c2 (2/2)

Urgh, no good after all

“AHHH——!! AHHHHH———!!”

She tried exchanging words for the loudest voice she could ht be twice as loud compared to before, but was it really?

Just as her voice began to rise hysterically in despair, it seemed like she was finally noticed on the other side The sound of a horse galloping her as much clearer than before

“I, I’m here! Please, find me!”

“——Lady Celiastina?!”

This time she could clearlyTo Celiastina right now, even that greatly pressed voice felt to her like a blessing, full of God’s compassion

The figure of a man on horseback suddenly popped up from atop of the slope It was all she could do to find his silhouette in the darkness, but it seemed like she had been reliably located by the other party

“To be in such a dangerous place… Please wait for me!” the owner of the voice told her sharply

He climbed down from his horse and steadily descended into the swaility was not that of an ordinary

In the blink of an eye, he had ly with both hands

“Are you safe?!”

“Y–yes”

He stared at Celiastina with deadly serious, jet black eyes—eyes with a sharp center that could shake anyone, to the point she quailed unintentionally

The man took ashe bore no external wounds He ell-dressed and did not seem to be a commoner from the area Above all, he carried himself with the air of a noble He ht

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No, I’m fine”

“We should return to the royal palace as soon as possible Please hold on to me”

So saying, theout of the swamp in the same easy manner he had come down They went up so quickly, Celiastina could do noto him out of misery and desperation

He continued to hold her as he placed her on his waiting horse, then he himself then jumped into the seat behind her Before she could even say anything, he trotted the horse

She noticed so from this chain of events

It would seery

(Th-that’s reasonable He was searching forIf he worried, then it’s likely he’d be angry as well)

“……I’d like to start with how you ventured into the forest alone, without anyone else,” he said in a voice filled with the very anger she had been expecting

It carried a considerable edge of frost,Celiastina’s shoulders jump with a start

“And then your lack of return despite the passing of days How much do you think everyone worried?”

She felt extremely ss Yuna would never consider doing as her own self, but now she was Celiastina She considered it best to resign herself to taking his censure, re silent as she listened

“For the life of s like this Fro you”

I’m sorry, Celiastina said in a very small voice However, her words see past If she couldn’t tell him this way, then—Celiastina aardly twisted herself around to look up at the youngthe bridles from behind her

“U this far to find rateful to you”

As soon as she finished, his eyes opened wide in an expression of shock Then he gri on his lips

“——What in the world are you feigning at? Is this a new for?”

This time it was Celiastina who stiffened, unable to meet the eyes of this man she apparently disdained