Chapter 81 - Adoration

My dad became more overprotective than ever. When I glanced behind me, the knights who were tailing me pretended to be doing something else. “Luci, they’re following us, right?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Can’t you send them away?” Luciana shook her head. If this continued, I wouldn’t be able to go where I wanted! I pouted and crossed my arms, just as Luciana told me something that drove me crazy, “Sir Callian told me that His Majesty will appoint a guardian knight for you.”

“A guardian knight?” Another one? I understood that he wanted to keep me safe, but at this point, they were nothing but a bother. “But Luci, when did you get so close to Callian?” I asked pointedly. Luci deliberately avoided my gaze. This was suspicious; something was going on! 

“When did the two of you become so close, hm? Tell me.”

“It’s not that we’re close…”

“Well then, what is it?” My eyes sparkled at the idea of romance, and Luciana had no choice but to tell me, “We only spoke a few times when he asked me how to become prettier.”

“What? Callian’s going too far…” I was shocked. Callian was actually trying to be prettier? He was already good-looking, but he wasn’t satisfied with himself. I wondered what he’d look like if he became even more attractive. 

“The weather’s nice today.” The palace was quiet, and I couldn’t see any young ladies in the garden. The reason for this was simple: after the incident, they were unable to enter the palace. “Luci, for how long are they restricted from entering?” 

“For the foreseeable future.”

“Really?” I didn’t know if the nobles were upset by this turn of events, but I was happy. It was possible that the assassination attempt wouldn’t happen. I giggled slightly but tilted my head when I sensed someone looking at me. 

“Luci, there aren’t any ladies here today, right?”

“No, there aren’t. Is something the matter?”

“Really? Maybe I’m being paranoid…” I replied, even though I still felt like someone was watching me. I thought I saw a shuffle in the bushes next to me. Were my eyes playing tricks on me? 

***

Kais passed the test. I was confident that he would, but you never know! “Congratulations! You worked hard!” I exclaimed as Kais appeared before me, all battered up. I sniffled when I saw his cuts and bruises, “Are you in a lot of pain?”

“I’m fine,” Kais responded nonchalantly. What did he have to go through to end up in such a state? “I hadn’t told you before, but Berrict is a wonderful person. He’s good at sword fighting and shooting guns, and he’s good at strategy too. You’ll learn a lot from him,” I informed Kais. Berrict was one of the few who had a good personality in the novel.

“He’s amazing as one of the emperor’s four knights, but in the past, he had also been a hero who fought the beasts in the northern bases!” And to top it all off, he was also an attractive middle-aged man. “So…” I stroked Kais’s face, and the light flowing from my fingers instantly healed his injuries, “He’ll be a good influence on you.”

It was much better to have someone to depend on than to deal with everything alone. Kais opened his mouth to say something, then thought better of it. Not sure how to respond to my smile, he blushed and looked at my hand. “Is it okay to waste your power on a small thing like this?” he asked.

“I’m strong, so I can use it however I want,” I replied. And besides, it wasn’t a waste to me. “What do you think? Do you feel honored?” His face froze, and his arms and legs, which had been covered in bruises, looked like they had never been injured. Kais gazed at his clean arm and then at me. “Why’re you helping me?” 

“Hm?” I tilted my head at his question, and Kais made a face. “… Nevermind, it’s nothing,” Kais went silent. He was acting weird. I could tell what he was thinking behind those deep eyes. ‘He’s probably thinking that it’s stupid to ask such questions.’ He was building a higher and higher wall around himself. I held onto his arm before his wall could harden.

“Why did you stop talking?” He was silent. “I know you wanna say something. Just say it; I’ll listen,” I pouted, and the look on his face changed. At long last, he opened his mouth, “Why’re you being so kind?”

“Because I want to.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

“It’s true, though.” Kais looked at me in disbelief, “You’re weird.” His tone sounded resolute. 

“What’s weird about me?”

“What’s your motive for being so nice to me? Don’t you want something from me?”

“What’re you talking about? We made a deal, remember?” 

“Do you take me for an idiot? I couldn’t prove my worth, but you still gave me chances. Why?” I was in an awkward position. He was infuriatingly smart. He should have just accepted everything I gave him without question.