The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies

144 – Things I Like, Things I Came to Like (01)

145.

“Hmm… good. Good.”

A short word that echoed.

The craftsman, who hadn’t said a word while focusing on the painting, finally straightened his bent back and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Seeing his hands tremble, it seemed that holding up his hands to paint for a long time had been quite a burden.

“Master. Lady. You have worked hard. The painting is complete.”

“Then may we get up now?”

“Yes. Thank you for enduring the discomfort.”

And it seemed that Kalen was not much different.

Kalen’s arms had also been supporting Daphnis for hours, so it was almost surprising that his trembling was less than the old man’s.

As Daphnis hurriedly came down from above, Kalen slowly moved his body.

Crack.

Having been in the same position for hours, Kalen’s body made a sound as his muscles relaxed.

“…Are you okay? Kalen?”

“Yes.”

“…”

As Daphnis worried about him, the old man approached carefully holding the completed painting.

A canvas so large that one had to stretch out their arms wide.

On it, the beautiful images of Kalen and Daphnis were drawn.

“Wow…”

Daphnis purely admired it.

Because the painting was much more beautiful than she had imagined.

Kalen, sitting upright facing forward.

Daphnis, comfortably asleep in Kalen’s arms.

The boy, gazing tenderly at her with his eyes closed, had his mouth covered with soft pink hair.

Daphnis liked the painting.

She liked it so much that she almost started to cry.

She realized her feelings for Kalen.

Seeing such a painting in that state… it was hard to hold back any longer.

Daphnis held the painting preciously and looked earnestly at Kalen.

“Kalen…”

“Yes.”

“This painting… I want to have it…”

She couldn’t give it to anyone else.

She didn’t even want to show the painting to anyone other than Kalen.

She was thinking of giving up if Kalen said no.

But Kalen nodded as if to say she could do as she pleased.

“Oh…! Really…?”

“…I intended to give it to you from the beginning.”

“Kalen, to me…”

Kalen, who couldn’t take it with him anyway.

If she took the painting, which depicted such a scene, to the Dranus family with another lady…

Kalen, shaking off the thought that was hard to imagine, looked at Daphnis, who seemed genuinely happy, and smiled.

“Thank you… Kalen… truly…”

The painting wasn’t dry, so she couldn’t hug it tightly.

But if the painting had been dry, Daphnis looked so happy that she would have hugged it tightly.

She looked happy, but for some reason, she was shedding tears.

Was giving her a painting as a gift a good choice?

Kallen, who decided to let her savor the happiness for a moment, handed the old man a gold coin.

“Thank you, master.”

“Giving this old man five gold coins, I should be the one thanking you. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to paint a satisfying picture.”

“You’re so good at painting, aren’t there people who buy your paintings?”

“Now, there are much fewer. It’s much more beneficial to save money for learning magic than to buy paintings.”

“…Is that so.”

It’s a sad story.

Magic doesn’t only have advantages.

In places like this, there are people who are not so fond of magic.

Kallen didn’t try to console him awkwardly.

The old man, who smiled as if he appreciated the consideration, spoke to Daphnis.

“Lady, it will take about two to three days for the painting to dry completely. If you lay it flat, the paint won’t run.”

“Yes, master.”

“I’m glad you seem to like the painting.”

“…I really like it. Thank you.”

There were no more words exchanged.

The old man had painted the picture.

Kallen and Daphnis, who had paid the price, had no reason to stay in the workshop any longer.

A heartfelt gratitude.

That was enough.

*

If you crumple an undried painting, it will be ruined.

But with the power of magical tools, carrying an undried painting is not difficult.

It’s a world where even those who are not fond of magic have to rely on its power.

Kallen and Daphnis, who had taken the painting rolled up by the old man with a magical tool, left the workshop.

The day had already darkened.

It was time to go back.

After all, the meeting time was late due to what happened yesterday.

It was too late to do anything else.

Even drawing had taken a considerable toll on her stamina, leaving no energy for anything more.

Yet, Daphnis did not lose her smile.

Originally, she was supposed to wake up from the dream in a week.

But now, she could continue to hold onto that dream.

