episode_0138

Even though Edan had kindly offered to adjust my new dagger, I had mistakenly blurted out strange words about noble social gatherings right after.

Feeling overwhelmed with embarrassment, I buried my face in my hands on the table. Edan cautiously approached me as if to comfort me.

“Sorry, Rilis. I should have explained properly from the beginning.”

“…No. I foolishly misunderstood, Master Edan.”

“Well, it’s not that you’re foolish. I always appreciate that you don’t deny being mistaken for my fiancée.”

“…I apologize, Master. Since I’m making this request, could you please forget everything we just discussed? I can’t bear to lift my head in embarrassment in front of you like this…”

“What are you talking about? Weren’t we just talking about going to Greenstone?”

…Still, Edan really knows how to read the atmosphere like a true gentleman.

Thanks to Edan’s casual attitude, as if he had truly forgotten my words, I was able to somehow calm my flushed face.

Although there was still some heat in my face, I had to continue the conversation somehow, so I answered boldly.

“If it’s Greenstone Village, it’s a small village where a dwarf blacksmith runs a forge.”

“…Ah, yes. That’s right.”

“Why are you visiting such a small village? Are you planning to adjust a new dagger, Master Edan?”

“…Not exactly. I’m planning to make a new dagger for you, Rilis.”

“Are you referring to my dagger? That was truly unexpected, Master Edan.”

“…”

Edan bit his lower lip tightly, as if trying to hold something back and restrain his emotions.

Well, at least the audacious assumption that I was planning to attend a noble social gathering with Edan was somehow dispelled.

I raised the first question that came to mind to Edan, who had promised to adjust my dagger.

“By the way, is it necessary to go all the way to Greenstone to adjust a new dagger?”

“Huh?”

“Of course, if you can get a good dagger, it’s fine, but I thought it might be troublesome for you to take me along unnecessarily, Master Edan.”

“What are you talking about? I’m going to adjust your dagger, so it’s not a bother.”

“Really?”

Adjusting a maid’s dagger, not even my own, and it’s not bothersome?

I pondered for a moment about the meaning behind his words, but soon I could understand the hidden intention behind Edan’s words.

“Perhaps he’s thinking about the Harvest Festival of the second semester.”

Just like the end-of-term evaluation battle for combat students in the first semester at Luminoir Academy, the Harvest Festival in the second semester involved all students participating.

One of the activities combat students did during the Harvest Festival was hunting prey in the forest hunting grounds near the academy. During this time, students could form parties regardless of grade or department to participate in the exam.

If Edan is thinking of including me in his party for this event, then enhancing my abilities wouldn’t be a bother after all.

Thinking it was a reasonable explanation, I nodded in understanding.

“I understand, Master Edan. I think I can understand why it wouldn’t be a bother for you to adjust my dagger.”

“…Can you tell me why you think that way? It’s not that I doubt Rilis, but I can’t help but wonder if there’s another strange misunderstanding.”

“Isn’t it because increasing my strength as your exclusive maid is equivalent to increasing your own strength, Master Edan?”

“…Hm?”

“Did I make a mistake?”

“Oh, no… I just wanted to make sure that Lillis didn’t misunderstand or misinterpret anything.”

It seemed like Edan had given me a slightly harsh evaluation for a moment.

I brushed it off, thinking it was just my imagination.

“Anyway, if we’re going, let’s leave tomorrow morning. I’d love to leave right now, but it might be a bit difficult.”

“Huh? Isn’t Greystone Village not too far from the Blackwood Territory? If we leave now, it probably won’t even take half a day.”

“That’s true, but I can’t just ask the stable master to prepare the carriage for us right away. We should at least have the carriage checked before we leave.”

“Do we really need to take a carriage on the journey to Greystone Village?”

“Hm?”

Edan tilted his head towards me, making a strange sound.

I immediately pretended to hold the reins and shook my fists in front of Edan.

“If it’s just the two of us, Edan, we don’t need to rely on a carriage. One horse should be enough.”

“Really?”

“If we leave now, we can arrive before evening, Edan.”

It was the moment when the members of the expedition to Greystone Village were decided.

***

After the expedition to Greystone Village was decided, in front of the stable with Edan.

