MTO C112
by berryChapter 112
“W-Wait…”
“Don’t tell me…”
“You think Kaidan and I are lovers too?”
“…Aren’t you?”
“Of course not!”
Michel practically jumped out of the saddle.
Startled by his sudden movement, the horse reared up, lifting its forelegs into the air.
Fortunately, David reacted instantly, grabbing the reins and calming the horse before anything serious happened.
Michel’s heart pounded wildly.
He couldn’t tell whether it was because he’d nearly fallen from the horse…
Or because of what David had just said.
Naturally, his thoughts drifted back to the banquet…
When everyone had mistaken him and Kaidan for a couple.
Has a rumor really spread that we’re lovers?
But David only just returned to the castle…
“Why would you think something like that?”
“Well, yesterday…”
David looked as though he were about to explain.
Then, after only a moment…
He shut his mouth.
His eyebrows twitched knowingly before he slowly shook his head.
“Never mind.”
“If it was just a misunderstanding…”
“Then I spoke out of turn.”
His attitude practically screamed, Forget I said anything.
Yet it left Michel feeling strangely uneasy.
He replayed everything that had happened yesterday.
No matter how hard he thought…
The only memorable event was him and Kaidan shouting at each other until both their faces turned red.
Not just yesterday…
Nothing remotely scandalous had ever happened between them.
This world might be surprisingly open-minded…
But being mistaken for lovers every time they happened to stand near each other was becoming incredibly troublesome.
It’s not like I even spend that much time with Kaidan.
If spending time together was the issue…
He’d spent far longer with Barbara and David.
So why was it always Kaidan…
“You’re so strong…”
“That’s why I keep…”
Suddenly…
Kaidan’s expression from the night of the banquet resurfaced vividly in his mind.
It was strange.
He’d replayed that conversation countless times before.
Yet only now did a new question occur to him.
If Lawrence hadn’t knocked on the door that night…
What would’ve happened?
Could Kaidan have been trying to kiss me…?
Michel frantically shook his head.
Impossible.
Kaidan was impotent!
He’d simply staggered because he was drunk.
He’d had far too much to drink.
…Then why doesn’t David know Kaidan is impotent?
Could it be…
He actually isn’t?
Michel only grew more confused.
He couldn’t even understand why he was seriously contemplating someone else’s sexual function.
Whether Kaidan is impotent or not…
What does it have to do with me?
Wondering about what was inside someone else’s trousers was unbelievably rude.
Besides…
Even if Kaidan wasn’t impotent…
Nothing would’ve happened between them that night.
He’d merely been drunk.
Which meant…
Whether Kaidan had closed his eyes while leaning toward him…
Was completely irrelevant!
What on earth am I even thinking?!
“Hyah!”
“Oh!”
“Your Holiness!”
“You can’t suddenly speed up like that!”
Michel tugged sharply on the reins, sending the horse galloping forward.
David shouted after him to slow down.
Michel pretended not to hear.
Whenever his thoughts became too complicated…
The best solution was always to move his body.
The cold wind whipped violently against his cheeks, cooling the heat in his face.
But while the wind could cool his skin…
It couldn’t extinguish the turmoil churning inside him.
No one had heard his thoughts.
Yet somehow…
He felt deeply embarrassed.
After that conversation with David…
Michel found himself reluctant to face Kaidan.
For some reason…
Whenever he thought about him…
His throat grew warm.
His stomach twisted strangely.
Michel interpreted it as guilt.
Thinking such ridiculous things about someone who’d simply been drunk…
His conscience was punishing him.
Normally…
The best way to escape guilt was to apologize.
But this time…
He couldn’t.
If he apologized for something he’d only thought…
He’d merely make Kaidan aware of something he’d otherwise never have known.
That would only make things awkward.
From then on…
Whether he was eating…
Taking care of the children…
Or practicing on his own…
Michel found himself constantly glancing around, afraid Kaidan might suddenly appear.
Ironically…
His worries proved unnecessary.
For the next three days…
Kaidan didn’t show his face once.
Apparently, preparing to leave the castle had kept him extremely busy.
Michel had dreaded seeing him…
Yet when they never crossed paths…
He felt an inexplicable sense of disappointment.
At the very least…
He wanted to thank Kaidan for allowing him to come.
Still…
He lacked the courage to seek him out.
Besides…
Michel himself was incredibly busy.
He had only three days to learn as much horseback riding and weapon handling as possible.
He also spent every spare moment playing with the children, hoping to ease their worries about his absence.
The day before they departed for the Dragon’s Waist…
The orphanage finally went on the picnic they had promised.
Carrying picnic baskets…
They traveled to the largest lake in Valois.
Michel couldn’t help secretly comparing it to his dream.
As expected…
It wasn’t the same place.
Unlike the gray northern plains, where only dried grass remained…
The area surrounding the lake was lush with life.