Daphnis asked shyly with a smile.

“Kallen… thank you… I was really happy for the week…”

“I’m glad you were happy.”

“So, about that…”

Daphnis fidgeted with her hands clasped in front of her.

Her voice trembled as if she were nervous.

“Could you… tell me the reason…?”

“The reason?”

“Yes… the reason you suggested doing this on the last day…”

Daphnis had only realized that Kallen wanted to leave a drawing of each other.

She hadn’t understood the reason behind it.

Even now, that hasn’t changed.

So, she wanted to hear it directly from Kallen.

Why he chose drawing on the last day.

Kallen looked back at Daphnis and began to speak slowly.

“Do you remember when you asked me how it would feel if everything you’ve done so far was actually meaningless?”

“…Yes.”

“I wanted to let you know.”

That there is nothing meaningful in this world.

Even if that’s the case, what Daphnis has worked hard on until now is certainly meaningful.

Kallen didn’t know Daphnis’s past.

But Kallen understood the meaning from what Daphnis said.

A promise to definitely come.

He remembers the girl who came to meet him close to dawn, crying sorrowfully and apologizing.

There must be some connection.

So Kallen looked straight at Daphnis and continued speaking.

“Does that painting have any meaning?”

“…Yes. I will cherish it.”

“Then, did the process of completing that painting have no meaning at all?”

“…”

“All we did was sit quietly in chairs. We just sat there, waiting for the painting to be completed.”

The painting Kallen gifted became the most precious thing to Daphnis.

Then, did the process of completing that painting have no meaning at all?

Daphnis shook her head.

Because she understood Kallen’s words.

“Even though we did nothing, it had meaning. Because the painting was completed by waiting for that time.”

“…Yes… that’s right…”

“So, your time wasn’t meaningless. Thanks to that, we have the beautiful Daphnis we see now.”

“Huh…? Beautiful Daphnis…?”

“Do you still think it was meaningless?”

“…”

Surprised by the words “beautiful Daphnis,” Daphnis then shyly smiled and slowly shook her head.

Just as Kallen said.

If Kallen sees her as beautiful.

Then those times were not meaningless.

“No.”

“So smile. Didn’t you say you were happy?”

“…I’m happy.”

Instead of lowering her head, Daphnis looked at Kallen with a shy smile.

“Because I can be with you, I’m happy.”

“…”

“Sir.”

Then she took a moment to catch her breath.

With a bright smile, he continued speaking.

“I’ll make a wish now.”

“A wish…”

“I don’t want this to be the last time. Please keep meeting me from now on.”

“…”

The reward for winning the bet must be fulfilled.

“Understood.”

“…Th-thank you…”

Kallen nodded, and Daphnis, feeling embarrassed, turned his gaze away.

And so it was.

The last day of the week.

The first day they would meet from now on passed by.

*

“This… isn’t this supposed to be just for the face, Miss Selina?”

“No. A bad master who breaks promises must also receive body service.”

“…”

Dranus Mansion.

Inside Kallen’s room.

“Kal. Are you going to keep staying out overnight?”

“…Sorry.”

“And…! Even if I have to clean up after you, how could you do that to a marquis!”

Kallen, lying quietly surrounded by Sinat and Selina, closed his eyes.

Why does Sinat have to clean up after Kallen?

And what arrogant words are those about a marquis?

Kallen tilted his head as he received Selina’s evening service on his upper body.

“Just the family head lessons are tough enough! It’s annoying!”

Was that the problem?

Kallen opened his eyes and looked at Sinat, who sighed exaggeratedly.

“Ugh. How will Kal live without me… No, this won’t do. As punishment, you have to play with me more in the evening.”

“…”

“Got it?”

“…Got it.”

Hehe.

Talking with Sinat, Selina smiled gently.

“Master is like a child. I can’t take my eyes off you for even a moment. If I let you go for a second, you cause trouble… I guess I have to try harder.”

Kallen resigned himself, feeling Selina’s evening service encroach upon his upper body.

I have to go meet Eliana and Selassia too.

Just thinking about the aftermath was already giving him a headache.