There was real pride in his voice. I stared at him blankly before bursting into laughter. “Oh Sirius, you’re so funny. You’re the one and only exception, you know.”
“You can never be sure. You could encounter other unexpected threats, such as myself, lurking about.”
“No, I mean… When it’s you, I know right away that you pose no threat. Of course, Canopus and Scheat understood that too.”
“Serafina?” His brows drew down.
“You would never hurt me in a million years, no matter what. Am I wrong, Sirius?” His attempts at playing the villain fell flat.
“You’re…not.” His expression soured.
I smiled and, still in his arms, wrapped my own around his neck. “I love you, Sirius. That’s why I would never hurt you in a million years. I’ll protect you from everything that tries to harm you.”
He said nothing for a time, then averted his gaze. “What an evil witch you are to make such a mess of an upright man like myself.”
“How rude! Is that really how you’re going to respond to my promise to protect you?” I pouted.
Pain glinted in his eyes as he regarded me. “I’ve long since come to terms with the fact you don’t grasp my feelings. I was the one who raised you to remain this way, so I only have myself to blame. This is my just desserts.”
I didn’t quite get what he was saying, but I understood enough to glare.
He sighed, looking up at the sky before changing the topic. “It’s getting dark. It’ll grow cold once the sun sets, so why don’t we return?”
“You must be really tired from traveling out of and back to the capital in the same day.”
“I’m fine. Don’t underestimate a knight’s stamina.” He made a show of lifting me even higher.
“Really? You’re not forcing yourself? Then would you like to see the nightlife with me?” I offered.
“As a group of four?” he asked.
With an impish smile, I replied, “I was thinking maybe just the two of us, but I know the captain of my royal guard would scold me for not thinking of the risks.”
“Hmph. So long as you’re with me, there are no risks. Very well. Seeing as you’re in disguise and I’m not in uniform, I see no reason to stand on ceremony and have knights escort us.”
As he was on non-knight-brigade business, he wore noble clothes for once, but did that really matter? I cocked my head, but if he was on board with the plan, then that was fine by me. I grinned.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Canopus and Scheat salute. They took a few steps back before spinning around and briskly walking away like criminals who’d been set loose.
I was still in shock when Scheat stopped to give me a thumbs-up. I guess he approved of how I’d gotten Sirius back into a good mood.
“Look, Sirius. I’ve been given the seal of approval by Scheat.”
Humored, Sirius smiled and lowered me to the ground. “Good for you. Are you able to stand on your own yet? Of course, I wouldn’t mind carrying you around if you prefer.”
“I can stand on my own.” When he looked doubtful, I held out my arm.
“We wouldn’t want you to stumble. How about we link arms?”
“Good idea,” I said. His gaze softened. I looped my arm through his. “Can I ask you one thing, Sirius? Do you often chat up women you don’t know?”
“Of course not. I called out to you because I knew it was you.”
I sighed. “Thank goodness. You seemed so casual it made my heart ache. Half of why my legs gave out was the shock of it all, but the other half was thinking you might chat up women that way all the time.”
He grimaced. “I see. I’m sorry I worried you.”
Seeing him be so earnest, I spoke from the heart. “Hey, Sirius? Even if you find your special someone, I want you to keep making time for me, okay?”
Sirius raised an eyebrow, but his tone was serious. “Serafina, you seem to misunderstand me. No matter what happens, you are the only one I’d make time for. I have not a second to waste on other women.”
My heart skipped a beat. I covered it up by forcing cheer into my voice. “Right. You’ve been with me since I was young, so you think I’m the easiest to keep in line, huh? Fine! I’ll spend my whole life with you if that’s what you want!”
He regarded me for a beat before issuing a sigh from deep within. “I really did raise you wrong. You better not go saying that last bit to anybody else, you hear?”
“Why would I? You’re the only one I can see spending my life with.”
I thought that would reassure him, but the creases in his brow only deepened. “…really, really did raise you wrong. Serafina, do not ever speak a word again unless you fully understand its meaning! Not to me or to anyone!”
“Huh? But I’m not dumb. I understand what I’m saying.”
“No, you don’t! You absolutely don’t! You…”
Sensing a lecture coming, I tightened my arm around his and smiled up at him. “Then will you teach me?”
His shoulders slumped. “Where did you learn to act so coy?” He rested his head on my shoulder. “I admit defeat, Serafina.”
Yay, I won! As much as I wanted to, this clearly wasn’t the right time to boast, so I simply patted his head.
After a while, he scowled at me. I smiled right back and said, “I’ll give you my victory, Sirius. I really do love you, so I want you to have everything of value that I have.”
He clenched his teeth like he was bracing against something and said, “Please, spare me any more of this. I know you don’t understand a word you’re saying, but it’s still too much.” He then chanted what had recently become something of a magic spell for him. “Pull yourself together, Sirius! You’re the captain of the Royal Red Shield for crying out loud!” He shook his head and gazed up at the sky as though searching for relief there. “…The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?”
I followed his gaze. The moon shone the same color as the silver-haired knight beside me. The way it reminded me of him only made it all the more beautiful.
“It really is,” I answered. I wondered what he saw when he looked at the moon. When I glanced aside at him, his silver hair glistened in the moonlight. But my own moon here is beautiful as well.