The Male Lead Knelt Before Me

After an audience with the emperor, I was still in a state of confusion.

It was because of the ‘reward’ that I had to tell the emperor later.

I wanted to be greedy and tell him exactly what I wanted, but recently I was plagued with remorse for the original Elena.

That was difficult to ignore.

 ‘And there’s another issue……’

I looked back at the folks who were following me.

I was specifically looking at the thirteen knights.

Three were imperial knights dispatched by the emperor, while ten were the duke’s knights, which Caleb assigned to me.
They had all been assigned to me as my escorts.

‘It’s a little burdensome.’

No.
In reality, it wasn’t just ‘a little’ but far too much.

I felt like I was being chased by more than ten people……

Even as I was on my way to meet the emperor, the knight followed me carefully.

But I couldn’t care less since my mind had been preoccupied with whether the emperor would retaliate against me.

Although the scenario had altered since it was now fully resolved.

It was the moment when I glanced behind with pressure.

“Excuse me, Lady Oreu.”

“Yes?”

“May I ask where you’re headed now?”

One of the imperial knights approached me and inquired.

“I’m on my way to the carriage station…… do I need to go back?”

“It’s nothing like that, my lady.
His Majesty has directed that I accompany you securely back to the Duke’s Mansion.”

The imperial knight then spoke again, this time looking over my shoulder.

“I inquired since the carriage station is across the way.”

“Not in this way?”

“Yes, my lady.
This way will take you to the imperial knights.”

Huh? It wasn’t this way?

I believed I was already familiar with the way within the palace, but that was just my misunderstanding.

I let out a sigh.
Because I always lost due to my poor sense of direction.

It was when I was going to follow the imperial knight’s directions.

I thought I saw someone I knew nearby.

“……Lord Themis?”

Without realizing it, I had already yelled his name.

However, I reasoned that it wouldn’t matter.
The distance between us was too far for the person to hear what I was shouting.

Herschel, on the other hand, had already turned his head and stared at me straightly.

He looked as if he could hear my voice calling him.

We stood motionless as our gazes connected.

Herschel was the first to move and approach me cautiously.

“It’s been a long time, Miss Lena.”

“Indeed, yes.
It’s been a long time.”

I wasn’t sure how long it had been since I’d seen Herschel, but it had been a while.

Because the last time I saw him was just before I returned to the capital city from the countryside.

“How have you been, Lord?”

“I, well…… I’ve been fine.
Miss Lena, thanks to the holy water you gave me.”

Holy water?

After a brief moment, I remembered that I had requested Natalie to give some holy water to Ryan.

So that when Herschel returned to the capital, he could cure his wound.

“Ryan must have done a good job delivering it.”

“That’s correct.
That allowed me to heal the wound completely.”

His condition appeared to be decent, as Herschel stated.
To the point that I couldn’t fathom him being the one who was utterly injured in the countryside and couldn’t return to the capital with the others.

“I’m not sure whether this is alright, but I handed the rest of what I had to my wounded colleagues.”

“It was perfectly fine, Lord.
Instead, I should apologize since I didn’t care about them.”

“What do you have to apologize for, Miss Lena? It was completely accidental.”

My conscience was wounded.

As Herschel stated, our encounter with the demon beast was an accident.

However, if it hadn’t been for me, they would not have been forced to travel to the countryside, and they would not have encountered the demon beast.

“By the way, Miss Lena, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.
May I?”

“Please ask, Lord.”

I gladly granted permission, but Herschel could easily express his question.
Instead, he was peering around behind me.

‘Is it related to something personal?’

As I was assuming that, I did understand.
Behind me were not only duke knights but also imperial knights who happened to be Herschel’s colleagues.

“Lords, may you just step aside for a moment? Just a few steps behind is fine.”

As soon as I said that, they accepted it and walked exactly five steps behind me.

“Thank you very much, Miss Lena.”

“You have nothing to thank me for, Lord.
Furthermore, what do you want to ask me?

“That’s……”

“……”

“I heard a story that you and Duke Egon are in a relationship.
I’d want to know whether that’s true.”

Herschel’s attitude when he stated this was that of someone who has already reached a conclusion and accepted it.

