Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Ulstro Kingdom - Squire Life (7)
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"No, nothing was amiss. Would you like to come inside?"
Mercedes froze for a split second at Valdes's natural ushering into the room. But she soon stepped forward as if it were no big deal.
"...Excuse me for a moment."
She had planned to just chat briefly in the hallway, but she couldn't bring herself to rebuff his courtesy—no matter how insincere it might be—so she cautiously entered the room.
As soon as she stepped inside, an inexplicable fragrance enveloped her. It was a scent she'd smelled somewhere before, something addictive that made her sniff instinctively before she startled herself and stopped. Fortunately, Valdes seemed not to notice, busy closing the door.
'Th-this smell...'
It was unmistakably Valdes's scent. The aroma that wafted from him during their sword training sessions.
"Were you perhaps exercising?"
"My body was stiff, so I did some stretches."
"Hmm..."
She had entered without much thought, but only then did she realize it.
This was the first time she'd ever stepped into the boy's room. Or maybe it was the first time she'd ever entered any man's room. Even though it was just a brief stay, the trace of his body in the air made her forget that fact entirely.
'Oops. I overdid the concentration a bit.'
Of course, the scent from their sword training—and the one filling the room now—was all from Valdes's Charm Magic.
She would probably never know that in her lifetime.
Valdes naturally guided her to sit on the bed. He sat a short distance away and spoke up.
"So, what brings you here...?"
"Oh, um. N-nothing much. I just wondered if your first mission had you feeling down..."
"Ah..."
Seeing his small exclamation, Mercedes snapped back to her senses.
The scent had intoxicated her without her realizing, leading her to sit on the bed. If he were any other man, it could easily lead to misunderstandings—or even danger.
'Huh? Any other man?'
Even her own thought felt off. In what sense had she meant that?
Did it mean it was okay if he misunderstood? Or that he was safe? Or perhaps...
What shook her from her confusion was the very person responsible.
"Thank you, Lady Mercedes. That's probably why our eyes met earlier... Honestly, I was a bit disappointed... but now I feel a little better."
"...I see. Good."
"Lady Mercedes is so kind, as expected."
"I-it's just what any knight should do for her squire."
"......"
A brief silence settled after her words.
The distance between where she and Valdes sat was about a meter. In the training grounds, he could cross it in a single step.
Yet to Mercedes, that gap felt endlessly far for some reason.
"Um... Lady Mercedes?"
"Yes? Wh-what is it?"
"Could I ask you for one favor?"
"Ah, of course. Anything."
What kind of request would it be?
It had only been a little over two weeks since they'd started spending time together, but in that span, she felt she'd come to know him a bit.
Valdes wasn't one to ask favors lightly. He was usually quiet, but when conversation lulled, he'd take the lead to liven things up.
So this first request from him sparked her curiosity.
"Well... I noticed you speak casually with people you're close to."
"!!"
"So, I was wondering..."
She instantly understood what the shyly speaking Valdes meant. With anyone else, she might have snapped at them for asking after just two weeks, but with him, no such irritation arose.
On the contrary, she was glad he'd taken the initiative to draw closer.
"Of course. No, ...of course."
"Ah! What a relief."
Mercedes stared blankly at the boy beaming innocently.
First, she'd taken interest because he was a talented young swordsman. Then because he was an unusual demonkin half-breed. Then because he wielded the hero's swordsmanship as her squire.
But what about now?
Even she couldn't say for sure.
"L-Lady Mercedes?"
"...Yes?"
"Y-your hand..."
"My hand?"
What was he talking about?
Valdes's hands rested neatly on his knees. He looked overly tense. The youthful sight nearly made her laugh.
Then she noticed something odd.
For some reason, his face looked larger than before. Someone's hand was caressing his cheek.
She knew exactly where the boy's hands were.
...There were only two people here right now.
"...? ...Wha—huh?!"
Which meant the hand's owner could only be her.
In her shock, she shrieked and pulled back.
'Wha-what did I just do?!'
Only then did she realize she'd drawn close to him and touched his face. It was her own body, yet she hadn't noticed at all.
"Ahaha... Um... L-Lady Mercedes's hand is so warm..."
Valdes let out an awkward laugh, clearly embarrassed too.
Her face burned.
She didn't need a mirror to know it was beet red.
"I-I'm sorry. No, sorry."
Mercedes tossed out the apology and turned to leave the room.
"No, it's fine. I'm actually glad—we feel closer now."
Her body halted abruptly.
She wanted to turn and say she felt the same, but showing her wine-red face was too embarrassing. In the end, she stood frozen three steps from the door, then took the rest and half-opened it.
The hallway breeze hit her instead of the air thick with Valdes's scent, clearing her head a bit. With that, she managed to open her mouth.
"M-me too."
Bam.
"Hmmm."
The door closed right as she spoke, but Valdes had heard her clearly.
"Kukuku, she's more innocent than I thought."
Even at 22, well into adulthood, her actions were like a fresh teenage girl. It almost made him feel like he was bullying a good girl, stirring a twinge of unease.
"...Well, I've done plenty of trashy stuff like this as a mercenary."
But he brushed it off quickly.
If he were the type to back out or feel guilty over something this minor, he wouldn't have even conceived—let alone attempted—such a plan.
