♔亞緣腐宅窩♔

【Main Route Garden Gacha】

Giles

◆Prelude to Love◆
《Fever》

Giles galloped his horse through the pouring rain.

（What was I thinking?）

He thought about what had happened before he left the palace.

*****
Leo "It's pretty safe to say that this was intended to be a gift to you, from Jily.
Leo "I ran into her a little while ago. She had this, and she looked about to burst into tears.
Leo "So—what exactly did you say that would make her cry like that?"
*****

He already regretted letting her go to the Duke's mansion without him.
He ignored the rain that soaked him through, and spurred the horse after her.

（She must have overheard us talking in the King's chamber.）

He and the king had been discussing his reason for choosing Jily as the princess.

（I was talking about her compatibility with the duke, but—）

Somehow the more he thought about it, the sicker he felt in his heart.
Before long, he spied the hazy outline of people through the rain ahead.

（That's weird, they should already be there by now.）

But as he approached, Nico called out to him, his voice panicked.
Nico "Sir Giles! The princess, she's—!"
Nico was quick to explain, his face drawn and pale.
As soon as he understood the situation, Giles spurred his horse forward again.
Jily "Giles!"
Jily's voice cut through the downpour of rain.

（Oh, Princess.）

After hearing what had happened, Giles had entered the forest in search of Jily.
But a man with a sword now stood between them, and he could not simply run to her side and make sure she was okay.

（If he does anything to her—）

Giles scowled as he stepped forward, and the man began to tremble.
Outlaw "Don't move! Stay where you are!"
Giles "Is it money you're after?
Giles "If that's the case, it might be wiser for you to run."
He could see Jily out of the corner of his eye—she was soaking wet, her expression anxious.

（I need to do something before he notices her.）

Giles continued to speak in a cool tone, trying to keep the man focused on him.
Giles "Although considering the situation, execution seems a more likely fate."
The sword in the man's hand glinted dully as it moved towards him.
But Giles showed no emotion at all, his expression remaining calm.
He knew the man carried a sword for no other reason than to protect his own skin—he had no real beliefs, no conviction.
And that was why he knew the man would run.
Outlaw "…dammit!"
At last the man gave a final frustrated growl and ran away.
Giles immediately hurried over to where Jily stood.
Giles "You should have remained inside the carriage and waited for help."

（I should have been here to protect you.）

Without thinking, he pulled her roughly into his embrace.
Jily "I-I'm so sorry, Giles."
Giles's expression softened at her quiet words.
He gazed down at her drawn face and her lowered eyes.

（I may have been a little too emotional in my scolding.）

Giles "Well, you know now for next time."
He reached out and gently touched Jily's hair.
Giles "You're completely soaked."

（If only I'd been here with her, she wouldn't be drenched with rain and shivering.
（If only I was always with her—）

As they spoke, a sudden peal of thunder seemed to tear the very air in two.
Jily "Ah!!"
Jily jumped at the sound, and Giles put an arm around her shoulders.
Giles "Princess. Please forgive my boldness."
She stared at him in silent surprise as he lifted her onto his horse and sat behind her.
Giles "We're at the mercy of the elements if we stay here much longer. We need to get out of the forest."
Even as he spoke, he became aware of a strange heaviness in his body.
And although he should've been shivering from the chill of the rain, he was burning up.

（No, not now—）

It always seemed as if his own body chose to betray him when he most wanted to protect someone.
He smiled grimly to himself, and then realized Jily was staring at him.
Jily "Giles, you've got a fever!"
Her hand was pressed over his, and her voice was soft and startled.

（Oh, Princess.）

Giles "You always seem to notice the little things.
Giles "Please allow me to do this for you, at least.
Giles "It was my fault for upsetting you in the first place."

（But I never intended to hurt you like that.）

At last they arrived at Duke Howard's mansion.
Giles made sure Jily was taken care of first.
Once he was finally alone in the room, Giles reached out to steady himself against the wall.

