Chapter 158: Louises Feelings
For now, I don’t understand why she suddenly returned home without meeting and talking.
If she won’t come out, I have no choice but to go in.
「Louise, listen. May I enter?」
As I said that, the door creaked open, revealing Louise’s face.
For a moment, I mistook her for someone else, but it’s probably because she let down her hair, which is usually tied back.
This might be the first time I’ve seen Louise wearing a simple dress.
Considering she’s always clad in armor, it’s only natural that she appears different.
「Takeru may enter, but not Father.」
Louise said so. When I turned to look, Jerome wore a wry smile.
The formidable swordmaster I encountered at the dojo earlier has now become a vulnerable, doting father. I suppose fathers with teenage daughters end up like this everywhere. I recalled Duke Emeheart from Princess Knight Eleonora’s place.
It made me smile in a different way.
「What’s wrong, Takeru? Are you not going in?」
「Oh, no. I’ll go in.」
Louise’s room turned out to be much more feminine than I had imagined.
Embroidered fabrics covered the side table, adorned with leather animal-shaped plushies. Perhaps they’re handmade.
There were also models of toys—a windmill crafted from wood and feathers, and a comical knight-shaped figurine.
The windmill apparently moves mechanically, quite an interesting piece of work. A charming hobby, indeed.
「No, Takeru, that’s how it’s been preserved from the past!」
「I know. These are Louise’s childhood toys.」
Louise blushed as she explained, and I stifled a laugh. She, too, had an adorable phase of playing with toys.
And so, Jerome, who lovingly preserved his daughter’s room just as it was during her childhood, clearly still holds affection for Louise.
When Louise was expelled from the knighthood, I heard she was disowned.
There must have been an unavoidable reason for it. Their parent-child relationship isn’t that bad.
Louise sat on the edge of her bed, and she gestured for me to sit beside her.
Without hesitation, I took the offered seat.
「So, what’s the matter?」
「I read the letter you left, but I want to know why Louise suddenly left the castle. That’s why I came.」
I’ve noticed that Louise now addresses me by name rather than using my lord.
I wonder what led her to resign from being my knight. Of course, if it’s her decision, I won’t stop her. But I’d like to hear it directly.
「I was told that a weak woman isn’t suitable to be Takeru’s knight.」
「Who said that?」
「That dragon maid, Are.」
「Ah, her…」
Are, who volunteered to be my bodyguard, has been following me closely.
Since I agreed to let her join our group, it’s hard to refuse her. But it’s not a good sign that she said such things to Louise.
「Of course, I got angry and challenged her to a rematch…」
「You fought Are!」
Louise tends to be reckless, especially when recovering from an illness.
It’s very much like her, but she won’t stand a chance against Are.
「She utterly defeated me. And she even held back, saying she didn’t want to anger the hero by hurting me too much!」
「Well… Are is undeniably strong.」
The strength of the dragon maiden race is extraordinary. I learned more from Lyle-sensei—these descendants carry the blood of the ancient dragon god.
Louise, hailed as a brave called as ten thousand swords and can even use dragon energy, faces a legendary race that borders on demigods. Even if she were to strike with the dragon-slaying sword, ‘Dragonkiller’, she wouldn’t scratch Are’s scales.
Between a human knight and a demi-god, the difference in strength is vast.
「I couldn’t even land a single blow on Are. As a weak knight, I’m no longer worthy of being Takeru’s protector.」
「Why would you say that!」
I couldn’t help raising my voice. Perhaps it’s not Louise, who abruptly returned home, but rather my own selfishness.
Reflecting on it, I’ve always relied on Louise’s favor. Although she’s an adult woman seven years my senior, I never considered why she chose to accompany me.
As I pondered how to console her—Louise, who was huddled on the bed, trembling and avoiding eye contact—a soft knock interrupted our conversation.
「Louise, I’ve prepared tea for his majesty the king.」
It was Louise’s father’s voice.
The serious atmosphere dissolved, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
「Eei mou, father!」
Louise sprang up from the bed, eager to receive the tea.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
Jerome, holding a tray with the tea, glanced at me as if curious about the situation.
It seems all fathers are alike. But when Louise took the tray, she firmly shut the door, saying, ‘I told you you’re not allowed to get in, father!’.
「Takeru, here’s your tea…」
「Yeah, thanks….. Hmm, it’s a bit bitter.」
The tea Louise handed me was unusually strong.
I don’t mind strong flavors, but this is excessively astringent. Although it seemed there were no maids around, did Jerome brew it himself?
「Our house doesn’t entertain nobles, let alone royal guests. Father believes that the more tea leaves he uses, the better.」
「Understood. He truly embodies Louise’s father.」
It must be their straightforward family tradition.
Even if it’s not very considerate, Jerome insists on doing things himself rather than hiring help.
「Takeru, am I similar to my father?」
「Well, if you’re truly parent and child, it wouldn’t be strange to share some similarities.」
Even when told she resembles her father, Louise doesn’t seem bothered.
Despite their strained relationship, Jerome, her father, may not be all that bad. His demeanor might change, but his skill with a sword remains impressive.
As the conversation shifted to her father, Louise seemed to calm down a bit.
Sipping the overly strong tea, she began to speak quietly.
「Our House of Carlson has been the backbone of the Silesien warrior lineage. For over two hundred and forty years, we’ve faithfully served successive royal families as knights.」
「That seems to be the case.」
「My father was once hailed as a brave, the strongest swordsman in Silesie. And I, his only daughter, received an education to become an honorable knight serving the royal family.」
Louise glanced at me and smiled faintly.
「But then I committed a grave mistake, lost comrades, and was expelled from the knighthood. Disowned by my family, I lost everything. And it was during that time of despair that I met you.」
「Me?」
Louise nodded.
