A/N: alright since you guys gave five stones i will give one chapter extra here👇
Also do comment about the new coverđź“”
Enjoy 🎉
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[You remember that the time you agreed with Artorius was noon, not now.]
[Logically, he shouldn't be here now.]
[This early wait made you realize he cared about this meeting.]
[But you didn't believe this conclusion immediately, but observed in secret for a while.]
Artorius was standing at the door of the inn waiting.
From the outside, he should have washed up specially, and put on a set of clothes that looked much better than yesterday.
He had a small cloth bag tied to his waist, full of the gold coins he had sold apples for.
Artorius's hair was tied into a small ball at the back of his head, making him look very energetic.
To be honest, if he hadn't touched it himself, Ian was sure he would have mistaken him for a little girl from a village.
After all, Artorius's appearance was too delicate.
Although he was waiting anxiously, Artorius didn't show any impatience.
On the contrary, he seemed to be in a good mood.
Occasionally, a few children passed by and called him sister ignorantly, and he just touched their heads and smiled.
[You observed in secret for half an hour, confirming that Artorius was indeed not doing anything wrong.]
[You walked out of the shadows as if nothing had happened.]
[As soon as you met, you expressed praise for Artorius's early arrival.]
"Artorius, you're really early."
Ian walked up to him.
"I remember we agreed on noon, and you're already waiting here."
"Because it's downstairs from the residence." Artorius explained, "It's impossible for you, who are further away, to arrive first, and me, who are closer, to arrive later."
"That's too rude."
"Besides—"
Artorius smiled slightly at Ian in front of him, like a white flower blooming in the field.
"Mr. Ian, didn't you come here early too?"
When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you.
Ian really had nothing to say about Artorius's reason.
"Well, at least for now, we seem to be the same kind of people."
"However, is it not good to eat at this time? Although I know you can eat for a long time, it would be a bit of a torture for me to watch you eat all day."
Ian didn't intend to let Artorius pay.
After all, if calculated according to yesterday's appetite, the gold coins he got from selling apples were not enough.
Hit in the sore spot, Artorius's face turned red.
He began to defend himself:
"That's not true, I... I didn't intend to let Mr. Ian eat with me all day."
"I think..."
Looking at Artorius's hesitant look, Ian crossed his arms, looking very generous.
"There's no need to hide it, just say what you want."
"I've come here as agreed, you don't think I'll mind anything, do you?"
"Then—"
Artorius looked around.
Everything seemed quite new to him.
"Mr. Ian, can I trouble you to take me around the city?"
"..."
Ian's silence made Artorius nervous.
"Is... is it very difficult? If so, please allow me to apologize for my rudeness."
"It's far from being a hardship."
Ian reached out and rubbed Artorius's head.
"Rather, I didn't expect you to make such a simple request."
"You could have said it earlier, couldn't you?"
"This—"
Artorius's eyes flashed with gratitude.
"Well, then I'll trouble you!"
[According to Artorius's request, you took him for a walk in the city.]
[Because his face was too delicate, and today's dress was unisex.]
[Soon someone noticed you and him.]
[The royal capital, which is far from the front line, lacks some interesting topics, and you and Artorius quickly became the focus of attention.]
"My God, has the knight who has been serving the princess diligently finally walking together with someone?"
"Who is this person? So many girls want to chat with Captain Ian alone, but he ignored them, and he's willing to talk to this one?"
"Who knows? But Captain Ian is really not old. It feels like there's no sense of disharmony even if they walk together."
More and more strange discussions.
Artorius's expression became uneasy—he probably didn't expect that his simple request would cause such a strong discussion.
He began to realize that the knight beside him who touched his head was more respected than he imagined.
Ian's reaction was just the opposite.
He first reassured Artorius calmly: "It's okay, don't take it seriously."
Then, under his gaze, he pulled out the long sword from his waist and raised it to the sky.
The light of the sun shone on the long sword, reflecting a pure highlight on the silver-white blade.
Anyone with a normal mind knows what Ian's sword-drawing action symbolizes—"If anyone says such boring things from now on, don't blame me for doing it on the spot."
The street suddenly quieted down.
Everyone knew that Ian was a good person, but a good person is very terrifying once he breaks out.
No one dared to test where Ian's bottom line was.
In this temporary peace, Ian said to Artorius beside him:
"Let's go, they dare not say more."
"Well... okay."
[You don't know why you did it.]
[You just felt that you should draw your sword like a knight, so you really did.]
[But in terms of results, you feel it doesn't seem too bad.]
[You took Artorius for a long walk.]
[Although he invited you on the surface, you were the one who actually paid in the end.]
[Artorius was holding more and more things.]
[The way he looked at you had also changed slightly.]
"How is it?"
Ian, who was walking in front, turned his head and looked at Artorius, who was following behind him.
"Is there anything else you want?"
"No nothing more!" Artorius quickly shook his head.
His hands were already full of things Ian had bought.
"Mr. Ian, this is too much!"
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't cost much money." Ian replied casually.
"It's you, do you have anything else you want to do?"
"Things to do—?"
Artorius looked at the city wall not far away.
Although the times have changed, it still guards the royal capital in the most simple way.
"Mr. Ian."
"If possible, can you let me go up there and have a look?"