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Chapter 31
May My Sword be Clothed with Power I (6)
Translated by Wook
Edited by Wook
As soon as I woke up, I was faced with an annoying problem.
The next morning after a good rest.
From the moment I thought about leaving the bedroom after eating, the troublesome problems came to me one after another.
“Helena, I think you better not get up yet. Oh, right. If you really want to move, should I give you a piggyback ride?”
Leonard was the first to come.
Angel-like brother Leonard might be worried about his younger sister, but I didn’t want to be carried on his back as an adult.
I mean, I have a sense of honor, too.
“Brother, when are you going back to school?”
“You’re so sick. How could I leave you in this faraway place?”
“Then what if you get expelled? It’s a waste to maintain good grades. I’m fine, so hurry up and go back.”
I persuaded Leonard.
Then Agoth, who was beside me, responded with a lively voice.
“Yes, Young Master! Leave the care of the lady to me! I will keep her feet free from dust until she’s well!”
Agoth said to me, leaning against my lap on the bed.
“My lady doesn’t even have to lift her hands. I will help you with meals, changing clothes, grooming, and bathing.”
What’s that? That’s kind of scary.
“I can do it myself.”
“I couldn’t protect the lady, so even if you want me to give up my life, I’d have nothing to say! Please let me take care of you!”
“Take back your life.”
I snapped with a fed-up face. Agoth was a guy who would be able to do things like that seriously.
Then I heard a knock, and even though I hadn’t given permission, the door opened.
Soon after, several people stormed into my bedroom.
“Captain! What do you mean you’re going to get out of the bed when you’re not fully recovered?”
“Get some more rest, ma’am! We’ll do anything for you, so don’t move!”
The crew members.
I think these guys should learn how to enter a woman’s bedroom before they help me.
“I’m going to take a walk, so will you guys take a walk for me?”
I said it as a joke, but I guessed it didn’t sound like a joke to them.
“Did you hear? The captain wants to take a walk!”
“We’ll take you for a walk, ma’am!”
“No… A walk is of no use unless you do it yourself.”
“Don’t worry! Let’s run around the garden about 100 laps together!”
“That’s not a walk, is it?”
These guys made me speechless.
“It’d be better if I carry you, Helena.”
“No, my lady! It’d be better to entrust yourself to me, we’re both women!”
“Guys, the captain is going out herself! Let’s make a human kiln so that she can go comfortably!”
“Uwoooooooooo!!!”
I wasn’t in the mood to hear such noises. It was even more confusing because I could only locate things with sound.
“I don’t need you all!”
In the end, I shouted about dignity, decency, and abandonment.
At that moment, the crowd that had been standing in front of me split on both sides, and someone came close in front of me.
Since I couldn’t see properly, I couldn’t tell who it was unless I heard a voice. All I knew was that he was tall and in black.
That 'someone” stood in front of me for a while, and then immediately lifted me up in his arms.
… What?
“Uwaakh!”
Suddenly, my body was gently lifted into the air. In embarrassment, I grabbed the collar of the person who picked me up in embarrassment.
“W-What’s this?!”
“You want a walk, right?”
“Caesar…?!”
As soon as I heard his whisper that seemed to melt things, I remembered what had happened with him last night, and my face burned.
Last night.
He had confessed that he liked me. Uwaaakh!
A shameful memory came to mind, and I reflexively let go of his neck. As a result, my body momentarily lost balance and staggered.
“Akh!”
When I had almost fallen, Caesar pulled me back and stably held me in his arms.
“Hold on tight. Otherwise, you will fall.”
Caesar’s sly voice was annoying.
But I didn’t want to fall, so I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my head in his shoulder.
“Hey, can’t you see? I’ll take care of my master, so everyone can go away.”
Since it was impossible to disregard the crown prince’s orders, everyone grumbled and left the room.
I knew everyone had left the room by the sound of the door closing and the still air.
But I still couldn’t lift my head and buried it in his shoulder.
“Everyone’s out. Helena, you can raise your head.”
“You’re so noisy, you shameless man.”
“What? Why should I feel ashamed?”
