Chapter 19

After hearing Lirika's request, Attil emerged, putting on his jacket roughly with a tired face.

"Let's go."

"Attil, are you okay?"

Today, Pai, who was with them, rubbed his eyes and asked.

"All of a sudden, you want to look at the capital's security documents. Really—ugh."

Pai groaned as he was elbowed by Attil.

"Don't talk nonsense."

As Attil started walking ahead, Lirika followed behind. Attil clicked his tongue and extended his hand.

"Here."

Perplexed, she took his hand, and he pulled her to stand beside him.

"Why are you following like a maid? Are you a maid?"

"Attil is too fast."

"You're just slow."

His quick steps made Lirika hurry to keep up. Once they left the palace, his pace quickened even more. Just as Lirika felt she was being dragged, Brin was about to say something, but Attil stopped.

"Can you ride a horse?"

"Huh? No."

A horse?

She had seen horses pulling carriages, but never anyone riding one alone.

She heard they could be seen in the park, but Lirika was too busy to visit the park for fun.

Attil scolded her.

"Shouldn't you learn that much?"

He said this and then carried the breathless Lirika in his arms.

"This is better."

Lirika placed her hand on his shoulder. She remembered when Tan had given her a pony ride. Then, she had felt very high and uneasy, but with Attil holding her, she didn't feel as high and was more stable.

If she fell from this height, she might be able to land safely, right?

Pai narrowed his eyes from the side, trying to hold back his words in front of Lirika.

The group arrived at the Royal Guard and found Tan.

"The Captain is still in his office."

Although the guards had no waiting room, Attil refused to wait inside, saying it was suffocating.

He said to Lirika,

"Since Tan isn't here, how about we come back another time?"

"I'll wait."

She didn't know when Attil would come again with her. Attil sighed and said, "Can't help it," as he plopped down on a chair. Lirika observed the interior of the guard's quarters.

The weapons hanging on the walls were very large and impressive.

Then, Laub walked out from the inside, dressed in civilian clothes. Lirika greeted him warmly.

"Laub, it's been a while."

Laub paused, then bowed politely to Lirika.

"Greetings, Princess."

"Did Tan tell you about me?"

She asked quietly if he had delivered the message well, and he smiled faintly.

"Yes, I received it."

"I see. I've never seen you in civilian clothes before. Are you on leave from today?"

In response to her question, Laub was silent for a moment before answering slowly.

"No, I am to return to my hometown."

"Uh...?"

At that moment, a chill ran down her spine. She felt an ominous sensation.

Her intuition was warning her of danger. Surprised, Lirika took a step back.

Her gaze remained fixed on him, just as it would on something dangerous.

'Now? Laub? But he was fine until just now, wasn't he?'

Laub accepted her reaction as if it were natural. Lirika felt her fingertips turn cold and damp.

'What should I do? What's the best way to handle this?'

So,

So.

Is the problem that he's going back to his hometown?

At that moment, someone placed a hand on her shoulder. Startled, she turned to see Attil, who was standing there with his head tilted to one side.

"Why are you like this? What happened? What did this guy say?"

"No, no! He didn't say anything!"

Her voice came out louder than she intended. Lirika, feeling the reassuring grip on her shoulder, turned to look at Laub.

She was no longer trembling.

"Laub, would you like to be my personal guard?"

If he doesn't go back to his hometown, it might be fine, right?

Laub's eyes widened at Lirika's suggestion. His gaze flickered.

Lirika felt the grip on her shoulder tighten but continued to look at Laub.

"Really, of course, if you don't want to, I can't force you..."

The ominous feeling was much weaker now. With the certainty that staying was the right choice, Lirika's expression relaxed.

"I am no longer a knight. So—"

Laub's expression darkened again. Lirika tilted her head and asked.

"Even if you're not a knight, can't I just hire you? Well, I don't know if I can pay you a lot of money..."

"Hey."

Attil shook her shoulder and raised his voice.

"Why hire this guy? You're a wolf, right? If you're leaving, you're just not suitable. What are you saying so boldly?"

"Attil!"

Lirika raised her voice and turned to him, hugging his waist tightly.

"Huh? Wh-what?"

In Attil's arms, Lirika confidently turned to Laub.

"Even so, if it's okay, I'll hire you."

Ah! Lirika raised a finger.

"One pearl! How about it?"

Since she had received some pocket money that morning to buy something tasty, Lirika felt confident in her offer.

"You're serious."

Laub blinked.

Attil muttered, "You, really," but made no move to push her away.

Instead, he carefully adjusted her position to avoid her cheek being scratched by the buttons on his coat.

"I'll do it."

The moment Laub answered, the ominous feeling from earlier completely disappeared.

Lirika smiled happily, feeling that she had changed her premonition for the first time without running away.

'It can be changed.'

She felt like she had suddenly acquired a powerful weapon. Laub took a step forward and knelt before her. Lirika stared at him blankly, and Attil clicked his tongue, holding her hand and pushing her toward Laub while hugging her from behind.

Lirika, held in Attil's arms, ended up with her arm extended awkwardly.

"Huh? Ah? Ah!"

Laub took her extended hand and lightly kissed the back of it.

"I will serve you faithfully."

"Can someone explain what's going on here?"

Lirika turned to see Tan standing at the open door with a strange expression.

"I hired Laub as my personal guard."

At Lirika's words, Tan frowned and looked at Laub. Laub stood up and moved to Lirika's side.

