CATB Chapter 19

Belkellion's words about it being close weren't false - after walking for about ten minutes, a babbling stream appeared. I was so moved by the prospect of washing off even a bit of this shit smell that I hurried over.

Ah, I feel like I might live.

I dipped my hands and feet into the clean stream water and washed my face.

Belkellion silently took a seat beside me and helped wash the bow and sword.

"What happened?"

"I fell into a trap. That's all."

Though there was something suspicious in the Grand Duke's gaze as he looked at me, since I, the person involved, kept insisting otherwise, he seemed inclined not to press further.

"Ah, now I feel alive. Grand Duke, I'm sorry. It must have been painful, right?"

He stared at me quietly.

Yeah, sorry. Humanly speaking, it was pretty awful.

The thought of being remembered by my life's greatest ideal type for my shit smell suddenly made me want to plunge my head into the babbling stream. The faint shit smell still wafting from my body only strengthened that desire.

Should I just submerge my whole body?

Then my clothes would get completely wet... but at least the shit smell would disappear somewhat.

If they get wet, it'll be terribly damp and uncomfortable...

But if I keep smelling, how will the Grand Duke think of me...

Conflicting thoughts waged fierce battle in my head.

"Oh my!"

I made an artificial-sounding voice and pretended to trip into the stream where I'd been soaking my feet.

Pretending to slip, I submerged as many parts of my body in the water as possible.

'If I fall twice it'll be too obvious, so I need to wash off the smell as quickly as possible now.'

Paying my respects to myself for going this far because of a man, I smiled bitterly.

Seeing me fall, the Grand Duke jumped up and entered the stream.

Huh? His clothes will get wet...

This wasn't what I expected...

Splash splash - completely unconcerned about the splashing water or getting wet, the Grand Duke lifted me up as I was still pretending to have accidentally slipped in the stream.

'What do I do, kyaa! Princess carry!' I bit my lips tightly to hold back my inner laughter.

"Grand Duke, your clothes are getting wet."

Though it was nice, seeing his perfectly fine clothes getting soaked along with mine, I said regretfully.

He pulled me deeper into his embrace.

'Hehe, broad chest. Broad shoulders too. What do I do.'

As I was hanging my head low to hide my reddening face, he set me down on a sunny rock.

"Really, you..."

He gently moved my wet hair to one side.

"You make it impossible to look away."

'Is that a compliment or an insult?'

Belkellion's face shone in the sunlight. Even the water droplets lightly dotting his face made his sculpture-like features appear even more unrealistic. When his black eyes gazed at me, I felt an inexplicable, enormous joy. I raised my hand and wiped away the water droplets near his eyes.

When my touch reached him, he briefly closed his eyes then opened them.

Even that gesture was like a painting, leaving me no choice but to stare in fascination.

"Alexa."

He opened his mouth.

When his healthy red lips came into view, I became unbearably embarrassed again.

'Did those lips touch my cheek earlier?'

'I'm not normally the type of woman to act coy like this, so why am I being like this?'

'Ah, my face is hot.'

"Yes, Grand Duke."

At my automatic response, he raised his eyebrows slightly.

He seemed somewhat displeased.

'Crap, did he notice my little show at the stream earlier?'

I cautiously watched his expression.

"I... I'm sorry."

"About what?"

"...Um... well... it seems like I keep causing you trouble today, Grand Duke."

"......"

He remained silent.

'Damn, couldn't you at least say "not at all" out of politeness? Where did that go?'

'I'll let it slide because you're handsome.'

'No, honestly speaking, I really was a nuisance...'

"Alexa."

"Yes?"

I was digging myself deeper into a hole when his voice calling my name made me automatically lift my head.

"Earlier, didn't you call me Belkellion?"

"...?"

'Is he talking about when I called his name in that shit pit? But why is that...'

"...Belkellion."

"Yes?"

"Belkellion."

'What is this, some kind of Belkellion bot?'

I looked up at him with a bewildered expression.

"Grand Duke?"

"Bel. Kel. Lion."

