CH 36

I tried to hold it in, but once I confided in Yuren-kun and heard his voice, I couldn’t take it anymore.

My anxiety had been mounting.

I wept in embarrassment.

“You were scared, weren’t you? You did well to hold it in.”

“Yeah. But, it was different from last time, so I was fine at first.”

“Last time?”

“When I was attacked in the forest.”

I wiped away my tears.

At that time, I felt a real intent to kill and was in mortal danger.

Although the situation was the same this time, that feeling was not there.

The knife that grazed my face twice seemed to have been thrown in anticipation of me stopping.

“And I had consulted with Hisui-san, so I thought it would eventually settle down.”

“Eh? You consulted with Hisui?”

“Yeah.”

“…Why didn’t you tell me that first?”

Yuren-kun let out a huge sigh, and his strength faded.

“Yuren-kun?”

“If you had consulted with him, I can’t be mad at you.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. I feel pathetic for getting angry. But I see, you consulted with Hisui, huh.”

He showed an envious expression.

He averted his eyes and face, and his reaction was like that of a child pouting.

He seemed to be saying that he wanted me to consult with him without actually saying it.

“It’s not that, Yuren-kun. I just thought if I told you, I would involve you.”

“What do you mean involve? This is obviously something that concerns me very much, right?”

“That’s true, but Yuren-kun is a prince, right? I didn’t want to cause you any trouble because of me.”

“I see. That’s why you talked to Hisui, right?”

I nod in agreement.

Hisui-san is close to Yuren-kun and easy to talk to.

When I mention this, Yuren-kun has a complicated expression.

“I understand the reasons why. You were worried about me.”

“Y-Yes…”

In the end, I ended up worrying him, and I may have made a mistake in how I showed concern.

Maybe I should have consulted with Yuren-kun from the beginning.

“But the truth is, I really wanted you to consult with me… Please do so from now on.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry for worrying you.”

“I’m the one who caused the trouble, so it’s my fault.”

Yuren-kun bows his head.

“Don’t apologize, Yuren-kun!”

“I should. The actions of my retainers are also my responsibility. I’m a prince, after all.”

Yuren-kun spoke with strong words, as if he is determined rather than angry.

“Aria, can you show me the knife and the letter?”

“Sure.”

I showed him the knife and the letter.

“I see. Well, I think it’s okay as long as Hisui is on the move, but I have an idea of my own and I will investigate it.”

“Yeah. Is there anything I can do?”

“Not currently. If anything, it would be better if you don’t avoid me and instead stay with me.”

“Really?”

If I do that, won’t it provoke the other person?

“They also wouldn’t commit a murder or assault inside the palace. Especially if it’s who I think it is.”

“I-I see…”

Who does Yuren-kun suspect?

Did Hisui-san also say something similar? I wonder if it’s the same person.

“They can’t do anything while I’m with you. The fact that it stopped at a threat is a good sign. And if we’re too obviously friendly, it might make them impatient and come out.”

“T-That’s scary…”

“Don’t worry, okay? It’s not bad to be cautious, and if you happen to meet someone like that, just pretend not to know them. We’ll figure it out on our end.”

“Okay.”

I feel a sense of calm coming over me.

Maybe it’s because I was able to talk to Yuren-kun, but I feel lighter.

I think it’s because he’s the one I can talk to and feel reassured, since he’s the one who has helped me before.

Will he end up helping me again this time?

It’s pathetic to think like that.

I want to be Yuren-kun’s support, but in the end, it’s me who’s being supported.

“I should go soon. Is there anything else you’re not telling me?”

“No, that’s all.”

“Okay, good. Don’t overdo it.”

“You too, Yuren-kun.”

Please don’t try too hard for my sake.

After talking to him and feeling reassured, I think about it again with a calm mind.

I reflect on it.

It was good that I was able to talk to someone about it.

Still, I wanted to solve it without relying on him.

◇◇◇

Since that day, Yuren-kun and I have been meeting frequently.

We talk in the hallway or he visits me in the workshop.

What we do is the same as usual, but it feels fresh since we avoided each other for a few days.

It’s more than enjoyable, it’s calming.

Thanks to this, I have the time to think and focus on my work.

And then, after a while——

I was walking in the hallway of the royal palace.

A man stood in front of me.

Well, to be precise, he was just standing there and not really blocking the way.

But I stopped in my tracks.

It felt as if I was being told to stop, and before I knew it, we were facing each other.

A stern-looking man with gray hair and a beard.

My intuition tells me that——

It’s him.