I Didn’t Save You To Get Proposed To - Chapter 54

“I can’t believe it.” In a rattling carriage, I was busy using divine magic. “It wasn’t someone else who tripped, but your feet?”

 

“It’s something I’m usually pretty good at.”

 

As he accepted my divine magic, Niel stretched out and smiled. “How many times do I have to say this? I tripped and fell off the cliff, and it happened to be Strota’s nest.”

 

Strota was a monster in the shape of a bird, and had a violent temper that tears apart flesh with its sharp claws and beak.

 

“But I avoid it well, so there’s not much deep wound.”

 

“But you got hurt very badly. The wounds are spread widely.”

 

We were all shocked when we saw Niel, who appeared to be covered in blood.

 

I stayed at the Marquis mansion and told him to slowly come up to the capital after receiving treatment from the doctor, but Niel whispered, ‘It’s enough for two days to be separated from the research subject,’ so I set off with him without a hitch.

 

Other than me, the Feltron Knights’ medical staff flocked around him, but in the end, they raised both hands and slowly stepped back.

 

It was because the medical staff, who is a woman, was so crowded that she couldn’t see him with her eyes open, and the other medical staff, which is a man, abandoned him, stating he wouldn’t get treatment unless it was a woman.

 

“I can’t show my skin to ugly people!”

 

“No, what kind of calf—”

 

“It’s a calf-ignoring remark, that’s it.” 

 

“Anyway, you have to show me the wounds so we can treat them. If I’m ugly, who should I bring?” 

 

“Shouldn’t there be something like me? But there’s no way such a person is in the medical staff.” 

 

He was already well-known within the Knights of Feltron for his poor behavior, and as he became more fussy, even the medical staff who were trying to help him rapidly grew tired of him.

 

So I had to use divine magic all the way from the Marquis mansion to the Berti Forest, where the hunting competition was held.

 

“Hey, Niel.”

 

After pouring all the divine magic I could use, I talked to him, looking at him, who was still full of wounds.

 

“I mean, just in case—.”

 

Because divine magic does not work as well as medicine, treating all of these wounds will take a long time. It was not difficult to meet the quota for using divine magic every day as a result of this, but the ambiguity and disappointment that accompanied it could not be avoided.

 

“By any chance, did you get hurt on purpose?”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“You did it.”

 

Niel snorted as if he heard all the unreasonable remarks, but I frowned and continued.

 

“There are no monsters in the capital. That’s why it’s not an environment to use divine magic. Isn’t that why you opposed the idea of going to the capital city?”

 

“It’s all true, but Elsia, the leap is too much.”

 

After habitually stroking White and biting him again, Niel responded with a chuckle.

 

“And if that’s the case, what would you do?”

 

“That’s too much of a burden—”

 

“Of course, people should feel burdened.” Niel’s shoulders were lifted. “You’re still far from becoming a monster, Elsia. Your human nature is still good.”

 

When I looked at him without responding, Niel shook his hand and said without sincerity.

 

“I’m sorry, but I’m not that selfless. I hate being sick.”

 

“But I’ve never seen you get hurt—”

 

As if he had no will to answer what I said, Niel closed his eyes and began humming. Seeing him openly refusing to talk, I had no choice but to sigh. In any case, the wizards were incomprehensible people, and especially Niel had a personality that would not listen even if I asked for a serious conversation.

 

******

 

It was quite a long way to go to the Berti Forest, so I often had time to camp or give horses a break. Whenever that happened, Niel didn’t come out of the carriage well, saying he was still sick, and I was the only one who used to go around with White.

 

I learnt horseback riding from Ixion and relieved my boredom by tossing darts with the knights, as I had done previously.

 

Since Ixion said that we should be close friends, he has never put that kind of burden on me.

 

“Oh, Elsia. You’re good.”

 

He just played darts next to me peacefully and treated me friendly.

 

“Mwaa.”

 

Originally good at throwing something accurately, I used to hit all the darts on the new dart board that Ixion bought and pull out my skills. Even White would blink his blue eyes and admire my skills.

 

Even if I’m not as strong as Ixion, my ability to pierce the center of a long distance at once has become quite famous in the Knights Corps.

 

I learned bow or sword, because they say I was athletic and flexible, but I didn’t show much talent because I didn’t have much muscle.

 

“I can’t even catch a single rabbit with a bow—”

 

Ixion smiled, removing the dart from the dart board.

 

“If you learn the skill to fly even a poison sting, you’ll become a great assassin.”

 

“It must be amazing.”

 

I hugged White and shrugged my shoulders.

 

“I’ll remain a saint of all assassins.”

