To think Miracle, who is loved by everyone, would be envious of me, who is loved by only one person, Aen.
But somehow, I didn't feel wronged or angry.
Because Aen's existence was greater than all those people.
My heart was filled with something unidentifiable.
The queasiness I felt subsided in an instant, becoming even comfortable.
I felt like I would unknowingly smile like a fool, so I turned my head, and our green eyes met.
Ligrin looked at me with a strange gaze for a moment before slowly approaching.
Then, he naturally stood beside Miracle.
Now that the Duke was gone, Ligrin was Miracle's guardian.
"You must be tired, so it would be best to return now."
It sounded like he was talking to me, and also to Miracle.
Of course, he was probably talking to Miracle. He was Miracle's guardian after all.
But perhaps because his gaze was fixed on me, it felt like he was talking to me.
Miracle stared at Ligrin intently for a moment, then smiled brightly and nodded.
"Yes, the head butler will take me to my room, right?"
"Yes, I will."
"Yay, I'm so happy."
Miracle hopped and grabbed Ligrin's hand.
I turned to look at Aen.
"Let's go back too."
"Shall we?"
He grinned.
Then.
"Then excuse us, Miss."
What excuse? I was about to ask.
"......!"
My field of vision suddenly elevated.
Aen had lifted me up in a flash!
"C, Commander?"
I reflexively grabbed his sleeve tightly and looked up at him.
I could feel Ligrin and Miracle staring in surprise.
Under everyone's gazes, Aen said in a refreshing tone.
"You must be tired after your first sparring match, so I'll escort you to your room."
"N, no. It's alright—"
"Please don't refuse, I'm just being too affectionate towards my disciple."
Aen winked playfully as he spoke.
Indeed... if I asked him to put me down while Ligrin and Miracle were watching, Aen might be embarrassed.
'Although I'm the one embarrassed now.'
To be held like a child while others were watching. I really felt like I had become a child, and my face flushed for no reason.
So, I buried my face in Aen's arms and nodded slightly.
"Thank you for allowing me. Then we'll be going now."
After a brief greeting, Aen held me tightly and strode away.
How long had we walked like that?
Suddenly. Aen's footsteps stopped.
Then, a long sigh was heard above my head.
"......I'm sorry, Miss."
I looked up at Aen at the sudden apology.
Aen's expression looked complicated up close.
Aen's eyes trembled.
Soon, he slowly put me down.
Thud.
My feet landed lightly.
Then Aen knelt on one knee and made eye contact with me.
"C, Commander?"
Startled by his sudden action, I called out to him, and Aen said.
"I'm sorry for suddenly picking you up earlier. Were you very surprised?"
He was talking about what he did earlier.
And he even knelt down.
Was that just like Aen?
I quickly shook my head.
"I was a little surprised, but it's okay."
I meant it.
Because it was Aen, not someone else.
I thought there must be a reason.
However.
'The question is, what is that reason?'
Aen was kind, so he might have picked me up because he was really worried that I was tired.
But he wouldn't do that without asking for my consent.
Then what made Aen act like that?
I had been thinking about it the whole time while being held, but I couldn't figure out the reason.
So.
"But why did you suddenly do that?"
I asked directly.
Aen, who was subtly avoiding my gaze when I asked with a genuinely curious face, soon sighed and answered.
"Just......"
"......"
"I just wanted you to look like the most amazing and precious person there."
Then he hurriedly added.
"Of course! It's true that you are the most amazing and precious person! However."
Aen's eyes narrowed as he paused.
He looked at me with eyes that seemed to be in more pain than I was.
"However, I wanted more people to know that fact. It seems like that put a burden on you. I'm really sorry."
Now I felt like I understood why Aen had acted that way.
'Really.'
Could there be another person in the world who was as kind and warm as him?
'He doesn't want me to get hurt.'
He took it upon himself to prevent me from feeling ostracized, from getting hurt, and to let others know how precious I was.
A bitter smile leaked out from within.
'It's no use, Aen.'
Even if Aen exaggerated and treated me that way, no one would think highly of me.
Because hatred towards me was too deeply rooted here.
But I didn't particularly want to say that fact.
I didn't want Aen's sincerity for me to fade.
So I just.
"My legs hurt."
"Huh?"
"You said you would carry me to my room."
I stretched out my arms towards Aen and said.
Aen's eyes widened at my shameless appearance.
Soon, he laughed and nodded.
"As expected of our Miss, your memory is great."
He smiled playfully and picked me up as I was.
"Then I'll escort you to your room right away."
"Please do."
Aen immediately started walking.
I buried my face in Aen's wide and reliable arms.
'Warm.'
Aen's arms were still warm.
I learned for the first time through Aen that a person's warmth could be so warm.
It was so warm and cozy that I just wanted this moment to last.
"Then, Miss, you've worked hard today, so get some rest. Go on in."
Aen said as he put me down in front of the door.
"I'll watch you go."
"Hmm, okay."
Aen, who would normally insist on watching me go in, backed down easily today.
He was probably still sorry to me.
Aen, who had stepped back, stared at me quietly for a moment.
"......?"
What was it?
As I looked at him with a puzzled expression, a soft smile suddenly spread across Aen's lips.
"And thank you, Miss. I feel a little relieved thanks to you."
"Yes? What is it?"
What was he suddenly talking about?
"I'm talking about the story about the subordinate who became a paraplegic due to the sparring match disguised as a cruel act."
"Ah, yes."
He was referring to the conversation I had with Jellach Mullid.
"Actually, that subordinate was my initiation classmate. Well, you could say he was a close friend."
"......!"
My eyes widened at the unexpected story.
And now I understood Aen's anger.
His overly wary appearance, and Jellach's words that he wouldn't be able to protect him this time either.
"Before I became the commander, it was an accident that was closed in court, so I couldn't do anything about it, but I feel relieved thanks to you, Miss. I think it was a good choice to take you as my disciple after all."
"......Are you okay?"
I asked carefully because his calm appearance seemed even more difficult.
Then Aen burst into his usual hearty laughter.
"Of course! He's getting through it well, and more than anything, you took revenge for him in a cool way, Miss? I'm happier than ever."
"......"
"So welcome again to being my disciple, Miss."
"......Me too."
I clenched my fist tightly and said to him.
"I'm also happy to be the commander's disciple."
Aen smiled gently, as if he liked my words.
Soon he checked the window outside where the sun had set and said.
"It's already night. Then I'll be going. Get some rest, Miss."
"You too, Commander."
I waved my hand at Aen.
Soon his figure disappeared, and I slowly lowered my hand.
And I muttered.
"I'm sorry, Aen."
I probably wouldn't be able to keep my promise to go in soon.
I turned around as it was.
There was still something I had to do.
Late at night, the moonlight that poured in through the wide window lit up the room.
A large sofa and a wide table, a bookshelf filled with books, a fireplace that had not yet fulfilled its role, and… a desk piled high with documents and a man sitting in front of it.
The owner of this room, Duke Ego Rodebel, was working late into the night.
It was such a natural routine that it wasn't particularly tiring or anything.
However... it was especially difficult to concentrate on work today.
The sword fighting from the afternoon kept lingering in his mind.
The sight of Lucia, the illegitimate child, knocking down his second son, Bansis, and beating him within an inch of his life.
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