Chapter 23: The Uneasy Calm

‘So that blond I saw earlier was Evan. Even if Nana or Natura hadn’t been there, Cecilia would have been saved.’

I looked at Evan, who was comforting Cecilia.

Did I steal his moment of entrance?

Are Cecilia and Evan really fated?

Whether it was before or after my regression, he always appeared without fail when danger struck.

“Miss.”

Natura, who had tightly bound the man and thrown him against the wall, approached.

‘Stop thinking! Ever since I regressed, I think too much!’

“Yes, thank you, Natura.”

“It’s nothing. Are you hurt anywhere? Does your head hurt?”

His eyes thoroughly inspected me. Did he even see me shaking my head?

‘Eek. If you fuss over me that much, it’s embarrassing!’

I almost nodded my head vigorously, but managed to just nod a couple of times.

“I’m fine. I’m not hurt.”

I’m not the only one here, after all!

“He’s a bodyguard knight, I see.”

“Yes. I’m Natura Kences, Lady Riana’s bodyguard knight, Your Highness. Are you accompanying the lady?”

Natura recognized Evan and greeted him formally. Evan, who had been soothing Cecilia, handed her over to Hawkins and straightened up.

“I should. I’ll escort you to the dormitory, so go ahead.”

“Yes, my lady. I’ll be off now.”

“Go safely. Um… see you at the mansion.”

“Yes.”

After answering, Natura hesitated for a moment, then undid the cloak he was wearing.

“Natura?”

“Please, wear this.”

“No… thank you, but…”

“Please don’t refuse.”

“…It’s too big for me.”

“Ah…”

“Oh dear.”

Pffft, I heard Evan trying to stifle a laugh.

Natura’s cloak not only passed over my legs but dragged along the ground. The trailing hem was so long it could easily be used as a blanket.

Does he not remember bending over at my request earlier? The height difference is no joke!

“I’m sorry, my lady.”

“Natura.”

When I called him quietly, Natura bent down and brought his ear close.

“Don’t apologize, it’s embarrassing.”

“Yes. I’m sor… Yes.”

‘Uuugh! This is so embarrassing!’

As Natura took back the cloak he had wrapped around me, he looked a little regretful.

What’s with that face? What’s there to be regretful about?

“You have a good relationship with your knight. Hm.”

Evan covered his laughter with a fake cough.

“….”

‘Don’t laugh.’

I tried to convey my intention with my eyes. But maybe I wasn’t intimidating enough, as Evan turned his head away. His shoulders shook for a brief moment.

Natura bowed once more, then dragged the unconscious man across the floor and left.

“Th-thank you, Sir Knight. Really….”

Cecilia murmured in a small voice, but Natura was already out of sight.

Hawkins frowned.

“What brings you to a place like this….”

He took off his own robe and draped it over Cecilia.

Pffft! Evan laughed without any restraint. Maybe he thought of how I looked earlier after seeing Hawkins. Should I pretend to feel faint and stomp on his foot, or not?

“I was really surprised. I didn’t expect Lady Cecilia to be caught up in this commotion….”

Suppressing his laughter, Evan put on a serious face.

“Did you get lost?”

“That’s how it happened.”

I answered for Cecilia, who was too upset to speak.

“Do you always bring an escort?”

“….”

Maybe I should’ve said we’d go together. Now that they’re here, I’ll just fade into the background.

A shriek of “Urk!” came from the direction Natura had gone.

Is he hitting that man the whole way? I never thought Natura was scary like that.

“Riana.”

“Yes?”

“Your mind’s wandering. Even with people right in front of you.”

Evan smiled as if he was amused.

‘Was he talking to me?’

“Who gave you this flower?”

“….”

A cute little boy with missing teeth?

“Hm.”

“….”

Evan’s green eyes looked at me.

“Do you always go out with a bodyguard knight?”

He’s asking a second time. Evan kindly added,

“I’m not sure.”

‘I’ll have to ask at the mansion. Were they secretly assigning me a bodyguard every time…!’

Probably not…

If they had, I probably wouldn’t have died.

“You don’t look well. Hawkins, help Cecilia.”

