Chapter 7
I sat down in the chair.
<Why did you say you liked her?>
The spirit of the wind suddenly appeared and spoke to me. It was the same spirit that had listened to Sarina’s words with me last night.
With an innocent look, the spirit asked,
<That human hurt you.>
It was talking about Sarina.
She hadn’t shown herself, but it seemed she had stayed by my side throughout the lesson.
I replied softly,
“…If Sarina had known I was listening, she wouldn’t have said that.”
<What do you mean?>
“She didn’t mean to hurt me.”
<But you still got teary-eyed when you heard her words.>
I quietly held my pen.
The wind spirit smelled fresh, like a spring breeze. It was a comforting friend who was always there for me.
I twirled the pen in my fingers. The feather attached to it was soft.
“Everyone makes mistakes.”
<But, Adele, that human never apologized to you. And you still forgive her?>
“I feel more at peace forgiving than hating. I think that way just to make my heart lighter.”
<……>
The wind spirit fluttered around me as if fascinated.
Its tiny wings sparkled in the air. Then it whispered,
<I like you, Adele. We all serve only you.>
“Thank you.”
<Like the human who taught you said, you should cherish yourself more.>
That part was a little hard to understand.
I had already followed Ehin’s lesson and spoken informally to Sarina. Was that still not enough?
Even though I spoke informally…
While I sat there lost in thought, someone knocked on the door.
The spirit vanished right in front of me.
I wasn’t startled — spirits often came and went as they pleased.
Through the opening door, I saw Sarina holding a tray. But she wasn’t alone.
Five knights followed behind her.
…Mikael?
My eyes slowly widened.
“Lady, would you come here for a moment?”
Sarina’s voice was gentle.
As if enchanted, I rose from my seat and approached the knights.
Meanwhile, Sarina set down the teacups on the table.
Mikael spoke.
“I am Mikael Batenberg. From now on, I’ll be serving as your escort knight. It’s an honor to be properly introduced.”
Mikael brought the hilt of his sword to his chest and bowed his head.
I bowed back.
I’m so happy.
When Ehin had said I would have five escorts, I’d hoped Mikael would be one of them.
And he really was.
I smiled with joy — though I held back from grinning too widely so the others wouldn’t feel left out.
“…Hello.”
I almost bit my tongue trying not to use formal speech.
“I’m Terra Humidite. Please, call me Terra.”
The only woman among them spoke. I awkwardly took her outstretched hand and answered,
“…Nice to meet you, Terra.”
If not for the sword at her waist, I might have thought she was a noble lady — long hair, large eyes, and an air of calm elegance.
I melted a little at her shy smile.
“I’m Chopin. Yes, quite the artistic soul, if I may say so.”
Once I let go of Terra’s hand, the shortest of the five spoke.
His hair was dyed in the colors of the rainbow — literally red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
How fascinating.
He looked like someone who would stand out wherever he went.
Chopin grinned broadly.
“If you ever get bored, just talk to me. I’m the most fun of the bunch.”
I nodded shyly.
The man beside him continued,
“Please call me Log. I talk a lot, so if I get noisy, just tell me to shut up, sir—I mean, ma’am.”
“What kind of thing is that to say in front of a lady?”
“Then tell me to zip it.”
“Be quiet.”
“I wasn’t talking to you.”
Log and Chopin went back and forth like old friends.
They reminded me of Madeleine, and I chuckled, looking up at them.
Log scratched his head awkwardly.
“I talk a little rough sometimes.”
“It’s okay.”
I shook my head.
“Please understand, my lady. He’s just… uncultured.”
The man beside him — wearing glasses and slicked-back hair — stepped forward smoothly.
His neat suit and confident voice gave him an air of refinement.
“Please remember my name, my lady — Fabian, eldest son of Count Terschner. When you become successful, please remember me first.”
“Are you already begging for favors?”
“Well, she’s destined to be someone important.”
Chopin teased, and Fabian replied with a sly grin.
“These guys are all here under orders, but I volunteered. You know the difference between a command and volunteering, right?”
No, I didn’t. I knew what an order was, but…
Volunteered?
