Chapter 52

Well, I should probably apologize first.

Yeah. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll apologize!

That’s right, apologize...

But then, I suddenly realized.

If I apologize, then, given my position, Clive has no choice but to forgive me, right? It would only be a superficial solution...

Besides, I’m not quite sure what Clive is angry about...

—Assuming the target is me.

The most likely reason is probably that order of mine, which felt like a sneak attack. Or could it be the fact that I injured myself? This injury? That I used Clive’s dagger for self-harm?

I think it’s one of these. Maybe all of them...

If it’s something else that I haven’t noticed, I’m at a loss.

I should know the exact point of Clive’s anger.

For my own sake, to avoid making the same mistake in the future!

After saying, “I am terribly angry,” I looked at my left hand, which had been bandaged. I began the effort to slowly raise my gaze. No, because I don’t have the courage to keep looking at Clive’s angry face; I’ll probably look away soon!

I’ll gather my courage. Courage!

First, I’ll confirm the target!

“—Is Clive ambidextrous?”

But what came out of my mouth was this.

I managed to raise my face a little, but I ended up running away! This isn’t the flow of the conversation. It’s not! The question itself was something I had been curious about after seeing the battle just now!

“...No. I am right-handed. I can use both, but I choose based on the purpose.”

A normal answer came back. I couldn’t read Clive’s emotions at all.

“...I see.”

Okay, now that it’s come to this, I’ll continue the conversation and try to get to the main topic as naturally as possible.

“Are you better with your left hand for swords?”

“I’m more familiar with weapons in general with my right hand.”

“More familiar?”

“I tend to forget to hold back during battles.”

...Holding back. I was the one who ordered, “Capture them alive,” to ensure they were taken alive.

The battle between the ‘Servant’ and Clive just now.

Perhaps...

“Was letting go of the sword intentional?”

“In the case of switching hands, I might have inflicted a fatal wound with my own sword.”

Clive answered calmly.

So, he judged that using his dominant left hand would be better against the ‘Servant,’ but to carry out my order, he switched to an unfamiliar weapon, a sword that wasn’t his own... right?

During the intense battle, Clive was incredibly calm.

...Is he still like that now?

Even if I can’t sense anger from his voice or his calm appearance, he said he was terribly angry, so it must be true.

“—You’re angry at me, right?”

I gathered my courage, raised my face, and asked.

I met his deep, dark blue eyes.

“...At both Your Highness and me.”

Clive, too?

Clive’s gaze briefly fell on Sir Sil, who was unconscious.

“Is Sir Sil important to you, Your Highness?”

“...Yes. He might become part of my future family.”

Of course, it’s not just that.

Sir Sil is the protagonist of ‘The Virtuous King,’ a novel I read with great interest in my previous life. I know this isn’t exactly the world of the novel... the world isn’t like that, and the people living in it aren’t either.

But Sir Sil’s personality and appearance are just as I imagined.

Even with the potential problems I might face as Octavia, after actually meeting and talking to him, I can’t dislike him, and I don’t want to be disliked either.

“I don’t want you to get unnecessary injuries.”

“Do you care about Sir Sil’s injuries but not your own?”

“...It’s not like that. I did what was necessary.”

Because, when it came down to it, in that situation, it was best for me to show some blood to bring Sir Sil back to his senses! Reflecting on it, that was the right decision.

Yes. I’m certain!

“In that case, you should have given me the order.”

“I did give the order, didn’t I?”

“No. You ordered me to capture the ‘Servant’ alive, just as you ordered me to capture Sir Sil. There was no need for you to bleed.”

...

I felt like slapping my forehead.

S, So it is.

The confidence I had built up crumbled like a piece of paper and flew away.

If I had given the order to capture the awakened Sir Sil unharmed or to knock him out without injury...?

Yes. Clive, who subdued the ‘Servant,’ would have done it perfectly.

I didn’t even think in that direction...! My mind was filled with the idea that if Sir Sil was seen as an enemy by Clive, I just needed to bring him back to normal...

“Even if I protect you, it’s meaningless if you injure yourself.”

Ugh...

“I am angry that you were injured, even if it was by your own actions, while I was nearby.”

