Chapter 78 - The Girl Who Fell Into My Arms

"..."

"..."

Sitting on the sidewalk outside the old abandoned building, the person who fell from the sky--Her Royal Highness the Princess of Narashel--cautiously and fl.u.s.teredly nibbled on the piece of bread I bought for her. She's safe, I think.

For unknown reasons I managed to come to this place, and saved her at the last moment. No one informed me, no one pointed his finger and shouted 'Look, there's a woman about to jump on the top of that building!', and my instinct's still isn't that keen to detect people in danger within a 500 m radius. Everything just happened with a timing so perfect it's uncanny, as if im being controlled by some higher entity.

"..."

"..."

Different from when I first saw her, she's currently wearing a white blouse with a light brown cardigan over it, gray trousers, and dark brown boots. Her hair has two red laces on both sides, and she also carried a small white sling bag--which she zealously placed in front of her. Even though the design of her clothes aren't anything spectacular, the materials in which they are made of are surely very expensive.

Having such a very high-profile person around me, I can't help but to feel super-duper-mega-ultra tense. Why, oh why--is this super awkward and cliché scene from movies and novels is happening in my life?!

"U...Uh..."

"--?!"

Probably because of what happened, that she can't look at me in the eye. I can't do the same either, thinking that it would be impudent of me to do so.

God, this awkward scene is killing me!

"Um..." Finally, after what seems to be an eternity of awkward silence, Her Royal Highness decided to speak. "Thank you, Mister...for saving my life...and for this bread you've given to me."

She has a soft-spoken voice, yet I could also sense a tinge of firmness coming from it. I guess if you're a royal lady, you have to be intimidating while being elegant at the same time.

"I don't know what came into my mind when I climbed the building and decided to do that...I feel that everything's weighing down on me lately, that my mind went cluttered..."

Drawing her knees closer to her body, she started to whimper as she concealed her face from me. Panic came, as I hurriedly grabbed my handkerchief and handed it to her.

"*sob* Can I...really use it?"

I awkwardly nodded while still looking away from her.

At that moment I realized that this person in front of me, is also a human being just like any other people: making mistakes, feeling embarrassed, and being fragile. All this time I've been stuck up in the notion that royals are supposed to be invincible and all-capable, an unreachable tower that stays unreachable forever.

Heck, if the gods themselves can be hopeless at times, what more for these kind of people?

"Um...Your Highness?"

"..."

Hearing no response, I continued. "Call me impudent, but I believe death isn't a solution to whatever problems Your Highness is having right now. Even the most miserable person in shouldn't think of such way as an easy exit to all problems he's having..."

So many problems, so many solutions. It can be one-to-one, one-to-many or even many-to-one, but never one or many-to-none. Even the ones that are unsolvable will become solvable given enough time, and ending one's own life isn't a solution--but another problem in itself.

"This impudent man doesn't have any inkling of Your Highness' situation and I'm sure it'll remain that way after this, but I'll say this anyway: we are all in this hell together, Your Highness. Don't you dare give up."

When she finally raised her head, her eyes--swollen with tears--stare at me.

Even when she's crying, she's still beautiful.

"A-Ah, I don't mean to threaten you, Your Highness!" I immediately averted my gaze from her. "W-What I mean is--"

"That's enough."

Ah. This is bad.

Expecting her to get angry because of what I said, Her Highness, instead, wiped tears off her eyes and showed a faint smile.

"Can I ask your name?"

"N-Name?"

"Yes. I want to properly express my gratitude to the person who saved my life, and who made me realize my mistakes. If not for your intervention, I won't ever get to know up to the last moment if what I did was right or wrong."

After thinking for some time...

"Ren. My name is Ren Mortel."

"Ren Mortel," she nodded slightly as she carefully spoke my name. "Once again, I want to thank you for accompanying this deplorable lady in her own trying times. I won't forget these favors you've bestowed upon me."

Scratching my cheek, I said: "But you're not a deplorable lady, Your High--"

"Lerish."

"Hm?"

"Please, call me Lerish." the princess said in a serious tone. "I have no idea how you managed to see through the effects of [Identity Concealment] magic embedded in my clothes, but I believe you won't do me any harm, Ren Mortel. With that in mind, I won't try hiding my real identity to you anymore. I am called Lerish Relia Narashel, a 'public servant' of this country. It's my pleasure to meet you."

She then stood up and placed one foot slightly behind her and bent her knees while facing me. Curtsy, I think.

I abruptly stood up, and said, "P-Pleased to meet you too, Your--er, Miss Lerish."

