Please Answer Me - Chapter 106

“Besides, when we return to Lysa, we’ll pretend we’ve been at the originally planned vacation, so it’s not like we can talk about any of this anyway.”

“Oh, that makes sense…” Allen’s eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Rosetta. “Your Highness, did you just say we’re going back? To Lysa?”

Rosetta nodded. “I haven’t told him yet. So, keep this to yourself for now.”

Allen’s face lit up with a radiant smile. “That’s a wise decision! Once you’re back in Lysa, you’ll soon forget about everything that happened here!”

“I have no intention of forgetting anything that happened here. And I haven’t given up on Rashid, so don’t be too pleased.”

“You haven’t given up on him?”

“I’m going back to figure out a way.”

Allen’s mouth dropped open. “There’s no way that could work!”

“I’ll find a way. Somehow. I’m willing to risk everything.”

Realizing that arguing further would be futile, Allen closed his mouth. The fact that Rosetta had decided to return to Lysa was, in itself, a relief to him.

“Then are you planning to leave when Lord Iselle arrives?”

“Yes, that’s the plan. I need to find a way to get the nanny from Basque to Sirone.”

Sirone was a small town in Lysa that they had to pass through to get to Terra.

“She doesn’t need to come here. We’ll meet in Sirone and travel to Terra together.”

“I’ll handle that,” Allen said, turning to look at Rosie. “Rosie, can you help arrange for the nanny to travel safely to Sirone?”

Rosie readily accepted the request. “Of course. I’ll prepare the best carriage to ensure she travels comfortably and safely to Sirone.”

***

As evening fell, the soldiers left the training ground.

Allen arrived at the darkening field and lit a torch to illuminate his surroundings. It was his first time alone all day after following Rosetta around. Normally, he wouldn’t think of leaving her side, but the nanny of the chieftain had sternly told him to leave for an hour while Rigaina took a bath.

He had initially insisted on waiting outside the door, but the fierce look she gave him made it clear that wasn’t an option. It was as if she were silently scolding him for daring to loiter while her charge was bathing. Allen felt bewildered. How could they treat him like a thief when they were the ones who had kidnapped the princess?

With nowhere to go, Allen wandered aimlessly until he found himself at the training ground. Alone in the deserted field, he drew a sword wrapped with a white cloth around the hilt.

Well, this is a good opportunity. I might as well train to clear my head.

He began swinging the sword, but the more he practiced, the more his frustration grew. He was furious that his attempt to rescue the princess had failed miserably and that he had been beaten by Nazar Quat. What stung the most was that he couldn’t even properly counter the insults thrown at him.

Being beaten by someone regarded as a barbarian in Lysa was a sobering experience. Perhaps he had been too complacent, basking in his role as the princess’s guard. There was no guarantee that such an incident wouldn’t happen again. He needed to become much stronger to ensure he wouldn’t have regrets next time.

Once he began to sweat, Allen paused, wiping his brow. His gaze fell on his slightly torn collar, reminding him of how easily he had been handled that morning. Nazar Quat had tossed him around with ease, despite Allen’s substantial build. It was as if he weighed nothing. He had never encountered such a technique before. Was it part of their traditional martial arts? If possible, he wanted to learn it. Such skills would be invaluable in close combat.

How could he learn it before they left?

“Damn it!” Allen cursed, furious at himself for even considering such a thought. What was he thinking, wanting to learn from a kidnapper? If his fellow knights knew his thoughts, they would think he was mad.

But he couldn’t deny their strength. Even the boy now lying in bed had surprised him with his skills. Not yet twenty, and already that capable. In a few years, he would be an exceptional warrior, not just here but even in Lysa. And he was fiercely loyal, refusing to let go even when facing death. Having such a person by his side was a testament to Nazar Quat’s leadership.

Suddenly, Allen recalled the moment when his sword wouldn’t move to strike the boy’s vital point. What had happened? Was it a mere illusion?