Realizing he hadn't changed yet, Valdes removed his armor. He wanted to slip into something comfortable, but figured no knight would allow such attire in an unfamiliar place like this, away from the knight order barracks.
He changed into lighter everyday light armor suited for activity and lay on the bed, lost in thought.
"Let's see, Mercedes will need a bit more time... For now, shall I deal with Glet first?"
The noble youth Stricht he'd met earlier came to mind.
Who would've thought he was Glet's childhood friend? To Valdes, Stricht clearly harbored feelings for Glet.
He held no grudge against the guy, but a fun idea popped up.
'Might as well play a little prank.'
"...And then that idiot said..."
Chatter chatter.
His ears rang.
"...Haa."
A sigh escaped naturally.
Of all places, to be seated next to Stricht—he couldn't fathom it.
At this table sat Baron Planks and his wife, Stricht, four knights including Mercedes, and himself. Aside from the three estate owners, he was the only non-knight squire.
It made him embarrassed to even glance at the other squires eating at different tables.
Fortunately, Lady Mercedes and the other knights let it slide without comment, but that didn't make the situation any less uncomfortable.
Especially with Stricht yammering right beside him.
He hadn't been this talkative before—what had changed?
"You look tired?"
Stricht noticed his sigh and expressed concern. Valdes had heard similar in the hallway.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, a bit."
"Wine's the best for fatigue."
Stricht poured red wine. Valdes disliked the gesture but appreciated the aroma.
"Haha, who would've thought we'd be drinking together like this. Amazing."
"Yeah."
His half-hearted reply made him wonder if he was being too cold to someone trying so hard.
After a moment's thought, he racked his brain for a topic.
But with no recent contact, nothing came to mind.
"Hmm... Speaking of, how's your fiancée?"
"...Huh?"
What?
Stricht's face stiffened. He clearly hadn't expected the question; he couldn't even mask it.
"Don't tell me..."
"Ah, well... Oof, circumstances arose."
"Wow..."
Valdes was dumbfounded, at a loss for words.
As far as he knew, Stricht's fiancée was a noblewoman. Noble engagements weren't broken lightly.
Nobles valued promises and honor above all, with engagements among the most sacred. They often took months just to arrange one, even before marriage.
This was one of the biggest betrayals he'd felt from Stricht.
There had been plenty of time before the engagement was set, yet Stricht hadn't breathed a word to him. It forced her to shatter her budding first love.
How could something so hard to break on principle have "circumstances"?
"What the hell did you do?"
"Why assume it's my fault?"
"Wasn't it?"
"...Well, yeah, but... Argh!"
Stricht trailed off and seemed to swallow his words with his drink.
"Haa... Wait. Then the dress you mentioned earlier..."
It hit him as odd. Stricht was an only son, and the baroness's build differed greatly from Glet's.
So why would there be a dress fitted for her?
"No, not that! I had it made to gift you once you became a knight!"
"...But you're giving it now."
Even the lingering fondness soured.
The excuse was too lame.
Even if true, it stung.
Gifting now something meant for when she became a knight implied he thought she'd fail or it would take forever—even if she succeeded. Her childhood friend hadn't even considered that.
"It's like..."
Stricht was saying something, but she turned away, ignoring him.
'Ah.'
Just then, in the direction she'd turned, she spotted Valdes eating with Elza and Amy.
'...I should have been over there too.'
Wouldn't that have been far more enjoyable?
Gazing at Valdes recalled the scene at his door.
"Can't you see? It's exactly what it looks like."
'What did that mean?'
With arms around shoulders, it didn't look like mere squires to anyone. It seemed more like...
'Wh-what am I thinking?!'
The alcohol surged hot through her.
"Glet? Staring at that guy again?"
His grating words made her whip around and glare at Stricht.
"'Again'? And what business is it of yours if I'm looking at Valdes?"
"...I'll be straight. Yeah, I broke the engagement because of you. I couldn't stop thinking about you."
"What?"
What nonsense was this? But his expression was deadly serious—not a lie.
"It's true. Even with my fiancée, I kept wanting you."
"Ugh..."
Her mind reeled.
Unable to respond, she downed her wine in one gulp.
"G-Glet?"
"...Sorry. I'm feeling the alcohol, so I'll head out first."
Her choice: escape.
Presenting her flushed face as evidence, she apologized to the others and fled the table.
She wanted away from the banquet hall fast. Even a fool like Stricht, as heir, wouldn't leave alone in such company.
She headed to the garden, letting the cool air calm her.
"Hoo..."
Her breath carried wine's scent.
"Is it real? But..."
Did she have feelings for him? Cold analysis said no. But Stricht was persistent.
And noble marriages weren't just about emotion. If he kept pursuing her and involved the families, she wasn't sure what she'd do.
Her head spun, and he came to mind.
'I want to see him...'
Oddly, the voice she'd longed for sounded.
"Glet?"
For a moment, she thought it a hallucination—but no.
"...Valdes?"
It was Valdes.
She'd wanted to see his face, hear his voice. And here he was. Her heart pounded wildly.
Harder than when she'd hugged him.
"What are you doing out here?"
"...Valdes."
"Yeah."
Blame the alcohol. Words shocking even to her slipped out.
"Could you pretend to be my boyfriend for a bit?"