Chapter 47
Three days had passed since the wyvern incident.
The knights seemed extremely busy, tied up with dealing with the aftermath.
Rick, who excelled at fire magic, had apparently protected the castle from the wyvern that day at the risk of his life.
Thanks to that, it seemed no one had been seriously injured, which was a great relief.
As for me, I had been staying in the royal castle from that day until now—in order to become the crown prince’s consort once again… and because I had officially been declared a Saint.
My treatment was better than ever.
But since then, I hadn’t been able to see Leo or Mirko and the others.
I’m sure they were busy, but not being able to meet people who felt like family, whom I used to see every day, was incredibly lonely.
I wonder if Erga is doing well too…
Now that it’s known I’m a Saint, I probably can’t go back to Tori anymore, can I?
Will I never see the matrons or the knights who stayed behind there again…?
Even if that’s my destiny, it still makes me sad.
“……”
“Shibel.”
“—! Leo!?”
Late at night, when everyone had gone to sleep, I stepped out onto the balcony of the splendid room I’d been given and was gazing absentmindedly outside when someone called my name from below.
Looking down, I saw Leo waving lightly with one hand.
“What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see your face. I didn’t think I’d really get to, though.”
“I’ll come down right now!!”
“Huh—wait, hold on—!”
This was the second floor.
But if I grabbed the railing and climbed down slowly, there was grass below, so I thought it would be fine.
Just as I leaned forward with that thought, I took the plunge—and Leo caught me below.
“…I’m sorry.”
“You really are reckless.”
I ended up landing on top of Leo, but he laughed as if it were nothing.
As expected, regardless of the pendant’s effect, Leo was sturdy—strong and dependable.
“……”
“Shibel, have you been well?”
We remained seated on the grass with Leo still holding me, and when I kept staring at his face, he smiled gently and asked me that.
“Yes. I’ve been treated very well… But Leo, have you been well too?”
“Yeah. I’m fine. It’s just been hectic.”
“I figured.”
Startled, I got off Leo and stood up. We walked a little and sat side by side on a bench in the courtyard, finally having what felt like a long-overdue conversation.
As I thought, the knight order was swamped with post-incident work, and Leo was busy too—he was the captain, after all.
“For these three days, I’ve been worried about how you were doing, Shibel.”
“…I’ve been very well taken care of.”
“That makes sense. It’s been made clear that you’re the true Saint. You’ve awakened to your power, too. You’ll be fine now.”
“…But.”
“Hm?”
Leo’s words were spoken with a smile, yet my chest ached a little.
“I have to marry the First Prince.”
“……”
“Did you know that Prince Markus has an older brother, Leo?”
“…Well, I know the basics, at least.”
“What kind of person is he? I’ve never met him, but I’ve heard rumors that he’s quite admirable.”
“…Oh? Admirable, huh.”
“But they say he travels constantly to foreign countries and hardly ever returns to the castle, and that he’s so free-spirited he hasn’t even chosen a fiancée yet.”
“…I see.”
Leo replied as if it were none of his concern.
That reaction surprised me a little.
“……”
“Do you hate the idea?”
“What?”
When I fell silent, Leo asked me that.
I know I shouldn’t say this. I know that… but still…
“I hate it…”
Because I’d realized something.
After spending that night together, having that dream, seeing Leo in danger with my own eyes… and then not seeing him for just three days—I’d been unbearably lonely.
I had fallen in love with Leo—
“You should meet him at least once. Try talking to him. Maybe the First Prince is nothing like Prince Markus?”
“……”
Maybe so… but that wasn’t the point.
It wasn’t because he was Markus’s brother that I didn’t want to marry him.
It was because I loved Leo, and I didn’t want to marry anyone else.
But if I said that out loud, I’d surely trouble Leo.
After all, he’s a knight. Putting the country first is his duty, so it’s only natural for him to want the Saint—me—to marry the prince.
Still, hearing him say it with such a gentle smile made my chest ache.
It hurt so much.
I felt like I was going to cry…
“I wish… you were the First Prince, Leo…”
“…You really think that?”
The moment the words left my mouth, I felt embarrassed, realizing what I’d just said.
“I’m sorry. That’s impossible. What am I saying…”
“No… Shibel, actually—”
“I should go back now. If someone sees me alone with a man at this hour, the First Prince might get angry.”
“Shibel…!”
It became too painful to keep looking at Leo’s face, so I forced a smile and ran away.
This won’t do, Shibel…
You’re going to marry the prince.
You like a knight… you’ve fallen this deeply in love with Leo…
But you have to forget these feelings—
Tears spilled as the wind brushed my face, but I didn’t wipe them away.
Because I thought it would be better if they were carried off with these feelings, and disappeared.
