12 The Lady is picked up by the Black Knight 11

In the joint training, Arbel beat the knight of the third platoon in the final, and the victory was lightly achieved with a vivid sword. Gilbert was then inspired by the magical knights of each platoon and returned to the office of the second platoon. In the office, colleagues have already written their daily newspapers and are about to leave. Arbel seemed to be finishing his paperwork at the back desk.

"Congratulations. Is the lieutenant staying?

Gilbert was questioned with an innocent smile by a junior who lost the third platoon knight in the semi-finals. Gilbert walks around wondering what to do. Without anything, it was common for Arbel and I to clean up the paperwork accumulated during the afternoon joint training. Gilbert couldn't decide today right away because Sofia, who would be at home, was overwhelmed. I've told you to rest, but are you sleeping properly? The luxurious and unreliable figure was very light, unlike Gilbert's, and his magical eyes were as deep green as the forest.

"─ ─ Ah, good. You go home today."

Arbel spoke ill and raised his face by stopping the hand holding the pen. Gilbert glanced at Arbel, who had to overlook the change and stared at him standing still, and conceded his defeat and strayed away.

"Captain, but ─ ─"

"It's unusual for you to say anything for a moment."

Gilbert slightly withdrew from the perception of his superior officer, Arbel. Colleagues pretend they haven't seen Gilbert in a while. I wanted to tell you not to deceive me badly because I can tell from my gaze, but Gilbert's hate is not like saying it to tear me apart.

"─ ─ Then, I'll sweeten your words."

Gilbert runs his pen to the daily newspaper and immediately writes down his report. I put it on Arbel's desk and greeted him, leaving the office earlier than any of my colleagues there. The legs on the way home are getting faster without knowing. Still, the sunset in autumn was early, and by the time I got home on the carriage in front of the royal castle, it was getting dark.

"─ ─ I just left."

Mr. Gilbert, welcome back.

As Gilbert stepped out of the carriage, he handed his luggage to Hans, who was waiting for him, and walked through the door of the door that the maid was holding open and into the house.

How's Miss Sofia?

Asked immediately what he was worried about, Hans nodded as he walked.

"Yes, I'm taking a rest in my room. You must have been very tired."

Gilbert thinks of Sofia last night in Hans's words. Recently, it has become cold at night.

─ ─ I see.

Gilbert opened his room door to take a shower and change. There are three rooms that line up with rooms, private rooms, and bedrooms that can also be used as private rooms from the entrance. The bedrooms are connected to the bathrooms, with modest decor and a sleeping pouch. It was narrower than the manor house, but it was large enough as our main room.

Open the doors in turn. Hans put his luggage in the room in front of him and checked his meal time and went back. Gilbert paused slightly when he opened the bedroom door. I felt hesitant when I thought Sofia was resting inside. Nevertheless, it is better to worry, just to be careful, knock small and then turn the knob.

There were no lights on in the room, and dazzling white moonlights were pouring through the large window of the pouch. Close the door and check the bedding with your eyes, but there was no sign of any use. I feel the sheets still tight. Gilbert walked indoors wondering where Sofia was. Beyond the bedding, he stopped his feet watching a lump of cloth that appeared in an unexpected place.

"─ ─ Why are you here..."

Sofia sighed in the shadow of her bedding, round on the carpet, wrapped in her lap. It turns out that the kneecap that was folded on the one-seated sofa on the pouch is missing. There was no one, and Gilbert's mouth unexpectedly leaked a deep sigh. I put my hand on my temples with a feeling of weakness like being attacked at once by the fatigue of the day today. All I could think of was the wrong way to refrain. But I had to, probably because there was some hardship in Sofia up until now.

Gilbert walked up to the sleeping Sofia and gently touched his fingertips to prevent him from waking up while holding the edge of his lap. Even if you close your eyes and follow the magic shake, you still don't know anything about Sofia. I only found out that the hands were cold and the temperature in the room had dropped in the evening.

When Gilbert released his hand, he rolled up the futon on the bunk and grabbed his hand under Sofia's back and knees and lifted it softly. The knee rests away from Sofia's hand and falls to the floor, making a subtle noise. Sophia lay gently on her bedside, looking at the strange guilt that Gilbert was doing. When I put the futon on, I moved around a little and Sofia's mouth, which was supposed to be asleep, was a little loose.

Gilbert feels agitated by his mind's movements as he puts his hand on his unwittingly loose mouth. How long have you had such warm feelings for others? Gilbert changed his clothes and opened the bathroom door to escape the change.