Chapter 11

I don't want anyone to see what kind of face I'm making, but I want to see the face of Livionis, who is trying to lift Sophiria's face. She must look absolutely adorable. But I absolutely don't want to lift my own face. Yet, I want to see Livionis's face.

Such trivial conflicts and struggles ended with a loud snap as a tree branch broke. Whether the campfire was angry at the bumbling couple is another matter. Livionis cleared his throat and stood up, while Sophiria looked up with a flutter.

Livionis took out two blankets from the luggage on the ground and handed both to Sophiria. The black horse, which had been freed from the tied luggage, was munching on grass a little away from the campfire. This very intelligent and gentle horse also had the strength not to be frightened by monsters.

Sophiria, impressed by its nobility, asked for its name, and Livionis smiled and said, "Matcha."

"Matcha?"

"Yes, it's the name of a green tea from the eastern country. It just happened to be in a book I liked at the time."

"...Matcha's coat is black, isn't it?"

"? Yes."

Ah, um. It's cute, so it doesn't matter. Sophiria stopped thinking. If Matcha, the horse, is fine with it, then it's fine. It would be extremely tasteless for a newcomer like Sophiria to comment on the years they have built together. However, she secretly decided that in the future, when naming pets, they should be more careful. That's all.

Sophiria took the blanket that Matcha had brought over from Livionis and tilted her head.

"Let's get some rest soon. One can be used as a mat, which will make it a bit better. If you fold the ends over your bag and use it as a pillow, it will be more comfortable."

As Livionis spread the large blanket, sharing his travel tips, Sophiria called out, "Um."

"Your share...?"

"I won't sleep tonight, so it's fine."

"Huh?"

I see.

That's right. Of course, that's right.

In the forest, they can't both sleep soundly. One of them has to stay awake and keep the fire going.

Sophiria hurriedly stood up.

"Such a thing, I can't leave it all to you, Lord Livionis!"

"It's fine. Matcha is here, so I'm not alone."

Matcha snorted, a sound that seemed to say, "Leave it to me," which was very manly.

But, but.

"But, Lord Livionis and Matcha both need rest, right? You must be tired from running all this time. At least, please rest first."

Sophiria isn't naive enough to think she can handle everything alone if something happens.

But,

"I can use defensive magic, you know! I can buy some time!"

As she gripped the blanket, Livionis smiled.

"Miss Sophiria is truly kind."

"Snort."

"Y-You're saying I'm kind."

If being kind is defined by this, then everyone in the world is kind, and the world is peaceful. To Sophiria, kindness seems to be a word made for Livionis.

Livionis repeated, "It's fine."

"We'll reach the town tomorrow. Besides, I can stay awake and active for a little over a month without sleep."

He smiled, and it was as cute as ever. It seems Livionis is not only kind but can also tell jokes. No wonder he's popular.

Sophiria couldn't help but laugh.

"Are you trying to reassure me?"

"Huh?"

"...Huh?"

Huh?

Hmm?

"I, I fibbed a bit."

"Y-Yes, that's right."

"I can only last about three weeks without food or water."

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

How many times today has she found his bewildered face cute?

It seems Sophiria finally realized that Livionis wasn't lying, and so did Livionis.

"The Warian family has always been a bit tough. For long holidays, we have a tradition of survival without food or water and without sleep. All our servants can fight and ride horses, making it perfect for training against multiple opponents. If caught by my father, it's an immediate loss. The tricky part is that he has work, so he doesn't chase us continuously but appears irregularly. It's frustrating to always be found no matter what."

A bit tough, huh?

It's not just tough; it's like a superhuman. She wanted to laugh it off, but Livionis clenched his fist. His face was serious. He was dead serious.

"Ah, so please don't worry! Rest assured and get some rest."

"Snort!"

"Ah, right, Matcha is also doing the survival training, so it's fine."

Now.

Really, only now. Sophiria realized that the Warian family has been producing knights feared even by other countries, and she felt a bit scared.

Of course, not because she was afraid of Livionis.

It wasn't about taking superhuman knights from the country or taking the country from the knights.

Who are the Warian family? ? ? ? ?

The first head of the family split a mountain or had dragon blood, and other such legends might not be entirely false.

Sophiria felt a distance from Livionis, who was playing happily with Matcha, and hugged the blanket.

Moreover, all the servants can fight, and the horses do survival training. There's something wrong with this family.

Apparently, there have always been people who question the Warian family's favored status, but they are all crushed. Of course, who can defeat this family?

"...I will take your word for it."

"Snort!"

"He says you can take as much as you want."

Matcha is really a manly horse!

When Sophiria thanked him and lay down with a laugh, Livionis smiled happily. He was cute.

"Can Lord Livionis understand animal language?"

"Animal language? Ah, the language witches and wizards can use. No way. I only understand what Matcha wants to say. We've been together since I was a child. It's just a feeling, I guess."

"Snort."

"Ah, it seems to be correct."

Good, good.

As Livionis smiled and stroked Matcha's mane, Matcha rubbed his nose against Livionis's shoulder.

It was a beautiful scene with the knight and the horse.

It was like a fairy tale. When did Sophiria fall asleep, I wonder?

Ha, this is a dream.

If.

If this were really a dream.

What if it all disappeared when I woke up? What would I do? What would I do?

"Miss Sophiria?"

Could Sophiria pretend not to hear the gentle voice calling her name?

Could she pretend to know nothing and return to those days?

No, she couldn't. She couldn't return.

Sophiria had already experienced the comfort of freely talking, crying, laughing, and smiling with this person. She had already felt the warmth of liking and finding this person cute.

If this were all a dream now, the awakened Sophiria would no longer be able to live.

She knew that losing something is harder to bear than never having known it, without even having to try.

"...It feels like I'm dreaming."

Tears fell again.

I don't want to, Sophiria thought, but her vision blurred.

"What if I wake up and am back to being the prince's fiancée?"

"I'll come and take you."

"Huh?"

Sophiria blinked.

Tears fell, and her vision cleared.

Livionis, kneeling in front of her, gently stroked her cheek and wiped away her tears.

His beautiful eyes, which she had never seen in a dream, looked at her tenderly.

"I can't let go of your hand anymore. If this is a dream, I'll come and take you, Miss Sophiria."

So please, be at ease, Livionis slowly stroked Sophiria's head.

His large, rough, hard hand was so careful.

"I won't give you to anyone."

His voice was as sweet as honey, but it was also hot and a little bitter. It made Sophiria, who didn't like sweet things, feel a bit queasy. She wanted to swallow more of it.

Such a voice, filled with the taste of love, made Sophiria's heart throb.

She wanted to savor this pain, but the warmth of the hand stroking her head was so gentle that her eyelids felt heavy.

"...I've never been stroked on the head before."

"U-"

"...U?"

"I'm just holding back from screaming, so don't worry...!"

Scream? Why?

They had only known each other for less than a day, but Livionis sometimes said things that Sophiria didn't understand. So, she closed her eyes, thinking, "I see."

I see.

If Livionis says so, then it must be true.

He'll come and take her. He'll take her away. It's okay to be at ease. If Livionis says so, then it must be true.

He won't give her to anyone.

It's like something out of a story.

How kind and sad it is for Livionis to treat such a failure, who has never been liked or loved and has even abandoned her given role, like a princess.

"Hehe."

"...!"

She thought she heard Livionis groan, but the hand stroking her head felt so good, and she felt more at ease than ever before in her life.

Sophiria's consciousness melted away.