I called out the name of a majestic white horse I hadn’t seen in a while while stroking its mane.

“Nice to see you again, Zeraon.”

‘Neigh!’

“I hope you haven’t forgotten about me while I was at the academy. You look healthy, which is good to see.”

‘Neigh!’

Zeraon, the white horse of the Blackwood family who had been of great help during my riding lessons with Dietmayer.

Fortunately, it seemed like Zeraon hadn’t forgotten the few months of memories we shared, as he greeted me warmly when he saw my face.

“Lillis, this horse is named Lucina, and Zeraon seems a bit…”

“Let’s go outside for now, Zeraon.”

‘Neigh!!’

Ignoring Edan’s unnecessary comments, I took Zeraon’s reins and led him out of the stable.

The thought of riding on this friend’s back after a long time made my heart flutter.

Starting my first riding lessons with this friend had created a special bond, and riding a horse was much more enjoyable for me than driving a carriage.

“Are you sure, Lillis?”

“Riding is something I realized I enjoy more than driving a carriage, Edan. I don’t understand why you’re worried, considering you’ve ridden in a carriage I drove before.”

“Well, I know you’re skilled at riding, Lillis, but my concern is not about that…”

“Huh?”

Edan hesitated to answer, seeming unsure of how to respond. And then, out of the blue, he confessed something I already knew, hesitating about the journey to Greystone Village.

“I can’t ride, Lillis.”

“Yes, I know. You focused on swordsmanship training instead of learning riding skills.”

“Yes, that’s true. But I can’t ride a horse, Lillis.”

“So, if we follow Lillis’s suggestion and ride towards Grainstone, the only way is for Lillis to ride in front, holding the reins of the horse, and for me to ride behind Lillis.”

“Yes, I am aware of that.”

“…You are aware of it?”

“Just riding together on the horse, right? There shouldn’t be any problem.”

“….”

With my last response, Edan suddenly fell silent.

Then, with a slightly stiff expression, he nodded as if acknowledging something.

“Alright, if it doesn’t bother Lillis.”

“Pardon?”

“If that’s what Lillis thinks. Let’s just ride together like this.”

“…Is there something that’s bothering you, Edan?”

“No. There’s nothing to worry about. Let’s go, Lillis, let’s depart quickly.”

“…Yes.”

He seemed clearly not in a good mood about something.

Considering the considerable time we had spent together, I had always been careful not to do anything that might displease him in our daily lives.

But now, Edan was clearly expressing his displeasure towards me.

…I don’t know what it is, but knowing Edan’s personality, it will probably pass soon.

With that thought in mind, I climbed onto the back of Zeraon as Edan had suggested.

As soon as I got on the horse, I felt Edan climbing up behind me.

-Thud.

“We will now depart for Grainstone Village, Edan.”

“…Alright.”

“Please hold onto me tightly during the horseback ride to prevent any falls.”

“…Alright.”

-Cluck.

“…Huh?!”

The sensation of a hand reaching out from behind that momentarily touched my chest made me involuntarily let out a slightly embarrassed voice, and as I turned my head back to see what Edan’s intention was, he quickly apologized.

“…Edan.”

“Sorry, Lillis. It was a mistake.”

“Pardon?”

“I was trying to hold onto your body from behind and accidentally touched you. I’m sorry, Lillis.”

“….”

If it was unintentional…there’s no need to make a fuss about it.

Besides, I was the one who suggested riding together on a horse in the first place, so it would be strange to complain about such a thing now. Unexpected physical contact like this wasn’t a big deal.

And although it might sound a bit strange to say this, honestly, my chest has already been touched a few times.

If I didn’t want to pay attention to it, there was enough room to not pay attention.

“Understood, Edan. Please be careful next time.”

“Okay.”

-Cluck.

“…Hmph.”

“Sorry, I was trying to adjust my posture.”

“…It’s okay, Edan.”

The initial casual grip on my chest, and now this…could it be intentional?

Nah, surely not. What kind of person is Edan to do that on purpose?

Pushing away the unpleasant thoughts that briefly crossed my mind, I gently patted Zeraon’s reins with both hands.

The white horse carrying both me and Edan began to gallop towards Grainstone Village.