“...Let's go home.”
The Grand Duke's voice was low.
It was different from the cold air he'd exuded at the festival just moments ago.
For no particular reason, I glanced at his profile.
'Why is he being so quiet...?'
Normally, he would've said at least one thing.
'You're noisy.'
'Shut up.'
'You caused trouble again.'
But there was none of that.
He simply walked on in silence, looking straight ahead.
Blackwood Castle.
As soon as the castle gate opened, the knights all bowed their heads.
“Grand Duke.”
Dante gave a short nod.
And then.
“Ella.”
“...Yes?”
“Follow me.”
I followed behind him without the slightest idea what was going on.
We arrived at the training yard.
The knights in the middle of training sheathed their swords in unison and stepped aside.
“Grand Duke.”
“Training is suspended.”
The knights looked puzzled.
Dante threw his scabbard at me.
Thud.
“...Take it.”
“Yes?”
“Training.”
A cold sweat broke out across my skin.
“Um... I just took down a monster and saved people, you know?”
“So?”
“Can't I rest for a little while?”
“No.”
“Today.”
He drew his sword.
Shing.
The blade gleamed coldly in the sunlight.
“You charged in alone.”
“You acted alone.”
“You saved people alone.”
“And.”
His violet eyes turned toward me.
“You almost died.”
I couldn't say a word.
“Begin.”
The next moment.
Whoosh!
The scabbard flew toward my legs.
“Eek!”
I barely dodged it.
“Good.”
“So you do know how to dodge.”
“...Your Grace.”
“Again.”
Thwack.
“Yow!”
This time, it was my shoulder.
I tumbled backward.
“That hurt!”
“It hurts worse in a real fight.”
“Get up.”
I grumbled as I forced myself to my feet.
“Again.”
Thwack.
“Eek!”
“Again.”
“Get up.”
After that, I lost all sense of time.
I fell.
Got up.
Rolled away.
Got up again.
My arms were trembling.
My legs had already gone numb.
“Your Grace...”
Huff.
“I...”
Huff.
“I'm going to die...”
“You won't.”
“When you think you're going to die.”
He lowered his sword.
“...That's when we start.”
'He's a demon.'
A real demon.
Even my father wasn't this bad.
At one side of the training yard.
The knights whispered among themselves.
“...Isn't that a bit much?”
“...Lady Felicia looks like she's about to collapse.”
Just then.
Hugo quietly set down a cup of tea.
“No.”
The knights all turned to look at him.
“The Grand Duke...”
Hugo gazed across the training yard as he spoke.
“hasn't attacked her with his sword even once.”
“Every strike has been with the scabbard.”
“Enough to avoid inflicting a fatal wound.”
“He's teaching her how to move.”
Only then did the knights look at Dante again.
It was true.
He had never once aimed the sword's blade at her.
Only.
How to dodge.
How to keep her balance.
How to get back up even after falling.
He was repeating only those lessons.
Hugo smiled faintly.
“He's worried about her.”
“...Pardon?”
“Because of what happened today.”
“He's afraid she'll charge in alone again.”
At the far end of the training yard.
I tried to get up again, but dropped straight to my knees.
My legs wouldn't support me.
“Haa...”
My breath came out ragged.
Even my fingertips were trembling.
“...Can't...”
Huff.
“...get up...”
Before I could finish, a shadow fell over me.
It was Dante.
He looked down at me for a moment.
“...Enough.”
“...For today.”
“...That's all.”
I flopped flat on my back.
“I survived...”
“Seriously...”
“I almost died.”
Without a word, Dante tossed me a water bottle.
Thud.
“...Drink.”
I stared blankly at the bottle.
“...Your Grace.”
“...What.”
After hesitating for a moment, I asked,
“...Were you, by any chance...”
“...worried about me?”
The training yard fell silent.
Dante looked at me.
For a moment.
Just a moment.
His eyes wavered.
“...You imagined it.”
He left me with those words and turned away.
I watched his back slowly grow more distant and let out a quiet laugh.
“...Liar.”
He definitely had been worried.
A little.
Just a tiny bit.
I could tell that much.
Just as I was thinking that and trying to get up.
“...Huh?”
My body wouldn't move.
“Wait...”
“I can't feel my legs...”
They had completely given out.
'I'm screwed.'
Just then.
Thud.
Someone stopped in front of me.
It was Dante, who had come back.
“...Why did you come back?”
“You can't walk.”
“Oh.”
“...That's true, but.”
The next moment.
My body suddenly floated into the air.
“...Huh?”
I was in Dante's arms.
He was carrying me bridal-style.
The knights' mouths fell open in unison.
Hari's eyes widened, too.
Hugo quietly took off his glasses and wiped them.
“...Finally.”
No one heard his quiet mutter.
I stared up at Dante, frozen stiff.
“...Your Grace.”
“...This.”
“...This is a bridal carry, right?”
Dante answered expressionlessly.
“...You're noisy.”
“...Before I drop you.”
I quickly clamped my mouth shut.
'Wait.'
'This.'
'I have to brag about this to Hari.'
The corners of my mouth slowly lifted.
Dante never noticed.
Not until the very end.