The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 57.1

“Good, yes, yes, just like that.”

The moon deer rubbed its face against my hand.

Even though I see it every evening, it always greets me with such excitement.

Recently, it’s been making some strange sounds too.

A mix of a whining puppy, the bleating of sheep or goats, and a bit of whistling all thrown together.

In any case, it’s unusual and peculiar.

But as long as it seems happy, that’s all that matters.

“Alright, alright.”

When I scratch its neck and chest, it rubs against me even more, enjoying it.

Since it always arrives before Eliza, I play with it while waiting.

The stable keeper, Bradley, chuckled as he changed the water.

“It looks like it’s quite taken with you.”

“It’d be better if it were loyal to the young lady instead of me.”

This creature isn’t mine, after all; it belongs to Eliza.

“If things go well, you might be able to ride it someday.”

The moon deer can indeed be ridden like a horse.

‘But… it’s too big.’

If I wanted to ride it with this body, I’d first have to climb that enormous figure.

I’m not even sure if I could hold on up there.

‘It would be useful if I could ride it someday. This world doesn’t have many modes of transportation.’

The moon deer would make a great mount.

It’s not an ordinary animal, but a mystical creature.

It can find its own way, and it’s incredibly fast.

It also knows how to fight or protect itself in dangerous situations.

‘I hope I’ll be able to ride it someday.’

As I was scratching its neck, the door opened.

Eliza had arrived.

Bradley bowed his head to greet her first.

I stepped away from the moon deer and bowed as well.

But the oblivious creature kept rubbing its head against me.

Eliza stared silently at the moon deer.

Her subdued gaze was somehow chilling.

Is she applying the etiquette for nobles to animals too?

Even though it’s a smart mystical creature, it wouldn’t understand such concepts.

“I apologize. I was in the middle of playing with it…”

I apologized on its behalf.

The gaze that had been on the moon deer shifted to me.

Her red eyes fixed on mine as if peering into me.

Eliza pressed her fingers against her tired eyes and then walked toward me.

She grabbed my wrist and yanked me toward her, almost as if she were pulling me away.

“Huh…?”

Startled by her sudden action, I was dragged along.

Once Eliza had pulled me close to her side, she wrapped her arms tightly around my waist.

“Uh, young lady…?”

Eliza hugged me without warning.

You’d think I’d be used to it by now, but it’s still hard to get used to.

Eliza pressed her face against my stiff chest and took a deep breath.

“Now I feel like I can breathe again…”

I heard that Eliza met Narcissa today.

I don’t know exactly what happened, but she did seem tired today.

But saying she could finally breathe now that she’s holding me…

What on earth does that mean?

‘Could it be that she…?’

For a moment, my eyes met the moon deer’s.

Seeing its innocent, wide-eyed gaze, I realized how foolish my thoughts had been.

I felt so embarrassed I wanted to disappear.

***

The time spent caring for the moon deer was as peaceful as always.

While I fed it mushrooms or hay, Eliza would brush it or gently stroke it.

This routine had become part of our daily lives.

Eliza seemed at ease now.

At first, she was unusually tense, not knowing what to do and floundering a bit.

But now, she brushes it, strokes it, and gazes at it naturally.

As a result, I’ve also grown quite comfortable with this time.

It’s a time when there’s no need to do anything special.

The sound of the moon deer chewing on something.

The swishing sound as Eliza brushes it.

The occasional chirping of distant insects.

The slightly cool air just before spring begins.

I’ve come to appreciate these things.

In the past, I used to feel uneasy during this time, always on edge, trying not to make a mistake in front of Eliza.

‘Hmm… this isn’t bad.’

As I’ve grown more comfortable, random thoughts have started to pop into my mind.

A sudden curiosity.

‘Has Eliza come to like the moon deer?’

It’s the only explanation for why Eliza would come here so diligently.

‘Well, it’s nice having her help with it. …Not that it means anything strange.’

A sudden image comes to mind.

