From Yuki's point of view...



　After defeating Princess Naylara's "Lord of the Lords"...
　I came to a town a short distance from the border.
　I was supposed to meet up with Iris in this town after we parted ways at the border.

　I thought I was in a hurry, but it's getting late.
　The sun has set and it's already nighttime.
　It's time for Iris to go to sleep.

　When I left the border, I said I was going to the capital to give an order.
　But I never went to King's Landing.

　I was worried about Iris and couldn't leave her alone.
　I couldn't leave her alone because I was worried about her and I couldn't leave her alone, and when I interrogated the prisoner, he was nearly in tears.

　Now that Iris is a princess, she's a lot calmer than she was in her previous life when she was the village girl Alice.
　Seeing her unsettled makes me uncomfortable.

　So I've decided to send a bat to King's Landing and just a note.
　I've addressed the letter to Odette. She would be able to match the story.

　After that, I came to the town, clad in the Black King's Horseman, close to the town.
　When I could just barely see the town's walls, I took off the Black King's Jacket and hid it with my storage spell.
　The bats sent out on a reconnaissance mission to make sure there was nothing wrong with the town.
　Then I decided to enter the town.




'Yuki-Grossaria, Your Highness's escort knight, Iris. I'm back.

　I turned to the soldiers guarding the quarters and told them.

''Unfortunately, we were unable to reach the King's Landing and could only send the letter through the messenger. Please forgive me.
Oh. Yuki-Glossaria-dono!

　A young soldier came running out of the building next to the quarters.
　It was Mr. Rosso-Burns' man.

'We were worried about you, sir. I'm glad to see you're safe!
'Sorry for the delay. Is everything okay at the border?
Our captain is here to protect you. It's no problem.
'I understand. Now, please report to Mr. Rosso-Burns. A messenger from the border has been found lying in the meadow by the side of the road. I carried the man myself to a nearby town, where he was protected by the town guard.
What?

　The soldier's eyes widen.
　I continue my report.

　That the messenger soldier that Rosso-Burns-san sent out was apparently attacked by more than a dozen knights.
　The messenger told me that the knights were heading for the royal capital.

　Of course I hid the fact that I was wearing the "Black King (Lord of)s Noir") and took them to a nearby town.
　I left it to the town's soldiers to deliver the message to King's Landing and returned to His Highness Iris.

　Just in case, I flew a bat to King's Landing to inform them of the situation.
　The addressee was my best friend and duchess Odette-Slay.
　I asked her to give information to the "Magic Guild"...

　That's all.
　Most of it is true.
　Except for the fact that I defeated the enemy's "Royal Horseman", I didn't lie.


''I didn't know such a thing was possible.

　The soldier bit his lip, grimly.

'Yes, sir. I'll let Captain Rosso-Burns know immediately.
Please.
''Also, this is a request from the captain, but his guard knight Yuki-sama has asked me to stay with His Highness Iris as soon as he returns. In order to reassure His Highness.
I see. Is something happening to His Highness?
'This is what the captain and his side maid told me...'

　Mr. Rosso-Burns' subordinate frowned.

''After speaking with the prisoners of the 'Sanctuary Church' it seems that Your Highness has not been able to sleep.
...What?
'Your Highness is still a young girl. Even though it is the role of the royal family, it is understandable that your heart will not be at ease if you exchange words with such a thing. Please let Yuki-dono put Your Highness at ease.
I understand.

　Then I was told the location of Iris' quarters.
　It seems that the group escorting her had rented out an inn in this town. It was arranged for me, too. Thank goodness.

　But Iris you can't sleep, can you?
　Well, it's good to have you back.

　He's my family, all right.
　And, unlike me, he is not immortal.
　Iris - I saw Alice's painful fever when she was suffering from the necropsy, but I don't want to feel that way again.......

　Thinking about this, I headed for Iris' room.




I'm sorry for the late hour. I'm sorry for the late hour, my knight escort Yuki-Grossaria. I have returned. I would like to ask His Highness Iris to take care of it.

　I said, standing in front of Iris's room.
　The caretaker maid shook her head.

'I'm sorry, Yuki-sama. His Highness Iris is already absent.
Okay.
It seems that Your Highness has not been sleeping well of late. He would never do anything to disturb his precious sleep.



Please wait.



　Suddenly, Iris's voice came from inside the room.

'So, Your Highness. I thought you were resting...?
Please allow Lady Yuki Glossalia to enter the room.
Shh, but. It's getting late. You must be tired from your travels, Your Highness. Your Highness needs to get some sleep.
"...I am here as a member of the royal family, sir.

　Quietly on the other side of the door, Iris said.
　It was an interesting and graceful voice.

You can't worry about time when talking about the importance of your country. My Yuki-sama - no, my guard knight Yuki-Grossaria has traveled a long distance and brought back valuable information. It is my duty as a princess to hear this.
...Your Highness. How splendid.

　The maid woman is shaking with emotion and bows her head deeply in front of the closed door.

''Yes, sir. If that's the case──please come in. Yuki-Grossaria-sama.
Thank you, sir.

　I move to the door.
　As the maid puts her hand on the door, I hear the voice again: "From here, we will discuss the importance of our country.

''From here on out, we will be discussing the importance of our country. I'm sorry, but if you are not Yuki-sama, please excuse yourself.
Yes, sir.
Well, then, Yuki-sama, please go ahead...

　Hearing Iris's words, the maid and the soldiers in the corridor who were waiting for the guards to leave.
　After confirming that, I entered Iris's room.





"──My Lord.
We'll talk later. Sleep first.

