Rishe’s eyes rounded when it turned into holding hands.

Arnold remained quite unruffled in response to her surprise.

She found no extra emotion on his well-defined face, and was as expressionless as usual.

After some time, he said with a look that said it was the most natural thing in the world, “I won’t let you go, don’t worry.”

“!”

He took her breath away.

Arnold started walking towards the detached palace while holding Rishe’s hand.

With her hand clasped in his, Rishe unconsciously took a normal step.

I can walk…

Before she knew it, her trembling earlier had subsided.

Her hand on Arnold’s was tightly clasped, but it didn’t hurt one bit.

Rather, she felt a gentle connection, as if he tried not to crush her hand.

Above all, she felt a sense of security, knowing that he would never leave.

…It’s not scary.

Rishe breathed a sigh of relief.

Then this time, she grasped Arnold’s hand, and while staring at his back, she said, “…Thank you. Your Highness Arnold.”

“It’s no big deal. Just keep walking. If you take it easy, you might stay paralyzed again.”

“Okay. — If you don’t mind, may I borrow your sword? I think I’d feel more secure if I’m armed, and I might walk faster.”

“…”

Arnold dexterously unhooked the sword from his waist with one hand and popped it straight at Rishe.

She caught it with her free right hand and hugged the scabbard tightly.

“Pfft~”

Then her fear completely vanished.

“… Why are you laughing?”

“Nothing. With Your Highness in one hand and Your Highness’ sword in the other, it makes me feel truly invincible.”

“If I let you hold my sword, we might get stuck in case of emergency.”

“It won’t matter, right? Your Highness can pull your sword out in an instant, regardless of whether I’m holding it or not.”

“You were shaking just a few minutes ago, but are you feeling better now…?

He asked so suspiciously, but she found it strange too.

Nevertheless, it was impossible for her to let go of Arnold’s hand. That’s why she planned to follow along quietly.

Amidst the journey, Rishe suddenly looked up and unconsciously gasped.

“AH~”

“What’s the matter now?”

She remembered what the ladies exchanged earlier. The night sky view from the south corridor was wonderful.

“The moon is beautiful, don’t you think so?”

“…”

Arnold looked up once at the sky and watched the crescent moon shining in the distance.

After that, he withdrew his gaze without saying a word.

Rishe and Arnold walked toward the detached palace never once letting go of their clasped hands.

*****

The next day, in Arnold’s office.

Oliver, Arnold’s squire, turned to his lord’s fiancée and said with a laugh, “The South Corridor? Oh, you mean that haunted story? That’s a groundless rumor.”

“Oh, really?”

The coral-haired girl quickly confirmed.

Oliver nodded to reassure her while checking the documents he received from her.

“No one died in that place, and nobody slayed a horse. Don’t worry, it’s all a lie that someone randomly made up.”

“Huh, thank goodness…”

“It seems that the paperwork for the Aria Trading Company is also in order, so I will accept it as is.”

“Thank you, Oliver-sama. — Now, if you’ll excuse me, Your Highness Arnold.”

“Hmm.”

Arnold, who was scribbling his pen at his office desk, replied curtly to the girl’s call.

After she left the room, Oliver smiled while sorting through a stack of papers.

“Anyhow, Rishe-sama sure is cute, you know. I never thought that the person who threatens a knight with an antidote would be afraid of a ghost.”

“Oliver, shut up and move your hands.”

“However, we can’t ignore the fact that there are people who share groundless rumors to the future Crown Princess about the imperial castle. I will find out the source and deal with them.”

“Hmmm…they’re just ridiculous gossip.”

Arnold held his cheek with the hand that wasn’t holding the pen and mocked, “–If it really is ‘dead spirits appear where the dead appear’ in the first place, I’m sure these eyewitness’ accounts sprang up elsewhere.”

“Ha-ha-ha! Well, you make sense.”

Oliver laughed at his lord’s opinion while sorting out the documents.