"'Miss Lerish'?" She raised one of her eyebrows in dismay. "You don't need to add honorifics, Ren Mortel. You can just--"

"P-Please think of it as a compromise," I replied abruptly.

Heaeing that, she chuckled lightly and said: "Very well. 'Miss Lerish' it is, then."

Taking the remaining piece of bread with her she bowed her head at me, then slowly walked away.

"Miss Lerish, why are you going there? The palace is in that way."

"I don't want to go back there yet," she replied.

"Eh?"

"I decided to take a short break, in order to unwind and recollect my thoughts. Even for just a few days, I want to stay away from that place."

Though I'm worried that she's just trying to run away from her responsibilities, what she said seems plausible to me.

"Understood...but where exactly are you going, Miss Lerish?"

She only shook her head slowly in response.

"No place to stay...no extra clothes...no money?"

"I have my tiara with me. I'm confident I can sell it at a high price," she said as if swallowing her words.

Ehh...could it be that...

"You ran away, didn't you..."

"Please! Don't report it to the guards!" She hurriedly covered her face with her hands as she slumped to the ground.

Figures.

After considering the possible scenarios in my mind for a few moments, I asked:

"If you want to, I know a place where there you can stay for a few days."

Hearing that, she slowly raised her head and looked at me, her face showing a puzzled expression.

-----

Sundown.

When I finally arrived at Pops' house, I immediately got welcomed by dagger stares coming from Aoi and the siblings.

"...Big brother, where did you go?! We've been looking for you until now!"

"Pops almost got mad at us!" Saki yelled.

"Sorry, sorry. I got lost on my way back, and had to ask for directions."

"Geez, I knew something like this will happen..." Saku shook his head in exasperation.

"It's alright. It happens all the time for first-time visitors in the capital," Pops said while laughing. "But next time be careful: there are pickpockets around, and the knights guarding the city might take you as a suspicious person if you ask people about directions willy-nilly."

He then invited everyone for dinner. A huge roast is set on the table, along with the dishes that seem to be the siblings' favorites.

"Uh...guys?" As they all sat on the table excited, I spoke: "There's someone I need all of you to meet."

When I said that everyone stared at me, confused. I then glanced outside and nodded, and Miss Lerish slowly walked towards the entrance, her cheeks red with shyness.

Upon seeing her, my companions' eyes opened wide, looking very surprised to see such a beauty in their midst.

Saku asked, "Ren? Who's she..."

"Uhh...while I'm asking for directions I found her inside an abandoned building at the north of the city. She's a tourist just like us, and she said her 'guide' stole her money and belongings except for her sling pouch, and she has nowhere to stay at the moment. I decided on my own to bring her here, but if it's not okay with you..."

"Someone stole her things? What a poor lady..." Pops lamented upon hearing the story that I made up. "Do you have any relatives here? If there's none you can stay here with us for a while. Ah, we also need to inform the authorities about the incident as soon as possible!"

"You're welcome here in Pops' place!" Saki added.

With everyone approving her stay, she deeply bowed her head and said, "Thank you very much, and pardon as well, for letting me in to your residence. I am called Lerish, pleased to be of your acquaintance."

Her way of talking made all of them even more surprised, implying the question 'what's with that lady?' through their stares.

"Y-Yeah. Call me Pops, that's what these kids like to call me all the time."

"Pops...is it? Understood."

Saki then stood up and said, "My name's Saki! Oh, can I call you 'Sister Lerish'?"

"Fufu...of course."

Lastly, Saku stood up, cleared his throat, and fixed his bandanna while trying to be as manly as possible.

"Good evening, Miss Lerish. I am Saku Rainen, 17 years of age, hailing all the way from the place where the desert and forest meet, Plate Town. You may not know it, but I'm the manager and owner of an inn called San--"

"Miss Lerish, you must be hungry already. Shall we go in?" I asked her.

"N-Nn," she nodded in agreement.

"W-Wait, I'm not..." Saku muttered, feeling devastated after Miss Lerish apparently ignored him.

Sorry, Saku.

-----

While eating, I noticed that almost everyone's eyes aren't on their plate but are fixed towards our unexpected visitor. On the other hand, Miss Lerish seems to be really enjoying our dinner but she didn't let her table manners slip. She eats slowly, patiently--trying not to appear unwomanly to everyone.

She ate with such concentration that it took her a while to notice that everyone has fallen silent. She looked up and asked, "Um...is there something wrong?"

"Miss Lerish, if it's alright to ask, since when did you start observing proper table etiquette?"

