Chapter 82

It seemed Meommu had realized Clidane was about to leave, as it let out a long whimpering sound. The sight reminded me of El when he didn’t want to be apart from me.

“He doesn’t seem like a bad person, at least. That’s a relief.”

There were no major incidents listed in his file, but even the worst people could hide their true nature. Still, animals were said to recognize good people. And Clidane hadn’t forcibly pried the little ones off himself, even though he needed to move.

“Ruff.”

Maybe realizing I had been thinking about something else, El rubbed his cheek against my knee. It felt like a sign of complete reconciliation, and I was so happy I let go of Ramande and gave El a tight hug around the neck.

“Sir Olce seems to have taken a liking to those little ones. If you don’t mind, you may keep them with you.”

When I made sure to tell Clidane that as well, his face—previously calm—brightened as if directly hit by sunlight.

“Thank you so much. I love dogs, but I couldn’t keep one because of work.”

“That’s good, then.”

“Yes, really.”

Seeing his face, slightly resembling Esadien’s, break into a beaming smile left me with a strange feeling.

Still smiling, Clidane added with emphasis, “My room has been assigned right next to your bedroom. No matter how late it is, if anything seems strange, please don’t hesitate to call out.”

Right next to my room, not in the knights’ quarters? I was a little surprised, but I nodded without showing it.

“I will.”

“Thank you. Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

Clidane, stiff-necked in tension as if afraid the bluebird companions might fall off, finally left. Meommu followed behind him with its signature toddling steps.

Click.

As soon as the soft sound of the door closing echoed, Ramande turned to me with a blank expression. The teasing and mischief were gone from his face, and the chill I felt on my back was incomparable to when I had first opened the door earlier.

“Right next door?”

“Y-Yeah. I just found out too.”

“……”

Ramande didn’t say anything more, his lips tightly shut.

I waited, gently petting El, but he didn’t open up. Growing impatient, I finally poked him in the side.

“Why are you mad, Ramande~?”

Then finally, in a slightly cracked voice, he spoke.

“Why would I be mad at you?”

I tilted my head. He wasn’t denying he was angry, which meant…

“Then who are you angry at?”

Even as I asked, I had a feeling I already knew. I’d seen this side of him before—like when I still had a fever despite his divine power and had to take strong medicine.

Ramande was blaming himself.

Sure enough, what he muttered next sounded like self-reproach.

“Should I have become a holy knight instead of a priest? I still could’ve given you divine power.”

Unlike priests who could travel and spread blessings, holy knights were tied exclusively to the temple. Ramande knew that just as well as I did, but he was acting like someone obsessed with the goal of helping me.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t received divine power from him much lately.’

After the incident in Austin, my spirit powers had stabilized, so it wasn’t as necessary. He’d only come by occasionally when I was tired and offered a small blessing.

I sighed and gently patted the back of Ramande’s hand in reassurance. I wished he’d learn to see himself not just as a “dedicated healer and friend,” but as a friend in his own right.

“If you’d become a holy knight, we wouldn’t be able to stay together like this. You know that.”

“…You’re right.”

Ramande finally nodded in understanding, but it was clear he only accepted it intellectually, not emotionally.

‘Ugh, this old man, pretending to be fine while clearly sulking. Might as well try to fool a ghost.’

Well, I knew what to do in times like this.

I grabbed his hand abruptly and grinned wickedly like a villainess.

“Are you, by any chance, jealous?”

But what happened next surprised me. Instead of scowling and asking what was wrong with me, Ramande’s eyes widened, and his lips trembled.

“…What?”

He looked shocked, and I was about to be just as shocked myself—until his brows furrowed and he asked again.

“What are you talking about?”

There it was.

A bit late, but still the reaction I expected. Relieved, I poked Ramande’s side again.

“This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t gone around bragging to my family about collecting handsome men.”

“Oh, how kind of you to remind me of that fact again, Lady Minuelle.”

Ha-ha-ha. I laughed heartily.

“Jealousy doesn’t suit you. Even if I grow close to Sir Olce, we’re just a knight and the noble’s daughter. Unlike you, my closest friend.”

“…You really know how to hammer it in, don’t you?”

“Huh?”

“You’re hammering it in.”

“Never mind.”

Ramande folded his arms tightly. I was curious about what he meant, but when he got defensive like this, he was more stubborn than a turtle hiding in its shell. I decided to let it go—for now. Clidane was the priority.

