“Wha–t!”

Leo tightly screwed up his face and took steps backward.

“You’re a grownup, what are you thinking?”

He resembled a stray cat who disliked being around people.

He stared up at Rishe with an air of a man about to roar.

“How can the Crown Princess of Garkhain defy the Order’s ban?

“Only people who also entered the forbidden forest would know that I entered it.”

“T-That’s…”

“I’m a bad adult, so if someone points out that I have moss on my face, I’ll just shrug it off.”

Leo clicked his tongue in frustration at her rejoinder.

“…If I show you around, will you keep it a secret that I entered the forest?”

“Even if you don’t, I’ll still keep it a secret. Don’t worry.”

Leo rolled his eyes at her response.

“But it would be nice if you could take me there. The sun will be setting soon, and if it gets too late before we get home, my soon-to-be husband will scold me.”

“…”

He turned on his heel and began to walk away.

“Thank you,” Rishe thanked him and followed him.

If it had been Leo, whom I met in my life as a knight, he never would have shown me the way…

Perhaps he would have ended up neatly ignoring her without uttering a single word.

Even back when they started conversing, he would say something like, “Why should I go along with you?” Or, “Get lost.” Or also, “Don’t get involved in the mess the First Unit caused.”

It’s been a while since I’ve walked in the woods. I need to keep my stride constant and count my steps just in case.

In this way, she could get a rough estimate of the distance from their starting point.

When walking in the woods or mountains without any landmarks, it was important to know your location.

Leo and Rishe were almost uniform. Rishe bent her fingers and counted her steps, while talking to Leo’s back.

“I heard your name from Duke Jonal earlier. I’m Rishe, nice to meet you.”

“…”

“I just happened to have some free time and wanted to take a walk around the Grand Shrine. I’m glad you happened to pass by!”

“…”

“But what were you doing out here?”

“Miss Myria is apparently causing a ruckus…”

Leo finally opened his mouth and continued curtly, “I’m slacking off in a place where no one would come looking for me. I don’t want to get too close and get into any trouble.”

This is something Leo has said to me many times in my life as a knight.

In any case, this boy was the same Leo that Rishe once knew.

She smiled wryly, but then a new question occurred to her.

“By the way, were you allowed to enter the Grand Shrine? I’ve heard that only a minimum number of people are allowed in the shrine because of the upcoming festivities.”

“It’s because my master is very considerate…”

“What do you mean?”

“I grew up in an orphanage near here.”

It was the first she has heard of it.

I wonder if His Excellency the Duke had Leo accompany him to the Grand Shrine for his homecoming as well.