Arnold must be in agreement and remained silent.
Aside from Rishe, whom he took a walk with him through the forest, he had only taken a few steps before Arnold here. How observant was he to be able to see through that?
“Then there’s your arms or perhaps your shoulders, I should say… Do you know how overused your right shoulder is?”
“That’s…”
“If nothing’s done, your growth will be compromised.”
The future Leo that Rishe was quite different.
Leo’s previous employer punished and left him with one eye, but he must have suffered injuries all over back then. His limbs also suffered from the sequelae of his injuries, and he seemed to find it arduous moving himself.
“It’s not too late now.”
The memories of her life as a knight flooded her mind.
Leo would come every so often to watch in the corner of the garden where Rishe and the others were training. Except for that time, he would never approach a place where others were.
Back then, Leo by no means watched them. He merely watched sword fighting training.
He radiated an undeniable longing.
He had eyes that looked at dreams that he could no longer have and that would never come true.
If she could, she never wanted Leo in this life to have such eyes.
I don’t know for what reason Leo will be injured enough to lose one of his eyes in the future. The best way to prevent that is to change his environment, but it won’t do any good if Leo sets on a path he doesn’t want to take.
Life should always be based on one’s own will, and one should always choose a path he desires.
With this thought in mind, she looked up at Arnold.
“So, Your Highness…”
“…”
His squire, Oliver, was also impaired due to overtraining in all likelihood.
Because of Arnold, the training of knight cadets was changed, taking into account the strains on the body.
“Since you asked it of me, I won’t break my word…What matters is what this kid chooses to do.”
Arnold regarded Leo coldly.
“If you’re up for it, I’ll give you a stepping stone to the strength you desire. But I’m not going to lend a hand to someone half-hearted either.”
“H-I…”
“I have your master’s permission. What happens next is up to you.”
Leo hesitated for a moment with a streak of trepidation.
“If I’m going to learn martial arts from you, I’m going to have to go to Garkhain, aren’t I?”
“That’s right. How long is up to you, but you’ll be away from the Jonal family for a while.”
“…”
The boy’s small head hung down in regret.
“Then, I can’t go.”
“…”
Arnold gave him a disinterested look, hearing his response.
Rishe promptly asked when Leo’s answer didn’t sound like he meant it.
“Leo, are you sure you won’t regret it?”
“…Of course I will.”
“!”
Before he knew it, all signs of fear had disappeared from Leo.
On the contrary, there was a hint of regret in his tone. Leo looked up at Arnold with sparkles in his eyes.
“Well, that’s why! Could you please at least train me while you’re here?!”
“…”
“I will keep in mind what I’ll learn and never train recklessly again. Please, I beg you!”
He implored and bowed deeply.
His small shoulders were shivering.
Arnold looked at him and then replied without batting an eyelid.
“Then we’ll take some time this evening.”
“!!”
Leo jerked his head up as if flicked with eyes wide.
“Rishe, is that fine by you?”
“Yes, of course, Your Highness. But if you are busy with your official duties during our stay…”
“The Order has requested that we extend our stay by a few days early on. They won’t be able to keep up if I force them to work with me.”
Aahhー… It’s true that you perform your duties with little or no rest on a daily basis.
If Arnold’s task at the Grand Shrine was to settle some disputes, then of course the people of the Order would be involved in it.
Arnold’s work schedule must be grueling for them.
“Thank you very much.”
Leo bowed deeply with the taste of success.
While relieved at the situation, Rishe thought inwardly.
He said he can’t go to Garkhain, not that he doesn’t want to… That’s a strange choice of word for Leo.
Leo might not have said it, but Rishe perceived some things. Arnold, most likely, has seen through it.
However, she should not pursue the matter just yet.
“Sorry for catching you by surprise, Leo.”
Leo looked at Rishe with a grimace when she apologized.
“Not at all. But shouldn’t you supposedly explain these things to me before bringing me here?”
“But you’d probably have run away if I told you.”
“Any commoner in any part of the world would run away the moment they heard that they were going to meet the royal family of another country.”
Arnold turned his eyes on Rishe while they were chatting.
“Have you known this kid before?”
Hey, your intuition is too keen, don’t you think?
Rishe inwardly cringed, but shook her head without a tiny trace of it.
“No. What makes you think that?”
“How dare an errand boy treat you so familiarly?”
“Um…”
Rishe floundered. She stretched her head and whispered to Arnold.
“He thinks I’m a substitute, not the Crown Princess herself…”
“…”
Arnold turned his head away from Rishe when she told him that.
At first glance, he looked deadpan, but his big hand covering his mouth and his shoulders subtly shaking were unmistakable.
“…Eh?! Your Highness, are you trying to hold back your laughter?”
“…I’m not.”
“That’s a fat lie!! Hey, don’t turn your back on me, look at me!!”
As she was waddling around Arnold, Leo reached out his hand to Rishe with trepidation.
Looking at his face, there was a shade of concern as if asking, “Even if you’re a substitute, do you think it’s safe to behave this way toward the Crown Prince?” Kind.
“…Anyhow, now that we’ve settled it, I’d better get back to my duties.”
Who are you fooling…!!
But, Rishe had tons of things to do as well. Since she had spent the morning helping Myria, she had to resume her interrupted ritual in the afternoon.
And Leo, even if His Highness were to instruct him, I don’t think this would alter his future…
As she was chewing over this, she felt the presence of people approaching the courtyard.
“Your Highness, and Rishe-sama, too.”
“Oliver-sama.”
Oliver bowed and turned his attention to Leo.
Although he looked a bit troubled, he stood beside Arnold and counseled.
“There’s something I’d like to bring to your attention.”
“Not just to His Highness, but to me as well?”
She felt an ominous premonition.
Arnold also raised his eyebrows slightly and ordered Oliver.
“Keep it brief.”
“Okay, then… The date of the festival may be postponed.”
Oliver uttered after a sigh.
“The seamstresses working on Myria-sama’s dresses have fallen ill.”
“That’s…”
It was the second time after the carriage.
Rishe gasped at the news. That white dress was “something that Myria had rejected”.
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