24.
“Refusing, huh, my lady?”
Laiya raised her eyebrows in response.
What’s this person on about now?
“Sir, what’s wrong all of a sudden?”
The little girl inquired.
“Well, when I think about it, the princess I held yesterday felt too light.”
The knight mused.
“So?”
“I’m thinking it might be nice to get some exercise while walking.”
Rainante replied with a serious expression.
“Are you being serious or just plain silly?”
“…”
“Are you suggesting using me as a workout tool? No! I’m heavier than those tools right?”
Laiya shouted out in exaggeration.
“Are you saying light exercise by yourself won’t help?”
“Not exactly. It seems that the Princess is the right weight for a workout.”
Rainante defended his idea.
“I guess a person can change their mind pretty quickly.”
She shot a cold look at Rainante and turned around.
When she glanced back, Laiya saw a slightly embarrassed expression on Rainante’s blunt face.
It was like someone who had tried something and failed and was now feeling ashamed.
“Sure, from escorting me to teaching Roy, I’ve given you a lot of work…”
Laiya mused to herself.
Naturally, the training time would have been reduced in order to guard her, and he might have been anxious about not being able to train Roy’s swordsmanship.
Being the chief knight of the BlackWinter Knights was a position that not many people were chosen for, making the competition fierce, and despite Roy’s potential, he was still just a child.
Teaching a child and helping him grow could be challenging, and Laiya suspected that the abrupt, stoic knight might have been frustrated by the lack of training.
“I couldn’t quite understand that feeling.”
She confessed to herself.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt a tinge of guilt.
“Rainante, I’m sorry. I’ll find a big stone for you soon, to train with.”
The little girl offered a compromise.
“Really?!”
“Yes, there’s a pretty heavy mortar in the kitchen. How about that?”
Rainante glanced down at the little girl with a perplexed expression.
“No, it’s alright…”
“The mortar might be too heavy. It’s made of stone, so it might not be suitable for exercise. Oh, how about some firewood? There’s a pile of it in the stable.”
She proposed, excitedly.
“No.”
Heck, BlackWinter had good welfare, so there might be dedicated exercise equipment, but wasn’t he looking for it because it wasn’t available right now?
“…I knew I shouldn’t suggest things that don’t make sense. Please, just forget I said anything.”
Rainante sighed, giving up on the idea.
The way he wiped his face, it seemed like a plea for no more questions, and so Laiya decided to go along with his wishes.
“Are you headed to the library today?”
The knight changed the subject.
“Huh? I want to swing by the library and then go see my third brother.”
Rainante nodded and started walking.
“Princess, today’s weather is fine!”
“Yes, it’s a beautiful day.”
She replied with a smile.
The stoic knight spoke softly to the little daughter of BlackWinter as Laiya gave a gentle smile to Ice, who was playfully rubbing his face on her fingers.
I wondered if I’d be able to learn magic today.
Her heart raced with excitement.
“Maybe that’s why I’ve been up and about since early morning!”
She muttered, mostly to herself, walking along, humming a tune.
It didn’t take long before we reached the library.
Honestly, if I hadn’t planned to borrow a book, I might have regretted leaving Rainante’s company, but since I hadn’t finished reading the books I borrowed yesterday, it doesn’t really matter.
“I think I’ll stay a bit longer in the library today, maybe up to four hours. Is that okay with you? You can go see Roy,”
Laiya suggested.
“I’ll be right here waiting for you, Princess.”
“Why?”
Laiya wondered aloud, confused as she kept glancing at the empty hallway.
“How many hours are you planning to wait like this?”
“Shouldn’t I keep an eye out and inform the princess when someone arrives?”
The knight asked, seemingly unconcerned.
“That’s true… but waiting for that long?”
No matter how much she insisted, she didn’t think it was worth ordering a knight to stand guard, so Laiya invited him to go a few more times, but he didn’t budge.
“Alright then, suit yourself.”
Laiya shrugged and attempted to enter the door he had opened.
“A while ago, I thought about how to serve the Princess more comfortably.”
Laiya paused as she looked up to see his straightforward yet polite expression.
“Yesterday, when I carried the Princess, you felt so light, as if you could be blown away by the slightest breeze. So, I thought to myself, it wouldn’t be difficult to transport the Princess directly.”
Laiya raised an eyebrow.
“Sir, are you making a joke?”
“Yes, it’s a joke at the time, but what I said earlier wasn’t a joke.”
Raintante seemed determined to clarify his words from earlier.
Rainante straightened up.
“But wouldn’t this be more comfortable? The library is quite a distance away, and I’ve heard my colleague’s son throws a tantrum if he has to walk too far. Another colleague’s nephew apparently acts just as childish.”
The little girl squinted at him.
“Are you seriously comparing a regular child to a princess right now?”
“Well, not exactly… But that doesn’t mean the princess isn’t a child.”
Rainante defended his response.
Laiya conceded first.
“You’re right, I’m sure I’m more delicate than the child in your story.”
And, though I hadn’t voiced it, the walk to the library in the other building had made my legs feel heavy.
“Did I have these thoughts while we walked together yesterday and today?”
She pondered aloud, her cheeks tingled.
It was a bit odd, but I didn’t mind it.
In fact, it made her laugh.
“It’s funny.”
She suddenly remarked.
“You’re definitely an escort knight, but now you’re more like my nanny than an escort.”
At first, she flashed a slight smile, but it quickly widened, revealing her dimples.
“I’ve never had such a sweet nanny before.”
