Chapter 8 (1/2)
‘Will he give up?’
As Kynemeia detected the man’s movement, even as he was brooding over it, she applied more pressure on the broomstick in her grip. In anticipation of a sudden attack, she planted herself firmly with her left feet braced against the wall.
FLICK–
Suddenly, she heard the sound of fingers flicking from somewhere.
“Huh?”
Her ears perked up.
“Kugh!”
The man groaned and clutched at his neck.
THUD.
Eventually, the man dropped onto his knees on the floor, as if the strength had been sapped out of him.
What happened? Kynemeia’s pupils quivered.
‘Eian? Or…’
As she was about to draw closer to the man, a figure landed in front of her, preventing her from doing so. A head full of pitch-black hair with a pair of pitch-black eyes. A boy wearing a smile on his face.
“You…!”
“Miss Lady, were you waiting for me?”
“You! W-Where did you go?!”
Eian inclined his head.
“Didn’t you say we had to find a frog-shaped sign? I went in search of that.”
Frog? Frog-shaped siiignn? Kynemeia scowled.
‘You went to look for that? While I got embroiled into this situation and turned out like this?!’
“Hm? Are you cross?”
Eian gazed at Kynemeia with the appearance of a sorrowful, whimpering puppy. Watching the expression that could even quiet the tempest that was coursing to the top of her head, Kynemeia could sense the warning lights go off in the limbic system of her brain.
‘Wasn’t he observing it all from somewhere instead? This sociopath.’
At that instant, Eian spoke up as if he could read her thoughts.
“I didn’t do it on purpose. I really won’t lose you now.”
He sure is silver-tongued… Kynemeia gritted her teeth in silence. She genuinely wanted to separate cleanly from Eian. Without overlooking a thing!
If only it weren’t for the prospect of a revenge murder, or he weren’t a Rikasha…
Preoccupied with various complex thoughts, Kynemeia cast aside the broomstick and nudged it away with her foot. Eyes fixated on the broomstick that had rolled to the wall, she opened her mouth.
“You…”
“Yeah.”
“Just what do you want from me?”
Kynemeia pivoted to look Eian straight in the eyes. Staring into her clear blue pupils, the corners of his lips quirked upwards.
“I’m Miss Lady’s bodyguard, aren’t I?”
“Is that all there’s to it?”
“What else?”
“Do you really just want to be my bodyguard?”
Noticing that she was on her guard, Eian lowered his gaze to the ground.
‘My, what a sharp young lady.’
Before she could resume speaking, he murmured in a low voice.
“Actually, I don’t have anyplace else to go other than Miss Lady’s side…”
His eyes peered up a fraction to meet hers. Kynemeia then replied calmly.
“… You can just go to the Magic Tower, can’t you?”
“But you saw how I’d sustained a stab to my side back then.”
“It’s not healed yet?”
“Touch it.”
“Eek!”
She snatched her hand away immediately after touching the injury on his side.
Then, Eian lifted up his shirt. royals: WHAT IS YOU DOING?? TO GARNER HER SYMPATHY YOU SLY, SLY BOI
“Look.”
“…?!”
The haphazardly unbound dressing was saturated through and through with blood.
He’s been going around with an open wound on his side?!
“W-W-Why aren’t you treating it?!”
Kynemeia’s hand trembled, betraying her fluster, and Eian smiled at the sight, thinking that she looked cute.
“Do you feel sorry for me?”
In spite of the worry swimming in her widened eyes, she simply regarded Eian as if she couldn’t bring herself to admit it.