🌹💘🌹
WE used teleportation slates a few times and two days later in the afternoon, finally arrived at Viscount Telestraza’s castle, the Flame Corps’ base of operations.
During the return journey, we stopped at a relay point where Richard and I cleaned up. After we finished, we resumed the trip in the same carriage. As soon as he saw me waiting near the stables, he strode briskly toward me, his shoes clacking on the ground. He looked me over with a serious expression.
“Ri-Richard?”
“Miss Monica, how are you feeling? Any pain or unusual sensations? Have you been sleeping well since? Eating properly? Are you all right walking? Shall I carry you?”
“I-I’m fine! I’m fine, so stop!” I hurriedly stepped away from him, my face flushed from the thorough examination of his hands all over me. “Honestly, don’t you think you’ve been invading my personal space a little too much lately…?”
Heart racing, I pressed my hands against my chest and inhaled deeply. Richard looked baffled for an instant before dazzling me with his usual bright smile.
“Really? I can’t help it, since you’re so gosh darn adorable, Miss Monica.”
“D-Didn’t I tell you a while ago? A-About, you know…something being wrong with my heats. It’s dangerous, so let’s not be rash, okay?”
“Well, if you insist, I guess I have no choice but to stop, hm?” He nodded easily enough then very matter-of-factly picked me up in one arm.
“Wh-What did I literally just say?!”
“Just until I get you into the carriage. There we go. I put you down. Happy?”
When he gently plunked me onto my seat, I thanked him automatically. It would have been rude not to.
“Thank you…”
He stared intently at me once more for a few beats before commenting thoughtfully.
“I’m glad to see you back in your right mind again, Miss Monica.”
Upon our triumphant return to the castle, many citizens of Kophe welcomed us with cheers of joy.
“Thank you, Arousing Priestess!”
“Thank you for saving this country! All hail Prince Richard!”
I could feel my face forming a stiff smile at the people who greeted us from the roadside.
“‘All hail Prince Richard,’ hm? I wonder if that’s appropriate to say what with everything going on…” I kept smiling as I waved at everyone. Richard didn’t take his eyes off me the whole time. “Richard, you won’t wave to them?”
“Me?” For a moment, I could have sworn his expression was bone-chillingly cold. Or perhaps it was my imagination. He replied without looking away from me. A corner of his mouth curled up sardonically. “I’m angry, so I don’t think I will.”
“Huh?”
I hadn’t expected him to say that.
Richard finally turned his gaze outside the window when I responded in confusion. He continued then, the torrent of words like a dam breaking. “None of them know how much and how long you’ve suffered to protect this country with all your might. From the time no one knew your name, you’ve strived, worried, and cried for these people while enduring terrifying experiences… They never even tried to know anything about you. Yet only at times like these, when it’s convenient for them, do they latch on to you and take advantage of you, welcoming you and wanting you to smile at them. It’s infuriating. Unbearable.”
“Ri-Richard…?”
“Ahhh, this is bad… Just like you Miss Monica, I think I’m finally reaching my limit after coming back here.” He plowed his fingers through his hair in frustration. I couldn’t see his expression. Unable to take my eyes off him, I forgot about waving at the crowd.
His large hands covered his face, but through his fingers, I glimpsed his flame-colored eyes. Our gazes locked. An instinctive shiver raced through my body. To use an analogy, I imagined this was how prey felt when caught in a ferocious predator’s sights.
“Damn… Forgive me?” He must have noticed my fear. Richard abruptly returned to his senses and smiled apologetically at me, his brows lowered in a frown. “I didn’t mean to glare at you. I just can’t look away from you is all, Miss Monica.”
“N-No, you didn’t… I’m fine, truly. And, thank you for thinking of me…” Despite my pounding heartbeat, I fashioned a smile and shook my head.
“Moving forward…we’ll have to make sure that Kophe treats you and all its holy women properly, hm?” In an attempt to lighten the tense atmosphere, he closed the subject in a bright tone then started waving at the people on the roadside with his politician’s smile. I followed suit and did the same.
Though I put on a calm, composed act on the surface, I still couldn’t control the racing of my heart. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t afraid. But there was something even greater than the fear—excitement. Because for an instant, I saw a glimpse of something vivid in Richard’s expression.
If…if that was his true face, then… When he realized I was scared, he immediately apologized to me, which I appreciated. But. On the contrary. Under that powerful gaze, I…
I wanted him to keep looking at me with those intense eyes. I wanted him to say my name more and drown me in his passion. That was what I’d actually thought. If I were to put a name to the feeling, it would be…
Desire…
Cold sweat trickled down my spine.
I…toward Richard…only toward him is my body broken…?
He had said he would continue placing his faith in me and entrusting me with work. So wasn’t it the worst possible development for our professional relationship to be lusting so one-sidedly after my business partner?
This is worse than worse… I don’t think I want to think about this anymore, so I won’t. I put a lid on my thoughts and focused on responding cheerfully to Kophe’s people.