（This is quite a fever.）

Giles "Ahh, you always return to torment me when I need it the least."
He felt ready to pass out, but he managed to pull himself together when Duke Howard entered the room.
However—
Louis "That was a surprise.
Louis "I'm surprised you’d risk your life like that."
Giles "I—"
Giles hesitated, his mind foggy as he considered the Duke's words.
But when he thought about it, he understood at once.

（Yes, that's what it was.）

Giles "Actually—you're right."
Giles gave a faint, wistful smile as he answered the Duke.

（How did I not notice it?
（I, of all people.
（I had no reason to go chasing after the princess just because I'd hurt her with what I said.
（Nor did I have to be the one to save the princess when she needed it.
（And yet—I did it all because I wanted to protect Jily.
（Not the 'princess', but Jily herself.）

Giles sighed softly.

（To think that I would want to protect someone like this.）

Giles "I'm a little surprised myself."

（I gave up hoping that I might feel this way a long, long time ago.）

And as he thought that, Giles slipped into unconsciousness.
Jily appeared to him in his dreams.

（If only I was always with her—
（She should never have had to suffer like that.）

In his dream, he reached out his arm, and grabbed her hand.
Jily "Ah!"
He could clearly feel someone's warmth, and he opened his eyes with a start.
Giles "Princess?"

（She's really here? So it wasn't a dream?）

Jily "D-Did I wake you, Giles? I was just—worried about your fever."
Giles sighed at her flustered words.

（She really has me. To see her in my dreams like that—）

Giles "I'm never myself when I'm with you, Princess."
Jily "Wh-What?"
He pulled a little harder on her arm, and her small body fell against him.
He wrapped her in a tight embrace, and gave a soft, feverish sigh.

（I never thought I would come to care about someone this much.
（I'm truly not myself any more.）

◆Love's Refrain◆
《Magnetism》

（I thought I'd long ago grown out of being envious of others.）

Giles watched the knights in front of him, so excited to have completed their knighting ceremony.

（And I wish I hadn't said what I did to Jily, either.）

*****
Giles "The knighting ceremony is different.
Giles "I once dreamed of being a knight myself."
*****

Giles didn't know why he'd told her that about himself.

（Back then, all I dreamed of was becoming a knight.）

Since then, he'd turned his back on all of it, and stifled everything he'd felt.

（So why am I—）

＊＊＊

As Giles climbed the spiraling stairs of the clock tower, he heard footsteps below him.
He stopped to listen, looking back over his shoulder.
He could hear the footsteps coming towards him.

（That sounds like it might be—）

He turned around, and peered back down the stairwell.
Giles "Princess."
Jily "Ah!"
Jily had stopped a short way below him, somewhat out of breath.
Giles "What are you doing here, and so late?"
But as he looked at her expression, he suddenly understood.

（She must be worried, after seeing me like that at the knighting ceremony.）

Giles descended the stairs, and gently took her hand.
She looked uneasy, but he gave her a soft smile.
Giles "Hold my hand and I will make sure you're safe."

（That's not it, though.）

He linked his fingers with hers, and gently squeezed them.

（That's not why I'm holding her hand.
（The real reason is because I don't want to be alone.）

It was a long climb.
But Giles led Jily to the top of the stairs.

＊＊＊

Once they reached the top, Giles watched her as she gazed silently at the town below them.
And he wondered why he had never understood before.

（I never knew that having someone to worry about you, and to stay close by your side
（could be so inspiring.）

Giles "Is there something you wanted to ask me?"
Jily "You told me yesterday that you're jealous of Alyn.
Jily "Is it because you wanted to be a knight, too?"
Giles could not find the words to respond to her question.

（I'm a coward, aren't I?）

Giles "I didn't really want to talk about this with you, because—
Giles "I was afraid that you would come to think less of me."

（I can't seem to help myself—I always come up with excuses.）

He fell silent again.

（And yet—）

Jily's gaze was almost too intent as she stared up at him.

（I can't lie to her when she looks at me like that.）

Besides, he understood now.

