"I'm so sorry!!" I sweatdrop as Elizabeth bowed at me, completelye flustered.
"N-no need...." I said while rubbing the back of my head. "I'm....glad I could help...."
"Still.....I should've not caused any trouble...." I sigh, unable to believe she said such things.
"You're not." I said firmly. "Not to worry.....and eat the fish...."
"R-right...." Elizabeth blushes before taking a bite from the roasted fish. Her eyes widen before she beamed. Eric did the same thing, but he is much more composed.
Is the food really that good? It was just roasted fishes with some healing herbs. I took a bite, and it didn't taste as amazing as they made it look. I wonder, if this fish is enough to get them react that way, what happen if I actually marinate properly.
"Hey, sir Eric." I look at Elizabeth calling her bodyguard out, while still chewing her food.
"Don't talk while chewing, milady." Elizabeth simply rolled her eyes and I can't help but sweatdrop at her attitude. She isn't like most NPC nobles, that's for sure.
"I would like to continue the journey." Of all the things I expect, that is not one of them.
"Miss.....I suggest we go back...." Eric said in serious tone. Aaannd that's my cue to leave....
"No, we're not." Elizabeth stated defiantly, much to my surprise.
"Milady, please, see reasons." Eric pleads. "You now have bounty on your head! You will mot be saved if we continue this journey!"
"So, we let them win!? We need to find whoever responsible for this and stop this madness!" Elizabeth stated her reason. Dear gods, why do I have an enhanced hearing!?
"Vengeance isn't the way, Milady." Eric said while shaking his head.
"You have no right to say those when you cuts off that bandit's head!" Elizabeth, why do you have to go for that!?? Eric flinches before looking away.
"....it's the reason why I said that. It was a shameless action...." Eric said before looking back at Elizabeth. "I would rather die than letting a noble to do such shameless things."
".....I can't...." Elizabeth mutters. "I can't let them go unpunished...those knights.....they have such bright futures.....and those monsters...they took it away....all because of me!" She shouted as tears flowing from her eyes.
"It's not your fault, milady." Eric stated.
"But, I was the target! They want to get me! If they weren't stopped, then how many people close to me will die!?" Elizabeth stated, making Eric stammers. "They will continue to hunt me down, using every underhanded tactics like what they did before! Do you think they will stop!?"
"...." Eric has no argument there. Elizabeth sits back down and eats her fish quietly.
"...if things go south, then we'll go back." Elizabeth perked up as Eric sigh. "I'll stay by your side, milady, as your guardian knight."
".....I'm sorry..." Elizabeth mutters. I awkwardly eating my fish without making voices, trying not to interrupt them at all. "And sorry too, Sir Darren."
"....what for?" I asked in confusion.
"For comparing you and your kinds with those.....beings." Elizabeth squint in disgust. I gawked before snorting and laughing. "W-why are you laughing!?"
"You're being silly....no need to apologize
.." I said as Elizabeth smiled sadly.
"You're.....very humane for a monster." Elizabeth points out.
"A lot of monsters.....point that out." I said as Elizabeth simply nodded.
"Thanks....for letting us stay in your camp....and sorry for my yesterday' squestions." Elizabeth said while scratching her cheeks.
"No worries..." I said before putting the stick and fish bones into the campfire. They did the same.
"Are you.....planning to go somewhere?" Elizabeth asked.
"...around...." I said while placing my fishing rod back into my makeshift bag.
"If you're not mind...I would like for you to come with us." I widen my eyes in surprise as Eric choked.
"M-milady!" Eric stammered.
"Why...?" I asked in confusion. "I....don't think I can.....help you with.....your mission."
"I didn't ask you to help.....I invite you to join us on our adventure." Elizabeth said.
"But....your missions." I points out as Elizabeth.
"Yes, but our missions can't be complete in one day. Our journeys will filled with a lot of unpredictable things, and since my carriage is destroyed, it'll take longer journeys." Elizabeth stated. "Not to mention, if we go to our destination as fast as possible, we only end up tire ourselves and made us an easy target."
".....but why me?" I asked.
".....You help me despite I'm being a stranger. You could kill us anytime, but you stay up all night while keeping us safe." I look at her as she holds my paws. "You got chances to kill us anytime, but you didn't. You're trustworthy."
I guess despite being a genius, she still have childlike innocence. Then again, I have zero plans to make an enemy out of them.
"And...." My ears twitches as I heard her mutters. "I...would like to have a friend.....if you're okay...."
Of all things she said, I wasn't expect this at all. It's.....weird. My experiences with friendship isn't the greatest, as everyone that I knows are merely classmates and gaming friends.
I was never good at socializing and every attempt of me making friends always makes everything awkward. I never have bad relations with my classmates, but I was so awkward that I never go past beyond classmates.
I always envy those people who can socializing with everyone and always wishes that someone would try to approach me and call me their friends. Now.....I finally get one.
But.....will I be able to be friends with her? Will I not fuck it up? Will I be able to.....?
I guess.....there's no other way to find out.....It's my new life.....I'll at least try. And, I'm tired of being alone for almost most of my life.
"....very well." I said as Elizabeth perks up and smile widely.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Elizabeth said excitedly. "Oh, and since we're friends now, call me Liza!"
"....very well, Liza." I said as Elizabeth cheered.
"Sir Eric, you should take a page from Sir Darren! He calls me Liza!" I can't help but snort as Eric facepalm at her words.
I could get use to this.
To be continued