Whenever the wind blew…
Tall reeds bent gracefully.
Willow branches swayed gently.
Michel and the children watched wild animals come to drink at the water’s edge.
They even enjoyed rowing together.
It was precious time.
Yet every time he saw the children laughing happily…
His thoughts drifted to the dragon.
Alone.
Hungry.
Suffering somewhere.
He wanted to leave immediately.
But something this important demanded careful preparation.
Above all else…
Michel worked hard to steady his own heart.
At last…
The morning of the expedition arrived.
Michel reached the front courtyard right on time.
The knights had already assembled.
Before mounting his horse…
He said goodbye to the children.
“Oliver.”
“Alice.”
“You’ll take good care of the younger ones, won’t you?”
“Yes!”
“Always stay where the adults can see you.”
“And if anything happens…”
“Tell the sisters immediately.”
“Promise?”
Michel held out both little fingers.
Oliver and Alice each hooked one with their own.
Afterward…
He exchanged high-fives with every child.
Charlotte and Leon ran straight into his arms.
Laughing, Michel hugged them tightly.
Just as he was about to stand…
He noticed Heart lingering awkwardly behind the others.
Smiling, Michel reached out.
“Heart.”
“Come here.”
“Say goodbye to your master.”
Normally…
Heart would’ve grumbled and stayed where he was.
Today, however…
He quietly walked over.
Without a word…
He thrust a small pouch toward Michel.
Puzzled, Michel opened it.
Inside…
Were colorful sugar candies.
The same treats the maids occasionally gave the children.
“I don’t like them.”
Heart muttered gruffly.
Michel couldn’t suppress his smile.
“Thank you.”
“I’ll treasure them.”
“Hmph.”
Heart merely snorted.
Carefully tucking the pouch into the leather bag hanging from his waist…
Michel suddenly wrapped Heart in a tight hug.
Heart frowned dramatically.
Yet, unusually enough…
He didn’t resist.
“I want to come too!”
“Master!”
“You have to come back soon!”
“And be careful!”
“If a monster appears…”
“Kick it away!”
The children crowded around him noisily.
Michel patiently reassured each one that he’d return before long.
Finally…
He said goodbye to Barbara as well.
She promised she’d pray for him every day until he returned safely.
Once the farewells were over…
Michel stepped into formation with the knights.
Owen immediately hurried over and extended a hand.
“Your Holiness.”
“Please allow me to carry your luggage.”
During this expedition…
Owen had been assigned as Michel’s personal escort and attendant.
Michel honestly didn’t think he needed anyone waiting on him.
But Owen treated the assignment like the greatest honor imaginable.
In the end…
Michel couldn’t refuse.
As David had explained…
He was gradually beginning to accept that serving the Saint truly was considered an honor.
He handed Owen only his backpack.
Then climbed smoothly into the saddle.
After three days of relentless practice…
His backside ached terribly.
Still…
Mounting and dismounting a horse had become second nature.
As Michel gently stroked the horse and greeted it…
Owen quickly mounted his own and rode alongside him.
Michel’s place was at the very center of the procession.
The Knights of House Eglance completely surrounded the Saint from every direction.
Where’s Kaidan?
Fingering the reins, Michel looked toward the front.
He spotted Kaidan speaking quietly with Gerard.
Gerard would remain behind to defend the castle rather than join the expedition.
His responsibility was every bit as important as the knights heading into the Dragon’s Waist.
The two men looked deeply serious.
They were too far away for Michel to hear what they were saying.
Even so…
Simply seeing Kaidan made Michel’s throat tighten.
His shoulders unconsciously curled inward.
Lately…
Just thinking about Kaidan made him strangely uncomfortable.
“You’ll warm up soon enough once we’re riding.”
Seeing Michel hunch his shoulders, Owen apparently assumed he was cold.
He smiled reassuringly.
Michel merely forced a smile in return.
Focus on riding.
I can’t embarrass myself by falling off the moment we leave.
Straightening his posture…
Michel fixed his gaze firmly on the knight riding ahead of him.
Because of that…
He never noticed Kaidan quietly glancing back at him from the front of the formation.
A moment later…
The sound of a war horn echoed through the courtyard.
Beginning with the lead riders…
The horses surged forward.
Michel quickly urged his own horse onward.
The thunder of countless hooves shook the earth.
“Hyah!”
“Have a safe journey!”
The servants who had gathered outside the castle gates waved handkerchiefs and shouted their blessings.
The orphanage children bounced up and down, desperate to catch one last glimpse of Michel before he disappeared from sight.
In the blink of an eye…
The Knights of House Eglance passed through the castle gates.
Michel lowered his body slightly and pressed gently with his thighs.
Though they were riding straight toward a monster’s maw…
His heart only swelled larger and larger.
Somehow…
He felt as though he had become the hero of a grand adventure.