Chapter 69 - Volume 3 (1/2)

Wha—?!」

「Filmina?! Are you being serious?!」

Startled, that man half-rises to his feet from his chair as he looks at me, and the princess raises her voice as if she can’t believe it. In a sense, it’s the kind of response I expected, but really, really, I was serious. My apologies to you two, but I have a hunch that if I run away here, that bookmark will never return to my hand again. And that hunch probably isn’t wrong – in other words, it’s a belief.

‘It’s just a bookmark,’ others would say. But even so. Even if there are many daisy bookmarks in the world, there is only one daisy bookmark that I received from my husband.

It seems one could add a joke here, ‘If so, then why didn’t he make many daisy bookmarks?’ But that’s not the problem. Even if he’d made many bookmarks, my choice would still be the same.

「Thanks. Now it’s settled, hm?」

「—Filmina!」

Right as I think those sunrise-colored eyes are glaring at the smiling Klanven, they suddenly face me. Those eyes are full of irritation, anger, and then above all, mostly concern. How do I sometimes feel scared and falter at those eyes?

Softly smiling a half-bitter smile at him, I lower my head.

「I’m very sorry, Edi. Please forgive me.」

「You……!」

「Stop, Agedilus.」

As he properly stands from the chair and is about to approach me, a calm voice is heard. I look there to see the princess looking at me with a serious expression. It’s a charming expression, once again different from her usual smile. As I’m thinking those things, so inappropriate for this situation, the princess softly sighs.

「Filmina. You’ve decided, right?」

「Yes. Your concern makes me very happy, grateful, and I think of it as an honor. But…..」

「No, that’s enough. It’s impossible for you to retract your decision once you’ve already decided. I guess it can’t be helped.」

「Princess……」

「Princess, but……!」

「Agedilus. Give up. You’re supposed to know Filmina better than I do.」

That man bites his thin lips at the princess’s words. After giving him a sidelong glance, the princess points her sharp gaze at Klanven.

「You may be my uncle, but I won’t forgive you if anything happens to Filmina.」

「I already know that. Even though she might be a replacement for a shield, that’s not the only reason. The final decision was because of how delicious Filmina’s black tea was.」

I’m astonished at those words that I can’t tell are lies or the truth. I thought this before too, but he really is an incomprehensible person. What the heck does 『because of how delicious Filmina’s black tea was』 mean? If such a silly reason actually was the deciding factor, that’s ironic in a sense. Because this skill of mine only improved thanks to that man, who’s now firmly protesting.

The princess makes a disappointed face, Klanven reflected in her amber eyes.

「Uncle. Did you explain all this to Filmina with the intentions of having it turn out like this from the start?」

「Do you think so, Clementine?」

「If it’s you, I think it might be possible.」

「My, my. Looks like the version of me you have in your head is a rather bad guy.」

Klanven laughs, washing away the princess’s displeasure. That man’s beautiful face turns even more grim.

「Filmina, still, cut it out. There’s still time to stop now. He’s the kind of guy even the princess talks badly to. Don’t know what he’s hiding under there. If you have a wish then I’ll grant it for you. So……」

「E-Edi, please calm down. That’s rude.」

Of course I can’t help but get flustered at that man as he’s talking impolitely to both Klanven and the princess. No matter how big-hearted Klanven is, it wouldn’t be strange if he got offended now. No matter how powerful the other person is, this man doesn’t falter, hesitate nor give in. But even so, that’s bad when the other person is royalty.

But, Klanven shows no signs of being hurt, smiling as he looks at us. 「If so…」 he opens his mouth.

「If you have so little faith in me, then why don’t you become my guard?」

At that completely unexpected idea, all of us except Klanven stiffen.

This man, as Klanven’s guard. ‘Just what does that mean?’ I look at Klanven, and he turns his gaze to that man before continuing.

「This time I haven’t chosen my guard for the time I’ll stay in the palace. It was planned that, just like the helper, I’d choose from the ones working in the palace——from the knights of the Blue Iris Court. Right, Clementine?」

「……Yes. It’s as you say.」

「So I’m saying, it’s fine if Agedilus takes on that role. According to what I’ve heard, don’t you have considerable swordsmanship skills? If you take on the role of my guard, you can be beside Filmina and guarantee my safety too. Don’t you think it’s killing two birds with one stone?」

This man certainly has enough swordsmanship skills to be recognized by the leader of the knights. When the leader of the knights was at our house once, they started sparring as a game at first, but in the blink of an eye they both grew intense, and it seemed like it would go on for eternity until I stopped them.

But still, that’s nothing more than a side skill this man has. His real job is the royal palace’s head wizard, and I know how busy he is very well. There’s no way he has enough time to work as Klanven’s guard.

「Your Highness, no matter what, that’s—」

「Understood.」