Ch.18Pretending to Patrol #6

“O-Of course I accept…!”

Helena gladly accepted my proposal, or rather, my confession.

I felt somewhat guilty since it wasn’t purely made out of affection, but that didn’t mean I had no feelings for her. So I concluded that I just needed to be more attentive. Besides, once words were spoken, they couldn’t be taken back.

“Thank you. And I’m sorry to say this right after confessing, but…”

“Hm? Oh. About Lloyd? You want me to politely reject him if he confesses after trying to get close to me? Of course I’ll do that.”

She answered before I could even finish speaking.

It was a remarkably accurate response, having instantly read the context.

“Oh, and from now on, when we’re alone, don’t use formal speech and just talk comfortably. I’d like you to speak casually everywhere, but since that would make Zion uncomfortable, I’ll settle for this much. Okay?”

While there are many married couples in this world who speak formally to each other, Helena didn’t want that. Since that was also natural, I nodded in response.

In a way, it felt like I had become bound, but from another perspective, I had gained justification to be more proactive. Moreover, seeing her so happy made me think this could be quite effective from a mental therapy standpoint as well.

“Yes. No… should I say ‘yeah’? I’ll do that from now on.”

“Good. Please keep doing that. It really feels like we’ve gotten closer. We were already close, but even more so now.”

Helena placed her hands on her cheeks and smiled broadly.

She really was like a child, but that made her look cute.

“Well, going back to Lloyd’s matter… there’s something I want to ask.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“Will you be okay being apart from me?”

My future course of action would be determined by the answer to this question.

In a way, I was touching on a sensitive point, but it was a necessary step.

“I won’t be… okay, but I can manage for a little while.”

And the result was extremely successful.

◎◎◎

“This is the customs office of Barkan Port. Ships entering the port must first report here, undergo internal inspection…”

Boring, but somewhat informative.

Despite being overcome by drowsiness that could induce yawning, Helena straightened her posture to better understand the structure of this domain.

Since this was an official occasion, she couldn’t show any weakness.

Until her stay at the mansion, Helena had been too tense to even think about such things.

But thanks to Zion Altram’s unexpected confession, she was in quite an elated state, which had considerably stabilized her previously anxious mental condition.

“Ah, I see. Perhaps due to the Count’s influence, it seems quite thorough.”

Through Lloyd’s mediation, she met with customs officials, exchanged greetings, and observed how quarantine procedures were conducted at the port.

She would have liked to board a ship and observe the inspection process firsthand, but decided against it as it would likely cause inconvenience.

Above all, she wanted to board a ship alone with Zion.

Afterward, they visited various other places.

She took in the unique scenery of export management facilities, the marketplace near the port, and other distinctive sights of the area.

“It seems to be lunchtime now… shall we go for a meal?”

“Is it that time already? This town is so vibrant that I seem to have lost myself in it. Truly, I even lost track of time.”

“Haha! I’m honored by your praise. Now, this way.”

Lloyd laughed heartily and strode forward.

He was heading toward a restaurant that catered to those who spent considerable money—a place for the wealthy.

As such, the interior was clean and luxurious, and personal hygiene, including clothing, was strictly maintained.

“Lord Lloyd, welcome. And the lady with you is…?”

The son of the Count who ruled this domain, a guest known to be quite important, had arrived.

Thus, the room they were guided to was a quiet place ensuring privacy, and the service appeared particularly meticulous.

The chef personally coming to greet them was part of this.

“This is Helena Krauser. You know of her, don’t you?”

“Oh my…! The rumored Master? It’s an honor to meet you. I am Aiman, the chef here.”

“Pleased to meet you. I am Helena Krauser.”

When Helena greeted him politely, Chef Aiman responded with exaggerated enthusiasm, saying it was an immense honor.

It was natural for him to be surprised with a woman known for her strength standing right before him.

However, his fuss lasted only briefly.

The chef calmly finished his greeting, took their order, and returned to where he belonged.

“The carpaccio and tartare here are exquisite. Their refreshing taste makes them suitable for any occasion. Of course, all other dishes are excellent as well, but personally, these two suit my palate the most.”

“Ah… I see. Lord Lloyd, you surprisingly prefer refreshing flavors?”

“Yes. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but such dishes seem to agree with me.”

“My goodness. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, is there? One’s taste is something that cannot be helped.”

Helena comforted Lloyd quite skillfully.

She had gained enough composure to maintain her poise even when separated from Zion.

It was a sense of security that came not just from their master-servant relationship, but from progressing into a romantic one.

The security of knowing he would always return to her embrace.

“Here are your croquettes, tuna carpaccio, and herring tartare. I’ll take my leave now.”

After several staff members brought the ordered dishes, silence briefly fell over the table.

Lloyd wanted to say something, but he couldn’t disturb Helena, who was quietly focusing on her food.

Nevertheless, he was able to enjoy his meal comfortably because he could see satisfaction in Helena’s expression.