'What's with that feeling that more emphasis was put on the last part?'

"....Belkellion."

I unconsciously repeated his name.

Under the streaming sunlight, golden eyes met black eyes.

The black pupils curved softly.

His first smile that I'd seen...

Actually, I don't even know if I can call it a smile since only his eyes curved slightly.

No. Since his face normally has no expression at all, this much should definitely be considered a smile.

Right, of course. That's right. It's my thought, so I'll think whatever I want.

Anyway, seeing that face which I'd defined as a smile, I was at a loss for words.

'So this is how an ideal type can hit you straight on.'

'Ah, this really hits me right in the feels.'

Barely managing to calm my thump-thump pounding heart, I tried to continue speaking.

'So he wants me to call him by name instead of his title?'

"Are you giving me permission to use your name now, Grand Duke?"

"I've been calling you Alexa, haven't I?"

Come to think of it, I hadn't noticed at all, but this man hadn't been calling me Princess since earlier.

To be precise, since we met Berford at that pond (dammit).

'What's this? Heart, don't get carried away.'

As I sat quietly staring at him with my words stuck, he stepped back one pace.

"Your clothes are quite wet, so it'll take considerable time to wait for them to dry."

'Huh, so we'll be together until they dry? While wet?'

While I was having rotten thoughts, he suddenly muttered something and clapped his hands.

Whoosh

There was a brief sound like a light breeze, and before I knew it, my thoroughly soaked hunting outfit had become fluffy and dry. The dried clothes even smelled pleasant.

'Oh my! This is the best! It smells good! I can hold my head up proudly now!'

"You can use magic?"

I'd never heard from anyone in the kingdom that Belkellion could use magic.

Since he had demon bloodline, one might suspect he could use some magic, but actually, when you think about it, he's only one-quarter demon, and because he usually stayed at the border regions, there wasn't much information about him besides his outstanding martial prowess. Common people only knew the title of "cursed demon Grand Duke" and had no opportunity to see him at all, so practically the only people who knew him were nobles or royalty, but even among them, there was thorough alienation and ostracism with no interaction whatsoever.

'Those ignorant bastards just curse their heads off without knowing shit. F*cking idiots.'

"There's nothing good about it being known."

Belkellion, who had been silent for a moment, answered. Right. He's already intimidating enough, but if word got out that he could use magic too, how much would those bastards including Wilhelm panic?

"But it's not entirely unexpected, is it?"

Wouldn't it be stranger to think that demons couldn't use magic?

"Expecting something and actually experiencing it are different things. As long as I remain within their expectations, everyone will feel at ease."

"......"

"I don't want to provoke unnecessary wariness."

Belkellion's face as he spoke calmly held not a trace of emotion.

In his words, I saw the traces of countless attacks and suspicions he had received before.

I also saw exhaustion and emptiness.

Ah, what a pitiable man.

A person like Belkellion is destined to stand out by nature.

His bloodline dictates it, and so do his appearance, abilities, and everything else he possesses.

Even in this peacefully streaming sunlight, he emanates an overwhelming presence - how could it be different anywhere else?

Wilhelm, the King, and the rest of those morons feel it instinctively.

This man is not someone who can be kept under their command.

A genius must be born at the right time.

A genius among fools is all or nothing. Either they overwhelmingly control them, or rather they're treated as even more foolish idiots. Applying this to Belkellion's case - he's someone with sufficient ability for the former, but chose the latter by his own power. I don't know the reason. In the current state, I don't particularly want to know either.

I simply feel nothing but regret watching this beautiful person in front of me who constantly strives to diminish his own presence. Seeing how much the King is wary of him shows that his efforts aren't particularly successful, but Belkellion is someone who deserves much better treatment than he receives now. Just as Alexa was a child who deserved better treatment than a beast.

But I can do nothing.

The current him is what he has chosen.

It's not light enough for someone like me, who has merely fallen for his appearance, to throw around advice.

I simply looked at him and smiled bitterly.

Ignoring the faint pain that came stabbing from somewhere.