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While swinging my sword, I ignored Lani Dubos for quite a while.

She kept bothering me so much that it was hard to concentrate.

It was like she had decided not to lose this staring contest, not flinching even when I shot her a look.

If you have something to say, come say it! If not, just leave! I wish she’d do one or the other instead of just standing there like a hawk!

Finally, I sighed and approached Lani Dubos.

She flinched when she saw me coming, but didn’t run away and just stood there.

“Why?”

“…Huh?”

“What’s your purpose? Why are you just standing here?”

“…W-Well…”

I didn’t have the luxury to wait for her to hesitate.

“Is it okay if Vivian sees you like this? It wouldn’t do her any good, you know?”

“…”

“Just scram. You’re driving me crazy.”

Lani made a face of frustration and insisted, “I-I’m sure I told you to keep your manners.”

“You haven’t been keeping your manners since yesterday! You’re just sitting here watching people without permission!”

“…Well, that…”

“Also, you seem to forget that our family holds a position on par with the Rondore Family in the East Kingdom. You’re not in a position to lecture me on manners.”

“…”

Lani looked completely taken aback, her lips twitching like a wave about to crash.

“Ugh!”

She hunched down, letting out a small whimper as she sobbed.

I rolled my eyes, feeling mildly exasperated.

Getting used to Vivian made me underestimate Lani’s ability to cry so easily.

Vivian would give me that fiery look no matter what, but Lani didn’t do that.

At the same time, I realized I really didn’t like seeing girls cry.

With Vivian, I could endure it somewhat, but seeing this childish Lani Dubos crying just irritated me and made me want to avoid her more.

“Okay, okay.”

I roughly comforted her more out of annoyance than sympathy.

I approached her, who had buried her face in her arm, and nudged her forehead with my finger to lift it up.

Then, I used my sleeve to dab at her tears.

The wetness on my sleeve made me feel slightly dirty and grossed out.

At my rude gesture, Lani seemed flustered, immediately forgetting her tears as she pushed me away awkwardly.

“W-What are you doing…?”

“Just stop crying. I can’t stand the sound.”

“…And yet you made me cry…”

“Alright then, just tell me why you came. I need to know your purpose so I can figure out what to do.”

Lani avoided my gaze at that.

Her twitching lips revealed a hint of grievance.

After a long moment of hesitation, she mumbled, “I just… wanted to thank you for yesterday…”

“Okay, I heard you. Now go. Don’t interrupt my training.”

“W-When did I interrupt…?”

“Sitting here like this is interrupting!”

“Ugh!”

“Ugh, damn it.”

With Lani starting to cry again over a small remark, I put my hand on my forehead.

I often felt I was much kinder than I actually was, but I guess it was just an illusion.

It turned out I’d only been able to endure when it came to Vivian, and now my patience was wearing thin with this foolish Lani Dubos.

“Fine, fine. I’m sorry. Thanks for coming to say thank you. Can you just leave now?”

“Y-You’ll accept my gratitude?”

“Sure, I’ll accept it.”

With those words, Lani wiped her tears and looked up at me, sniffling.

She then asked with an expression I couldn’t read, “…Then can we be friends?”

“…”

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Lani Dubos seemed like one of those people you just couldn’t communicate with.

I couldn’t even fathom why she would say something like that, and it was baffling how she didn’t even consider the possibility of rejection.

But I didn’t want to get angry again and make her cry, so I felt completely cornered.

“…Why? How did you come to that conclusion?”

I asked.

Lani, wiping her eyes with her sleeve, replied, “…You seem like a nice person.”

“What makes you say that? Just being nice doesn’t mean we should be friends.”

“Well, not necessarily… but… you seem pitiful.”

Was she one of those types who loved being praised for doing kind deeds?

I couldn’t believe it.

“I’ve heard that all the captives from the East Kingdom are all lonely and suffering… So…”

“And that’s why you wanted to become my friend?”

“…Well, yesterday happened, and… I want to be friends with the knight who defeated the dragon… and I’m also curious about what the relationship with Lady Vivian is…”

I snorted.

How many flowers were blooming in her head for her to make such a proposal?

It was clear she was a well-bred aristocrat’s daughter.

“You keep getting it wrong. I’m not a knight. I’ve never received a knight title, and I never will in this land. Besides, I think knights are foolish.”

“But…”

I glared at her, warning, “…If Vivian sees you in this state, it will not end well. All the maids who tried to do something nice for me got verbally slapped by Vivian. She hates to see me happy.”

“…”

At my words, Lani paused for a moment.

Her wandering eyes finally found me again after a long time.

“W-What if we were secret friends…”

Her persistence forced me to yield.

It looked like her greatest interest seemed to lie in the fact that I had defeated a dragon.

If I had known the aftermath of slaying a dragon would be this huge, I might have reconsidered doing it in the first place.

“You’re going back home tomorrow anyway. What kind of friends are we?”

“S-Since I’ve become close with Lady Vivian, I’ll probably be coming back here more often from now on. We can hang out whenever.”

From the looks of it, she had no intention of returning until she achieved her goal.

For every question I threw at her, another excuse or reason popped up.

There was no end in sight.

