries with the Princess.
It was then that the Princess brought up an unexpected topic.
"B-by the way, Sir Ian…?"
The Princess hesitated, her complexion turning slightly pale. The cold sweat trickling down her face spoke of her anxious state of mind.
Not knowing the reason, I could only stare at her blankly. A natural note of questioning escaped my lips.
"…Yes?"
"I-I was wondering, by any chance…."
Glancing at me and gauging my reaction, the Princess squeezed her eyes shut as if she’d made up her mind and asked.
"D-did your younger sister happen to mention anything to you…?"
'Younger sister.'
Unless the Princess had been scammed, she had to be talking about Ria.
Of course, I hadn't received any messages from Ria.
With a voice filled with even deeper confusion, I asked the Princess back.
"No, she didn't… Did something happen?"
"…A-Ah! N-no! It’s nothing!"
The Princess practically jumped in place, vehemently denying it. Shaking her head rapidly, she hurriedly turned around and began to move away from me.
"A-Ah! C-come to think of it, I still have paperwork to process! See you later, Sir Ian!"
Her behavior was blatantly suspicious.
I briefly considered chasing after her to press for answers. She seemed desperate to hide it, but given her clumsy nature, I figured I’d get an answer after just a few questions.
But I soon dismissed that rude thought.
Perhaps due to tension, the Princess was walking with stiff, rigid steps. It was quite funny yet cute. I couldn't very well bully a junior as her senior.
And so, I dragged my luggage toward the dormitory. Thinking that I would spend the rest of the day resting in my room.
*
Even after returning to the Academy, there wasn't much change in my daily routine.
First and foremost, it was urgent to rebuild the muscle I’d lost while being bedridden. I did my best with rehabilitation as soon as I woke up, and then repeated the cycle of resting until my muscles recovered.
It was a relief that I had plenty of healing potions. They dramatically shortened the time it took for muscle fibers to recover.
At this rate, I’d be able to bring my body back to peak condition before the new semester started.
However, even after returning to the Academy, one worry remained.
It was Senior Elsie.
Immediately after returning to the Academy, Senior Elsie’s whereabouts were unknown. I suspected she was avoiding me.
Part of me wanted to consult Senior Delphine about this. Senior Delphine had a history of ill-fated bonds with Senior Elsie since their first year at the Academy. Naturally, she would know Senior Elsie better than anyone else here.
But Senior Delphine had yet to return from the Yurdina territory.
It wasn't as if I could go all the way to the Yurdina territory just to consult her, so in the end, I was left with only one option.
Lupin Lainella.
As her younger brother, he might be able to provide a clear answer.
Though it was a step I was reluctant to take.
It wasn't that I disliked Lupin himself, but I was already dreading his reaction when he heard that I’d rejected Senior Elsie’s confession. I could already imagine how much he would nag me, and it was exhausting just thinking about it.
He’d probably ask how someone like me could dare to reject his sister.
Since even I didn't know the reason, Lupin, as her brother, would likely feel several times more frustrated.
So, I began to ask around for Lupin’s whereabouts. Since there weren't many people at the Academy yet, it took some time, but I eventually managed to find out where he’d gone.
The forest next to the dormitory.
Wondering if he was practicing magic, I opened up my senses and tracked Lupin’s presence.
In the past, it might have been different, but now that I’d reached the level of an Expert, nothing was impossible. Unlike the Southern Forest, the forest next to the dormitory was relatively small.
It didn't take long for me to find Lupin.
However, there was an unexpected person with him.
I could tell just by the glimpse of a pointed hat.
It was Senior Elsie.
I instinctively suppressed my presence and hid in the bushes. I was still uncomfortable facing Senior Elsie head-on. It was frustrating that I didn't even know why I was acting like this.
Senior Elsie had her eyes squeezed shut and her head bowed. Her trembling shoulders testified to her distressed state of mind.
In front of her, an enthusiastic Lupin was shouting.
"Yes, Sister! That’s the posture! Do it with courage… A true noble knows how to endure a moment of shame to find something more valuable!"
Judging by the way he was talking, it seemed they were doing some kind of training.
It would make sense if Senior Elsie were teaching Lupin, but what could Lupin possibly be teaching her?
Just as I felt a flicker of doubt.
"S-S-S-S…."
Senior Elsie stammered, her voice coming out in fragments. She seemed to be struggling quite a bit. Beads of cold sweat were already forming on her forehead.
Only then did I think I knew what Senior Elsie was practicing.
It was an apology.
Because that one phrase, "I'm sorry," was so difficult, Senior Elsie was suffering like that.
It was absurd, but Lupin, on the contrary, seemed to fully empathize with her. He grit his teeth, swallowed his tears of frustration, and shouted.
"Yes, that’s the spirit! Just a little more, Sister…!"
"S-S-Ugh… S-So… S…."
And at the end of that long endurance, Senior Elsie finally spat out a completed sentence.
"…Shut up, you crazy bitch! It was your fault first!"
Even though those weren't words of apology.
I was left dumbfounded by the Lainella siblings' ridiculous training.
What on earth were they doing?