“A-A knife…?”

“Yes.”

“…”

 

Lizzy couldn’t help but react with surprise at Lilith’s sudden question directed at her.

Until just now, Lizzy had a good impression of her, who had overlooked her mistake in the ballroom with a generous smile.

However, Lilith’s question, asking if she had a blade right after meeting again, was something Lizzy couldn’t understand within the scope of her actions. 

Although Lizzy had experience in noble social activities for over ten years and thought she had a good grasp of human personalities to some extent…

…the actions of this young lady she encountered in front of her were a completely different type of person from the human personalities she had experienced so far.

In the midst of that, Lizzy was quickly racking her brain to find a similar type of human personality.

Recalling a few cases of people she had encountered, she made a careful assumption about Lilith.

 

‘Could it be…’

 

The appearance she showed upstairs was just a pretense because she was in front of her fiancé, and perhaps this current appearance was her true self.

Otherwise, there was no way she would blatantly ask for her self-defense dagger.

Seeing her confidently demanding her only weapon and means of defense, Lizzy felt a chilling sensation rising from her back.

That’s because the moment she handed this silver dagger hidden in her bosom to Lilith, all her means of defense would disappear.

On the contrary, it meant that Lilith would gain a weapon that could be pointed at her.

 

“Perhaps, you don’t have one?”

‘What should I do…?’

 

Although she naturally wanted to refuse, she didn’t have the courage to do so.

Normally, it would be strange to agree to hand over a dagger that was essentially her lifeline when asked.

However, she questioned whether she had the right to refuse this proposal after committing an unforgivable rudeness to her in the Evening Rose Hall upstairs.

If she didn’t listen to her words here, what would happen to the relationship between the August family and the Blackwood family?

Would it cause trouble for her family due to the mistake she made?

While the young lady of the August family hesitated with such concerns, Lilith’s voice rang in her ears again.

 

“Um, Miss Lizzy?”

“Y-Yes…!”

“Do you really not have one? Even a self-defense dagger or something similar?”

“Well, that’s…”

‘I should refuse, but…’

 

Since childhood, she had never been blessed with magical talent.

The only skills she had were trivial spells like creating a small amount of water when thirsty or making a small fireball to light a torch up a dark night’s corridor.

A noble young lady should be able to use at least one or two defensive magics, but she had no such means at all. [GalaxyTL/Axiomatic]

So, the moment her blade was taken away, she would become someone who couldn’t even put up the slightest bit of resistance.

In the end, just as the frightened Lizzy was about to express her refusal first, Lilith unexpectedly waved her hand and began to move away from her.

 

“I-I…!”

“…Miss Lizzy, if you don’t have one, it’s fine. If you don’t have one, I have no choice but to borrow from someone else.”

“Y-Yes…?”

“Still, I asked you first because you were someone I at least knew. Since you don’t have one, it can’t be helped.”

“…”

 

Seeing Lilith trying to leave her side without much hesitation along with those words.

It was Lizzy who began to feel confused by that movement that seemed regretful yet not particularly important.

She had initially thought it was a move to take away her dagger to put her in a difficult position.

…But the attitude she showed was a reaction that seemed like she really needed a blade.

 

‘Could it be that she really just needed a knife itself…?’

 

As soon as Lilith, who had been facing her, took a step away, the raw fear towards her disappeared, and Lizzy was able to calmly assess the situation.

Lizzy had been immersed in social circles since a young age and had her own interpersonal skills accumulated over a long time.

The interpersonal skills ingrained in her body were telling her…

…that right now, handing over the dagger in her bosom to Lilith was probably the right choice.

 

“I-I have one…!”

“…Pardon?”

“I-I’ll lend it to you…! L-Lilith…!”

 

That is, without even imagining that she would regret it within just one minute after handing over her only weapon.

“I-I’ll lend it to you…! L-Lilith…!”

“…?”

 

The voice coming from behind the moment I turned my steps to try talking to other people.

In the direction I turned my head again, Lizzy was standing there, urgently calling out to me.

In her hand was the silver dagger I had asked for earlier, tightly grasped.

 

‘…Huh, she had one, after all.’

 

She seemed hesitant, as if she didn’t have one, so I was planning to cut it short and ask someone else.

It seemed she was debating quite a bit about whether to lend it to me or not.

Well, it wouldn’t have been an easy decision to lend her self-defense weapon to a complete stranger.

I don’t know the extent of Lizzy’s magic skills, but the more means of self-preservation one has, the better. [GalaxyTL/Axiomatic]

Especially in the current situation where Caraham isn’t by her side, she would feel psychologically even more anxious.

She must have made a big decision in her own way to lend it to me.

 

‘I deliberately asked Lizzy first because I thought others would show similar reactions.’

 

I thought she would easily lend it to me out of guilt for the mistake she made towards me.

…And if I borrowed someone else’s dagger and ended up fighting, it could lead to a situation where I would have to protect two people at once, as I’d have to protect that person, too.

