Episode 18

“Well then, I’ll take my leave here. Please enjoy your time together.”

With a somewhat suggestive remark, Refy once again disappeared from sight.

Refy, who served as Alicia’s bodyguard and personal maid, possessed the sort of physical ability you’d expect from a guardian.

By the way, she seemed to know about the relationship between Alicia and me, and Alicia had told me to consult her if I ran into any trouble.

When I glanced at Alicia, her cheeks were flushed.

“Are you all right?”

“Y-yeah. I’m fine. And… about what we were talking about earlier. As part of appealing to my father, um… could we hold hands…?”

Alicia raised her hand up beside her face. Her white, seemingly soft hand opened and closed repeatedly as if making an appeal.

Her fingers were thin and supple. I found myself staring at that hand and nodded once.

“…It’s necessary to appeal to Lord Goral, right?”

“Yeah. I-I don’t know where my father’s knights might see us… so.”

“That’s true.”

The knights of Lord Goral patrol this town. So Alicia’s words weren’t off the mark.

Perhaps the knights have also been ordered by Lord Goral to keep watch.

Alicia fell into step beside me and squeezed my hand tightly.

“Ah…”

Alicia let out a short sound. Was that sound somehow happy, I wondered? Or was it surprise?

“S-sorry… for grabbing your hand so suddenly…”

“…I-I’m fine. I hadn’t walked holding hands with someone of the opposite sex like this before, s-sorry. Aren’t you sweaty…?”

Is that really what she’s worrying about?

Alicia’s hand, which had felt slightly cool the moment it touched mine, began to warm within less than five minutes.

…Is she embarrassed? And it wasn’t just her; I was too. Perhaps my warmth had spread to Alicia.

Thinking that made me suddenly embarrassed. My complete lack of interaction with women until now was clearly backfiring.

Alicia’s white cheeks took on a hint of crimson, and at the somewhat shy smile she gave me as she looked up, my heart skipped a beat.

…Calm down. Calm down, you.

We’re just in a fake relationship. I mustn’t think she’s cute, or that I want to keep looking at her like this forever!

I took several deep breaths to calm myself and walked through the town together with Alicia.

I was nervous at first, but now I’ve gotten a lot more used to it.

…I wonder how long it’s been since I wandered the town like this without any particular purpose.

“…It’s nice to be able to take things slow.”

When I said that, Alicia tightened her grip on my hand.

When I looked over, she wore a smile that seemed to accept everything.

“From now on, it’s okay to relax like this, you know.”

…Alicia spoke kindly, but I couldn’t just remain lazy.

To continue living like this, I first need to be acknowledged by Lord Goral.

“Well, I won’t work as relentlessly as before, but I still have to keep honing my skills as a blacksmith.”

“…Yeah. But don’t overdo it. Promise me.”

I nodded readily at Alicia’s words and continued walking through the town.