Chapter 169: Go Alone (Part 1)

Reimi's perspective

Uhhhh...ehhhhh...uhhhhh, I just have woken up, I hope I have slept well, though my eye and my mind were still tired.

I would be fine, I got used to sleeping less many times, this time was nothing, I was still very fine, I must do my guard duty for Her Highness and John, I must fulfill my duty. Woaahh, it was cold today, the snow lasted longer than I thought, the snowfall would always end in the middle of the first Spring but seemed like it was lasting longer than before.

The floor was also cold, I had a room in the Lord's zone but I didn't use it to sleep but to store my belongings, I would sleep in John's room and would wake up early to do the guard. I tightened my leather coat to make me warmer, the coat had fur lines in the collar so my neck felt very comfortable while wearing the coat, it was very warm.

Alright, I slowly stood up while looking around the room, my rulers were still very safe, no intruders in here...maybe I was too cautious to think this place have any intruders. My right hand later leaned to the table to grab Advisor - she used to belong to Hatano but now she belonged to me, John gave me this "technology", he said it was military equipment in his homeland.

"See any intruders, Advisor?" - I asked Advisor while strapping her into my right hand

"Everything is safe, Reimi! I scanned nothing, everything is still safe."

"That's so? Thanks the Goddess." - I looked at Advisor's screen to see the time, this time was...4:29 AM, which meant nearly the 5th-morning bell according to the time's calculation way of my homeland

I got my eyes out of Advisor and slowly looked around the room once again, it was a bit dark because the room was lighted out, outside was still not fully dawned, it was still late. Today was Shera's birthday - Day 22 of the first Spring, I didn't have any presents to give for Her Highness, I hope that her husband would have anything to give her.

I stepped toward the bed to stare at Her Highness and John, this married couple was sleeping together. Looking at Shera having the one who ai used to love still made me feel very jealous...but I must accept that I could not go along with John forever...please be happy, my ruler.

Her Highness was sleeping while hugging John, she was quite happy when her husband had spent his time with her on some previous days, he would spend his time with her on her birthday too. About John, he was quite...it was hard for me to tell, he was having troubles or something but kept ignoring it and told us to pretend didn't know anything but to live happily.

John was sleeping while hugging Shera tighter, he grumbled his face sometimes and then returned to normal, maybe he was facing the trauma of war that he saw in his dream, I think so. Well, there was a story which happened one month ago that only I and John knew about it as our secret, I suddenly woke up due to hearing some strange noise coming out of this room.

That time was late at night, I was startled while looking around the room and saw John who woke up, his face was full of sweat while looking around the room with his nervousness for no reason. He later got out of bed slowly after patting Shera's head and then told me to not tell anyone about this incident, John later got outside and I stalked him.

Well, he got to the kitchen and drank 3 water cups and then returned to his bed, he didn't sleep but kept staring at the roof, he kept doing that, it made me could not sleep but stared at him. Until Shera had finally woken up, that time was morning and she felt strange when I was supposed to guard outside but I didn't do it but stayed in the room.

She later noticed John was sleeping, maybe she thought he was tired so she didn't disturb him but went to the kitchen to make breakfast with Ilis, only I stayed inside the room at that time with John. John didn't sleep until his wife woke up, at the time Shera woke up, he slept till noon, he waited till Shera woke up so he could finally sleep well.

I didn't know what John had seen in his dream that day but I thought he had seen something very terrible, now I hope John would be fine, he had stopped grumbling his face but slept normally, that was a good sign. Alright, I pulled the bedsheet closer to both of my owners to make them warmer, this time was still very cold, Her Highness had gotten a slight fever once during the winter, I hope she would not have it again, sigh!

After taking care of both of them, I slowly headed outside, I closed the room's door and then looked at the hallway, the private rooms in Lord's zone had been increased for more than 2 rooms, they had been constructed during the autumn. Well, one room was for John and Shera, one was for Hatano, one was for me, one was for my rulers' child and the last one was for Sarah if she comes here to visit and sleeps here overnight.

