Pardon the Abduction, Holy Knight - It's an Emergency - Chapter 3.17

Adriel, who was continuing his thoughts, slowly closed and opened his eyes.

If I leave here, does that mean I won’t be able to see that woman anymore?

“You’re really peculiar.”

Adriel clenched his teeth tightly.

The image of Rosemary smiling as if it were ridiculous or interesting kept unsettling his heart.

“…Enough.”

Adriel’s instinct whispered.

Stop thinking any further.

It told him to recall only the memory of that day when his family was murdered by demons, and the destiny left to him.

He must not forget that she is a woman who made a contract with a demon.

Just as demons seduce humans, that woman must be trying to enchant him.

That shouldn’t happen.

He had no intention of easily falling for the demons’ tricks.

But recently, Adriel realized that his plan had hit a snag.

Pretending to love Rosemary to make her let her guard down.

That was only possible if Rosemary still loved Adriel.

But that woman said she no longer loves me.

At first, he thought she might be trying to deceive him.

However, the sincere look in Rosemary’s eyes as she confessed that fact could not possibly be a lie.

That she no longer likes me.

His slow hand movements tapped his muscular thigh.

“Why…”

Why does it feel bad?

If that woman doesn’t like him anymore, it should be something to welcome with open arms.

But this feeling right now.

This confused and anxious feeling was the exact opposite of that.

Why. Why is that?

Adriel, searching for the reason, finally realized.

He needs to seduce Rosemary, but if Rosemary no longer likes him, isn’t that a problem?

Yes. That was it.

“If that’s the problem…”

Adriel’s red eyes flashed coldly.

It was simply a matter of making her like him again.

***

“This is called the ‘Fairy’s Tear’, right?”

The teardrop-shaped white jewel sparkled in the sunlight.

The peculiar thing was that it showed different colors each time it caught the light.

Red, orange, yellow, purple…

“Master, it’s exactly the same as what humans call a rainbow. Kekeke.”

As Wit said, it was a beautiful jewel that looked just like a captured rainbow.

“Master! Let’s cut this in half and check if there’s a rainbow inside!”

I stopped Wit who was reaching out towards the Fairy’s Tear.

“Oh, be careful. This might also be related to Oberon.”

“Oberon…? Eeek! Wit remembers! The bad necklace that hurt Wit!”

Wit ran away to the tomato patch in disgust.

I looked at the Fairy’s Tear again, lost in thought.

Oberon’s necklace had the power to attack demons and simultaneously strip away their true form.

Wouldn’t this Fairy’s Tear also have some special power?

“Hmm…”

“Are you still looking at it?”

Adriel, who had approached without notice, placed a teacup in front of me.

“Ah, thank you.”

Adriel sat down across from me without a word, just silently.

Used to the silence, I blew on the steaming teacup and took a sip.

Ahh…

This house really is a great place for food, I tell you.

Recently, I learned something about Adriel.

It’s the fact that he’s good at many things besides cooking.

Be it cooking. Be it cleaning. Be it furniture repair. Even brewing delicious tea.

If it weren’t for the relationship bound by kidnapping, he would be such a desirable talent that I’d want to hire him as a housekeeper right away.

“Is there anything you particularly avoid?”

“Pardon?”

Avoid? What does he mean?

Adriel spoke in his usual emotionless voice as I looked at him questioningly.

“I mean food. If there’s anything you can’t eat, please tell me in advance.”

Wow…

Not only is he good at cooking, but he’s also a chef who considers the preferences of the eater.

“Uh, well. There’s nothing I particularly can’t eat… Oh, come to think of it, I’m not good with spicy food.”

Adriel, who had been mumbling along with my words, answered as if making a mental note.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Haha…”

This feels somewhat awkward.

As I was sipping my tea for no reason, Adriel asked another question.

“What did you usually enjoy eating?”

Usually? This is also a question I’ve never really thought about.

Since nothing came to mind immediately, I paused for a moment.

“Hmm. Nothing in particular… I just eat everything well.”

“Did you like the pie I made last time?”

“Huh? Oh, that apple pie? I enjoyed that.”

“You also ate the potato dish well, didn’t you?”

“Ah, that! The soft texture was excellent.”

I clapped my hands, agreeing with his words.

Adriel stared at me without blinking.

Talking about food makes me want to eat again.

As I was salivating, his mouth slowly opened.

“It seems my lady likes everything I make.”

“Of course that’s…”

I was about to agree right away, but couldn’t finish my sentence.

What, what is this reaction?

The faint smile drew on Adriel’s lips.

What’s with that satisfied-looking smile?

I must have seen it wrong.

I hurriedly rubbed my eyes.

However, even after that, Adriel’s unexpected questions continued.

“Is there anything else you like?”

“Money, jewels, buildings… I see.”

“On the contrary, what you dislike…”

“People without a sense of reality, you say… But why are you looking at me like that while saying it?”

What’s with him? Is he investigating me now?

“If you’re indirectly saying that you dislike me…”

Why is he suddenly acting like this?

I felt strange and suspicious about Adriel, who kept behaving oddly these days.

But let’s not show that I’m suspicious.

Right now, it’s more important to reach an amicable agreement with him and get his signature.

I don’t know why he seems to be pressing so much today.

I need to lighten the mood before taking out the contract.

Good impression. Good impression.

I muttered inwardly and smiled playfully.

“I don’t dislike you, Sir Knight.”

Good impression. Polite words.

“I like you, Sir Knight. I’ve received help from you several times, so I have a conscience. Despite how I may seem, I’m a person with a sense of decency.”

I’m not actually such a bad person.

We’re not enemies.

As I spoke with that meaning, Adriel’s reaction was strange.

He suddenly froze like a broken robot and stared at me with slightly trembling eyes.

What did I do…?

I was puzzled, but anyway, this was my chance.

I took out the contract I had secretly brought and hidden under my thigh.

“So, about that…”

“…!”

Why is he so surprised?

I only called out softly, not loudly, but Adriel noticeably flinched.

“Sir Knight, what’s wrong?”

“…It’s nothing. Please continue.”

This is strange…

But that’s not important right now.

“I think it’s time we talked about this again.”

I subtly pushed forward the magic contract along with a pen.

“So, have you thought about it a lot?”

At that moment, Adriel’s face, which had been oddly creaking, froze coldly.

Volume 1 End