"You're welcome! Just take it for granted. Anyway, let me get back to the main point… Why doesn't Iric attend the martial arts contest? I think you could win the awards with your excellent skills. Let me ask my father to prepare wonderful awards for the top winners."
Marianne leaned her head slightly and laughed. As her smile was so lovely, Iric also laughed.
If he extended his arms, he would barely touch her. But that was the closest possible distance between him and her where he could block someone wielding a sword or an incoming arrow. That distance was what he could hope for the most. That was his allowed space, where he could not run away, retreat from, or come close to her.
"I'm fine as long as I can protect my lady with this sword. I don't need anything else."