At those words mixed with laughter, I only raised my head sharply.
“You said that yesterday. Aren’t you embarrassed by that?!”
“What did you mean yesterday?”
“Yesterday! Yesterday here— You! Mm? Oh, you!”
Ah, I’m going crazy.
I mumbled, unable to spit out the words that lingered in my mouth.
Caesar smirked at my reaction and gave me a look that said I understand even if you won’t say it.
“Oh, when I said I like you?”
“Don’t say it again!”
“Is there any reason to be ashamed? It’s not like I liked you a day or two.”
“Since when…?”
“Well, since when? It’s been so long I think I forgot.”
Ha. Then Caesar said again.
“Maybe even before you were born?”
How boring.
“… go to the garden.”
“Fufu, as Master wants.”
I’m going crazy.
Shouldn’t you feel flustered before someone you like?”
Why am I the only one embarrassed?
‘I don’t know what kind of expression I should be making.’
The biggest hurdle of my life.
***
I need a consultation.
Sitting on the pavilion in the garden, as the north wind blew, I earnestly thought.
“Which one do you like better, pecan pie or chocolate tart?”
“… Tart.”
“Your taste in desserts is really different from mine. Here, I’ll give it to you.”
Caesar took the tart and handed it to me. I frowned.
“Just give it to me. It’s not like I broke my fingers.”
“You can’t see what’s in front of you, so how would you know if what you eat goes into your mouth instead of your nose?”
“I pick it up with my hand and put it in my mouth. There is no way I’d put it through my nostri— Ahm.”
After refuting Caesar’s words, I closed my mouth to the chocolate tart that came into my mouth.
I feel like I should be angry at the sudden attack, but mm… Well, this tart is very delicious.
I need a consultation.
Sitting on the pavilion in the garden, as the north wind blows, I earnestly thought.
“Which one do you like better, pecan pie or chocolate tart?”
“… … Tart.”
“My taste in desserts is really different from mine. Come on, I’ll give it to you.”
Caesar took the tart and handed it to me. I frowned.
“Just give it to me. It’s not like I broke my finger.”
“You can’t see, so how do you know if something goes into your mouth or your nose?”
“I pick it up with my hand and put it in my mouth, but there is no way I can put it through my nostrils… … , hey.”
As I retorted to Caesar’s words, I shut my mouth at the chocolate tart that suddenly fell into my mouth.
“Is it good?”
It’s good.
But I kept my mouth shut because I felt like I’d lost if I said it was delicious.
“Why is this sweet thing so delicious? I don’t understand.”
“I don’t need you to understand my taste in desserts.”
Having said that, I grabbed Caesar’s hand and ate the tart in his hand.
Because if I didn’t, when I opened my mouth, this guy would put it in my mouth again and it would be an embarrassing situation.
“Oho.”
Perhaps he noticed my intentions, Caesar made a disapproving sound. I looked at Caesar like I was saying What would you do about it? and grinned.
“Well, it doesn’t really matter if I like it or not.”
“…?”
Caesar wiped my lower lip with his thumb. It seemed that tart crumbs had been smeared while I was eating in a hurry.
Caesar licked the crumbs off my fingers so casually that he continued, with a smiley voice.
“Because Helena likes it.”
‘… I need a consultation!’
His clever demeanor made my head burn.
Obviously, his behavior was no different than before. Perhaps I just hadn’t noticed it before.
But now I could no longer think of his actions as nothing.
I need a consultation.
I desperately need it.
A consultation that will make me more determined in front of this sly snake!
***
Why are you so embarrassed? You might ask.
For the first time in my life, I heard someone confessed that he liked me.
In fact, I wish I could count it as a confession. But there hadn’t been any dramatic change since then, had it? Only my mental state had changed dramatically.
‘Did he make my heart flutter as a joke?’
I don’t know.
Because I had no experience in this area.
“… That’s why you came to me.”
Having barely escaped Caesar—including several other humans—who had been following me around like leeches, I went to see Hamilton.
Hamilton, who was withering under a pile of papers, answered me in a rather hoarse voice. I nodded.
