TYHL 183

~Chapter 183~

“So, Cassalia’s procession turned toward a border village? Not the gate?”

I snapped my head up as I scrambled to pack my things.

“Yes. Apparently the princess suddenly wanted to check out a local festival,” Hazel said, winding my hair up neatly as I sat at the mirror.

“A festival?”

“You know, the little winter festival they have near the Bamilon border village.”

“Oh…”

I caught Hazel’s reflection looking a bit sharper than usual.

“Sounds like the princess is pretty whimsical. Even if their schedule isn’t tight, isn’t that kind of… reckless?”

Instead of answering, I just blinked.

So that’s her personality.

But more importantly…

“A festival… and young men and women…”

What is this, a classic set-up for romance to blossom out of nowhere?

“What was that, miss?”

“Nothing!” I shook my head quickly and got dressed.

When I turned from the mirror, I caught Hazel looking at me with a pout.

Hmm. It had been a while since I wore this functional uniform!

“Look at our cute little knight!”

“Whoa—”

Hazel hugged me tight. Honestly, as long as I live in this house, I’ll never stop being treated like a kid.

“Just say the last three syllables for me!”

“Cute?”

“I said, the last part!”

I wriggled free at last while Hazel laughed.

“Okay, make sure you keep your hood up, and don’t let anyone know you’re the Duke’s daughter, okay?”

“Got it.”

That was the deal. I was heading out disguised as a low-ranking knight, with my gender and identity carefully hidden.

That was the only way Dad would let me go.

After Allen’s words left me weirdly on edge, I’d gone straight to Dad and asked to join Cassalia’s escort on their way to the capital.

Our knights were supplying the escort anyway, and since it was just a short trip to the border, it wasn’t supposed to be dangerous.

—

“I’ll allow it, but don’t reveal your identity. If people realize you’re the Duke’s daughter, you’ll attract attention and hassle. You won’t even get to see Khalid—you’ll be forced to greet the king first.”

“Ugh, no way.”

—

Hiding my identity? That was practically my specialty.

—

“Why do you have to check that stone formula so urgently? Is something worrying you? Can’t you wait a few more days?”

“It’s… well… there’s a reason.”

“…”

I couldn’t bring myself to say it was because of the princess and Khalid…

Plus, after my health scare, Dad made me rest an extra day.

But finally—today!

With my hair tucked up and fake arrows slung across my back, I strode confidently toward the awaiting caravan.

Seeing the gathered procession outside the mansion, I couldn’t help feeling a bit excited.

‘I’m going to see Khal!’

After two years—finally!

‘Will he be surprised?’

I tried to picture Khalid’s face.

“…?”

Why can I only remember him as a kid? His face as a grown-up is all fuzzy…

Now that I think about it, he was so busy hunting for that stone, we barely saw each other before he left.

‘Oh, right. I was annoyed about that.’

And then he just left me a single note and disappeared!

‘Okay, the first thing I’ll do when I see him is kick him in the shin.’

Smiling to myself, I ran over to where my beautiful horse waited—my loyal white steed I’d adopted a year ago.

“Aww, my precious Arhercalberlominia the Third!”

My elegant horse fluttered his long lashes with a snort.

“How many times do I have to tell you, shorten that name. Your dad gets embarrassed sometimes.”

“Gasp.”

Dad had come out to see me off, already nagging.

“And why is there a ‘Third’ on a horse with no pedigree?”

“Because it sounds cool!”

Dad scratched my horse, looking like he’d given up.

“Arherber… what now?”

No one has ever gotten my horse’s name right on the first try.

I wonder if Khalid could do it.

—

The procession moved out quickly.

‘Nice! The new acceleration magic tools in the horseshoes work great!’

Scenery zipped by thanks to the enchanted horseshoes, though I sat calm in my saddle.

Out of habit, I checked the enchanted blue paper hidden in my coat.

‘Why can’t I reach Number Two?’

The “second” who barely survived after being possessed by the Demon King at the Academy.

