No Matter How Many Times I’m Reborn

A few days later.

Shitoen and I were in the training grounds.

Because I was teaching her self-defense.

So she could move easily, she was dressed in the same uniform as the other knights, but she wasn’t wearing a sword at her waist. Apparently, when she had that thing on, maybe because of the weight, her posture became terribly bad.

Well, she wasn’t going to use a sword anyway, so I took off the belt and had her tie a cloth sash around her waist instead.

…Well, how should I put this?

The jacket of our order’s uniform is kind of short.

And when that happens, you can see the line of the trousers as-is, or rather.

Basically, it means the shape of her butt and thighs shows exactly as it is.

Of course, since everyone around us was a member of my order, no one was staring.

But as her husband, I didn’t like it.

I told Raul to have one made for Shitoen with a longer jacket length, but it still wasn’t finished yet. Something more like a tailcoat.

Until then, I had her wear the sash to properly cover her waist and hips.

“All right. Now then, someone’s grabbed your wrist. Go ahead.”

Standing face-to-face with Shitoen, I grabbed her right wrist with my own right hand.

The escape from a wrist grab.

First, Shitoen turned her palm downward and spread it wide.

Then she took one big step forward toward me—or rather, toward the person grabbing her.

At the same time, she bent the elbow of the captured arm slightly. Roughly, the elbow should be about level with her waist.

Next, using the foot she had stepped forward with as her pivot, she spun around and turned her back to me.

And then, well, using the “principle of leverage” through her captured wrist, the other person’s hand came off easily enough.

It came off, but.

“Ei!”

For some reason, whenever she slipped her arm free, she let out the cutest little spirited cry.

Ei.

I mean, she could get free easily enough even without saying anything.

But still.

But really, it was so cute I could die.

When I instinctively covered my face with both hands, Shitoen peered at me and asked, “Did I do something wrong?”

No, it was just that you were so adorable I almost died from agony.

“Oh, come on. If you’re going to fool around, then go do it somewhere else. You’re in the way, in the way.”

Raul’s chilly voice came flying at me from behind.

How strange. Why wasn’t this adorableness communicated to everyone equally? Did that guy have no human heart?

“Honestly. For self-defense, if the other person’s a man, the best thing is to kick him in the crotch.”

Raul said something entirely reasonable. No, but if you say that, then my instruction becomes pointless.

“Exactly. Or else call for help in a loud voice. There’s no better self-defense than that.”

A knight who had come for sword practice suddenly cut into the conversation.

“If Lady Shitoen screamed, the ‘Winter Bear of Tidros’ would come flying over faster than anyone, so Your Ladyship would be safe. There. So please give the Captain back now.”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

Another knight came over and tossed a wooden sword at me. Ah, right. I had said I’d spar with them.

“But that defeats the point. I want to protect myself with my own hands.”

Shitoen looked quite dissatisfied.

Well. In the end, we still hadn’t identified the attacker.

It was a case of an active investigation still underway.

Since we didn’t even really understand why someone wanted to attack her, it certainly helped if she could learn enough technique to buy time until I could get to her.

“I’ll properly teach Shitoen how to protect herself. But the more skilled someone is, the better they understand the limits of their own ability.”

I bent down and met Shitoen’s eyes.

“If someone comes whom you know you can’t possibly handle, then call for me without hesitation.”

Even then, she still looked sullen, so with the hand that wasn’t holding the wooden sword, I patted her head lightly.

“In exchange, if I get hurt, I’ll call loudly for Shitoen. ‘Help me, Shitoen!’”

When I said that, Raul laughed and jokingly called out, “Medic!”

“…All right. But in return, don’t ever do anything reckless. I’m not a magician either. I absolutely refuse any fatal wound I can’t heal.”

At last, Shitoen gave in. Apparently, after looking at the people around us, she had decided it was about time to let me go. What a considerate girl.

Just as I was admiring that, she suddenly leaned her face closer.

“I don’t want to be left alone anymore.”

She said it plainly.

Ah, I thought to myself with a wry smile.

It seemed the death of that man named Atsuhito still weighed heavily on her.

“I won’t. I won’t leave Shitoen alone. Never.”

I bent down once more and kissed Shitoen on the cheek.

“I won’t make a blunder like dying while protecting you. So.”

I looked at Shitoen and smiled.

“Stay by my side forever.”

Keeping that beautiful light in her violet eyes, she nodded happily.

“Of course. I absolutely, absolutely won’t leave you.”

This time, Shitoen kissed me on the cheek.

Ah, how happy I am.

That was what I thought as I looked at Shitoen’s face.

No matter how many times I’m reborn.

Even if the world changes.

Even if our appearances change.

Even if I lose my status.

Even if I lose my memories.

I will surely find you.

And then, I’ll cherish you again.

Absolutely, absolutely.

I’ll hold you in my arms and kiss you.

I’ll protect you from frightening things and painful things, no matter what.

I’ll protect you.

You’re the only one I love.

Always, always.

No matter where we are.

No matter when it is.

No matter how many times I’m reborn.