Where He Ran Off To: A Reunion With An Important Woman

“Jonah, today at last Lady Quylindra will arrive at the Imperial Palace. You must make sure your appearance is in order.”

“Wah!?”

The day after Günter’s examination, Jonah had been turned into a dress-up doll by Patricia and the maids.

Of course, to meet Lady Quylindra again.

“B-but do I really need to wear such splendid clothes…?”

“Of course. Lady Quylindra is the world’s hero once called the ‘Silent Archer.’ We’re receiving her as a state guest.”

As the First Imperial Princess, Patricia possessed all the necessary manners and political savvy, but in truth her head was full of thoughts about what she might say to Lady Quylindra.

It was fortunate that Emperor Karl hadn’t been that interested in Jonah; if he’d taken an interest, Jonah would undoubtedly have been used for others’ ends.

Besides, Patricia had seen Crown Prince Leonardo send Jonah a look mixing expectation and disappointment in that audience chamber, which worried her.

That brother, excellent as a politician but not above any means to achieve his ends, might have found Jonah useful.

One could infer that from how disappointment showed in the Emperor’s eyes after Patricia’s counsel.

In any case.

“I, Patricia Heilwig von Estraia, will protect Jonah…. Though, to be honest, you’re overwhelmingly stronger than I am.”

“N-no, that’s not true! Miss Patricia’s swordsmanship is really amazing; I never get bored watching it!”

“Hehe, I’m glad even if it’s flattery.”

“That’s not it! I’m not flattering you!”

Jonah protested to the modest Patricia.

Patricia’s swordsmanship was so overwhelming that comparing her to Moritz, the fencing instructor who taught Jonah at the Langheim ducal house, felt presumptuous.

It was heroic and fierce, yet elegant, delicate, and beautiful.

Jonah loved that swordsmanship, which seemed to embody the woman Patricia herself.

That was precisely why Jonah grew angry.

Even if it was the person herself, Jonah did not want someone to deny what he loved.

“You really are a strange boy… But out of all the praise I’ve received, your words make me the happiest.”

“Wah wah wah!?”

Patricia hugged him as she said that, and Jonah panicked.

“S-stop hugging me out of the blue!”

“Hehe, it’s punishment for making me happy. You’ll have to accept it meekly.”

“Geez…”

In the end Jonah gave up resisting and resigned himself to being Patricia’s dress-up doll.

◇

“Now, shall we go?”

Dressed in the Imperial Army’s ceremonial uniform of white with gold and silver accents, Patricia held out her hand to Jonah, who was likewise in a primarily white ceremonial outfit.

As if Patricia were about to escort Jonah.

“U-um…”

“What’s this? Jonah, do you dislike being escorted by me?”

“It’s not that.”

Jonah calmly replied to Patricia, who wore a somewhat lonely expression.

Having been together for over two weeks, including their time in the Kingdom of Karelia, Jonah had come to understand how to handle Patricia.

“No matter how much we’re meeting Lady Quylindra, this is a bit over the top… There’s another reason for this, isn’t there?”

“……………………”

Patricia averted her gaze with a composed expression when Jonah fixed her with a sharp look.

Apparently she had no intention of telling him.

“Sigh… Well, fine. It’s Miss Patricia—I’m sure she wouldn’t do anything I’d hate.”

“Hehe, someone has trusted me.”

“Is that not so?”

“No, that’s not wrong.”

Jonah and Patricia exchanged such light banter.

They’d become quite familiar with each other, and for Jonah this was a first—he found it unbearably pleasant and joyous inside.

“But I’m a man too, so let me do the escorting, okay?”

“Pff*… *fuhahaha! Yes, Jonah is a boy after all!”

“Mmph… don’t laugh.”

Jonah pouted and took the hand Patricia offered.

Her height, over 170 centimeters, did not match his at all, and their strides were very different.

Still, Jonah squared his shoulders and tried his best to serve as her escort.

Patricia smiled the whole time, finding his earnestness endearing.

The palace maids even did a double take.

And then.

“Eh…?”

The doors to the audience chamber for Lady Quylindra were thrown open, and Jonah was speechless.

It was a large hall within the Imperial Palace.

Music from an orchestra filled the air, and many people—nobles—were chatting with glasses of wine in hand.

“Hehe, surprised? Actually, to coincide with Lady Quylindra’s arrival, we decided to hold a celebration for Lindwyrm’s defeat as well… —Jonah?”

“Ah… ah…”

Patricia spoke somewhat proudly, but noticed Jonah’s change and called out to him.

Looking closely, Jonah’s face was deathly pale and his shoulders were trembling slightly.

“Wh-what’s the matter!? Are you feeling unwell…?”

“I-I’m… excuse me!”

“Ah!”

Jonah let go of Patricia’s hand and ran off from the spot.

As if fleeing from terror.

It was understandable.

He had expected only an audience with Lady Quylindra, not that it would also be a party attended by a great number of nobles.

That meant the Empire’s five great ducal houses—and the Langheim Ducal House—would be in attendance.

Jonah, having been given a death sentence, had decided to live freely for at least his last days and fled his home.

For him, it also meant a break from the painfully long life he had wanted to escape.

So it was only natural that Jonah did not want to meet his former family.

At that moment.

“Ah! “

With his face down as he ran, Jonah didn’t notice the girl walking ahead and collided with her shoulder, knocking her over.

Though he could have run straight on to escape the Langheim Ducal House—his former family—kind-hearted Jonah stopped and looked back.

“Jo… Jonah, what is this…?”

The person he’d collided with was the woman who had seen him for the first time and praised him for the first time, the one most important to him—Marguerite Hagenberg.