Maybe I would grab some water or potatoes to eat, I lack sleep so I needed those things to keep up my energy to work the guard duty, wait a minute...I forgot something. Ahhh, I forgot to turn off Advisor, she still has at least 3 hours for her battery, I must charge her fast...I slowly pressed the button on Advisor to turn off to charge her, finally done.

Well, only John's Advisor got heated while charging so I felt very relieved to know that his subordinate's Advisor didn't have a same problem, I should not waste my time, I must head to work fast. I fastly walked into the hallway while looking around to see if there was anything on the way or not, I accidentally saw the restroom while walking.

I didn't have feelings to defecate, my body was still not needed for that reason yet, I must not waste my time...I would like to urinate and then clean my hands to let them clean. Alright, I walked inside the restroom to solve my problems and then headed out of the restroom and witnessed Hatano, she had just...newly woken up or something.

No, her body was sweating very much as if she had just exercised or something, she wore her military pants while her upper body was wearing a white shirt which was a kind of clothing in John's world - named Tank top. Hatano saw me and I bowed to her, she also bowed to me while wiping her back and her face with a white towel, her face kept keeping that emotionless as always, I hate her because of that reason.

Both of us didn't say anything but walked together to the workroom and then Hatano gave her wet towel to a woman soldier who was doing the night shift, the soldier nodded, she took the towel and headed to the Servants' zone. About Hatano, I could see she was looking at her prepared hot soup on the work table, she always wakes up early and eats prepared breakfast on the table by Ilis because she would head to work after eating.

Normally, John would do the paperwork in the castle and Hatano would go around Veta to surveillance each area while writing the reports and then send them back to John. When John was busy when he has his own private affairs or when he was away from the castle, Hatano would work both the paperwork and the surveillance in this region, she would work a lot when John was away.

"Tch!" - I heard a clicking tongue sound from Hatano, she touched her forehead and saw there were still some drops of sweats on it, she later wiped out of her sweats fastly

After wiping off her sweats, Hatano grabbed some fur papers from the pile of them to preview the details on the paperwork that she was about to write or calculate, she also grabbed and looked at the statistical paper. Suddenly, Hatano turned around and glared at me for no reason, I didn't make any hostility toward her but she was behaving strangely, she wants to pick up a fight with me or what?

"Don't waste your time here...go to eat fast...and then return...to your Princess, Knight."

Hatano didn't care to look at me anymore so I also stopped caring about her but headed to the Servants' zone right away, I got there and saw a young maid who was holding an unlighted torch in front of me. The maid bowed and then leaned her hand to a nearby torch which had burned all and now was hung on the wall, she removed it and replaced the torch with the one in her hand.

The maid later put the turned-off torch on the floor while pulling out a small magic stone and a leather glove from a small back on her back. The maid wore the glove and leaned the magic stone on top of the torch, it later caught fire and the torch was burning well, another torch had been lighted up.

Well, the young maid had transferred her magic power into the magic stone to heat it while colliding it with the unlighted torch to light up the torch, maybe I should stop looking. Anyway, maybe that maid was too careful to wear the glove, the heat of the magic stone while being heated was not enough to burn her hand...though it could cause light injuries, never mind...sigh! How silly I was!

Alright, after a long time of losing my concentration, I finally got to the kitchen and saw my breakfast and my water cup had been prepared on the table, Ilis had prepared for me well. Now I could see more people had woken up, we were about to start our new special day, Her Highness was not a party person so her birthday was quite simple.

Well, Her Highness was always demanding big birthday cakes when her birthday comes but at the time she got married, she only wanted to have John be with her 24 to 24 hours. All the things she needs were to have time alone with her husband all the time, having meals in the restaurant or playing around the streets only appeared when she has a mood, that's all.

