I was watching how the knights were being trained at the training ground, and while I was at it, I also went to the training center where new soldiers were being trained with Callius.
Ronheim was said to have great martial arts skills even among the common people, and each and every soldier seemed to be of great skill.
According to Callius, the soldiers of Ronheim were as skilled as the knights of other territories.
'You're all amazing.'
It was when I was watching the soldiers training with great spirit.
Brentian rushed over and reported something to Callius.
“What’s going on?”
When Brentian looked so anxious that I asked Callius a question, Callius whispered in my ear.
“90% of the people who are making a fuss about Brentian are worriers.”
Brentian shouted.
"Are you listening? We need to reinforce the western wall outside the castle immediately. An avalanche would be a disaster. And I heard there's a goat plague in Abene, so we need to spread the word to the nomads... Besides, fights between drunks keep breaking out in the square these days. We need to deploy soldiers for security..."
I whispered softly to Callius.
“I don’t think it’s just a worry.”
I whispered it only to Callius, but Brentian nodded.
“Of course not! Did you hear what the Marchioness said, my lord?”
Callius looked at him with a 'I wonder if that's true?'
"The Western Wall is high, so there hasn't been an avalanche in a hundred years. And the nomads of Ronheim don't raise goats, so a goat plague isn't something that needs urgent attention. And are our people the kind of people who would tremble at the sight of a drunken brawl? And above all, this doesn't seem urgent enough to warrant a rush to report."
'Wow.'
I gave a silent applause to Callius, who refuted Brentian point by point.
Brentian protested with narrowed eyes.
“Isn’t it more urgent than the Marquis’ training camp date?”
Then he pointed to the soldiers and said:
“Do you really have to laugh like that in front of people who are locked up in a training camp and are being trained without being able to date?”
The soldiers who had been training hard put down their weapons and responded to the words that were pointed at them.
“Right!”
Everyone had expressions that said this situation was funny.
'I'm not guilty. I just followed you because you told me to go.'
I used Callius as a shield and hid behind his shadow.
Callius touched his forehead.
"This isn't just a date. Madam should see what our military is like, too."
“But you look too happy to be showing off your military skills. Your face is bright with smiles.”
“Aha. So you’re jealous?”
Callius chuckled and made a mischievous expression, as if he knew what Brentian was thinking.
“Jealousy!”
“I heard you were flirting with the blacksmith’s youngest daughter recently. Did you get dumped?”
“Ah, it’s not like... I’ve decided yet..."
At first, Brentian seemed like a tough and suffocating person, but the more I got to know him, the more I realized that wasn't necessarily the case.
He suddenly whispered to me, his shoulders slumping.
“I... Chloe, what does it mean when a woman receives a letter from a man who is obviously interested in her and doesn’t respond for three days?”
“Oh my, no... Ah! That’s not it...!”
I hurriedly covered my mouth as an exclamation of regret escaped my lips without me realizing it.
I quickly tried to say something nice to Brentian, but he shook his head.
"Yes. I can tell just by looking at your reaction. Don't say anything."
Then he left the training camp, stumbling along.
Callius smiled mischievously as he watched his friend's back.
He looked more like a mischievous child than the affectionate and gentle Callius I knew.
Since Brentian and he have been friends for a long time, this kind of behavior seems to come out naturally.
I was a little surprised because Callius's mischievous smile reminded me of the way Karl had been teasing me, but I didn't show it.
“It’s not polite to laugh at times like this.”
When I poked him in the ribs to stop him, Callius shrugged.
“You reap what you sow.”
How can even speaking like that be similar to Karl?
Thinking of Karl, it suddenly occurred to me that it had been quite some time since I had seen him.
"I hope you're doing well. What's Karl doing now?"
Like Callius and Brentian, I wish I had a best friend who was always there for me.
'I miss you, Karl.'
Now that everyone in Ronheim has accepted me, I think it's time for me to show up with confidence.
'But strangely, whenever I think of Karl, I am reminded of Lhasa's words about not relying on empty words.'
I guess I had a very gloomy face.
Callius suddenly bent down and brought his face close to mine.
“What are you thinking so deeply about?”
As I was walking with my mind wandering, I was startled by the face that appeared before me and took a step back.
Then Callius grabbed my waist and pulled me closer.
“I feel like you might fall.”
“Oh, thank you.”
