7
The rest of the discussion proceeded smoothly. Fadi and Ritziareite slowly bowed their heads to Princess Valtrune.
“Well then, we’ll be going now.”
“Please excuse us.”
The two of them left the room. The princess and I watched them go. With them gone, the room felt just a little bit larger.
“…Are you truly sure it was all right for me to be your Personal Knight?”
I asked the question after a brief silence. What she had said back at Flegel’s hadn’t been a joke at all. Naturally, I was shaken. Besides, the one who had served as her Personal Knight in the past was Ritziareite. It was astonishing that she would appoint me, passing her over.
“Why do you ask? Are you dissatisfied after all?”
“No… I just thought she would be better suited for the role.”
There isn’t that much difference in skill between me and Ritziareite. And besides, wasn’t it Ritziareite who spent more time with her?
“The only time I spent with you, Your Highness, was in that Kingdom prison. And yet, you chose me… I’m happy, but at the same time, I can’t help but wonder if it’s really all right for me to take this position instead of her.”
She gave me a soft smile, as if she understood my agitation. Before I knew it, her fingers were intertwined with mine. Our knuckles brushed against each other as her slender, warm, pale hand held mine tightly.
“Ritziareite was indeed my Personal Knight. For the person I was back then, I couldn’t have imagined anyone else in that role…”
She said that, and then slowly shook her head.
“But things are different now… Now… I have you.”
“——!”
“You chose to be by my side. The one I wanted most of all… you. That’s why this is how it should be.”
It was just like a confession. Her cheeks were tinged with red, and she looked incredibly beautiful.
“Besides, even if she isn’t my Personal Knight, Ritziareite is more than capable of achieving great things. That’s exactly why I was able to choose you without any reservations.”
She was saying that it was precisely because she trusts her that she didn’t choose Ritziareite for the role.
“That’s true. Her skill with dragons is on another level. Even without being your Personal Knight, she’ll surely rack up countless military honors.”
“See? That’s why you don’t need to worry about a thing. I chose you. That is my decision.”
It was an incredible honor. I felt like the luckiest man alive to have her say that to me. A Personal Knight burns their very life for their royal charge. When she dies, I die with her. That’s why I must never let her warmth be extinguished.
“As your Personal Knight, I will prove myself worthy of the title.”
“Yes. I know you will.”
—No matter what happens, I will protect her. I had sworn it countless times, and yet I felt the desire to protect her surge anew.
“I knew it. I think… I might be in love with you, Your Highness.”
“——Wha!?”
“Ah! It’s nothing. Well then, I’ll be taking my leave!”
I tried to hide my face, scrambling to cover for the words that had just slipped out. I immediately opened the door and hurried out.
“…That’s not fair. After you say something like that… how could I not be happy?”
Princess Valtrune might have murmured something in the room, but I couldn’t hear it. I had left in such a hurry that the voice from inside the room didn’t reach me.
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