The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies

15 – Eliana (04)

016.

Fumbling, fumbling.

Eliana couldn’t take her eyes off Kallen’s face, as if she found it so fascinating.

As she fumbled for a long time, she suddenly noticed Kallen’s body, stripped of his upper garment.

“…”

She hesitated to touch it.

The sound of soft clothes brushing against skin accompanied the two bodies coming together.

Thump, thump, thump.

The heart beat a little faster than before.

Eliana’s eyes, which had risen above Kallen’s shoulder, were slightly larger.

He didn’t seem to have much muscle, but his body was hard.

Eliana liked that too.

Like that, for a long time.

Just as Kallen was about to wake up and let go.

“Miss?”

Kallen’s voice was heard right next to her.

The volume was unfamiliar compared to when her hearing was bad, and Eliana flinched and pulled away.

“How…”

Fortunately, Kallen seemed only concerned with how he had gotten here.

“Can you… walk?”

Nod.

Eliana moved her head slightly.

“That illness…”

“It’s cured.”

“Oh.”

“Thanks to you, Kallen…”

Then she matched his gaze again.

“I now know what your face looks like… what your voice feels like… I know everything now…”

Eliana said, fixing her gaze on Kallen’s eyes.

“Thank you, Kallen. It’s all thanks to you.”

“I was just by your side.”

“Yes, if you say so, then it must be.”

“Anyway, I’m glad. I was worried what would happen if you died.”

Kallen said calmly, as if he was truly relieved.

Eliana listened quietly to Kallen’s words and thought.

She couldn’t help but like that Kallen had taken care of her as a guard.

The situation had come to this, and it didn’t sit well with her to simply remain in the relationship of a guard and a lady.

“…Aren’t you going to ask what I was doing?”

Was that why the words slipped out so suddenly?

Eliana, surprised by her own words, blinked quietly.

“Oh. Come to think of it, you were holding me-“

“Th-thank you…”

It was because of that she stammered, cutting off Kallen’s words.

“I didn’t mean anything else…”

Eliana hurriedly stood up and turned around.

“…Maybe.”

What her face looked like.

She couldn’t muster the courage to show Kallen the burning redness.

*

The carriage set off northward again.

The only difference was that Eliana was sitting next to Kallen on the coachman’s seat.

Of course, Kallen tried to dissuade her, saying he couldn’t be sure if the illness had completely disappeared yet.

But he couldn’t do anything against her words that she wanted to see the world with her own eyes.

Kallen wasn’t unaware of Eliana’s feelings.

But Eliana’s gaze, using that as an excuse, was entirely directed at Kallen.

Mostly at his face, sometimes at the arm pulling the reins.

“…Did you always wear glasses?”

“No. I received them from the elder.”

“Oh…”

“For a wizard, a staff might be a bit old-fashioned, but many of us wear glasses.”

“…They suit you well.”

“Thank you.”

Sometimes, they had everyday conversations.

“Anyway, when we pass through the north, you must stay inside. My lady.”

“Why…?”

“It looks like we’re stepping on another territory, so we need permission. Thanks to the head of the family, it’s been simplified, but showing your condition to other high-ranking nobles is…”

“I don’t hurt anymore…”

They also talked about their destination.

The carriage carrying the two finally set foot on the land of the North.

The people of the Claire Empire refer to the North as follows:

The coldest place, and at the same time, the hottest place.

The former was due to the unique weather of the North, and the latter was due to the characteristics of the North.

A region where battles are unusually frequent compared to other regions.

The heat contained in the blood splatters there is said to rival the snow of the North.

In fact, the North is the place with the most mercenaries, knights, and battle-specialized wizards.

However, since it is limited to the North, peace is maintained in other mainstream regions.

About half a day after they set foot on the land of the North.

“Stop.”

A few figures appeared behind the white ridge.

The one standing at the forefront was a woman.

Although the imperial law clearly exists, the North respects the strong.

Due to the inherent physical differences, the main force is usually men.

A woman with enough power to grant entry permission in such a place.

Such a person is extremely rare in the North.

“Identify yourself and state your purpose.”

For example, the eldest daughter of the Grand Duke of the North.

Kallen got off the carriage and spoke.

“It is an honor to meet the young master of the North. I am Eliana Rakatus, the third daughter of the Duke of Rakatus, and this is Kallen, my escort. We had contacted you to go to Winter Island.”

As soon as Kallen finished speaking, the woman in front raised her hand, and the vigilance was lifted.

Since it was a matter that had been discussed to the extent of administrative simplification, there was no need for further formalities.

The woman slowly approached Kallen.

Considering Kallen’s considerable height, the woman was also quite tall.

Still, Kallen was a bit taller.

“Where is Lady Rakatus?”

“She is sleeping.”

This was also something that had already been agreed upon with Eliana.

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Regardless of her recovery, it was conveyed that Eliana would not appear in the North.

