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“As you say, it will be quite difficult to believe something with no basis. If you were telling a priest of the Eremia faith, then such a dream may be easily accepted. But Kiara. With the recent events, I can’t help but feel that Count Patorishiel is planning something. And so I wonder if would be possible for you to somehow share your fears with the rest. After all, I don’t think they would appreciate their castle being attacked, do you?”

“But, they surely won’t believe me…”

“You won’t have to do it alone. I will tell them myself about the suspicious actions of the queen, and of Count Patorishiel’s movements. I will warn them to be cautious.”

 

At those words, I felt like a great weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

He was a prince, he knew the queen, and he was very knowledgeable about the activities of the other nobles. Margrave Vain was sure to take his words seriously.

I could finally breathe easy. As I was feeling this sense of relief, Reggie once again put his face close to mine and whispered.

 

“If that happens… You won’t have to become a magician, you won’t have to protect me.”

“What…”

My body had gone stiff by the memory of his kiss on my cheek. But my eyes widened in surprise at his words.

 

“But, if there really is an invasion. It would be better to have a magician.”

It would a great advantage in the future war situation. After all, even if Reggie didn’t die during the siege, the invasion of the kingdom would still continue. Alan and the others will have to fight no matter what.

 

“What is the guarantee that you can become a magician safely? And is not becoming a magician the thing you hated the most? That is why you escaped, and now you know that it could possibly lead to a horrible death. And with this, well, your desire to avoid it must be stronger than ever.”

I could not deny it.

I fell silent until Reggie finally stepped away. The hands that had been on my shoulder fell and gripped my hands.

 

“Promise me, Kiara. Don’t do it alone. Don’t try to become a magician without telling me.”

“You don’t want me to become one…?”

I didn’t think that he would forbid it outright, I looked at him in surprise.

Reggie nodded. It appeared that he had not misspoken.

 

“You should not choose to go down this dangerous path alone. If there is a need, I will even take your place. So promise me you won’t do anything that will rob me of an important friend without my permission. Will you, Kiara?”

He would forbid it so that he would not lose me.

 

A moment passed after he said this, and then Reggie’s face started to blur.

Tears were streaming down my face.

My nose stung, my eyelids were so hot they felt like they were burning. When was that last time I had acted like this?

I hadn’t allowed myself to cry for so long. Before I knew it, I was sobbing with my face in my hands, the tears kept coming. It was because I had wanted him to say that.

 

You don’t have to become a magician.

You don’t have to walk into danger alone.

I had wanted to be told that, to be protected like an ordinary child.

But I had no parents, no one I could fully depend on.

I had wanted it so bad, but I had thought that telling them such a preposterous tale from my past life would only serve to push them away from me. The possibility had scared me and I could do nothing.

 

But Reggie had accepted everything.

I was so comforted by those words that it was difficult to stop the tears.

But then Reggie said something that made me cry even more.

 

“I might have to punish you if do break that promise.”

“Yes…”

What he was saying was that if I did break the promise, he would be angry, but he would not abandon me.

 

And from the bottom of my heart, I knew that I did not want to lose someone who would make such a promise with me.