“…If I say I’ll be friends, will you leave me alone?”

“…Yes.”

With Lani’s definitive answer, I sighed and pondered.

More than anything, my desire to kick her out was stronger than ever.

After a long silence, exasperated, I quietly replied, “…Fine, let’s be friends.”

“Really?”

“…Yeah.”

At my words, Lani wiped her tears and smiled brightly.

I had no idea what was making her so happy.

She was completely different from me.

I waved my hand dismissively. “G-Get going now.”

“Yes!”

It seemed she had no lingering feelings now that she had achieved her goal, as she didn’t challenge me further.

With that, she disappeared in an instant.

I wondered how much better it would have been if she had acted this way from the start.

“…”

Yet after she was gone, a strange sensation washed over me.

Feeling pitied?

Had someone ever actually thought of me that way?

I didn’t want sympathy, but it felt oddly strange to know someone thought of me that way.

****

“Lady Vivian! Lady Vivian!”

The next morning, Vivian was once again caught off guard by the completely transformed Lani.

Yesterday she seemed lost in her thoughts all day, and today she rushed to call out to her the moment they met.

Vivian tensed up, flustered by the lack of distance the change created.

But Lani, completely unaware of Vivian’s thoughts, grabbed her hand and held on tightly.

With shining eyes, she pleaded, “Lady Vivian…! I-I was wondering… if it’s okay, can I stay for a few more days at the Castle of Rondore?”

“Huh?”

“Ah, I still don’t want to go back home… and it feels a bit sad to part ways with you already…”

“…”

Vivian glanced at Asha with an expression that sought an explanation.

But Asha, also wearied, simply waited for Vivian’s response.

It seemed Asha had already been briefed about Lani’s intentions.

Vivian asked, as a matter of politeness, “What… are you suggesting?”

“A-A couple of days… or, um, maybe three days?”

At Lani’s proposal, Vivian’s mind flickered to Kyle’s face.

Lani’s group wouldn’t be around when she could meet him.

“…That could be a problem.”

Vivian answered simply.

Her deliberation didn’t take long.

“I’m a bit busy right now… I think it might be hard. I’m sorry, but let’s save it for the next time.”

“…Okay.”

Lani replied, her disappointment quite apparent on her face.

Seeing her disappointment brought Vivian a small sense of joy.

To think she’d be sad about parting ways with her. It felt like they had built a pretty close friendship in just a few days.

“But instead, we can have some fun today!” Vivian suggested.

Lani nodded eagerly.

“Lani, is there anything you want to do? I’d like to accommodate if possible.”

Lani seemed to shake off her previous misstep with a smile, but as though she remembered something, she froze.

Then, she requested in an excited tone, “I want to see the knights train!”

“…”

At that response, Vivian stared blankly at Lani.

A strange unease flashed through Vivian for a brief moment.

It was an odd sort of unease.

Given Lani’s admiration for knights, it seemed like a perfectly natural request… but what was it?

As she silently stared at Lani, trying to gauge her expression, she finally turned away and called for the butler.

“Pipin.”

“Yes?”

“Which knight squad uses the training grounds today?”

“The Punishment Unit.”

Perfect timing.

Vivian thought for a moment and gestured for Pipin to come closer.

Pipin bowed and put his ear closer attentively.

“…Tell Burgor not to include Kyle Allen in today’s training.”

Kyle hadn’t been around lately, but it was still important to reinforce this message.

Pipin nodded. “Understood.”

****

“…So that’s what happened. By the way, why weren’t you at training today?”

Lani came to me again this night to ask her questions.

I answered, “Vivian told me not to come.”

“Why?”

“Because you guys are here.”

“Why does it matter if we are?”

-Thud.

I laid down my wooden sword and answered her.

“Vivian was looking forward to seeing you all and was worried I might mess that up.”

“…You thought of that?”

“Even if I didn’t intend to, Vivian and I often argue. I wouldn’t want you guys to see that.”

“Aren’t you scared of arguing with Lady Vivian? It seems scary out in enemy territory.”

No matter how I tried to change the subject, Lani kept asking more questions. I found it awfully strange and puzzling.

I wondered if those who chatted happily were really my type.

As time dragged on, it felt like my energy was being drained from endless conversation.

“Enough with the questions! Go back and sleep now.”

I suggested to Lani, who seemed intent on continuing her chatter.

But Lani didn’t seem thrilled with that response.

“…Why?”

“Why ‘why’? You need to rest since you’re going back tomorrow.”

“If I’m going back tomorrow, I should enjoy it more!”

“…”

Seeing her sulking because of my expression made her pout dramatically.

“…You’re lying about wanting to be friends. Who treats their friends this way?”

She might be a ditzy, but Lani certainly seemed to have a knack for sensing things.

This kind of nuance must be a must for the nobility.

“…You said you wanted to be friends, so why don’t you comfort me?”

However, I just couldn’t get used to her persistence.

I sighed and questioned her back, “Why should I?”

“…Hah.”

Lani flopped backward in disappointment.

She seemed unbothered by lying on the dirt floor.

It was unexpected to see a girl, who I assumed was raised delicately, behave that way.

