Chapter 73

The persistent cold has finally begun to soften, and the warm sunlight of a mild spring-like day spills gently over the city.

Usually, I walk a few paces behind Lady Clara, but today we rode together side-by-side in a hired carriage. Our destination: a tailor on Bolier Street.

“What kind of clothes are you looking for, Lady Clara? You’re always in your knight’s attire, but a dress for the banquet would be lovely, wouldn’t it?”

“I… I haven’t worn a dress in a long time. To be honest… I feel anxious without a sword at my hip.”

In every awkward moment we share, the season seems to turn a bit more toward spring. I admire Lady Clara’s dignified appearance in men’s clothing, but I’d really love to see her in a dress. We enjoyed our afternoon like a couple of wide-eyed teenagers on a pure-hearted date.

We bought clothes at the recommended tailor, but it turns out everything new is made-to-order here. I had come with the Japanese mindset of just buying something off the rack. Between the measurements, looking at design samples, and picking out fabrics, it took quite a while.

By the time we left the shop, evening was already approaching. We strolled through the streets of Dresden as they were dyed in the red of the setting sun. I noticed the city even has entertainment facilities like theaters and arenas. We didn’t have time today, but a future date at a play or a concert sounds wonderful.

At the theater, I saw a poster of a knight kneeling on one knee before a princess, kissing her hand. I’ve heard it’s the play everyone is talking about right now. I wonder what kind of music is played in Saxens? What kind of music do you like, Lady Clara?

Joy overflowed from the fragments of our idle conversation, filling our hearts. But that happiness was interrupted with startling abruptness.

“Excuse me, but aren’t you the Knight-Lord who served as a guard during the soup kitchen the other day?”

I turned around at the voice and saw Juliana Cebarai—the Saint of Grossel—standing there with several gentlemen. I immediately stepped a few paces behind Lady Clara. Fortunately, Juliana didn’t seem interested in me.

Though only a short time had passed since we last met, Juliana’s beauty seemed to have gained an even sharper radiance.

“Ah, the Saint of Grossel. Are you out shopping today?”

“Yes, I’ve come with my father. You can find almost anything in this area. But please, refrain from calling me ‘Saint.’ I am not nearly so grand a person.”

The middle-aged gentleman in lavish clothing who gave Lady Clara a slight nod—that must be Count Cebarai, the Lord of Westerbitz. Still, the more I look at her, the more the idea of this girl being at a murder scene in the sewers feels like a lie.

Juliana and Lady Clara exchanged a few more words of small talk before parting ways. As Juliana walked away, she looked toward me and gave a bright, sweet smile. I instinctively looked away, pretending to give a polite bow.

Why is my heart racing like this? My face must be turning red, like a boy running into a girl he has a crush on. The moment Juliana looked at me, my body felt hot, as if I were under a spell.

“What is it, Kota?”

Lady Clara was looking at me with a puzzled expression.

“It’s nothing…”

I haven’t told Lady Clara that Juliana is a suspect in the vagrant’s murder. My official reason is a lack of evidence, but that’s just a pretext. If I’m honest, I felt guilty—as if I were obsessing over another woman. I don’t know why, but I simply cannot get Juliana out of my mind. Telling Lady Clara that felt like it would be an act of cruelty.

“Are you also drawn to a woman like her, Kota?”

“That’s not it.”

From my position diagonally behind her, I couldn’t quite read Lady Clara’s expression.

“I see…”

In moments like these, the power of words feels incredibly weak, yet I couldn’t leave them unsaid.

“I am not an apostle of the Saint. I am the attendant of a Knight.”

“I know that too…”

The light faded as the sun dipped below the horizon. The city was once again wrapped in the winter chill. We returned to the barracks without having dinner. When I messaged Akito to tell him we couldn’t make it to the restaurant, he told me it was fine and that he’d just go himself. In exchange, he asked for a full-body relaxation session later; I told him I’d do it as many times as he wanted. I’m really starting to owe that guy.

When dinner time arrived, I headed to the mess hall. It was Fiene’s turn to serve Lady Clara.

I really wanted to be by her side and mend our strained relationship, but there was nothing I could do. Reflecting deeply on my behavior, I shoveled the bean soup into my mouth.

“What’s wrong, Kota? You’re eating so aggressively. Didn’t you say you were sick of bean soup?”

“Hans, I’m a pathetic man.”

It was true. Even if a Charm spell had been used on me, I shouldn’t have blushed at another woman right in front of Lady Clara.

…Wait.

Charm?

Could it be Charm?!

Perhaps the Saint of Grossel can use that magic. If so, it would explain my emotions to some extent.

If the murder case hadn’t happened, I probably would have just been normally attracted to Juliana.

But because I knew about the incident, my obsession with her might have manifested in a slightly twisted way. Is this all just speculation, though? It’s hard to judge if this hypothesis is fact. There’s always the possibility that I’ve simply lost my heart to a peerless beauty. What should I do…?

“Kota.”

As I was agonizing, Fiene came into the dining hall.

“What is it? Is Lady Clara finished with her meal?”

“She said she doesn’t have an appetite.”

My heart sank so heavily I felt like I might throw up the beans I just ate.

“So, she wants you to come to her office in about fifteen minutes. She said she has some business with you.”

“Got it.”

I wonder what it’s about? I need to apologize properly and clearly state my feelings again. Lady Clara is the only one I love. I left the dining hall, glancing at Fiene as she happily stuffed her face with a large piece of bread.

I hesitated for a split second before giving a firm knock on the office door.

“Corporal Hinoharu, reporting as requested!”

…

Huh? No answer. Is she not there?

“Enter!”

Ah, she was there. …Then what was that long pause for?

“Excuse me. I heard you had business with—”

I froze the moment I opened the door.

“What do you think? It’s a dress I inherited from my mother, recently altered…”

Standing there was a goddess in an evening gown. The dress was a slightly muted sky blue, with a voluminous skirt full of pleats. The neckline was daringly open from her neck to her shoulders, revealing her beautiful skin.

“It is difficult if you do not say something…”

Lady Clara looked away, her face flushing as if she were slightly angry. I realized I had been staring blankly in a daze for quite some time.

What do I do? My heart just won’t stop throbbing. I’m thirty years old, for heaven’s sake. I thought I’d never feel this way again in my life. And yet, here I am, still capable of loving someone this purely.

“You… Lady Clara, you are the most beautiful person in the world. Whether in a dress or in your knight’s attire. No, your beauty isn’t just in your appearance. Your inner nobility radiates from within you.”

“Y-you fool! To say such embarrassing things! You… you could have just complimented me normally…”

I mean, I’d usually be embarrassed too. But when I put my honest thoughts into words, that’s just how it came out. I couldn’t think of anything else, so it couldn’t be helped.

“That… that is all the ‘business’ I had. I am sorry for taking up your time.”

I walked over to Lady Clara as she turned her head away, and I dropped to one knee, just like the knight on the theater poster I saw earlier today.

“Eh?”

“Lady Clara, your hand.”

I knew I’d probably find this deathly cringing when I looked back on it later, but I couldn’t stop the impulse. I took her hesitantly offered hand and kissed the back of it.