But does Adriel dislike people in general?

Yet what Adriel had said before bothered me.

What was it again? That he hates eating alone?

“When I first brought that child to the temple, even the Saint who was never tense about anything—”

“Excuse me…”

“Are you calling me?”

“Yes, I was just wondering… what kind of people did Holy Knight Adriel usually associate with? I mean, at the temple.”

Since he said he hates eating alone, there must have been people he ate with, right?

I suddenly became curious. What kind of people would he spend time with?

“Adriel, you say?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve never seen that child together with anyone.”

“…He was always alone?”

“Don’t misunderstand, I’m not saying he was ostracized within the knights. It’s just that he preferred to act alone.”

What?

“No. No, then what about meals?”

“Hmm?”

“Did he eat alone too?”

Daniel, who had been staring at me for a moment, slowly opened his mouth.

“Usually, Holy Knights all eat together in the temple’s dining hall.”

Ah, so it wasn’t a lie after all…

“But in Adriel’s case, it would be a stretch to say he ate together with others.”

…Or maybe it was.

“He wouldn’t engage in any conversation with his fellow knights, and as soon as the meal was over, he would immediately leave the dining hall. Would you call that eating together?”

Then why did he tell me to come home early because he couldn’t eat alone?

I’ve been making sure to come straight home after finishing errands with Wit because I was concerned about that comment.

Was he afraid of being alone in the house?

…That can’t be it.

Then did he want to be with me?

…That makes even less sense.

“Hiss!”

I looked at the cat raising its fur and warily surveying its surroundings.

It acts exactly like Adriel.

I don’t understand what his true feelings are.

Sometimes he acts like he’s on my side and worries about me, then suddenly draws a cold line.

Of course, it’s only natural for Adriel to draw a line with me, but…

Still. People should be consistent. Hmph.

“Has your curiosity been satisfied now?”

Instead of nodding, I gave a formal answer.

“…You must be worried. I heard he’s been missing for a while.”

Daniel gently smiled as he held the paws of the cat that was raising its claws toward him.

“Not at all.”

He’s not worried?

What? So he doesn’t actually care about Adriel?

Just as I was thinking this, Daniel continued in a somewhat softer voice.

“That child is the strongest Holy Knight I’ve ever seen.”

“…No matter how strong he is, you never know what might happen to someone.”

“You speak from ignorance. That child’s strength is beyond imagination. Perhaps he has already surpassed me. I wouldn’t know since he’s never faced me seriously.”

Ah. He’s not worried because he’s confident Adriel will return safely.

I don’t fully understand, but I could feel Daniel’s deep trust in Adriel.

“People are saying Adriel was kidnapped by some villain. But I guarantee you, such a thing would not happen.”

No. That Holy Knight is actually being held captive by me right now.

I turned my gaze away, swallowing words I couldn’t possibly utter.

“Hiss-!”

“Oh my. Charles. If you keep doing that, your pretty claws will get damaged.”

The Captain of the Holy Knights, whose arms were in tatters, was still concerned about the cat’s claws as he turned to look at me.

“Now, let’s stop talking about Adriel and help me become friends with Charles again, shall you?”

***

“…Where has Wit gone now.”

“……”

“Ah, he went out to plant tomatoes. Working hard again today.”

“……”

…This is extremely awkward.

I glanced at Adriel, who was sitting on the sofa, blankly staring at the floor.

We hadn’t exchanged a single word since our argument yesterday.

We can’t keep going on like this.

After some deliberation, I was about to tell him that I would prepare the food today.

“Excuse me.”

“…!”

Adriel looked at me, startled to an excessive degree.

I was startled in return.

“Why are you so surprised?”

At my question, Adriel’s pupils trembled slightly. After a long pause, his lips slowly opened.

“…Have you come to dislike even saying my name?”

What is he talking about now?

“What are you saying? I’ve never called you by your name to begin with.”

“……”

“Anyway. I’m preparing lunch, and since you seem low on energy today, I’ll do it. Is that okay?”

“You…”

Again, with those eyes.

Just as I turned my gaze toward the window, unable to bear his mournful look that I couldn’t understand what he wanted—

“…?”

A familiar figure caught my eye in the distance.

A large scar across the face…

Captain Daniel of the Holy Knights?!

Why is he coming here? We agreed to meet at Daniel’s house for the request!

I immediately checked the garden.

Fortunately, Wit, in his golden-haired fairy form, was small enough that he probably wouldn’t catch Daniel’s eye.

“Hey, excuse me.”

“…What is it?”

“Um, so… could you come with me to the room for a moment?”

I planned to lock Adriel in the room before Daniel arrived.

But Adriel looked at me with a strange expression.

No, there’s no time for this.

I quickly walked up to Adriel and grabbed his hand.

“My lady, what are you—”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, but please…”

I pulled Adriel toward the room.

It was fortunate that he followed me obediently; if he had resisted with force, there would have been no solution.

“Wait. What is this suddenly? Why are you doing this?”

“I’ll explain everything later, just go inside for now.”

Go in, quickly.

I was planning to push Adriel into the room and close the door.

But just then.

“My lady, please calm down and explain what’s happening first…”

“Guild Master, it’s me.”

Daniel’s deep voice resonated loudly from outside the house.

At the same time, Adriel’s expression hardened terribly.

Just before his head turned toward the front door, I pushed his chest with both hands as hard as I could.

“I’m sorry…!”

“…!”

Was my strength that great, or was Adriel caught off guard?

Fortunately, Adriel was pushed backward.

“Uh, what…?”

No, he fell backward.

And the recoil made me fall forward too.

“Ouch…”

“……”

“Sir Knight, are you okay…?”

Only when I opened my eyes again did I realize that I was sitting on top of Adriel.

Oh my…