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One sunny morning.
I was arguing with Idris.
"...Do you really have to do this?"
"I did it for you when you were sick, too."
I sighed and looked at Idris and the breakfast in front of him. Idris pointed to his injured shoulder and added.
"My arm is hurt too."
That's right.
This man was demanding that I feed him...!
'His right arm is perfectly fine!'
But what's even funnier is that I can't refuse his request.
'I feel guilty when he makes that sad face...'
And it's an injury he got trying to protect me.
"Okay... Just this once."
In the end, I pretended I couldn't win and picked up the plate of porridge.
Then a satisfied smile spread across Idris's face.
That expression was annoying, but strangely, I didn't hate it, and I burst out laughing.
I stirred the porridge with a spoon to cool it down, then scooped up a spoonful and offered it to him.
Idris eagerly accepted it.
He looked like...
'A baby bird.'
Of course, there's no such thing as a baby bird that big.
Seeing him gobble it up as I gave it to him, I felt strangely proud.
'...Is this how a mother bird feels?'
I was having such silly thoughts when I picked up a piece of bread, planning to feed it to him next.
The freshly baked bread gave off a savory aroma.
I spread butter on the cut surface of the bread and held it to his mouth.
But...
'Huh?'
My finger went into Idris's mouth as he was taking the bread!
I was flustered and belatedly pulled my hand away, but I could clearly feel the moist, soft sensation.
At the same time, the feeling of his lips touching mine came to mind.
Touching lips, permeating breath, warmth...
My heart suddenly sank at the memory that flooded back, and then it started racing.
As if noticing my reaction, Idris slyly touched his lips and began in a subtle voice.
"I was suddenly wondering."
"?"
"The doctor said that when I collapsed from the poison, you fed me herbs and I was able to get through it..."
"..."
"How did you feed herbs to a person who had collapsed...? Hmm?"
Why are you bringing that up all of a sudden!
And while touching your lips!
His strange behavior reminded me of the moment when I desperately kissed him when he collapsed, and my face flushed.
Embarrassed, I shoved the bread I was holding into his mouth and shouted.
"E, eat your bread!"
I could hear Idris mumbling something with his mouth full, but I ignored him.
Then I diligently fed him so that he wouldn't have a chance to joke around.
After a lot of ups and downs, we finished the meal, and quite a bit of time had passed.
I placed the empty plate on the side table and got up.
"Then rest. I think I have to go because it's time for class."
"Huh?"
"Self-defense class. Today is the first day."
After returning from the hunting festival, I voluntarily decided to learn self-defense.
I felt it when I saw the fight with Feidan and watched the situation from behind Idris's back.
'I don't want to be a burden.'
Of course, no matter how hard I try, I can't beat mercenaries or knights who have lived their lives using their bodies.
But at least I wanted to know the theory to be able to pierce their weaknesses.
And most of all.
'If I fight Deon, there might be more dangers like this...'
Of course, I hope that doesn't happen, but it wouldn't hurt to be prepared.
With that in mind, I asked Idris, and he gladly found a knight to teach me self-defense.
And today was the first day of class.
Idris, who was watching me get ready to leave, asked after thinking for a moment.
"Should I go with you?"
"What's a patient going to do? Rest until the doctor allows you to."
"But it's boring to do it alone―"
"Uh-huh. Isn't it the Duke's rule that patients should focus on recovery until they are fully recovered?"
Idris closed his mouth, bound by the words he had once said.
"Then rest."
I left the room and headed to the training grounds.
Just as I was nearing the training grounds, I faintly heard the bell ringing from the bell tower in the distance, signaling the hour.
Hearing that sound, I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten.
'Come to think of it, I forgot to ask Idris about the regression magic.'
Since it was generally a ridiculous idea, I first looked for information in the library before asking him.
But there was no special information.
So I thought I should ask Idris, and then I forgot.
'I'll have to ask him later.'
While I was thinking about this and that, I arrived in front of the training grounds.
I took a deep breath.
'I've lived my whole life without ever doing anything physical...'
But since I've decided to do it, I should do my best!
...But barely an hour after thinking that, my resolution disappeared without a trace.
'It's supposed to be self-defense! Why are you just making me run!'
Of course, it's not that I don't understand the reason...
"Self-defense is not a technique to subdue the opponent. It's a technique to create openings and 'escape' well."
"Ah..."
"So the first is stamina, the second is stamina, and the third is stamina. The goal is to avoid being caught for as long as possible."
...For that reason, I had been running for an hour straight.
But running for an hour straight with a body that had never exercised in its life was really killing me.
It was hard and boring.
I was almost out of energy and was just trudging around the training grounds when...
As if reading my mind, my self-defense instructor, Sir Lenoff, called me.
"From now on, I will teach you archery."
"You said self-defense is about escaping well?"
"Of course, that's true, but it's no fun if you just run. Anyway, it's a class, so it should be fun, shouldn't it?"
Hmm, that makes sense.
She gave me the bow and arrows she had brought and began to teach me the stance in front of the target.
"Then would you like to try shooting?"
But the first arrow I shot with determination didn't just miss, it didn't even reach the vicinity of the target and fell to the ground.
And the next arrow, and the next...
Sir Lenoff, judging that I needed time to learn on my own, decided to step back and watch me.
But another failure.
As the arrows kept falling to the ground, I started to get angry.
'I'm going to hit at least one arrow today...!'
I was pulling back the bowstring, burning with passion, when.
Suddenly, a large hand overlapped mine. And...
"Stop breathing and tighten your abdomen to support yourself so that your body doesn't shake."
I turned to the direction of the voice, and Idris, who was almost hugging me, was looking down at me.
"...Idris?"
When did you come...?
"You have to concentrate."
I dazedly looked back at the target in front of me at his serious tone.
But the warm warmth touching my back, the breath shaking my hair was ticklish.
...I couldn't concentrate at all.
Even so, thanks to his skill, the arrow flew straight and hit the target.
But there was no time to enjoy the joy of hitting the target.
I was afraid that the loud pounding of my heart would be heard by him.
"I, I'll try it alone this time."
I hurriedly grabbed a new arrow and tried to push him away.
But instead of backing away, Idris pressed his body even closer to mine and whispered.
"No. I haven't heard your answer yet."
"What answer..."
"I said I like you."
The words that had been kept in my heart since that day, but I couldn't bring myself to say, flowed out.
"So you're seducing me now."
Idris grabbed my hand and pulled the bowstring taut.
My body, remembering the repeated learning, reflexively stopped breathing.
And the next moment.
"Come over to me."
The bowstring, pulled taut as if it would snap, snapped back, and the arrow flew.
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