I turned to Sarina. She noticed my confusion and explained,
“It means he wanted to do it before anyone told him to.”
“Oh…”
So that’s what “volunteered” meant.
Fabian wore a proud expression — similar to the cook’s earlier that morning.
My cheeks grew warm — not from embarrassment, but happiness.
“Thank you.”
“Eh? Oh, uh, yes.”
“My lady, there’s no need to thank him. Didn’t you hear? He’s shameless to the bone.”
Chopin muttered beside Fabian.
I just laughed. Terra was still looking at me, her gentle smile full of warmth.
The sound of tea being poured filled the air — chrrr.
A fragrant aroma soon spread through the room.
I tried saying their names one by one.
“Mikael, Terra, Chopin, Fabian, and…”
“Log, ma’am.”
“Log.”
Then I gathered my courage and introduced myself.
“I’m Adele. Adele Alkybiades. It’s… nice to meet you.”
“……”
Even though it took all my courage, everyone fell silent for a while.
I blinked, my cheeks growing red.
“Oh no, she’s too adorable.”
Terra bit her lip, murmuring under her breath. Her face brimmed with barely contained delight.
I blinked my big eyes in surprise.
The other knights were momentarily speechless, staring down at me.
“Uh… yes.”
“Me too…”
“It’s an honor, of course.”
Fabian, recovering first, responded the longest.
Chopin muttered as he looked off into the distance,
“I think I just realized I want a little sister.”
“……”
Then Mikael, who had stayed silent, quietly raised his hand. The noisy room instantly fell into order.
So this is what they call charisma…
I looked at Mikael curiously.
Even Fabian stepped back.
Mikael knelt on one knee before me, just as the Duke had done that morning — our eyes now level.
I didn’t step back.
“My lady, are they being too loud?”
“No. I mean— no, they’re fine.”
I remembered Ehin’s teaching to speak informally and blinked.
“…They all seem like good people.”
“You’re very kind.”
Mikael smiled softly.
I wanted to tell him how happy I was that he’d be my escort — but I held it in.
“I’ll tell you a few rules in advance. The guards will rotate three times a day — we call that a three-shift system.”
“…Okay.”
His voice was nice.
If he read me a book before bed, I’d probably fall asleep instantly.
“Among us, only Terra has a younger sister. If you have something you find hard to tell us, talk to her. She’ll listen kindly.”
I glanced at Terra.
She still looked like she might melt from how cute she found me. Her smile made me smile too.
“And…”
I looked back at Mikael.
His expression grew a little complicated.
“You shouldn’t be too friendly with just anyone. Especially not with people like Fabian.”
“What did I do!”
Fabian protested indignantly, but Mikael ignored him.
“Also, don’t follow anyone just because they offer you food.”
“Okay.”
I nodded obediently. Mikael smiled warmly.
“Very good. That’s all you need to remember for now. Do you have any questions?”
His violet eyes were still beautiful.
His stern face lit up when he smiled. I tucked my chin slightly.
The other knights had gone strangely quiet.
“Yesterday, I… had something I wanted to ask.”
“Ah, yes. You did say that. And I told you I would answer anything.”
Mikael asked,
“What was it, my lady?”
I slowly closed my mouth.
Before I studied with Ehin, I might have asked when I’d be sent back to the orphanage — or if I’d ruined the Duke’s chance at marriage because of me.
But those kinds of questions would only make Mikael uncomfortable, and Sarina flustered.
I don’t want that.
Ehin had said the “prophecy child” was a precious being.
If that was true, then I probably wouldn’t be sent back to the orphanage so easily.
As long as there were people who wanted to stop the war, they’d want to protect me — people like Mikael from now on.
I won’t be abandoned.
Everything still felt like a dream.
If I showed my desire for a family, I felt like the adults would scold me.
I was still afraid.
But now, I was a lady — the Duke’s daughter. Maybe I would always stay that way.
A little hope bloomed inside me. I had a family now.
I’m not an orphan anymore.
So now, there was only one thing I wanted to know.
“How can I… get closer to Father, the Duke?”
