Us? Why us?
Leje was speechless at Cayley’s sudden announcement.
Cayley, however, simply took a sip from the teacup in front of her.
And then…
“What are you talking about!? Why me!? No way!!”
“Who in the world can live doing only good things?”
Leje shouted, as if she would rush at Cayley at any moment, but Cayley responded in a calm voice.
In fact, Leje’s reaction wasn't particularly strange.
Jade Elizabeth Perun Prussel.
She was the Kingdom’s first princess and the person most likely to become the next monarch.
An ordinary person would consider it an honor for their family to be entrusted with her protection, but…
In Leje’s case, things were a little different.
As the daughter of a Duke, she already held an almost absolute position within the Kingdom. What reason would she have to risk her standing by guarding the princess?
“No! There are plenty of other people! Excluding the Disciplinary Committee Head… there are other members, so why us!?”
“Because you two are the strongest in the Disciplinary Committee.”
“Th-that’s true, but…”
Cayley’s words, as if asking the obvious, made Leje flinch and trail off.
The Disciplinary Committee Head, who had become the head due to administrative ability rather than combat prowess, was out of the question.
Besides them, no one in the Disciplinary Committee could surpass the two in skill.
Even before her coming-of-age ceremony, Leje had the ability to knock down two Ogres with her bare hands.
And Rudell, unlike his role as an extra in the original story, possessed unmatched magical skills among the students.
Therefore, from Cayley’s perspective, these two were the most suitable candidates to guard the princess.
Meanwhile…
‘She’s got her completely cornered.’
Rudell, who had been watching the argument between Leje and Cayley, silently nodded.
He had felt it before, but Cayley seemed very adept at handling Leje.
Even now, she subtly mentioned Leje’s strength, boosting her ego while simultaneously stating the reason she couldn’t refuse.
I should learn that too…
With that thought, Rudell silently sipped his coffee. It was then…
“You, say something too!”
“Huh? Me?”
Rudell widened his eyes in surprise when Leje, who was in the middle of a squabble with Cayley, asked for his help.
Even if he said something, what could Rudell do?
He had no grounds to refute Cayley’s logic, and even if he did, there was no reason for Cayley to listen to the words of a mere Viscount’s Young Master.
Above all, if it was true that the princess was visiting the academy for the Sabbath Festival, it was better for Rudell to keep her within his sight.
“Leje, have you ever heard this saying?”
“What saying?”
Rudell put down his empty coffee cup and gave Leje a faint smile.
Leje, as if sensing something ominous from Rudell’s expression, narrowed her eyes.
“If you give up, it becomes easier.”
***
A little later, in Rudell’s room.
“Seriously, what was that!?”
“Hahaha…”
The red sunset streamed through the window, dyeing the room crimson…
Leje, fuming, shoved a cookie from the basket into her mouth.
Rudell, watching her, let out a low chuckle and put down his coffee cup.
“Whose side are you on!? How could you say that!?”
In truth, Leje knew that even if Rudell had said something, it wouldn't have changed Cayley’s decision.
She just needed someone to vent her frustration on.
“What else could I have said? And shouldn’t matters between princesses be handled by you two?”
Rudell, knowing this as well, simply smiled and said nothing more.
“This is so annoying…”
With a grumble, Leje stuffed the remaining cookies into her mouth.
“By the way, with the princess coming in person… things are going to be busy after the exams.”
“I guess so. It’s the princess, after all.”
With a short sigh, Leje collapsed onto the table, and Rudell nodded in agreement.
As always, the visits of high-ranking individuals were like natural disasters for ordinary people.
After the midterm exams, the academy, including the Disciplinary Committee and the student council, would undoubtedly be incredibly busy.
“But why are you so calm? Aren’t you even surprised?”
“Huh? What’s there to be surprised about? It could happen.”
If you were in my shoes, you wouldn't bat an eye at anything either.
Thinking so, Rudell asked Leje back.
“Sometimes I wonder if you’re carefree or just stupid.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“…Seriously annoying.”
Leje muttered, narrowing her eyes at his words.
Rudell chuckled at her reaction, then stood up and headed towards his bed…
“If you’re done eating, go on. I’m tired.”
He took off his shoes, lay down on the bed, and said,
The fatigue from last night’s events hadn't fully recovered yet.
He had pushed his magic to the limit dealing with the Chimera and even ended up getting poisoned, so it was only natural.
He needed to rest now for tomorrow.
“…”
But…
Leje just silently stared at him.
“Leje?”
Feeling a sense of foreboding crawl down his spine, Rudell cautiously called her name.
And at that moment…
“I’ve been thinking about something lately when I look at you…”
“Uh… excuse me…?”
Leje got up and walked towards him, took off her shoes, and climbed onto the bed.
Rudell, flustered by her actions, tried to get up.
However, Leje was faster.
Pushing him back down onto the bed, she straddled him and gave him a seductive look.
“You’re too arrogant.”
“Huh…?”
A dumbfounded sound escaped Rudell’s lips.
His mind couldn't keep up with the current situation.
What… what was happening?
As Rudell’s eyes darted around, trying to make sense of things…
“Shall I show you exactly who’s on top and who’s on the bottom?”
As if a switch had been flipped, the atmosphere around her changed instantly.
Reaching out to the bewildered Rudell, she lightly traced his neck and jawline with her fingers.
“W-wait a minute! Leje! Let’s calm down…!”
Rudell hurriedly shouted, feeling the places her fingers touched burn like fire.
“No, I won’t stop until I hear you say you’re sorry.”
Leje smiled, as if to say there was no way she would back down.
At the same time, a sweet scent emanating from her began to fill his nostrils…
“Sorry! I’m sorry! I was too playful, so…!”
Feeling his head spin, Rudell tried to surrender.
However, his words were cut short.
Leje slowly raised her finger and placed it on his lips, silencing him.
“I’m sorry, but it’s too late.”
“Uwaaa…!!”
A flustered moan escaped Rudell’s lips at Leje’s whispered words.
His heart began to race, and all sorts of thoughts flooded his mind.
‘Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha…’
He started reciting Buddhist scriptures he had learned in the military a long time ago, desperately trying to endure the situation.
But it was gradually reaching its limit, and Rudell closed his eyes tightly without realizing it.
And then, the next moment…
-Smack!
“Ugh-!?"
With a sharp pain on his forehead, Rudell even felt stars flashing before his eyes and screamed.
“Ahahahaha-!!”
“Huh…?”
Rudell let out a dumbfounded voice at the sight of Leje bursting into laughter.
It was all… an act?
“Y-you…!!”
Rudell, finally understanding the situation, sat up with a flushed face, but Leje just chuckled and headed straight for the window.
“So behave yourself from now on. Got it?”
Click. The window opened, and she perched on the windowsill, winking.
Then, with a swift movement, she jumped up and climbed back into her own room…
“…”
Rudell, who had been staring blankly at the scene, hurriedly closed the window with a gasp.
“Sigh…”
Still in shock, he stumbled towards the bed and sat down, a short sigh escaping his lips.
What in the world just happened…?
Feeling dizzy, Rudell lay back down on the bed.
He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, perhaps due to the lingering heat, and stared blankly at the ceiling.
“That was close…”
And he muttered to himself, praising himself for enduring until the very end.
And so, the sun began to set.
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just kiss alrdy
ReplyDeleteBro's out here drenched in cold sweat while living my dream
ReplyDelete“Shall I show you exactly who’s on top and who’s on the bottom?”
ReplyDeleteAYOO!!!HUH!?HELLO???