Chapter 23.5

I almost wonder if this was all a dream. Cyril, who went missing, was safe and she had even asked whether it was alright to love me. And she was here in my arms. It made me doubt whether this warmth was real.

「Hector-san, it’s a little hard to breathe. Does it really feel that unreal?」

「…You can tell?」

「Well, sort of. It just felt like you were trying to make sure I was really here.」

Because she was exactly right, I loosened my embrace slightly, suddenly feeling embarrassed, but not letting her go just yet, I still didn’t want to. I wonder if she could see even feelings like that too? I saw her narrowing her eyes in amusement after shooting a short glance above my head.

「If we stay out here much longer, we’ll catch cold, you know?」

「Yeah, you’re right. It’d be terrible if you caught a cold.」

「You too, Hector-san.」

Reluctantly, I finally let her go. The air rushing into the space where she had been standing felt unbearably cold, and an abrupt loneliness hit me. …Ah, this is bad. I really need to get myself under control.

Finding out Cyril had been abducted had shaken my heart too violently. Maybe I still hadn’t calmed down, because the smallest things made my feelings surge again. I was supposed to be good at controlling myself.

「Would you like to hold hands?」

「Huh? …Eh?」

「You looked lonely. I thought maybe just touching hands would help you calm down.」

…Had she always been this forward? Well, she had always occasionally spoken with startling honesty before. But still, it made me impossibly happy. So precious that the loneliness vanished instantly.

When she glanced up at my head again looking satisfied, I figured she must have sensed those feelings too. As I took the hand she offered, a smile naturally spread across my face. Being with her made everything feel so easy.

And so we walked hand in hand all the way to the inn the order had arranged beforehand. After making sure Cyril ate a light meal, I planned to let her rest. Knights were stationed around the inn keeping watch, and with a locked private room she should finally be able to relax safely. But just as I was about to part with her outside her room, she stopped me.

「Um… where will you be resting, Hector-san?」

「I’ll be staying in the room next door on standby. Is something wrong?」

「Ah, good. Knowing you’ll be nearby makes me feel safer. …Goodnight.」

I waved back at her relieved smile, and the instant the door closed and she disappeared from view, I crouched down and covered my face. My loved one is unbearably adorable.

I heard a startled 「Uwah!」 from beyond the door and worried for a second, but when she quickly added, 「It’s nothing」 I relaxed again. For now, I entered the room next door. I’d been assigned to stay awake on watch duty tonight anyway, and honestly I doubted I could sleep regardless.

(…Cyril-san was rescued, but things are going to get difficult from here on.)

That day. When I visited her apothecary on the Forest Day as usual and found no sign of her, I felt true despair. The shop was closed for the regular holiday, but she was always inside during the mornings. No matter how many times I knocked on the back door, there was no answer. The bar wasn’t even locked, and the door opened easily, yet there wasn’t the slightest sign of anyone inside. The possibility of kidnapping crossed my mind instantly.

She was a mage. Was that why she had been abducted? No, that secret had been hidden with extreme care. Then was it because of her fortune-telling ability instead? Or perhaps for some other reason entirely?

Suppressing my panic, I first went to her benefactor, the carpenter Jean. The moment I explained the situation, his face changed too. Being one of the town’s people of influence, he immediately used all his connections to search for Cyril, but she was nowhere to be found.

(That really stressed out of my mind… I never want to go through that again.)

The air should have been there as always, yet it felt impossible to breathe. I barely remembered what happened after realizing she’d been abducted, though I vaguely recalled taking my anger out on everyone around me.

A missing persons report was filed, and even the knights assembled a small search team to comb through the town. But no matter how hard we searched, we couldn’t find her. So when Sazen muttered, 「Maybe she’s already dead」 I thought pulling my sword on him was only natural, everyone around must’ve been really troubled by my behaviour back there.

Because we couldn’t trace the kidnappers at all, I decided to bring the matter with Cyril’s to Kyos’s attention. Mentioning that the missing woman had an exclusive contract with Crown Prince Kyos, I asked to take the information to the prince himself… But the moment that information became public, she would no longer be able to remain just a simple apothecary.

