LIGHTNOVELWORLD Episode 22
Chapter 22:
“…Are you awake?”
“Well, with such a loud voice, I’d assume so.”
As I called out, the Sleeping Princess slowly lifted her eyelids. Perhaps due to just waking up, she cast a somewhat lethargic gaze upon my face.
“But even so, you still can’t fully trust me?”
“Yeah, I can’t fully trust you. You understand that, right? The reason I can’t fully trust others… even you, Rios.”
“I guess that’s true.”
She believed that anyone with something more important than her would choose that over her if a critical situation arose. In the end, it seemed like she was afraid of being betrayed.
Regarding Orto, even if Alshade says he’s the most important person, she can’t fully trust it because there’s no way to prove it.
“Don’t look so troubled. Isn’t it a benefit to be relied upon by a beautiful girl like me?”
“Are you talking about yourself?”
“…Isn’t it true?”
“Well, I suppose.”
I had a hunch that she was starting to rely on me, but I didn’t realize she was aware of it. While I couldn’t say I disliked being relied upon, I couldn’t wholeheartedly embrace it due to an indescribable sense of crisis.
To be specific, even if someone else as important as Alshade appeared in my life, I couldn’t imagine concealing that from her,as a knight of hers. And when it got exposed, what action would she take?
If this situation worsened, it might be considered a betrayal itself, and I could even end up clashing Finbul.
If she had more trustworthy allies, this state of dependency might calm down. So, the words I said to Orth were not just to encourage him but were my sincere feelings.
“Hmm? What exactly are you worried about?”
I stiffened at her words. I had forgotten that becoming a knight meant my inner thoughts were transparent to Alshade.
I struggled to figure out how to deceive her.
“Oh, were you thinking useless things ,like what would happen if someone more important than me came along in the future?”
Alshard’s keen insight was reliable when she wasn’t targeting me, but I hadn’t thought it would be so terrifying when her gaze was directed at me.
Even though I had just managed to stop sweating, I felt it starting again.
She had concluded that my concerns were unnecessary, and she turned over, facing my belly, and peered up at me from below.
“…It’s not necessarily useless, is it?”
“No, it is. Because, you the Lord Rios, my knight. I can confidently say that I understand you better than anyone else in this world. Moreover, I will do my best not to let go of such a dependable ally and comfort that is you. Or, do you dislike me for being like this?”
“No, it’s not that.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Alshade’s relieved smile, with a hint of allure, appeared somewhat bewitching.
The current state of hers could be described as a state of partial reliance on me, as her human distrust had lessened to some extent. Her essential nature hadn’t changed.
Even if, by any chance, I caused a change in her essential nature, I would find it hard to escape from that burden.
…But for now, I must find a way to alleviate the pressure from her. Although she’s smiling, I still sense the pressure lingering.
“Hey, Rios, since you’ve been thinking about pointless things and made me anxious, say something reassuring.”
“Coming up with such a request all of a sudden is too much. Well, alright… Since we are a destined duo before being lord and servant, you need not worry. Alshade and I are inseparable.”
“Destined duo…huh”
I used the term “Destined duo” to mean that my life would be ruined without her winning, but I realized I had chosen the wrong words and panicked, but it was too late.
She blinked and repeated the words “Destined duo” as if savoring them.
“That’s a nice phrase. I like it. Indeed, if we are a Destined duo, then I don’t have to worry about being betrayed!”
Alshade’s eyes were shining. Was it just my imagination that something deadly had worsened?
…Anyway, I had to divert the conversation and hope that she would forget about it.
“Oh, right! Are there any other people you trust besides me? For instance, your father, Count Baltzfeld?”
“Father? Of course, I trust him from the bottom of my heart. After all, he’s pretty fond of me, you know?”
“Fond of you, huh…”
Upon hearing Orto’s story, the suspicion I had dismissed in my mind about Count Baltzfeld’s doting parent behavior started to feel more plausible, or rather, true.
“Yeah, being an only daughter is one thing, but apparently, I greatly resemble my mother. Father never took a mistress, and after my mother passed away, he never even took a new wife. He truly loved my mother.”
“I see…”
It was understandable for the Count to be indulgent, considering that his only daughter closely resembled his beloved late wife and was desperately striving to succeed him.
However, the image of a grown man acting lovey-dovey in front of Alshade made me feel a bit exasperated.
Then I realized that if the count were to learn that his beloved single daughter from a distinguished family had chosen an obscure boy from the slums as her knight and was now dependent on him, wouldn’t he be furious?
“(I need to find a solution before the count returns from the war, or things might get messy.)”
In other words, the challenging task that could only be solved in time now had a time limit.
“Don’t worry, I’ll convince my father, so everything will be fine.”
“It’s unavoidable, but it’s a little complicated when someone can read my mind.”
“I can only understand your emotions. Besides, your face is turning pale, so it’s easy to guess even without reading your mind. Don’t worry; I have a lethal weapon, after all.”
Alshade confidently declared.
When she mentioned a lethal weapon concerning her father, I could think of one possibility, but if she were to use it, I might be resented… However, if I couldn’t resolve her dependency and had to accept it, then so be it.
“Just take it easy, my lady.”
“It depends on my father. Well, let’s put that aside for now…”
“Put it aside?”
“I’m thinking of changing the way we call each other.”
I thought the Count could cry if he lost in this name-calling battle, but what did she want to change it to?
“Should I call you ‘Alsh’ like Orto does?”
“No, that’s not it. I want you to call me ‘Al,’ and I’ll call you ‘Rio.'”
Perhaps she didn’t choose ‘Alsh’ because it sounded similar to how Orth or Vivian called her? Well, in any case, it’s a short and easy-to-call name, I think.
“Understood. Al, is that good?”
“…Yeah, that’s fine. Rio, it suits you.”
“There’s nothing particularly fitting about the name.”
“Ahaha, you’re right. Well, I’ll wake up now. Thanks for the lap pillow.”
Alshade said cheerfully and moved her head away from my thigh, getting up.
At that moment, we heard a knocking sound on the door.
“Lord Rios, it’s about time for sunrise. Please wake Alshade-sama.”
“Orto, she just woke up. I’ll be there in a moment, wait downstairs.”
“Understood. I’ll be waiting on the first floor.”
“Rio, could you go ahead?”
“Got it.”
Alshade prompted me as she stretched her stiff muscles from sleeping. I left the room first.
“….He didn’t notice my face turning red, did he? Hey, Rio. ‘Al’ is the nickname my mother used to call me. I wonder if you’ll be bewildered or flustered if I tell you… Ah, my one and only knight, I’ll never let you go…!”
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