Tan asked,

"Did you know this guy is leaving the guard today?"

"Yes, but I can still hire him, right?"

Is it not allowed?

Lirika tilted her head, and Tan rubbed his forehead, thinking for a moment before looking up.

"If the Princess chooses so, it's fine. Then I just need to show the candidates to the Crown Prince, right?"

"He'll choose."

Attil held her by both shoulders and pushed her forward. Tan smiled slightly.

"Princess Lirika will choose."

"Right."

Lirika said hesitantly.

"Attil should choose."

"You said you would choose."

"I'll choose from those you've seen. Just show me the candidates."

At her words, Attil chuckled. Tan looked puzzled but politely invited them inside.

The chairs in the office were plush, and tea and snacks were served to everyone. Laub, after collecting his belongings, was sent to the White Dragon Hall.

Tan rubbed his chin after listening to Lirika's story.

"You have a good intuition."

"Right."

Lirika nodded. Tan pondered for a moment and then said,

"Then I'll have the candidates brought in."

He called a squire from outside and whispered something to him. The squire looked puzzled but left.

A short while later, five knights entered and greeted them. Lirika examined the knights and whispered something in Attil's ear.

Attil said,

"Everyone except the last two, leave."

Tan's eyes sparkled. Attil chose both of the remaining knights.

"They can take turns."

As the two newly appointed guards left, Tan asked Lirika,

"Was it your intuition that made you eliminate the first three?"

"Right, well, they weren't bad people, but something... um... felt off."

The alarm wasn't as strong as it was with Laub. Tan nodded at Lirika's words.

"I understand."

He smiled.

"Then it's settled. I have to go to work."

Attil stood up. He pressed Lirika's shoulder to keep her seated and said,

"Take your time. Pai, Bran."

"Then we'll take our leave."

"Princess, see you later."

As the group left, Lirika looked at Bran and asked,

"Will one pearl be enough?"

"Sir Laub, or rather, Laub, if he says it's fine, it's fine."

High-quality pearls are rare, and their price depends on the merchant you encounter.

They are so rare and expensive that they could be described as 'top-grade pearls: market price.'

Lirika felt relieved.

'Well, Laub is the kind of person who would say no if he didn't like it.'

She nodded, and Tan approached, sitting in a nearby chair and asking,

"Princess, is Laub okay?"

Lirika glanced at Bran and shook her head.

"No, he was really not good. I felt a chill down my spine... but after he said he was going back to his hometown, it was fine when I offered to hire him."

Tan's expression became serious, and Bran's was the same. Lirika waved her hand at their expressions.

"But his hometown and Tan's hometown are the same, right? Is something happening in his hometown?"

"No, the Wolf Territory is fine. But, ah, this."

He sighed.

"I didn't expect him to be assigned to you, Princess. If anything happens, please let me know. I will support you in any way I can."

Tan placed his hands on his knees and bowed.

"Thank you for hiring Laub, Princess."

"Huh? Oh, it's fine, Tan."

Lirika waved her hand, feeling flustered, and Bran smiled.

"Are you really going to support her, Captain?"

Tan looked up and answered seriously.

"Of course."

"I look forward to it."

Bran smiled. The full support of the Royal Guard Captain is not something anyone can easily receive.

'Awesome.'

Serving a master who can build such connections like picking up shells is a great thing.

As they accepted Tan's bow, the two of them returned to the White Dragon Hall, completely unaware of the unforeseen obstacles that awaited in hiring Laub.

* * *

Pai said bluntly to Attil,

"Why do you talk to the Princess like that?"

"What do you mean?"

While reviewing the capital's security reports, focusing on human trafficking, he was doing paperwork he detested but couldn't avoid.

Attil, who had been holding back, looked up at Pai's words. Pai looked at Attil seriously.

"Why do you talk so bluntly? Even though you don't dislike her."

"When did I?"

"You always do. Bran, isn't that right?"

Bran nodded at Pai's words. Pai pointed at Attil with his pen.

"Today, you said things like 'Why are you following like a maid?' and 'Can't you ride a horse?' Those are hurtful words."

"Me?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Pai's words made Attil think for a moment before he said,

"It's the truth. Following behind and not being able to ride a horse, both are true."

"If you say those things to hurt the Princess, I won't say anything. But if not—"

Pai narrowed his eyes, a typical Sandar expression.

"Imagine if the Princess said the same to you. 'You're walking like my owner,' and 'You can't ride a horse,' for example."

"..."

Attil was silent. Pai continued,

"It's not about being affectionate, but if you just want to walk beside Princess Lirika, then say so. 'Let's walk together.' That's all you need to say."

"Did I hurt her feelings?"

Lirika's feelings were the last thing he wanted to hurt or harm.

Pai grinned and rested his chin on his hand.

"Princess Lirika is broad-minded and will overlook it, but one day, you might hurt her. Be a bit more careful."

"I'll try."

Even after saying this, Attil's frown didn't ease, and his pace slowed as he continued his paperwork. Pai quickly suggested a way to lighten his mood.

"If you're worried, how about giving her a gift?"

"A gift?"

"Yes, a pony. Since she's young, it would be nice for her to ride a pony in the Sun Palace garden. You received a Halflinger recently, didn't you?"

Thinking of the elegant brown pony with its bright cream mane and tail, Attil's lips curved into a smile.

That would definitely please Lirika.