The little girl teased.
As she turned away, her gaze fixated on the path ahead she peeked at her knight escort, watching him, as Rainante gradually lowered his back and blushed.
It seems like this arrangement is working out quite well.
“I’m pondering what it would be like if you actively utilize a seasoned escort knight.”
Laiya mused aloud.
* * *
“Hey there, Princess, you’re here today.”
Kalidupen greeted her with a warm smile as she stepped into the library.
Unlike yesterday, he was stationed at the return desk near the entrance, giving off an air of a seasoned librarian.
It felt rather surreal for her, after having read about his character in the book.
This grandfather of a man was the one who would later sneak into the main character’s party, performing feats like slaying monsters with a mere needle and casually remarking, ‘How easy it is for a human to die, even a monster this big.’
It made the atmosphere in this place even more peculiar.
Laiya handed over her library pass.
“Heh heh, all sorted.”
Kalidupen said, checking the pass with his cane just as he did yesterday, and then returning it.
Instead of taking it back, she continued to fix her gaze on him.
“Can I ask you something?”
Laiya hesitantly ventured.
“Of course, what’s on your mind? Are you in search of a particular book?”
Kalidupen inquired.
“No, not books. I’m curious about you. Why is a wizard in the library?”
Kalidupen blinked slowly in response.
“Well, I believe you know that you only had family mages and their disciples brought into your family.”
“Ah, yes.”
BlackWinter was renowned for its swordsmanship, a world apart from the realm of magic.
While there technically was a family mage, they mainly resided in the westernmost building of the mansion.
Additionally, Theodore seldom visited the mansion except for the annual tournament. Hence, I had never associated him with having a talent for magic.
“To start with, this pass inspection system operates through magic.”
Kalidupen clarified to the little girl.
“That’s correct, you can only place magical items on it, right?”
“You’re quite astute, Princess.”
His words made her flinch.
Perhaps knowing the true identity of this old man made her uneasy even when he spoke kindly.
But in hindsight, he had probably always been a gentle grandfather to children, which likely led him to become a companion to the main character.
Of course, I am not naive enough to believe he was entirely virtuous and kind. Being kind solely to children could be seen as rather ruthless to others.
“The head of the family recognized my talent and allowed me to stay here.”
He explained.
“In this role as a librarian?”
“Yes, this old man’s second favorite thing is books.”
He revealed it mysteriously.
Laiya was taken aback, she had expected something related to experiments, assassinations, or secret concoctions.
That was typically the kind of story you would tell a child, right?
“And if the head of the household permitted you to occupy this position, it must mean that ‘Grandpa,’ who is somewhere in this building in a state of suspended animation, appointed you…”
“…”
“Then, what’s your first favorite thing?”
“…”
“It’s a sword.”
Laiya was certain of her guess.
The revelation was even more surprising.
Here was a man who had fallen in love with magic while on the path of swordsmanship. One might assume that he would have a greater affinity for magic.
“So, what about magic? Aren’t you a wizard?”
“Heh heh, magic! I love it!”
Kalidupen exclaimed enthusiastically.
In that moment, the old man’s eyes sparkled with intensity.
“Magic cannot be ranked. I love it. Absolute love. That’s it.”
Suddenly, Kalidupen declared passionately of his true love, not only did his face light up, but he also stepped back, seemingly overwhelmed by his own fervor.
It was almost as if I were witnessing a 20-year-old idol fan.
“Do you understand the greatness of magic?”
He asked, curiously.
To be honest, I don’t, but…
In my previous life, my friend’s grandmother had been a devoted fan of trot singers, and looking at her enthusiasm, I could somewhat relate.
“Only a pink vest and a cheering stick in hand, but the expression is exactly the same…?”
Laiya mused to herself softly.
“Princess, magic is incredible!”
Kalidupen continued.
“Yes.”
I never expected to hear such praise for magic in BlackWinter, a place renowned for its swordsmanship.
She glanced around, checking if anyone had overheard, but fortunately, there was no one nearby.
Kalidupen, on the other hand, didn’t seem to care.
He spread his hands, his wrinkled cheeks blushing.
“You might not fully grasp it because you’re still young!”
Kalidupen exclaimed passionately.
“No, I do like magic.”
The little girl assured him.
After all, it was the only lifeline that could save me now.
“Ohhh, really?”
Kalidupen’s eyes widened even further, sparkling like a handmade morning star.
“Even if it wasn’t so, I wanted to say something positive about magic yesterday when I asked about the district…!”
Kalidupen continued excitedly.
“Let me proclaim my love for magic in this BlackWinter…!!!”
“Um, hey, Kalidupen?”
Laiya tried to add in, but was interrupted.
“Princess, you’re destined for greatness!”
Kalidupendeclared suddenly.
“Destined?”
The little girl was taken aback.
“There are no bad people who love magic!”
The old man proclaimed, his words sounding rather pseudo-philosophical.
Laiya blinked and mouth slightly slacked open.
Wow, I hadn’t expected this. It seemed like this person… Was he like a “magic otaku” or an extremely passionate fan? The fervor in his eyes was a bit much for a simple admirer.
“Ungh, if only I had a bit more magical talent! I could have entered the magic tower. Haa… This is one of the old man’s regrets.”
Kalidupen lamented.
“…Ah, I see…”
The little girl felt depressed and replied, she knew he was ready to talk longer, although she hadn’t actually asked for his life story… It seemed that she would have to end up listening to it.
Thanks for the chapter!