The reason because everyone who looks at the ten people behind me who have the duke’s pattern on their uniform will come to the same conclusion.

“You are correct, Lord.
We’re getting engaged soon.”

“Engage…… as expected.
Do you mind if I ask you one more question?”

“Lord, please.”

“Do you recall when you told me that there’s someone you like? Is the one you told me that time Lord Egon?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Herschel clinched his fist and grinned faintly as I said.

“I am really glad.”

“……”

“That you could be together with someone you love, Miss Lena.”

Herschel was obviously smiling.
But I’m curious why he had such a sad expression on his face.

But I didn’t say anything to console him.
Because this was something Herschel had to overcome on his own.

“In truth, I was on my back from applying to be sent to the countryside or other distant countries.
I doubt I’ll return to the empire in a few years.”

“……”

“I want to assure you that I will not cause you any problems in the future, Miss Lena.
I believe I should go immediately.
I wish you a wonderful life for the rest of your life.”

Herschel bowed to me and went past me, as if that were the last thing he wanted to say to me.

And the moment he took a few steps away.

“H-hold on! Lord Themis!”

Herschel looked back at me with his puzzled expression.
I clenched my lips for a second before saying aloud.

“Thank you very much.”

It was a quick thank you with no subject or object.
But Herschel most likely knew.
What I was thanking him for.

As I expected, Herschel nodded his head without asking anything.

Then he took a step back without looking back.

As I gazed at his back, I also wished Herschel a wonderful life for the rest of his life.

⇺⇺⇺⇼⇻⇻⇻

I was traveling in the direction where the imperial knight had informed me before I broke up with Herschel.

I also noticed the building where the royal knights were located not far away.

‘Caleb must be there, right?’

I didn’t have any other plans until I saw the building.

However, once I remembered that the structure was the royal knight’s building, I felt compelled to go there and meet Caleb.
It had also been a long time since I had seen Lord Vessel.

Of course, that was simply my desire, as I had no intention of really visiting the Royal Knights building.

I used to be a member of the royal knights, but today I am a completely unrelated person to the royal knights.

I’ll only be a nuisance if I go there, won’t I?

And I’ll see Caleb in the afternoon when he returns to the Duke’s Mansion anyway.

I knew it and recognized it in my head, but I didn’t have the confidence to wait till then.
I was eager to see him.

In addition, I’d want to inform him about what occurred with the Emperor.

A good notion came to me when I was struggling between reasoning and instinct.

So, there’s a way to see Caleb faster without being a bother to him.

As I strolled to the carriage station, I grinned.

⇺⇺⇺⇼⇻⇻⇻

I looked at the royal knights building as I approached the carriage station.

I informed the imperial knight that they didn’t need to accompany me back because the duke’s knights were here to do so and didn’t need to prepare the imperial carriage for me.

Because I said to them that I was returning with the duke’s carriage.

Fortunately, the coachman knew me, maybe because I was constantly riding with Caleb, and opened the door for me to enter the carriage.

But I claimed that was alright and that I wanted to wait outside the carriage.

Because I wanted to see and meet Caleb as soon as possible.

‘Though it’s a touch chilly.’

I thought I had dressed warmly today, yet the chilly air still got through.

I’m not sure if it was because I remained motionless, but my body began to feel freezing.

Ugh, I should probably just listen to the coachman and wait inside the carriage.

Should I just ask him to open the door and wait inside the carriage for Caleb?

My resolve began to wane as the day darkened and the temperature fell precipitously.

The coachman inquired hesitantly.

“May I go to the Royal Knights building, my lady?”

“Huh? Why?”

“I’d like to know when his Excellency will return.”

“Ah…… it’s alright.
He’ll be here soon, I’m sure.”

I was waiting in this manner because I wanted to see Caleb without being a burden.
And sending someone would be meaningless.

The coachman agreed and stopped making suggestions after hearing my statements.

Soon later, I noticed a familiar figure walking in the distance.

There’s no doubt about it.
The man with the heavy winter navy coat, which matches his outfit, was Caleb.

As I identified the man as Caleb, it appeared that Caleb recognized me as well.

He paused for a bit before approaching me rapidly.

“Elena? Why are you here…… no, let’s get inside the carriage first.”

Caleb opened the carriage door for me.

