Chapter 17

As cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

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My body had not forgotten the steps. I moved in time with the music, just as I should. Clifford, too—though not as skilled as my brother or Alex, his technique was above average. Since becoming the adopted son of the earl's family, he had learned the steps with a crash course, but he was surprisingly good. His physical abilities must have played a role; his movements were steady.

However, he wasn't entirely faithful to the basics. Sometimes, he would improvise. ...Especially during complicated steps, he would casually skip them to match the music.

It's not a competition, so no one is grading our dancing. As long as the form is there, it's fine. Still, it took quite a bit of nerve. But thanks to that, the tension I had been feeling eased up. Instead of aiming to avoid mistakes, I decided to focus on recovering from them if they happened.

The most important thing is to enjoy the dance!

And a few minutes later.

I was gaining confidence.

Yes. Without stepping on Clifford's feet or making any major mistakes, things were going smoothly.

I can dance! If this keeps up, I might be able to do it in the real performance!

"......"

"......"

Relieved, I faced a new problem.

When I was focused on whether I could dance properly, I hadn't noticed it.

Clifford's face was close to mine. This proximity was making my heart race.

Moreover, he was someone who could easily fall in love with someone and might have already quit his job as a knight. He was that talented. And he was incredibly handsome.

And I had been dancing with him for a few minutes without any issues!

Of course, as a dance partner, it's natural, but the unease I felt was different from the sense of security I had with Alex!

During the dance, I should try to look at my partner as much as possible.

I had learned that, but I couldn't bear to maintain eye contact, so I subtly averted my gaze—

"Your Highness?"

Clifford's beautiful voice hit me directly.

If I kept looking in a different direction unnaturally, it would be strange in terms of dance etiquette... I returned my gaze to Clifford's face.

Talk! Let's make small talk! That will distract me!

The court waltz is long... The performance time is well over ten minutes. From the melody, I could tell that we had been dancing for about three minutes, and a difficult step was coming up! I needed to prepare myself!

In the actual performance, there would be partner changes. Of course, if I wanted to dance with one person continuously, that was an option.

But here, it was only Clifford.

Moreover, Clifford never took his eyes off me.

It felt like he was trying not to miss a single movement.

Is there something on my face? There isn't, right?

Damn...

I, I shouldn't be thinking about it.

From experience, every knight who serves as a guard eventually ends up with another man, Octavia...! Clifford promised to serve me, but that doesn't mean he won't get involved with a man.

I shouldn't think of him as a potential romantic interest or get excited. A guard is off-limits. Off-limits... Falling for someone who is almost guaranteed to break my heart is the most foolish thing I could do!

"Your backup weapon is a dagger, but are you still skilled with a sword?"

We had been talking about weapons right before we started dancing, so I continued the conversation to avoid getting excited! I tried to suppress my rising excitement!

Clifford blinked. He lowered his eyes. It seemed like he was thinking deeply. I was relieved when his gaze moved away. If Clifford glared at me with hostility, it would probably shorten my lifespan, but since he's on my side, it's fine.

"I can handle a variety of weapons, but..."

I see. A versatile type.

"My specialty is the sword. The weapon I'm most comfortable with is the spear."

"Spear..."

I spun once. The dress billowed with the movement.

Then, I returned to Clifford's arms.

After this, the melody would slow down, providing a brief respite for the dancers.

"Yes. The spear can thrust, pierce, and throw, allowing you to take down enemies without getting too close, which is useful in chaotic battles. Swinging it is also effective. However, it's not suitable for everyday equipment, especially for protecting Your Highness."

"True, I see."

With a spear... would it be carried on the back? It's longer than a sword and would be cumbersome in everyday life.

"However, on the battlefield, it's ideal to carry both a sword and a spear. In my case, at least."

It seems like he has real combat experience. Was he noticed by the Earl of Alderton on the battlefield? Did my father learn about Clifford's existence through that?

As I thought about it, our steps brought us even closer.

"What's wrong?"

We were so close that our breaths mingled. Our voices were only audible to each other. My reflection was in his blue eyes, which meant my eyes must have reflected him, too.

"I was thinking about you."

"About me?"

"About why my father... the king is concerned about you. Have you spoken to the king before last night?"

This time, I was the one trying not to miss a single movement of Clifford's. But he didn't seem particularly flustered and met my gaze steadily.

"The king approached me to take on the role of your guard. ...He seemed worried about you."

"My father, worried?"

"Perhaps because he chose someone like me as your guard? The king loves you."

I probably looked skeptical.

My father loves me...? Even as family, we aren't related by blood, and we hardly interact. Is there really a bond of love between us? I doubt it.

"I don't need your concern, Clifford."

I shook my head. I don't think he dislikes me, but he doesn't particularly like me either. I'm not worried about or loved as a daughter.

"Concern...?"

Clifford's eyes widened slightly, and he chuckled. His throat vibrated with amusement.

The brief respite in the dance ended, and we moved into a more challenging section of the court dance, which required skill. The spacious practice room allowed for free movement, and it was enjoyable when we danced well.

We stepped and spun together.

