episode_0085

“… … So, if I tell you to do that, you will obey that order?”

Amelia said that and then exhaled.

Then his face turned bright blue and he covered his mouth with a trembling hand.

It seems like he thinks he said something he shouldn’t have said.

hmm.

I can understand your feelings. Because you were putting pressure on your friend just to get into an argument.

And as a ‘friend’ who heard those words, I had three thoughts when I heard those words.

First of all, do you really hate the idea of me having Adele in the back?

Although I was wary of Amelia and Adele becoming so-and-so, I didn’t think they had become that way yet.

It was too short a time for that, and we only met a few times.

On the contrary, if we had built up a friendship, wouldn’t it have been more on my part? At that time, it was me and Adele who clashed swords, not Amelia and Adele sparring.

… … I wondered if Amelia was jealous.

But I soon erased that thought.

Isn’t that too much of a wishful thinking for me? Of course, we’ve been friends for a long time, so you can be jealous of me having a new friend. Just like I’m jealous of Adele right now.

However, if you think only positively, you will not be able to respond properly when you are attacked unexpectedly. In combat, you always have to assume the worst.

And the second thought that came to my mind was, ‘If I write it, there’s nothing I can do about it.’

If the usual Amelia had tried to force me to do something by showing off that she was a grand duchess, I might have felt even a little bit of resistance.

However, driving Adele was more like a job than a ‘routine’ job. Our daily life consisted of work in this mansion, especially in Amelia’s room. Other than that, most of the time, Amelia was the employer and I was the escort. We divided our actions.

And if you think about it, Amelia’s judgment wasn’t exactly wrong.

Even if Adele has learned swordsmanship, she is not better at swordsmanship than me, and she does not even know how to ride a horse. In a dangerous situation, it is easier for me to deal with Amelia and Adele riding the same horse. Amelia, who is a little excited right now, can only go so far. I guess I didn’t think about it.

Amelia was usually very smart, but now—

—Yes, the third thing I thought about was related to Amelia’s current state.

I couldn’t guess the exact reason, but Amelia’s vision was now narrowed. That’s probably why she said that. If she had kept her head cool like usual, she would never have said that to me.

And Amelia only realized it after telling him the truth.

In other words, we could say that Amelia now owes me her heart.

I myself didn’t really care, but looking at Amelia’s situation, her face turning blue and covering her mouth, I knew what I should say now.

“… … I understand. Then, I will follow your orders.”

Let me answer a little despondently,

“Ah… … .”

Amelia made that sound with her pale expression.

And he twisted his body around as if he was restless.

“Well, what I wanted to say is… … .”

“I think what the Grand Duchess said makes sense. It would be easier to protect the two of you if they were together. The same goes for the Grand Duchess and the guests she was planning to meet. And the place we are going to is this city. It is also quite far away from ”

As I continued to speak respectfully and approached Amelia, she looked up at me with her eyes wide open.

Normally, the height difference between Amelia and I did not seem that big. Amelia has always been confident and behaved befitting her position as the Grand Duchess.

On the other hand, what I did was always a little awkward. Even when I danced at the ball and afterwards when I had to talk to other nobles, I felt awkward in some way. Although I was raised as a noble since childhood, I still haven’t adjusted to it. Unlike me, Amelia, who came from a different world just like me, became a great noblewoman.

The only time Amelia showed this emotional side was when she was alone with me.

Right now, I was the only one who could make Amelia this embarrassed.

I knew very well that this was a bad thing.

I knew it but—

As I, who was near the window, approached Amelia, my shadow covered her.

Amelia was looking up at me with shaking eyes.

“Then, could you tell me your plans after today? What will you do after teaching Lady Adele how to ride a horse?—”

But my words were cut off midway.

Amelia reached out her hand to me and grabbed me.

It wasn’t a very strong force. He carefully grabbed my arm, or rather the sleeve of my clothes, as if he shouldn’t have done that.

Lightly with your fingertips.