I climb inside the carriage without saying anything.

I wanted to get into the carriage as soon as possible because it was freezing outside.

Caleb, who had followed me into the carriage and seated next to me, inquired.

“When did you start waiting outside?”

“It’s really not that long.”

I didn’t look at the clock, so I didn’t know what time it was, but I assumed I’d been waiting for him for around ten to fifteen minutes.

Caleb abruptly removed his gloves.
He then wrapped my hands with his bare hands.

He touched me without any other intentions, yet I flinched.

Nonetheless, I did not remove my hands.
I had no motive to do so because my hand felt warm in his hands.

“You claimed it wasn’t long, but your hands are already icy.”

“It’s due to the weather.
Winter has arrived.”

Perhaps since his hands are considerably larger than mine, my hands warmed up quickly.

So comfortable.

“But why are you here instead of at the mansion? I assumed you spent the entire day at the mansion.”

“I had assumed the same thing, but his Majesty had requested me.”

“His majesty the emperor?”

“Yes, his Majesty stated he was planning a banquet and requested me to sing at it.
And I’ve already agreed to his request.”

“I have wonderful news…… But you could go back to the mansion after that, so why were you out?”

“Uhm.”

I took a minute to observe Caleb’s expression.

Is he asking because he never expected to see me waiting for him outside?

I got a feeling based on Caleb’s face.

That he had never considered or inquired about the idea.

Really!

He’s so difficult to break through at moments like these!

“I waited outside because I wanted to see you, Caleb.”

“What are you……”

Caleb’s face was flushed as he glanced at me.

I curiously felt a bit proud as I succeeded in producing that uncomfortable expression of his, which was rare for him to appear like that.

“In fact, I was thinking of paying you a visit at the Royal Knight’s building, but I was concerned I would be a nuisance to you, so I didn’t.
And I could visit you at the mansion, but I couldn’t wait that long since I wanted to see you right away.”

My face suddenly became hot when I uttered that.
I almost burst out laughing out of shame.
I turned my head to face Caleb with a wide smile.

I expected him to look at me with affection as usual, but he didn’t appear to be in a good mood.

How come?

“Obviously, I feel really glad when you utter those words, but please do not do this in the future.”

“……”

“It hasn’t been long since you’ve been sick, Elena, so I’m scared you’ll get sick again, especially since your body has become so cold.”

Caleb tightened his grip over my hand.

Although it sounded excessive, he was concerned about my health.

So I ultimately nodded and stated that I would never do it.

Only after that then Caleb’s expression relaxed, and his tightened grip loosened, then he caressed my hand instead.

“I believe it’s best if you sit by the fireplace as soon as we get to the mansion.”

“Is my hand that cold?”

“Yes, your hand is so cold it feels like I’m holding a block of ice.”

I don’t think my hand is that cold……

His exaggerated metaphor made me awkwardly laugh.

“How about you put on my coat?” “I believe your body will warm up faster this way.”

“What I’m wearing is more than enough.
Aside from that, Caleb, you’ll be cold if you take off your coat for me.”

“I’m not bothered by the cold.”

He always says to be fine with whatever happens.

If he’s still like this, he’ll probably even happily pull out his liver and everything for me later on.

A brilliant thought struck me when I was going to deny him even more vehemently.
As soon as the thought hit me, a smile developed on my face.

“Caleb.”

“Yes, Elena.”

“You offer to take off your coat and give it to me because you want my body to warm up faster, don’t you?”

“That’s correct, Elena.”

Caleb simply nodded.
Though it was obvious.

I crept up next to Caleb.

Our bodies were instantly glued to each other.

Despite the close distance between us, Caleb still looked at me innocently, as if he had no idea about it.

Nonetheless, I didn’t feel especially disappointing.

Because I honestly expected Caleb to react in this manner.

So I could be more daring.

I made my way up to Caleb’s thigh.
Caleb only seemed to notice something weird after that.

Caleb attempted to speak.
But I was faster.

I bowed my head and pressed one of my hands on his solid chest.

Our foreheads met together.

Caleb’s warmth passed through my forehead as if smudged.
At a much closer distance than ever previously.

“I have a method for both of our bodies to warm up faster.”

I smiled.

“Should I tell you how, Caleb?”