（I told Jily that I'd once dreamed of being a knight.
（I did that because I wanted her to know about my past.）

He began to speak quietly.
Giles "The truth is, I have always wanted to be like Alyn.
Giles "My parents also hoped that I would protect this country as one of its knights.
Giles "But unfortunately, that didn't work out."

（Back then, I lost everything.）

Giles "I was brought into the palace, and I have since worked hard to reach my current position.
Giles "And yet, you still noticed something and asked me about it.
Giles "That means I'm still not very good at what I do."
In other words, he had also failed as a tutor.
He was overwhelmed by the bitter taste of regret.

（And now here I am, showing her my weakness, and asking for her sympathy.
（All I ever do is cause her trouble.）

Giles gave a resigned sigh, but Jily's voice broke the stillness.
Jily "That's not true!"
Giles could not bring himself to meet her gaze directly.
Instead, he turned to look at the night sky.
Giles "That may be so, but in truth, there are times when I start to wonder.
Giles "Is the path I chose really the right one for me?
Giles "'Why am I doing what I'm doing?
Giles "Is this where I belong?"

（Where in this country do I truly belong?）

But then Jily spoke again.
Jily "I need you, Giles.
Jily "Not as a knight, or as a tutor. I need you—just as you are."

（But—）

His heart ached at her words, and for a moment he felt like he couldn't breathe.
Giles "Princess, you really are…"

（How is it that she knows just what I want to hear?）

He stared at her, unable to speak.

（All this time—）

He felt like he'd been waiting an eternity to hear those words.
They were words he would never hear from his family.
Yet Jily had said it all in a single sentence.
And with it, he felt as if she'd given him back everything he thought he'd lost.
Giles walked Jily back to her chamber.

＊＊＊

He watched as she climbed into bed, then gently reached out to touch her hair.
Jily raised her eyes, and Giles met her gaze.
All she did was look at him, yet her gaze set off a burning need inside him.

（If I stay much longer, I may end up changing the nature of our relationship.）

Giles "Good night."
Giles let go of her hand, and forced himself to turn towards the doorway.
But then Jily tugged gently on his sleeve, and he widened his eyes in surprise.
Giles "Jily?"
Jily "I-I'm sorry—it's nothing."
He watched as she pulled her hand away, her expression flustered, and in that moment he was no longer able to resist her.

（Princess—how do you do it?）

He caught hold of her hands, and gently pushed her down on the bed.
Jily "Giles?"

（Every single time, you just break casually into my heart and then turn it upside down.）

Jily gasped softly, her lips slightly parted as she stared up at him.
He kissed her deeply, capturing her voice with his lips.
Her moans were faint, her breath ragged, and her slender shoulders quivered beneath him.
He knew then that he was lost completely to her.

（I can't help it—I want to make her mine, and mine alone.）

Giles "It's your fault, Jily."
He looked down at her as she gazed up at him with wide eyes.
Giles "After what you said up there on the tower, and then to stop me leaving like that—
Giles "Are you going to take responsibility for the way you've confused my heart?"
His fingers found their way under her nightgown.

（You're the only one who understands me, and the only one whom I want to understand me.）

He slipped his arms around her waist, and placed a kiss against her bare skin.

（You're the only one who lets me be myself.
（Only you give me something to live for.）

◆Finale of Fervor - Sugar◆
《None Luckier》

Jily "I was sure of it, even then.
Jily "I believed in myself, and you, and the people of Wysteria—
Jily "With all my heart and soul."
Jily's smile was relaxed—she was clearly relieved to be back in the palace.
Giles could feel the tension ebbing out of him at her words.
He couldn't help but smile back at her.
Giles "You always seem to know what to say."
He thought back to when he'd first met Jily.

（There was nothing but problems in the beginning—even her table manners needed fixing.）

He reached out and gently took hold of her hand.

（Yet somewhere along the way, she has become capable of smiling with such resolve.
（And I would do anything—anything at all—to protect that smile.）

Giles "Jily."

