Chapter 45
The corners of Theodore’s lips curved into a smile as he spoke in an unexpectedly gentle voice—completely at odds with the image he had built up until now.
“It’s a good opportunity, just as you said, so I suppose I should go. And hearing you talk about putting yourself in danger… it made me worry.”
“N-No, that’s…”
“My partner has joined hands with me. If you might come to harm, then I’ll take responsibility alongside you.”
How did the conversation end up like this…?
He was a wise and righteous ruler, yes—but also cold-blooded enough to use people like chess pieces.
Then why does it matter to him if I get hurt? He should just sit back and enjoy the benefits!
“I’ve won martial arts tournaments before. At worst I’ll be useful; I certainly won’t get in your way.”
He spoke smoothly.
Well… he wasn’t wrong.
He definitely wouldn’t be dead weight.
“B-But if Your Majesty comes close, I won’t be able to use my divine power! And if you come with me, what am I supposed to tell the Count? She’ll panic!”
I hurriedly argued with the most reasonable explanation I could think of.
“I believe you said twenty-one meters was sufficient. I’ll stay outside the estate.”
“…Outside.”
I still didn’t like it.
Just imagining the Emperor waiting outside for me to finish made me nervous.
“B-But what if something happens and we have to get closer—”
“Then it would already be a situation I would have to handle. It wouldn’t be one your ability could solve.”
I had thought that was a convincing excuse.
But his silver tongue rendered it completely useless.
Since I’d been the one to measure the twenty-one-meter limit myself, I couldn’t suddenly claim it had to be farther.
I should’ve waited before measuring the distance…
I desperately searched for another excuse.
“Y-Your Majesty is so busy. I’d just be getting in your way…”
“Really? I trust you don’t think I’m so incompetent that I can’t manage my own schedule.”
“…I-I just feel like I’d be imposing…”
“Haven’t we already joined hands? You’re not imposing in the slightest.”
He was like an impenetrable shield.
When defeat became obvious on my face, Theodore smiled.
I didn’t know exactly what he was thinking.
But I knew one thing.
He’s absolutely convinced I’m going to mess this up…!
It was frustrating not to be trusted, but there wasn’t much I could say about it yet.
“You said tomorrow night, correct? Come here then.”
“…Yes.”
In the end, I had no choice but to surrender completely to Theodore.
* * *
Come to think of it… maybe this is actually for the best.
If I succeeded in stealing the ledger while Theodore waited twenty-one meters away, wouldn’t he finally believe me?
If he could even catch a glimpse of me floating…
The estate garden would be wide open. Even from that distance, he’d be able to see it.
A chance to prove my abilities—the very ones I’d have had to drag him along to witness—and now he’s coming of his own accord?
This is an opportunity.
With that in mind, I packed my things.
Finally, I locked my room.
No one could know I’d been gone.
The maids always prepared my room after dinner and never came back afterward, but it was better to be safe.
At night, every door in the Grand Temple was locked tight.
Sneaking out through an open entrance the way I did during the day wouldn’t be possible.
Tonight, it’s the window.
Normally I avoided this method to conserve Agasa’s strength.
[Dorothy, I’ve got so much energy these days.]
But the gods had recovered considerably lately.
This time, I decided to go for it.
[Lady Agasa, are you ready?]
[Yes!]
[Let’s go!]
The room was dark, the lights extinguished.
Outside, night had fully fallen.
Wearing my worn cloak over my white dress, I climbed onto the wide windowsill.
My body floated upward.
Something seemed to wrap around me gently.
That feeling… wasn’t there before.
It was almost as if I were sitting in a comfortable armchair.
Slowly, gently, I drifted downward toward the ground.
Today’s feeling is really amaz—
[W-Wait. Why— Theo—]
Apparently not.
The instant Agasa cried out in alarm—
“Ahhh!”
My body plummeted.
Whatever had been supporting me vanished, and the ground rushed toward me at terrifying speed.
“Damn it.”
Then, once again—
Something caught me.
Warm.
Firm.
A solid body wrapped around mine.
A bittersweet scent.
“…Your Majesty?”
Eyes wide, I stared at the man lying on his back with me in his arms.
It was Theodore.
“W-What…? How…?”
“Are you alright?! Are you hurt anywhere?”
He asked urgently.
Still cradled against him, I answered in a daze.
“I’m fine, Your Majesty. But… why are you here…?”
“I see… Thank goodness…”
He let out a deep breath.
“Your Majesty, what’s going on? What exactly—”
“I must be insane.”
He laughed bitterly.
“Your Majesty?”
“You… really flew.”
It seemed my trust issue had been resolved much sooner than expected.
I’d thought he’d witness me flying during the operation at the Count’s estate.
Not now.
Seeing Theodore with such a stunned expression…
It was a face I’d never seen before.
