The Hero is Standing in My Way - Chapter 14

 

His purple eyes were wide open then became normal again.

 

I nodded my head several times eagerly because he seemed to not trust the credibility of my words.

 

“I’ve never heard such a word,” Siegfried stated.

 

“I guess other people don’t say that?” I replied questioningly.

 

“In the first place, I don’t have that many people around me. Being by my side only makes it dangerous… In that respect, you are right.”

 

Siegfried paused for a moment and looked at me. He frowned and said:

 

“Strange. Knowing what kind of situation I am in, you don’t have any hesitation at all.” He said

 

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of. We’re both breathing well.” I responded.

 

“How do you know what else will happen? It is rather like you to be friendly. Perhaps you’re now fearless.”

 

I just didn’t show it, but I was very nervous when Siegfried was kidnapped. Why didn’t he scream and make a fuss?

 

As I was wondering how I was able to summon up the courage to save him, Siegfried started spouting out words quickly from his mouth.

 

“You are weird. It’s unfamiliar to me because I’ve never seen someone like you. You’re unique and that’s what’s wonderful about you.”

 

From start to finish, all he had to say was that it was strange. Perhaps that was the conclusion.

 

“I think I’ve heard that 2,000 times, Your Highness, you already told me I’m weird.”

 

“… I don’t think it’s that much. And I told you to call me by my name.”

 

“Ah yes.”

 

I can’t erase the feeling that I have been cursed by him after I praised him. Siegfried continued talking and as I tried to not pout.

 

“And to answer the question you asked before, to others…. I was told that I seemed to have no feelings. Whatever Eisa was doing I ignored it until I was poisoned.”

 

“You’re not ignoring it now?”

 

“I don’t know why my older brother wanted to kill me that much, but I don’t want to stay still. If he knocks me down, I’m sure he will target Blanche and their other allied families.”

 

So he was thinking of that.

 

It was surprising to know what’s inside the heart of this male lead.

 

I don’t think that’s an idea coming from a 15-year-old boy.

 

Is the Imperial Palace such a place? A place where all kinds of dark struggles take place and the boy is forcibly turned into an adult?

 

Well, seeing him waiting for two hours to go to the festival, it seems like he hadn’t yet completely escaped the thoughts of being a child.

 

In the middle of the conversation, we arrived at the festival. I pulled Siegfried’s sleeves.

 

“I really wanted to do something like this.”

 

“Like what?”

 

“Hmm.”

 

I stood at the edge of the shopping street, clearing my throat. Why haven’t I ever thought of this?

 

I raised my hand with a grin.

 

“From here to there. I’d like everything.”

 

“… A-are you serious, young lady?”

 

Asked the owner, who had just opened the store nearby. The store owner thought I was a commoner as I was wearing a commoner’s clothes.

 

From the shop owner’s point of view, this is a jackpot. It is said that all the confectionery that was put out for sale before the business started is wiped out.

 

“I mean it. Here’s the money.”

 

I bought all the snacks on the stall. I took out some silver coins from my pocket and Siegfried, standing behind me, called me.

 

“Why did you pay?”

 

“That’s …”

 

I laughed, scratching my cheek.

 

Of course, I wasn’t going to do this from the beginning, but when I came to the festival street and talked with Siegfried, I kept thinking that I wanted to do something for him.

 

He said that being with him puts your life in constant danger. People biting you, and even threatening your life.

 

He was even kidnapped at the Count’s home where he went to recuperate.

 

Honestly, it’s so pathetic up there [the Palace]!

 

I know you have a lot of money, but I hope you spend that money on yourself too.

 

Even if I say that Siegfried spent his money on the festival, it’s just a penny for him… (T/N: Siegfried, can I borrow money from you?)

 

Although I am in a position to receive money from Abbysion, I hope that the memories in the Ellifritz mansion will be memorable for Siegfried.

 

I think it’s better to be liked by this male lead than to be hated by him. In the first place, I wasn’t the villain’s fiancée from the start.

 

Siegfried in the novel couldn’t have liked me. I’ll make sure to be liked by him before it ends.

 

“Uh, there comes the store owner. You will carry the luggage, right?”

 

I chose to distract him rather than give a different explanation.

 

I saw Siegfried frown dissatisfied, but he didn’t mind.

 

“You said you left your wallet behind.”

 

“I heard they sell jewelry over there. Would you like to go? I was disappointed that I couldn’t see much yesterday.”

 

“Don’t you hear me?”

