Adele’s atmosphere had changed a lot.
To put it simply, I would say she had become similar to the Adele from my memories of the past.
Of course, it couldn’t be exactly the same as before.
Since Adele and I had already spent a lot of time together, unless I recalled all those memories… I thought things might be different.
Adele’s eyes, lightly landing from the wolf, turned towards me and Adrian.
Adrian, still tightly holding onto my arm, trembled slightly when he sensed Adele approaching.
Watching this quietly, Adele let out a small laugh, as if finding it absurd, and opened her mouth.
“When did you two become so close?”
“Robert is helping me. As you know, I can’t see in front of me.”
“Then can’t you just hold on a little? There’s no need to hold onto his arm… like you’re lovers or something.”
“…Um, it’s dark. It’s dangerous, you know.”
At the mention of danger, Adele chuckled softly and narrowed her eyes at me.
She had a look that suggested she didn’t quite like something.
And whenever she made that expression, it often led to an awkward situation for me.
Not knowing what she might say if I let this carry on, I figured it was better to talk to Adele first.
“It’s been a while. I didn’t expect you to come all the way here from the North.”
“Yeah, I thought you would be doing well. But it seems I might have interrupted your good times.”
“Adrian and I are just friends. This hold is just to help with walking.”
“Friends, huh? Good excuse.”
Even while being sarcastic, she didn’t seem to think too negatively about meeting me again.
I guessed her reason for coming here was probably related to the letter I sent.
However, since Adrian was present, she probably wouldn’t voice it. Adrian’s grip on my arm tightened.
As if to say he wouldn’t let go, I chuckled softly, causing Adele’s eyebrows to twitch as she gazed at me.
“But you don’t really need to help with that, do you?”
She stepped closer and casually removed Adrian’s hand from my arm, then gently placed his hand on her own arm, smiling softly.
In the time it took for Adrian to stammer in surprise, he realized that it was Adele’s arm that he was holding.
“G-Grand Duke?”
“I’ll help. It wouldn’t be good for the Saintess to see a man and woman like this, right? Isn’t it better for women to go together?”
“That might be true, but…”
Although her discomfort was apparent, it seemed she couldn’t find a solid counterargument.
I knew that Adrian was uncomfortable around Adele.
Based on the earlier letter, I understood he had a negative perception of her.
But Adele wasn’t as bad a person as he thought.
Perhaps spending time like this could actually lead to a better relationship.
“Robert, Robert?”
Adrian called out pitifully, but Adele’s intense gaze fixed on me kept him from getting closer.
I couldn’t get closer.
The gaze warned that I wouldn’t be spared if touched. I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do.
Wouldn’t it be better if we hoped to get along instead?
“Please take care of me, Saintess. I’ll be with you until the end of this southern expedition.”
“…Sorry? Wait a moment – did I hear that wrong?”
“No. There’s no way that could be.”
With a smile, Adele seemed quite pleased while walking with Adrian.
Would it fit to say she had the expression of a child who just got a new toy?
That laughter felt anxious yet strangely comforting.
It was a feeling I always had when I was with Adele.
I thought it was something I’d feel when I was in the North, but perhaps the source of this emotion was Adele herself.
“I think you have a talent for exhausting people.”
“I often hear such things.”
“…That wasn’t meant as a compliment.”
Adrian, who had barely managed to break free from her, looked quite worn out.
Weakly holding Robert’s hand, he sighed softly while brushing down the back of it.
It wasn’t so much that his body was tired, but rather he was exhausted from that attitude. Surprisingly, I had been quite good at assisting Adrian.
There was nothing wrong with my step or the way I checked if he was uncomfortable.
It was true that I had been a little mischievous.
To hug him like that right after meeting was an appropriate response.
It wasn’t like I was teasing him, but showing such a scene upon greeting was too much.
If it were up to me, I’d want to say something to Robert as well, but speaking to the memories I held in my mind wasn’t easy.
What I had thought was just a dream turned out to be a memory.
I had a feeling it was just a fragment, but the emotions I held in that memory were similar to what I felt now.
It was more profound, making it all quite complicated.
Had Adrian not been here, I would have spoken right away. Adele’s gaze turned towards Adrian.
I was left wondering if it was acceptable for a Saintess to be so close to a man.
I knew that Robert didn’t really have much luck with women, but it was inevitable to harbor strange feelings.
With his sickly and delicate face, he wasn’t unattractive, considering the always dim shadows around him.
Rather, it would be more accurate to say he was handsome.
That said, I wasn’t drawn to him because of his looks; I was aware that women had been quite interested in Robert lately.
The Princess was one, and now even the Saintess? Adele smiled bitterly at her thoughts.
I still didn’t know his exact feelings, but intuition does exist.
Two fish were already caught in the net Robert had spread. Adele did not include herself in that count.
This was less about being caught in the net and more about emotions that had surfaced from old memories.
I hadn’t recalled all the time spent with Robert.
I only remembered a few key moments, and even those weren’t known in detail.
The memories I recalled from reading the letter only brought me here with a vague feeling that I needed to see Robert.
