The Sword Maiden's Concerns

“It’s simple. Two weeks ago, the White Dragon descended upon Karelia Kingdom’s capital, Helsing, and destroyed half the city.”

“Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!?”“
“Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!?””

At Patricia’s words, Jonah and Henrik cried out in surprise.

“When the request came to the Empire, I doubted my ears, but when I saw the state of the capital the other day, even I was speechless…”

Saying this, Patricia bit her lip.

The devastation must have been that excessive.

“B-but according to the legend of the Paired Dragons, the White and Black Dragons are always together. Just the White Dragon alone means…”

“You know the legend well. But according to the Kingdom’s report, only the White Dragon appeared. The Black Dragon was not sighted.”

The legend states that the two dragons are indeed a pair, living harmoniously on Baldia Mountain, where no one visits.

In the first place, could such a thing possibly happen with those two dragons?

“We only know what the Kingdom told us, so we don’t know more than that. In short, the White Dragon suddenly came to Helsing, half-destroyed the city, and left. That’s all.”

“I-I see…”

Though Jonah asked no further, he still couldn’t accept it and tilted his head.

Finding his demeanor amusing, Patricia chuckled softly.

“So, how much longer until we reach Baldia Mountain?”

“Y-yes! Well…”

Henrik made a thinking gesture, but since he had never been there, he couldn’t possibly know how much longer.

With a completely troubled expression, he looked at Jonah.

“Um… Since we’re traveling through the forest with the entire imperial army, it’s slower than usual, and the exit point from the forest is different too. I’ll explain the details once we exit the forest.”

“I see. I’m counting on you two.”

“Yes!”

Seeing Henrik sigh in relief at successfully dodging the question, Jonah softened his cheeks.

This way, Patricia likely wouldn’t press further until they exited the forest.

Once they exited the forest and could see Baldia Mountain with the naked eye, he could estimate the distance easily. That’s what Jonah thought.

“Good, we’ll camp here for today. Get to it immediately.”

“As you command!”
“As you command!”

The imperial knights and soldiers began pitching tents and preparing meals.

Invited by Patricia, Jonah and the others entered her tent.

“You two will sleep here with me.”

“Eeeeeeh!?”
“Eeeeeeh!?”

Never expecting such a thing, Jonah and Henrik involuntarily cried out.

“What? Are you dissatisfied with sharing with me?”

“N-n-no! It’s not that, but for commoners like us to share with the Imperial Princess…”

“Don’t worry about it. Though I am a princess, I am also a warrior. It’s not strange for me to sleep among other soldiers.”

“Y-yes…”

With her saying that much, they could no longer refuse.

Jonah and Henrik reluctantly accepted.

“Huhu, tonight should be fun.”

In contrast to Patricia smiling happily, Jonah covered his face with both hands, thinking this was troublesome.

“Nn…”

Late that night, Jonah woke up feeling uncomfortable in his sleep.

Looking, he saw it was because Henrik, sleeping next to him, had placed his foot on Jonah’s stomach.

“Geez… You have bad sleeping habits…”

Muttering this with a wry smile, Jonah removed Henrik’s foot and tried to burrow back into the blanket to sleep again, but…

“Huh? Princess Patricia isn’t here…”

Looking, Patricia’s bedding was empty.

Thinking she might have gone to the restroom, Jonah covered himself with the blanket again, but he felt oddly concerned.

Jonah got up, stepped down from the bedding, and went outside the tent.

There, Patricia was practicing sword swings.

‘Wow… How beautiful…’

Of course, Patricia herself was undeniably a very beautiful woman, but more than that, Jonah was captivated by the sword she wielded, her refined posture, and her serious expression as she devoted herself.

“Hm… Jonah, can’t sleep?”

“Ah… W-well, sorry for disturbing your training.”

Noticing his gaze, Patricia stopped her swordplay and spoke, causing Jonah to hurriedly bow his head.

“Don’t mind it. Besides, I was just about to take a break.”

Saying this, Patricia sheathed her sword, approached Jonah, and stroked his head.

Unlike her valiant impression, her touch—though rough with sword calluses—was gentle, and Jonah felt a comfort different from Carlo’s or Titancia’s, narrowing his eyes pleasantly.

“A-anyway, Princess Patricia was really beautiful! I could watch forever!”

“Huhu, thank you. I’m happy to be praised by Jonah.”

Hearing Jonah’s earnest eyes and straightforward praise, Patricia’s cheeks softened.

Many had given Patricia compliments, but most were out of consideration for her as the First Imperial Princess. Such things could not make her happy.

But Jonah was different.

He looked at her with his onyx eyes sparkling, as if meeting a hero.

Finding such a Jonah endearing, Patricia showed an expression she would normally never reveal.

That was probably why.

“Hey, Jonah… Do you think I can win against the White Dragon?”

Patricia began to voice the anxiety she harbored.