I watched as Colonel Curtis, kneeling on one knee, asked with the utmost politeness. I felt a sense of helplessness.
I worried if an onlooker would correctly understand this as the proper relationship between a colonel and a simple knight.
"…Well, Curtis. The knight order is undoubtedly a hierarchical society. The position of a colonel and a simple knight are entirely different, you know?"
I began to explain, intending to teach him from scratch about the caste system within the knight order, which Colonel Curtis seemed to completely misunderstand. However, the moment my words faltered, Colonel Curtis responded with a question.
"I heard from Colonel Cyril that the Fourth Monster Knight Colonel Quentin is bowing to Lady Fee?"
"Ugh…"
In front of me, trying to correct the mistaken relationship, Colonel Curtis had somehow obtained information favorable to himself and presented it, causing me to groan in distress.
…To bring up Colonel Quentin!
Colonel Curtis, you attack from unexpected angles! And it's very effective!
After thinking for a while about how to respond, I sighed in defeat, unable to come up with a good idea.
…This won't be easy to persuade.
Given that he now knows the bad precedent of Colonel Quentin, I doubt Colonel Curtis' overly polite attitude will change easily.
Ah, this is going to be a long battle.
Thinking this, I decided to ignore the question about Colonel Quentin and answer his initial question.
"Um, well, about the material? The yellow stripe disease has mutated in a somewhat tricky form, so to cure it…"
As I spoke, a sudden idea came to me, and I glanced at Colonel Curtis.
"Well, ……to put it simply, something yellow and valuable found in the forest is needed, I think."
Since I am a saint, if that were to be revealed, it would be a big problem, so I decided to start covering it up belatedly.
Reflecting on my previous words and actions, I might have made some careless statements, but I should still be able to recover.
In other words, as long as I don't use healing magic in front of them, I can talk my way out of anything.
However, if I were to smoothly list the new special medicine's materials here, it would be suspicious.
So, I decided to make it seem like Colonel Curtis suggested the materials and push it onto him.
After all, we are the former guard and the guarded.
In my previous life, we spent the most time together, so we should understand each other completely.
…In other words, if I say 1, Colonel Curtis will understand 10, no doubt about it!
With this absolute trust, I looked at Colonel Curtis, and he nodded slowly as if understanding.
"I understand, Lady Fee."
Colonel Curtis' confident response looked very reassuring.
Indeed, my former guard! He understands me better than I do, doesn't he?
Feeling proud, I was taken aback when my former guard, with a confident expression, gave a completely wrong answer.
"Yellow Mithril Steel, right?"
"…Huh? No, that's not it! Curtis, I said something yellow and valuable, right? There are other options, you know?"
I immediately corrected the mistake, but my former guard, who was supposed to understand everything, frowned in confusion.
"…Not Yellow Mithril Steel? It's a great material for making a wonderful sword. …Then, Yellow Hard Bamboo? It's straight and can be used as a small weapon."
"Hey, Curtis, you're only thinking of weapons! I mean, something yellow and valuable that women would like…"
"Ah! The tusk of the Yellow Emperor Beast! It can be made into a short sword that women can easily use."
"That's not a weapon! Petals! The petals of the Yellow Wind Flower!"
Frustrated by Colonel Curtis' poor intuition, I couldn't help but raise my voice.
The most valuable and hard-to-obtain yellow thing in the forest is definitely the petals of the Yellow Wind Flower!
Because the Yellow Wind Flower only blooms on the largest tree in the forest.
In other words, to obtain the petals of the Yellow Wind Flower, one must find the largest Yellow Wind Flower tree in the vast forest.
This is an extremely difficult task.
So, the answer is definitely the petals of the Yellow Wind Flower!
While muttering this in my heart, I glared at my former guard, who seemed to already be thinking about the collection method and spoke hesitantly.
"The petals of the Yellow Wind Flower… If I have half a day, I can gather them, but… I can't leave Lady Fee alone. If it's okay, I can send Lady Fee to Colonel Cyril first and then go to gather the materials."
"No, no, don't take time for me. I'll be fine waiting here with Erial and Sariella."
Colonel Curtis, who is usually obedient to my words, frowned when he heard this.
"…Lady Fee, I have a great sin that I can never forgive myself for. I should have apologized as soon as I met you in this life, but… considering your position, I thought it wasn't something to be said in public, so I've been waiting for the right moment."
"Um…"
I had a vague idea of what Colonel Curtis' apology might be about, and if it was as I imagined, I thought it wasn't his fault at all, so I hesitated to speak.
