episode_0100

“What’s wrong? Do you think I might lose?”

“You?”

I chuckled.

As it is a swordsmanship competition held once every four years, many people, including hidden talents and tough mercenaries from all over, participate.

According to the rules, taking life was prohibited. However, the competition was so rough that it would not be surprising if an arm or leg was blown off. That’s why I’m sending this delicate child away.

“Aren’t you worried about me?”

“Ha. What are you worried about?”

Rather, you should worry about the other person.

Honestly, it’s not that I’m not worried.

“Thank goodness.”

Cecilia smiled brightly.

If you say you weren’t worried, shouldn’t you usually get upset? Why are you saying you’re glad I’m not worried?

“Are you going to support me?”

She gently wrapped my hand.

“…Ugh.”

We’re friends, but it’s just support.

“I would like to receive a handkerchief as a sign of support.”

The sight of her pretty eyelashes fluttering like butterflies made me nod my head before I thought.

‘I am not a fanatic. ‘I am not a pushover.’

I thought to myself and nodded calmly.

“Is that a favor?”

“Why not?”

But in the end, I nodded as I smiled like a fox.

‘Scary kid. If you criticize it, it feels like your soul will be ripped off.’

At sword fighting competitions, ladies give handkerchiefs to the knights they support.

The number of handkerchiefs received was also a criterion of a knight’s skill and popularity.

Of course, not everyone has to get it.

‘It’s a little disturbing when you think about it, isn’t it?’

In the end, I took out the finest handkerchief embroidered with roses that I always carried with me and held it out.

“Don’t get hurt.”

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I will definitely win.”

‘No, I said don’t get hurt.’

I narrowed my eyes at the answer that was the opposite of my intention.

“Don’t overdo it.”

Still, when he looked at the handkerchief, he seemed happy as if he had received it as a birthday present.

‘You’re not going to accept someone else’s handkerchief, are you?’

Those words came up to my throat.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

It felt like my heart was going to drop at her soft smile, but I tried to look away and squeezed her hand.

* * *

“Cecilia. Are you participating in a swordsmanship competition?”

“Yes.”

“Why? You’ve been quiet so far, and of course I know you won’t get caught, but there’s no need for unnecessary attention…”

Lamia asked with a puzzled look upon Cecilia’s sudden notice. ‘It’s not like he’s been moody for a day or two. Rather, continue working behind the scenes.’ Lamia, who was rolling her head, opened her mouth and said, ‘Ah.’ I gently pressed the corner of my mouth that was about to rise and looked at Cecilia.

“Perhaps Marian. With that kid.”

“Ta-da~”

Cecilia took out a handkerchief and unfolded it as if showing off. It was a handkerchief with pink embroidery on a silver background.

“Did the child give it to you?”

“Yes. Isn’t it so pretty? The handkerchief also resembles our Marian.”

Lamia looked at Cecilia in silence.

“If you win the match, they give you some useful magic tools.”

“That’s okay. What is the real reason?”

“Wow. It’s too much.”

Cecilia chuckled and lay down on the bed, hugging a pink rabbit doll. Then he stroked it carefully, as if he was thinking of someone.

“…It seems like a good opportunity to step on those who are hanging around Marian.”

“I see.”

It was a very small whisper, but Lamia smiled as if she had expected it.

This is what this person, who has never wanted anything before, truly wants.

Cecilia raised her head and looked up at Lamia.

“No?”

Lamia, who had gaped at the sight of her hugging a cute doll and drooping her eyebrows, shook her head. ‘It’s amazing that you’re tempting me with a face like that, but you haven’t fallen for me yet. Well, it’s inevitable that the family will interfere.’

Lamia chuckled.

“Do it.”

Cecilia’s voice rose in response to Lamia’s response as she was like family.

“Yes. For the record, there’s no way you’d turn down this great opportunity to get rid of those who flirt with Marian, right?”

The corners of Cecilia’s mouth quirked up.

“Wow… does he know?”

Lamia speaks playfully with a secretly evil smile.

“Marian likes pretty things.”

As such, she will only show her cool and pretty side to Marianne.

“I had a lot of fun today too.”

Originally, Cecilia hated noisy and complicated things. However, with Marian, it was always an exception.

“Thank goodness.”

Lamia prayed deep in her heart that her master’s wish would come true.

* * *

“Lady Yuri. Can you give me a handkerchief?”

Ian Rippleton spoke in a serious voice.

The treatment center where Yuri was volunteering today happened to be near the academy, so he came to visit her during his break.

“Ian, please feel free to speak. Rather… a handkerchief?”

Yuri looked puzzled at the more polite tone of voice than usual.

“Hmm. The swordsmanship competition held this time. Because I’m leaving…”

Ian answered in a shy tone.

He weighed Princess Marian and Yuri. Princess Marian recognized it right away.

There was no way Yuri, who was watching from the side, didn’t know. But Yuri never criticized himself.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been a little busy lately, so I should have given it to you in advance.”

