IDEFYEM - Chapter 30
Black Man, I'll Do Everything For You Except Marriage!
Although it was the archduke's duty to often appear at events hosted by the royal family. It wasn't a particularly pleasant schedule for Raphael Kronhardt.
Work piled up all the time, and political interactions were tiring. Especially now that my body is not completely free due to the curse.
Moreover, it is a hunting banquet held in a remote forest...
How many nerves are going on under the water in a place that seems safe at first glance?
So, Enrica Wintersoar's words were something that would normally have been quite annoying.
"At least once... I wanted to see with my own eyes an autumn hunting ground with fallen leaves fluttering about. Even if I don't dream of someone offering me the game."
"Of course, I'm not saying I want to participate. Like my father said, how could I go out to a place like th at when I'm ugly?"
Even if there is some truth mixed in, it is a trick that is clearly visible to the eye. A pitiful expression that seemed determined to trick me.
There are definitely elements that would have gotten on his nerves if it were someone else.
'For some reason, when I saw that face, I knew I didn't want to disappoint her.'
It was clear that if a woman so thin that even standing still seemed precarious at times, attending a hunting banquet, there would be twice as many things to worry about.
Raphael sighed and thought to himself that he didn't know why he nodded at that time. It has been a long time since he received a report on her whereabouts from the person behind her.
They say she is busy moving around at dawn. That might be the source of the information about the hunting banquet.
But for some reason, he didn't feel like stopping that dangerous behavior in earnest.
The fact that it included an effort to lift his curse felt a bit unwelcome, even if he didn't expect a positive result.
That he moves for me and thinks about me.
Suddenly, Raphael felt his heart pounding again.
"Are you confusing the feeling of your heart beating without a bump with affection...?"
Why is he thinking of all the useless words he heard from my aide?
It's serious. It would be better if this were just one of the symptoms of the curse.
Raphael shook his head and raised his hand to adjust his helmet while on his horse. He left earlier than Enrica and had already made some appearances at the banquet. This was the minimum courtesy towards the royal family.
Afterward, he devised a way to stay by her side while hiding his identity as the Grand Duke.
He first appears to be leaving for the forest and then prepares a safe path.
By the time Enrica leaves, all he has to do is put on his helmet and go out to meet her.
Two facts played a role in his decision to become an escort, which he had never done before.
First, Raphael was worried about her safety. It was also quite annoying to have a young knight who, unlike herself, was born energetic and lively next to her all day long.
"..."
The man's horse left into the forest with a clanging sound.
***
"It looks like the armor matches well and makes you taller. Have you grown up recently?"
While I was feeling uncomfortable with the silence that followed. The man I thought was Hayden took off the helmet that was covering his face. Strands of black hair, visible even from afar, were flowing down.
My eyes widened when I saw him shaking his head and straightening his appearance.
"Uh, uh...."
"Do you feel like I've grown taller?"
It was Kael.
While I was trying to understand the situation by moving my stiff head, the mouth of the man who suddenly appeared was tilted up as if he was satisfied with my reaction.
"I was secretly hoping, but I never thought you wouldn't recognize me."
Blue eyes sparkled mischievously.
“I’m sad, Enri.”
"Well, then Hayden...."
No, the thing that was inside that armor from the beginning was Kael. Only then did a surprised cry come out of my mouth after I had finished thinking.
"Uh huh?"
"Shh."
Kael raised his index finger to the corner of his mouth.
I nodded, covering my mouth as if fascinated by the movement. The shock of encountering a face I thought I would never see here was quite great.
Moreover, I just thought it was Hayden and showered such excessive praise on it. They say he's tall, like a knight, and handsome.
Feeling my face getting hot, I averted my eyes and whispered quietly, pretending it was nothing.
"Why on earth did you come here? I heard you have other plans."
"I'm worried anyway."
"Nonsense. What about Hayden?"
"I was quite looking forward to hunting, but... It's a pity, but he should be resting by now."
"Are you hiding in Hayden's place?"
The man let out a weak sigh, pulled the reins, and came a little closer.
"At the end of every word, Hayden, Hayden... Have we become that close to each other?"
"Yes, yes?"
