CH 94

"Phew ...... I finally made it back . ......"

I thanked Chris and then we parted in front of the guest house.

Deanna took care of the surroundings until I returned to my room in the guest house.

Thanks to her, I managed to get back to my room without being noticed.

When I got back, I quickly changed out of my maid's uniform and jumped into bed.

Now I'm on my stomach, my face pressed against the pillow.

'Huh. ...... Still, I'm glad I got the information about the herbs that could cure mother's illness and lead to a special cure, but it's been a lot of hard work. ....."'

I let out a sigh and mumbled something, then my lids became heavy and I felt a very strong sleepiness coming on.

At that moment, there was a knock at the door and Deanna's voice could be heard in the room.

"Master  Rid, Master Reiner wants to see you."

"Father?　Wow, okay, I'll be right there."

I got up from bed and left the room, rubbing my eyes with my hands to get rid of the sleepiness.

I was told that my father's room at the guest house was the largest room on the second floor.

Deanna led the way and we soon arrived at the front of the room.

I took a deep breath, knocked on the door, and said, "Father, you wanted to see me? "

The answer came immediately from inside, "Come in."

Deanna did not try to enter the room, but took a waiting posture in the hallway as it was.

When I opened the door and entered the room, I found Zack, a prior guest, and a slender dark elf man talking with Father about something with a hard look on his face.

The slender dark elf man looked at me and quietly bowed his head.

Zack asked, "May I?" , and my father gave a small nod.

"Master Rid, this is my man, Capella. Capella, introduce yourself."

Zack cleared his throat and then called out, and the dark elf who was called Capella slowly raised his head.

Then he introduced himself to me.

"I am Capella Didor, as introduced to you. I look forward to working with you from now on."

After he finished, he bowed to me again.

I was not sure what was going on, but I told him to raise his head.

When he raised his head, I was a little surprised at his appearance.

He was a handsome man with black hair and dark, piercing eyes.

The atmosphere he gave off was somewhat tense, something that was not present in the Bardia residence.

But more than that, I thought the name "Capella" sounded familiar.

Where had I heard it before?　

As I was lost in thought trying to remember, my father called out to me.

"Rid, Zack has just made a proposal. It involves you, too. Sit down and listen  to it ."

"Yes, Father,"

I sat down on the sofa as my father asked me .

We were now sitting around the desk from three sides, with only Capella standing by Zack's side.

"I am sorry, master . Reiner, master .Rid,. Now, where were we?

"......, I understand that Master Zach wants Capella to be Rid's squire."

"Heh......?"

I looked at them both with a puzzled look on my face when I heard what he said.

Why would Zack suddenly recommend Capella as my squire?　

I gradually became dubious about the matter, as I suddenly felt something fishy in the content.

Zack looked at me with a smile and said,

'I heard that Master Rid is willing to marry Princess Fara,. If that's the case, I thought it would be easier to make preparations if someone familiar with Renalute culture was nearby."

"I see. ..... "

I nodded at his words and looked at my father, but there was no shift.

Apparently, he intends to leave this matter to me.

After a few moments of pondering, I responded to Zack.

...., but the marriage with the Princess Fara has not been decided yet. Besides, if we are talking about Renalute culture and preparing to welcome a princess, then I don't think you have to be my 'squire', do you?"

I am not a "squire" of the Lenarte culture or the princess, And it is only natural that you would think so if it comes at this time . In addition, the Kirin child behavior that Master Rid showed in front of His Majesty Elias is not unknown among the nobility in our country. All in all, I think that there is no one but Master Rid for Princess Fara."

Zack smiled as he finished.

There was nothing out of line in what he was saying.

But when he goes to the trouble of recommending someone as a "squire," I think he has an agenda.

I looked at my father and asked him a question.

"What do you think ......?　Am I allowed to respond?:;

"Hm. I am going to leave this matter to you. I don't mean to be rude to you, but you'll have to find out for yourselves whether or not he's the right person to be your squire."

"Hmph, as expected of Master Rainer, you are very strict."

Zack smiled wryly at father's words.

