Chapter 24
As if she had heard something else entirely, she was already faintly smiling again. It was an expression filled with hope.
That day, Bjorn ultimately failed to shake off Leila.
For the price of dedicating an entire day, it was a terribly despairing result.
* * *
Around dusk, as darkness settled.
In a secluded corner behind the Benignus temple grounds, three defeated soldiers gathered close together.
The paladins, who had been miserably defeated by a noble lady armed with nothing but a parasol, soothed the sting of their bitter defeat in the evening gloom.
“…But Vice Commander, why did you use divine power to shield yourself there? The one hitting you would’ve gotten hurt more.”
Todd, chewing over the difficult day with slumped shoulders, suddenly spoke in a resentful tone.
“Then should I have just stood there and taken it?”
Naturally Bjorn, having no intention of indulging Todd’s complaint, gave a curt reply.
“No, that’s not what I mean… someone like you should know. Since we’re on the topic. Vice Commander, you even got beaten stylishly, you know? Instead, you should’ve fallen apart more in front of the lady. You should’ve at least had an ugly nosebleed or burst into tears and snot! I think one of the two was necessary.”
“…I did try in my own way.”
“Actually, didn’t you not want to fall apart that much in front of her? From afar the atmosphere between you two looked great. Somehow you even matched well. Though her style was definitely a bit unusual.”
While feeling annoyed at Todd adding unnecessary remarks as usual, at the same time a cold anxiety passed through him.
If asked whether there truly wasn’t even a speck of truth in his heart, he honestly wasn’t confident.
As Todd said, as long as Leila Bailey was looking at him, he couldn’t completely let himself go. He could have shown an even worse side, but he couldn’t bring himself to fall that far.
But, so what. He excused himself inwardly that it was due to the minimum dignity and face as a human being.
“Anyway, she’s really persistent, that woman.”
While Bjorn struggled with his own contradiction, Allen, who had been listening to their conversation, spoke.
For a moment he agreed with the evaluation of Leila, yet at the subtle contempt contained in the term ‘that woman’ he felt the back of his head tighten without realizing it. It was a stronger anger than before.
She was still a noble lady, and that way of speaking was disrespectful. Allen’s tone filled him with extreme discomfort.
“But… honestly, I was a bit moved.”
Just as he was about to give Allen a word of warning, Bjorn stopped at Todd’s remark.
“Didn’t you think so too? What woman would step forward in that situation and shield a man? I mean, unless it’s real love. She looked sincerely worried you might get hurt, Vice Commander. The parasol also… really hurt.”
Absurdly, Todd’s words shook the mind he had barely steadied as if an earthquake struck.
“Well, seeing a woman still blush at you after seeing all that today says enough.”
While Allen and Todd exchanged words, only Bjorn remained silent, busy hiding his agitation.
Allen, subtly watching him, asked lightly.
“You still have no intention of just dating her?”
It was also bewildering that the answer ‘no way’ did not come out immediately like before.
However, Bjorn shook his head in the end.
Yes, as they said, Leila Bailey was a good woman. Devoted and pure at least toward the man she liked, a kind and innocent woman rare in times like these.
For her sake as well, Bjorn had to shatter her dream.
“None at all.”
At his firm answer Allen muttered, “This is a battle between spear and shield,” and shook his head.
“In that case, even if uncomfortable, you’ll have to meet Miss Leila once more. Now I’m getting stubborn too. This time I’ll make a better plan for sure.”
Even while watching Allen make a very petty vow unbefitting a paladin, Bjorn’s unease did not fade.
For some reason, it was a night filled only with bad premonitions.
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