A few years back, we used to exchange messages using this enchanted paper, but lately, no matter how many times I wrote, there was never any reply.

‘If the magic runs out, that’s it, so I can’t waste it…’

I sighed quietly.

‘Well, there could be a hundred reasons for no reply.’

Shaking it off, I tucked the paper away again.

By now, we were winding through a canyon on the way from the capital toward the border village.

But then…

As the chilly canyon wind hit me, I started to feel awkward.

‘…Was chasing after them like this overkill?’

Suddenly, reality hit.

It’s not like Khalid is about to marry the princess right now. Was I being way too impulsive?

‘Does Khalid even care about things like marriage or romance?’

All he’s ever cared about is swords and squirrels.

‘But then again, he was always popular at the Academy…’

We weren’t at school together for long, since he transferred in as an upperclassman, but even then I saw him get confessed to more than once.

—

“Khalid, I’ve liked you for so long!”

“…Who are you?”

“I’m Rina, we were in the same class for two years.”

“…?”

—

See? And then there was—

—

“Um, Khal. Could I meet you behind the dorms after class?”

“I don’t do duels on school grounds.”

“…”

—

Seriously, I lost count after a while…

One day, I was so curious after seeing girls constantly hanging off him, I had to ask.

—

“Hey. Do you like anyone?”

“…”

“Why are you staring like that?”

“Ruby.”

“Huh?”

“Is that cookie good? Can I have a bite?”

“Here… hey, don’t just take it with your mouth!”

“It’s tasty.”

—

He always dodged like that, so I could never figure out what was going on in his head.

‘If he ever actually liked someone…’

I glanced up at the blue sky and wondered,

‘…Would I cheer him on?’

We’d been best friends since we were little—through thick and thin.

But as soon as I had that thought, my hands on the reins went weak.

Cheer him on…?

Me? Why…?

‘I really don’t want to, though?’

Just then, a familiar voice nagged from beside me.

“Ruby, I told you to hold the reins properly. Who taught you to ride like that?”

I slowly turned to look at the person riding next to me.

“…? I learned to ride with my body, obviously.”

“Unbelievable.”

“But actually, I’ve been meaning to ask…”

“What.”

“Dad, why did you come too? Weren’t you just letting me go alone?”

And wasn’t he the one who warned me not to reveal my identity, because it’d be a headache?

The Duke, riding his black steed with the Zebert crest, sat up straighter, avoiding my gaze.

“Because I want to see Khalid too.”

“You just saw him on the frontlines.”

“That was a while ago.”

“…It’s only been a few months.”

He kept looking straight ahead, but I caught a faint, self-deprecating chuckle.

“Ruby, do you think a few months is short? Don’t you ever miss your dad when you don’t see him for months?”

“Of course I do!”

“See?”

Wow, were those two really that close?

So close he’d come all this way just to greet him?

I looked around at the knights nearby, but they just shrugged and said nothing.

Dad came over, tightening my hood so it shadowed my face.

‘Guess it’s the bond from raising him.’

Makes sense, really. Dad’s been teaching Khalid since he was just a kid.

Then a thought struck me.

“Dad… can I ask something?”

“Sure.”

“What would you do if Khalid got a girlfriend?”

For a moment, Dad, who’d been gently fussing over my clothes, took a beat to respond.

“…What?”

“Dad, you need to hold your reins right.”

“He’s getting a girlfriend…? Who…?”

“How should I know?”

It felt weird sharing everything Allen told me, since I wasn’t sure myself. So I just kept it vague.

“She’s around my age.”

“…”

“Pretty? I guess she probably is?”

“…”

“And Khal’s always hovering around, protecting her?”

I mean, he’s literally acting as her escort right now.

Just that was enough to make Dad’s jaw clench audibly.

“…I’ll kill him.”

“What?”

“No, no, I mean—I’ll talk to him.”

Did he just say he’d kill someone?

“That mutt-boned… no, dog-boned, no, that’s not it… Ugh…”

“Dad, are you okay?”

Oh no.

Dad’s having a meltdown!