I tried to pull away from him, but Callius didn't let go of his arm around my waist and pulled me closer.
"What on earth makes you forget I'm even here? What, what, I wonder."
"Huh? Oh, I wasn't thinking about anything. I was just thinking about the friend I mentioned last time..."
“Are you the guy who is said to be the most handsome in the world?”
Somehow, it feels like a shadow has grown thicker over my face...
"Yes..."
“You always think about that man.”
I laughed a little because it sounded strange to me that Callius referred to Karl as a 'man'.
Then Callius' eyebrows twitched slightly.
“I guess he’s a friend who makes you smile just thinking about him.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
"I guess you miss your friend terribly. You keep thinking about that man next to me."
What.
'The way you speak is a bit...'
I asked, looking at Callius's expression.
“Are you... angry?”
"How could that be? Why would I be angry? There's absolutely no reason for me to be."
Callius smiled brightly and pulled the handle of the training camp entrance.
"I'm curious about him, too. He's a good friend to Chloe. If you get the chance, how about inviting him to Ronheim? As a husband, I want to treat my wife's dear friend with the utmost sincerity. He'll probably be curious about Chloe's well-being, too, so I'd like to invite him to Ronheim and spend as much time as he wants."
Those were such kind words.
I was so moved that I clasped my hands together and looked up at Callius.
“Really? I love it!”
Then, from somewhere, there was a loud crash and the sound of something breaking.
As I was doing something, I noticed that Callius was holding a doorknob broken in two in his hand.
“Oh, the doorknob! Are you okay?”
"Ah."
He looked down at the doorknob in his hand absentmindedly, then tossed it aside as if it were nothing, making an incomprehensible sound.
“Don’t worry about it. The original doorknob was going to break.”
Yes...?
After finishing work and returning to my room, I fell into deep thought while watching the sunset.
I was glad that Callius had brought Karl along because he wanted to treat him, but I was worried about how Karl would react.
How did Karl react when I told Callius the truth and asked him to reveal himself?
I remembered the sight of Karl getting angry at me with a serious expression.
I hated and was scared of Karl getting angry.
I'm afraid that my closest and most trusted sword will leave me.
"Can I bring it up? I don't want to upset him. I already said no once, but is that okay?"
It was when I was feeling depressed and sighing.
“Chloe!”
I turned around at the welcoming voice.
Behind me, as usual, Karl appeared as if by magic and stood there, smiling bashfully.
“Why do you look so sad? What’s wrong?”
“Karl! Why have you been here so long?”
"I've been here often. There were always people around you, so I just hid. I was always watching."
“Really? That’s what happened.”
I sat down with Karl, smiling, and told him what had happened.
The story that I was sick because of a curse, the story that I performed a ritual to suppress the curse's power, the story that people now call me a Marchioness instead of a Princess, etc.
When I said that I was so happy and joyful about all this, Karl asked me a little worriedly.
"Isn't it because everyone thinks you're some kind of Saint? What if they realize you're just an ordinary person with no mystical powers?"
It stung. Karl had accurately exposed the worries I'd been harboring deep inside.
“But Callius said that I saved many lives by freeing his people from starvation.”
"People want one thing when you do it for them. The people of Ronheim will expect you to solve everything for them, like a Saint."
“...That might be the case.”
"The Marquis Rodrian is the same. He's kind to you now, but what if he changes his mind? What will happen then? You know how kind Andrea was to you at first."
I was momentarily speechless, but I tried to carefully refute Karl.
"Some people don't. Like you. You don't change."
“I’m your special friend. Are you comparing me to someone else?”
“That’s not it...”
“No one else is like me. I came this far for you, for you...”
It was strange.
Why do I feel so intimidated when I hear Karl's story?
Why... is Andrea’s voice heard in Karl’s voice?
“Chloe, I’m doing this for you.”
“How much I care for you.”
“Where else in the world can you find an older brother who treats you this well, like I do?”
Karl was saying exactly what Andrea had said.
When I realized that, goosebumps ran down my body.
“Stop it! Stop it!”
The shock of Andrea being remembered by Karl and the fear that Andrea had instilled in him simultaneously came flooding back.
I shook my head, covering my ears as if having a seizure.
“Stop it, Karl! Stop it!”
That was when.
The door to the shared bedroom burst open, and Callius rushed into my room.