"Good morning, Lady Reimi! Goddess Katia blesses you another day of bliss." - Ilis while helping the other maids, she bowed when she turned around and realized I was near her

After being greeted by Ilis, I started eating my breakfast, those were just the potatoes, I ordered this type of breakfast for me to eat fast and then head on my guard duty right after eating. Though...that way of eating was not good at all but I think I would spend my rest time in the noon or in the afternoon to eat better meals to be healthy, but my duty must be prioritized at all costs.

Well, now I was walking back to John's room and saw Her Highness at the time I was about to near to the door, she must have newly woken up, I walked until I faced Shera and then I bowed to her.

"Good morning, my Highness! I'm sorry for being late for my duty, please forgive me." - I apologized to Shera and then stood at the right side of the wall to guard

"I hope you have slept well, Reimi! I know...working hard to serve us is a very good duty of a servant...but please take care of your health."

"Thanks for your advice, my Highness."

Her Highness after talking with me, she stopped looking at me but pointed her head to the room and then looked at the hallway with her nervous face, I could see she was in trouble. I slowly stared at Shera to tell me to talk to her if she needs something, I could see my owner was worried so I hope I could do something to help her.

"Reimi, I would go to the kitchen to make breakfast...please keep your eyes on John."

"Why, my Highness? Lord Rigen said today is your birthday so you would not need to do anything, he would do the housework and hang out with you today...but why did you?"

"John is quite...he needs help, he keeps anxious while sleeping, I don't want to disturb my husband...he must be very tired."

"Please look after John when I'm away, Reimi! I would wake him up when I have done making breakfast, alright?"

"Understood, my Highness."

Shera later turned around and walked down the hallway, she lowered her head while covering her forehead while walking, she was quite worried and stressed about John's behavior. As a Knight and even a servant of Her Highness, I immediately walked inside the room to see John, I would guard him until Shera returns.

I walked inside and then noticed that John was sleeping but his condition was quite weird, he kept swinging around while sleeping and also grumbled his face more than usual. For safety, I grabbed a chair nearby and put it near the bed and sat on the chair to watch John, I would interfere when I see the situation is beyond my control.

One time, when John was sleeping at night, maybe he was having a nightmare or something that made him nervous while sleeping, Shera interfered and something bad happened to her. Well, Shera was trying to pat John when he was sweating while sleeping and he smashed her when he was still sleeping.

John unconsciously grabbed Shera's hands and then squeezed her head and later smashed it into the bed, that incident happened...as I could remember, 2 months after their marriage. If John makes the actions like the previous one once again, I would stop him, doing my best to wake him up before everything was too late.

Alright, after a few minutes of observing John, he finally slept normally, maybe I was too worried, he would be fine, I and Shera would help him out with his problems. Suddenly when I was looking at John, I heard the door opening and a figure came in, that was Shera, she has already done making breakfast and now was intending to wake up John.

"Is he alright, Reimi?" - Shera worried while asking me about John

"He is fine, my Highness! Despite having nervousness in the previous minutes, but now he is fine."

"That's so? I'm glad." - Shera later patted John's head with her happy expression

"Now you are free to rest, Reimi! You have worked too much, please eat fuller and sleep more, alright?"

"Ummm...you are free until the afternoon, Reimi! Why don't you take your time to rest?" - Shera grabbed my shoulder while staring at me

"Understood, my Hign-"

"John is forever mine...you can be friends with him...but only a friend in the name...you must communicate with him as a servant, got it Reimi?"

"U-"

"He is mine...don't ever think you can have him...now you can go, my husband is always mine, remember those words before talking to him."

"Nod!" - I slowly nodded and then walked outside, I would always appear in her dating with John so he would always eat and give presents for both of us, Her Highness got jealous because of that simple reason

John's perspective

Sigh...maybe I should not be too stressed these days, overthinking too much was killing myself and my happiness, Shera must be very unhappy to see me like that, poor my dear wife. I hope she would wake me up at the time she wakes up because I promised her that I would do housework on her birthday, she just only needs to rest and enjoy her birthday without doing anything.

