Abduction 2. Crown Controversy (2)
“… .”
Theodora was staring at the firmly closed door. He wore a black robe around his waist, but his attire was comfortable, not the black uniform of the Jackdaw Knights. Although she refused to the end, asking why she would wear frivolous clothes to escort her, Michelle’s consideration for Theodora was stubborn.
1 In the princess’s palace, Michelle’s bedroom was as quiet and quiet as usual. The modesty that would normally have been welcomed now came as a burden to Theodora. Theodora found the comfort in her clothes uncomfortable.
Should I knock on the door now? Theodora’s hand, lightly clenched in a fist, moved back and forth between the doorknob and the air, and then back again. The eyebrows, which had added a somewhat uncomfortable, uneasy look, straightened as if they had made up their mind, and Theodora inhaled as it was, and put her hand over the door.
jump.
“”ah.””
Just before Theodora knocked on the door, the first thing she could see through the crack in the door that suddenly opened was jet-black hair. Then, the one who looked up was a beautiful face without a mask. Theodora let out a small breath, deprived of the moment by those blue eyes.
“… Theodora, you are here.”
Marion opened her mouth, breaking the silence. Theodora creaked like a wooden doll and nodded. Naturally, a smile spread across Marion’s lips. It was a smile that even contained some composure. Theodora did not even feel a sense of incongruity in the way Marion, who was much younger than herself, took the lead in the atmosphere. Theodora returned the greeting with a difficult smile, and Marion turned her head towards the back of the room.
“Your Highness, Sir Theodora of the Knights of the Jackdaw has come to visit.”
“… Is it because of that incident?”
“Yes. It is so.”
Somehow, the voice of the first princess was full of disapproval. It wasn’t that he was reluctant to visit Theodora or that he was dissatisfied with the increased escort, but the voice contained something a little more fundamental. Michel was silent for a moment, as if thinking, but soon changed to a welcoming voice and called Theodora over.
“Stop by.”
I pushed the doorway Marion was holding onto outside. Theodora stood at the doorway and bowed to Princess 1.
“God, Theodora Benning welcomes Her Highness, First Princess.”
“I felt sorry while I was in charge of the knights. It’s only for a while, but please take good care of the escort.”
Theodora inwardly admired. Just a month ago, Michelle had been noble, but had the atmosphere of a greenhouse flower, but the way she greeted Theodora sitting in the bed showed off a royal appearance before she knew it. Was it because the Lord’s class wasn’t Lord’s class for nothing, or did she simply have the talent to rule as a king? Either way, it was an amazing transformation.
“It’s not enough, but I’ll dedicate my body to help Your Highness.”
“First inside. I can’t keep the sutra outside forever.”
Theodora cautiously entered Michel’s room. Michelle’s room was spacious but simple, and it smelled of cleanliness. It was also because of the teaching that the king should stay away from luxury, but Michelle’s own taste played a bigger role. Sunlight was creeping in from the west side of the window, turning orange.
“The sun is getting longer. Sooner or later the snow will start to melt.”
In the northeast of the continent, the kingdom had long winters and short springs. The snow doesn’t start to melt until March. The snow melted and it was the beginning of spring. Michelle exhaled, stretching her back like a happy cat.
“How is Sir Maxim doing well?”
Michelle had a playful smile on her lips. Theodora tried to answer the question unconsciously, but quickly shut up when she realized the presence of the person standing next to her.
“Don’t mind both of you, just tell me. At this point, I need to get rid of all the remnants that remain between you. Not only for Sir Maxim, but also for you, Marion.”
Marion was troubled. It was the same because she also noticed Theodora a little bit. It wasn’t really a matter of giving up one’s heart or anything like that. Theodora was Maxim’s first. If we were going to be together in the future anyway, we had to make sure that the relationship was sorted out.
Seeing the two women notice each other, Michelle sighed.
“Let’s talk openly about love. Sit down, both of you.”
“majesty. How could God be like that during the escort… .”
“it’s okay. The things you worry about won’t happen.”
Michelle said in a somewhat confident voice. Still, when the two hesitated, Michelle grabbed Marion and Theodora’s hands and forced them to sit down at the table.
“Rather than that, let’s listen to Sir Marion’s story.”
Marion looked at Theodora’s profile. Is there anything you want to say? Theodora also slightly turned her head and met Marion’s eyes. Something, it suddenly seemed like an idiot to notice it like this. Marion and Theodora laughed at the same time and shook their heads.
“Should I say that everything is going well, Maxim and I have no problems at all. Perhaps Sir Theodora has also resolved all the accumulated sediment. the problem is… It must be said that the problem is that he is so indifferent to Sir Theodora and Christine.”