"Aren't you happy to see me?"
The sight of Kael wearing armor aroused a different sense of tension in me. A big, huge, huge man who couldn't even be hurt.
"Then I'll just leave. I'll get Hayden."
"It's not like that... !"
He looks downcast at every word I say. I swallowed dry saliva for no reason and made a crawling voice.
"Yes, actually, I'm glad Kael is here."
"..."
"I'll ask about the circumstances later. I am very happy now... same."
He didn't answer for a long time. For some reason, I didn't dare to raise my head and check his expression. At that moment, something happened to break the awkward silence.
"Oh, there's something under the cloak..."."
An unknown object was writhing inside the cloak over the armor. When I took a step back, almost freaking out, Kael laughed.
"Don't be scared, it's no big deal."
He put his hand arm into his arms and pulled out a bundle of white fur.
"Wow, it's moving!"
Two long ears sprouted from the fur that looked like small balls. It was a rabbit with shiny, shiny fur.
"I thought you might like it."
"It's so, so cute!"
"Practice hunting with this guy... If you release it safely...."
There was silence for a moment.
"What, Kael?"
"It would be better if you pretend you didn't hear it."
On rare occasions, the man looked so embarrassed that he avoided my eyes.
The rabbit in his arms seemed to have stiffened, looking closely at him.
"Well, that could be true. Kael is a knight."
But I somehow feel uneasy about keeping the rabbit in my hands. I reached out and brought the small, warm creature to me.
"Do you want to go home?"
The rabbit seemed to understand what I was saying and snuggled into my arms. Wow, that's cute.
"It's unfortunate, but let's part ways. Because I don't know what that man will do."
I looked sideways at Kael, who was visibly flinching and chuckled. Slowly and carefully I placed the little animal on the floor.
The rabbit, with its ears pricked up, looked around and started acting strangely before disappearing into the grass. While he bobbed his head as if he was expressing gratitude, he also made gestures that could be interpreted as leaving a warning.
"..."
While I was staring at the scene in wonder, the rabbit ran away and disappeared.
"They say it's a forest of spirits, indeed."
Kael muttered in a tone that seemed quite admiring.
"What does that mean?"
"This forest has been managed as royal territory since ancient times, so there was little human access."
"So?"
"I have heard that the population of mysterious spirits has been preserved thanks to avoiding damage like that."
I looked at Kael with curious eyes and nodded.
"Maybe we just ran into one of them."
"It looked like an ordinary rabbit."
I slowly recalled in my mind the scene I had witnessed earlier.
"Wait a minute, if that's really something like a spirit thing... Isn't Kael anxious? So, he left us something like a warning."
Kael chuckled as he lightly reproduced the rabbit's gestures by moving his arms.
"I've never had more fun watching your surprised face."
Soon he confessed in an honest tone. I was very confused as to whether the absurd content contained in that serious voice was a joke.
"I'm not kidding! I got really scared. Didn't you see it?"
When I asked with a straight face, an unknown tension appeared in the atmosphere.
"It is true that I did not see it. I'm sorry if I made you worry more."
"No, then you might be mistaken...."
"... A wizard's gaze usually has a precise angle."
Kael adjusted the sword at his waist and chanted softly. I felt like it would be better to let him maintain his mischievous appearance from before.
This was because a greater sense of anxiety came over me. It was then.
A loud, high-pitched scream came from somewhere in the grass beyond the bushes.
I, who was already nervous, was startled and shook my shoulders. A man with an armored arm wrapped around my shoulder carefully comforted me.
"Shh, Enri. It's okay."
"B-just now..."
"It won't be a big deal. I will go and check."
"You're going there now?"
"We need to know what happened so we can respond accurately."
It wasn't difficult to notice the untidy look from afar. The screams that followed, the rumbling of the ground as people scattered around.
He rolled his eyes with a hint of fear but soon began to take a deep breath. Just don't be scared by something like this.
'Kael is next to me now.'
"There's no need to push yourself, Enri. First, let me take you to the tent...."
"No, I want to go with you."
I spoke in a firm voice. Kael, seeing that determined expression, seemed to have given up on stopping me and took the reins.
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