Still lying on top of him, I quietly looked into his eyes.
For some reason, those cold blue eyes seemed softer than before.
“You… saw me flying?”
“…I did. You… floated. Just… gently floated down through the air.”
For someone who believed in science and despised the supernatural, even saying those words must have felt strange.
Sure enough, Theodore immediately sighed.
Looks like he’s having quite the existential crisis.
Still, now he knew I hadn’t been lying.
That alone made me happy.
“So… it was all true.”
“Everything you told me.”
“If you think there’s some trick involved… would you like to inspect it?”
“If something like that were possible, I’d dismiss all my engineers and hire only you.”
He joked in his usual sarcastic manner.
“Haha. I wouldn’t be much help developing technology.”
Perfect.
Everything was going smoothly.
I smiled brightly.
Then suddenly—
“…I’m sorry for stepping within twenty-one meters, Saintess.”
Theodore apologized out of nowhere.
“When I saw… you like that… I moved before I realized it.”
“Oh.”
“I only took one step. I never imagined this would happen. That was my mistake. I apologize.”
Well…
Regardless of whether he’d believed me or not…
Someone really could have died just now.
So of course an apology was appropriate.
I knew he was the sort of man who admitted his mistakes and apologized when necessary.
But…
I’d only ever seen him angry before.
Seeing him look so dejected…
This is… refreshing!
A mischievous impulse bubbled up inside me.
The corner of my mouth curled upward as I teased him.
“So it was Your Majesty’s fault I fell?”
This…
was an incredibly rare chance to tease someone who was always so intimidating.
No way I was letting it slip by.
“…I’m sorry. I truly apologize.”
“Oh, you have no idea how terrified I was while falling. I swear I almost saw my great-grandfather waiting for me.”
“I’m sorry. Truly.”
“Are you really that sorry?”
“Of course. If you’d hit the ground, you could have died. I’m deeply sorry.”
I grinned.
Seeing Theodore so flustered was unexpectedly entertaining.
“Then perhaps you should get down on your knees—”
The words escaped before I could stop them.
The moment I said them, I immediately regretted it and snapped my mouth shut.
Oops.
I nervously watched Theodore, wondering if I’d gone too far.
Fortunately, he didn’t get angry.
“Unfortunately, an Emperor cannot kneel.”
“So I’ll have to find another way. Is there anything you need? One of my private islands, perhaps—”
No.
He wasn’t just staying calm.
He was starting to exaggerate even more than I had.
Is he making fun of me now…?
“No, it’s alright.”
After all…
He’d seen me falling from nearly twenty meters away and sprinted over with inhuman speed to catch me.
If anything, I was grateful.
Before I became the one suffering, I quickly abandoned my teasing.
“It can’t possibly be alright. If you saw your great-grandfather while falling, that means you were frightened enough to—”
“I don’t even remember what my great-grandfather looked like, Your Majesty. I was joking.”
“But you really could have been seriously hurt.”
…He’s not teasing me. He’s serious.
As we argued back and forth, I gradually realized he genuinely meant every word.
What a rigid man, especially for someone so young.
“Your Majesty caught me, so I wasn’t hurt. And now you finally believe me. That’s enough.”
I forgave him immediately.
I wanted to tease him a little more…
But at this rate, I’d end up feeling like I was the one being punished.
“Saintess.”
“It’s alright, Your Majesty. Really.”
Seeing Theodore look at me almost pleadingly, his brows drawn together in worry, felt incredibly unfamiliar.
Meeting his gaze directly, I spoke firmly.
“From now on, just get along with me, alright? You believe me now. Let’s work well together.”
I smiled brightly.
After all, getting along was the best outcome.
Theodore, expressionless, silently looked up at my smiling face.
My reflection filled his blue eyes.
This building wasn’t used very often, so the area around us was dark.
Only a couple of distant windows glowed faintly.
Yet despite the darkness…
I could see him so clearly.
He’s beautiful.
His blue irises were streaked with delicate patterns like feathery clouds across the sky.
They were so beautiful that I found myself staring without realizing it.
Theodore stared back.
For a long moment, neither of us looked away.
It felt impossible to describe.
As if I were being pulled into him.
I could still feel the warmth of his arms wrapped tightly around my back.
The firmness of his body—so much larger than mine.
The unmistakable presence of a man.
Handsome men are dangerous.
Gulp.
I swallowed.
The instant that thought crossed my mind—
Thump.
Thump.
My whole body vibrated with the pounding of a heartbeat.
Calm down, heart.
He’s the terrifying Emperor.
…Wait.
I don’t think that’s my heartbeat.
Paying closer attention, I realized it wasn’t just my own heart I could feel.
Theodore’s heart was pounding violently too.
We were pressed so closely together that I could feel it.
Why is he so startled?
Something about the way Theodore looked at me felt… strange.
Could it be…
