Chapter 35

"But... I can't get down."

"Huh?"

"The branch looks like it might break."

"...Why didn't you say so earlier?!"

Phil's expression changed.

He quickly removed his sword and took off his decorated jacket.

He ran under the branch where the child called Al was and spread his arms.

"Jump down. I'll catch you."

"Are you sure it's okay?"

"I can catch one. Trust a knight in service."

Phil wore his usual smile, but there was a hint of tension in the air.

After a moment, the branch rustled, and a small body fell. I held my breath, but Phil caught the child silently.

"Alright. No injuries. ...Lucia, can you hold this kid for a moment?"

"Hold... what, huh?"

"Al, take this sister's hand. ...Damn, how lucky."

Phil muttered something, but I was too distracted by the child who had just fallen to pay attention.

Fortunately, Al... Al-kun quietly held my hand.

"Next is Rida! Can you get down by yourself?"

"I want to be caught too!"

"If you don't want to kill me, come down a bit more. Then I'll catch you."

"Okay!"

The other child slid down the tree.

Stopping on a branch halfway down, they jumped off.

Phil easily caught them and carefully set them on the ground before sighing in relief.

"Really, what were you two doing?"

"Just climbing the tree."

"I know you like climbing trees. But not at night. It's hard to find you, right?"

"We climbed the tree so we wouldn't be found."

"......You monkeys!"

Phil ran his hand through his disheveled bangs and pushed the other child towards me.

"Lucia, can you hold this one too? You're probably looking for them, so I'll go get some help. ...This place isn't too noticeable, so it would help if you stayed here."

"Um, sure, but..."

I looked at the child Phil was still holding, Rida.

She seemed more spirited than Al-kun but was just as cute. Could I handle two such energetic kids at once?

...I have a decent grip, so holding their hands should be fine, right?

But Rida, without hesitation, intertwined her small hand with my free one.

"I want to talk to you, so you can go, Phil. Actually, Phil is in the way."

"Cheeky monkey. Don't say anything unnecessary. ...Lucia, I'll be right back!"

Phil grabbed his jacket and sword and ran off in a flash.

He's still as fast as ever.

But he didn't head towards the central building where the ball was being held. Instead, he seemed to be cutting through the courtyard...

"Hey, sister."

As I watched him go, I was tugged by the hand.

Right.

I was supposed to be watching these kids.

"Can I call you Lucia?"

"Sure."

"Then, Lucia, your hands are different."

I was startled by the child's straightforward comment.

The one speaking was probably Rida, as she had slightly longer hair. She was staring intently at my hand. Al-kun, on the other side, was also looking at my hand.

"Um... maybe because I do field work and such?"

"Hmm, that makes sense. They do look a bit like the gardeners' hands."

"But they also look a bit like the knights' hands."

"They do! Just not as big!"

The children started talking freely.

...Are they getting attached to me?

It's better than them crying or trying to run away, but this gradual wearing down of my patience is subtly damaging...

"Also, Lucia is pretty tall, right?"

"Really tall! You look as tall as Father!"

"No, Father is a bit taller!"

"Still, you look like a knight!"

...I'm sorry.

I'm just a young girl. I'm not a knight or anything special.

As I had a distant look, someone approached from the direction of the ballroom.

"...Is that you, Lucia?"

It was my brother, Albes.

I had left him behind.

"I saw you go outside, so I followed you. Even in the palace, it's dangerous to be in such an isolated place... huh?"

Albes finally noticed I wasn't alone.

He slowed his pace and looked at the children curiously.

When he stopped in front of us, he looked completely puzzled.

"Lucia, who are these kids?"

"Well..."

I looked at the children's heads.

Al-kun and Rida looked very similar. They seemed to be around the same age, so they might be twins.

I thought it was unusual, and then I noticed their hair was lighter than when they were in the tree.

It looked silver.

Their eyes were purple, and their facial features, especially around the eyes, reminded me of Phil.

I recognized them, and this was probably...

...the royal twins.