Her unexpectedness made me stop training and glance at her.

“Hey, Kyle.”

She said, “Since we’re friends now… can I tell you a secret?”

“We’ve barely known each other. Are you crazy?”

Her sense of distance was just as strange.

Once again, I felt the vastness of the world in moments like this.

Lani giggled and replied, “Actually, I’m only telling you because we haven’t known each other long. I doubt you’d judge me after hearing my secret or let it slip anywhere. I just want someone to know how I feel.”

“You have plenty of noble ladies to confide in. Just tell them.”

“-I want to run away.”

Lani said with a bright expression, as if hiding any pain.

Instead, she seemed to gaze at the stars with a mix of expectation and admiration.

“I want to go on an adventure! Just me and a sword, seeing the world. I want to encounter dragons, fight battles, and climb high mountains… Being cooped up in a mansion is so boring.”

With a grin, Lani turned to look at me and said, “I hope you understand why I can’t say this secret to other noble ladies. They’ll just ridicule me for having such unfeminine dreams.”

Having heard her sudden secret, I regained my composure and replied, “…You think I won’t make fun of you? You grew up loved so you probably have no idea what the outside world is really like. Wielding a sword a few times and getting a blister will make those delusions disappear.”

“…Is that true?”

“Your romanticizations and reality are different. If you want to go on an adventure, you’re better off finding a wealthy guy and traveling around with him.”

“…Does that make any sense? My father would use me as a political pawn. Once I marry, I’ll be completely trapped. How can I suggest to my husband that I want to go on an adventure?”

Now that Lani had put it this way, I felt I could treat her with a little more seriousness.

She continued, “To be sold off to someone I don’t love and be trapped for life… Don’t you think that’s a bit much?”

“Is the reason you hate the idea of being sold off or the desire for adventure so strong?”

Lani chuckled awkwardly.

“Honestly, I’m not sure either.”

“…”

“Kyle, I think you’re incredible. You’re living on your own in a different land, hunting dragons at your age, and practicing with a sword every night… You’re all amazing. The way you carve your own path is admirable.”

“So, that’s why you approached me.”

“…It’s not just that…”

“…?”

At that moment, Lani blushed and loosened her necktie, standing up from her seated position.

She brushed off her backside and stepped closer to me.

“Kyle, can I swing your sword just once?”

This request was hard to refuse.

It wasn’t really a problematic proposal either.

I silently handed the wooden sword to Lani.

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

“I-Is it this heavy…?”

She lifted the wooden sword with both hands, struggling to hold it steady.

Before long, she lowered the wooden sword and said sheepishly, “This is unreal. Maybe this dream of mine isn’t realistic after all.”

“…Didn’t you get a chance to hold a sword before?”

“My dad forbade me from doing so…”

As a fellow human being, I felt my heart warming up as I listened to her plight.

Since we weren’t bound by any desires, there was no real reason for me to despise her.

I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.

But, as always, it had nothing to do with me.

“…If you’re relieved after sharing your secret, then go home now. Frankly, I can’t bring myself to care about your worries. We’re not that close…”

I started to speak, then looked up at the sky.

Lani did the same thing.

She reached out her hand slightly and murmured, “…Oh, Vida.”

****

-Swoosh…

Vivian stared blankly at the pouring rain.

The muddy roads of Roktana caught her eye.

She had no idea where all this heavy rain had suddenly come from.

Vivian wasn’t usually one to dislike rain.

When the weather become too hot, a single rain could cool things down for days.

…But the rain today was something she could not welcome, even as well-meaning as she was.

Her cold eyes bore down on the relentless downpour.

-Knock, knock.

Someone knocked on her door.

Just before breakfast time.

“Come in.”

As Vivian commanded, the door opened, and her butler Pipin appeared.

And right behind him, just as she expected, stood Asha and Lani.

Pipin spoke with a troubled expression. “Lady Vivian, the Dubos Young Ladies were just about to leave when this rain…”

“…”

The Dubos Young Ladies had become very annoying by now.

She hated not being able to return to her routine because of them.

How much longer would they stay now?

Two days? Three days? Four days?

And with each moment she pondered this, a very, very small voice inside her chest began to ask questions.

…When will I be able to share a meal with Kyle?

When can I face him again?

How long do I have to pretend he doesn’t exist in front of the Dubos Young Ladies?

It felt unnatural to go see Kyle while they were around.

…I want to see him…

“……..”

In that moment, a wave of thought made her shudder.

Her heart began to pound at the realization of having thought that.

She was bewildered and astonished that she had such a thought, making her heart refuse to settle down.

Oddly enough, as her body continued to mature, strange reactions slowly began to arise within her.

Vivian shook her head violently.

Asha and Lani looked at her with puzzled expressions.

She couldn’t possibly express such strange feelings in front of those who had come to help her.

It was unacceptable.

Vivian steadied her mind and smiled as she spoke, “It would be dangerous to set out for home through this weather. Please stay until the rain stops and the ground solidifies.”

“Really?”

Lani shouted in excitement.

Vivian nodded with a smile.

Yet, deep inside, she kept repeating a wish.

Hoping the rain would stop soon.

 

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