Chapter 8

The group set off after a while.

Since I couldn't wait for my recovery to take its time, and I still couldn't walk, I was allowed to sit in the cart. At that time, the young knight Wentworth carried me princess-style, which was quite embarrassing...

Even if it was just the two of us, I felt my heart racing and shortness of breath, and I wanted some medicine. But being seen by Reggie, Alan, and the other knights made it hard to settle down.

However, when I was lifted, I realized why my legs weren't moving properly. They were completely numb.

Thanks to that, even when my calves were supported, it felt strange, as if my feet were floating without being touched.

Actually, I was offered to ride in the same carriage as Alan and the others because I was a girl, but I declined.

I was treated like a commoner, and I thought it would be impossible to ride with the young master of the house I served.

But I was worried that if they were putting me in the cart because there was something in the cart I shouldn't touch, so I offered to be tied to someone's horse, but Reggie laughed again.

Reggie really laughs a lot. Is he a laughaholic? I pray his abs don't get sore.

"Still, who could it be..."

In the game that came to mind, was there someone like Reggie?

I only remember the broad strokes and the main battles and quests, so even though it feels familiar, I can't recall it.

But since he's so close to the protagonist, he must be in the game, right?

"Maybe it's because in the battle simulation, there's no role for a retainer?"

That makes sense. The game, after all, is very focused on battles. There are simple conversations and animations for minor scenes, but otherwise, it's all about fighting. I even skipped story scenes thinking, "We're just going to fight anyway, right?"

"But there were also princesses from the collateral royal family who didn't participate in battles, right? Maybe... they appeared in the background of some scene without any lines."

Thinking about that possibility, I moved my legs a little.

Actually, I had the boxes in the cart moved a bit, and I was sitting on a cushion placed on a box at just the right height.

Really, the people of the Evrard March are all so gentlemanly, I could cry...

I might not be able to sleep with my legs pointing in a certain direction.

Even in that state, at first, my legs were so weak that I almost fell out of the cart every time it jolted, but after about an hour, I finally managed to brace myself with my feet.

As my legs started to move freely, I felt grateful and couldn't help but move them.

"Still, I'm glad I ran away."

Hearing about the sleeping potion, I felt that my decision was right.

If I hadn't run away, I might have been collected by someone who came saying, "I'm from the family," after fainting... I don't want to think about what would have happened next. Even if I was supposed to serve at the palace, I could have ended up as an older man's plaything for a while.

"Oh, that's why..."

In the game, Kiara, as an antagonist, follows the queen's orders and hinders the protagonist.

If I had gone through that, I would have fallen into a deep mental despair.

When I was desperate and couldn't run away, going to the queen would have freed me from my suffering. Moreover, if I stayed by the queen's side, I wouldn't have to return to my fiancé's house. I can understand why Kiara would become dependent on the queen.

Maybe she even learned to use magic to stay by the queen's side.

If that's the case, I can understand why Kiara in the game would go to the battlefield for the queen.

...Moreover, it's possible that Count Patricier manipulated Kiara to get close to the queen, which made me shudder when I thought of his face.

While I was lost in thought, it was noon.

I was given a piece of bread with grilled meat and took a bite. It was a bit dry, but I washed it down with water and took a breath. Then Reggie came into my field of vision.

Reggie was beckoning from a little distance away.

The other knights were watching but didn't say anything.

Wondering what he wanted, I walked over to him and was led into a grove of trees.

Was there a secret to be told? I tilted my head, and Reggie stopped in front of me and smiled.

"Can I see your legs?"

"Eh, eh!?"

Why do you want to see my legs!?

In this world, girls over ten years old aren't supposed to show anything above their ankles, and if they're seen, they're scolded for being indecent. The only situation where someone would ask to see your legs would be for something inappropriate.

Huh... Could Reggie, with his gentle face, be some kind of pervert?

Scared, I took a step back.

I have some knowledge about relationships, but my memories from my previous life only go up to when I was fourteen. I have no experience with such things, so I couldn't calmly accept it.

And according to my previous life's knowledge, it's okay to push away and run from someone inappropriate, but in this world with strict social hierarchies, is it okay to hit Reggie, who is close to the young master?

As a result, I took another step back, and then another. But Reggie closed the distance each time.

After a few steps back, I hit a tree and couldn't escape. Reggie put his hands on either side of me.

Seeing that, I was reminded of a railroad crossing. The sound of "The train is coming" echoed in my mind.

Realizing I couldn't escape, my body started to shake.

Then Reggie smiled and whispered,

"A knife and a bottle, maybe?"

Hearing his words, I was startled.

I still had a knife and a vial of poison on my legs. I had forgotten about them because my legs were numb until just now.

The bulky petticoat under my skirt must have hidden them from the others, but Reggie noticed and was trying to take them away to protect his master, Alan.

