Chapter 51: Come on, tell me what you like to do, Your Highness!

"Your Highness! " Rishe yelped. "Isn't carrying me around like this exhausting?"

"If you're worried about that, make it easier on me and stop struggling."

She'd been arguing for her release, but now she'd gone and made it harder to complain. At a complete loss, Rishe noticed something even more outrageous.

Huh?!

All this time, she'd been holding on to the lapel of Arnold's jacket. She must have grabbed it automatically when he picked her up and had been squeezing it ever since.

Should I let go? I should let go, right? But what do I do with my hand after that?

Her head was spinning, but Arnold spoke to her, completely unaware of her consternation. "Come to think of it, what did you want to ask me?"

Rishe looked up at him, not expecting the question.

"Before the duel, you said you wanted to ask me something if you won."

"You want to talk about this now?"

"Heh."

He's laughing!

Arnold had noticed her distress, and he was clearly enjoying it. But he was also helping her when she couldn't move on her own. She didn't have strong grounds for an objection.

Eventually, Rishe changed tack and outright bombarded Arnold with questions instead. "When is your birthday?!"

Puzzled, Arnold blinked a few times and answered, "The twenty-eighth day of the twelfth month."

"So you were born in winter! And what are your hobbies?"

"I don't really have any."

"Come on, tell me what you like to do, Your Highness! "

"I've never really thought about it."

"What sort of woman do you prefer, then?"

"Why do you care?"

Despite his willingness to answer, she barely squeezed any information out of him. He didn't dodge her questions, though. His responses seemed sincere.

I can't ask my real question out in public…especially not in this position!

Dwelling on her predicament once more, Rishe was reminded of just how uncomfortable she was. Even in the face of her renewed resistance, Arnold refused to put her down.

"L-Lady Rishe?!"

Rishe's attendant Elsie squeaked as they arrived at her room in the detached palace. Even the impassive Elsie gaped when she saw her mistress in Arnold's arms.

"Elsie!"

Her maid rushed over to her, and Rishe clung to Elsie as soon as her feet hit the floor.

Seeing Rishe's exhausted state, Arnold said, "Keep resting; don't push yourself before the feeling returns to your arms and legs."

I'm not feeling faint from the duel anymore! she thought, but she swallowed it down.

Declaring he had work to do, Arnold returned to the main palace.

As soon as he was out of sight, the knights—who normally never entered Rishe's room—ran mindlessly to her side.

"Are you all right, Lady Rishe?!"

"We're so sorry we weren't able to help you! There was nothing we could do! We were powerless on several fronts!"

"I-It's fine…" Rishe said. "I understand your position."

The two knights had at least warned observers off with fierce eyes and expressions on their way here.

She appreciated that.

"Still," One of them added, "you're not hurt, are you? Uh, not from that—from training with His Highness."

"Don't worry, I'm perfectly fine."

Just as Arnold promised, he hadn't let any harm come to Rishe. Another aspect of his superior skills.

"I'm glad to hear it," One knight told her. "We were awfully surprised to hear Prince Arnold planned to give you his special training, Lady Rishe."

"That was the safest of his special training methods." Said the other.

Then today's match was just one of several drills, like I thought.

Arnold had more strategies up his sleeve. Her suspicions confirmed, Rishe closed her eyes.

Well, I don't need to attend the maids' training every morning anymore. My field isn't quite stable yet, but it only needs a couple of checks a day. My dealings with the Aria Trading Company are waiting on Mr. Tully. I have plenty of other preparations, but once I get started on those I won't have time for anything else. If I want to do this, now's the time.

Renewing her determination, she looked at her maid. "I'm sorry if I gave you a shock, Elsie. Has my order arrived from the Aria Trading Company?"

"Yes, Lady Rishe. It's right here."

Elsie gestured toward a crate in the corner of the room.

I'll have to act fast. Thankfully, that duel has scraped off some of the rust.

Rishe clenched her fists.

Time to get started on the stamina-building section of my plan for a long and cushy life!

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