（That's why I want to make a promise to her.）

He knelt down on one knee, and gazed up at Jily, who stared back at him in surprise.
Giles "All I want is to be by your side, my whole life long.
Giles "To be able to support you, and protect you.
Giles "Will you allow me that honor?"
Jily's voice quivered as she spoke.
Jily "Giles, are you saying—"
He placed a gentle kiss on the back of her hand, and smiled faintly up at her.
Giles "Yes. This is me proposing to you."

（I only hope that this is something you want as much as I do.）

Her cheeks flushed, and he heard her gasp softly.
A moment later, tears splashed down onto the back of her hand.
Jily "Oh, Giles!"
She threw herself into his arms, and he embraced her tightly, whispering softly in her ear.
Giles "I seem to have made you cry again."

（One moment she's smiling, the next she's crying.）

Giles "Please, let me see your face."
Jily "I-I can’t."
Giles tried to catch her gaze, but she buried her face in his shirt.
Giles "Why not?"
Jily "I don't want you to see me like this."
For a moment, he was lost for words.
But then he couldn't hold back his smile.

（When she says adorable things like that—）

Giles "Sometimes you are so sweetly naïve."

（I just want to make her say them more.）

Giles "But I must insist."

（I want her to show me the sides of her that she'll never show anyone else.）

Giles "If you keep this up, I can't even kiss you.
Giles "And you haven't answered my proposal, either."
He narrowed his eyes, and tilted his head to one side.
Giles "Unless there's someone else you've given your heart to?"
Jily was silent for a long moment, but at last she raised her tear-streaked gaze.
Jily "You know you're the only one for me, Giles."
His heart skipped a beat at her expression.

（You always mess with my head like this.）

Giles "I know."

（But I don't think I want to tell you that just yet.）

Giles kissed her softly, trying to capture the words she'd spoken.
Then he gently wipe her tears away with his fingers, and gave her a small smile.
Giles "Besides, I imagine there are few men besides me
Giles "who would take care of a princess who cries this much."

（What I really mean is, I don't want anyone but me to see this side of you.）

＊＊＊

Later that evening, Jily visited the king's chamber.
Giles waited patiently in the corridor, gazing up at the moon that shone in through the window.

（Come to think of it—）

He remembered when Jily had first come to the palace, and how she'd tried to sneak out without being noticed.

（I think it was a moonlit night just like this.）

As he turned his gaze back to the corridor—
Jily "Why are you—"
Jily stood before him, staring up at him in surprise.

（She's got that look again.）

Giles "You look like you're about to cry."
As soon as he spoke, Jily threw herself into his arms.
He gently stroked her hair.
Giles "Jily. Is there something you want to tell me?"

（Of course there is.）

It would be something that was important not only to the two of them, but to the country as a whole.
Jily let go of him, and then looked up at him.
Jily "Giles.
Jily "When I'm queen, will you stay by my side, forever and always?
Jily "Will you support me?
Jily "Will you let me be your queen?"
Her voice quavered with tears, but he adored her all the more for it.
Giles "I will."

（There is no-one but you.
（There is no-one else who would ever work so tirelessly for this country.
（And not only that.
（There is no-one else who I could ever love as much as this.）

Giles wrapped Jily tightly in his embrace again.
He closed his eyes, and whispered softly.
Giles "Jily, I will always do as you wish."

◆Finale of Fervor - Honey◆
《Forbidden Reunion》

The ballroom was lavishly decorated.
Giles could see Jily on the far side of the room.

（Oh, Jily.）

The moment he saw her, he wanted to rush over to her, but he held himself back.

（I shouldn't have come here.）

The longer he stayed, the more he wanted to hear her voice, and hold her in his arms.

（I thought it would be enough just to see her face, and know she was okay.）

But he knew he wouldn't be able to stop himself if he stayed here.
He took a deep breath, and turned away from the ballroom.