"Wentworth and the others will make things more complicated if they find out."

From his next words, I knew my guess was correct.

Moreover, Reggie seemed to be offering to let me off if I handed over the weapons quietly.

He probably wanted me to show my legs to prove I had no ill intentions.

Realizing this, my face turned red with embarrassment.

I had completely misunderstood. I felt incredibly foolish.

Why did I think it was something inappropriate? I must have been overthinking it! I wasn't the type to be propositioned like that.

Feeling ashamed, I told him in a tiny voice,

"Um, I'll give them to you later..."

Considering the future, I needed Reggie to understand that I wasn't an enemy. So I offered to hand over the weapons, but not right away.

I didn't want to lift my skirt in front of him, but he said something unexpected.

"Take them off here?"

"..."

Surprised, I looked up at him, and Reggie repeated with a gentle smile,

"I want you to take them off in front of me. I need to confirm that these are all the weapons. It's more considerate than me forcibly taking them, right?"

"U-um..."

Reggie's words made sense.

It's hard to believe someone you just met when they say they have nothing to hide.

I wanted to do as he said, but lifting my skirt in front of him felt like some kind of humiliation.

But I thought I should do as he said and tried to change my mindset, influenced by my current world's customs.

I was wearing drawers that went to my calves under my skirt, and the leather belt was attached over them.

By my previous life's standards, it was like wearing jogging pants under a skirt. It wouldn't show my body shape, and I wouldn't be exposing my bare skin.

That's right, in my previous life, I walked around in short shorts that exposed my thighs! In pools and at the beach, I wore swimsuits that were almost like underwear.

...Okay, I'm not feeling as embarrassed anymore.

Still, out of the last bit of shame, I turned away and told Reggie,

"J-Just wait a moment."

Seeming to understand that I would comply, Reggie stepped back and released his hands.

Relieved, I tried to remove the leather belt from my thighs as much as possible without being seen by Reggie.

Because I had to lift my skirt, my calves were probably visible to Reggie, but I managed to keep my thighs covered.

I quickly straightened my skirt and handed the leather belt to Reggie.

He didn't ask for further confirmation. ...Maybe he had already checked that I wasn't carrying anything else.

Does that mean he looked everywhere!?

Trying to suppress my embarrassment, I was about to scream when Reggie asked,

"Why do you have these? I understand being cautious when walking alone, but noble girls don't usually carry such things, right?"

"Well... My adoptive father, Count Patricier, taught me how to use a knife and gave me the poison when I entered school."

"Hmm?"

Since there was no point in hiding it now, I answered honestly. Reggie seemed very interested and became serious.

"After I brought them to school, I didn't know where to dispose of them, so I kept them... If they were found, it would cause a commotion. But I was planning to travel alone, so I kept them for self-defense..."

"Indeed, traveling alone is dangerous. I would carry something for self-defense too... I understand."

"Um, do you really believe me? I never intended to use them against Lord Alan or you."

I clasped my hands and looked at Reggie.

He said he understood, but I wasn't sure if he believed me. Carrying hidden poison and a knife could make him suspicious. Even if he said he understood, he might be more cautious.

If they were going to abandon me somewhere, that would be one thing, but if I ended up in jail as soon as we reached the Evrard March and never got out... I ran away to avoid a terrible fate, but it would be the same as before.

Afraid of that, I asked Reggie,

"If I hadn't handed them over, you would have had to take other measures, right? But Kiara, you chose to be trusted over your own embarrassment, didn't you?"

Seeing Reggie's smile, I finally understood.

He was testing whether I would comply with unreasonable demands and if I truly wanted to be trusted.

I managed to pass his test by recalling my previous life's more exposed lifestyle.

I was relieved that I hadn't lost Reggie's trust.

After that, Reggie led me to a nearby stream.

He opened the vial and sniffed it, confirming it wasn't something that would kill plants. He then emptied it at the base of a tree.

When I mentioned that I had been worried about causing a commotion if I had thrown it in the garden, Reggie chuckled.

He then threw the knife, leather belt, and empty vial into a deep part of the stream.

I felt a bit uneasy about losing my means of self-defense, but also relieved.

Maybe because of my previous life's memories, carrying dangerous items made me feel tense.

Reggie looked at my face and widened his eyes.

When I tilted my head, he said,

"You seem relieved to have gotten rid of something for self-defense."

"Maybe... I feel like I'm finally distancing myself from the Patricier family, and that's making me feel a bit better."

Hearing my honest response, Reggie gently patted my head.

The soft touch felt nostalgic.

When was the last time someone patted my head like this? It must have been before my mother in this life passed away. My no-good father never paid attention to me.

Feeling a bit melancholic, Reggie led me back.

"Come on, let's go back."

I nodded and followed him obediently.