33-Ice Princess of the Thaw (1/2)

The next night.

I was eating in the mess hall of the barracks.

The conversation among the guards was about the Order.

The knights, who had been arrogant until now, suddenly became quiet, didn't they?

They used to spit all sorts of sarcasm and scorn at us when we ran into them on patrol, and they used to even touch us.

I guess Ice Princess's coaching did the trick.

”It's probably because you watched the fight yesterday. Seeing how Zeke fought changed the way they looked at the guards, didn't it?

It seems to me that there may have been a change in the Order.

I've felt that too.

When I ran into the knights on patrol.

”Hey look. It's Zeke from ......!

And by Zeke, you mean the ...... guy who defeated Vice Commander Eleanor yesterday?

”You weren't there. It was horrible. You beat her to death. You were like a demon god.

Oh, so much for .......

”You'll get your head bashed in if you try to displease him.

”Mr. Zeke!　Thank you for patrolling again today!

I'm not sure what to say.

...... No, I'm not that kind of man. I'd rather you quit greeting people ostentatiously on the street. It hurts when people look at you.

Well, I'm glad to hear that the knights have quieted down.

Now the people of the city will suffer less unreasonably.

That was when I was thinking about it.

”Whoa!

said one of the knights, jumping up and down.

There was an uproar in the room.

”......?　What's with all the noise?

I'm not sure if there was a bug in the food or what.

I'm not sure what to make of it.

”......mm.

I was just as surprised as the guards.

The one standing at the entrance of the dining room was Eleanor.

The guards were excited by the sudden visit of the vice commander of the Order.

”Is Zeke here?

Eleanor opened her mouth while the guards were upset.

Eleanor opened her mouth while the guards were upset, probably because of her refined appearance.

The guards all looked at me, ”Over there! They all pointed towards me at once.

...... They've sold out their colleagues so easily.

Eleanor and I came eye to eye. Then she came closer to me. I'm sitting in a chair and she's standing beside me.

We look at each other.

The guards watching from afar are buzzing.

”Why is Eleanor here ......?

It's unheard of for a knight to come to the guards' barracks!

I'm sure she's here to avenge the fight she lost yesterday. Now the bloody battle begins. ......!

”What do you want from me? I asked.

”I've come to ...... tell you something.

Something to tell you?

Yeah.

Eleanor nodded and was silent for a moment. She played with her bangs and fidgeted. I watched her and nodded my head.

What's the matter?　You have something to tell me.

Its .......

Eleanor, her cheeks flushed with vermilion, said hesitantly.

I think I've fallen in love with you. So I'm going to ask you to marry me.

”I see. ”A relationship?