“Yes.”

Without hesitation, Hawkins lifted Cecilia in his arms.

“Eek! I-it’s fine. I must be heavy….”

“You’re not heavy at all. In fact… you’re so light it’s worrying.”

My ears are so ticklish. Aren’t they bothered by everyone staring?

Part of me envies how little they care.

‘I worry way too much.’

Cecilia and Hawkins whispered to each other for a while. Guys, aren’t we leaving? Hm? Let’s go already.

“Let’s go.”

Whether they listen or not. I’m heading out first!

As I started walking, Evan caught up to me, grinning mischievously as if the tense mood from earlier had vanished.

Why?!

Surely not… no way, right?

“I’ll escort you myself, Lady Riana—”

“No, I’m fine!”

I smiled brightly too.

‘Absolutely not!’

I spun around and walked briskly away. A low chuckle sounded from behind.

What’s with him, all of a sudden!

Evan easily matched my pace and kept asking pointless questions.

‘Why are you like this, really?’

“Are you brave? How come you didn’t tremble at all?”

“Did you expect this?”

“If you squeeze a flower that hard, it’ll get crushed.”

“Oh, so you were shaking?”

Argh! Quiet, Evan! Why do you have so much to say?

When I accidentally showed my exasperation, Evan seemed satisfied and finally closed his mouth.

What’s with him! He’s really weird today.

*****

The wind kept tugging at my clothes.

It’s cold! The sun is out, but why! Why do I feel so uneasy!

“Cecilia, are you feeling better?”

If you are, how about getting down?

“She’s still trembling.”

“Sorry.”

“No, it’s fine.”

I wasn’t looking for an apology.

Hawkins frowned.

Being cradled by Hawkins with his conspicuous looks, of course people stared. Cecilia’s long hair fell down and swayed with every step Hawkins took, drawing even more attention. Merchants and passersby alike stared, and some seemed to recognize Evan.

On the other side of the square, I saw young ladies in light dresses.

‘Are they Academy students?’

The things their attendants were carrying looked like Academy supplies.

Their gazes occasionally turned this way. Then, as if surprised, they began to stare intently.

To be precise, at Cecilia and Evan…!

“Oh my, look over there! Isn’t that Lord Evan?”

“Where… gasp! Who’s he with?”

“There’s a girl too! Goodness, isn’t that Cecilia?”

“Cecilia? Who’s that?”

“You know, the pretty one who entered as the top student.”

“Ha. That insignificant Mentheson?”

“She wasn’t even that pretty… now she’s in a man’s arms….”

“Do you think Lady Margareta knows?”

“Who knows.”

‘What are they saying?’

I tried to read their lips, but they were too far away.

I narrowed my eyes and focused,

“Aren’t we going?”

came a voice.

It was Evan.

Hawkins, still holding Cecilia, had already gone inside the shop, and Evan, who was walking ahead, looked back at me. His appearance was neat, yet somehow looked casual.

Maybe it was because of Evan’s expression. His ever-smiling lips and languid eyes watched me as if urging me to hurry. With the sunlight shining behind him, his already bright hair seemed to sparkle even more.

“…Let’s go.”

When I caught up to Evan, he began walking too.

‘…What’s going on? Normally, we’d already be sitting in the café. He wouldn’t care whether I was there or not. Before I regressed, he was often like that! Is today some special day… This is strange!’

“You’re spacing out again. Do you have a fever?”

Oh. Maybe I was so lost in thought that my steps slowed. Evan stood in front of me, blocking the sunlight, and reached out his hand. The button on Evan’s sleeve swayed as he did. I stared blankly at the button and his long, outstretched fingers—his white hand with prominent knuckles.

“You don’t have a fever. Or is it anemia?”

“….”

W-w-wait!

Without hesitation, Evan reached out and touched my forehead. His hand was warm enough to cover my entire forehead and even brush my eyelashes. When I blinked in surprise, my lashes swept against Evan’s hand.

Our eyes met midair. I looked away, and Evan withdrew his hand.

His face was the same as always, but after eighteen years of watching him closely, I could tell—

He seemed flustered too.