（I'm the one who turned my back on the palace—there's nowhere here for me now.）

He pushed the door open.
Then he stepped from the room without another backward glance.

＊＊＊

And yet—
He should've known, and yet—
Giles "What are you doing here, Princess?"

（I knew that if I touched her, I'd never want to let her go.）

He caught Jily in his arms as she stumbled on the stairs.
She stared up at him, and then buried her face in his chest.
Jily "I think that's—I should be the one asking that."
In spite of her tears, Jily clung to him with all her might.
Jily "Why, Giles?"
Giles "I—"

（It's my fault she's crying.）

Lost for words, he gently stroked her hair while he searched for his voice.
Giles "I heard that a ball was being held tonight where you would choose your partner.
Giles "And I just—couldn't stand it."

（And that's the truth.）

Even now he could not forget the grief and loss he'd felt when he'd heard the news.
Giles "But when I came here, I only meant to—
Giles "I just wanted to look at you, just once, nothing more."
Jily "That’s—that was selfish, Giles."
Giles smiled faintly at her words.

（She's completely right.）

Jily "You're the only one that's ever mattered to me!
Jily "How long were you going to make me wait for you?"
Giles "Jily—"
Again, she was right.

（I can't lie.
（I never wanted you to forget about me.
（I know I'm stubborn, and I know it's pathetic.
（But it's still the truth.
（More than anything, I wanted you to remember me, and wait for me.
（I'm overflowing with feelings I don't even understand.）

He dropped his gaze to the floor, and then gave a small sigh.
Giles "Did you know you're barefoot?
Giles "If you don't let go, I can't put your shoes on for you."
He knew if he continued to hold her, he'd never be able to let go of her again.
But Jily raised her head and spoke firmly.
Jily "I don’t care.
Jily "We've been apart for too long.
Jily "Please, I just want you to hold me."
Giles couldn't find his voice.

（I wish she wouldn't ask me like that.
（I can't refuse her any longer.）

He wrapped his arms tightly around her, and pulled her close to him.

（I wish I could hold you forever.）

They stayed like that for a long time, just holding each other.
But at last he gently let her go again, and wiped the tears from her eyes.
Giles "Jily."
He kissed her softly, and she sighed sweetly against his lips.

（At last I finally understand how much I've wanted to touch you, all this time.）

Their lips parted, and he gave her a faint smile.

（I'm not confused any more. I've made up my mind.）

Giles "I truly am a bad man,
Giles "making you cry like this."
Jily "What?"
Giles "It is forbidden for the princess and her tutor to fall in love.
Giles "And yet, I firmly believe—
Giles "That I love you more than anyone else in this place."

（This is what I've been waiting for, all this time.
（A moment when I could share my heart with you, like this.）

Giles "Jily—
Giles "Will you let me steal you away from the others?"
Jily blinked up at him for a moment.
Jily "You mean—"
Giles smiled as broadly as he could.
Giles "I want to be the one you choose."

（At last, I've told her.）

Jily stared up at him in silence, seeming lost for words, and he offered her his hand.
Her fingers twined with his, and he could feel them trembling, just a little.
Giles "Then let us go, Princess."

＊＊＊

Nobleman "Hey, look! Isn't that—?"
The ballroom erupted in noisy whispers as Giles and Jily entered together.
Giles "Princess.
Giles "May I have this dance?"
Jily blushed as she nodded slightly, but she smiled happily as she took his hand.
Jily "Of course."

（This is all I wanted.
（For her to chose me, not as her tutor, but as a man. As Giles.
（This is my dream come true.）

Jily lifted the skirts of her dress a little, and they began to dance.
They were so close that he could feel her breath on his cheek, and his own breath caught in his throat.
He remembered her on the day he'd chosen her as the princess—standing in the garden, searching for something.

（But that day, I was searching for you.
（And tonight, you've finally found me.）

Perhaps it had all been fated to be, after all.
In that moment, he was so happy that it made perfect sense to him.
Jily "Giles?"
Jily's voice was soft.
Giles "Yes, Princess?"
Jily "Am I doing the dance right?"
Giles could barely stop himself from grinning.

