A servant informed me that Sir Ginorious wished to speak to me, so I waited in a room for him to arrive. I think I’ll return home after we reconcile. I should be happy that I was able to at least voice my wishes, but I shouldn’t force him to accept it if it’s something that brings him to tears. His feelings are most important. However, it’s unfortunate that I won’t be able to be of use to him. I’ll have to think of some other way. I don’t wish to be deadweight that he has to protect any longer.
“Sorry I’m late. I had to attend to something,” Sir Ginorious said as he entered.
He looked worn and haggard. I felt so guilty seeing him like this. He was so exhausted during this busy time. I should never have bothered him with my selfish ideas.
“Sorry. I was wrong.”
“Huh?” I was taken aback. Before I could say anything, he’d deeply apologized to me instead. “N-No, I should apologize for burdening you with my selfish request!”
“No, it was me in the wrong. I should trust you more. I should be supporting what you want to do with everything I have. I’m the one at fault, so...when I leave the fort for my mission, I want you to be the one in charge. Will you do that?”
“Huh?! O-O-Of course! I’m inexperienced, but I will do my absolute best!”
I couldn’t believe what was happening. This conversation had gone in a completely different direction than I’d expected. My mind couldn’t keep up with it all. I was beginning to feel bad for Bridgette, who I’d already asked to help start preparing for our departure. I had no doubt that she’d feel very down when she learned of this conversation, since she seemed eager to return home.
“Sir Gino, um, I believe that in order to get closer with one another, we need to voice our true opinions to each other. That’s why I asked you if I could join the war, and um...would it be all right for me to continue voicing my selfish desires?”
His eyes widened like dinner plates and he froze in place. “Of course! You can tell me anything! I can’t believe my Ana wants to be closer to me! Pinch me, I’m dreaming! How are you so cute?!”
“That’s close enough, Sir Ginorious!”
As Sir Gino shot up from his seat, both arms spread wide, Bridgette pushed him back. “Sir Ginorious! This is the strategy room of the fort! It’s where the knights and soldiers work! What are you trying to do here right in the middle of the day?!”
Hearing Bridgette’s lecture, I couldn’t help but look down with embarrassment. My face felt so warm, I could only assume it had turned a bright red.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Ana, don’t overdo it, okay? All you have to do is focus on holding out for two weeks. That’s more than enough for us to win.”
“Sir Gino, please be safe,” Ana said, tears pouring from her eyes.
Starting today, I’d be heading out with a unit on a mission deep into the enemy’s territory, which had Ana worried.
“Sir Gino, please take this,” she said, handing me an embroidered handkerchief. This country had a custom where warriors would be given embroidered handkerchiefs before going to battle as a way to pray for their safe return.
“Thank you! This embroidery is so wonderful!”
I’d unfolded the handkerchief and was bowled over by how great it was. Her skill at embroidery had increased a surprising amount. Though it was a little more avant-garde, it was very balanced and used various techniques that made you want to keep looking at it. Suddenly, Ana brought up Lady Francess.
“Um, Sir Gino, she’s very pretty, kind, incredibly wise, and very wonderful...”
These were probably her true thoughts about Lady Francess. She was flawless in all regards, which was how she’d earned the title of Gold Rose. However, even though Ana was praising her, there was something off about it. She dabbed her tears away with her handkerchief while puffing out her cheeks with dissatisfaction.
“Ana...are you angry?”
“It’s just...you’re already calling her by her first name. I was only able to start doing that after graduation, when I worked up the courage to speak to her at social functions. You only began calling Lady Ekatarina by her first name recently, but I’ve heard from Lady Francess that you’ve been doing it for her for quite some time.” Ana puffed her cheeks out more and poutily looked away.
✦ ✦ ✦
She’d assertively acquainted herself with me during the school’s swordsmanship tournament, and had kept it up even afterward. Ever since then, she’d always come over whenever she spotted me, and every time, she’d ask that I call her by her first name. At first, I said no, but if I kept refusing, it’d become a problem in social circles, so I ended up giving in. She had seriously been as pushy as a salesman. I explained all of this to Ana.
“You also chose her for your special squad. There are so many knights to choose from. Why did you choose her?” she asked.
Doing this had been the obvious choice for me. Having even one leak in your forces could lead to your downfall. Up until recently, House Lillard had been a part of the first prince’s faction. Now they were saying that they were switching sides, but I couldn’t allow myself to take that at face value. Leaving her in the fort was too dangerous.
If possible, I’d have preferred to have left her with the rear forces, but she specifically requested that her family be on the front line. It’d be a huge problem if I accepted other requests like House Treves’ to fight on the front lines but not House Lillard’s. That was why I chose her to join a smaller unit where even if we failed, not as many lives would be affected if she was to betray us. It wasn’t something I could risk being overheard, so I whispered my explanation into Ana’s ear.
“It’s okay. I wasn’t telling you this because I wished for you to change your plans. I simply wanted to be as honest with you as I could, so...I showed you my dirty jealousy.”
What?! Ana’s jealous?! Seriously?! Somebody pinch me! This has to be a dream!
“Ana! You’re the cutest person in the world!”
“That’s close enough, Sir Ginorious!”
I’d tried to hug Ana, but Bridgette, who’d been a little bit of a distance away, frantically came running over and pried me away.
“Please give it a rest! Why are you doing something so shameless when the eyes of all the forces here are on you, their leader?!”
We were surrounded by knights and soldiers. Some of them began clapping while others whistled, and others cheered. They were all supporting in their own way. Ana had turned a bright red and was looking away. Oh no. I did it again. Even though I’m in the middle of work and instructing our troops, my mind went completely blank except for the thought of Ana. She was the only thought in my head.