It was very strange these days, I always dreamed about the war and the dark future without any reason, I overthought too much and was about to do nonsense things because of being scared of my nervousness. I thought about divorcing my wife, asking her to not have kids with me and many things else, I thought about those nonsense futures non-stop, I'm tired because of that.

I thought about divorcing my wife, not because I didn't love her but because I was scared that I would make her have no freedom, I didn't know why I keep thinking about that scenario. About asking Shera to not have kids with me, I was a terrible man, I was a violent person, maybe my kids would be happier if they were not born to see a terrible father like me.

My kids would be very unhappy if they were born into a family which has a father that would scold and beat them when he is stressed too much. Those thoughts kept appearing in my mind, I also that my wife would have adultery...I should calm down, I must calm down, today was my wife's birthday, I must make her happy, not depressed, calm the fuck down!

Haahhhh! Haahhhhh! Haahhhh! I hope I was finally calmed down, overthinking was not a good way, I always overthinking, I must stop, I must look forward, not look down. Instead of thinking about nonsense things, I must do whatever I can in my reach, I know that I was bad so there would be some way for me to solve myself to become better.

Knowing what I am bad at made me know my weaknesses, knowing my weaknesses means I could be able to get through it sooner or later, no need to be scared, I'm fine. Though my mind was still having those thoughts but I think I would be better, now I must wake up soon or my wife would be starved if I don't cook our breakfast, I must wake up.

Reimi's perspective

"John, please wake up! It's morning already...please wake up." - Her Highness said slightly to John while patting his head

Ohh, I saw John open his eyes...he looked tired or something though he had just newly woken up, John slowly got up with the help of both of us, his face looked nervous or something. After lifting John, he suddenly looked at Shera and stared at her non-stop, his hands later reached her and hugged his wife tightly.

"Hahhhhhh!" - John exhaled while hugging Shera, he didn't stop hugging her

"Alright, alright...good morning, honey! I will always be with you." - Shera also hugged John while patting his head

"I hope you would have a good day, Lord Rigen." - I bowed to John and he nodded as a reply

"Why don't you stay outside to guard, Reimi? Ummm...I mean why don't you have a rest? You are free this entire day, I would do things today so don't lay your hands."

"Understood, Lord Rigen! I hope...you would not mind if I get out at this time."

"Nod!" - John nodded and then I got outside and closed the door

John was quite strange to me, as if he was trying to calm down or something, he must have faced something in his dream but didn't like to mention it to us. Because of that, I slowly pressed my ear to the door to do eavesdropping...I turned on Advisor and then ordered her to eavesdrop on John.

"Pip! Eavesdropping on John Rigen is unable, Reimi! He has already locked the right to let me do it." - What?

"Don't worry, just eavesdrop John as always, I would filter the sounds according to what you heard, alright?"

"Okay." - I slowly pressed my ears to the door

"...please don't ask me what happened, Shera! Today is your birthday, you know? Please be happy, my wife." - I heard John go silent a moment and then talked slightly to his wife

"What have you seen from those dreams, John? Please tell me."

"Those were nonsense things, they deceived me and I could not concentrate on doing anything every time I think about it." - I heard footsteps around the room and a drinking sound, maybe John was drinking water while talking

"Uhhhh...I am always happy and warm every time I see you, Shera! Don't worry, I'm fine...ummm, I must make our breakfast, sorry for making you hungry, my wife."

"Wait, John! I have already cooked it."

"What? Sigh! Sorry..."

"Lady Reimi, can you hear me?" - A voice called me and I was startled while turned behind to see who was that person

That was Ilis, she was holding a metal plate which carried two bowls of meals and two water cups, I later grabbed the door's handle and opened the door to let her get in. Ilis bowed to me and then headed inside, I peeked and saw John and Shera talking to Ilis happily.

