~Chapter 6~
“A lady, there’s no fruit shop that way.”
“I’m just looking around.”
I brushed past the knight nagging behind me and entered the alley.
Today I had come to the busy district to buy ingredients for drinks and also to study the world setting.
But every time I walked toward something, the escort knight Eric, who had followed me, threw in a comment.
He said he had been away on errands for a while. If I had known he would be this bothersome, I wouldn’t have let him tag along.
“I’m not a child.”
“I don’t think of you as a child, but since you are weak, you must be careful.”
“Ah!”
I had walked fast enough to lose my breath, but he was right behind me, barely two hand spans away.
“Eric, step back a little. Look, there are guards stationed at every alley. Do you think anything dangerous could happen?”
“You once even caught a summer fever. Being cautious can’t be bad.”
“That was—! Haa, forget it.”
I wanted to shout that it wasn’t a fever, but his firm expression said clearly he wouldn’t bend no matter what.
Which meant—wherever I went, he would keep overprotecting me like this.
“There’s no choice. If something happens to you again, this time I won’t be safe either. Just like Colin.”
“…Colin?”
A name I had never heard made me frown.
Me, Han Yuna, who had memorized every café recipe, had already stored the names of all the servants and knights in the mansion in my head.
I was sure there was no one I didn’t know.
“Who is that? From which family?”
“My Lady, don’t you remember? When you went for an evening walk, there was a knight who accompanied you. You said I nagged too much, so you only took Colin with you.”
Eric looked shocked, even covering his mouth with one hand.
I never saw or heard such a thing!
It felt unfair, but his reaction was too real to deny.
“Ah… right, that was Colin. Haven’t seen him lately. Did he go on some errand too?”
“He was expelled. They said he was guilty for not protecting you properly and letting you fall sick.”
“…Uh.”
So in one stroke, I became trash who had a poor knight expelled—and erased the whole matter from memory.
“C-Colin is doing fine elsewhere, right?”
“Yes. Though he lost everything and has nothing now, he was at least spared his life, so he’s somehow surviving.”
“Ahh…”
I shouldn’t have asked! I really shouldn’t have asked!
If I could, I’d turn back time ten seconds.
“Even aside from me becoming like Colin, if even a small problem happens, the Viscount will punish you with house arrest.”
“The Viscount…?”
Amelie’s father, Viscount Garnet.
A few days ago, I had secretly asked Sophia and the maids about Amelie’s family.
All their answers began with deep sighs and shaking their heads.
Her family was only her parents, but whenever Amelie and the Viscount met in the mansion, everyone became tense.
Because he never once looked at her without scolding.
‘But strangely, he doesn’t care how much money she spends.’
A villainess not loved by her father—that’s cliché. Nothing new.
But usually, in that case, the father also blocks the use of the family wealth.
“Well, it’s strange, but being cautious doesn’t hurt.”
Anyway, today I only planned to look around, buy some fruit, and head back.
If I could keep spending money freely like now, then being a bit quieter was no problem.
“A wise decision, My Lady. Then now, let’s go toward the fruit shop—”
“Hm?”
At that moment, I spotted a familiar face.
“Sir Harbor!”
It was pure luck—Sir Harbor was coming out of a luxury shop.
At my call, he turned and bowed politely.
“Greetings, Lady Amelie.”
“Sir Harbor, what brings you here?”
“I came to buy something.”
He quickly hid a neatly wrapped package behind his back.
‘That looks like a gift…’
Nice move, but my sharp eyes had already caught it.
“If you’re not busy, do you have some time?”
“Yes, I have an hour or two free.”
“Perfect. How about tea together?”
“It would be an honor.”
Nice!
I already knew Sir Harbor wasn’t the type to refuse, but his acceptance still made me pleased.
Though Eric kept clearing his throat beside me.
“Eric, stop coughing. Let’s go somewhere quiet.”
I could ignore Eric’s stares. But missing this rare chance without that hateful male lead around? Absolutely not.
The tea house Eric guided us to was surprisingly nice.
A small, cozy place run by an old lady alone, with a soft scent of coffee in the air.
In such a mood, conversation always flowed easily.
I was smiling slyly, satisfied with how smooth things were, when Eric approached with a stiff face.
“I’ll wait outside. Call me when you’re done.”
“Why? You can just sit over there and drink tea too.”
“Even if you suddenly change your mind, I must fulfill my duty as an escort knight, must I not?”
Smiling sweetly while stabbing me with words, huh.
Still, I felt a little sorry.
The original Amelie may have often been sick, but she hadn’t gone around energetically like me.
So it was natural he would be nervous seeing me wandering everywhere.
“The inside is safe. Talk comfortably. But please keep it within an hour. You don’t want to see my head roll, do you?”
I looked awkward, but Eric joked lightly.
“…Alright.”
If only he had left it at that.
But strangely, he glared at Sir Harbor for a long moment before finally stepping out.
“You have a fine escort knight. A guard’s suspicion toward strangers is the right attitude.”
“Is it? My body’s just weak, so he’s a bit overprotective. Anyway, I saw you leaving that shop earlier—what did you buy?”
“Ah, it wasn’t for me.”
He glanced at the package he set on the seat beside him. I followed his gaze.
From the wrapping material, it was clearly a gift for a woman.
I had to think carefully how to ask naturally.
“Forgive me, Lady Amelie.”
“…What? For what?”
I was just about to question him, but suddenly he apologized?
Was he trying to change the subject because he noticed my intent?
I quickly asked again in surprise.
“It seemed you had something to say to me, but the chance never came…”
“Oh. That’s not your fault, Sir Harbor. It’s because His Highness the Prince has been calling you so often.”
Oops—I nearly said “that male lead jerk” out loud.
Of course, talking about Richard never brings anything good.
Every time I tried to talk to Sir Harbor lately, Richard would appear from nowhere and drag him away.
“It seems I’ve been lacking in training. Since His Highness has called me aside to guide me personally.”
“That’s not it, Sir Harbor. I can assure you.”
No, the fault lies with that damn male lead, not you.
Poor Sir Harbor—how much scolding had Richard thrown at him to make him this timid?
Seeing him so down made me hate Richard even more.
“A diligent and responsible knight like you cannot be lacking in training.”
“…Thank you for seeing me kindly. In any case, I’m glad to finally have a chance to speak with you.”
At my words, a faint smile appeared on his stern face. With that smile, his already handsome features lit up.
“I was curious what you wished to tell me, but more than that, I wanted to thank you. You always help the knights, and I hear you even listen to their personal worries these days. I truly don’t know how to thank you enough.”
“I just do it because I like it. Visiting the knight order every day also improved my stamina.”
Of course, I listened to their worries partly to change my reputation, partly to achieve achievements, and mostly to fangirl over Lysa. But still—good is good.
“Even so, I know it’s not an easy thing. So if you ever need help, please tell me. I’ll do my best, on behalf of the knights.”
“Anything?”
My eyes lit up, ears perked.
His pure gratitude was like a big fish jumping into my net without bait.
“Then… may I ask you one thing? Please answer honestly.”
“Yes, ask me anything.”
You’re already caught in my trap!
“Sir Harbor, you have someone you like, don’t you?”