Capella remains standing there without saying anything.

I look at Capella's face, but it is blank and I cannot read his emotions.

The fact that my father did not stop him and left it to me means that there is a strong possibility that Zack and my father are working together behind the scenes.

If that is the case, the only possibility is that he is checking me out.　

That's when I remembered why the name "Capella" sounded so familiar to me.

I was sure that there was a character named "Capella" in "Tokirella!

He was one of the characters that could be used in the free mode, and I believe he was good at espionage activities.

I think he was specialized in attack power and speed, and his defense was low.

But I don't remember how he was involved in the story.

Going back to my thoughts, from the character image, I guess he is one of the country's agents or something.　

Zack, who has him as his subordinate and is in a position to talk with my father, may be a top figure in that organization.

At the moment I thought that, I felt a chill in Zack's smile.

Zack sensed the atmosphere and called out to me with a suspicious expression.

"Is there something wrong ......?"

'No, nothing ...... more importantly, what is Zack's purpose in promoting him as my squire?　You don't really mean to say that he's a man prepared only to welcome Princess Farah, do you?"

I decided to ask him the crux of the matter, trying to keep a level head.

Probably, I would never be able to beat Zack in a belly-button trick.

Then, it might be better to be honest with him.

He rolled his eyes a little at my words and replied happily with a wry smile.

'Huh, you interesting one after all."

He muttered, looking at Capella.

"Capella is a very talented man. There is only one reason why I am promoting him to Master Rid. I want Capella to be Master Rid shadow.'

."..... shadow?"

Zack shifted his eyes from Capella to me and looked at me, and began to exude a killing power that I could not have imagined from his soft-spoken manner.

'You have a great talent, Master Rid,, child prodigy, genius, all of these words apply to you. you also has the ability to lead others with both rigor and gentleness. But that is not enough to protect those you hold dear."

"......Are you saying I need 'shadows' for that?"

He nodded quietly and continued.

" A nd this is also a request from my king, His Majesty Elias. Capella is the man chosen to support and protect Master Rid and Princess Fara from the shadows. I am sure he will be of great help."

"I see. ......'

The moment I heard the words, "A request from His Majesty Elias," I felt that everything make sense .

They were actually testing me to see if I would be able to handle it.

These adults are very mean.

I pondered what would be a good response, then smiled and said

."..... If that's the case, I have a favor to ask of . Capella.'

"Yes, sir?"

Capella replied to me with a blank expression on face.

I continued speaking without paying attention to it.

"If you will be my follower, can you swear your allegiance to me, Rid Bardia, here and now?　I would like my father and Master Zach to bear witness, if I may?"

This is my way of returning the favor for being tested.

It would be easy to make Capella my squire.

All I had to do was shake my head.

However, I felt that this would make Capella's master ambiguous.

Of course, the oath of allegiance might not change anything about the connection between Zack and Capella.

But as long as he swears allegiance to me in front of father and Zack, Capella will ostensibly be my follower completely.

He will belong to the Bardia family, not Renalute.

From Zack's point of view, he may have even intended to transfer hom from his own organization.

If they are so talented as to be recommended by him, he is willing to take them without mercy, even if it is only ostensibly.

As I finished, I felt the eyebrows on Capella's expressionless face twitch.

At that moment, my father immediately took me up on my offer.

"Sure, that's good. Zack is a good man,. As long as it's good enough for Rid, I'll welcome it."

"I would appreciate it if you would say so as well, Father. Would you be okay with that, Master Zack?"

Zack was taken aback, but when he cleared his throat, he replied in a frustrated but amused tone.

".... understand. I didn't think you'd go that far."

Capella then took the oath of allegiance to me, Rid Bardia, in front of both my father and Zack.

With this, Capella officially became my squire.

Of course, I can't let my guard down because his connection with Zack has not been broken.

But I am sure that Capella is a person I can rely on.

I said, looking at Capella's expressionless face with a big smile.

"... Capella, I look forward to working with you from now on."

"I will serve you with my    life."

Capella remained expressionless until the end.