Chapter 21
“What’s that?”
“Running away without looking back…”
“Haa.”
[That’s worth a sigh. Tsk tsk.]
‘Why are both of them looking at me like I’m pathetic?’
[Because you’re hopeless.]
‘I’m offended.’
[Why are you only mad at me? Because I’m an easy target? Hmph!]
Hearing Bled’s sulky voice, I realized.
Kaiden must think I’m an easy target too.
That thought made my mouth move on its own.
“…I don’t like that Your Grace thinks I’m pathetic.”
“…!”
Kaiden looked at me with surprised eyes at my sudden words. I continued with a sullen face.
“I have my own circumstances. I want to overcome them, but I can’t, so I feel frustrated and upset. It doesn’t feel good when Your Grace, who knows nothing about it, sighs like that.”
“…….”
Kaiden’s face was tinged with embarrassment. It had been a while since I’d seen that expression on him.
An awkward silence settled between us.
But I quickly realized my mistake.
Caught up in memories of my past life, I had momentarily forgotten this was a hierarchical society.
I hurriedly opened my mouth.
“O-Of course, I know Your Grace is a good person. The fact that a commoner like me can speak so freely is only because of your generosity…”
“You’re allowed to.”
Kaiden cut me off.
“What?”
“You’re the only one like you to me.”
His sudden words threw me off. As I widened my eyes, he looked at me seriously and said.
“You feel the same, don’t you?”
I finally understood what he meant.
Swordmaster.
A human who has surpassed the limits ordinary people cannot breach.
Having crossed that boundary, we had become something different from regular people.
To each other, we were the only ones who could understand.
Unless another Swordmaster appeared, it would likely be that way for the rest of our lives.
“I’m sorry for thinking you’re pathetic. You just seem…”
Kaiden chose his words and then chuckled.
“You just seem so childish.”
“What?!”
That’s the same as thinking I’m pathetic!
“And I thought we were friends.”
“Huh…?”
As I looked at him with a dumbfounded expression, he continued.
“What does it matter if you’re a bit informal or if we argue? You’re the only one I can trust to have my back.”
He was saying he trusted me.
“And I’ll be more careful from now on. I guess I’ve been treating you too much like a kid. I’m sorry. It’s not because I dislike you.”
Kaiden was too good a person.
I couldn’t help but smile. At the same time, my heart felt like it was burning black.
In the original story, I betray him and side with the Crown Prince. Our conflicts escalate until they reach an irreparable point.
I forced a smile and said.
“I like Your Grace too.”
“…You like me?”
Kaiden looked at me with a surprised expression.
“I thought Your Grace disliked me, so I’m relieved to hear that’s not the case.”
“…Ahem, I see.”
Kaiden looked somewhat awkward. After a moment of thought, he spoke.
“Marion, how about a long vacation?”
“A long vacation?”
“Yes. Retirement might be difficult, but given your contributions, you could probably get one or two years off.”
“…….”
“It might sound like meddling, but you did well to decline the Crown Prince’s offer to be his personal knight. There’s no need to get caught up in pointless political struggles. And if you’re to receive a title, it’s better to get it from His Majesty the Emperor. I’ll speak to His Majesty on your behalf, so how about resting and sorting out your thoughts while managing the land you’re granted?”
It sounded reasonable, but in my current situation, a one- or two-year reprieve meant little.
Besides, receiving a title would only tie me more to the empire.
“No. I’m no longer interested in titles or land. I just want to retire.”
“…Is there something specific you want to do after retiring?”
“There’s a lot I want to do.”
“Like what?”
I thought for a moment and said.
“I want to travel the world… and, well, find true love.”
“True… love?”
“Yes.”
Kaiden paused for a long while at my answer. Hesitating, he spoke.
“…If you want to go to marriage meetings,”
“No. Not those artificial setups. I want a natural meeting.”
Kaiden looked at me with a face that said, <What’s that supposed to mean?>
“As Your Grace knows, I briefly liked His Highness the Crown Prince, didn’t I?”
“Briefly is an understatement.”
I lightly ignored his minor jab.
“Now that I think about it, I don’t even know why I liked him. Sure, he’s handsome, but his personality is… Anyway, all the men I’ve met so far either trembled in fear of me or were only interested in my reputation. I don’t want that kind of love anymore.”
“Then what?”
Kaiden gestured for me to continue, so I tapped the medals on my chest.
“I want to take off my rank and find someone who’ll love me for me.”
In short, I wanted to meet someone who would love me as I am. Someone I could love together, whether I’m a Swordmaster or not.
Kaiden threw a wrench in it.
“Didn’t you say you wanted someone handsome, tall, capable, with a good personality, compatible values and sense of humor, and no more than four years older or younger?”
Well, sure, someone like that could exist!
I pouted and grumbled.
“That’s just my ideal type. It’d be great if they met all those conditions, but it’s fine if they don’t.”
Kaiden stroked his chin and muttered.
“Hmm… Is that so?”
“So if you could help me with my retirement…”
He firmly refused.
“I’ll help you get a vacation, but I can’t help with retirement. His Majesty the Emperor won’t let you go easily either.”
Kaiden looked me straight in the eyes and said.
“And I don’t want you to leave either.”
* * *
I sighed. It seemed unlikely I’d get Kaiden’s help. But I was touched that he cared for me more than I thought.
‘Is this the camaraderie we built rolling through the snowfields for ten years?’
In the original story, I ended up killing this comrade. Because the original me crossed a line Kaiden couldn’t forgive.
I had never killed a person before.
The Emperor knighted a thirteen-year-old girl, but perhaps out of some guilt, he never sent me to places where I’d have to kill people. I only killed magical beasts.
But in the original story, after joining the Crown Prince, I kill many people.
“Marion, my red-haired knight, come here.”
The Emperor welcomed me with open arms.
I had been summoned by the Emperor this morning. Marius must have tattled to him.
Of course, I had mentioned retirement to the Crown Prince hoping it would reach the Emperor’s ears.
“May I see the Sun of the Empire, His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Yes, yes. I believe this is the first time we’ve met one-on-one.”
“It’s an infinite honor.”
It had been ten years since I was knighted in the Gratie Empire.
The fact that this was my first private audience with the Emperor was proof of how poorly I was treated.
In my teens, I could excuse it because I was young and met the Emperor with Kaiden, but still, it was too much.
“Don’t take it too personally. How old were you when I first saw you? Ten?”
“Thirteen, Your Majesty.”
“Right. You were so young. Haha, sit.”
“Thank you.”
The Emperor gestured to the chair across the table. On the table was a dessert tea set meticulously prepared by the imperial chef.
The Emperor boasted that he had told the chef to bring out desserts that girls my age would like. He urged me to relax and enjoy.
[If you want to make a point about being neglected all this time, don’t touch the desserts!]
“I love desserts. Thank you, Your Majesty.”
☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆
By Anna 💓