“Sleepyhead.”

The woman passed by without much interest.

Originally, procedures are strict and do not allow exceptions.

This unusual procedure was due to the friendship between Duke Everchan Lacatus and the lord of the North.

Knowing everything already, Kallen thought it was over and tried to get back into the carriage.

“Are you alone?”

If the woman hadn’t suddenly spoken to him.

Kallen was Eliana’s escort.

At least, he couldn’t ignore the words of the woman standing in front of him.

“Yes.”

“An escort?”

“Is there a problem?”

“I heard about it, but I couldn’t believe it until I saw it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Lacatus is on the other side of the continent, and yet, coming to the North with only one escort…”

The woman tapped her chin with her index finger.

“The Duke of Lacatus is not the type to do things carelessly. How skilled must you be to be entrusted with the escort of Lady Lacatus alone?”

Kallen was Eliana’s escort because of her illness.

But this fact was a secret.

Even the Grand Duke of the North wouldn’t know, let alone the woman.

She had completely misunderstood.

Kallen thought it better to let her remain mistaken.

Digging into the truth would only cause complications in the plan.

He didn’t show any particular talent, so he didn’t break Blamia’s advice.

“Cold.”

“I can’t speak for the lady. Especially not to Lady Hiatt.”

Hiatt.

The family of the absolute ruler of the North.

The woman from such a family nodded as if it was only natural.

“Pass through.”

A loud response was heard from those who followed in formation, and the path opened.

Kallen also lightly bowed his head and got into the carriage.

Leaving behind the woman who lightly waved her hand, the carriage departed.

“Hmm…”

The woman’s gaze, tapping her chin with her index finger, was directed at the shabby carriage.

Until the carriage disappeared behind the ridge.

*

Winter Island.

The resonance of that name is not a light one.

Isn’t it a place that everyone living in the Empire has dreamed of at least once?

Those who somehow managed to see Winter Island and return alive all said the same thing.

Spectacular.

It was a word used to describe the scenery of Winter Island.

There are many places as beautiful as the Claire Empire continent.

But among them, there are particularly outstanding places.

The northern Winter Island is certainly one of those places.

A place worth visiting despite the risks.

A place so beautiful that once seen, it cannot be forgotten.

That is where Kallen and Eliana arrived.

“Haa…”

The breath that escaped froze.

An unbearable cold.

Eliana put on the clothes she had prepared in advance and got off the carriage.

Crunch- Crunch-

Footprints were left on the pure white snow.

Of course, everything was clearly visible.

Eliana turned her gaze to follow the silhouette of a boy.

She could walk, but it was still awkward, so she had to rely on help.

“…Did you also try this as a counterpart to someone called Sinat?”

“Yes.”

“…”

Although he didn’t quite like the skillful touch that was supporting him, he decided to let it go.

After all, Winter Island was just around the corner, and it was ultimately himself who had brought Kallen’s familiarity.

Kallen shortened his stride to accommodate Eliana, and Eliana also moved her body little by little to match Kallen’s consideration.

The highland beautifully covered with pure white snow.

Even the tranquil sunlight was so beautiful.

In the feeling that it might disappear if he closed his eyes.

Kallen and Eliana reached Winter Island.

“…”

“…”

There were no words exchanged.

It was simply too beautiful to speak.

The deeply split canyon and the pure white snow piled on top of it.

The sun seen through the gap was not hot and glaring, but calm and noble.

As the cold sunlight reflected on the incredibly clear water flowing through the canyon.

It created an exceptionally beautiful scenery, harmonizing with the snow covering above.

Indeed, it was a breathtaking view.

Kallen could understand why people used such expressions while looking down at the scenery.

If there is a heaven that the high-ranking people of the church talk about, it would probably be such a landscape.

It was quite regrettable that Eliana couldn’t see it as it was.

Thinking so, Kallen turned his head.

Because he was curious about Eliana’s expression.

Had her earnest wish come true?

He couldn’t quite imagine Eliana smiling, but somehow he hoped she would.

However, it was a bit different from what he expected.

Eliana’s gaze, which he turned to look at, was not on the beautiful scenery.

Because it was directed at Kallen himself.

“…Aren’t you looking?”

“Yeah. I saw it.”

Was it a coincidence that they turned their heads at the same moment?

Kallen asked cautiously.

“Was it worth making a wish for?”

“Yes…”

Eliana replied, taking a step closer to Kallen with her hands behind her back.

Reaching close proximity, Eliana met Kallen’s eyes.

“…It was good. Much more than I thought.”

“I’m glad.”

“Well, it’s a bit different from the reason I initially thought it would be good…”

Eliana said with a bright smile.

Recovering the old world, gaining a new one.

Finally, the bright smile of the youngest lady of the Rakatus family, who had achieved her wish, blended beautifully with the stunning scenery.

“I think I like this reason much better.”

Kallen felt a little.

Like his breath was taken away.