Chapter 6 (Part 5)

“Madam, we’ve arrived at the square.”  

Lost in self-reproach and connecting thoughts one by one, the journey to the square seemed quick. Though they seemed to have arrived earlier than the appointed time, she soon spotted Chester standing in the distance as soon as she got off the carriage.  

Even amidst the crowd, Chester’s tall stature and handsome features stood out. Seeing a familiar face, the worries in her heart slightly faded.  

“Che… Young Master Pyregen!”  

Sellakia was conscious of Roberta, Nancy, and Mark, who might be somewhere, and tried not to put on an overly bright expression.  

At the familiar voice, Chester turned his head. The moment he saw Sellakia, he broke into a bright smile, as if he had never worn a nonchalant expression. However, the smile didn’t last long.  

“You…”  

Chester, who was staring blankly at the approaching Sellakia, couldn’t finish his sentence and covered his face with his large hand. The tips of his ears, which he failed to cover, turned red.  

“What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?”  

Sellakia refrained from impulsively grabbing Chester’s hand and pulling it down and asked gently. Chester couldn’t look at her and rolled his eyes around.  

“You look… very different from the usual you I know.”  

“Oh.”  

Come to think of it, she was still in the dress she wore in the morning. Nancy had also styled her hair, making her appearance far more glamorous than when she used to comb her hair herself and wear monochrome dresses.  

It was understandable for Chester to feel awkward. Sellakia fiddled with the hem of her dress unnecessarily.  

“Doesn’t it suit me? There were some circumstances today…”  

“What are you talking about, Sella! How can it not suit you? I just thought you were more, I mean, I knew you’d be beautiful, but much more than I expected…”  

Chester, uncharacteristically, was babbling. He seemed eager to ease Sellakia’s embarrassment somehow.  

Sellakia almost burst into laughter at Chester’s kind consideration, but a sharp voice from both sides interrupted her, preventing her from laughing and making her turn her head.  

“Did you just say ‘Sella’?”  

“Madam, who is this person……?”

Roberta and Nancy, who were standing close on either side, were warily eyeing Chester. Come to think of it, it was their first time meeting Chester.  

“Oh. Young Master Pyregen, this is my escort knight, Sir Belfona, and my maid, Nancy. Sir Belfona, Nancy, this is my longtime friend, Young Master Chester Pyregen.”  

Sellakia added a fabricated explanation.  

“Of course, I don’t fully remember Young Master Pyregen because my memory isn’t complete, but I arranged this meeting hoping it might help me regain my memory.”  

Roberta and Nancy were aware of Sellakia’s slightly exaggerated amnesia symptoms. Though she mentioned having recalled some past memories, she intended to keep Chester as a forgotten memory.

Chester gave a brief nod to Roberta and Nancy and then threw a discreet glance at Sellakia.  

“Still haven’t regained your memory?”  

‘Still need to keep up the act?’  

Sellakia exchanged a sigh with him, as if regretful.  

“Unfortunately, yes.”  

‘Yes. So please cooperate.’  

Chester, catching the signal, let out an exaggerated sigh.  

“I see… It would be better to talk somewhere else. How about going to a nearby tea house? I’ve found a place.”  

“Rather than that, since you’re in the Seidon Ducal Territory, how about enjoying the local atmosphere?”

“The local atmosphere?”

“Yes. The Duke recommended a boat ride. He generously offered a boat.”  

Strictly speaking, she hadn’t received permission from Tenus to use the boat, but since he had granted her the rights of Seidon, it wasn’t much different.  

Sellakia moved toward the canal’s dock, not far from the square.  

“A boat ride all of a sudden?”  

Chester was puzzled but followed closely beside her. As before, three or four boats were leisurely floating on the canal.  

When she mentioned the name of the Seidon Ducal House at the dock, everything proceeded smoothly. The manager greeted Sellakia and her party with an almost burdensome level of politeness.  

“Madam, what kind of boat would you like? Shall I prepare the largest one?”  

“No.”  

Sellakia pointed to a boat passing by right in front of them.  

“One like that passing by.”  

“…A two-person canoe?”  

The manager blatantly looked at Chester, standing beside Sellakia.  