“That was delicious. As you said, everything was excellent.”

If the person before her had been Zion Altram, it would have been perfect, but the food was not at fault.

Moreover, since it was truly satisfying as he had promised, the word “excellent” naturally flowed from Helena’s lips.

“Phew! I’m so relieved. I was worried you might not like it.”

“That was an unnecessary concern. From the moment the plates arrived, the fragrant aroma made my mouth water.”

“Oh? If I had known that, I could have relaxed much sooner…”

Lloyd skillfully maintained the atmosphere with appropriate jokes.

His conversational skills, honed to deal with numerous merchants as the heir to a prosperous commercial domain, were shining through.

“Um… Lady Helena. It might be impertinent, but may I ask you something?”

“Of course. After receiving such excellent hospitality, answering a question is the least I can do.”

Helena gestured lightly, encouraging Lloyd’s question.

She was also curious about what he might ask.

In response, Lloyd repeatedly inhaled and exhaled several times.

Now that he was about to express his feelings for someone he had fallen for at first sight, his throat felt blocked.

After a moment of hesitation, he finally steeled himself and, with trembling hands, carefully opened his mouth.

“Lady Helena… do you perhaps have a man in your heart?”

Here it comes.

At this question with an obvious intent, Helena had to struggle to suppress a sigh that was trying to escape her lips.

She thought that if Zion hadn’t conveyed the Count’s intentions this morning, she might have shown a disrespectful attitude.

“Well… I’m quite taken aback by such a sudden question.”

She glanced at Lloyd’s considerably flushed cheeks, then turned her head to the side, pretending to be troubled.

Lloyd, thinking Helena was just being shy, decided to press further, intending to use what’s known as the suspension bridge effect.

Of course, the term “suspension bridge effect” didn’t exist in this era, but the concept was understood. It was a concept accumulated by numerous gossips, minstrels, or womanizers who frequently mentioned it.

“I apologize. But such opportunities to meet face-to-face are rare, so I really wanted to ask. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“Please don’t apologize like that. I am surprised, but… I think it’s understandable.”

Yes. Proposing to someone isn’t particularly rude. In fact, it was quite natural.

Especially among nobles, marriage was strongly viewed as an alliance between families and was considered very important for strengthening each other’s power.

In such a situation, it was natural to find a Krauser person, who didn’t greatly discriminate by status when choosing a partner, appealing.

However, Lloyd had genuinely fallen for Helena, beyond such calculations, which is why he asked such a question.

Even setting aside her background, Helena herself was sufficiently attractive.

“Thank you for understanding. So… do you have a man in your heart?”

A man? Of course I do.

Helena nodded, recalling Zion’s face, who had confessed to her today.

The face of a man with hair as dark blue as her own, giving an impression of being somewhat delicate.

Lloyd seemed greatly shocked by this. His eyes trembled considerably, and the heat in his cheeks cooled rapidly.

“You… do. Is it perhaps that man from Altram who accompanies you?”

“Yes. As you guessed.”

So she preferred pretty boys.

Lloyd bowed his head deeply, recalling Zion’s appearance, but that was somewhat mistaken.

Helena’s preference wasn’t for pretty boys but for Zion Altram himself.

That’s why she didn’t even flinch when encountering men with superior looks to Zion.

But Lloyd didn’t know that. He simply thought that Zion, who stayed by her side, happened to match her taste.

“I… see.”

Great disappointment and emptiness engulfed Lloyd.

Known for rejecting every marriage proposal that came her way, he had hoped there might be a chance to wedge himself in. While others had only sent letters, he was fortunate enough to meet Helena in person.

However, the result was utterly devastating.

He wanted to say that he was much better than that viscount’s boy and ask her to reconsider.

But with the other party being a Krauser, status-based justifications were useless.

The Krausers were a ducal family that didn’t greatly adhere to status, and even the future duke was selected strictly based on ability.

Moreover, if he misspoke out of emotion, he feared the sword at Helena’s waist might blaze with fire.

That was the decisive reason why Lloyd kept his mouth shut.

The slightest anxiety that she might draw her sword for feeling insulted.

Because Helena wasn’t just a duke’s daughter, but a Sword Master rare even across the entire continent.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I like Zion. We’ve been together since childhood.”

“…Yes. I understand. The Altram viscounty has been loyal to the Krauser duchy for generations.”

Why does that viscount, whom he hadn’t even bothered to notice today, suddenly seem so enviable?

Lloyd rose quietly with slumped shoulders, as if he had nothing more to say.

Having been rejected because she already had a definite man, there seemed to be no room for maneuver, and he felt he might lose control if he prolonged the conversation.

Through this behavior, Helena was reminded anew that he too was a noble, for better or worse.

It looked like a lesser authority being crushed by a greater one.

However, she didn’t feel uncomfortable or sorry about it.

She was just relieved that she could resolve the situation without resorting to harsh methods.