If I borrowed a self-defense weapon and fought, but the person who lent it ended up in a bad situation, and that would be the most unpleasant thing.

In many ways, it was the easiest way to obtain a weapon, so I accepted the silver dagger from Lizzy with gratitude.

 

“Thank you, Miss Lizzy.”

“N-No! Compared to the rudeness I committed earlier, this is really nothing!”

 

Well, that’s true. But she seems to understand it well.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I had any intention of petty retaliation against Lizzy for that incident.

In the first place, I wasn’t in a position to argue based on status after taking off the mask.

 

Shing.

 

The sharp silver blade gleamed as soon as I drew the dagger from the sheath I received from her.

Seeing the quite sharp and clean blade, it seemed to be properly maintained on a regular basis.

With just this, it could be used as a weapon to sufficiently protect at least myself and Lizzy.

Perhaps, with some luck, I could even aim to level up by killing a few monsters…

 

“L-Lilith…?”

“Yes?”

“W-What do you intend to use the borrowed silver dagger for…?”

“…Why?”

“S-Seeing you smile while holding the blade… It’s a b-bit scary…”

 

…Did I smile?

It seemed I had momentarily failed to manage my expression due to the thought that I might be able to level up.

I should be careful about this. Since I was holding a blade, I might give her a weird misunderstanding if I wasn’t careful.

If I made her anxious, it would be bothersome to protect her later when monsters rushed in.

I clearly explained to Lizzy that I wouldn’t harm her with her silver dagger to put her at ease.

 

“You have nothing to worry about, Miss Lizzy. I really have absolutely no intention of stabbing you or anything with this.”

“Eek…!”

“…?”

 

Why is she more afraid even though I tried to reassure her?

I saw Lizzy starting to step back and distance herself from me after hearing my words.

In order to get closer to her as she moved away, I also followed the young lady’s retreating steps with short strides.

For some reason, Lizzy’s expression darkened a little more each time.

 

“W-Why are you coming closer?!”

“Why wouldn’t I get closer? Of course, it’s much more convenient (to protect Miss Lizzy) that way.”

“D-Don’t come any closer! C-Could it be that you… intend to do something to me taking advantage of this chaos…”

“I told you not to move away. What if you get hurt (more injured by monsters) because of that?”

“Eek…!!”

 

As the conversation continued, Lizzy’s retreating speed gradually increased, and her expression grew darker and darker.

Not understanding her reaction, I quickly followed Lizzy’s movements.

Finally, her retreat was completely stopped by the corner wall of the main hall.

 

Thud.

 

“Ah, aah…”

“You can’t step back any further now. Don’t try to distance yourself from me and stay put…”

“I-I’m sorry, Lilith…! N-No, Lady Lilith…! I will definitely compensate you for the rudeness I committed earlier…!”

“…I told you it’s not necessary. I clearly accepted your apology, so why are you mentioning that incident again?”

“I-I thought your anger hadn’t subsided yet, Lady Lilith…”

 

…Maybe it would have been better to just tell her to send the payment for the dress to the Blackwoods.

I tried to gloss over it, thinking it would be much easier to say I wouldn’t accept compensation, but it seemed this woman took the meaning of my words differently. [GalaxyTL/Axiomatic]

It’s as if she thought I hadn’t accepted her apology and was still angry.

…Can’t be helped. I have no choice but to at least make a show of formally accepting compensation.

I happened to be holding an ‘appropriate item’ for the transaction.

 

“…Then let’s just do this.”

“Y-Yes?”

“I’ll accept Miss Lizzy’s compensation. But there’s no need to compensate with money or clothes.” [GalaxyTL/Axiomatic]

“T-Then with what…”

“Why bother looking for something far away? We can just consider this settled with this here.”

“…Pardon?”

 

With those words, I held up the silver dagger I received from her.

Pointing my finger at the clean silver blade with its edge sharpened, I asked.

 

“The compensation for the dress, let’s consider it settled with this…”

“Eek…”

 

The young lady of the August family, her expression darkening to the point of turning pale.

She suddenly closed her eyes and seemed to be about to scream something.

But fortunately, the incident of me being misunderstood due to her scream didn’t occur.

 

Bang!

 

“T-The southern gate of the palace has been breached. Everyone, prepare for defense!”

“Aah! W-What is this?!”

“Kyaaaaah! M-Monsters!!”

 

The monsters suddenly barged into the shelter, and the noble children and soldiers began to react in a commotion.

Due to that chaos, Lizzy’s scream was buried in the uproar.

 

“M-Monsters…?!”

 

Perhaps due to the chaotic situation, the young lady of August, who had been screaming, belatedly assessed the situation and looked around. 

I pushed her into the corner of the wall and gripped the dagger, taking a stance.

 

“Miss Lizzy, stay there and don’t move.”

“Y-Yes?!”

“If you happen to run off somewhere else, I really might not be able to protect you then.”

 

This is my first time fighting while protecting someone.

…Well, I am Lilith, so it’ll work out somehow.