 

Today I was planning to camp because I couldn’t find a suitable place to stay. We sat side by side looking at the setting sky. While I was sitting still while the meal was being prepared, Ixion suddenly cut the grass.

 

“I’m not good at playing instruments, but—”

 

I sighed. It was because I remembered that a man who was good at music and writing was my ideal type and received a strange and gruesome event.

 

“I’m good at things like this.”

 

A strange sound began to come out of his mouth, which he took near his thin mouth. It was a grass flute.

 

I couldn’t help but look at his side profile, as it couldn’t possibly be the picture that came from the Prince, who is a great war god. I’ve seen him cut down monsters in one breath countless times. It was such a simple sight that I couldn’t even remember the cruelty.

 

After playing a traditional folk song, he threw the grass far away.

 

“Where do you learn this?”

 

I looked at the image drawn by the fluttering blades of grass, and asked blankly.

 

“I just did it by myself. Since I spent a lot of time alone when I was young.”

 

“Prince alone?”

 

“There wasn’t anyone particularly interested in me. As I grew up, I was better at everything than Ramon, so there were many people who were wary of me.”

 

“….”

 

“There were days when I wanted to be recognized by His Majesty even though no one else knew. It’s all in the past.”

 

“Why is it in the past?”

 

“His Majesty is only taking advantage of me. I didn’t have any complaints about him— I’m starting to think a bit more these days.” Ixion continued calmly. “It’s a hunting contest—. I’ve never been to such a leisurely event before. I’ve been so busy, I don’t have anything like that.”

 

“Why don’t you have anything? There’s the Feltron Knights, and don’t you actually have quite a lot of wealth?”

 

“Elsia.”

 

He smiled.

 

“What I’m talking about is power.”

 

“—Yes?”

 

“The freedom to continue by the side of the person I want to be with. Power is the only thing that guarantees that freedom.”

 

“….”

 

I sighed because I felt depressed for some reason. Because I could understand what he meant.

 

“Why don’t you participate in some events?” I spoke in a bright voice to cheer him up. “At this point, you’re going to hunt down all kinds of animals in hunting competitions. You’ve just cut down monsters, how easy is it to animal? Even if you don’t get recognition from His Majesty, you’ll be able to create a hot topic among the nobles. Set a new record!”

 

“It’s not difficult to hunt all kinds of animals, but—”

 

Ixion turned to me and smiled. His eyes looked straight at me.

 

Oh, I’ve never been comfortable with him. It was because when I met his straight and clear eyes, I felt strangely withdrawn.

 

“Do you know how to hunt animals in the hunting contest?”

 

“—Yes? I— don’t know.”

 

“They are dedicated to the person they want to give as a gift. Mainly to the noble Young Lady who came to watch.”

 

“Ah—”

 

“The Young Lady, who received the most gifts, was selected as the ‘queen’ of the hunting competition.”

 

It was a really odd custom. Before I could say anything, Ixion smiled deeply.

 

“If you want to be a ‘queen’, I think it would be good to participate.”

 

“M-me, as the Queen? Why?”

 

“Because you’re my closest friend.”

 

“—Friend?”

 

“Because I’m the most comfortable, spend the most time, and talk the most with you.”

 

“It’s not Sir Aiden?”

 

“Aiden is a subordinate.”

 

“What’s the difference?”

 

“—I want to be nice to you.”

 

I had to reconsider the definition of ‘close friend’ for a while.

 

“That’s too much.” At that time, Aiden with a poopy expression intervened in the conversation.

 

“Don’t you want to be nice to me?”

 

“I’ve never thought of that before.”

 

Aiden sighed at Lee Ixion’s cold words.

 

“Lady, my master is such a cold person. So he only have one friend.”

 

“One person?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Aiden nodded seriously.

 

“Lady is the only one.”

 

Suddenly, I wondered if the word “being friends” meant something.

 

“Anyway, would Lady Elsia, who is the Prince’s only friend, want to be the queen? If you don’t trust the prince, a few more people from the Feltron Knights, including myself, could cooperate.”

 

“What are you going to do as a queen?”

 

“It gets the envy of the socialites. It will be talked about for a long time until the next hunting competition.”

 

“Ah—”

 

I shivered.

 

“That’s terrible. I don’t want to get any more attention.”

 

“Well.” Aiden shrugged his shoulders. “No one has gotten as much attention as the Lady—. After all, the song will be circulating in the capital.”

 

“Is that song still popular?”

 

I recalled the title of the song I had heard from Irene the other day, <I Decided to Dance with the Prince>. Aiden nodded loudly.

 

“Yeah. I heard that a new song that corresponds to the answer is also trendy. I haven’t even heard of that, but the title says <I Decided to Propose to Her>.”

 

I sighed and buried my face on my knee.