“It isn’t urgent, then, yes? Even the official earlier said that work for today was over.”
“And so what if it is?”
“I think it would be best for you to get some rest.” Those were the same words she uttered the first time she met him. Watching him try to push himself to do unnecessary work in spite of his poor health was unacceptable to her.
“Your complexion may have improved a tiny bit, but your bags still remain. If you, um, push yourself too hard and make an error in judgment, it could end up spelling disaster, or... I... think... so?” She managed to assert without averting her eyes, despite the fact that she was slightly losing heart due to Claudio’s scowling. He was probably used to hearing this same sound argument from Alto and other concerned people who knew of his situation. Even so, right now, she wanted him to get some rest.
Claudio’s bitter expression lasted for a while, but once he actually did shake off Rosemarie’s hand, he abandoned the documents atop his desk.
“Well, you told me to rest, didn’t you?”
“Y-Yes, I did.”
“Okay, then. I’m done with work for today,” Claudio said, simply nodding. A grin spread across his face as he abruptly tugged the startled Rosemarie closer to himself, then pulled on her arm to bring her to her feet.
“Huh? Um, but I thought you were going to get some rest...?”
“Yes, a rest from work,” he replied in a somewhat amused tone, which finally snapped Rosemarie back to her senses.
(Something is telling me I made a mistake, but, well...)
Rosemarie had the feeling that she might’ve angered him in a way that she shouldn’t have. As she tried to hurry and apologize for her actions, Claudio exited the royal office with her in tow, with her trembling all the while.
“W-Where are we going...?”
“We’re off for a stroll. Going to get a little fresh air.”
Even she could see the stark change in his complexion. Rosemarie tried to throw off Claudio’s arm and return to the office, but—almost as if he’d been prepared for her to try just that—he scooped her up in his arms.
“Um, your headache...”
“Barely any ache left. Too bad for you.” Claudio’s fearless smile made Rosemarie tense all over. Even as they spoke, Claudio continued down the hall of the royal castle without a stop in his gait. In a similar fashion to when she was paraded off to the royal office, inquisitive stares from people laid into them. Rosemarie covered her face with both hands.
(I can’t run away anymore, so at least let me walk on my own two legs... Then again, if he lets me down, I might just sprint to my room...)
While she writhed in shame internally, things started to get brighter around her. The rays of the dazzling early summer sun shone overhead, which meant they must be outside now. At the sounds of clashing metal, she peered through the spaces between her fingers to inspect her surroundings.
(An open square...?) As the somewhat dusty air incited Rosemarie to cough, Claudio finally decided to let her down to the ground. She took a good look around to see several knights engaged in swordplay practice scattered throughout the square.
“Where is this...?”
“The Imperial Guard’s training grounds.”
That reminded her that his knight aide and Vice Captain of the Imperial Guard, Alto Clausen, had referred to Claudio as Captain of the Imperial Guard.
“Your Highness!” Alto emerged from behind the training knights and ran up to them. The sudden call alerted the other knights of Claudio’s visit, putting all eyes in their direction. Upon discerning the situation, the knights put their practice on hold in order to take to knee in reverence. The knights snapped into perfect, straight rows all at once. The sight made Rosemarie huddle against Claudio’s side, half in shock and half in fear.
“No, as you were, men,” Claudio urged with a wave. After a short bow, they resumed their training. Alto remained, his straitlaced expression growing even more earnest as he voiced his concerns.
“Are you feeling any better, sir?”
“Yes, much better. I thought Master Edel was just being eccentric, but it seems they weren’t mistaken,” Claudio responded with a wry smile to the relieved Alto, which caused Rosemarie to widen her eyes.
(That expression is so docile... I never knew he could be so expressive.)
Looking at that face, it became all too clear that all the smiling that he did for her before the wedding was fabricated.
For a moment, Claudio’s uncommonly good-natured expression filled her with relief. Just as she was thinking how nice it would look from the front, Alto smiled pleasantly and said, “All thanks to Her Highness, I see.” Alto’s sudden segue caused a yelp to stick in Rosemarie’s throat.
(Please stop, Squire Clausen! He looks like he’s in such a good mood... Aah, he’s angry now. He is, isn’t he?)
Throwing an impaling stare her way, Rosemarie awkwardly flashed a smile while still cowering in fear.
“Yes, it’s thanks to this. That aside, how is everyone faring?”
“Right, sir. Things among them seem to be faring well. I feel they will be perfectly able to display their prowess in the Imperial Bout as well.”
“All thanks to the Imperial Guard Vice Captain’s rigorous training, no doubt.”
“It being rigorous stands to reason, sir. If you cannot be utilized when the time eventually comes, you are nothing more than dead weight.” As Alto made that bold statement, the soldiers continued their simulated bouts behind him as though they were engaged in real battles. In the mix were some rather rugged-looking men, possibly because many in the Imperial Guard served as bodyguards to aristocrats. Their heads swapped back and forth between beast and human intermittently. Perhaps it was because they were in the heat of battle, or perhaps their obsessive focus on defeating the person in front of them turning into resentment. Either way, there was no sign of the sticky, unpleasant feeling she’d felt at the evening gala.