“Elder Ben is single. Agoth and Caesar are not on good terms, and Brother… I feel that it is not appropriate to have this conversation with him.”
“That last one is truly a wise decision.”
“Anyway, do you have so much to report? You’ve been locked up in your room the whole time.”
“Ah, the report is over, and now this is a separate report and letter to Duke Peresca.”
Well, that’s right.
We had to tell him why we couldn’t come home as planned.
“… Don’t write in too much detail.”
I said with a little apology. Hamilton let out a stifled cry.
“Do you want to write a will first?”
“That’s too extreme. But it might not be a bad a idea.”
II was half joking. But Hamilton squeaked Aaahh and became seriously distressed.
No matter how my father was, surely he wouldn’t scold his daughter who had fought monsters and had been hurt… right?
‘The norm is…’
As I had said before, my father in the previous life enjoyed the story of me rolling and breaking the most.
“Cough, anyway… I see. You are now mature enough to ask me for dating advice.”
Hamilton put down his pen and turned toward me.
“First of all, it’s even more surprising that Princess didn’t know about it until now.”
“You’re digging in from that part first?”
Mrhm, I groaned.
Come to think of it, I also thought that I was too dull.
I had only considered his feeling as a kindness and trustworthiness of a disciple toward his master, or a childhood friend, and had never thought that it was the realm of rational love.
And to be honest, he was a very young kid. A snub-nosed dog who was afraid of becoming an emperor.
Wouldn’t it be strange for someone with the mind of a thirty-year old person to think of such a feeling from that kind of kid as love?
‘Well, I don’t even know where my mental age is now.’
A sigh came out.
Maybe it was the influence of the environment, but at some point, I felt like I had gotten used to the emotional lines of my age. With the memory of the past life remained as it was.
‘It’s a strange disharmony.’
Something was wrong with me now.
“Anyway, I’m relieved that you’ve come to know His Highness’ heart now.”
“Is that a relief?”
“It’s better than just shoveling each other and getting lost. You must have known for sure about this. It will be comfortable once both sides know.”
“… I thought I was the smart one.”
“You’ve been living under a big illusion.”
How embarrassing.
I breathed a long sigh.
“So, what part of it is so problematic that you need a consultation?”
Hamilton tilted his head and asked me.
“Umm, I don’t know how to react.”
“Really? Did His Highness want an answer to his confession?”
“No.”
“Or did he suddenly change his attitude? Avoiding Princess…”
“It’s not like that.”
“Then why don’t you just treat him like usual?”
Because he’s not like usual! That’s the problem!
That person’s action, word, and expression are so meaningful that I’m going crazy because of it!
“Rejoice in the fact that your senses has evolved one step further, and take full advantage of his love.”
“As an aide to His Highness, you speak quite defiantly.”
“I’ve been rolling under him for ten years. How could anyone not be bad?”
Well, I have no objection to that.
I kept my mouth shut as I remembered Caesar, who used to bully Hamilton as a child.
“But, mm. I see. Even the wise princess must be a beginner in dating. It’s understandable that you’re unfamiliar and bewildered by the sudden realization of your feelings.”
“My feelings? No, I want you to advise me about Caesar’s confession.”
“But, His Highness has not changed at all before and after the confession, so what has changed is the attitude and feelings of Princess. Am I wrong?”
Is that so?
Am I being swayed and conscious of him?
But why? Is there a reason for that?
Why do I have to panic and be swayed because of others?
“In the end, what matters is Princess’ feelings.”
Hamilton spoke again in a voice full of confidence, which was rare for him.
“How did you feel when you found out that His Highness likes you? Did you hate it or were you afraid? Or were you nervous and happy?”
My feelings…
Helena’s feelings toward Caesar, who had said he liked me…
Was I happy?
The moment of enlightenment always came suddenly.
The question I asked myself was an interrogative one.
But at that moment, the faster pulse, the warmer body temperature, the trembling breathing and the hot face replaced the unspoken answer.
Waa, what do I do?
How could I not know my own feelings to this extent?
I…
That guy…