“Mm.”

I smelled the delicious aroma of the bread in my arms. With our newly accumulated wealth, we booked a stay at a better Inn with a three star rating.

They cater to lower class nobles as well so it’s fairly luxurious there. The cost was 1 gold a week though. But I couldn’t complain when we had three growing girls in our group. And two were from nobility.

Charlotte’s mood had brightened a little now that we could afford clothes and soap for ourselves. Speaking of her now, I wondered how she felt about what we shared with her. Both her and Nate were unable to process what I told them. The proof was there so I wasn’t accused of making a lame joke.

Charlotte tried to ask Erica to join her faction many times. The latter only ignored her.

–Master, don’t look but there’s a little pixie following you.

-Huh? What do you mean?

Undine spoke through telepathy.

–The Saintess’ eyes are peeking through. Is this her Holy Clairvoyance? It’s been up for quite a while now...

–What!? Why are you telling me this now?

‘So Erica has been watching me? I-I was even at the public bathhouse this morning!’

–I apologize. It looked like any other spirit before but when I tried pulling it into my body, it heavily rejected me. When I peeked in through the light, I saw Madam Saintess’ golden eyes.

“Ugh...”

‘Was this why I felt like I was being watched?’

I tried not to focus on the speck of light as I walked in the afternoon sun and enjoyed the bread I bought. The snowy streets and cold air reminded me that I was still in the Habsburg Kingdom. It snowed yet again last night like any other day.

The poor people on the streets were huddled up together by a fire.

“Ah.”

It then went out. They desperately tried to start it up again.

I took out a pocket wand and casted a flame spell.

They looked awed at the sight of magic and thanked me repeatedly. I shared some of my bread that was a little too much for me to handle alone.

I bid them farewell and left the alleyway. I didn’t have any errands per se, it’s just that I wanted to explore the city for a bit.

“Isn’t that...”

When I passed by a block and caught a glimpse of golden shining hair in the sun, I hurriedly looked again.

Charlotte Colchis. The third royal princess and a full blooded royal born from the Queen and King.

She was overlooking the city with a look of longing in her eyes.

I didn’t have to worry about her getting assaulted since she bought magic scrolls. Those things come in handy for people without combat abilities. The city is peaceful anyway except for the slums.

“Princess?”

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I saw her flinch when I called her. She turned her neck and gazed at me. There were still tears remaining after she wiped her face.

“So this is where you disappear to so much.”

“I needed some space to clear my head...”

Her gaze returned to the mountains in the far distance.

“Mother and I used to walk up to high hills like this and look over our kingdom. Going outdoors so much with her child is unexpected of a queen. But I enjoyed those days when I could spend time with her.”

Charlotte spoke with a sobbing tone. Her graceful appearance was ruined by her tears.

“I fall asleep at night wondering if mother is still alive.”

I stayed quiet. Instead of blurting out things like ‘I’ll get you us home no matter what!’, it’s best to do things within my capabilities. Like protect them. I wasn’t some overpowered main character out of those wish fulfilment isekai novels. I'm only a person born with slightly better talent than most. This is my reality.

“You know, Father was never a person that looked after his children. That’s expected since he is the king but... I wished each and every day that he’d at least visit mother.”

“Wasn’t her Majesty bedridden in their chambers?”

Charlotte shook her head.

“The second wife ‘persuaded’ father to move mother to the Inner Palace where she could have a room of her own and some peace and quiet. Any fool can guess that they want to dispose of mother quietly and make it look like an accident. But they’ll have to get through her maid, Bell first.”

There was a story I once read about how that particular concubine also killed of the rest of the wives and children so she can rule the kingdom. But in the end, her son killed her because his wife manipulated him into believing his mother wants to kill her.

I honestly find such ambitious people disgusting. To kill people in order to rise through life. To think I was born into such a world. That was expected of a world ruled by nobility.

“You know Pina, right?”

Charlotte spoke again after a long wait of silence.

“Your previous personal maid?”

She was different from the one Charlotte had now. I occasionally saw her with Charlotte at parties in the past. We met at Charlotte’s tenth birthday party.

“Yes. She was the one that poisoned mother.”

“Eh?”

“You heard right. The one that raised me and that I could call my true sister was the one that almost caused the death of mother... It was that day on my birthday when my father locked everyone in the palace.”

“...”

Tears streamed down her face. I took her into my arms.

“Each and every night I remember how I tortured her... When I heard her confess that she was the suspect, all I could see was red in front of my eyes. I had my knights cripple her and I threw her into our castle dungeon. She was part of the second wife’s faction...”

‘What the hell...’

The castle dungeon had many horrors that even the bravest of people wouldn’t want to enter. In history books on Earth, many torture devices are mentioned that caused multiple deaths for those who wronged.

“She was... hic... the one that always used to sing me lullabies when I get lonely... hic... my second mother and sister...”

My shoulder was beginning to get wet from her tears. I stroked her head and buried my nose in her hair. I whispered softly.

“Everyone has a past they want no one to find out about. What you did was something that she deserved for belonging to the second enemy concubine’s faction.”

“But I lost the one I trusted the most... The worse thing was that I feel betrayed. Did she truly not have a choice? That was the question I never found an answer to...”

I then pulled Charlotte away softly. Her blue eyes met mine. I saw my own reflection in her deep blue eyes.

“W-What are you doing?” Charlotte said in a fluster when I got on my knee.

I then took her hand.

“If no one is at your side then I shall become the one to share the burden on your shoulders.”

Her eyes widened.

“Princess.”

She nodded as she realized. Her eyes were filled with determination.

“Do you, Clyde Astley, accept becoming my knight and shield?”

“I, Clyde Astley vow to become Princess Charlotte’s sword and shield. Her life is my responsibility. I will train my body and magic to ward off the enemies that so much as try to harm a hair on her shoulders.”

“Do you pledge your loyalty?”

“I do, your highness.”

“Do you pledge that you will from now on follow my orders and accept punishment when orders are not obeyed?”

“Yes.”

“Do you pledge your complete obedience?”

“Eh? Oh, yes princess.”

I looked up and saw Charlotte smiling widely. Her eyes almost looked closed from her smiling face. Her expression turned to normal a moment later.

“Ahem. I, Charlotte Rosemary Colchis, third princess of Kingdom of Colchis accept your pledge.”

“From this day forth, I swear to become your sword.”

I kissed the back of her hand. That was the closing of the pledge. Her hand felt so soft and delicate.

Her silky blonde hair blew in the wind. It carried an intoxicating shampoo scent.

When I got up she jumped into my arms.

“...Thank you...”

Her voice was soft and timid but I could hear it.

She was smiling which I hadn't seen in a while.

The two of us stood there for a while before we walked back to the inn.