The Hero is Standing in My Way - Chapter 17

I quickly let go of his hand. Then I put my hands together and bent forward politely.

“Sorry… I went too far.”

“I-I’ve been thinking a lot about it since I got here. You don’t know anything… How can you let me in casually…? ”

“Worried? What are you worried about?”

“You know nothing!”

Siegfried fanned his face, perhaps because it was hot.

He was breathless.

He brushed the stray hairs blocking his eyes in an annoyed manner.

I decided to watch Siegfried and wait for him to calm down.

“Your Highness, I was so rude. I didn’t know you would hate it that much. Would you like to punish me?”

“…… That’s all you have to say.”

Finally, Siegfried’s complexion returned to normal again.

However, there was still some redness around his eyes that were looking at me sternly.

“Why are your clothes like that again? The sun has risen to the middle of the sky.”

“Sometimes, I think that Your Highness is saying things you wouldn’t normally say.”

Abbysion had long ago given up trying to stop me sleeping in like this. But Siegfried, who was younger than me, nagged at me.

“Aren’t these pajamas pretty, though?”

“…… Was it pajamas? No wonder.”

Siegfried frowned and muttered. As if he had only realized it, he took a step back.

“P-pajamas……? It’s not enough to let me in your room, you’re in your pajamas……?”

He turned his head away from me, not looking at me anymore. He didn’t forget to stumble out the door in the meantime. It wasn’t that surprising now. Although I thought people were very peculiar.

Since he had come a long way to get here, I was just bragging about my pajamas. I was a bit disappointed because Abbysion and Milliard didn’t have much reaction when I showed it to them.

“Isn’t it pretty? I bought it a while ago.”

“…… I, I don’t know.”

“Please take a look. I was sad that I don’t have anyone to show it off to. On my shoulders is where the embroidery is placed….”

I approached Siegfried and pushed my shoulder towards him. The fabric was thin but the skin was barely exposed.

So there was no reason for Siegfried to turn so red again. He blinked his eyes and pursed his lips.

“…… Ugh.”

“Are you sick?”

“Darn it, I said I don’t know!”

Siegfried suddenly raised his voice and left my room.

I followed him unconsciously, but I had no choice but to stop and watch him run away down the hall at such tremendous speeds.

Why is that? Is it puberty?

・*🐰🐰*・

As I went down to the dining room for dinner, I found Siegfried sitting on the stairs and concentrating on something.

No matter how serious his face was, he didn’t seem to even feel my presence.

I approached Siegfried’s back and watched what he was doing.

“Oh, that’s the accessory I bought.”

“…… You surprised me.”

I stood tall before Siegfried and looked down at him with my upper body bent over the balcony railing. Siegfried was looking up at me with his head leaned back. His beauty remained even though his bangs were swept back and away and his forehead was exposed. He straightened his head and pushed the charm and sword to the side causing more jiggling for a while.

“I just saw the thing you gave me and thought I’d put it on.”

Who asked Siegfried what he was doing?

I went down the stairs a little further and plopped down beside him. Siegfried pulled his sword towards him to seem like he was trying to make space for me.

He was both harsh and kind at the same time that I cannot make heads or tails. Siegfried said I was weird, but to me he’s the weird one.

“It’s pretty to keep looking at. Just like me.”

“Whatever you want to say.”

Siegfried said with a straight face. I made a flower cup pose and smiled widely. He avoided my gaze.

Ei, his reaction isn’t funny. I quickly lost interest and lowered my hand.

“Aren’t you wearing the accessories? I’ll help you.”

I said, grabbing the trinket that Siegfried was holding. He flinched and snapped his shoulder back.

“…… Oh right. You’re an outsider so I shouldn’t hold hands with you.”

“You already did…….”

“That’s true.”

After grabbing his hands holding the trinkets, I tried to let go, feeling awkward. But Siegfried was faster than me, quickly pulling his hand away.

I felt him glance sideways. I looked at the trinket tied with loose knots that I held in my grasp.

I thought he was pretty, rich and bad at using words, but he’s also a bit weird and not good with his hands. Yes, where is a perfect man in the world.

“Are you cursing at me right now?”

“Oh, I’m not.”

How did you know? You’re frighteningly quick to notice. I quickly untied the knot and put the accessories on his sword. Why couldn’t he do something so easy?

“You seem to be cursing me.”

“…… I said no. Why do you think so?”

“You’re looking at me right now like I am very insignificant.”

Aha. In the future, I should be careful with my eyes. I held out the sword to Siegfried.

“But don’t you think we have gotten closer? I didn’t know that Your Highness would personally come to my room.”

“…… There’s nothing good about getting close to me.”

It sounded like he’s building a wall around him, as if he will never visit here anymore.

Siegfried looked a little gloomy. Of course, Siegfried now may think so.

But I already knew that he would return splendidly as a war hero.

I impulsively grabbed his hand, knowing that he would hate it.

Fortunately, Siegfried didn’t show any reaction as if he was lost in thought.

“Don’t think so. I’m so happy to be close with Your Highness.”

“I’m not asking about your feelings.”

“I mean, you could be in danger.”

“Do you think I am that weak?”

Did you remember that when we first met, I took care of those bad guys without a weapon? I can’t do this. I have to show my skills one day.

“Well……. I’ve said it before, but it seems like you’ve lost your fear.”

“You are saying that like I didn’t run away from the warehouse before.”

Siegfried closed his lips and looked down at my hand that was covering the back of his hand.

I sighed.

“I told you, didn’t I? Of course I believed Your Highness would win.”

“I will ask again. Where on earth does that unfounded belief come from?”

“Hmm……. Your Highness’ dazzling beauty?”

“….”

I know it’s ridiculous, but there’s nothing to be serious about. I laughed wildly.

“Anyway, if that happens again, I won’t run away. I will protect Your Highness.”

That way, I can see your virtues so that I can live happily without getting engaged to Eisa.

It was much better for me to get closer with Siegfried than wait for Eisa to take fancy to me.

Wouldn’t I somehow avoid my death flag if I stuck beside the male lead? In the process, it would be better if our family got better.

Besides, I felt so sorry for Siegfried even before having these calculations inside my mind. He’s intentionally pushing away people who want to get close to him.

He couldn’t help it if his personality was like that, but it was really all because Eisa made Siegfried that way.

When I thought about it, Siegfried had never taken anyone’s hand and began to look like a wild animal constantly on guard.

I know you did hard work at the Imperial Palace, but at least I hope you have a good time at the Ellifritz. Don’t make a face like that.

In that sense, would it be okay to say a little about Siegfried’s future road ahead?

I took a little deep breath and opened my mouth.

“There will come a day someday in the future that Your Highness will talk about things like these. I believe it. Everything Your Highness wants to achieve will come true. So, when something like an assassin comes, we’ll take it on together.”

“…… Again, you said you believed in me – without any basis.”

“I know the basis for what I already told you about.”

“What, my face?”

“Right. You know it well.”

“It makes your nonsense sound brilliant.”

It seemed that it was only nonsense when I cheered him on as much as possible.

I became gloomy and drooped my eyes.

Then Siegfried burst into laughter as if it were absurd.

He put the back of his hand down and put his hand on my palm.

“…… Does that mean you’ll be my comfort?” (T/N: Aack! Don’t be like this! My heart can’t take it!)