(I’m sorry, Cyril-san. …But I wanted to save you.)

The abduction of a royal family’s exclusive apothecary was a far more serious issue than the kidnapping of an ordinary town girl, and naturally it allowed us to mobilize far greater force. …And I wanted to raise the chances of rescuing her as much as possible.

Once the information reached Kyos, he immediately ordered to secure Cyril. After that, the amount of gathered information increased dramatically. Among it was a letter from a servant exposing their master’s actions, and that became the decisive lead.

I truly believe it was the necessary measure to save her. Even so, the thought of never seeing Cyril in that little apothecary again hurt deeply. Because she treasured that shop.

Coming into the service of the royal family, she wouldn’t be allowed to continue living in a remote town far from the capital. She would likely be summoned to the royal castle and live there instead.

(Though… if it’s Kyos, he’ll probably show consideration.)

Once we safely returned her to the town, I suspected Kyos would summon me. I had spoken to him about Cyril many times before, but they had only met face-to-face once. I wanted to talk to him as much as possible and create circumstances that would suit her wishes.

(I should be able to accompany her to the castle too. I’ll protect Cyril-san.)

My right hand had recovered, and I now obtained mastery of dual weapon. In sparring matches, I could even pressure Gilwis, the captain himself, and I had already been recommended to return as a royal guard order directly serving the royal family. Kyos’s older brother Dalton currently served as his personal guard, so I might not return to my exact old position, but even so, I had once again gained the chance to support my best friend with my sword. And every bit of it was thanks to Cyril.

「The reason I’m who I am now… is because of you. Thank you.」

Though she couldn’t hear me, I murmured the words toward the wall behind which she rested. No matter how much gratitude I gave her, it would never be enough.

She saved me when I was nearly killed in that carriage accident. She cured the pain I’d carried in my right hand for years and allowed me to wield a sword with it again. She even revealed a tremendous secret in order to heal the injury that nearly cost me my right arm. And because of that, I could even return to being a royal guard knight. The debt I owed her was so enormous it could never truly be repaid.

I truly believed I would gladly risk my life for her, but that sentiment was something far too heavy to say aloud. …Though perhaps she had already seen through even that part of me.

(But if she knew everything, then that means she accepted me, right?)

A foolish grin spread across my face. Until the moment I saw Cyril today, my chest had hurt unbearably. And now, it was the complete opposite.

That was exactly why I swore never to let her face danger again. She was my cure. Without her by my side, it felt so painful I thought I might as well die.

Even though I had stayed awake all night standing guard, my mood remained excellent by morning. Once I heard movement coming from the room next door, I waited out in the hallway for her to finish getting ready and come out. I needed to tell her we’d be using the inn’s dining hall for breakfast. …Though honestly, wanting to see her face as soon as possible was part of it too.

「Good morning.」

「Ah… good morning.」

The moment the door opened, I greeted her with a smile. She widened her eyes slightly in surprise at finding me there, then quickly softened her gaze and smiled back as she returned the greeting. Why did something so small make me feel this happy?

「I was a little scared before opening the door… but seeing your face made me feel relieved, Hector-san. I really can go home properly now, can’t I?」

Being abducted must have terrified her far more than she let on. At the same time I found myself thinking I should have beaten that merchant Ignatz even more thoroughly, I also felt overjoyed realizing how much she trusted me.

And besides, being greeted first thing in the morning with a smile… Improper as it might be, it made me incredibly happy. If we lived together, would every day be like this? Just the thought alone made me desire that future desperately.

「Cyril-san, would you like to live together with me?」

「…You skipped way too many steps.」

「…Sorry. It just slipped out.」

I was pretty sure I had maintained my usual smile, it would seem my feelings had leaked through anyway. As I covered my blabbery mouth, I heard a small laugh. She was covering her own mouth too, trying to suppress her laughter.

「Well, we’ll probably end up that way eventually anyway, so I don’t really mind.」

…My beloved one is incredibly skilled at throwing my heart into chaos.

Clamping a hand firmly over my mouth before anything even more reckless escaped my lips, I quietly averted my gaze.