Am I Really Wanted by Anyone? - Chapter 18

Led by a palace attendant through the palace hall, I headed toward the gazebo in the courtyard.

“Lady Ginette Bergier, please wait here for a moment.”

Saying this, the attendant guided me to the gazebo, and I decided to sit in the prepared chair and wait.

At this time of year, it’s slightly chilly.

If you’re having tea outside, it’s just right to wear an extra layer.

Though I was wearing a light cape, I still felt a bit uneasy.

A single attendant brewed hot tea for me.

As I sipped the tea, feeling relieved by the steam, I saw from the gazebo that Vice-Captain Olga was approaching at a brisk pace.

Tall, with his gray hair tied back, I could tell even from a distance that he was a handsome man.

From his demeanor, he must have temporarily left his post guarding the princess.

He reached me, and we exchanged greetings.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Lady Ginette Bergier, my name is Olga Saraphis.”

“Lord Olga Saraphis, son of the Duke, I am Ginette Bergier. Thank you for coming today to meet for our potential engagement.”

He sat across from me.

“Lord Saraphis, I apologize for calling you out during your work and arranging such a meeting.”

“No, I should be the one apologizing for making you come all the way from the Bergier territory. Lady Ginette, please call me Olga.”

“Lord Olga, please call me Ginette.”

“Understood.”

“Lady Ginette, forgive my rudeness, but may I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“I heard that you attended the palace ball recently with a new fiancé. Is everything alright with him?”

Though I had been sipping my tea, I let out a soft laugh and nearly spilled it.

“Lord Olga, there’s no need to worry. My engagement with him was due to royal circumstances… The engagement proposal with you is for similar reasons. If I may ask in return, are you sure you’re alright with someone like me, who seems to bring nothing but trouble?”

“I’m happy about the engagement proposal. I want to be engaged to you. But when I think about you, I also feel hesitant. Are you really sure about me?”

My heart gave a little leap at Lord Olga’s words.

To think there was someone happy about the prospect of our engagement.

But, like Lord Leo, he might have an aversion to women wielding weapons. I listened with a sense of unease.

“You’re happy?”

“Yes, very happy. I’ve never been wanted by the ducal house. I have many enemies. If you’re near me, you might face danger. Are you really sure even then?”

Lord Olga must have been disliked by the Duchess and her sons.

I could sense it from his gestures and words.

He didn’t seem like the type to lie, and he appeared to want to be sincere with his fiancée.

His earnestness likely came from having received genuine love from his father and his mother, who was a beloved concubine.

“I have no issues on my end. I have the strength to fend off any danger that comes my way. I’ll even protect you, Lord Olga.”

When I spoke with a smile, Lord Olga seemed to relax a bit, and a faint smile escaped his lips.

“That’s reassuring. Talking with you like this, Lady Ginette, makes me want to know more about you. May I write to you from now on?”

“Thank you. I’m also very happy to have spoken with you, Lord Olga. I’ll write to you as well.”

That faint smile made me want to know more about him.

Had I ever been this proactive with a man before?

I tried to calm my fluttering heart by letting my gaze wander, but it met Lord Olga’s, and I felt somewhat embarrassed.

“Ah. Lady Ginette, are you cold? I was so caught up in myself that I neglected to care for you. I’m sorry.”

Saying this, Lord Olga stood up and gently draped his knight’s coat over me.

His warmth enveloped my chilled skin, conveying his kindness.

“Ah, thank you. Aren’t you cold, Lord Olga?”

“I train constantly, so this level of cold is no problem for me. Lady Ginette—’Olga! There you are! I’ve been looking for you!!'”

Cutting off Lord Olga’s words, Princess Celestina came running over with a smile.

We stood and bowed upon seeing Her Highness.

“Olga, at ease. I was looking for you. Father just said it’s time to decide on my fiancé. So I told him I want you, Olga. You feel the same, don’t you?”

Princess Celestina ignored me and spoke to Lord Olga in a coaxing tone.

“That is for His Majesty the King to decide, so I cannot comment.”

Lord Olga answered Princess Celestina gently.

“I want to marry you, Olga. I won’t accept anyone else! After all, we’re in love, aren’t we? Father never thinks about me at all. If you’re not by my side, I’ll die. Do you want me to die?”

Saying this, she began to sob softly.

She must have always gotten her way by crying like this when things didn’t go as she wished.

I was taken aback by her behavior and sighed heavily inwardly.

“Your Highness Princess Celestina, it’s cold here. Let’s return to the palace.”

“That’s right. Olga, come with me to Father. If you tell him, I’m sure he’ll listen. We should properly convey that we’re in love.”

“Your Highness Princess Celestina, let’s return to the palace.”

Lord Olga moved, and his hand came into my view.

For a moment, his hand squeezed mine tightly.

Princess Celestina didn’t seem to notice his brief action and kept talking to Lord Olga.

Ignoring me, the princess began walking back to the palace with Lord Olga.

Once Princess Celestina’s voice faded, I finally stopped bowing and stood up.

His gesture seemed to say, “I’m sorry.” I clasped the hand he had touched, feeling as though I had touched his heart.

“…Katie, we’ve accomplished the purpose of this meeting. Let’s return.”

“As you wish.”

The palace attendants who had been present also stopped bowing and began to move.

Princess Celestina’s actions would surely be reported directly to the King.

And so, I returned to the townhouse, changed clothes, and then went back to my territory.