Eliza smiling brightly while facing the moon deer.

It was an unusually clear and radiant smile.

‘Just an ordinary girl. Not the Eliza I know…’

The word suddenly felt unfamiliar.

The Eliza I know.

The one who could be summed up as a maniac, or an arsonist.

Is that really the Eliza I know?

How much do I really know about her?

Can I even say that I know her?

When I was close to dying, Eliza clung to me and cried.

That image of her was so different from the Eliza I know…

“Judas.”

I responded immediately.

“Yes, my lady.”

As she brushed the moon deer, she asked,

“How is life at the training camp?”

I was so startled that I hesitated before answering.

We rarely talk while tending to the moon deer.

Unless there’s been an incident, we usually remain silent.

But today, Eliza initiated the conversation.

Also, on a very ordinary topic.

Eliza looked at me while gently stroking the moon deer.

A calm gaze, observing something without responding.

“…Ah. It’s manageable. Nothing particularly uncomfortable…”

If I had to point out anything, there’s more comfort than discomfort.

In other rooms, there might be some minor disputes, but my roommates are reliable.

Compared to the training in my previous life, this is something I can easily keep up with.

Now, even the meals are good, and I’m being recognized in various ways…

Suddenly, I recalled the day I first entered this training camp.

I wanted to escape from here.

Ever since that day, and up until now.

My plan remains unchanged.

To one day escape from this place.

To avoid or overcome a future where I might die at Eliza’s hands.

I had only vaguely thought about it.

That I would leave one day.

Like a habit, like inertia.

Seeking out the information guild and maintaining friendly relations were primarily for that purpose.

But as I answered Eliza, I suddenly realized that I was quite content with my life here.

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, I averted my gaze and spoke.

“…Thanks to you, I’m living without any lack.”

It’s not a lie.

Eliza chose me.

If I had been kicked out back then, I might have become a beggar on the streets.

I don’t know how to survive in a world like this.

A question suddenly arose.

I almost died.

Does this mean the tragedy I foresaw has been averted?

Or is it still valid?

“I’m glad you know that.”

Eliza smiled faintly.

“But it’s strange. At first, it didn’t seem like you wanted to come in.”

“…”

“Did you stare straight into my eyes?”

“Well, that was, um… a sort of performance art, employing shock therapy, to leave a strong impression on you…”

I stammered without realizing it.

Eliza let out a low chuckle.

“Why are you so flustered and wary? It’s not like I’m disliked by just one or two people.”

“…”

Casual self-deprecation.

It doesn’t even seem like she perceives it as self-deprecation.

Just like stating a natural phenomenon, like the sun rising and setting, she spoke as if it were an obvious fact.

I wanted to refute it so badly that the words were stuck in my throat.

But I couldn’t bring myself to say it out loud.

Did I really not dislike Eliza at that time?

I looked at her with a challenging gaze.

At first, because I didn’t want to enter this training camp.

Then, because the image of Eliza I thought I knew came to mind.

I should say it isn’t true.

But I couldn’t be sure of my own feelings, so I kept silent.

Eliza didn’t seem uncomfortable with my silence.

She just glanced at me and smiled.

“You don’t even say it’s not true, even as a pretense. You’re really strange. Most people would beg for their lives and say it isn’t true.”

“…”

“But I don’t dislike that about you. In that sense, doesn’t that make me even stranger?”

There must be plenty of people around her who flatter her.

Even if I don’t know for sure, they probably aren’t sincere.

And yet, I didn’t flatter her, even with pretense.

Could it be that my inability to lie gave her some comfort?

As I fumbled for a response, Eliza suddenly spoke up.

“What kind of relationship do you have with Anggra?”

She asked as if it was obvious I would know the name.

My previously confused mind was completely wiped clean.

‘Ang… what?’

I blinked and asked back.

“…Pardon? What…”

“Avesta Mazda Anggra. The bishop of the Moon God Cruch. He’s commonly known as Bishop Anggra.”