"Serafina, if you're going to step on my foot, at least do it while looking at my face. If you keep staring at my foot and step on it over and over again, it'll feel like you're stepping on me." (Sirius)
When I heard Sirius' exasperated voice, I looked up.
I thought that Sirius was right.
In reality, I was careful not to step on Sirius's feet, but if I kept stepping on Sirius's feet, it couldn't be helped that he felt that way.
When I looked at Sirius' face with an apologetic feeling, my gaze met his beautiful silvery-white eyes.
Just when I couldn't help but admire his beauty, which was as beautiful as ever, his beautiful lips curled and spat out harsh words that didn't match the beauty.
"Whatever you do, you wear a floor-length dress on the night of the party. If you step on my foot, no one will know unless I make a face. So you raise your head, keep your eyes on me to see if I show any signs of pain." (Sirius)
Even though he was showing kindness, it was a cruel comment.
Even though there were still two weeks left until the night of the party, the discussion was proceeding on the assumption that my dancing would not improve.
I puffed out my cheeks in a fit of anger and spoke out a perfectly reasonable opinion.
"Sirius might keep his face expressionless, but if I step on someone else's foot, I'm sure he'll lose his face! And every time I dance, I'm like, 'Please maintain a neutral expression even if your foot is stepped on.' There's no way I can ask that. So, I should take a dance lesson instead of watching your expressions." (Serafina)
"You don't have to think about anyone else. I'll be the only person you dance with at the party." (Sirius)
"Huh?" (Serafina)
I stopped in my tracks, surprised by such an extreme opinion.
However, the pianist in the corner of the room continued to play the song, and the room continued to reverberate with beautiful tones.
"...What's going on? Is this the end of the dance lesson?" (Sirius)
"No, no, that's not true... Um, Sirius, I don't think that's possible. It's the first soiree I've officially attended, and I'm dancing only with you. I am a princess, and also a great saint..." (Serafina)
"And I'm Sirius Ulysses. There are no two words." (Sirius)
When Sirius said that, he grinned as if he was planning something.
I understood when I saw that expression.
……I see. I think Sirius will actually be the only person I dance with at the party.
I didn't know why, but when Sirius laughed like this, he always got what he said.
And when Sirius was up to something like this, he never stopped.
I let out a sigh of resignation and resumed my dance lesson.
——Recently, I had been very busy all day long.
This was because I had a lot to prepare for the evening party I would attend in two weeks.
Until now, I had focused on my activities as a saint, and I had hardly done any activities as a princess.
To be more specific, I hadn't even learned much about what it took to be a princess.
Therefore, now that I had been asked to go to a dinner party by the king, I was in a state of confusion, with so many things to wear and preparations to make.
Sirius seemed to sympathize with me and tried to help me whenever he found a time.
Even though he himself was extremely busy.
"Sirius was a big help! I wasn't sure what would happen when my father suddenly ordered me to attend a night party a month ago, but things are finally starting to take shape little by little." (Serafina)
Following Sirius's words, I looked into his face and dance as I said my words of gratitude.
Then, Sirius tilted his head as if thinking.
"Hmm, it seems that the final form of preparations for the evening party that I imagine is completely different from yours. I think it's still a long way off, but you say it's starting to take shape." (Sirius)
"Sirius!" (Serafina)
"Hahaha, just kidding. You're working hard enough. Come on, let's take a little break." (Sirius)
Sirius said as he opened the large window leading to the terrace.
Then he made me sit in the seat that had the best view of the flowers in the garden.
As soon as I took my seat, the maids served me tea and sweets as if they had been waiting for me.
"...Perfect timing to let me rest, Commander of the Royal Guards." (Serafina)
I was just thinking about getting tired and wanted to rest, so I looked up at Sirius, wondering how he knew.
Then, Sirius silently shrugged his shoulders and nonchalantly poured milk into my tea.
...Even my tea preferences were perfectly understood.
"...I get it. Sirius always understands me better than anyone else." (Serafina)
As I took a sip of the tea, I asked him a question that I had been wondering about for some time.
"Hey, Sirius. When did you learn to dance, Sirius? You've devoted so much of your life to being a knight that you never seem to have time for anything else. So how come you can dance so well?" (Serafina)
I had spent most of my life being a saint, and I was horribly inept at anything other than the role of a saint.
However, since time in life was limited, there's no way you could do everything well, so I thought that there was nothing I could do about poor performance, but when I watched Sirius, I realized I was wrong. It made me feel good.
This was because, although Sirius continued to be the strongest knight in the kingdom, he also had the political power as Duke Ulysses, the country's largest noble, and the dignity of a nobleman.
"I'm a knight because of my occupation, so I'm physically strong. I don't have to sleep as much as you do, so I'm just trying my hand at it little by little in my free time." (Sirius)
Sirius said it easyly, but even if my sleep time was cut in half starting today, I didn't think I'd be able to wear as many things as Sirius.
"Do your time and mine flow differently? Or maybe I'm not serious enough to take things seriously? Even if I stayed up the same amount of time as Sirius, I don't think I would be able to do as many things as Sirius." (Serafina)
I let out a big sigh and looked at Sirius in confusion, but he stared back at me with a puzzled look.
"...No one other than you will even think about such a thing. I think if I say, 'Because it's Sirius Ulysses,' I will understand and will clear everything up." (Serafina)
Well, I wondered what Sirius would say, so I glared at him.
"I don't deny that you can do anything perfectly, but no one can achieve great results without putting in effort! Look at the results you've put in to 'Being Sirius.' It's obvious, and in the same way, just looking at how great you are now, it's obvious how much effort you're making to 'continue to be Sirius.'" (Serafina)
When Sirius heard my words, he narrowed his eyes as if staring at something bright.
"...You always look at me with those golden eyes and affirm everything. And you save me." (Sirius)
"Huh?" (Serafina)
I asked, tilting my head. Sirius laughed as if it was nothing.
"No, I'm surprisingly happy to be recognized by you." (Sirius)
While saying that, Sirius held out his hand.
Therefore, as a conditioned reflex, I put my hand on his.
Then, Sirius lifted my hand and lightly placed his lips on the back of it.
Then, when he raised his gaze and stared at me, he uttered each word slowly, as if he were swearing.
"Supreme Great Saint of my kingdom. I will protect everything that makes up you. Your beautiful shining crimson hair, your golden eyes full of compassion, and your white arms that create miracles...I will protect you forever and ever. I promise." (Sirius)
I felt a knot in my chest at his sincere demeanor, but for some reason I felt embarrassed, so I purposely replied in a lighter tone.
"Well, it's reassuring to have the commander of the Red Knights, the strongest knight in the kingdom, make a promise. Thank you very much." (Serafina)
Then I got up from my seat, picked up my dress with an air of deliberate fear, and took the formal lady's bow.
Sirius saw this and stood up, placing one hand on his back and the other on his chest, taking the formal knightly bow.
After standing still for a while, we both looked at each other and laughed.
The warm sunlight shined down on us, and we could hear the chirping of birds in the distance.
...Ah, Sirius. The time I spent with you was always shining brightly.
My Royal Guard Knight Commander was more wonderful than anyone else.
I couldn't help but call out to myself, but...
"…What’s the matter, my Great Saint?" (Sirius)
——I felt like Sirius was calling me back gently.
Author's Note
Thank you for always reading!
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