While Eve is having a secret affair with Anais, Michael is waiting right in front of the pearl shell room.
Michael's posture as he maintained his position was not disturbed at all.
The sight of Michael standing motionlessly in splendid attire is a statue created with the soul of art.
It could have been mistaken for.
If nothing else had happened, he would have continued to be faithful to his duties as a direct knight, just like his beautiful self.
But a problem arose.
“Lord Agnito?”
“... I see you again, Your Majesty the 8th Princess.”
A woman who should be in the brightest place with a pure appearance is dangerous.
What brought her into the dark hallway?
Even he was alone now.
'It's suspicious.'
While Michael was doubting many things, Rosenit was approaching him with light steps.
Michael's eyes, hidden by the lace eyepatch, naturally narrowed.
He felt it from the first time they met, but strangely enough, Michael was displeased with Rosenit.
Of course, he got hit by the White Rose of the Empire, who has received nothing but love and favor throughout her life.
She did not have the insight to see through people's discomfort.
Rosenit asked, looking at Michael with silent eyes.
“Is Sister Eve in there?”
"She is resting alone.”
“Aren’t you going in together? Are you her direct knight?”
No matter how innocent and good-natured the tone of the question is, the content was an interrogation as to why he did not perform his secret duties as a direct knight.
For Michael, seeking innocence in this way was counterproductive.
He thought the Princess in front of him was truly abominable.
Michael responded to the question with a question even though he knew it was against the law.
“Isn’t Her Highness, the 8th Princess, with Lord Millard?”
“I came out for a moment to get some air.”
“The 8th Princess is an honorable person because she travels alone. May you always stay close to Sir Millard.”
“If you’re that worried, Lord Agnito could escort me.”
It was a disaster. Michael almost groaned.
Michael, who had undergone the loyalty oath ceremony, could not refuse the royal family's requests or orders.
Moreover, he didn't want to make a mistake that would interrupt the conversation between Eve and Anais.
"Gladly."
Michael approached Rosenit and held out his right hand.
The moment he realized that the triumphant light in her pink eyes was ugly, she touched it with her fingertips.
At that moment, Michael had to squeeze his left fist until it was crushed without anyone noticing.
It was a terrible discomfort.
It was a sensation he felt when kissing the back of her hand, but he couldn't get used to it at all.
It was really strange.
He was more offended than when he was swearing allegiance to Desmond II.
At this point, he began to suspect that the woman in front of him was his natural enemy or an enemy from a past life.
“Lord Agnito?”
“...I'll take you to the garden, Your Highness."
Michael endured his discomfort and escorted Rosenit out of the building.
They entered the garden, where night had already fallen.
The hedge-lined path, made up of hydrangeas that had just begun to sprout white buds, was quiet yet charming.
However, Michael did not have the mental space to feel that.
Each step was like an ordeal.
So he wanted to finish one lap quickly, but the road was longer than he thought.
Meanwhile, Rosenit seemed to have no intention of walking properly, so her steps were narrow and extremely slow.
“You are walking too fast, Lord Agnito.”
“I apologize, Your Highness.”
“You really don’t have much to say.”
“I apologize for that too.”
It was when Michael was walking, concentrating all his attention on not hitting Rosenit’s hand.
Suddenly, Rosenit stood tall in her seat.
“Lord Agnito.”
Thankfully, Rosenit took the hand of escorting first.
Only then did Michael feel that he could breathe.
But the next moment, she came back with even more torture.
“I’d like to see you take off the blindfold. Can you give me permission?”
There was no way that permission sought from a homunculus without its master by its side was really permission.
Rosenit herself is well aware of that fact, as she received information from Michael.
Even though she didn't hear any answer, her hand was already reaching for the eyepatch.
Michael felt extreme rejection as he watched Rosenit's hand getting closer.
'Do not touch me.'
The white hands were terrible.
The only thought in Michael's mind was that he didn't want to be touched by that hand.
However, the body that had sworn allegiance to Hadelamid's blood was not allowed to resist.
He couldn't move a finger now.
It was then.
“Michael!”
An urgent cry broke the hold.
Only then did Michael's body move according to his will.
When he turned his head, Eve, who seemed to have been escorted by Sylvestian, caught his eye.
Eve walked quickly, leaving Sylvestian behind, and blocked the space between Rosenit and Michael.
It looked as if she was trying to protect Michael.
The amber eyes facing Rosenit took on a fierce glow.
“I don’t know why you took someone else’s knight with you, Rosie.”
“Seeing that I am alone, Lord Agnito first asked me to be my escort.”
Michael felt both frustration and anger as his lips twitched with a kind face.
'What a lie.'
Now, it was clear that her purpose was to drive a wedge between himself and Eve.
'The Princess...'
Michael looked at Eve's complexion with concern.
Luckily she doesn't shake at all.
“If it was Lord Millard, he was looking for you in the hallway and I met him. Couldn’t you have waited a little longer?”
"I know, right. It’s a shame that our paths diverged.”
“Lord Millard is here too, so enjoy the rest of the walk with your direct knight.”
“...That would be nice.”
Michael and Sylvestian each stood by their master's side. Rosenit spoke as soon as she saw Sylvestian.
She changed it.
“I can take a walk. Everyone will be waiting for me at the banquet hall, so I guess I’ll just head back now.”
“I will take you there.”
Rosenit looked regretfully at Michael's eye patch for a moment and then turned her back.
After giving a silent bow to Eve, Sylvestian escorted Rosenit and disappeared out of the garden.
When they were alone in the hydrangea garden, Eve turned to Michael.
Michael spoke first.
“I was glad you came at the right time.”
“When did she come?”
“The 8th Princess tried to remove my blindfold.”
I was surprised as if I had heard an unimaginable story.
In fact, there is no precedent for the royal family to try to remove the pus from the eye patch of someone else's knight before their own.
There wasn't.
‘Rosie...'
I felt a surge of confusion. But I did not show it and comforted Michael.
“I’m sorry for leaving you alone.”
“It is not for the Princess to apologize. Let's go back. I will take you to your place.”
"Yes."
After completing everything we had to do, the two walked with our backs to the grand banquet hall.
Orchestral music is gradually becoming distant. Even as it was setting, the moon hanging in the sky gently shed light to see us off on our way.
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