Chapter 5

"Please take a seat there. Would you like sugar in your tea?"

"…Excuse me. --Sugar in the tea? No, I don’t add it."

I was led to the Prince's office and encouraged to sit on the sofa. When asked if I wanted sugar in my tea, I answered the question.

"I don’t add it either. Sometimes I add milk, though. --George, the head of the guard, says that adding the right amount enhances the flavor, but I don’t like it too sweet."

As he said this, he sat down at his desk, had a servant taste the tea for poison, and then took a sip himself. Perhaps he is always on guard against assassination. Eric encouraged me to drink the tea, so I did.

"…It’s delicious."

"That’s the best news. Help yourself to some pastries. I’m going to work on some documents now. Oh, if you get bored, feel free to read any of the books on the shelf. They’re arranged in order of recommendation from the top shelf down."

After I commented on the tea, Eric offered me pastries and books, then started working on his documents in silence. It’s already night, but the Prince is quite busy. I can’t help but think that it’s a waste of time for him to observe my work.

"…………"

How long should I enjoy the tea and pastries? I thought there would be some explanation about my guard duties, but perhaps he will say something after finishing the paperwork.

"…………"

It’s true that several people are after the Prince’s life. I sense something suspicious outside the window. An assassin… perhaps.

"Divine Wind…!"

"Ah—!!"

Holding a cookie, I caused a sudden gust of wind to blow the intruder, who was trying to break through the window, away.

"……Hmm, just one today, I see."

Despite the assassin approaching the window, Eric calmly muttered this and returned to his paperwork.

After about two hours since the tea was served, Eric stood up and leaned in to look at my face.

"Good job on your first day. Is that book interesting?"

"Eh, yes. It was very interesting. …What? First day…?"

He said, "Good job on your first day," to me while I was reading the book he recommended, which was unbelievable. I just had cookies and tea and read a book. Yes, I did sense the presence of a thief and repelled them with magic, but…

"Then, from tomorrow, please stay with me like this every day. It should be about one to two hours a day."

"Wait a minute. I thought being a guard meant a full day’s work."

"No, we have professional guards for that… You’re the Holy Maiden, right? Even if I can’t read the room, I wouldn’t force such heavy labor on you."

—I thought it would be heavy labor. Still, I thought it would be better than living with Jill and Ekaterina. I know there are several professional guards, but then—

"Why? Why did you specifically choose me as a guard? This job seems unnecessary, doesn’t it?"

I couldn’t understand Eric’s reasoning. I couldn’t understand why he was so focused on me, including observing my duties as the Holy Maiden.

"At first, I was angry. I thought your friend’s fiancée was talented and virtuous, and I was happy for her, but then I felt betrayed."

He revealed his feelings about the annulment of his engagement to Philip. Indeed, when Eric first spoke to me, I sensed his anger. If he thought I had betrayed his friend, it was natural.

"After that, I saw you fulfill your duties as the Holy Maiden. I can’t say you were completely unaware of my presence, but you didn’t show off your high abilities. The image of you that Philip described and the person I saw setting up barriers calmly didn’t match—"

"……"

"To put it simply, I couldn’t stop thinking about you."

"Eh…?"

Eric, with his beautiful, straightforward eyes, said this without any embarrassment. Wait, hold on. You said you would make me your wife if you liked me. Were you serious?

His serious expression made my heart race and my body feel as if it was heating up.

"For a while, I want you to be my companion. Even so, with your skills, I trust you as a guard more than anyone else."

With that, Eric called for a servant to show me to my room and left the office.

I was led to a guest room in the palace and lay down on a bed that was comfortable enough to corrupt anyone, closing my eyes.

—You couldn’t stop thinking about me.

However, Eric’s face when he said those words kept appearing in my mind, and I couldn’t fall asleep for a while. But after about ten minutes, I succumbed to fatigue and realized it was morning.

"Are you going to your duties as the Holy Maiden? You can use the royal carriage. I’ll ride with you."

Thus, I began living in the palace as Eric’s companion and a peculiar guard.

It’s a strange situation, but I will do my best with my duties—.