（You're always so sweet and earnest, and it just makes me want to tease you more.）

He gave her a small, mischievous smile.
Giles "We may need to practice a little more.
Giles "So let's see—tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that—
Giles "Be sure to schedule plenty of dance lessons with me, Princess."

（I want to be by your side forever more, watching over you.）

Jily "I can do that!"
Jily nodded firmly, and Giles smiled gently at her.

（I will never let go of you, ever again.）

◆Finale of Fervor - Secret◆
《Knight for a Night》

Jily smiled sweetly at him through the mirror.
Jily "Thank you, Giles."
Giles "Not at all."

（It's strange.）

Giles finished brushing Jily's hair, and placed her hairbrush on the dressing table.
Then he extended his hand to her.
The announcement ceremony was behind them now, and yet—

（I never imagined that my feelings for Jily would become even stronger.
（But every time I see her face, or hear her voice,
（I find myself loving her even more.）

As Jily placed her hand in his, Giles pulled her gently towards him.
Before she had time to react, he placed a soft kiss on her lips.
Jily "Wait—Giles—"
Jily gasped softly each time their lips parted for a moment.
Jily "What's wrong?"

（Really, Princess.）

Jily's cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were half-lidded as she gazed up at him.
He gave her a faint smile.

（An expression like that is hardly going to persuade me to stop.）

Giles "Don't you like my kisses?"
He peered down at her as he spoke.
But she frowned a little as she met his gaze.

（Oh? What's wrong?）

Jily "Not right now.
Jily "I mean—my lipstick will come off."

（Oh, is that all?）

Giles slid an arm around her slender waist, and raised her chin with his free hand.
Giles "In that case, I will reapply it for you afterwards."
He stopped just shy of her lips, and spoke huskily.
Giles "Would that be alright with you, Princess?"
Jily "Oh, Giles."
Her voice came out as a resigned sigh, but she didn't seem to be saying yes or no.
Giles took his chance, and pressed his lips against hers before she could speak again.
When he'd finally finished helping Jily get ready, they walked down the corridor together.
Before long, he realized that Jily was gazing up at him.
Giles "What's wrong, Jily?"
Jily "Nothing, it's just—"

（Just what?）

Jily gazed up at him for a moment longer, and then reached towards him.
Giles froze at the unexpected movement.
Then her fingers gently touched his mouth, sliding slowly along his lower lip.
His heart pounded at the soft touch, and for a moment he was speechless.
Jily "You had lipstick on you."
She gave him a shy smile, and Giles found himself smiling back at her.

（So this is what I'm like when she surprises me.）

He felt unexpectedly shaken, and he tried to cover it up by moving his face towards Jily's.
But she turned her face away from him.
Jily "I told you, my lipstick will come off."

（It's rather nice to have her mess with me for a change.）

He moved his lips towards her ears, and whispered sweetly.
Giles "So as long as I don't kiss you on the lips, it's okay then?"
He pressed his lips softly against the nape of her neck.
Jily "G-Giles!"
He slid his arm around her shoulders, which quivered under his touch.

（But I guess I prefer messing with her, after all.）

At last they reached the dining hall and sat down, and a moment later the doors opened again behind them.
Leo "Good morning, Jily."
Leo entered the dining hall, and picked up a napkin from the table, and unfolded it.
Then he placed it on Jily's lap, as if it were only natural for him to do so.
Leo "You look great today. Is that the new dress your dressmaker made the other day?"
Jily "I'm impressed you remembered."
Leo "I always remember when it comes to you."
Leo was too close, and his manner too friendly, and Giles narrowed his eyes.