"H-Hm?" Surprised, her hands stopped moving. "I've started since I was little..."

Everyone gasped their breaths at that revelation.

"Your speech...is it really your natural way of talking?"

"These clothes...aren't they expensive-looking for a tourist?"

"Um...I..."

"Could it be..." Saki suddenly stood up and pointed at her, "Miss Lerish is a noble?"

"EEEHHHH?!?" Miss Lerish dropped her fork, visibly shocked from Saki's words.

"Saki," I quickly asked her to sit down. "Anyone can learn table manners. Anyone can learn how to speak in a formal way. Clothes, appearance, posture--anyone can learn to act like a noble just by observing certain rules and mannerisms..."

Here you go, bullshitting your way again, Ren. I don't know what I'm saying, I just speak what is in my mind right now.

"On the other hand, not all nobles act like they should be. Give them work clothes, and everyone would think that they're actually peasants who doesn't have an ounce of refinement in their bodies. Being noble, therefore, is a combination of a person's outer and inner refinement. Miss Lerish has a refined character, but she's just like us too."

Ah, I'm screwed. Not only I scolded everyone, but I made the setting awkward and uneasy too for Miss Lerish.

"Miss Lerish, sorry for our questions just now. We never thought it makes you uncomfortable," Pops said while giving another fork to Miss Lerish.

"Sorry too, Sister Lerish."

"Please don't take everyone's words in a bad way," Saku also spoke.

"It's alright. Let's just not dwell on it anymore," she replied, dispelling everyone's worries.

She glanced at me, then said 'thank you' silently. I nodded slightly in return.

Meanwhile, Aoi only kept her matters to herself as she kept on eating, silently observing Miss Lerish's movements.

-----

Pops' house has two stories, but the upper floor's rooms are mostly occupied with old furniture and tools from his shop. Lucky enough, one of the rooms has a usable bed in it, so we decided to let Miss Lerish use it, while the rest of us are on the rooms below, settling on sleeping bags. Narashelian hospitality at its finest.

"As you can see, this place's nowhere close to that of a royal palace. It must be your first time staying in a commoner's house."

"You shouldn't worry about that," she said. "All of you accepted me here without hesitation--I am not in a position to be squeamish."

And indeed, she's not even squeamish with the clothes she wear. With her 'casual' clothes washed and are hanging on the clothesline, Pops lent one of his old shirts to her. It's so large that it reached up to below her knees, effectively making it a nightgown. As for her undergarments, I presume she's still wearing the ones she used for the whole day.

I was worried she's feeling uncomfortable in such a cramped space, but it turns out that everything's just a mindless worry of mine.

"I see. That's a relief for us."

"You don't need to worry about me too much. 'Adapting' is in my blood, after all," she joked.

Since my worries are all gone and everyone's feeling tired, I said my night greetings to her and headed back downstairs. But just when I'm about to turn my back--

"--?!"

With her grabbing my hand, a strange feeling are instantly transmitted into my brain. Her hands are remarkably soft and smooth, hands that haven't experienced any manual labor before.

The hands of a true blue-blood.

"I-Is there anything you need of me, Miss Lerish?"

Under the light of the lamp hanging beside the door, her cheeks became tinged with a rosy blush as she slightly looked down at the floor.

"Those people...I had fun meeting them tonight."

Smiling at her, I replied, "I'm sure they also feel the same way towards you, Miss Lerish."

Awkward things aside, everyone has a very good impression of her. Same case goes for them. Win-win.

"I'm glad..." she let out a sigh of relief.

"Also..."

"Yes?"

"I'm fortunate--and happy--that I get to meet the princess of this country, and be able to help her in her times of need. I promise, I will continue to help Miss Lerish as long as I can while you're here."

I'm not a noble nor a knight, but it doesn't mean I can't be of substantial help to the princess. At least, through this way I can show my gratitude to the country that accepted me and Aoi.

Also, it might be selfish of me...if it's possible I want to befriend her too.

"Please...continue to be of assistance to me."

"Ah, yes!"

We just realized that we've been holding hands for a while now. We let go of each other's hand quickly, and apologized.

"I-I think we should go back to our rooms already, Miss Lerish."

"Y-You're right..."

Saying my greetings again, I continued going downstairs.

"Good night to you as well...Ren."

"Eh...?"

When I looked over my shoulder, she already entered her room. I felt a jolt in me, an indescribable feeling that is, well, indescribable.

Staring at my hand that she grabbed, I muttered:

'Ren, you've watched this scene for how many times already. Don't you dare think it'll happen to you too...'