　I walked past Iris in her pajamas.
　I walked straight up to the bed and fixed the soggy sheets.
　Then I put the pillow that had fallen on the floor for some reason back on the bed and adjust the blanket.

　Then I looked at Iris again - I knew she had dark circles in her eyes.
　I could tell when I heard his voice. This guy doesn't really sleep.

　I've known him since his previous life, you know.
　You can tell at least by the sound of his voice that he's feeling well.
　That's something the village guardian needs to be able to do.

"...m-My Lord.
I'm sorry. I should have given more thought to your condition. I should have known that you wouldn't be able to sleep after talking to your captors.

　Iris had been unsteady ever since she'd spoken to her enemy's captors at the border.
　It was because the other party was the remnants of the Sanctuary Church.
　I guess that made her remember the old days.

　I really should have followed them, but I couldn't leave the enemy 'King's Horseman (Lord)' alone.
　Even so, the reason I was able to come back early was thanks to Odette.
　If she hadn't stopped the enemy with the Spiritual King's Phantom, the damage would have been even greater. There would have been more deaths.
　Because she was there, Iris' lack of sleep was minimal.
　Really, I should be grateful for that.

'My Lord do you have any idea why I can't sleep anymore?
"Talking to the remnants of the 'Sanctuary Church' reminded me of the old days. Afterwards I left for King's Landing, and I remembered what happened to me in my previous life - when Dean-Nosferatu died. I dreamed about it, and I was afraid to go to sleep. Wasn't it?
No, sir.

　Iris looked at me and smiled in embarrassment.

''I knew it ... my My Lord is amazing.
I made it back in one piece. I'm not hurt. So don't worry about it.
Okay, okay ...

　Iris speaks up.
　It's because I pick her up in her nightgown.
　As it is, I move Iris to the bed.
　I pull the blanket over her body and then lightly touch her shoulders and forehead. This is a spell from the days of "Fira Village" to help you sleep well.

　You're not the only one.
　Nothing bad can come near the children, not even in their dreams.
　So, don't worry, you can sleep in peace, because she has just used a spell to ward off the evil in your dreams.

　The Goodnight Charm has been in existence for over 150 years and is guaranteed to work.

"Ma-load, my lord. I have a lot to tell you...?
''That can wait. As a former 'village guardian', I can't leave the villagers who are not feeling well unattended.
...more.
Problem solved. I'll tell you all about it when you wake up. Now go to sleep.
It's not fair, my lord.

　Iris' eyes, lying on the bed, slowly close.

''How could I........resist My Lord's spell?
Yeah. Don't resist. I'll be around. You just rest easy.
'Yes. But.........it's a shame too. I really wanted to fight with My Lord, too...

　Squeezing the blanket tightly, Iris said.

''I........why did I get reincarnated as a princess? If I was a normal village girl, I could have had Mylord teach me magic again and fight with him next to me........
No, not in a dangerous way.
I don't know.
I don't know what you're going to do. You don't know what you're going to do. I don't need you to do anything for me. As far as I'm concerned, you're a godd*mn princess. I can't let you out of my sight, with all the guards around.
''I've got an idea. What if I were to become a user of the 'King's Horse (Lord)'?

　Iris said, opening her eyes unexpectedly.
　But she couldn't stand the sleepiness, and quickly, threw her eyes shut.

If you wear the "Beast King (Lord of) Horsemen (Beast)", your defense strength will be very high. You won't get injured, so you won't have to worry about My Lord.......
...for sure.

　Come to think of it, I didn't tell Iris that Odette was using the 'Spirit King Rider'.
　I've been so busy that I didn't have time to send a contact bat over here.......
　

''........I'm worried about the opposite. Then.

　In this battle, Odette was cornered by the 'Holy King's Horseman'.
　The rescue was just in time, but it was quite dangerous.
　I don't want Odette, let alone Iris, to do anything too dangerous.

''You won't have to use the 'King's Horse' for a while. We've captured all the intruders, and now it's going to be a negotiation between the country and the person who sent them. We're - we're back to searching for 'Elysian' and working with the 'Magic Guild'.
Yes.
Me and Iris should be able to live comfortably in King's Landing. The case is over.
.... okay. My Lord.
"Well, the 'King's Horseman' has the ability to talk to my 'Black King's Horseman' even when he's away. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. I think it's convenient, but...
'What?　Wait a minute, my lord. Let me elaborate on that...
Yeah, yeah. I'll get to that later. Go to bed.

　I pecked Iris on both shoulders and her forehead again.

Those of us in 'Fira Village' can't resist My Lord's 'Goodnight' spell........

　Iris protested in a whisper, but - eventually - she began to quietly breathe in her sleep.
　I checked that Iris was completely sound asleep, and then left the room.

　I told the maid at the end of the hallway that His Highness Iris had fallen asleep in the middle of a conversation.

''As I thought, His Highness would be relieved to have his guardian knight by his side...''
Yuki-Glossaria, you must have the confidence of His Highness.

　Both the maid lady and the soldier escort were mumbling in admiration, but I, in fact, wasn't that impressed.

　I was actually.........very sleepy.

　It was because I was worried about Iris, and I came here without sleeping.
　Yuki-Grossaria was only 13 years old.
　It was too hard for her body, which was still growing, to march all night long....

─ ─ I'm sorry. The bat army. I need you to guard the town while I sleep.
""I'm done!"

　After I left the quarters, I gave the bats instructions and then went to my quarters.
　After making sure there was no one around me, I used my 'flight' skill and went to my room through the window.

　I slept without dreaming until morning.