（He really is something.）

Giles "Leo."
Leo "What is it, Mr. Prince Consort?"
Giles "Did you come here to tell the princess something in particular?"
Leo "Well, yes."
Giles "Then how about you conclude your business promptly, as a good tutor should?"
Leo smiled wryly at Giles's words, and muttered to himself.
Leo "You're completely devoted to her, aren’t you, Giles?"
Jily "So Alyn and his troops are being dispatched?"
Leo "Yeah. I just thought we should be careful."
According to Leo, Alyn and a troop of his knights would be accompanying some dignitaries on official business.
They were expected to be away from the palace for several days.
Leo "But you don't have anything scheduled outside the palace in the meantime.
Leo "And it seemed urgent, so I asked Alyn if he could do it."
Jily "That's fine."
Leo "Of course, the other knights will increase security around the palace while they're gone.
Leo "But be careful just in case, okay? In particular—"
Leo turned to look at Giles.
Leo "I think the person you need to be most careful of is sitting right next to you, looking all innocent."
Giles "I have no idea what you're trying to say, Leo."
Giles gave Leo a broad smile.

（As far as I'm concerned, you're the one I need to be most careful of.）

Leo "Oh, that reminds me."
Leo removed a letter from his pocket, and passed it to Jily.
Leo "This came for you."
Jily "For me?"
Leo "Yep. The return address is somewhere in the town."
Jily opened the envelope, and scanned the contents of the letter.
She said nothing, but for a moment her face clouded just a little.
The frown was quickly gone, but Giles didn't miss it.

（What is it, Jily?）

She didn't mention it further, but he didn't forget.
Later that night...

（Just as I thought.）

Giles heard soft footsteps exiting Jily's room, and he held out his hand to her.
Jily "Ah! Giles!"
He sighed softly at her startled expression, and the letter she held in her hand.
Giles "Where are you going so late at night?"
Jily "I—"
Jily hesitated, chewing her lower lip, and Giles gazed down at her.

（I'm assuming to see the sender of that letter.）

She was doing the same thing she'd done when she first came to the palace, and it still surprised him.

（But this is a part of who she is.
（And I adore every part of her.）

He gently took her hand.
Jily "Giles?"
Giles "If you tell me the truth, I will go with you."
Jily "Really?"
He smiled gently at her surprise.
Giles "I'm not your tutor any more, Princess."
A single horse rode through the quiet forest, illuminated only by moonlight.
Giles "I see. And you want to see her one last time?"
Jily "Yes."
The sender of the letter was Jily's former pupil.
Apparently, she would soon be moving to a distant town.
So Jily had decided to sneak out of the palace again to see her once more before she left.

（Why am I not surprised?）

He couldn't stop himself from smiling.
Giles "You should have asked me about it to begin with."

（Although—）

Jily "I'm sorry."

（I know how over-protective I am.
（Would I have let her go so easily?）

All at once he noticed something, and he glanced behind them, moving casually so as not to alert Jily.

（I have a bad feeling about this.）

They reached the home of her former pupil, and Giles dismounted from the horse.
He reached his hands up to where Jily sat in the saddle.
Giles "If you will, Princess."
He helped her down from the horse, and gently untangled her messy hair.
Giles "I'll wait for you here."
Jily looked up at him.
Jily "But you can't stay here by yourself—"
Giles "I'll be fine. There's a small matter I need to attend to."
Jily "At this hour?"
Giles "Yes."

（It's a somewhat bothersome matter, but—）

Giles left Jily at the house, and entered the back streets, where he spied a dark figure.

（So, Leo's information can actually be useful sometimes.）

Leo "And it seemed urgent, so I asked Alyn if he could do it.
Leo "Of course, the other knights will increase security around the palace while they're gone. But be careful just in case, okay?"
Giles "So you followed us from the palace?"
At Giles's words, there was an exasperated sigh.
Robber "So you noticed us, huh?"
The group of men who emerged from the shadows of the building were clearly street thugs.
One of them snorted as he stared at Giles.
Robber "Well, we heard in the tavern that the strongest knights have left the palace for a few days.
Robber "There we were, figuring out how we could get in, and then you two came riding on out."
The man unsheathed a sharp sword.
Giles gazed silently at the blade.
Robber "Now give us all your valuables.
Robber "If you don't, well—"
The man suddenly gave him a vulgar smile.
Robber "We don't mind taking that girl you were with instead."
Giles narrowed his eyes at the mention of Jily.
Robber "That'd work. She's gotta be some royal's daughter or something, right?
Robber "She was a nice piece. She'd be worth a lot of money."
Giles moved his hand to his waist.

