Chapter 112.2: Princess and Knight

Rishe glanced back at Arnold while they were speaking.

Arnold was standing silently with his arms crossed behind Rishe, giving off the vibe that he was not at all interested and found things troublesome.

“Your Highness, would it be possible for some of our knight guards to protect Harriet for a little while?”

“…That’s the only way out. Oliver.”

“Got it. Then I’ll assign staff right away…”

“Ah, um, um…”

Harriet tried desperately to speak, her voice wet with tears.

“My apologies. Thank you for your concern, but that’s not going to work…”

“Harriet-sama?”

“M-Moreover, my fiancé has been very strict with me.”

The “fiancé” she was referring to was the king of Fabrania.

“What did the King tell you?”

“Well, that… I wasn’t allowed to let a man other than my husband around me!!”

That instruction certainly wasn’t strange.

“And so, I can’t take advantage of your kindness… I’m sorry, I’m sorry…hu-hu…”

She apologized repeatedly in a muffled voice.

Harriet, who looked completely crestfallen, muttered so quietly that it was unlikely for anyone around her to hear clearly.

“Hee, I want to stay indoors…”

Oh, this is no good.

This was totally the ramblings of someone who was on the edge.

I wondered what was going on when she suddenly plopped down on her knees upon meeting me. She assumed that the loss of her own guards would cause trouble for Garkhain.

Harriet’s concerns were correct. Oliver, looking troubled, whispered to Arnold.

“What do we do now, My Lord?”

“There’s no other choice. We can’t let a guest from another country stay here without an escort.”

“…”

Rishe got up from her chair and walked beside Arnold.

“But there are no female knights in Garkhain.”

“There are fewer such countries in existence. Only a few in the western continent have them to begin with…”

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“…”

She stared up at Arnold right next to her as he talked with Oliver.

“…”

“…”

Arnold made eye contact with Rishe once, and then returned his gaze to Oliver as if it had never happened.

“…For example, suppose you hit up some mercenaries and found a woman who is miraculously skilled. I’d certainly not trust that person enough to put her beside the princess of another country.”

“Your Highness.”

“There is no way that you can immediately arrange a person with a certain level of competence as a bodyguard, whose identity can be reliably trusted, and whose manners are up to standard…”

“Your Highness Arnold.”

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Rishe tugged Arnold’s sleeve.

“…”

After pausing for several seconds, Arnold sighed heavily and looked at Rishe as if he had given up.

“What?”

It was not like Arnold to ask again when he knew what Rishe was going to say.

With that in mind, Rishe responded with a small “yes” and a raised hand.

“I’ll be Harriet-sama’s bodyguard.”

“Rishe-sama?!”

Contrary to Oliver’s alarm, Arnold held his forehead and looked down. It was as if he was saying he has had a bad feeling about it.

“Your Highness, do you have any complaints about my etiquette?”

“…No.”

“Are you suspicious of my identity?”

“Of course not.”

She smiled at Arnold, who replied bitterly.

“Then, what about my sword skills?”

“…”

There should be no other suitable person in this situation than Rishe.

Even though Rishe was the fiancée of the crown prince, her status was only that of a duke’s daughter of a weak country.

It was not uncommon for a duke’s daughter to be chosen as a lady-in-waiting for a princess. With that in mind, working as a guard for a limited time was not that strange.

However, it seemed that only Rishe thought so.

“You just want to do it, don’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“And what are you planning to do about it?”

“What reason do you have to object, Your Highness? If something happens to Princess Harriet without an escort, it will be in no small part the responsibility of Garkhain’s side, right?”

For that matter, Harriet’s escort situation is irrelevant. Even Arnold would want to avoid such trouble.

“It is true that I am no match for Your Highness and the knight guards. But even so, as an escort, I should be able to be of some use to you.”

“That’s not where the issue is.”

Arnold looked frankly into Rishe’s eyes.

He put his lips to Rishe’s ear and whispered in a low voice, “You are the one person I need to protect above all else.”

“…!!”

Rishe felt like her eardrums were numbed by his declaration.

He’s definitely working on some sort of motive!

She hurriedly took a step back and held back the urge to argue.

“Well, rather than protecting me, I’d be happier if you could trust me that most enemies can’t defeat me!”

“I’m not saying I don’t trust you. ―― I do trust your courage and your skill with a sword.”

After the bitter words, Arnold sighed again.

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“I’d like to ask you what you’re up to, though.”

“Of course, that’s a secret.”

“I know…Can you give us a moment, please?”

“!”

Rishe was happy and pleased at the conclusion that had been reached.

“Leave it to me, Your Highness.”

She smiled and was about to go to Harriet when Arnold grabbed her by the arm.

“Gya!?”

“But remember.”

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Arnold quietly spelled out his words, as if to inscribe them.

“Most enemies can’t defeat you…Knowing that, you’re my protector.”

“O-Okay, I understand…”

Her heart was about to burst, so she needed some reprieve.

Rishe headed toward Harriet while curbing the burning on her cheeks.

She sat down on the chair, turned around, and called out to Harriet, who was crying uncontrollably.

“Thank you for your patience, Harriet-sama.”

Rishe then knelt down in front of her.

“…? Ah, um…”

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This reminds me of my life as a knight.

She straightened her back and took Harriet’s slender hand.

Unlike in the past, when she was dressed as a man, she would not have held her hand gently.

She wanted to reassure her with a smile, even if it was metaphorical.

“Please don’t cry anymore. I’ll get rid of all the bad luck that comes your way.”

“Ha-ha-he…”

In accordance with the chivalrous spirit that has been instilled in her, she vowed to the lady in front.

“I will protect you… Rest assured, Princess, okay?”

“~~~~ !?”

At that moment, Harriet, whose eyes were hidden by her bangs, suddenly turned red.