I hope John would be alright, I was thinking about having a full sleep against my tiredness, let's hope that he would be fine, I hope John would be fine. I walked back to my room and then opened the door, each private room had the same size, this was the first time in my life owning a big room like this one.

The room was supposed to be dirty and have dust but the maids and Her Highness would always clean rooms so even when I didn't use this room much, it was still very clean to me. Ummm...let's remember, in my first time owning Hatano's Advisor, she said her program would synchronize with my mind within a week to collect my information or something.

I didn't know what was Advisor's meaning but after a week, Advisor stopped speaking like Hatano and become another self or something. During these days, she reminded me to sleep more than 3 hours to have a full sleep, I always lack sleep, but I could not sleep too much without leaving my duty.

"Advisor, remember to alarm me to wake up after...4 hours, alright?" - I would extend one more hour in my sleep, to make sure that I would be fine

"Understood, Reimi."

I removed Advisor and put her on the table nearby and then I removed my metal boots and got on the bed while my leather armor and my weapons were still with me. I should have removed those things to let myself comfortable while sleeping but we would always sleep with our armors and weapons in our bodies when we were in wartime.

I should stop thinking, now I must sleep to regain my energy, I was supposed to be ordered to drive to the Capital to buy Shera's birthday cake but maybe John would be the one who does it now. I kept looking at the roof and then closed my eyes, I would be free today, I hope Her Highness and John would let me hang out alone in the Capital during the cold, I love Winter though this time was Spring.

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"Pip! Pip! Pip! Pip!" - Ahhhh, what a good feeling after waking up, though I was a bit lazy to lift my body

"Urrrrrgggghhhhh!" - I slowly got up and then Advisor stopped ringing

I later turned off Advisor and then stocked her in a drawer, because I didn't have a need to use her this time, I would blind the roads if I keep depending on Advisor too much. Let's hope that I was at the right time, Shera's birthday would be held at the noon, I would greet her birthday and then give her a present before asking her permission to let me go to the Capital alone.

Alright, my head was still a bit lazy after waking up so I was walking slowly and then headed to the door and opened it, I felt very good after a long sleep. As I could remember, Her Highness's birthday would be held in the living room so I looked around the hallway while walking around to find the living room to get inside.

I found the living room after a few seconds of looking around so I headed inside, in front of me was Shera, she was sitting at the table while holding a pink dress which seemed to be very colorful with many white leaf features on it. I walked closer and then bowed, I noticed that the dress she was holding was a kind of kimono or something, behind Her Highness was a bunch of wooden boxes which seemed to be carrying something.

"Ahh, welcome to my birthday, Reimi! I hope you have slept well." - Shera said to me happily while looking at the kimono

"Uhhhh, where is Lord Rigen, my Highness?" - Only Shera was inside the room, I didn't see anyone else

"John is decorating my birthday cake, he would come back here later."

"Ummm...about John's problem, my Highness! How's about it?"

"...he is still a bit worried about his problems but don't worry about it, Reimi! I would solve it sooner or later." - Shera went silent for a second and then explained to me

"Anyway, do you see me very beautiful with this kimono, Reimi? I look sexy to John, am I?" - Shera pressed the kimono closer to her body while asking me

"Ummmm...pink is not really fit for you, my Highness...but you would look very beautiful."

"Hehe, John would love it very much if we hang out with this kimono."

"But...people would glance at me very much because of wearing this strange dress, I didn't want my date to be ruined."

"Umm...maybe John would be very enjoyed if I make love to him while wearing this one."

"Why don't you take a seat, Reimi?"

"Ah, yes, my Highness." - Well, I was quite confused about where should I sit so I randomly sat beside Her Highness

"If you sit like that then when John sits, he would be between us...please sit closer to me, Reimi."

