The Dagger Maid (2)

“A, a dagger…?”

“Yes.”

“……”

Lizzie couldn’t help but show a flustered reaction to Lilith’s sudden question directed at her.

Despite having felt goodwill toward Lilith who had generously overlooked her mistake at the ball with a forgiving smile just moments ago,

Lilith’s question about whether she had a blade right after meeting again was completely outside the realm of behavior Lizzie could understand.

With over ten years of experience in noble social activities, Lizzie thought she had a decent grasp of human nature,

but the behavior of this young lady before her was completely different from any human she’d encountered before.

Even so, Lizzie quickly racked her brain to find any similar types of people she’d met,

and recalling several personal encounters, she cautiously continued her speculation about this mysterious young lady.

‘Could it be…’

Perhaps the demeanor she showed upstairs was just an act for her fiancé’s sake, and this current attitude might be her true nature.

Otherwise, there’d be no reason to so blatantly ask for her personal dagger.

As Lilith boldly demanded the only weapon and means of defense Lizzie possessed, a chilling sensation crept up Lizzie’s back.

It was only natural – the moment she handed over the silver dagger hidden in her bosom, all her defensive means would disappear,

while conversely, Lilith would gain a weapon that could potentially be turned against her.

“Do you… not have one?”

‘What should I do…’

Though she naturally wanted to refuse, she couldn’t muster the courage.

Normally, complying with such a request for her lifeline of a dagger would be absurd,

but since she’d already committed an unforgivable rudeness toward Lilith upstairs in the Evening Rose Hall, she wondered if she could really refuse this request.

If she didn’t comply here, what would become of the relationship between the August and Blackwood families?

Would her mistake end up causing trouble for her family?

As the August family’s young lady hesitated with these concerns, Lilith’s voice rang in her ears again.

“…Um, Miss Lizzie?”

“Y-yes…!”

“You really don’t have one? Not even a small dagger for self-defense?”

“W-well…”

‘I should refuse, but…’

From childhood, Lizzie had shown no particular talent for magic.

The only spells she could manage were creating small amounts of water when thirsty or conjuring tiny flames to light dark corridors – trivial magics at best.

While most noble ladies could use at least one or two defensive spells, she had no such means.

So if the blade in her bosom were taken away, she’d become completely defenseless prey.

Just as the frightened Lizzie was about to voice her refusal, Lilith unexpectedly waved her hand and began moving away.

“I, I have one…!”

“…Huh?”

“I-I’ll lend it to you…! M-my lady…!”

Never imagining she’d regret handing over her only weapon just one minute later,

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

“I-I’ll lend it to you…! M-my lady…!”

“……?”

Just as I turned to ask someone else, a voice came from behind.

Turning back, I saw Lizzie calling out to me urgently,

the very silver dagger I’d requested earlier clutched tightly in her hand.

‘…Oh, she had one after all.’

Since she hesitated as if she didn’t have one, I was about to cut my losses and ask someone else,

but apparently she’d been seriously debating whether to lend it to me.

Well, lending your only means of self-defense to a stranger isn’t an easy decision to make.

I don’t know how skilled Lizzie is at magic, but more means of self-protection are always better.

Especially now with Karaham not by her side, she must feel even more psychologically vulnerable.

She must have made a significant decision to lend it to me.

‘I asked Lizzie first because I thought others would react similarly, but…’

Since she’d wronged me before, I thought she’d be more willing to lend it out of guilt.

Also, if I borrowed someone else’s dagger and fought with it, I might end up having to protect two people at once – the lender and myself.

It would be terribly awkward if the person who lent me their weapon came to harm while I was using it to defend us.

This was the smoothest way to get a weapon, so I accepted the dagger from Lizzie with gratitude.

“Thank you, Miss Lizzie.”

“O-oh no! Compared to my rudeness earlier, this is truly nothing!”

Well, that’s true. At least she seems aware.

Not that I had any intention of holding that incident over her head.

Without masks and social status, we weren’t even in positions where I could make demands anyway.

-Shing.

The moment I drew the dagger from its sheath, a cold silver blade glinted sharply.

The well-honed, pristine edge showed it had been properly maintained.

With this, I could adequately protect both Lizzie and myself.

With some luck, I might even hunt a few monsters and level up…

“…M-Miss Lilith…?”

“Yes?”

“W-what do you plan to use the dagger for…?”

“…Why do you ask?”

“Y-you’re smiling while holding the blade… It’s… a little scary…”

…I was smiling?

I must have lost control of my expression when thinking about possibly leveling up.

I should be more careful – holding a blade while smiling could easily be misunderstood.

Making her unnecessarily anxious would just make protecting her more troublesome when monsters attacked.

I decided to clearly explain that I had no intention of harming her with the dagger to put her at ease.

“Don’t worry, Miss Lizzie. I absolutely, positively have no intention of stabbing you with this.”

“Eeek…!”

“……?”

I meant to reassure her, so why does she look more scared?

Lizzie began backing away with an odd expression as I spoke.

I followed her retreat with short steps to keep close,

and for some reason, Lizzie’s expression grew increasingly darker each time.

“W-why are you coming closer?!”

“Why? Because it’s much easier (to protect you) this way.”

“D-don’t come any closer! A-are you planning to… take advantage of this chaos to do something to me…?”

“I told you not to move away. What if you get hurt (by monsters) because of that?”

“Eeeeeeek…!!”

As our conversation continued, Lizzie’s retreat sped up and her expression darkened further.

Not understanding her reaction, I matched her pace until her backward steps finally stopped against a corner wall in the main hall.

-Thud.

“A-ah…”

“You can’t retreat any further. Stop trying to get away from me and stay still…”

“I-I’m sorry, my lady…! I-I’ll definitely compensate you for my earlier rudeness…!”

“…I already said it’s unnecessary. I clearly accepted your apology, so why bring it up again?”

“B-because you still seem angry…”

…Maybe I should have just told her to send the dress compensation to Blackwood.

I’d brushed it off thinking refusing compensation would be simpler, but apparently she took my words differently –

as if I hadn’t truly accepted her apology and was still angry.

…No choice then. I’ll have to pretend to accept compensation.

Conveniently, I’m already holding a ‘suitable item’ for this transaction.

“…Then let’s do this.”

“Y-yes?”

“I’ll accept your compensation, Miss Lizzie. But you don’t need to compensate me with money or clothes.”

“T-then with what…?”

“Why look far? We can consider this as my compensation right here.”

“……Huh?”

With those words, I raised the silver dagger I’d received from her,

pointing at the sharp, gleaming blade with my finger as I spoke.

“Consider the dress compensation settled with this…”

“Kyaaaaaa…!”

The August family’s young lady, whose expression had darkened to the point of turning pale,

suddenly closed her eyes tightly as if about to scream,

but fortunately, her scream didn’t lead to any misunderstandings about me.

-Boom!

“T-the south gate of the imperial palace is breached! Everyone prepare defenses!”

“Aaaah! W-what is this?!”

“Kyaaaaah! M-monsters!!”

The monsters suddenly bursting into the shelter, and the noble children and soldiers reacting in chaos.

In the commotion, Lizzie’s scream was completely drowned out.

“…M-monsters…?!”

The flustered August young lady, who had been screaming but now belatedly assessed the situation.

I positioned myself with the dagger, keeping her pinned against the corner wall.

“Miss Lizzie, stay right there and don’t move.”

“…Y-yes?!”

“If you run off somewhere else, I might not be able to protect you when it counts.”

This would be my first time fighting while protecting someone,

…but well, it’s Lilith – I’ll manage somehow.