Chapter 214 (2/2)

“I see. I’m glad you’re okay. ”

“I’m sorry for worrying you, Your Majesty.”

I felt goosebumps when I felt his breathing near my ears, and I shrunk into myself.

“Given the sound of the horn, it looks like you hunted a lot of game today. Do you have a hobby in hunting?”

“No, Your Majesty, but I often went hunting with my friends.”

“… With your friends. I see.”

He remained silent after that, and I also looked ahead silently.

The fresh scent of the forest touched the tip of my nose and the cool breeze touched my face. The sound of the cheerful horses’ hooves was heard everywhere, and the golden sun was shining amid the musicians’ joyful playing.

Suddenly, my hair tied in a band got loose and blown by the wind. And my hair that had been loosely tied was fluttering like snow.

When I was carried away with the beautiful melodies of the music, the horse suddenly went heehaw roughly and raised its front legs high.

My staggering body quickly leaned back, but he wrapped my waist with one hand, swallowing a moan. I felt he strained his body to keep his balance.

“Your Majesty!”

The royal knights who followed him shouted urgently, and the excited horse moved back with heehaw. A rabbit, surprised by the sudden noise, jumped into the bush.

I sighed, watching the rabbit hopping away in the front. Although I felt empty, I thought it’s fortunate it was a rabbit, not a bear. If it had been the wounded bear, there would have been a big fuss again.

“Are you alright, Your Majesty?”

“I’m okay.”

“Your Majesty, I don’t know when this will happen again, so please allow us to return to the escort formation, so we can protect you.”

“Sure, but keep some distance from me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Only then did I realize the source of my discomfort that I began to feel for some time.

It was none other than the formation of the royal knights escorting him.

In order to escort the emperor in the open air, the royal knights were supposed to be positioned at the front and rear, as well as on the left and right respectively. But they were following him from behind for some reason. Obviously, there was no chance that they caused trouble to the emperor, so it was the emperor who issued such an order. I wondered why he wanted this kind of strange security formation.

“Maybe the horses as well as you knights must have been surprised. Try to find a place to take a break nearby. ”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

When the royal knight left the place, he asked me in a calm voice as if nothing had happened, “Are you okay? Aren’t you surprised? ”

“I’m fine. Are you really okay, Your Majesty?”

“Oh, I’m fine. Thanks for your consideration.”

“You’re welcome.”

While watching the knights moving around here and there, I suddenly paid attention to his arm around my waist. When I fanned with my hand after breathing in, he said after pausing for a moment, “Are you hot?”

“Oh, not really, Your Majesty.”

“Well, it’s already midsummer. I’m glad it’s not as hot as last year. ”

“I agree. I think it’s all thanks to you.”

Now I thought that the only relationship between him and me was that of the king and his vassal, but his conversation with me, starting from yesterday, kept bringing back memories of the past.

Was it because of that? The more I talked with him, the more uncomfortable I felt.

Maybe it was because of the music box Orgel in question. When I discovered the tiara in the doll’s hair, I was confused.

I thought I might want to ask him the reason even now, but I couldn’t for some reason. I vowed several times to pluck up the courage to ask him, but I couldn’t.

When I was only biting my lip, upset about myself, I heard him whispering, “I think it’s my first time seeing you in a hunting outfit. It looks good on you.”

“… Thank you, Your Majesty. ”

I flinched when his breathing touched my temple. I kept stroking the horse’s mane as I felt awkward, with my head down. I was very tired.

I wish I could go back, but he wouldn’t allow it. He said he would go back after taking a brief break.

“Well… ”

“… ”

“Come to think of it, you remember that silver flower, right?”

‘Huh? Silver flower? ‘