I sat closer to Her Highness and both of us looked at each other, behind me was a bunch of wooden boxes, still wondering what were those things, maybe...presents, I think so. Shera later giggled and then patted my head, because I was never invited to come to her birthday though I was her servant - only observed from far away, having a birthday cake seems to be a dream, huh?

Sigh, since my adoptive parents died, I never had a proper birthday so I was a bit jealous to see my owner has this much of presents, I was a servant who has no voice in this Royal society. Well, I should not open my mouth to complain, my fate was to become a servant, not a ruler so I should ignore my private things to serve Her Highness well.

Actually, John had given to me a birthday present once, I wore a necklace which has a blue jewel pendant, it was hidden behind my collar so Her Highness would not see it, I hope she would not find out. Her Highness giggled at me for a few more seconds and then pulled out a white sword from under the chair.

The sword seemed to be made of silver, very similar to my standard sword, I was bewildered when Shera made a posture of a ruler who was giving her servant the sword as if this object was very sacred. Didn't know how to react so I slowly bowed my head and slowly received the sword from Shera, I later looked at the sword closer and found out that its shape and details were the same as my current sword.

"Uhhhh...my Highness! What is this mean?

"Happy birthday, Reimi! Though your birthday is far gone months ago."

"I hope you would love that sword, Reimi! Akane bought it for you, you know?"

"But...it's a same sword as mine, my Highness! Only the price seems to be more expensive, this one is made of silver." - Didn't know if the blacksmiths filled this sword's surface with a dense layer of silver or this sword itself was made of silver, the blade was so shiny!

"Well, this sword is made by Ashura blacksmiths, its use is similar to Ashura magic sword, Reimi! I ordered Akane to specially make it for you." - So this sword could use the blue blade magic?

"Thank you very much, my Highness."

"Ummmm...don't thank me, thank Akane instead...anyway, my present...hehehehehe."

"Uhhhhh, my Highness..." - Well, now I didn't have anything

"Just kidding, hehehehehe...having you here is a present for me." - Shera patted my shoulder non-stop while smiling

"Anyway, my brother, my sister-in-law, my classmates and John's subordinates are busy, they could only send presents to me without coming here." - Shera later pointed to me the presents behind her

"Only the three of us at this birthday party, you know? Remember to help me eat my cake if I cannot eat all, I must stay in shape to enjoy my life with John."

"Understood, my Highness! But may I ask you something?"

"Say it, Reimi."

"Ummmm...may I have your permission to go outside? I want to hang out alone in the Capital till the afternoon and then would return here."

"But when would you go, Reimi?"

"Maybe after your birthday party, my Highness."

"But today is very cold, going outside this time is not a good idea, Reimi."

"And you always be with me so I didn't want to see my servant away from me in any seconds..."

"But you are a human being and also have yourself needs, I would consider this by discussing it with John before accepting to let you go, Reimi."

When Shera was speaking to me, we heard noises coming out from outside so she stopped talking and both of us concentrated on the door. A few seconds later, the door opened and three figures came inside, those were John, Sarah and Hatano, the three of them slowly walked toward the table while John was holding a vanilla birthday cake.

"Hi...yawn! I joined just to full this formation, don't mind about me!" - Sarah greeted us when she was holding a plate which has a piece of cake on it...she dared to eat my ruler's cake!

"Me too...don't mind about me...free food...is always good...right Sarah?" - Hatano was chewing a piece of cake while looking at us

"Ummmm...sis!"

"Hey, sorry you two! They cut the cake to eat when I didn't notice, just let them be, don't care about them." - John slowly put the cake on the table and then looked at Shera deeply

"Happy birthday, my love...I would meet you in bed, remember to prepare yourself...I would serve you all night, my wife."

"Kiss!" - John and Shera later kissed each other, I was a bit jealous but I slowly ignored it because there was another problem happening

Well, Hatano and Sarah were using their spoons to dig more pieces of cake on the birthday cake so I would come out to stop them, these two are the birthday breakers, only know to debunk.