𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟏: 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭

On the second day of our escape, we took a break near a flowing stream. 

If we follow this stream, we should reach the town in about an hour. 

Cid used magic to catch fish for us, so we skewered them on a stick and grilled them, having a truly adventurous meal. 

“Delicious!”

When I lightly poured the soy sauce I had brought, it became fragrant and very tasty. I didn’t know what kind of fish it was, but it tasted a bit like mackerel.

“Vi-sama, the bones have been removed from this one.”

“Wow, thank you!”

Using a combination of wind magic and water magic, Cid made the grilled fish easier for me to eat. I never thought Cid had such a skill.

I hesitated to use my amethyst magic to remove the small bones from the fish, but the overwhelming convenience made me abandon any reservations.

“Cid can do anything, huh?”

“I can handle anything, whether it’s in daily life or in battle. I learned all the necessary skills at Duke Marcus’s house, and I’m particularly skilled at putting targets into a temporary state of unconsciousness.”

“That depends on the freshness of the fish. But well, you know all the necessary skills, huh? I should also work hard on household chores.”

“Fish is just an application, though.”

“What have you been doing until now. . .?”

Cid smiled and didn’t tell me any further.

Ah, there are absolutely no small bones. It’s delicious. I’m happy.

My cheeks relaxed, and the tension of being on the run disappeared.

“Magic is so convenient, isn’t it?”

Why can’t I use magic for anything other than hitting people? I wish the gods had given me at least one household skill. 

“Vi-sama, that’s not true. It’s not that magic is convenient, it’s that I am convenient.”

“Is that something to be happy about?”

I thought being called convenient like an object would be unpleasant, but Cid laughed and said, “It’s fine.”

“It’s fine. I decided to use this power for Vi-sama’s sake, and I aim to be the most convenient bodyguard in the world.”

“For my sake? Don’t you think you should do it for the sake of the world or others? Well, if you thought that way, you wouldn’t be in a dark family like the Duke Marcus’s.”

“That’s true.”

“I see.”

I admitted it. I acknowledged that it’s a dark family.

From the bonfire we made in front of us, there was a crackling sound. Cid threw a branch into the fire and smiled.

“For the sake of the world and others, isn’t that difficult to grasp? I have no interest in such abstract and uncertain things. For me, Vi-sama is everything, and It has always been that way.”

“That’s. . .”

Is it love or loyalty?

He used to tease and say, “There’s no other job that pays well and gives me plenty of time off, so I won’t go anywhere,” but now, when he says something like that, I feel a hint of conceit welling up inside me.

As I thought about what to say, keeping my head down, Cid suddenly started talking about the past.

“Vi-sama may have forgotten. . .but do you remember when we went to the town together? It was when we went to buy writing materials for Ethan-sama’s birthday.”

“Oh, now that you mention it, there might have been such a thing.”

It was the day I first concentrated my magic power on my arm and hit someone.

“On our way back from the town, we were attacked by a thug who targeted Miss.”

I vaguely started to remember.

Tall, well-built men attacked us. We were alone because we sneaked out secretly. . .

“Cid, you saved me, right?”

Cid, who was only twelve years old at the time, was already an impressive bodyguard.He carried me, in a dazed state, all the way back to the mansion. I don’t remember it clearly, but he must have looked cool.

As I indulged in nostalgia, Cid said with a distant look in his eyes.

“I was hit twice.”

“. . .Huh?”

Wait, that’s different from my memory!

“Then, Miss said, ‘What are you doing to my Cid?!’ and instantly knocked down the two men, but she also collapsed due to magic exhaustion.”

Oh no! I was altering my memories!

“Well, after that, I carried young miss back to the mansion by myself, and Ethan-sama and young miss’s parents were extremely worried and scolded me. . . I was frozen in fear.”

“I don’t remember that part. When I woke up, Cid was by my side, and seemed teary-eyed, that’s about it.”

Could it be that I was the one who was worried and teary-eyed?

Did i get scolded and cry?

The power to alter memories is frightening. I can’t trust myself the most.

“Since then, I decided that my magic talent, my hands, and my feet would all belong to Miss. Master Grat, who taught me magic, recommended me to the Magic Association from the Magic Academy, but I had no interest at all. The only thing that interested me was Miss.”

“Eh! I thought you didn’t go to the Magic Association because of our family’s sake.”

Feeling indebted to the Marcus family for raising him, I thought he didn’t want to leave our side. . .

Cid shook his head gently.

“If I went there, I wouldn’t be able to see the young miss. And besides, the salary would be halved, and the salary would be halved, and the working hours would be long.”

“Why did you mention the salary twice?”

“It’s an important matter, so I said it twice.”

“Oh, I see.”

A mysterious silence fell between us.

Bathing in the sunlight, I found solace in the sparkling reflection on the water’s surface. I escaped from reality and admired it.

“I decided for myself to be by Vi-sama’s side.”

“Cid. . .”

With genuine feelings.

If someone is spoken to with such a kind face and those words, I think even I, who’s already in love, would fall even deeper.

“Did you feel confused because I suddenly proposed yesterday? Are you doubting whether I’m serious or not?”

“I saw through you.”

“If it’s about you, I understand~”

Come to think of it, Onii-sama used to say that about Cid.

“I regret not conveying it properly. I have admired Vi-sama. It’s been that way for a long time.”

“Huh?!”

I felt my face turning bright red in an instant. 

F-finally, the time has come for me to express my feelings. . .!!

My heart was pounding so much that it felt like it was about to jump out of my mouth, And if I don’t say it now, I might never be able to say it. 

I stared back into Cid’s crimson eyes and tried to gather my focus on my trembling lips and throat to somehow squeeze out my voice. 

And yet. . .

“I love you more than anyone. So, if we can be together, I want to do various things right away.”

“Huh?!”

What does he mean by “various things”?! Is it what I think it is?!

Don’t think you can say anything and get away with it just because you’re smiling so refreshingly!

I’ll forgive you! I’ll forgive youuuu!!

“My mentor told me. When it’s time to do it or kill someone, don’t hesitate.”

“What did you learn from Master. . .?”

“Well, traveling as a pair is tougher than I expected~! I thought about attacking you multiple times last night too!”

“What’s the point of the guard attacking the target?!”

“That’s true~.”

It was a chance for me to say that I like him too!!

I felt like going wild, knocking down some trees around here, and jumping into the stream. 

“I’m leaving now!”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Cid, who finds amusement in my reaction, is so annoying. He smiles with an air of confidence, and for some reason, he looks incredibly happy, which throws me off.

Ah, geez. Let’s practice, let’s practice!

After brushing my teeth, I released my stress by shouting “Uki!” (I like you!)

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