Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 231

She and the Chivalric Order 3

When I tilted my head questioningly, Glenn said while looking at Freed.

"I think you've heard from Freed, but he was suffering, unable to control his magical power properly. In public he conducted himself like nothing was wrong, but about a year ago it became particularly awful. His condition was truly terrible. He couldn't sleep, his complexion was bad. There were days he was feeling dizzy and collapsed. He didn't train the royal guards at all, and seeing his condition I couldn't ask him to"
"I, I see"

I got a simple explanation from Freed before, but it's different to hear it from a third party.
Hearing that he suffered more than I'd imagined, my chest hurt.

"After he met you, Freed recovered in the twinkling of an eye. I still remember it. The morning he came back after giving you the King's Flower. Freed who appeared at this chivalric order headquarters had a very good complexion and was full of life. I hadn't seen such Freed for years, I thought you have to become his princess consort no matter what"
"…"

Glenn is talking about the day after the masquerade ball.
With a slightly faraway look, I recalled that night when Freed embraced me many times as he pleased despite knowing it's my first time.
But, I think I was really amazing at that time. After all I managed to escape from him.
Now even if Freed did the same thing, I feel I wouldn't manage to run away.
I'd end up caught in the blink of an eye and punished.
Of course I don't intend to run away. While I was deeply thinking about such things, Glenn said, deeply moved.

"That's why, I am truly happy you two get along well. Um… If you worry about his past women, that's a truly needless anxiety. That foolishness is wholly my fault. So, if you want to blame somebody, please blame me. Freed is really only yours. n.o.body else's but yours. I understand it's impolite to ask that… But please take care of my close friend, Freed"
"Eh…?"

Glenn quietly lowered his head.
I can't let a chivalric order commander do that. In a fl.u.s.ter I shook my arms.

"It, it's alright. It's my principle to not care about the past… Besides, err, Freed really loves and treasures me. Don't lower your head"
"Lidi"

Glenn slowly raised his face.

"Thank you very much. I'm glad you are the person Freed's chosen. I wish for his happiness"
"Glenn…"

While watching Glenn smile gently, I incidentally remembered what Will said.
He said Glenn has a person he loves and that it's a love that won't come true.
I wonder if he wishes happiness upon his lord because it's impossible for him.
While feeling complicated I returned my gaze to Freed. He was lightly swinging his sword as before, but the knights were already reaching the limit.
Their breathing was rough, just by seeing them I understood it's only their motivation that kept them standing.
Seeing them like that, Freed closed the distance in the blink of an eye and repelled their swords all at once.

"ah! They lost…"

The knights fell on their knees. Freed sheathed his sword, and after teaching each of the three knights how to overcome their weakness, he came my way.
On the way I felt like his hair swayed slightly, perhaps he cleaned his sweat again.
… It's a good smell, so he could just leave it as is.
I stood up from the chair to welcome Freed. This time Freed hugged me immediately.

"Lidi, how was it? Wasn't the sword practice boring?"
"Not at all. Freed, you were very cool"
"Is that so? I'm glad you were delighted"

Mmhm, when I nodded again and again, Freed happily narrowed his eyes.

"Instructing like that is not bad when you're here, Lidi. I was a little nervous though"
"Eh? It didn't look like that?"

It looked like he had a lot of breathing room in dealing with all the attacks.
If he was nervous despite that, isn't that just more amazing.
While I was blown away, I heard a reserved voice.

"… Freed, excuse me, could I have a moment?"
"Nn?"

The owner of the voice was Glenn.
Reacting to his voice, Freed reluctantly separated from me.
He looked back and asked in a sharp voice.

"What?"
"I have a little something to discuss…"
"Aah…"

Perhaps Glenn's words brought something to Freed's mind, as he nodded slightly.
He began talking with Glenn with a serious expression.
Although I felt a little hesitant, I waited for the timing when their talk paused and said.

"Freed. I'll go over there"
"Got it. Sorry"
"It's fine. You can take it slow. When you finish, call out to me"

Supposing it's about military affairs, it won't be good if I listen.
I moved to a place where I wouldn't hear their conversation. After taking enough distance I breathed out.
However - Freed really doesn't show any jealousy towards Glenn.
He saw me talking with Glenn a while ago, yet he didn't seem to mind at all.
Considering that's he's relatively jealous of anybody, I find it unusual, but the reason Freed isn't jealous of Glenn might be because he knows Glenn has a person he loves.
When I asked Freed why he isn't jealous of Glenn before, he said Glenn has different tastes from him, but I wonder if he actually meant that.

"Hmm, what should I do…"

I tried waiting for a while, but it seems it will still take some time.
Because I have nothing to do just waiting, I tried looking around the practice ground.
Every knight is putting away the sword they used for practice, here and there I can see them pleasantly chatting while wiping sweat with towels. There are hardly any who use magic to get rid of sweat.
I also take baths after being cleaned with magic, so I guess it's a personal preference.
While they were wiping their sweat, I caught glimpses of their abs. The knights have splendid muscles, but unfortunately they don't really make my heart beat fast.
All knights have same bright expressions, everyone's eyes are s.h.i.+ning.
It seems they're considerably happy about being trained by Freed.
The appearance of them talking about the excitement from before splendidly resembles enthusiastic idol fans who've been at a concert from my previous life.

"Waa. Freed is popular"

Will, Glenn, the knights. Freed seems considerably loved.
Feeling very happy that everybody holds my important person dear, my mouth slackened on its own.

"Fufu…"

Freed is so adored because he puts in that much effort.
Surely, with one word from him everybody would follow him, no matter what kind of place it was. No matter where to.
Yup, I nodded once feeling certain of it.

"… After all he's cool"

I love Freed intensely.
Every time I find a new side of him, I fall in love even more.
I don't want to embarra.s.s him. From the bottom of my heart I want to become a suitable princess consort.

"… Nn?"

While I was falling in love with Freed again by myself, I saw a figure of a person on the guest seating upstairs.
I caught sight of a red dress.
A woman? But who could it be in the Royal Guard Chivalric Order practice ground? And alone?
When I looked closely wondering if I'd been mistaken, I saw her face a little.
Under her eye is a characteristic mole. She's a bewitching beauty with loose wavy hair.
I know that person. We've never talked directly, but I remember her.
I met her at the dinner party before――.

"Ah, it's Lady Helene…"

There sat the current King's only concubine.
It was Lady Helene.