But I could still feel Amelia’s hands shaking through the clothes.

Amelia seemed to feel fear.

“… … Sorry.”

Amelia said softly.

“I’m sorry.”

“… … .”

“I think nonsense came out as I was talking.”

After hearing Amelia’s voice like that, my heart melted like snow.

“So, huh? Don’t do that… … .”

“… … .”

Amelia raised her eyes and looked up at me. The arm that wasn’t holding me was wrapped around her body as if she was cold.

“Because I’m a little scared.”

I see

I’m scared of becoming a different person. I’m scared of the relationship we’ve built up until now being broken.

That means the time we have accumulated is precious.

That means that even if time passes and the moment comes when we have to separate—

“… … Yes.”

I answered Amelia.

“I’m sorry for answering like that. I didn’t mean to get that angry.”

“No, because I said that first… … .”

My fingertips twitched when I saw Amelia lowering her head.

I want to hug you like this.

As I hugged you tightly, I didn’t mean it that way; I just wanted to tell you that you were the most precious thing in the world, and that in fact, even if you abandoned me, I wouldn’t be able to abandon you.

But that won’t work, because it will destroy all the time we’ve built up in one fell swoop.

“But still, I think what you said is more correct.”

When I said that, Amelia raised her head.

“Anyway, externally, I am your bodyguard. And I am serious about protecting you. I have no intention of becoming just a parachute taking up space. ”

Amelia was looking up at me with her eyes wide open, as if she was a little surprised.

I said with a slight smile on my face.

“I may be lacking among the people of Delkisi, but if the moment of need arises, I just do what I have to do with all my might. It’s not because of money or anything like that. It’s because I want to do it. We… … They’re friends. That’s why I just want to protect them. I want you to know that too.”

“… … Yes.”

Amelia nodded.

Although it seemed like I was taking a step back, I gained a lot. This warm feeling I was feeling right now was the best thing I gained today.

And Amelia, because of what we just talked about, couldn’t focus on the fact that Adele’s body was touching her back.

… … Yes, I think it was a very mean thing to say.

“It looks like the sun will go down if it’s any later than now, so wouldn’t it be better to prepare early?”

Amelia was quietly looking up at me, so when I said that, she blinked once and got very surprised.

“Oh, yes, that’s right! You had an appointment!?”

And we were arguing about that promise.

“Then, for now, I’ll just let you ride after me today? That’s what I decided to do?”

Amelia said that to me as if to confirm it once again.

“Yes, that’s right. Let’s change our clothes faster than that. Otherwise, we really won’t have time. Adele will be waiting too.”

So we quickly got dressed and headed to Adele’s house.

*

“Uh… … Are you two okay?”

Adele asked the two of us gathered in front of her house with a slightly confused expression.

Amelia was breathing a little hard because she was riding the horse a little hastily. In fact, mine was quite okay, but since there were two people riding the horse, I guess they thought it was rude to ask only one of them if they were okay.

Still, I’m glad that he’s wearing his riding clothes, as if he believed in our promise… … Now that I think about it, I should have asked Adele first if she had riding clothes.

Well, even in the novel, riding clothes were worn as if it were a given. Should I say that I am glad that they at least thought of it?

“Phew.”

Amelia took a deep breath, steadied herself, and then spoke to Adele.

“Then, shall we go?”

“… … Yes, thank you very much.”

… … .

Apparently, Amelia can only be seen as a prince on a white horse.

Of course, she is a woman.

I’m not particularly blonde.

Well, there is no reason why the prince must be blonde… … No, that’s not the problem.

Since we’ve already done something like that to Amelia, we can’t tag her here.

A feeling of jealousy was creeping up deep in my heart, but I calmed myself by remembering our conversation a while ago.

… … When I come back, will I come riding a wolf?

Then I’ll have something to worry about, putting Adele on my back or in front of me.

… … When I think of thoughts like that, I feel really bad.

When I thought of that as I watched Adele getting on the horse with Amelia’s help, I laughed bitterly to myself.