Tea Party With the Reincarnated Villainess 2
Reynaldo’s words froze the peaceful atmosphere of the tea party in an instant.
“She is the maid of our Knights’ Corps. That won’t change.”
“Then she can’t escape from the prince or from political strife.”
“I will protect her.”
“What can a knight without any ability other than swordsmanship do?”
Is this the relationship between my childhood friend and my younger brother who had a harmonious relationship more than twenty years ago?
I was too scared to intervene and listened to their conversation.
“How can you be sure that the Rose territory is safe? The King’s subordinates might be lurking around there. Who will protect Marie?”
“I can’t think of anywhere else more dangerous than the royal palace. And what are you going to do with Prince Risel? You won’t be able to hold out much longer.”
“….”
My younger brother was a clever child who was quick on his feet and with his mouth. It was the same back then and also now, especially when he was verbally overpowering his four-year-older childhood friend, but because of the context, I finished my cold tea in silence.
“I….”
“Alberto. I don’t want my sister to be taken away from me again.”
While Reynaldo was feeling uneasy about the situation in their territory before, Rosemary was falsely accused, and before he knew it, she was in an irretrievable state.
I could sense that my brother was still reeling from it.
“It’s the same for me. I don’t want to leave her side anymore.”
Alberto had also been assigned on an expedition while the situation was being ordered.
I couldn’t say anything due to the depth of remorse that I could see from the two of them.
I only regretted that I had not been more vigilant about Prince Gray, Tia, and Count Danzes.
Everyone has been left with a sense of regret in their hearts.
“Alberto.”
Desperately wanting to do something, I called out my knight’s name.
“Once the matter with the prince settles down, can you return me to the Knights’ Corps attendant position? I’ve just learned the job too, and it would be very sad for me to leave.”
I thought the best solution would be to leave the palace, so I called out Alberto to confirm my intentions.
I myself had no interest in the royal palace, but I was sad to leave Niki and the knights whose names I had finally learned. However, I knew it would be impossible to keep Prince Risel’s feelings hidden any longer.
What’s scary is that someone might exploit the prince’s feelings or use me as a pawn to move things along.
I experienced enough pain as Rosemary. I didn’t want to make anyone else suffer anymore in this life.
“I understand…”
Alberto agreed with a heavy heart.
“Well then, Marie. The next time we meet, I will see you in my territory.”
Reynaldo, who promised to proceed with the procedure immediately, kissed me on the cheek as he and Rosemary had done with each other in the past.
It was a natural greeting kiss from Reynaldo, who had become a perfect gentleman.
However, it felt like a greeting from someone else, and although I felt a little awkward, I returned it to Reynaldo.
He seemed happy with my kiss, but his face always contained hidden sadness when we parted.
Perhaps it’s a curse that will bind us for life.
It’s no wonder, considering that separation is inevitably synonymous with death.
I smiled, trying to at least make the sadness go away.
“I look forward to seeing you in the Rose territory.”
“Yes. I’ll be waiting for you with the flowers that my sister liked and the flowers that Marie likes.”
Roses and marigolds.
Regardless of the season, Reynaldo was filled with the will to accomplish it.
On the way back, I was given a ride on the horse that Alberto rode, on the grounds that a horse-drawn carriage would be too conspicuous.
There were still no words from Alberto, who was guiding the horse.
I wonder if he still can’t accept it.
“Are you cold?”
Finally, I heard his voice and shook my head.
It was already evening, and the sky was an azure color.
The horse we were riding started walking slowly and finally stopped.
“Alberto?”
It was a road through a field with few pedestrians. The road was not well paved, and I felt a strong tremor when we arrived there. Although it was supposed to be an area near the royal castle, it was a space where neither people nor houses stood out.
I turned around and looked up to see a face full of anguish, reddening in color.
He still couldn’t accept it.
Even if he understood it rationally, his feelings couldn’t catch up.
He was an expressionless but emotional childhood friend.
“Alberto. Don’t worry. It’ll be okay this time.”
I put my fingers on the hand that was pulling the reins.
His rough hand has calluses from holding a sword. His skin has scars here and there. Scars made without Rosemary’s knowledge spun his growth and time.
I was proud of this hand. I was proud of Alberto, who had always been Rosemary’s knight loyally without fail.
“Thank you for worrying about me.”
I can now convey the feelings that I couldn’t honestly convey when I was Rosemary.
Regardless of status, he was the only knight for me.
“I trust you will protect me.”
The moment I said that, his strong arms embraced me.
While still holding the reins, he put his arms around my shoulders, and his chestnut hair tickled my cheek.
The sudden hug made my heart race more than embarrassed.
“What’s wrong?”
There was no answer, and the embrace became even tighter.
Being held so tightly that it was almost painful, my embarrassment gradually increased.
Come to think of it, this was the first time I had been held like this by someone other than my family.
And it was by a man who was over a few years older than me.
His scent was different from my father’s.
It was a comforting scent that wasn’t unpleasant.
Since he was hugging me so tightly, I shyly wrapped my arms around Alberto’s back to try to calm him down.
His back was muscular and strong.
So this is the back of the knight who protects me.
“Alberto?”
“… It’s nothing. My apologies.”
He gradually raised his face and smiled at me from a close distance.
I returned the smile with relief.
“Let’s go.”
He pulls the reins again and starts walking the horse.
There was no answer as to why Alberto suddenly hugged me.
As we rode in silence for a while, I kept remembering Alberto’s warmth and his scent, which lingered on my body, and my cheeks flushed a deep red color.
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