Yuri clapped her hands as if she had really forgotten, then smiled brightly and searched inside her arms.

“Ah.”

Yuri took out a handkerchief and paused. Her red cheeks showed just how embarrassed she was.

“Uh, what should I do…”

The handkerchief with the patient’s blood on it was even more noticeable because it was pure white.

“I’m sorry, Yuri. I was too sudden.”

Yuri’s expression turned cold when she saw Ian lowering his head as if he was truly sorry.

“No, Ian. If it’s okay… can I give it to you on the day of the match…?”

But it was only a moment.

“Thank you, Yuri.”

As soon as the promise was made, Ian stopped to hug Yuri, and Yuri fell into Ian’s arms and hugged his back.

As Yuri came out like that, Ian also put his strength into his arms.

“Yuri, I will make sure you are happy. Just trust me.”

Ian, filled with anticipation, continued to whisper in Yuri’s ear.

After a sweet time as if they were lovers, Ian waved his hand and disappeared.

Yuri also left the barracks right away.

“Saint. My arm hurts…”

A small, weak voice. Yuri continued walking as if he didn’t hear the patients’ calls.

After a while, when there was no one around, Yuri rubbed his cheek with a handkerchief. This was the part where Ian kissed me earlier.

Then he threw it on the floor. It was a clean handkerchief with no blood on it.

‘I guess I should say something.’

Yuri reported what happened today to Sasha.

“Ian Rippleton is a strong candidate to win the swordsmanship competition, so giving him a handkerchief is not a bad option. Due to his personality, he wouldn’t accept someone else’s handkerchief, and it would look better if he handed it directly at the stadium.”

Sasha praised Yuri. But Yuri just kept his head down. Yuri was even beaten with a cane because of what happened at the graduation party. Although it had been several months, Yuri could not forget it.

Regardless of what Yuri was thinking, Sasha nodded with a satisfied face.

‘The sanctions seem to be effective and the glass has become more compliant.’

Sasha’s hand grabbed Yuri’s chin and lifted his head.

“Listen carefully. It can’t be helped right now because the crown prince is busy, but Yuri’s goal is the crown prince. Physical contact beyond a certain level is absolutely not allowed with Ian, including kissing and hugging. You know, right?”

Sasha treated Yuri like a doll. I opened the collar and carefully examined the neck and collarbone. To find any traces that might exist between a man and a woman.

‘Seeing as you speak so obediently, is it really that nothing happened?’

Sasha knew that Ian had stopped by even before Yuri said it. It was also quite a long time.

When I trained the marquis’s maid, she immediately confronted me, so I was wondering if it was possible.

‘As expected, there was a lack of discipline.’

yes. There is no way that arrogant noble bitch would come to her senses with just one cheek.

Yuri’s jaw moved slightly.

Only then did Sasha relax with a satisfied expression.

Yuri’s eyes sparkled coldly.

‘The target is the crown prince.’

This is something I’ve heard several times.

Yuri grabbed the sheet with trembling hands. It calms down little by little. He slowly moved his hand. As I smooth my legs, I feel soft, white thighs without any scars. Yet, somehow, I felt like I was in pain.

‘If I tell you that I hugged Ian first, will I get hit again?’

At that time, it was not an unavoidable measure to increase sacred power, but merely an expression of Sasha’s anger.

Just thinking about it makes my body tremble.

‘If you inform the above…’

No, that’s not enough. To begin with, he didn’t know anything about Sasha’s organization.

Let’s not be weak.

That day, looking at the bright red marks on my thighs, I realized my reality again.

You have to find your own way to live.

I’m not sure if it’s a change in mood due to the high fever or what. But something has changed.

And I didn’t hate the change.

Yuri didn’t even know exactly who to hate.

An unknown sponsor.

A small spark bloomed in Yuri’s heart.

I want to live.

I want to be happy.

And if possible.

I want to repay you.

So thoroughly that I even lost the will to live. I wanted to ruin it.

But other than that, it is very difficult and exhausting.

Yuri truly wanted to lean on someone.

‘Not Ian.’

It was my first time being held in someone’s arms.

‘I love you, I will protect you, just believe in yourself.’

No matter how much Ian whispered, I couldn’t believe it.

‘Princess Marian… .’

I thought of a girl who was confident and different from me.

Yuri lay down on the bed like a doll with its strings cut.

“What. Since you must have been tired from serving, I will end here today.”

In the Department of Theology, you can earn credits through volunteer work. But it is something that everyone avoids. Not only do they not give out particularly many points compared to the class, but who would expect the students, who are mostly nobles, to clean the wounds and blood clots of commoners?

Yuri also didn’t do it because he liked it.

I fell into a deep sleep for a while.

“Princess Marian won the top prize at the academy?!”

Yuri’s eyes opened to the sound of Sasha’s hysterical voice. But it soon quieted down. The corners of Yuri’s mouth were slightly raised.