128 – Princess is stubborn
Ariel’s sudden remarks made her angry for a moment, but it was naturally buried as time passed.
Originally, the brighter the moon, the harder it is to see the surrounding stars, so it is difficult to pay attention to small issues when there are bigger issues.
In that respect, the fact that Edgar came back alive was greater and more joyful news than any other good news in Loveheim Castle.
‘I really have nothing to do.’
The person who came back alive was tired of boredom and was in a position to stare outside all day.
In fact, Edgar’s current physical condition was quite good, considering that he had suffered serious injuries.
It was largely because Yulken mobilized famous people and healing magicians from all over the world to take care of him while he was down, but it was possible because his body itself was so resilient.
Thanks to this, Edgar was able to recover to the level of walking alone on the fourth day after waking up.
Nonetheless, I was still in bed because Ariel would rush at me whenever I tried to go out for a walk.
smart.
“come in.”
Then, when someone knocked on the door and sent a message, Edgar guessed who the man standing outside was and allowed him to enter without asking for his identity.
Then, a small girl appeared with a trolley.
In fact, Edgar was so big that he wondered if the trolley was leading the girl, and he stopped laughing.
“Master, I brought you some snacks.”
“thanks. I will live thanks to you.”
“hehehe, I’m glad. But the lady… … ?”
Eline, who had been laughing at Edgar’s congratulations, tilted her head when she realized that Ariel, who had been present a moment before, was nowhere to be found.
Of course, Ariel has been practically living in Edgar’s room lately.
He hadn’t left his seat unless it was extremely urgent, but today he left his seat quite early.
“It seems that His Highness called. Why don’t you talk to me while I’m here?”
“I-I can’t tell a funny story… … .”
Eline, who felt a great deal of pressure for her role as a companion, replied in a voice that sounded like an ant crawling.
Rather, she was confident that she would be able to do it skillfully at the level of waiting, but bringing out a story according to the owner’s taste was a fairly difficult task for her, who doesn’t talk around.
“Who asked you to make me laugh? I just want you to stay by my side because I’m bored.”
“If that’s what you mean… … .”
Edgar laughed at Eline and knocked on the chair next to the bed and took a bite of the cookie she brought.
Since there have been many cases of being stuck in a room alone lately, Edgar has naturally asked for snacks more often.
To be precise, it’s better to have something to chew on at all times to feel comfortable.
Every time that happened, Eline would bring me snacks or small bread like now, and as a result, a question naturally arose.
“Does Master prefer sweets to fruits?”
“Not really. Unless you’re just eating it after a meal to refresh your palate, fruits aren’t very appealing. You?”
“I like fruit. Especially apples and grapes… … .”
Eline, who continued to speak, fell silent.
However, since the words that had already been poured out could not be retrieved, they ended up in Edgar’s ears, and through this fact, Edgar was able to recall a memory.
“Oh, so you were caught stealing grapes then?”
“That, that… … .”
In Edgar’s room, there is always a small amount of fruit to eat, but Eline had been caught eating some grapes secretly in the room.
Maybe I was hungry, or maybe I tried it because it was so appetizing.
Edgar didn’t pay much attention to it because it was the fruit he had left to eat anyway, but Eline got on her knees and even apologized for it, shedding tears, causing a small commotion.
“Things like that happen, too. But you seem to like it quite a bit?”
“Yes, grapes especially… It is also a valuable fruit here.”
“Were the grapes valuable? It was the first time I knew that.”
Although Edgar is quite sharp at trivia, he did not know that grapes did not do well in cold regions.
Besides, since he came to Loveheim Castle, he had always had plenty of food to eat, so grapes were the only fruit he could see at any time.
However, from Eline’s point of view, it was a very precious fruit that made her want to steal it.
It was a fruit that I couldn’t eat often because I left what I liked, so there was a high possibility that I committed it out of anger.
“Well, whenever you feel like eating, take it out from there and eat it. I told you too.”
“That, that’s the fruit you should eat.”
“It will rot if left alone anyway. Besides, they change it every day for a new one, so what’s wrong with giving it to someone else?”
From Edgar’s point of view, he probably wouldn’t have cared too much if it was Shuri.
Compared to Eline, she had been working as a lady-in-waiting for quite a while, and most of all, she was well aware that my master didn’t care about such things.
On the other hand, although Edgar treats Eline relatively comfortably, it must be because the notion of a master-servant relationship is deeply embedded in her.
At most, to the extent of clearly dividing ownership over fruit.
“Why don’t you bring one and eat it while you’re talking?”