“What’s wrong, Chloe?”
Ronheim was said to have great martial arts skills even among the common people, and each and every soldier seemed to be of great skill.
According to Callius, the soldiers of Ronheim were as skilled as the knights of other territories.
'You're all amazing.'
It was when I was watching the soldiers training with great spirit.
Brentian rushed over and reported something to Callius.
“What’s going on?”
When Brentian looked so anxious that I asked Callius a question, Callius whispered in my ear.
“90% of the people who are making a fuss about Brentian are worriers.”
Brentian shouted.
"Are you listening? We need to reinforce the western wall outside the castle immediately. An avalanche would be a disaster. And I heard there's a goat plague in Abene, so we need to spread the word to the nomads... Besides, fights between drunks keep breaking out in the square these days. We need to deploy soldiers for security..."
I whispered softly to Callius.
“I don’t think it’s just a worry.”
I whispered it only to Callius, but Brentian nodded.
“Of course not! Did you hear what the Marchioness said, my lord?”
Callius looked at him with a 'I wonder if that's true?'
"The Western Wall is high, so there hasn't been an avalanche in a hundred years. And the nomads of Ronheim don't raise goats, so a goat plague isn't something that needs urgent attention. And are our people the kind of people who would tremble at the sight of a drunken brawl? And above all, this doesn't seem urgent enough to warrant a rush to report."
'Wow.'
I gave a silent applause to Callius, who refuted Brentian point by point.
Brentian protested with narrowed eyes.
“Isn’t it more urgent than the Marquis’ training camp date?”
Then he pointed to the soldiers and said:
“Do you really have to laugh like that in front of people who are locked up in a training camp and are being trained without being able to date?”
The soldiers who had been training hard put down their weapons and responded to the words that were pointed at them.
“Right!”
Everyone had expressions that said this situation was funny.
'I'm not guilty. I just followed you because you told me to go.'
I used Callius as a shield and hid behind his shadow.
Callius touched his forehead.
"This isn't just a date. Madam should see what our military is like, too."
“But you look too happy to be showing off your military skills. Your face is bright with smiles.”
“Aha. So you’re jealous?”
Callius chuckled and made a mischievous expression, as if he knew what Brentian was thinking.
“Jealousy!”
“I heard you were flirting with the blacksmith’s youngest daughter recently. Did you get dumped?”
“Ah, it’s not like... I’ve decided yet..."
At first, Brentian seemed like a tough and suffocating person, but the more I got to know him, the more I realized that wasn't necessarily the case.
He suddenly whispered to me, his shoulders slumping.
“I... Chloe, what does it mean when a woman receives a letter from a man who is obviously interested in her and doesn’t respond for three days?”
“Oh my, no... Ah! That’s not it...!”
I hurriedly covered my mouth as an exclamation of regret escaped my lips without me realizing it.
I quickly tried to say something nice to Brentian, but he shook his head.
"Yes. I can tell just by looking at your reaction. Don't say anything."
Then he left the training camp, stumbling along.
Callius smiled mischievously as he watched his friend's back.
He looked more like a mischievous child than the affectionate and gentle Callius I knew.
Since Brentian and he have been friends for a long time, this kind of behavior seems to come out naturally.
I was a little surprised because Callius's mischievous smile reminded me of the way Karl had been teasing me, but I didn't show it.
“It’s not polite to laugh at times like this.”
When I poked him in the ribs to stop him, Callius shrugged.
“You reap what you sow.”
How can even speaking like that be similar to Karl?
Thinking of Karl, it suddenly occurred to me that it had been quite some time since I had seen him.
"I hope you're doing well. What's Karl doing now?"
Like Callius and Brentian, I wish I had a best friend who was always there for me.
'I miss you, Karl.'
Now that everyone in Ronheim has accepted me, I think it's time for me to show up with confidence.
'But strangely, whenever I think of Karl, I am reminded of Lhasa's words about not relying on empty words.'
I guess I had a very gloomy face.
Callius suddenly bent down and brought his face close to mine.
“What are you thinking so deeply about?”
As I was walking with my mind wandering, I was startled by the face that appeared before me and took a step back.
Then Callius grabbed my waist and pulled me closer.
“I feel like you might fall.”
“Oh, thank you.”
I tried to pull away from him, but Callius didn't let go of his arm around my waist and pulled me closer.