He stared intently at the sword in his hand. If it wasn’t an illusion, it had to be because of the gem embedded in the hilt. He had seen the gem fly through the air to find him once before. When he had asked Iselle about it, Iselle had dismissed it as a mechanism to locate the owner if lost. But could it possess other powers?

“Allen.”

Startled by the sudden voice, Allen looked up to see Rosie approaching with a water bottle.

“I thought you might need this. Am I interrupting your training?”

Allen smiled and took the bottle from her. “No, I was just about to take a break. Thanks.”

“Coming here to train? Impressive.”

Wiping the moisture from his lips, Allen gave a bitter smile. “It was more of a way to vent my frustration.”

“Vent your frustration? Why? Especially now that the princess has decided to leave?”

“There are… some reasons.”

No matter what, he didn’t want to admit he had been thoroughly beaten by Nazar Quat. Rosie didn’t yet know that the wounds on his face were from that encounter.

“Allen, the princess must be feeling really sad. She made a difficult decision. You should comfort her.”

“It’s probably for the best. I was worried about what we’d do if she remained stubborn, so I’m really relieved.”

“The princess likely made that decision because of you.”

Allen looked at Rosie with surprise. “What do you mean, because of me?”

“Can’t you see? It was clear to me right away. During our conversation, she said she didn’t want to see the people she cares about get hurt. Think about it. If the princess didn’t return to Lysa, what do you think would happen to all of you? You’d be punished for failing in your duty or you’d never be allowed to return to Lysa. She was worried about that, wasn’t she?”

“……”

Allen’s mouth fell open. He hadn’t considered that possibility. He had been so happy about her decision that he hadn’t thought beyond it.

“…I see.”

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed softly. “I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

“You’re lucky to have a good master. Most wouldn’t think so deeply about their subordinates’ well-being.”

Allen smiled at Rosie’s words. Rosetta was indeed a good master. The Lysa royal family, aside from the late king, generally had mild temperaments, but there was still the inherent haughtiness of royalty.

Even Princess Tanit, who was kind to her family, was ruthless to others. Once, a lower maid had touched the hem of her skirt while cleaning her room. The skirt was so beautiful that the maid touched it without thinking. When Tanit found out, she whipped the maid until she fainted and then had her expelled from the palace.

Everyone said it was fortunate that it ended there, as palace rules could have justified killing her on the spot.

Yes, I’m fortunate that Princess Rosetta is my master. If I had made such a mistake in front of Princess Tanit…

A shiver ran down Allen’s spine as he grasped his neck. If that were the case, his neck might not be attached right now.

“Allen.”

Startled by the sudden voice, Allen looked at Rosie.

“I actually came to say goodbye in advance.”

Allen’s eyes widened. “Goodbye?”

“When the duke arrives, you might leave as soon as tomorrow. We might not have time for proper farewells then, so I thought it best to do it now.”

Allen spoke urgently, “Rosie, I told you before, if you want, I’ll take you to Lysa…”

“Yes, you did make that offer. I’ll give you my answer now.”

Rosie looked him straight in the eyes and said, “I’m not going to Lysa.”

Allen couldn’t understand her rejection. He had seen how her father and brother treated her.

“…Why?”

His offer to take her to Lysa was sincere. If she agreed, he would do everything to help her settle there. Rosie was more than capable of thriving in Lysa.

Rosie gave him a bitter smile. “If I go there, I’ll end up relying on you. And if I’m unhappy, I’ll end up resenting and hating you. I don’t want that.”

She stepped closer to him. “Thank you for everything. I know you must have had a lot of resentment towards me, but you were kind. Thank you for standing up for me in front of the princess. Honestly, this journey has been enjoyable for me. I’ve never traveled this far before. It felt like an adventure.”

Rosie reached up and pulled Allen’s neck down. Before he could react, something soft brushed his lips and then quickly withdrew.

“Goodbye, Allen. May Elheim’s blessing always be with you.”

With that, Rosie turned and walked away. Allen stood frozen in place for a long time.