Chapter 32

The sound of several carriages rattling by came from outside the Anderson family's window.

"Is it a guest?" Looking outside, she saw a black carriage with a golden griffin crest. Wasn't that the crest of the Ashbury royal family?

"Lord Clark, it seems we have a distinguished visitor. We should go out to greet them," she said, and the three of them headed for the Anderson family's entrance hall.

At the open door, a slender, blonde young man stepped down from the carriage.

(It's him.)

Though his hair color was different, she recognized him by his walking habit. It was the second prince. The prince walked briskly and approached her.

"Hello, Miss Sellers, it's been a while."

'Been a while,' you say. I can't help but smile wryly. The second prince greeted me brightly as if I had never broken his ribs. It would be strange to say "Nice to meet you" or "Thank you for that time," so I bowed silently.

"I heard from the former Countess Haines that you were here. May I have a moment?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Oh, Mrs. Anderson, I just came to have a brief conversation. I'll be leaving soon, so there's no need for tea. Miss Victoria, may I have a word with you alone?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Led by Lady Eva, we entered the parlor, and after checking the room, the knights quietly left. Lord Clark was about to take Nonna, who was peeking at the door, by the hand, but Nonna stopped and turned to glare at the prince. She was dragged away by Lord Clark. Why was she glaring?

"Actually, I came today to apologize. I deserved whatever you thought of me or did to me for approaching you like that."

I waited silently for him to continue.

"I heard at the ball that a woman who looked like you had knocked a man down, and I became interested in you."

"Unfortunately, that wasn't me."

"Hehehe. I see. But the you I faced was undoubtedly strong."

"Your Highness, I heard from the Second Knight Captain that you fell and got injured."

Prince Cedric chuckled.

"Don't be so mean. I came today with sincere intentions to apologize. I'm sorry. Here I am, bowing deeply."

"Your Highness, please stop. I am just a commoner from another country. Please raise your head."

"Will you forgive me?"

"Yes, of course."

"Great! Jeffrey wouldn't even let me approach you. He doesn't know I came here, you know? But I thought I should apologize in person."

As the captain said, he's not a bad person. It's a good thing I didn't break all his limbs. No, to be honest, I didn't intend to do that unless he did something again.

"Anyway, I have a request. Would you teach me martial arts? Of course, I'll pay you properly."

"I decline."

"…That's too quick a refusal. Why? You forgave me, didn't you?"

I decided to be honest.

"If it were known that I was teaching Your Highness martial arts, others would take an interest. If they knew a woman in her twenties was teaching, many would say, 'Let me test my skills too.' I'm raising a child while working multiple jobs. I don't have the time."

"Then I'll make sure no one notices. Once a week, even just one hour. Please."

You really enjoy training, don't you?

"Given Your Highness's position, wouldn't it be better to have skilled people around you rather than training yourself?"

"Then would you stay by my side?"

"Absolutely not. I decline."

"Figures."

I couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Figures" isn't the right word.

I continued to refuse, but he left with a bright smile, saying, "I understand. I'll come back when you change your mind!" He's really persistent, isn't he? He must really enjoy training.

Lady Eva asked me many questions, but I mumbled, "About the captain…" and went home. I didn't lie. I repeated the same words to Lady Yorana. I was too scared to tell the truth.

After dinner, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in. Who is it?"

"It's me, Jeffrey."

"Vicky! It's Jeff!"

Nonna looked very happy. She opened the door before I could, and there stood the captain in his uniform. As always, he looked 60% better in uniform.

"Good evening, Captain."

"Victoria, I heard from the palace guard that Prince Cedric visited you?"

(I see, the captain already knows, Your Highness.) I almost laughed.

"Yes. He asked me to teach him martial arts."

"What did you say?"

"I declined."

"Even after all that. I'll come tomorrow to persuade you. I've known the prince since he was three. He's been persistent since then. He's twenty now, but he's still a problem. His interest is only in martial arts, so he's been indulged by those around him."

I silently made tea and cut the walnut butter cake I had baked two days ago, which was now at its best, and served it on the table.

"Victoria?"

"Captain, you are a knight of the kingdom. You can't ask me to do such things."

"Even so…"

If I kept asking, I might end up causing a lot of trouble for this person and his family. I don't want to be a burden. And if I became a burden and was then abandoned? Just thinking about it made my chest hurt.

"There's a limit to what I can ask of you. If I keep relying on you and then get abandoned, it would be too sad. I'll handle it myself, so there's no need to worry about the prince."

The captain stood up and approached me, who was still standing, looking worried.

"I won't abandon you."

"I'll handle my own problems. I've been helped by you a lot, Captain, but I'll try to manage on my own. So there's no need to worry about the prince."

"Vicky, are you angry at someone?"

"I'm not angry at anyone. It's okay, Nonna."

I tried to speak calmly, but something in my voice must have scared Nonna. She had tears in her eyes.

As I was comforting Nonna with a smile, the captain picked her up with his left arm and pulled me close with his right.

"I understand. So don't make that sad face. Can you tell me what you're afraid of?"

I didn't answer and instead comforted the teary-eyed Nonna and put her to bed. The captain waited for me to return.

"Captain, I can't tell you what I'm afraid of. I'm sorry."

"I see… I'm sorry for imposing my feelings on you. You have your own reasons."

"No, I'm the one who's sorry. Would you like some wine?"

"Sure, I'd love to."

Red wine goes well with walnut butter cake.

We ate the walnut cake and drank quietly. When I bit into the walnuts, which I had roasted until crispy, I remembered the walnut cake my mother used to bake. Even though my memories of her face and voice, which I only lived with for eight years, are quite faded, I still remember the taste of her cake clearly.

"I used to have a fiancée who couldn't rely on me when it mattered. Maybe I have a strong desire to protect important people."

"You had a fiancée… Is it okay for you to be here?"

"She's no longer in this world. She… ten years ago. I couldn't help her until the end."

"That… I see… How could that happen?"

For someone with such a strong sense of responsibility and protective instinct, it must have been very painful. The ball after ten years, that's what it meant.

"I'm sorry for making you talk about such painful things."

"It's in the past. You don't need to worry about it."

I wanted to change the subject. I had to.

"By the way, I was recently told that I don't understand the nuances of conversation. I don't know many things."

"Who told you that?"

"Someone you don't know. The owner of a regular bar."

The captain looked surprised.

"You go to such places?"

"Yes, only when Nonna stays at the main house. It's a strange story, but I go there to be alone in a place with other people."

I was talking incessantly because I was afraid of the conversation stopping.

"Can I go with you to that bar next time?"

"That place is for drinking a couple of glasses alone and leaving. If we go together, let's go to a different place."

I can't introduce Captain and Mr. Zahar to each other.

"If you want to train in martial arts, I can be your partner. I'm stronger than the prince."

"No, I don't want to."

"Why not?"

"Because I'll be disheveled, sweaty, and probably with my eyes wide open. I don't want to show that side of me."

"Does that mean you're aware of me as a man?"

"…"

Captain, I wish you could understand without asking.