「…g-sama. Arg-sama」
「!」
The voice right by my ear made my whole body tense up.
Wait? What happened how?
「Arg-sama. Are you okay?」
「Good morning, Noie」
「It’s still evening」
Huh?
I looked at the sky as she said… yeah. Still faintly blue.
「From here on, running is prohibited」
「Hmm? Got it」
I didn’t really get it, but answered anyway. She slowly crouched down.
Wait…she’s carrying me!
In a flash… yeah, it came back.
Right. Noie scooped me up, I took insane G-force, and next thing I knew we were here.
She stayed crouched, saying nothing.
I tried to slowly put my feet down and stand, but I wobbled.
Noie instantly supported me, so no worries… but this place is the gate we blasted through with the idiot prince on the way out.
The gate guards were all lined up waiting.
Regular people were whispering, confused about what was going on, but a few noticed Noie. They naturally pressed their hands together in prayer toward her.
「Arg-sama. Together」
「Yes, yes」
I thought hand-holding, but it was arm-in-arm again.
This ups the closeness level, which isn’t bad… but doing it in public? Is she really okay with that?
Look. The general public and guards are totally shocked.
「Argusta-sama」
「What?」
「It’s just procedure, but could you please confirm passage?」
The soldier who stepped forward looking resolved was stiff with nerves.
On the way out, the idiot prince challenged the mounted escorts with 「Anyone who passes me becomes a knight tomorrow」 and raced…they nearly trampled a few people. I almost wet myself watching.
Just a tiny bit, okay.
「How do I confirm?」
「…The ornament on your waist」
Huh? Ah… this decoration on my waist, right?
It is a golden plate about the size of a child’s fist. The maids attached it to me every day, but it actually had a meaning.
When I take it off and hand it over… why are you accepting it so reverently? I pretty much just tossed it casually just now.
「I have confirmed it. Please pass through.」
「What about Noie?」
「If you are accompanying His Highness the Prince, there is no need for confirmation.」
The soldier looked like he was sweating buckets, practically begging for mercy.
Oh, right. I tend to forget, but I am a prince, so I guess that makes me kind of important.
「Then, Noie. Let us go.」
「Yes.」
She matches her steps to mine, walking close beside me.
We pass through the gate and come to a stop.
I turn back toward the gate guards who were seeing us off and give them a warm smile.
「Has Prince Halfen returned yet?」
「Not yet, Your Highness.」
「Then he might come racing back again. Please make sure no one gets knocked over.」
「Understood, Your Highness.」
The guards bow deeply in perfect unison. I wave goodbye to them and start walking through the castle town.
I have not had many chances to see it properly, but looking at it like this, it really feels like a medieval townscape. It is honestly quite nice.
The people passing by on the street notice Noie and immediately press their hands together in prayer.
From the snippets of words I catch, they are saying things like 『Goddess-sama』 or 『Please let us pass tomorrow safely as well』.
Noie truly is out there slaying dragons.
That means she is literally saving this country from destruction.
In the past ten years, two entire nations have fallen because of dragons. To the people here, Noie must feel like a real savior.
「Hey, Noie.」
「Yes?」
「Do you like slaying dragons?」
Her answer is silence.
I glance sideways at her. That silly strand of hair on her head is swaying gently back and forth.
「Do you hate slaying dragons?」
「……」
Another silence.
I know. She is not slaying dragons because she is thinking about things like that.
Just like breathing comes naturally, she faces dragons without hesitation.
「……I do not understand.」
「I see. Then let us figure it out together someday.」
「Yes.」
「But everyone in town is thanking Noie so much.」
「Thanking?」
She tilts her head just a little and looks up at me with those clear eyes.
「Do people ever say 『thank you』 to you?」
「They do.」
「Those words mean 『thank you』. They are words of gratitude. Wait, have you been using them without knowing what they meant?」
She gives a small, shy nod. That is so like her.
There are probably a lot of words Noie uses without fully understanding their meaning.
「Is being thanked a good thing?」
「Yes. It is a good thing.」
「……」
The air around her says she still does not quite get it.
「When Noie gets thanked a lot, it makes me happy too.」
「Arg-sama too?」
「Yes.」
「……I do not understand.」
Maybe it is still a little too hard for Noie right now.
「Then let us understand it little by little together.」
「……Yes.」
「That is a good answer.」
I reach out with one hand and gently stroke her head.
She tilts her head ever so slightly into my touch, accepting it sweetly.
As I thought, she really loves being petted.
「When we get back to the room, I will pet you more.」
「……」
Suddenly she tugs firmly on my arm. Did I mess up again?
「But first we have to take baths and eat dinner. After that is done… Noie? Are you listening? Wait, slow down. Your steps are going way too fast!」
Full of excitement for the promised petting, she practically drags me along. Before I know it, we are back at the detached palace building.
We take our baths separately, then eat dinner together. And once night falls, I end up stroking Noie’s soft hair until the stars are high in the sky.
It is fine. For now, just her head is enough. Someday I will pet every single part of her without missing a spot!
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