Theodora nodded cautiously.
“Anyway, it’s still awkward for us to start getting along like older sisters and younger siblings right away.”
“We’re going to see each other face to face under the same roof anyway. You talk a lot.”
Michelle clicked her tongue in disbelief.
“It’s not that I don’t understand your situation, but it doesn’t look very nice to look so awkwardly in front of me.”
“I apologize, Your Highness… .”
smart.
The three of them stopped talking. Marion thought this was the moment, so she got up quickly and walked to the door. All that was left was a platinum-haired knight who was sitting with a pouty, yet undisturbed appearance. Seeing Marion and Theodora like that, Michelle let out a small sigh.
“I wonder if I can cool off like that… Well?”
Through the crack in the open door, Michelle was able to face another female knight. Compared to Marion, her skin was darker, and her hair was tied neatly together.
“Sir Charlotte. What are you here for?”
“Stop by.”
Marion’s question was interrupted by Michelle’s sudden voice. Marion looked back with a puzzled expression. Michelle was smiling as if she had an ulterior motive somewhere.
“Hey, let’s ask for some advice from a knight who is likely to get married first.”
—
“… It doesn’t really open.”
Maxim made a dumbfounded expression as he looked at the unmoving door, no, the wall. Even if I tried to push it out as hard as I could, or pull it sideways, there was no change, whether the door was right or not. Maxim thought about slicing Baek-Ah’s sword hilt, but the result was that he was imprisoned in a dungeon and held on to the iron bars.
“Have you tried magic?”
At Maxim’s question, Christine frowned.
“The defense magic is too strong and solid. If you try to access it with the wrong magic, you’ll get fried in reaction. Even your hair will be burnt black.”
“… but. It must be a safe to keep the treasured treasures of the royal palace.”
Maxim turned his head toward the safe. How long has it been since you started working? The palace was still peaceful.
Better than having another treasure stolen.
“I have no choice but to wait until the shift comes. Or I’ll force it open.”
“… yes. I see.”
Christine answered in a timid voice, but suddenly, looking at Maxim’s profile, she was lost in other thoughts.
go to this It’s time to monopolize your seniors completely, rightfully, and without question. We’re on a mission, the Count ordered us to leave, and the door won’t open.
When I changed my mind like that, my view of the world suddenly changed. The lighting in the dark vault became atmospheric and beautiful lanterns, and the narrow space where waiting for hours was transformed into something like a cozy house. Christine swallowed dry spit without noticing Maxim muttering something.
“Here, senior.”
“what’s the matter?”
Maxim turned his head to Christine, his eyebrows twitching in surprise at the face that came so much closer than he thought. It seems that my voice has risen strangely.
Christine, on the other hand, clears her throat lightly, as if realizing that she is too excited, and ventilates her surroundings. You can’t ruin the atmosphere by running amok for no reason.
“Would you like to go back to the safe first? There seems to be no other way than for the senior to cut it down with a sword anyway, and if that happens, well, the senior won’t be able to avoid punishment either.”
“yes. First of all. It’s just that there are things that get stuck.”
Christine grabbed Maxim’s arm and pulled him closer. Maxim, who was not focused on Christine and was immersed in other thoughts, opened his eyes to the feeling that was transmitted to his body.
“Wow.”
Seeing Maxim’s surprised expression, Christine smiled a little satisfied.
“why? why are you surprised Do you have something on your arm?”
Maxim smiled and smiled at Christine, who smiled knowingly and asked. Even through all that, Christine was Christine. Maxim loved her consistent attitude.
“Why did you feel better all of a sudden?”
Maxim’s hand tousled Christine’s blonde hair. Even though her neatly combed hair was a mess, Christine just smiled and said she liked it. This time, I wondered if the tail attached to her tail was shaking vigorously.
“Let’s sit down and watch over here, senpai.”
Maxim sat down next to Christine pounding on the floor. Both of them seemed to lack dignity to be knights of the 1st Knights, but they didn’t care about dignity or etiquette right now.
“By the way, what is the catch you said?”
“Is it really true that an intruder entered and the crown disappeared?”
Christine tilted her head at Maxim’s question.
“What does that mean?”
“Common sense, no matter how strong and capable the warlocks are, I wondered if it would be possible for them to come in and out leaving traces on you. As you say, there’s no reason for warlocks to take the crown at such a high risk. If you make a little mistake, you will be fried there.”
At Maxim’s point, Christine frowned.
“… You are right. Even those people would much rather seek asylum in another country than go through all this trouble.”
“right?”
“Then why did the crown disappear? No, the culprit didn’t come from outside in the first place… .”
