The Amber Knight Swears His Love on the Saintess’s Left Hand - Chapter 25

When Quill stepped out of the study, Nicola was already waiting in the hallway. He had only intended to ask how things were going, but with a forceful determination that brooked no argument, she shoved him into Lynette’s room. Nicola then pulled the door shut behind him and vanished.

The room, now housing just the two of them, was silent. Only the sound of the wind rustling the trees reached his ears. To break the heavy stillness, Quill purposefully let his footsteps fall audibly as he walked toward the bed.

As Quill sat on the edge of the mattress, Lynette’s eyelids fluttered open.

She looked like a different person compared to this morning. She seemed hollow as if her spirit had been entirely left behind at the cathedral. She looked up at Quill with a stiff, fragile gaze.

“I have caused so much trouble for the House of Langbart.”

“You have nothing to apologize for.”

“But…”

“It’s alright. Everyone in the capital is simply shaken because of the magical beasts. Things will settle down once some time passes.”

Lynette pushed aside the quilt covering her body, attempting to sit up. Quill gently stopped her and instead lay down on the bed beside her. Staring up at the canopy, he exhaled a long breath to dissipate the tension in the air.

“It seems I am the only one kept in the dark.”

“Lord Quill, you know so much about the sword and magic, don’t you?”

“I mean about you. My father and the Prince seem to know all sorts of things, yet I, your fiancé, know nothing.”

“That is because of the Saint’s duty of confidentiality.”

“I know that. But don’t you think you could at least tell me where we first met?”

Lynette’s eyes snapped open wide, then squeezed shut.

“Lady Ceryes.”

He teased the ear of the woman who was stubbornly trying to hide.

“Ha… wa…!”

Lynette’s grip tightened on the quilt.

“Lady Ceryes, come now. You might as well confess.”

“—————!”

Since his attack on her ear wasn’t working, Quill traced his index finger along the pale line of her neck.

“!?!”

“Alternatively, you could tell me what was written on the pages you tore out of your notebook.”

Quill wasn’t particularly skilled at negotiation. However, he recalled Sascha saying something about presenting an option the other person definitely wouldn’t want alongside something they might actually concede on.

With two questions poised, he waited for her answer while tickling her neckline. Her skin was incredibly sensitive; with every flick of his finger, she let out strange, huffed breaths and her face grew redder. It was quite entertaining.

“Lord Quill… to think you could be so mean!”

“I’ve been reflecting on how much I’ve slacked off as a fiancé until now.”

“Slacked… off…! It was in the forest!”

“The forest?”

When he stopped his hand, Lynette took the opportunity to dive under the quilt and hide.

“The forest… where?”

“That forest where you were gravely injured as a child, Lord Quill.”

Twelve years old. The day Quill had been splattered with the blood of a magical beast. He had just been discussing that very topic with his father.

As he sat there, bewildered by the unexpected answer, Lynette peeked out from the edge of the quilt with her blue eyes.

“I was being chased by a massive beast that had devoured my parents. You leaped between me and that monster, Lord Quill. If you hadn’t been there, I surely would have been eaten, too.”

“…I’m sorry. I have absolutely no memory of it.”

“Please, don’t mind it. It’s enough that I remember.”

His memories of that day were blurry and hard to recall. It was no surprise, given he had hovered on the brink of death.

However, considering who he was back then, he was certain he hadn’t jumped in to save her on purpose, it must have been a sheer accident. Being thanked for it left him with complicated feelings.

“By the way,” Lynette said, her smile turning a bit mischievous. “Commander Geis knows, you know. Sometime later, he sent word to the House of Ceryes to let us know you had fully recovered.”

That damn Commander, Quill cursed inwardly. He never said a single word. Geis must have been enjoying himself, watching Quill grumble about not knowing why he had been hand-picked as her fiancé.

“Has that cleared up your concerns?”

“Eh?”

“The reason why I asked for you to be my fiancé. You asked so suddenly because you found it… suspicious, didn’t you?”

He gave a wry smile at her sharp intuition.

Lynette’s emotions had been sealed by Betzyraft sorcery. If his father’s words were true, perhaps Lynette had placed her hopes in Quill’s bloodline.

If that were the case, now that she had regained her emotions, this engagement might already be unnecessary to her.

His imagination had wandered into dark places, dragging him into a bog of insecurity. He realized he had been teasing her just to chase away his own anxieties.

…He did feel a bit guilty. Lynette’s cheeks were bright red.

“If it was just that, why didn’t you tell me on the day of the exhibition match?”

“I thought it might be… troublesome.”

“What?”

“I thought, ‘I hope Lord Quill wonders what on earth is wrong with this high-maintenance woman.'”

For some reason, her eyes narrowed as if looking at something brilliant. Then, with a soft “fufu,” she laughed.

“How spiteful…”

“Yes. Actually, I am a very spiteful woman.”

Quill found it hilarious how proud she looked saying that. He burst into a hearty laugh.

When he finally caught his breath, he noticed Lynette looking at him from beside him, looking genuinely happy. He was suddenly struck with embarrassment and looked away.

Then, Lynette pulled on his sleeve.

“Did you hear? About my pilgrimage.”

“From my father, just now. Do you intend to go?”

“I cannot refuse. It is a fact that magical beasts are swarming toward Eiklant. I can hear the voice constantly now.”

Quill shifted from his back to face her, smoothing out her sleep-mussled silver-blonde hair. Then, he lightly touched her cheek. It was exactly what he had done at Marquis Claussen’s estate. He felt that if he did this, he could protect her emotions.

“The ball will have to wait for another time. Once the dress is finished, I’ll keep it safe for you.”

Lynette smiled, then let out a small “ah.”

“What shall I do? If I spend four months just walking, the dress might not fit anymore.”

“We can’t have that. Shall I issue an order to the White Knights to use carriages as little as possible during the escort?”

She laughed softly, her breath catching like falling petals.

The key tucked in his chest felt heavy. If he learned the truth about sorcery, would he be able to protect that smile? The thought flickered through his mind.

“Lord Quill. May I ‘clear’ one more thing in my notebook?”

“If it is something I can do.”

“Until I fall asleep… will you hold me?”

It was such a modest, humble wish.

Quill drew her in, quilt and all. Her body through the fabric was soft and vulnerable; the back that usually stood so straight and dignified was now curled up small.

As Quill stroked her back, Lynette squirmed and laughed, complaining that it tickled.