Thinking that my silence was a pause in the conversation, Colonel Curtis continued.
"Also, I have one worry that leads to this apology… I am terrified of leaving your side."
As he said this, Colonel Curtis suddenly turned pale, as if imagining something.
"Hey, Curtis! Are you okay? You look like you're about to faint…"
Surprised, I called out to him, and Colonel Curtis pressed his hand to his mouth, bending over in distress.
"Exactly, Lady Fee. I feel like I'm about to faint. …I thought I had overcome it by imagining it many times, but… imagining it in front of you is so damaging. …I'm sorry, I'm still immature."
"Um, Curtis, you're a fine knight, I think. I don't know what you're imagining, but if it's not good for you, you should think of something else. For example… the taste of a cake after a successful diet."
Trying to help the distressed Colonel Curtis, I suggested various things.
However, Colonel Curtis countered with a trembling voice.
"…To be honest, there is no end to a diet. Eating a cake during a diet is something one shouldn't even attempt."
"…Well, then, how about… something simpler? For example, imagine being surrounded by beautiful women, all cheering for you. Wouldn't that make you happy and energetic?"
"Why do multiple women need to be in that image? I am fine alone. And, to me, there is no one more important than Lady Fee, so being surrounded by other women would be bothersome. …Ah, as expected, Lady Fee. Talking to you has calmed me down. Your choice of conversation to calm me is excellent. Thank you for your concern."
"………………"
No, well, I was trying to calm you down, but I didn't expect you to calm down like this.
I was imagining you making a delicious face or a happy face, blowing away the unpleasant things you were originally imagining…
While I was thinking this, Colonel Curtis straightened his bent upper body and wiped the sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his knight's uniform.
Then, he let out a big sigh and looked at me with a troubled expression.
"To be honest, I'm worried about leaving Lady Fee even with Colonel Cyril. However, if we can't get the new material and make the special medicine, Lady Fee will use the method she's trying to hide to heal the sick. …That is very risky."
"…Well, then, should I go with you to gather the materials? Two people will finish faster than one, right?"
Seeing Colonel Curtis' deeply troubled expression, I suggested this as a way to help.
However, he immediately rejected it.
"I'm sorry, but I can't agree with that proposal. Of course, I intend to protect you from anything, but staying here is less risky than entering the monster forest with me."
While still showing some hesitation, Colonel Curtis knelt in front of me and spoke with a sincere expression.
"I know there is no risk-free situation… I understand, Lady Fee. As you command, I will hurry to gather the materials. Please wait here during that time. …It won't be good for your mental health to be away from the sick."
Seeing Colonel Curtis stand up with a determined expression, I felt worried and couldn't help but call out to him.
"Curtis, you're not going alone, right? The petals of the Yellow Wind Flower? You'll need help to search the forest, and there are dangerous monsters in the deep forest. …Maybe it would be better if I went with you in case someone gets hurt?"
However, upon hearing my words, Colonel Curtis frowned.
"I apologize for repeating myself, but Lady Fee, you have something you're trying to hide, right? Considering that, I think it's a mistake to go to a place where there might be others with the same mindset…"
He paused, turned to face me directly, and bowed slightly.
"I'm sorry if it sounds presumptuous, but Lady Fee, sometimes you need to know when to let go. You can't save everything and everyone. You need to identify what is most important and, if necessary, sacrifice other things to protect it."
"Um, yes, that's true…"
Understanding what Colonel Curtis was trying to say, I nodded repeatedly to reassure him.
The 'most important thing' that Colonel Curtis is hinting at is probably 'my life'.
Considering his role in my previous life, this is a very natural way of thinking…
But, among the things I value, Colonel Curtis is included, and entering the deep forest is extremely dangerous no matter how you look at it.
As if hearing my worried inner voice, Colonel Curtis whispered reassuringly.
"Please don't worry, Lady Fee. I am originally from this land, so I know it well. I will take the shortest path alone and return quickly."
After bowing deeply again, Colonel Curtis quickly approached Erial and grabbed him by the collar.
"Then, I'm leaving Lady Fee in your care! She might be the Great Saint you believe in! Don't hurt a single hair on her head, and be extremely careful! And keep everything you hear and see here in your heart!!"
Despite his attitude, which was far from polite, Erial nodded in agreement.
"Y-Yes, I understand!!"
After giving a warning glance to Erial and the others, who responded with strained voices, Colonel Curtis hurriedly left the cave.