「Takeru, you showed me new hope when I had given up on everything. Even if the Silesien knight’s code had decayed, your vision for a new kingdom made me believe that wielding a sword still held value. As my liege, you placed expectations upon me, granting me high status and the finest weaponry. Looking back, perhaps I got carried away…」
「No, that’s not true. Louise, you have always helped me.」
When I said that, Louise shook her head sadly.
「Because I lost. In that battle, the reason neither Takeru nor I died was simply because she wasn’t truly serious. I was weak; I couldn’t protect Takeru. What she says is correct. What value does a weak person like me have? At the very least, I wasn’t worthy of being Takeru’s knight. 」
「Louise, I…」
As I sat next to her, leaning forward to voice my disagreement, Louise firmly pressed her hand against my chest, pushing me back.
「I am an old knight who cannot keep up with the new era. I am ill-equipped to handle the Volunteer Army’s modern weapons and tactics. The light cavalry unit would be better led by Marina, and I am no longer of use. I’m even considering resigning as commander.」
「…But what will quitting accomplish?」
Louise’s bitter expression wasn’t solely due to the strong tea.
I want to believe that quitting isn’t truly what she desires.
「Perhaps I’ll embark on a journey as an adventurer, or maybe I’ll heed my father’s advice and take a husband, inheriting the family estate. Either way, it doesn’t matter much.」
Running away doesn’t seem like Louise’s style.
Although I may have burdened her with excessive expectations, I can’t simply leave her be.
「If that’s truly what Louise wants, I won’t stop you. But I doubt that’s the case.」
I, too, have grown up. In the past, I wouldn’t have been able to voice my thoughts to Louise, but now I can.
Taking Louise’s hand, I leaned in, locking eyes with her. Even if it meant forcing her to face me. Uncharacteristically weak, her hand trembled in mine.
I gazed into her crimson eyes. The usual resolute glimmer was slightly clouded. It’s my fault for not noticing sooner. She had been struggling all along, and the recent incident had weakened her resolve.
I can’t leave things as they are.
「Takeru, I…」
「Who’s worthy of me is for me to decide. Weakness or defeat doesn’t matter. If Louise wants to quit, you can. But I’ll never let you go.」
Silence.
Embarrassment threatens to consume me, but I won’t look away while still gripping her hand. It was Louise who averted her gaze first. Victory is mine!
「Ha… You’ve become quite expressive, Takeru.」
「It’s because of Louise’s influence. You need me… Oh, sorry, I misspoke. It’s because I need you!」
I stumbled over my words at a crucial moment, causing Louise to widen her eyes in surprise before eventually bursting into laughter.
Embarrassing as it was, if it eased Louise’s mood, then it was worth it.
「Hahaha, you’re not wrong. I do need you, Takeru. That’s what I truly believe.」
「In that case, stay by my side. If your position becomes burdensome, we can reconsider the organization. And as for whether you’re fit to be a knight… well, that hardly matters.」
I can no longer bear this embarrassment. This is my limit.
But I managed to say what I wanted.
「It feels good to hear you ask me to stay by your side, Takeru. It’s the first time you’ve said something like that.」
「Really? I think I’ve asked you for help many times.」
Louise replied ‘That’s not what I meant’ silently.
Finding it amusing, I chuckled.
「If you insist so much, I suppose I have no choice. Well then, allow me to be selfish. I’m considering resigning as commander soon. The Volunteer Army, or rather, the Volunteer Corps, has grown beyond the small-scale force it used to be. Having a figurehead commander who knows nothing about the new weapons is only irritating to the subordinates.」
「Yeah, I suppose so.」
Though Louise being in charge is a relief to me.
Indeed, the Volunteer Corps is currently divided into three armies: the Silesien Kingdom, the southern regional nobles, and the Germania Empire.
It’s time to reconsider the organization.
Louise’s resignation is inevitable.
「Furthermore, I’ll go wherever Takeru goes. Since you asked me to stay by your side, you’ll have to take responsibility.」
「Of course…」
I thought as much.
Louise had always wanted to be my knight.
That I exploited Louise’s challenging position as the Volunteer Corps captain and used it conveniently was perhaps my own blunder.
Louise, too, could lead an organization if asked. She has the capability to be a commanding officer. However, it’s possible that this path diverges from what she truly desires.
Lost in such thoughts, I found myself pulled by the hand and pushed onto the bed.
It was an unexpected move, and I was taken aback. There, on the bed, Louise leaned over me, her hand encircling my neck.
「Is it alright if we stay like this for a while?」
「Sure, but… if you keep hugging me, I might lay my hands on you.」
Louise’s expression suddenly tightened.
I had meant it as a light-hearted joke, but somehow it took on a more serious tone. Just as I began to feel flustered, Louise’s shoulders shook, and she unexpectedly hugged me tightly.
Wait, is she serious?
That thought crossed my mind, and Louise couldn’t hold back her laughter.
Why is she laughing? This isn’t a laughing matter.
「If you have the courage to attack me, Takeru, then go ahead. I hugged you because I thought that if we stayed like this, father, who’s always pestering me to find a husband, would finally stop.」
「Oh, I see. Your father…」
Louise is quite resilient.
Master Jerome has been lingering near the door. Both Louise and I, seasoned fighters, can sense his presence.
Given that we’re aware, it’s impossible for Master Jerome, an experienced knight, not to notice us.
So, by staying in bed with Louise like this, pretending to be favored by the king, perhaps Master Jerome will stop insisting that she takes a husband.
…Is that a valid interpretation?
I considered asking Louise, but I refrained.
Is she still finding this amusing? With my face pressed against her soft chest, she continued to chuckle.
Her warm breath tickled me. Since Louise’s mood had improved, I decided it was enough.
As long as Louise doesn’t go anywhere, anything else is fine.