“Hm~”

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 is 1 gold a week though. But I can’t complain when we have three growing girls in our group. And two is from nobility.

Charlotte’s mood has brightened a little now that we could afford clothes and soap for us. Speaking of her now, I wonder how she feels about what we shared with her.

-“Miss Erica, would you like to become my subordinate!?”

-“Tch. And follow your orders? I don’t want to, princess.”

Her attitude to Charlotte versus me is completely different. Charlotte doesn’t seem to mind and tried various ways to coax Erica. But alas, the girl was still rejecting the princess harshly.

Charlotte looked sad and secretly ordered me to persuade her. But she still said no. All I can say is good luck to Charlotte. If she were to get Erica in her faction then she’d have already won the succession for the throne.

The king said he will not interfere with his children’s battle for the throne. Will he really sit by if his children murder each other and then murder him in the end?

I shook my head to get rid of the troublesome stuff. I became Charlotte’s knight especially so I could protect 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 even went to 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. She might have done this to see if you fall into danger and come to save you.

“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’m really 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 then 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 don’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 since where we were standing on was so high up.

I don’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.

“Charlotte?”

I saw her flinch when I called her name. 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 sea 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 where I could spend time with her.”

Charlotte spoke with a sobbing voice. Her graceful appearance was ruined by her tears. She always used to look prideful and arrogant of herself and her family name. Lately, that’s changed. It’s not surprising after what happened.

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

I stayed quiet and rubbed her shoulder. Instead of blurting out things like ‘I’ll get you home no matter what!’, it’s best to do things within my capabilities. Like protect her.

“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 as a husband and father and not as a king.”

“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 battle 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...

“You know Pina, right?”

Suddenly Charlotte spoke again after a long wait of silence.

“Your previous personal maid?”

She’s different from the one Charlotte has now. But I occasionally saw her with Charlotte at parties in the past.

“Yes. She was the one that injected mother with the illness.”

“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...”

“Err... princess?”

Charlotte was hugging herself as tears streamed down her face. I then took her in my arms. I felt her tremble.

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

She hiccupped as she cried through her sobs.

‘What the hell...’

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

I’ll pass on asking her what kind of torture she used.

“She was... hic... the one that always used to sing me lullabies when I get lonely... 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 then whispered.

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

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.

“...”

I looked at her with narrowed eyes and then she went “Ah!”. It seems she got my intention.

“Do you Clyde Astley accept becoming my knight and shield?” Her grip around my fingers tightened.

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

“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 were narrowed so much that it looks closed.

Her expression then returned back to normal.

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

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 a intoxicating shampoo scent that I smelled right into my brain.

She wore the first ever bright smile I have ever seen.