It’s just a memory; I’ve come all the way here with a vague sense that I have to meet Robert.
…But now that I see his face, I can’t think of what to say first.
It’s great to meet him, but there’s just so much to talk about.
What exactly are the memories I’ve recalled? What does the content of the letter mean? And what’s up with being told not to meet the Crown Prince?
It’s a puzzle full of things I can’t figure out. Robert holds too many secrets.
It’s always been like that, and even in my memories, there are still many secrets.
Isn’t it time to share a little? We weren’t exactly strangers, after all.
“I heard you came all this way because of Robert.”
The voice suddenly interrupts, scattering my thoughts.
It was the voice of the Saint, who had been unusually concerned about me from earlier. It seems true that it’s because of Robert.
Still, I need to deflect a little.
I couldn’t forget the expression on Robert’s face when he looked at me earlier.
Seeing him a bit flustered, it seemed like my letter caused some trouble.
I thought I was being straightforward when I wrote it, but there’s really no need to make things uncomfortable.
I knew well why the Saint was here. It was probably to deal with the magicians in the South.
If it were an issue regarding that, the North has also been keeping tabs, so acting like it has nothing to do with me would be a bit much.
“If I had to put it bluntly, it’s necessary to investigate the magicians, considering there are magicians in the North as well.”
“…Then what about the letter?”
“I do have matters to discuss with Robert. It’s just that we didn’t write to each other.”
As I came up with a suitable excuse, Adrian, who had been staring at Adele, nodded slightly as if he agreed.
In fact, I didn’t even need to ask more questions.
Even if I came to meet Robert, I had no obligation to concern myself with it.
However… I was curious.
Why did she single out Robert among all these people?
I might be the only one who has read Robert’s past.
Having seen the relationship between Adele and Robert in those memories, I also realized the two were more connected than I thought.
If only I could see his expression; just looking inward didn’t reveal much.
Just as I was lost in thought for a moment, Adele parted her lips towards Robert.
“Can I see you for a bit later? I have something to discuss.”
“I’m fine with it.”
“I’m not planning to drag it out. I just want to ask you something, so you can come to my room.”
“Let’s do that.”
I didn’t realize it, but in this very natural conversation, Adrian didn’t like the way Adele spoke to Robert as if she were commanding him.
He understood the difference in their statuses.
However, whether in the past or now, Robert is with him, isn’t he?
Is it really right to treat him like a mere subordinate?
This isn’t just a matter of moral conviction; it’s about right and wrong.
Adele and Robert both knew they thought of each other comfortably.
He knew it himself.
While reading hearts, he could feel that the two felt a sense of stability while talking to each other.
Without realizing it, his brow slightly furrowed, and a blunt voice slipped through his small lips.
“Robert is not an object.”
Even he was a bit surprised by his own words.
He had never spoken in such a voice before.
His always gentle and kind voice came out particularly sharply towards Adele.
But he didn’t particularly feel like wanting to take it back.
After all, Robert was his friend.
In Adrian’s mind, treating a friend like that was natural for anyone who stepped up like him.
“…Haha.”
Of course, it was Adele who burst out laughing at those words.
Robert looked at Adrian with a slightly bewildered expression, but it was clear he realized there was some misunderstanding in Adrian’s serious expression.
He probably judged that there was a problem with Adele’s attitude.
Just as he was about to say something, Adele reached out to stop Robert and slowly opened her mouth.
“I don’t consider Robert an object, but I’m curious what made you say that.”
“I know you spoke to Robert in a commanding tone since you sent the letter. While Robert may have been your lieutenant in the North, please remember that here he is my friend and a comrade of the Paladins. No matter how grand a duke you are, you can’t treat the friend of a saint so carelessly.”
“I see, a friend.”
For a moment, when Adele nodded her head, a strange sense of unease washed over Robert at the smile on her lips.
What could that smile possibly mean?
Laughing softly, Adele looked at Adrian.
It had been quite bothersome how he had been referring to Robert and herself as close friends.
Though she didn’t think they were in similar circumstances, there surely was some hierarchy among women.
A friend? Sure, she was okay with that.
She and Robert had a bond a little closer than just calling each other friends.
Recalling her memory as evidence, Adele remembered some words Rotus had said a few days ago, and her lips twitched.
“We’re not exactly friends, Robert and I.”
“You know that well. You should be a little more considerate of Robert—”
“Closer than just friends, I’d say. My subordinates were talking about the relationship between Robert and me recently. What did they say… Ah.”
Her lips curved into a soft arc, and she displayed a more enchanting smile than ever before.
It was the expression she wore when she was about to say something troublesome.
With a playful smile, as if it was nothing, she opened her mouth.
“Robert is my beloved, isn’t that what they said?”
Clang! In that instant, the teacup Adrian was holding shook violently on the plate.
Even his usually closed eyes slightly opened, and in his transparent eyes that could not hold even a bit of light, a clear emotion appeared.
That emotion was unmistakable embarrassment.
Similarly, Adele, who was holding the teacup, let out a small laugh.
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