Volume 3 Chapter 9 Part 1 (1/2)

Volume 3 Chapter 9 Part 1

Translator: Kurehashi Aiko Editor: Queenie

When I woke up the next day, the figure of the man which was supposed to be right next to me was already gone. I knew that he has his duties as the court magician as well as Klanven’s bodyguard, but I really wanted to see his face in the morning. Why couldn’t I get even this slight privilege as his wife?

I get changed into my maid uniform, go to the kitchen to make breakfast together with the palace’s cooks and then carry the food into Klanven’s chambers in the Red Rose Court.

Klanven is that kind of man who doesn’t eat all that much in the morning. He eats small portions, but I make sure that everything is fresh. While I was busy with setting the table for his meal, Klanven came out of his room, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

「Good morning, Your Highness.」

「Ahh, morning. You’re as early as ever, I see.」

Responded Klanven while sitting at the table and yawning, still rubbing his watery eyes. He wasn’t much of a morning person.

Still seeming to be half-asleep, Klanven claps his hands and says a short prayer to the Goddess, then he reaches his hand for the bread and puts it in his mouth. Personally, I thought that it was bad manners, but seeing how I spent a night with that man in one bed I think I’m in no position right now to criticize anyone on their habits.

Keeping that in mind, I pour the tea into Klanven’s cup, add some milk and honey and stir the mixture, putting it on top of the table. Klanven takes a sip and then praises it as usual.

「Filmina, about my tea……」

「There’s only a slight drop of milk in it. Just like you like it, Your Highness.」

「What’s this, you’ve already took care of that?」

「That is because today marks the final day of the preparations for the festival. You need your strength and concentration today more than ever. I can’t really do anything about your eating habits, Your Highness, but I can at least support you with a cup of tea.」

Klanven’s eyes glittered with joy as he brought his cup to his mouth. He then looked at his tea and resumed drinking it without any complaints.

「By the way, Your Highness?」

「Hm? What is it?」

Asked Klanven while raising his eyes from his cup, looking straight at me. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.

「Why did you helped me out there, in the market?

「Now that I think about it, that was the first time we met, isn’t that right?」

「Yes.」

He appeared seemingly out of nowhere back then, helping me out when I got mixed up in the turmoil that ensued in the market at that time. I would like to believe that he simply did that because he likes to help people, but that may have been just my opinion after spending some time together with him. The truth could be that he had no trouble with injuring his allies if need be.

To my words, Klanven closed his eyes, his long eyelashes casting shadows on his white skin. I thought he was just going to ignore me, but then he laughed shortly, and regained his composure.

「Honestly, I did help you out purely on a whim. You know, even I get in the mood to do some good deeds from time to time.」

「…… Is that really true?」

「That’s right. That is why you don’t have anything to worry about. 」

Hearing his words, I had no idea if they were true or not. I simply couldn’t grasp it. But still, I just lifted the hem of my skirt just a little and bowed in a show of gratitude.

「I may be a little late with saying this now, but thank you very much for helping me at that time.」

「It’s fine, really, nothing happened to you at that time, so no real reason to thank me.」

Klanven smiled at me and then laughed a little. He may have said that, but I was truly grateful. Thanks to him no harm came to me that day. So it was because he helped me out that I must never forget this.

「This is this, and that is that. I was able to take back my precious thing, so it made me really happy.」

「Fuhn. That bookmark, right?」

Klanven said while starting to eat his salad. He was having a hard time understanding how a simple thing like a bookmark could be considered “treasure” in my eyes, and I highly doubt he is ever going to understand. But for me, it was more precious than any kind of gemstone out there.

「…… Umm, I was thinking, wouldn’t it be a high time for you to return it to me? Of course, this doesn’t mean that I’m going to give up my duties as your caretaker, but……」

Certainly, it would be a good reward for all of my service thus far. However, to my desperate plea, Klanven smiled playfully, seeing just how much I cared for that simple item.

「No can do. But rest assured, once the festival is over, you are going to have it back.」

「Thank you so much for your kind words.」

「Sure, sure.」

「……」