“Anyway, don’t mention to Sir Olce that he looks like Esadien.”

“Why? Does it bother you?”

I was about to say no, but decided to be honest.

“Yeah… a little.”

“Even if you say that, people will still gossip behind your back if you keep him around.”

Ah—another problem.

Roquate really was an exhausting place. They’d definitely say I couldn’t forget Esadien and kept a similar-looking knight around.

“If Esadien comes back while he’s still here…”

Would he be hurt? Or would he think I was still clinging to hope?

“No. He’s probably moved on and won’t care anymore.”

I should’ve felt fine, but my lips felt dry. I shook off the thoughts of Esadien and squared my shoulders.

“Let them talk.”

But of course, sharp Ramande caught my emotional shift and clicked his tongue.

“Such bravado.”

“I mean, why should we let gossip change how we act? Esadien’s gone anyway.”

“If you say so… fine.”

This time, Ramande reached out and gently cupped my cheek. His divine power softly flowed in, washing over my tangled thoughts like a gentle wave and easing them.

My eyes slowly closed, and I was just about to drift into that warmth—when El suddenly growled and pushed his snout between us.

“El? Whoa.”

I was helplessly pushed away. Not satisfied with just separating us, El wedged himself between us and sat there proudly.

“Grrr.”

Then he stared ahead as if nothing had happened. It was so ridiculous and adorable I burst out laughing.

“I think he’s more jealous than you.”

Ramande, rising to his feet after being pushed aside, chuckled as well.

“Maybe.”

But El continued washing his face nonchalantly until Ramande left the room.

Thud.

The door shut with a loud bang. Inside the fireplace, a piece of burning wood collapsed and popped out with a pop.

— So he’s assigned as your guard knight, huh?

“He is. And you just sat there listening the whole time?”

Even though you looked like you were dying to say something.

— Well. You didn’t summon me or try to introduce me, so I held back.

I was actually impressed.

So this guy can read the room. Socialization really is important.

As I was thinking that, the ember shot toward me and narrowed its eyes. The flames inside its eye sockets flared sharply.

— You cursed me in your head, didn’t you?

Ah. Being perceptive has its downsides…

— Did you forget your thoughts are connected to me? You pink goldfish, honestly.

The moment I heard my least favorite nickname, I shot up.

“Ramande told you that, didn’t he?!”

I lunged to grab Gabbie by the collar, but he had already whistled (or pretended to) and dodged with ease.

— Hmm, I forget.

“You little flaming goldfish!”

Gabbie spun in midair, distorting its little face as it shouted back.

— What?! You really don’t know how to respect a great being. Such impudence from a mere creature!

“Oh, please, you were the one begging to make a contract with me!”

Crash!

Gabbie and I rushed at each other—or rather, we lunged and both dodged. Which might sound confusing, but in short: chaos.

“Stand still!”

— You stand still!

“Like I’d stop if you told me!”

— Same to you!

After circling the large room several times, we finally stopped, panting, with El between us.

“Huff, huff…”

Somehow, every time I talked to Gabbie, I ended up acting childish. Maybe it was the childlike appearance.

Gabbie, clutching its side like it had a stitch (even though it had no organs), groaned and suggested,

— L-Let’s stop now.

“You weakling… gasp… little spirit…”

Even while catching my breath, I kept thinking about how to grab Gabbie. But El gently licked my hand.

— Even he’s saying stop now.

The scratchy yet soft warmth made me instinctively smile. When our eyes met, El nodded as if to say, “Gabbie’s right.”

But his twitching ears showed how nervous he still was.

“Still cute, even after growing this big.”

Size is cuteness. “The bigger, the cuter” wasn’t just a meme—it was science.

“Aww, okay, okay. If El says stop, I’ll stop.”

As I scratched under El’s chin, Gabbie muttered grumpily.

— Such blatant favoritism…

“Hm? Wanna go another round?”

Gabbie cleared its throat dramatically, a plume of smoke drifting from its tiny clenched fist.

— A-Anyway, I’m glad someone else is here to protect you. You’re too reckless.

“What? I’m not reckless!”

But even before I finished, both Gabbie and El shook their heads.

— Nope, you are.

“Ruff!”

The way they nodded in sync left me speechless. Who cares for their own life more than I do? I always call the knights when I need to!

— Trying to convince you would just drain me. I’m going to rest.

With that, Gabbie whooshed back into the fireplace like a genie.