A gust of wind swept through the quiet forest; my hair stuck on my cheek. I frowned as it bothered me too much and wanted to remove it, but Siegfriedâs other hand brushed my cheek.
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â⊠Donât touch me gently.â
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âItâs because youâre bothering me.â
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âYou actually did well. Thank you.â
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âYouâll be the only person who makes fun of an Imperial Prince.â
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âThatâs thrilling.â
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I began dozing off as I was talking with Siegfried. Perhaps because my tension now was relieved, I felt like sleeping.
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I want to think a little more as to why I was so sure that Siegfried would be shot on his shoulder if I hadnât grabbed the arrow, and also, how I knew that Siegfried would be hypnotized by the Siren a while ago. Oh, come to think of it, Siegfried asked me twice if we have met somewhere beforeâŠ.Â
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The thoughts that followed stopped there. I soon fell asleep.
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âââ§âââââââ§ââ
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I realized that something hard was supporting my neck when I opened my eyes again. If I hadnât seen Siegfried with his eyes closed, I would have mistook it for a cutting rock.
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What is this? Maybe Siegfriedâs thigh?Â
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â⊠Donât lie down there.â
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It was at that moment after I moved to a comfortable position and was admiring Siegfriedâs beauty with his arms crossed. I thought he was sleeping because of his closed eyes, but he was awake.
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âYou look really beautiful from a new angle.â
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âTurn your head away.â
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âYou donât normally say anything.â
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I pouted my lips. I turned around so that I could face Siegfried, but he pushed me away. If youâre going to do this, why did you lend me your thighs?Â
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âThatâs because this is a different situation than usual. You were sleeping uncomfortably that I wanted to make you feel comfortable, but I think I am going crazy.â
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Siegfried hurriedly spit out his words while opening his eyes firmly.
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I donât care if you want to say that my head was heavy. I wonât be hurt by that.Â
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Of course, I may wait for the perfect chance to slap Siegfried again next time.
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âIâll get up. Thanks to you, I slept well.â
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âNot now.â
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Siegfried fanned himself with his hands as if he was feeling hot, and then he quickly pressed me down when I tried to get up. The hand on my shoulder was burning hot. I inadvertently grabbed his hand.
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â⊠Stop!â
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Startled, he slipped out of my grasp. Siegfried quickly covered his blushing face with his hand. Aha.Â
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âI think I know now, Your Highness.â
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ââŠ.â
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âI think it would be better for me to get up.â
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âY-you saw it now.â
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âNo. Iâll turn my back on you. Why donât you go behind that tree and solve your problem?â
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ââŠ.â
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Siegfried was silent.
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I raised my body as I untied the handkerchief he had tied on my hand. He didnât stop me anymore. I turned my back on him and handed him the handkerchief.
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âYou canât take too long. Itâs completely dark, so Iâm a little scared.â
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â⊠It would be better if I stay still.â
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âHow could that be better? I think youâd better just go.â
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âLetâs stop talking about this. I was so embarrassed I wanted to die.â
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âThatâs a natural phenomenon so whatâs the big deal!â
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Siegfried took a deep breath without saying a word. I spoke to ease his embarrassment a little.
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âI also had a stomach ache once. It was a hot summer day, and I had lemon tea with iceâŠ.â
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â⊠Stomach ache?â
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His voice cracked harshly. Siegfried couldnât hide his embarrassment.
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âJust what kind of conversation are we having now?â
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âThatâs why I told you to take the handkerchief.â
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âI said I donât need it. And Iâm alright now.â
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âThen can I look back?â
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âAlright.â
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I sat down facing Siegfried again.
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He seemed to have calmed down now before I knew it, and his face was the same white as usual. But when I sat back down and grazed his fingertips slightly, Siegfried leaned to the tree and let out a breath that sounded harsh.
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âAre you really okay?â
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At that moment, a voice rang out looking for us in the distance.
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âYour HIghneeees! Arieeeeel!â
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âMiss! Your Highness!â
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Milliardâs voice sounded like a cry. It looks like the party has finally arrived here.
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I got up on behalf of Siegfried. I then put my hands up together and raised my voice towards the direction where their voices were coming from.
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âWeâre here!â
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The sound of the horsesâ hooves running on the ground gradually grew closer. Even in the dark forest night, Abbysionâs bright blonde hair caught my eye easily.
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âAre you hurt anywhere? Have you met any more assassins?â
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âWeâre fine. What about you, oppa?â
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âIâm also fine. Milliard got some injuries on his arm while five knights were seriously injured.â
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Abbysion and I quickly exchanged about the present situation with each other. Meanwhile, the rest of the party has arrived.
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âItâs getting too dark, so I think weâll have to give up on going out of the forest now. Letâs rest here for now and leave as the sun rises.â
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Abbysion must have dealt with the assassins seeing that he didnât mention it. He was thorough in this regard.
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No one knows who sent the assassin. We didnât talk about Eisa otherwise.
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Abbysion ordered the uninjured knights to set up a tent, and the wounded were laid inside. Several servants made dinner after that. There was still meat left over from the inn, so we were able to eat a meal easily.
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Siegfried sat still while the whole process was going on. I guess heâs going to sleep very well like that.
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I am worried about Milliard as he injured his arm. He should be treated as soon as possible.Â
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âWhat is it, Ariel? Stop making that disgusting expression on your face. Iâm not dead yet.â
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I was just worried. Drop it.Â
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âAlright, Milliard will be fine. We will get to the village right away after we get out of the forest.â
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I clung on Abbysionâs side and pulled Milliardâs head closer. Abbysion was large and warm, very useful when weâre not home, so Milliard and I took a seat on each of his sides.
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The branches on the bonfire burned. I quickly fell asleep with a blanket on from the tiredness after eating dinner.
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âââ§âââââââ§ââ
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Our party started moving again when it was bright enough to secure the road. As Abbysion told me, the village was right in front of us as we left the forest. But Siegfried got my horse and rode it by the time we arrived at the village. It seems that the decision was made because I was the lightest.
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However, Siegfried wasnât very happy to ride behind me. He didnât say anything at all but it looked like that. So, I lent my horse to him and tried to ride either Abbysionâs or Milliardâs horse.
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âDo not go. Letâs just ride together. Siegfried pulled my sleeve.
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âNo, itâs okay.â
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Since we are the Countâs party, we will surely attract attention when we arrive at the village. But if I, the Countâs Young Lady, were to be seen riding the same horse as the Imperial Prince, I would instead blow up the rumors that had already spread around.
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I explained it to Siegfried with that meaning, but he didnât let go of my sleeve and bit his lip nervously.
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âIf we donât touch each other, I think⊠itâs alright.â
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What is he saying now?
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âThere are injured people, and we canât let them wait any longer.â
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At my urging, Siegfried bit his lip as if he had made a big decision. Then he settled behind me.
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âWe would run fast as Abbysion told me to hurry. You have to hold me tight on my waist, alright?â
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Siegfried blushed red and nodded.
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I hesitantly grabbed his hand and placed it on my belt. Siegfried was in a daze. I drove the horse after I confirmed that his firm arms were wrapped around my waist.
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Why do you always stimulate me when you show me your soft side by coming out strong? I laughed out loud and ran out quickly.
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It looks like I was the one inside Siegfriedâs arms as he was bigger than me, but it didnât matter.\nÂ
(T/N: These three chapters are for the kofi I received last, last week hehehe I have been busy so had no time to tl. These are thank you chapters. Iâll see if I can do another three chapter release again next time and possibly, more diamond chapters. Hehe anyways thank you [gives you a heart])