"Is there something to laugh about?"

"I apologize. The word 'concern' seemed so far from me that I was surprised to hear it from you..."

"Is it not fitting for you?"

"At the very least, anyone who knows me would be skeptical."

Clifford smiled thinly, revealing a wild side.

"Knowing you... as a 'servant'?"

"Yes. The residents of Ongarnu, who know me as a 'servant'... Your Highness, a 'servant' never lies to their 'master'."

I was taken aback.

"...I'm sorry. It was my fault."

I exhaled.

I had decided not to let it bother me, but the interaction with my father and the mention of poison had influenced me. Clifford had said that he was the only living person who knew he was a 'servant', yet I had asked a suspicious question.

"I lacked the awareness of being a 'master'. ...Clifford, what kind of 'master' do you wish me to be?"

'Master' and 'servant'.

Comparing myself to Clifford, I feel like the 'servant' is too high-spec! I need to become a better 'master' to avoid disappointing him.

"Then, as a 'master', do you have any orders for me?"

Orders?

I meant to ask if he had any requests for me, but it came out as a curveball.

As I hesitated, Clifford's eyes darkened.

"As a 'servant', you have no orders for me, Your Highness?"

His gaze was different from his usual sharp one, and it almost made my heart flutter. Oh, that was close...! I quickly tightened the reins on my emotions.

"---Do I need to give any special orders as a 'master'?"

"No. However, fulfilling a 'master's' wishes is a joy for a 'servant'. If it's possible, of course."

I see. But being asked to give an order right away is tough... What kind of 'master'-like order can I give...

Ah, maybe something like this would work.

"If—"

A thought suddenly came to mind.

"If I ever shed tears, I want you to hide it from others."

Because, in the future, I might shed tears of regret... or I might!

It could be related to my brother or my search for a lover! I might clutch a handkerchief and cry out!

And the person most likely to witness it would be Clifford, who is always with me as my guard! He would be the perfect person to cover for me. If it happens, I want you to hide it for me as a 'servant'!

I want to cry my heart out in private! And I don't want anyone to see me when I'm vulnerable! But my tear ducts might act up anywhere, not just in my room. Sometimes, I can't hold back my tears. While it's best not to cry, it's not always possible.

"......"

"Clifford?"

The challenging part of the dance was almost over. We reached out with one hand and briefly separated. As I was pulled back, Clifford whispered.

"Your Highness, you are full of surprises."

I'm not that hard to read, am I? I always live true to my heart. I've learned a few tricks to hide my feelings as a princess, but I aim to be straightforward!

"Do you think I would give you unreasonable orders just because you're a 'servant'?"

That would be unfair, Clifford! I use my royal authority to the fullest when necessary... but only occasionally! I don't bully my subjects without reason!

"Not that, but—your order was quite charming for a 'master' to give to a 'servant'."

"Charming for a 'master' to give to a 'servant'?"

That made me realize something.

When he asked if I had any orders, was he actually checking what kind of orders I would give? The way his eyes darkened, was it a subtle way to test me?

"---Clifford, why did you want my orders?"

"Between a 'master' and a 'servant', the orders a 'master' gives to a 'servant' are the shortest path to understanding each other. I believe it's necessary for us. A single order can carry more weight than thousands of words."

Of course! It was a 'master' check!

"---I see. Did you understand?"

My heart was pounding, but I tried to keep a calm face.

"I understand that you are a 'master' who defies expectations. I will follow your orders carefully."

The order itself is effective, right? I passed the 'master' check?

"Will you promise? When I cry—"

Clifford smiled wryly.

"There's no need for a promise. My 'master'. I will hide it for you. That is your order, is it not?"

"It's an order."

I nodded.

But if I have to give other orders as a 'master', I need to be careful. The weight of a 'master's' orders to a 'servant' is heavier than I imagined.

And—'servants' don't lie to their 'masters'.

This is a new fact.

Even if my father loves me, it's not out of concern for me but out of genuine feeling. Whether this is true or not is another matter, but there must be a reason for him to think so. Or maybe Clifford's values regarding love are different?

As I was about to ask, I noticed Clifford's gaze was directed outside the practice room—towards the hallway. He stopped, and I followed suit.

But the court waltz was still playing. It hadn't ended yet.

"Your Highness, behind me."

Clifford shielded me with his back. He had his dagger ready, hidden in his sleeve.

Then, the practice room door burst open.

"Excuse me!"

It was a young man's voice. He seemed to have been running, as he was slightly out of breath. From my position, I could only see Clifford's back, so I couldn't see his face.

"I have a message from Prince Alexis! I heard that Princess Octavia was here—ah! O!"

Ah? O?

I don't see anything in the practice room that would cause a scream...

Clifford shifted to the side without drawing his dagger. It seemed safe. —But I hadn't heard any footsteps. Clifford must have sensed someone coming and was on guard as a precaution.

I saw the intruder in the practice room.

I recognized his face—no, I did.

He was the soldier who had been Alex's training partner at the training ground and later chatted with his colleagues.

The soldier paled when he saw Clifford.

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