Clive’s deep blue eyes turned to my left hand, which he had bandaged. The white fabric was stained with blood from the wound.

“I am terribly angry with myself for not being able to stop it.”

“...That’s why I gave the order.”

To ensure that nothing would interfere with my actions.

Clive was included in that. That’s why I was a bit surprised when he grabbed my right wrist after I cut my palm.

“Still...”

Clive said quietly.

“...Is that what it means to be a ‘Servant’?”

Clive’s face showed a rare look of being caught off guard.

“Perhaps it is.”

After a moment, he answered. His eyes were lowered as if in thought— and at that angle, I saw something on Clive’s neck.

A large scar was visible on the left side, near the back of his neck.

Without thinking, my body moved.

I reached out my right hand toward Clive. Of course, Clive immediately noticed and looked at me. The scar was hidden by his collar.

I stopped my hand just before it touched his neck.

“You’re injured.”

“...It’s an old scar. It has nothing to do with the battle here.”

The wound, which looked like a vertical slash, didn’t seem to be bleeding, I think. The fabric of the collar was intact and white. But...

“Really?”

“If you doubt it, you can check.”

Clive tilted his head.

The scar reappeared. I touched it with my fingertips. ...It’s closed. It’s a healed wound.

But it was a deep scar, one that looked like it had just been inflicted at first glance. The white clothes he wore had a shallower collar than the uniform of the guard knights, so part of the scar was visible when Clive moved.

“...Does it hurt?”

“No. It’s just a prominent scar.”

...I’m relieved. Because if it was an injury from the battle just now, it would have been much worse than the cut on my palm...

“...”

“...Your Highness?”

Ah, I see.

“I, as a princess, can be selfish.”

Clive’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as he looked up at me.

“You’re angry when I get injured, but I feel the same way.”

“...The same?”

“If you get injured while protecting me, I would be very angry. Terribly angry.”

“...”

“That’s why, my guard knight must not only protect me but also remain unharmed. Always.”

“...I am not injured.”

“Yes, but you must have been injured before, right?”

The scar I was touching was a bad one.

“Clive. If you serve me, I won’t allow any more injuries.”

I know I’m being unreasonable and making impossible demands. It feels like I’m acting like a queen.

When I tried to put into words what I realized, it came out like this.

I was able to be calm because Clive was unharmed.

Guard knights are often replaced, but they haven’t been injured during their duties. The only time I’ve seen them fight was with Clive and my first love, Gray.

—This has just been a coincidence until now.

“...Even the ‘Master’ doesn’t want the ‘Servant’ to get hurt.”

Clive didn’t say anything.

And I, who had rambled on, calmed down. Well, I was somewhat calm, but I should have gathered my thoughts before speaking...!

And the order? The main reason Clive was angry was because of my actions, and I was trying to apologize...

Cold sweat started to pour down my back.

Well, let’s start by pulling my hand back, shall we?

As I tried to move my right hand, which was touching my neck, Clive grabbed it from above. But he didn’t apply any force. I could shake it off if I wanted to.

“...Your order to me not to get injured.”

Clive’s lips touched the back of my hand once, just like before, and then pulled away.

Heat ran through me, and the intricate pattern appeared. ...It’s the ‘Mark.’

It was more vivid than the last time I saw it two days ago.

Clive’s eyes widened slightly when he saw the ‘Mark.’

Then, a small smile formed on his lips. It was a mysterious smile.

“This is my response, as proof.”

The response to my unreasonable demand, right? To protect me and remain unharmed yourself!

‘Mark’—this floating pattern is proof?

As I was about to call out to Clive,

“Even if you used Sir Sil as bait, there were other ways, weren’t there?”

Derek’s loud voice echoed through the ‘Room of Air,’ and I remembered where I was.

I pulled back my right hand. The pattern on the back of my hand disappeared at the same time.

Why did it stay for longer this time when it usually disappears instantly?

Besides, even though our voices were quieter because we were standing close to each other, we were talking about ‘Master’ and ‘Servant’ in reference to Clive and me...! Careless.

I quickly looked around the ‘Room of Air.’