A two-person canoe was usually a boat for lovers. It was taboo for a man and woman who were not lovers to ride it together, though it wasn’t legally prohibited. Sellakia decided to act shamelessly.  

“Why? Is it not allowed?”  

“N-no, it’s not that it’s not allowed…”  

The manager hesitated to bring out the boat. Roberta and Nancy stepped in to replace the sweating manager.  

“No, Madam. A boat ride alone with a man who isn’t the Duke? The Duke would be very upset if he knew!”

“If you ride a two-person canoe, it will be difficult to escort you. Please take the boat the manager recommends, Madam.”  

“But I really want to ride a two-person canoe in the famous Willem Canal of the Empire. Tenus is so busy that I don’t know when I’ll have such an opportunity again.”  

Sellakia deliberately put on an innocent expression.

“Even if I’ve lost my memory, the fact that I’m friends with Young Master Pyregen doesn’t change. There’s no problem in riding a canoe with a friend, right? The Duke wouldn’t be upset, Nancy.”  

“Th-that’s true, but… no, still…!”  

“And Sir Belfona, please escort us from the following boat. I can’t see him, but Sir Pinter is somewhere here too, right? With two excellent knights, my safety won’t be an issue.”  

Roberta turned her head briefly, as if confirming Mark’s location, and asked curiously.  

“What do you mean by a following boat?”

* * *

The rowing, which was initially awkward, became familiar after a few tries. It seemed her childhood experience hadn’t completely rusted with time.  

While Sellakia enthusiastically paddled the oars, Chester wore a dumbfounded expression. He cast bewildered glances around and flinched when he noticed something.  

“……Your maid is looking at me like I’m a sworn enemy.”

“What? Nancy? That can’t be. You must have seen wrong.”  

Sellakia didn’t bother to look back at Nancy, who was in the boat following them. She maintained her forward gaze, having chosen this spot despite various misunderstandings to avoid revealing her lip movements and expressions.  

Chester, seemingly conscious of Nancy’s gaze, glanced behind Sellakia and rubbed his forehead.  

“It feels like too many eyes are on us. Sella, is this what you wanted?”  

“Well, yes, but…”  

In the end, Sellakia insisted on keeping the two-person canoe with Chester. It was her way of ensuring their conversation remained private.  

Ignoring convention was bothersome, but there was no other way to escape Roberta and Nancy, who refused to leave her side. Even in a tea house, they would have stayed close.  

Currently, Roberta and Nancy were on a music boat following right behind them. It was a fairly large boat with a professional rower.  

It was a much more serious orchestra than she had vaguely anticipated. The performance, which started as soon as Sellakia picked up the oar, was much more delightful than the chamber music she had heard a few times. The clear melody that matched well with the waterfront was perfect for lifting spirits.

She thought she understood why Tenus had subtly suggested it. It was a luxury that even the Emperor might envy.  

There was only one flaw. It drew too much attention. Not only the people walking along the canal but also those leisurely enjoying a boat ride were peeking at Sellakia and Chester.  

“It’s more embarrassing than the stares when entering a banquet hall.”  

Chester couldn’t bring himself to lift his face from his hands.  

Even Sellakia, who had never attended a banquet, could deeply empathize with the embarrassment. However, since it was a situation she had brought upon herself, she forced herself to hold her head high and feigned nonchalance.  

“It can’t be helped. Don’t mind the surroundings and focus only on me, Chester.”  

“That’s the hardest thing today…”  

Chester mumbled with a sigh, peeking through his fingers at Sellakia.  

“Shall I row?”  

To be precise, he was staring at her rowing hands, not her face. Sellakia shook her head firmly.

“I’m better at rowing than you, Chester. Have you forgotten where I’m from?”  

The music was loud enough that even Roberta, with her keen sense, wouldn’t hear her voice. Sellakia dealt comfortably with Chester and paddled vigorously, as if to show off.  

There were countless days when she had gone to the seaside with her mother and father to launch a small boat. Rowing in the canal without waves was nothing.  

She felt the pressure of the water splitting smoothly under her fingertips. The sensation she hadn’t felt in a long time was uniquely nostalgic. Coupled with the lively tune enveloping her ears, she felt as if she were walking on the ninth cloud.  

Gradually, she became indifferent to the surrounding gazes, and needless sentiments welled up.