"What on earth makes you forget I'm even here? What, what, I wonder."
"Huh? Oh, I wasn't thinking about anything. I was just thinking about the friend I mentioned last time..."
“Are you the guy who is said to be the most handsome in the world?”
Somehow, it feels like a shadow has grown thicker over my face...
"Yes..."
“You always think about that man.”
I laughed a little because it sounded strange to me that Callius referred to Karl as a 'man'.
Then Callius' eyebrows twitched slightly.
“I guess he’s a friend who makes you smile just thinking about him.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
"I guess you miss your friend terribly. You keep thinking about that man next to me."
What.
'The way you speak is a bit...'
I asked, looking at Callius's expression.
“Are you... angry?”
"How could that be? Why would I be angry? There's absolutely no reason for me to be."
Callius smiled brightly and pulled the handle of the training camp entrance.
"I'm curious about him, too. He's a good friend to Chloe. If you get the chance, how about inviting him to Ronheim? As a husband, I want to treat my wife's dear friend with the utmost sincerity. He'll probably be curious about Chloe's well-being, too, so I'd like to invite him to Ronheim and spend as much time as he wants."
Those were such kind words.
I was so moved that I clasped my hands together and looked up at Callius.
“Really? I love it!”
Then, from somewhere, there was a loud crash and the sound of something breaking.
As I was doing something, I noticed that Callius was holding a doorknob broken in two in his hand.
“Oh, the doorknob! Are you okay?”
"Ah."
He looked down at the doorknob in his hand absentmindedly, then tossed it aside as if it were nothing, making an incomprehensible sound.
“Don’t worry about it. The original doorknob was going to break.”
Yes...?
***
After finishing work and returning to my room, I fell into deep thought while watching the sunset.
I was glad that Callius had brought Karl along because he wanted to treat him, but I was worried about how Karl would react.
How did Karl react when I told Callius the truth and asked him to reveal himself?
I remembered the sight of Karl getting angry at me with a serious expression.
I hated and was scared of Karl getting angry.
I'm afraid that my closest and most trusted sword will leave me.
"Can I bring it up? I don't want to upset him. I already said no once, but is that okay?"
It was when I was feeling depressed and sighing.
“Chloe!”
I turned around at the welcoming voice.
Behind me, as usual, Karl appeared as if by magic and stood there, smiling bashfully.
“Why do you look so sad? What’s wrong?”
“Karl! Why have you been here so long?”
"I've been here often. There were always people around you, so I just hid. I was always watching."
“Really? That’s what happened.”
I sat down with Karl, smiling, and told him what had happened.
The story that I was sick because of a curse, the story that I performed a ritual to suppress the curse's power, the story that people now call me a Marchioness instead of a Princess, etc.
When I said that I was so happy and joyful about all this, Karl asked me a little worriedly.
"Isn't it because everyone thinks you're some kind of Saint? What if they realize you're just an ordinary person with no mystical powers?"
It stung. Karl had accurately exposed the worries I'd been harboring deep inside.
“But Callius said that I saved many lives by freeing his people from starvation.”
"People want one thing when you do it for them. The people of Ronheim will expect you to solve everything for them, like a Saint."
“...That might be the case.”
"The Marquis Rodrian is the same. He's kind to you now, but what if he changes his mind? What will happen then? You know how kind Andrea was to you at first."
I was momentarily speechless, but I tried to carefully refute Karl.
"Some people don't. Like you. You don't change."
“I’m your special friend. Are you comparing me to someone else?”
“That’s not it...”
“No one else is like me. I came this far for you, for you...”
It was strange.
Why do I feel so intimidated when I hear Karl's story?
Why... is Andrea’s voice heard in Karl’s voice?
“Chloe, I’m doing this for you.”
“How much I care for you.”
“Where else in the world can you find an older brother who treats you this well, like I do?”
Karl was saying exactly what Andrea had said.
When I realized that, goosebumps ran down my body.
“Stop it! Stop it!”
The shock of Andrea being remembered by Karl and the fear that Andrea had instilled in him simultaneously came flooding back.
I shook my head, covering my ears as if having a seizure.
“Stop it, Karl! Stop it!”
That was when.
The door to the shared bedroom burst open, and Callius rushed into my room.
“What’s wrong, Chloe?”
Comments
Post a Comment