（I only brought it just in case, but apparently it was the right idea.）

He quietly unsheathed his sword.
The men began to laugh loudly.
Robber "Do you realize how many of us there are?
Robber "You're no tough guy—what're you gonna do?
Robber "What, you think you're some kind of wannabe knight?"
Giles raised his eyebrows at their words.

（Very well, then.）

Giles "That's not a bad idea."
Giles prepared his blade as the man's sword thrust towards him.

（Just for tonight, I shall be Jily's knight.）

＊＊＊

Giles could see Jily standing in the distance.
She raised her head at his footsteps, and hurried towards him.
Jily "Giles, where were you?"
Giles "I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Jily."
Jily gazed up at him, her eyes wide and serious.

（What's she thinking?）

He stood there, silent, saying nothing more.
Jily "Oh, Giles."
She sighed as if with resignation, and slid her arms tightly around his waist.
Giles "What is it, Jily?"
Jily pressed her face against his chest, and her voice was muffled as she spoke.
Jily "Just--
Jily "Don't push yourself too hard, okay?"
Giles widened his eyes slightly.

（She doesn't know, does she?）

But either way, he knew one thing for sure.

（All I've done is worry her again.）

He returned Jily's embrace, holding her gently against him.
They took care to avoid being seen as they returned to the palace, and made their way back to his room.
Jily "Thank you, Giles.
Jily "I'm so glad I got to see her one last time."
Giles "You're most welcome."
Her smile was sweet and innocent, and he gazed down at her.

（I can't help but want to tease her.）

Giles "Now, Princess."
Jily "Yes?"
Giles "What payment will you give me to keep quiet about all this?"
Jily "What?"
He took her hand in his, and wrapped his other arm around her.
Then he pulled her down onto the bed with him, their limbs tangled together.
Jily "Giles—"
As she spoke his name he caught hold of her shoulders and kissed her deeply.
Jily writhed in his arms, and her voice was breathy as she spoke.
Jily "What do you mean, keep quiet—"

（When she uses that breathy voice of hers I just want to tease her even more.）

Giles "The fact is, the princess sneaked out of the palace with her prince consort in tow.
Giles "You wouldn't want the palace officials to hear about it, would you?"
Jily "B-But, you—"
He could see the faint mark that he'd left on Jily's neck that morning.
He leaned close and placed a gently kiss atop it.
Jily "But if I don't get back to my room before morning, Leo will get mad again—"
He gently slid her dress off her shoulders and began to kiss her bare skin.
Her body moved against him, but she bit her lip gently, holding back her soft moans.

（Don't say things like that, Princess.
（You just make me want to keep you here even longer.）

Giles "Never mind Leo. There's only one person who should be 'disciplining' you.
Giles "And that's me."

＊＊＊

Giles woke with a start in the middle of the night.
Jily slept peacefully beside him, the sound of her breathing soft and even.

（The moon is bright tonight.）

He gazed at the shadows that fell across the bed, when he noticed something odd.

（What's this?）

Jily's handkerchief was bound tightly around his arm.

（And here I thought I'd kept it hidden.）

Yet she'd applied a bandage to the wound he'd received during his fight.

（She saw straight through me, didn't she?）

Giles smiled faintly as he gazed down at her.
Jily "Just—
Jily "Don't push yourself too hard, okay?"

（When you ask me like that, I can't deny you.）

Giles ran his fingers gently through Jily's hair.

（So tonight is the last time I will be your knight, Jily.
（But please—）

He placed a soft kiss against her forehead.

（At least let me stay by your side, and protect you as you sleep.）