Chapter 20

“…Um, I’m sorry. I think I got a little carried away.”

Sierra gently pulled away from Alfred’s chest.

(What does Lord Alfred think of me, I wonder…?)

She had asked him to try falling in love with her, but Sierra had no idea what made her attractive.

She could list countless things she loved about Alfred, though.

Would he think she was childish for getting so carried away just because they’d grown a little closer? Would he be exasperated with her?

“You have nothing to apologize for. Perhaps I was getting carried away myself…”

“Huh?”

“No, it’s nothing. Anyway, as an apology for deciding on your guards without asking you, is there anything you’d like to ask of me in return?”

Alfred spoke quickly, as though trying to cover something up.

At his words, Sierra’s expression immediately brightened.

“Um, would it be all right if I held a music gathering at this mansion?”

She had been meaning to ask Alfred’s permission anyway.

In exchange for accepting the guards, she would get permission to hold the music gathering.

That would solve the shortage of people needed to prepare the event, while also benefiting Alfred. It was killing two birds with one stone.

“…No. A music gathering is out of the question.”

His voice was firm, and Sierra’s smile faded.

“Why not?”

“…Because you’re being targeted because of me. I can’t invite a large number of people into the mansion under these circumstances. Absolutely not.”

Alfred spoke in a threatening tone, with an air of authority that left no room for argument. However, Sierra wasn’t convinced.

“…All right.”

After a long silence, Sierra nodded. Alfred finally relaxed.

But her next words shocked him all over again.

“If we catch the people targeting me, then I can hold the music gathering, right? In that case, let’s use me as bait and catch the culprits as soon as possible!”

Sierra was positive through and through.

Ever since Alfred had saved her, she’d made up her mind to always smile and stay cheerful.

From that day onward, the pessimistic, tearful girl had changed into a positive girl whose face was always filled with smiles.

Sierra even thought it was fortunate that someone was targeting her.

The culprit would probably let their guard down because she was blind, and she had her excellent hearing to rely on.

If she heard the culprit’s voice just once, she would be able to recognize them immediately.

Besides, as long as Alfred was with her, there was nothing to fear.

“Lord Alfred, let’s find the culprit and hold a wonderful music gathering!”

Sierra puffed out her chest and declared this with a confident smile.

“I can’t let you do something so dangerous.”

Naturally, Alfred, who had gone so far as to arrange guards for her, wasn’t about to agree.

“My goodness. You’re planning to search for the culprit all by yourself, aren’t you? I’m already your wife, Lord Alfred. Please let me fight alongside you.”

Sierra reached out, searching for the warmth of Alfred’s body nearby.

His large hand came forward to meet hers, but it was trembling slightly.

That only made her squeeze it more tightly.

“I’ll be fine. After all, Lord Alfred, you’ll protect me, won’t you?”

The fact that Alfred had accepted her meant she could at least hope that he cared about her a little.

Sierra decided to put her faith in that.

It was a somewhat underhanded way of appealing to Alfred’s kindness, but she couldn’t back down either.

(I won’t let Lord Alfred fight alone anymore.)

The only reason Sierra could think of for someone targeting her was that she was Alfred’s wife.

In other words, they intended to use her as a tool to threaten him.

Knowing that was probably why Alfred had presented her with such extreme choices yesterday.

But Sierra intended to remain Alfred’s wife for the rest of her life.

She couldn’t simply shut herself away in the mansion whenever an enemy appeared and leave all the searching to Alfred.

Rather than being a fragile heroine who could only be protected, a heroine who stood on her own two feet and joined hands with her hero was obviously much cooler.

Sierra admired strong women like that.

“I have no intention of leaving your side from now on, Lord Alfred. This must be a trial for us, don’t you think? A test of whether we can work together as husband and wife… Please, Lord Alfred. Let me walk beside you, too.”

Sierra opened her sightless eyes and looked up at Alfred.

Though her vision was completely dark, she could sense him holding his breath.

The hand she held squeezed hers tightly in return, and she could even feel his heartbeat.

(It’s the same as mine…)

His heart was pounding, faster and faster.

Could even the usually composed Alfred feel his heart racing when he was with her?

“…Rather than drag you into this, I’d prefer to bear everything on my own. Though I suppose you’d probably go and take action by yourself anyway…”

At Alfred’s heartfelt sigh, Sierra felt a small pang of guilt.

But even more than that, she was happy to know that he cared about her so much.

“Promise me you won’t do anything reckless.”

“I promise, Lord Alfred. Thank you.”

With a sweet smile, Sierra leaned against Alfred and rested her cheek against his chest.