CH 73

Chapter 73: Change



If you read this on other websites, it means it was stolen. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.wordpress.com.



Two days later, the promised day came. Sigren was waiting in front of Heilon Mansion. 



I looked at him curiously. “How did you get out?”



“What does that mean?”



“Well, the members of the imperial family usually escape through a secret passage they made secretly, don’t they?”



It was like that in novels and movies. 



Sigren has an amazed expression on his face.



“There is a clear entrance, why bother?”



Yeah, that’s right. I guess the reality was different. 



I grabbed Sigren’s clothes and pulled him with a shamed face. 



“Let’s go.”



As we moved, I looked around quietly.



Sigren patted my head. “What are you thinking about this time?”



“Usually, there is something like a secret escort on the outing of the royal family, so I’m wondering if there is one.”



“Why would I take them around?”



He was really a non-romanticism guy.



“What about your knights?”



“They will be resting.”



It was a really bland response.



“You look like you’re not having fun. If I were to take the other guys with us, we wouldn’t be playing.”



“That’s true but…”



Well, that didn’t matter. It was probably a good thing.



We then rode a carriage and went to the front of the night market. Horses and carriages were prohibited inside. 



Sigren wore a hood.



It was night, so I was not worried about my appearance, but I was wondering if anyone would recognize me. 



The market area was well organized. Tent stalls were spread out on both sides of the street, and people were actively walking in the middle. A regular arrangement of lanterns between the stalls lit up the night. 



“It’s bigger than I thought.”



“Yeah.”



There were a lot of people. In order to not fall, I held Sigren’s hand. At the same time, Sigren flinched. I looked at him curiously. 



“What?”



“….”



“Should I not hold it?”



Sigren sighed. 



“It’s not like that.”



Then he pulled my hand tighter. Thanks to this, I was able to walk more comfortably. 



I asked while following him, “It’s something I did when we were  children, is it not good?”



I used to walk around holding his hands. Now that we are both adults, it could be uncomfortable. After all, childhood friends of the opposite sex often have a subtle line.



“Holding your hand is not the problem, Fiona.” He handed me a fruit juice while saying that. He had just bought it from a stall. 



“I am the problem.”



“….”



What did that mean? 



With that thought in mind, I sipped the juice. 



“Delicious.”



“Because it’s made from the fruit you used to complain that it could not grow in Heilon.”



“Really?”



Indeed, the male protagonist. Their abilities couldn’t be compared with those of ordinary people. His memory was really awesome.



“I forgot.”



Sigren shrugged his shoulders. 



“I remembered.”



What did that mean? Did he mean I have a bad memory?



“Let’s go.”



Before I could say anything, Sigren led the way. 



After drinking juice for a while, I gradually remembered the topic we were just talking about,



“Right, Sigren. What do you mean you’re the problem?”



Sigren turned his head slightly.



“I’ll tell you about that later.”



“When?”



“Today, when we part.”



Why would he tell me when we part?



I couldn’t figure out why.



Sigren raised the corners of his lips obliquely. It was an unfamiliar, subtle smile.



***



Shockingly, I felt like my face matched the capital’s taste in beauty. Why did I suddenly think this? It was because I heard one particular sentence often while walking around the night market today.



“Young Lady, are you alone? Then, here…”



“My partner is behind me.”



“Huh? aack—!”



Sigren shoved the young man who had just flirted with me with his annoyed face. 



The man stepped back quickly.



“Wow.”



Hearing my exclamation, Sigren looked dissatisfied. 



“You look happy.”



I smiled happily and ruffled my hair back.



“Of course. Surprisingly, my face must be in line with the capital’s taste in beauty.”



“….” 



Sure enough, when Sigren fell behind, some men came up to me. I have the power to punish my opponent if they were to try to do something bad, so I was just observing this strange phenomenon with ease. Not with the lightning, of course, because why would I? They were just trying to pick me up. 



“But, I’m not having fun.”



Well, I saw that. Because Sigren kept driving them all away. 



“You don’t have to worry too much about me. I could kick them out when they’re too aggressive.”



Sigren squinted his eyes, then he pulled my hood, covering my head.



“You can use this too.”



“No one recognizes my face here. Besides, it’s stuffy.”



I grunted and pulled off the hood.



“….”



Sigren finally gave up putting the hood on me. 



“Forget it. I’ll just walk very close to you.”



I laughed briefly.



“Don’t be so hard on me. It’s been a long time since I came to the night market. Besides, you, too, were caught by the girls.”



Sigren replied nonchalantly. “And I came to you right away.”



I giggled and joked. “There is no need for that. Who knows if the prince who sneaks out to see the night market would fall in love with a commoner girl at first sight?”



It was such a great romance. 



Sigren looked at me with disapproving eyes while smiling. 



“Forget it. There’s no way that’s possible. It’s a love with a difference in status.”



Ah. 



I closed my mouth. 



Sigren’s mother was a commoner, and she was the emperor’s one-night companion. And the emperor didn’t care whether she gave birth to Sigren, or even died. 



“Sorry.”



Sigren shook his head. “I think I understand roughly why you’re apologizing, but honestly you don’t have to.”



“Still.”



“You sometimes treat me too carefully. As I’ve said before, I’m no longer a wounded kid.”



Yeah, he was not a kid. 



I fiddled with Sigren’s hand unintentionally while lost in thought. I could feel his callused, rough skin from holding the sword for a long time. 



Sigren paused.



“Fiona.”



“Hmm?”



“No, forget it.”



Then he grabbed my hand tightly. 



Because the gap was gone, I could no longer fiddle with Sigren’s hand. 



“In Heilon, I’ve always dragged you like this…”



Hearing my murmur, Sigren grinned. “Yeah, you dragged me around very recklessly.”



The reason, of course, was for Sigren’s proper emotional development… right?



Although it was the same in the past, it was also very different from before. It was a really new feeling. 



At that moment, I looked up at Sigren’s back, which was much larger than before.