Today, as always, there was an armful of fruit on a silver plate on the table.
When Edgar suggested it, pointing with his chin, Eline hesitated for a moment before confirming his intention again, asking if it would be all right.
Then, when the confirmation was dropped again, he carefully got up from his seat, sprinted like a squirrel looking for an acorn, picked up a grape from the plate, and returned to his seat.
“But if you’re a lady-in-waiting, can’t you freely touch the food? I heard that your position is a bit different from other servants.”
Edgar, who was watching her as she carefully peeled the skins of the grapes one by one, suddenly had a question.
If she was an exclusive maid, she would still have a higher position compared to a single servant, but it was because she felt it was strange to be happy and happy with only one grape.
At this, Eline showed a hesitant expression for a while, then smiled shyly, put the peeled grapes in a bowl and handed them to Edgar, and brought out a rather dark inside story.
“Unlike Shuri-sama, I come from a commoner background. I happened to be under the master’s command thanks to Sheppy-sama’s attention, but it’s a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of … .”
Originally, she had always thought to herself that her current position was undeserved.
It would not have been strange if she ended up as a mere maid, but the only thing she knew how to do was work diligently, and as a result of not neglecting her duties, she was lucky to be noticed by Sheppy.
After that, she was able to learn how to behave as an exclusive maid, and came under Edgar’s protection through her recommendation.
So, rather, he was trying not to forget his position.
However, Edgar dug into her ears and replied sullenly to what she said.
“Yunan with that one fruit. It’s none of my business that you’re from, and you’re my maid now.”
“That, yes… Joe?”
“Then follow me. Besides, as I said before, even though you’re a maid and I’m in the position of the owner, I have no intention of hanging on to it.”
Edgar had a request from Eline the other day.
Even if they had their own positions, as long as he was in a position to protect Eline, he would treat her like a younger sister.
So don’t feel too uncomfortable, and follow me without neglecting your duty too much.
To this, Eline seldom understood and replied that she knew, but that was what she meant.
“It might be difficult to say, but… To put it simply, I mean I’m not the kind of person who would take you seriously for stealing a piece of fruit. got it?”
“Yes, yes… … .”
Edgar’s eyebrows twitched slightly at the fairly strained answer.
“Your voice is small. answer again.”
“Yes… … !”
“Right.”
It was still a strangely airy voice, but Edgar smiled with satisfaction at the answer that was more certain than a moment ago.
It would be difficult to wish for a change right away, but the difference between talking to each other and not talking to each other is huge.
It was like a little philosophy about human relationships he had.
rattle.
“yes? Were there just the two of you?”
Just as the two were continuing their conversation in the air that was much lighter than before, the door suddenly opened and Ariel appeared.
“uh. I’m here to bring you some snacks.”
“Huh… Well, since it’s a lady-in-waiting, it’s not strange that the two of you are alone.”
“Are you still saying that?”
Ariel would occasionally say things like this, as if she still hadn’t completely cleared her doubts about Eline.
To be honest, I didn’t mean it that way, and it was just a word to make sure I didn’t have a false mind.
“Anyway, have you thought about it?”
“What are you thinking?”
“That’s what I asked for.”
“… Did you really think that was possible?”
According to Edgar, Ariel also thought that the words were uttered out of emotion, but judging from today’s words, it seemed that they were quite sincere.
Am but still, don’t leave Hespania.
That’s no different than asking my parents not to visit me, but how many great people would accept such crazy conditions as right?
“Actually, I thought that would be the case, so I brought a new condition.”
“… I don’t want to hear it. At least, I think it will be there.”
“Listen or tell me. It’s pretty relaxed.”
The fact that the word mitigated was included meant that the previous conditions were absurd, but Edgar did not bother to point this out.
It seems like there is a mountain of words to pour out to point out from there anyway, what more can I say.
“That day, I thought briefly. Anyway, you have work to do, and you have to go back to your parents’ house, so I’ll cancel my words not to leave Hespania.”
“Five.”
Edgar felt that the first phrase, which was more rational than he thought, seemed to show hope.
Of course, even the possibility of that one word disappeared due to the afterword that followed.
“Instead, stay within my reach. If that’s the case, we can go out together anytime. Can this be it?”
“… … .”
He wanted to protest what the hell was going on, but when he saw her expression that there was no problem at all, Edgar didn’t even feel it worth replying to.
‘Isn’t this how I’m really being imprisoned somewhere?’
No, it would be more accurate to say that he couldn’t even respond to his fear.