 

Hmm. I replied silently and left my baggage to Siegfried.

 

He sighed deeply and accepted the bag of cookies I handed him over.

 

I walked past the crowd, making sure Siegfried was following me well.

 

As I passed the streets selling desserts, shops selling colorful handicrafts appeared.

 

“Your High…. No, whatever. Laxi…. Ah anyway, how about this one?”

 

I asked as I stood at the kiosk lined up by the store owner. What I pointed at was a headdress with a red glass ball tassel.

 

“It’s okay. Let me buy this one.”

 

“I haven’t decided to buy it yet.”

 

I looked down at the headdress. I like it. It wasn’t a common design. It didn’t even have women’s trinkets and excessive lace.

 

“Aigoo, you have good eyes for a pretty young lady. It’s actually made in pairs. You can have a pair with that young man over there.”

 

The shopkeeper approached, rubbing his hand.

 

When the owner beckoned to come closer, Siegfried looked disgusted.

 

“I don’t have a hobby of wearing a headdress like that.”

 

Siegfried added that he had been misunderstood as a woman when he was a child.

 

Then the shopkeeper urgently opened his mouth, apparently not wanting to miss this opportunity.

 

“Of course, it’s not a headdress for men. Aren’t there many knights in our estate? It’s because of the military family of the Count.”

 

“So what?”

 

When I heard about our family, it piqued my interest. When I asked the shopkeeper with twinkling eyes, the shopkeeper replied with a smile.

 

“So, for men, I made jewelry that can be attached to the sword separately. It is very popular with girls who adore the knights going out to defeat the monsters.”

 

“Oh……. Show me what it looks like to be attached to a sword.”

 

Isn’t it romantic? I can’t believe we can wear it as a couple. The shopkeeper quickly looked at the stand as I stared with huge expectations.

 

“Here you are. The basic decoration is the same, but that’s a hairpin, and this one is made to be hung with strings.”

 

The decoration on the sword was also pretty. I paid the price right away without asking any further.

 

And when money came out of my pocket, Siegfried stopped me.

 

“I’ll buy it.”

 

“It’s a couple’s item. Would you like to share one with me? It doesn’t mean anything else.”

 

“Didn’t you hear me say I’ll buy it?”

 

“It doesn’t matter who buys. Now, I’ll wrap it up here. Let’s stop our love quarrel and have a good date. The weather is also nice.”

 

The shopkeeper quickly took my money and handed out the trinkets. As people flocked to the stall, I took a step back.

 

Siegfried stared at the store owner and followed me.

 

“Do that with your future husband.”

 

Siegfried opened his mouth as he entered the place where it was less crowded. As I opened the jewelry, I raised my head.

 

My future husband? Eisa?

 

Do something like this with the villain? I hate that. I don’t want to be in a relationship like that.

 

“Would you please stop saying something sinister? I bought this for Your Highness.”

 

“I said call me by my name.”

 

“I’ll call you your name if you wear the accessories. Or I just don’t call you at all.”

 

“….”

 

Siegfried blinked as if he’s at a loss for words. I took out the men’s jewelry and hung it on his fingers with his arms folded.

 

“Aren’t you going to participate in the subjugation? Everyone is wearing it one by one, but it would be sad if you weren’t wearing one,” I said.

 

“I’m past the age to be disappointed by things like this.”

 

“I’m old enough to feel sorry for this, so if you don’t accept it, I think I’ll cry.”

 

“You’re funny,” he said sarcastically.

 

Perhaps Siegfried had never received a gift like this. It was obvious that he was embarrassed seeing him refuse like that.

 

Since he came to Ellifritz, I wanted to give him the best. It was a little disappointing, I can give it to Abbysion if he won’t accept it.

 

“If you say you don’t like it, I can’t help it. Please return it, my poor trinket.”

 

Hmph. I reached out my hand. Having a couple of items with my older brother, my life ah. Would I rather give it to one of the Count’s Knights?

 

As I was thinking about it for a while, Siegfried took turns looking at my palm and the jewelry he was holding while biting his lower lip.

 

“No… I never said I didn’t like it. It’s just a little embarrassing.”

 

“So what about my future husband? I can do this with anyone, even if you are not my husband. Being a couple is just a trick. Don’t be burdened.”

 

“It’s not too burdensome.”

 

“That’s it! Shall we go buy some more snacks now?”

 

Siegfried nodded in bewilderment.

 

I watched him put the trinkets on his arms.

 

In the end, you accepted it.