The room itself had been secured, and the cleanup was underway. The troublemakers were being arrested by soldiers. The two ‘Servants’—one was unconscious—were being restrained more strictly.

The area was secure. Well done, Uncle!

“Octavia’s decision to act was unexpected by my father as well. If not, what were your plans for Sir Sil’s safety?”

From where Clive and I were standing, with the unconscious Sir Sil, Uncle was standing near the entrance, but he had moved to the middle of the ‘Room of Air,’ next to the fallen ‘Servant.’ Derek, facing Uncle, asked strongly.

“If you’re going to criticize, why don’t you check on Sir Sil first?”

“I know he’s fine. He’s just unconscious. ...I saw it.”

“Even so, as a friend, you should be worried enough to run over.”

“Unfortunately, I am your son.”

Is this getting a bit too intense?

“Duke Nightfellow, Lord Derek!”

I called out to them, raising my voice.

I stood up and greeted Uncle and Derek, who came to me.

Derek, who looked very different from the nobleman I danced with, was covered in red and black. He seemed fine, but... is it blood from the fight? I couldn’t help but ask.

“...Are you injured?”

“Thank you for your concern. I’m fine.”

True to his father, the duke’s son. He wore a nobleman’s smile. ...Even though he was covered in blood.

“In terms of injuries, you, Octavia, are worse. And Sir Sil...”

His expression turned serious as he trailed off.

He’s probably thinking about the abnormality of the awakened Sir Sil and what will happen when he returns to normal.

“—Lord Derek. Sir Sil...”

Sir Sil shows no signs of waking up. I wiped the blood from his face, but he can’t stay in the ‘Room of Air.’ I think it’s better to lay him down somewhere else.

Right now, if I have to entrust Sir Sil to someone, it can only be Derek!

Derek exhaled and nodded.

“Yes, I will. Understood, Octavia.”

“Thank you.”

He put one of Sir Sil’s arms over his shoulder and turned to Uncle.

“Father. We can talk later. But I’m borrowing this one. Is that fine? Or is he still needed?”

“It’s fine.”

Derek indicated a red-haired young man standing a bit away from Uncle. The young man protested.

“Hey, Lord and Lord Derek. Both of you, ignoring me and discussing my loan... Shouldn’t I be allowed to greet Octavia here?”

The red-haired young man’s tone was light. Is this the same person I talked to at the banquet?

Derek gave him a terribly cold look.

“...Why is it like this. Stop making excuses and come here.”

“Ah, bad feeling. Lord Derek, you’re going to make me say things I didn’t do, right?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Only the things you did.”

“Then I’ll say them. When Sir Sil wakes up, I’ll introduce myself to him again.”

“...Sir Sil?”

Sir Sil?

My temples twitched in sync with Derek’s and my inner thoughts. Because it’s Sir Sil! The red-haired young man... is not just anyone!

—My head hurts.

The sentence is wrong, but the wrong expression fits the look on Derek’s face as he sighed deeply. He called out to the red-haired young man once and started walking with Sir Sil. Several soldiers rushed to help Derek.

Sir Sil is safe now.

I was relieved, and Uncle’s calm voice enveloped me.

“Your Highness, there are things you should discuss, but let the doctor treat your hand first. We need to return to the ballroom. I’ll escort you.”

Normally, I would jump at Uncle’s offer.

But if it’s serious treatment, I have to leave this ‘Room of Air.’

“Wait. Duke Nightfellow—no, Uncle.”

I’m calling him Uncle in my heart, so let’s just call him Uncle!

I called out to Uncle to stop him.

“If we need to talk, let’s do it here.”

“...I don’t think it’s wise to linger in such a place.”

“Uncle, there’s something that’s bothering me.”

I took a step in the opposite direction of the entrance and froze.

The beautiful ‘Room of Air’ had become such a place.

Even though it was secure, the traces of the battle remained. People were lying around, the smell of blood lingered, and red stains and weapons were scattered on the floor.

It was a scene that made me hesitate to walk through carelessly.

Well, the shoes are inevitable, but if I lift the skirt of my dress, I can manage!

“—Excuse me.”

My gaze wavered.

As I said my apology, my body was lifted. Clive’s hands were placed on my back and the back of my