“There is a possibility that such a thing was done internally. But who and why?”
More than that is guesswork. Maxim and Christine stopped reasoning and were silent. Now that the internal war was over, it was taboo to stir up conflict again. The safe, where the words of the two had disappeared, was silent. Maxim stared blankly at his pupil, who showed no change.
“But since I’m doing this, it reminds me of the old days. isn’t it?”
Christine sat on her knees and turned her head toward Maxim. Slowly, Christine’s hair ran down her neck and hit the floor. Maxim sat cross-legged and leaned his back against the wall.
“Did you like that time?”
“On the contrary, did you hate that time?”
At Christine’s question, Maxim coughed. Christine spat out the question in reverse, and put her head close to Maxim, as if she had no intention of opening her mouth until she heard the answer. Maxim couldn’t get away from those green eyes staring straight at him.
“… I do not know. It is not a very good memory.”
Christine felt her heart tighten at Maxim’s words. If that time was merely a memory that was painted over with pain and the time he waited for Theodora, where could he appeal to him?
“It would have been terrifying without you. Because you are there, at least a few good memories remain.”
And at Maxim’s next words, Christine was released from the feeling of being trapped and gave a relaxed smile. I can’t help but say that this is petty.
“Which one?”
“The way you cut my hair, the occasional visits to the orphanage together, the training sessions, and the hardships we spent all night together because of budget execution.”
“Is the hard work all night long a good memory for you? It’s really unique.”
“The bread I bought at the market at that time was so delicious. Even though it was all cold and hard… I do not know. At that time, it felt so delicious.”
Maxim’s golden eyes were deeply sunken, like someone reminiscing about the distant past. Christine read Maxim’s sincerity in his eyes and smiled even deeper. It was that time. Two years that only you cherish. Christine was relieved once more that her memories and feelings were not so different from Maxim’s.
“So, did you like that time?”
“I liked it.”
Christine answered without hesitation.
“Because I was able to monopolize the seniors.”
“… I’m still doing it, whatever.”
At Maxim’s joke, Christine punched the cat over Maxim’s chest.
“I will try. me too. It’s not like I can’t be so awkward with other people forever… To be honest, I said a lot of harsh things to Mr. Theodora, so if I suddenly had to be nice to her, I couldn’t do that.”
“I get it, I get it.”
Even Maxim could not interfere with their relationship. I could have helped them by their side, but it was up to Christine and Theodora to tie the knot.
Christine’s fist, which had been hitting Maxim’s chest, stopped for an instant. When Maxim looked up, he saw Christine with her palm resting on Maxim’s chest with a look full of curiosity. The face was close. Christine’s body odor, which she was not aware of, suddenly affected her. Christine’s exhaled breath reached the tip of Maxim’s nose as a small wind.
close. The green eyes of her eyes and the golden hair that flows little by little. If you stretched out your hand, everything about her was within reach.
“Christine?”
“By the way, senior.”
Christine’s voice lowered a little. The fingers on Maxim’s chest move as if dancing.
“How did you feel when I sometimes visited you at night to treat you?”
A dark, old room. The moonlight of the full moon was shining brightly through the window, and Maxim was lying on the bed, taking off his top and wearing only a thin pair of bottoms. And Christine, who came to visit Maxim, who was in pain, was sometimes dressed quite boldly. What was Christine thinking at the time? It was a fact that even Maxim did not know, and it was an impulse that Christine could not explain in words either.
“When I wore shorter and thinner clothes than usual, when I put my hand on top of your body, and when my body was in contact with your body, did you really only think about curing the curse in your head? ?”
Maxim was unable to speak. Christine’s expression made Maxim shut his mouth. Her hands, unlike usual, a little more nakedly close to her body. Christine’s breath against her cheeks and nose was gradually shortening. The temperature of the lukewarm wind rose to the point where it could be called warm.
“… tell me.”
Christine put her hand on Maxim’s collar. Maxim put his arms down without resistance. Christine carefully unbuttoned the top button of her dress. When Maxim’s one loosened, Christine’s also loosened. Little by little, Christine’s hand touched Maxim’s third button. Maxim opened his mouth.
“… I don’t think I was thinking only of curses.”
Christine smiled at Maxim’s honest answer. Rather than her usual cute smile, it was creating a bewitching figure that blended with the pink blush on her cheeks.
“Did you think of me?”
Maxim nodded cautiously. When Christine lowered her head and lightly bit on Maxim’s unraveling collar and pulled it,
thud.
I hear the door open,
“Maxim! Christine!”
I heard Dennis’s voice coming in urgently again. Tendons stood in Christine’s temples.