Princess Reincarnation

"Love"

After Christof and Klaus left, silence fell in the room.

What will I do …? My heart is ready to beat out of my chest.

But this is different from the usual mix of nerves. The tension you feel when it finally comes time to apologize to the friend you just fought. No . Sir Leonhard is not a friend, nor are we quarreling. But it was just as unpleasant as being placed in that position.

Calm down, calm down, I said inwardly, as she caught my attention.

"Your Majesty . ”

"You- ... yes!" I replied in a very surprised voice, the opposite of what I wanted.

I'm just embarrassed.

Sir Leonhard looked at me without batting an eye, really seriously.

“I am only forbidden to eat while on duty. I'm reluctant to ask, but .. May I speak to you? "

"What about…?"

I never expected Sir Leonhard to break the ice just yet.

Unintentionally, my posture and expression became stiff. My palms were covered in sweat, and my pulse slowly grew faster.

It has been my intention to apologize all along, so even if I get a reprimand, it doesn't matter. The order of things just changes around. Right, there he is.

You don't know if it's better or worse, I reasoned with myself, trying to regain my peace of mind.

She looked at me fixedly when I was scared, then lowered her head for some reason.

Taken by no small surprise, my voice failed.

“My deepest apologies. ”

“……?”

"It has always been my wish to extend my apology to His Majesty once again. However, there had never been a chance to meet, and it had been long overdue. ”

Why is he apologizing?

I was thrown from the direction of this unusual event.

"Please lift your head. Mr. Olsein, I never expected to accept an apology or anything like that from you. Nothing at all, ”kataku impatiently, and he did as I commanded.

He may feel my discomfort.

“Apardon should have come from me. Half a year ago, with nothing but my own judgment, I acted on my own authority, and caused great trouble for everyone in the Order. Under normal circumstances, I should have consulted with you or Klaus when I sensed the mistake. Please accept my sincere apology. I knew I was thinking too much about myself, wrongly believing that there was something I could do. ”

I bow my head in shame and regret.

"Your Majesty," said Sir Leonhard.

When I looked at him, I could see myself reflected in his sincere eyes. Eyebrows lowered sadly, he slowly shook his head.

"Please don't judge yourself harshly. ”

"But…"

“Your assessment is not wrong. If you do nothing, Hilde Kramer is unlikely to be saved. If you have to curse someone, then this one is to blame. You are hurt, but even thoughtlessly spared for your sake, I'm just telling you to hold your grief .. I should never have said those words. ”

I am truly sorry, he said, a deep regret affecting the sound of his voice.

I was at a loss for words.

When Hilde was in danger of losing her life, I actually lost her. Thanks to his direction, I managed to calm myself down, so I never thought of blaming him.

Yeah, that's what I really feel about it.

But maybe. Maybe there was something lodged in my heart, and the reason I couldn't immediately deny it was because — to some degree — I got hurt. I can't make myself understand.

I am blind to my own shortcomings.

"The fact that you don't want to rely on yourself or Klaus is very frustrating. "Why do you have to be so stubborn, insisting on continuing on your own?" There were also times when I wondered to myself in impatience. But at one point, I realized why. It's not a problem you refuse to rely on others, but you can't do it. ”

I blinked. I looked at him blankly, a step behind in understanding.

For a moment, I thought I heard wrong. I must have heard a lot.

But it turned out that it was not an illusion when he knelt down in front of me and raised my hand. From below, his dark eyes without a hint of shadow overcame me, and my heart trembled.

“One day I'd like to convey to you my hope that you depend on the people around you. At the time, I thought maybe you didn't like to rely on others because of your sense of royal duty, your obligation. But there's more. I feel your pain. ”

“…………”

“You look down when you want to say something, and that's not the only stubbornness I've observed. However, to not mention any further about it, a person who considered himself too high would not be able to restrain himself in such a manner. ”

He stopped, looking at me. The girl reflected in his eyes looked very pitiful.

He had an insecure expression on his face, anxiously mixed in relief. He looked like a lost child, and finally found his way home.

A strong palm slowly covered my hand.

"When you are alone, what are you ... Do you not carry a great burden inside?"

“……”

I couldn't react immediately.

I knew I should have immediately rejected all her assumptions. I should have said, What do you mean? and followed him with laughter.

The hand he held shook. My voice's stuck.

Far from doing all the things I was supposed to do, I resisted the urge to cry because it was too much.

I was so worried all this time.

I don't know if the road I've been on is right or not. The only thing that shows me where the road is headed is a memory that fades more and more with time.

Even if I wanted to confide in someone, there was no one. I could just keep telling myself it would be okay.

Even when I hold the hands of my loved ones, people who ask me to be open to those around me, I can only think of flags that weigh heavily on my mind. I have been enslaved by this absurd idea that I have to do everything myself, alone.

Now I know more.

When I tried to protect everyone, I was protected in return, right? I refused their hand, turning my back on their kindness.

I also don't know my own abilities, a really desperate child.

But he still watches over me. He was silent thinking of me.

Time and again she reached out a kind hand to the child who was not charming even though she rejected him, asking him to rely on her.

"If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to force yourself to share. However, if you ever feel that what you are holding inside is too painful. I'm also hoping you'll allow me to protect what you want to keep. ”

“……”

There was painful pressure on my chest.

Moved by the sudden impulse, I flew into the kneeling arm of Sir Leonhard.

"… Sir Leonhard …"

For a moment he held his breath in surprise, but he did not tear me.

His big hands patted my back, trying to calm me down. They moved a little awkwardly, as if he did not know how to use his hands, but they were gentle. It was a gesture that spoke of handling something fragile, of course so that I wouldn't become afraid.

Every time I feel his care and kindness, I think …

I like this guy.

Love love love love .

Not a character from inside the game, the Royal Knight Commander from "UraSeka".

Once again, I fell in love with this man .. with Sir Leonhard von Olsein.