At Arm’s Length

“I knew you’d come.

You two are about the same age, right.

Why does it feel like you’re more like his guardian.”

Solor wasn’t surprised by Egmad’s arrival.

He even felt a bit helpless about it, as if he had known this would happen all along.

“You can’t really call it guardianship.

He’s a proper member of our knight order, after all.

As the commander, of course I have to show up.

How is Her Highness the Princess doing now.

Fers and Iveria specifically prepared some pretty good snacks for him, all handmade.

They really put in a lot of effort.”

As Egmad spoke, he even nudged Fers.

He signaled him to hurry up and deliver the snacks they had prepared earlier to His Highness the Crown Prince.

Fers was very obedient as well.

He followed Egmad’s instructions and handed over the snacks.

“Sigh… look at this, bringing such delicate things again.

When my sister sees them later, she’ll probably like them a lot, won’t she…”

Those words sounded like they should count as praise.

But for some reason, Egmad always felt there was a hint of sourness mixed in.

Solor saw what was in his hands.

He understood their intentions.

Originally, Solor didn’t plan to make a big deal out of it.

It was just that his sister had eaten something bad, which made him a little unhappy.

Even when he directly told Fers about it, it was only to vent his emotions.

As for what kind of emotions he was venting—

There was a good chance it was because his sister felt too hurt by the gift Fers had given her.

He remembered very clearly what Ellie had said.

“A gift just for her.”

He even thought about whether, because of a tomato lava cake, Fers’s image in Ellie’s heart might change.

Perhaps it was a bit selfish.

Solor just wanted to be the number one person in Ellie’s heart.

He couldn’t let someone else win her over with just a small gift.

“Ah, Your Highness, isn’t it good that your sister likes it.

I’ve heard that Her Highness the Princess has been in much better condition lately.

Compared to how she was before, she should look healthier now, right.

After all, back then she even had the strength to kick me a few times.

As long as Her Highness is happy, that’s better than anything.

As the saying goes, only when one’s mind is healthy can the body be healthy too.”

Egmad always used the tactic of smiling so warmly that no one could bring themselves to hit him.

He came in with a polite smile first, clearly showing his sincerity in apologizing.

Then he found ways to ease the atmosphere.

Until the other party gradually followed his lead and changed the topic.

“Ah… that’s true.

Ellie has indeed been much better recently.

Although the injuries from the fall last time were very serious, Father invited excellent doctors.

So she recovered very quickly…”

When it came to matters related to Ellie, Solor no longer looked as stern as before.

Although his eyes still glanced in Fers’s direction.

His tone and expression were much gentler than earlier.

“It’s a good thing she’s getting better.

In a few more years, her body will be completely well.

And you’ll be able to put your mind at ease.”

“Sigh… that’s true.

If Ellie’s health improves, I’ll be able to relax a lot.

Recently, her recovery has been going very well.

Much better than I imagined.

She can even go out for walks now.

I used to think that if Ellie really didn’t want to go out, I wouldn’t force her to appear in social circles.

Staying by my side all the time would be fine too.

If anything happens, I’ll help her.

As long as she’s healthy and safe, that’s better than anything.”

Whenever Ellie was mentioned, Solor was like an overly worried old father.

Everything revolved around her.

His expression relaxed because of her improving health.

Then tightened again because of matters in high society.

“She’ll get better.”

Since he had come to apologize, Egmad naturally focused on saying pleasant things.

“All right then.

I’ll take that as a good omen from you—”

“Alright, alright.

Just take it and eat it together with Her Highness the Princess.

If you and she like it, and finish it, just tell me.

My Iveria’s cooking skills are really good.

I guarantee you’ll like it.

It’s just that her usual taste is a bit heavy, and she likes ketchup.

But don’t worry this time.

Nothing was added.

Just eat it.”

Seeing that Solor’s attitude had softened enough, Egmad knew when to stop.

He hurriedly muttered a few words to wrap things up.

Then he pushed the snack box into Solor’s arms.

After that, he grabbed Fers, who either hadn’t spoken at all or couldn’t get a word in.

They turned and left.

As they walked, Egmad waved at Solor.

By the time Solor let out another sigh, the two of them were already in the carriage.

“…That guy…”

Solor understood Egmad’s personality well.

But since they were old friends, and Egmad always wore that gentle smile, Solor could never really get angry at him.

The same went for Fers.

In Solor’s eyes, Fers was somewhat like Ellie.

An introverted person who didn’t like to talk much.

His way of handling interpersonal matters was rigid and angular.

Solor knew Fers hadn’t meant any harm.

In fact, giving Ellie the snacks he liked was his way of expressing goodwill.

It was just that his and his sister Iveria’s tastes were rather extreme.

Something most people couldn’t handle.

Helplessly, Solor accepted the snacks meant as an apology.

Carrying the exquisite box, he turned and headed toward Ellie’s bedroom.

On the way, he carefully examined the small box.

It was obvious that it had been prepared with care.

There was even a bow pasted on it.

Clearly meant to please a girl.

The contents inside should be decent as well.

Through the seams of the paper box came the scent of high-quality cream.

At the very least, judging by the smell, it definitely wasn’t another overly stimulating tomato-based food.

When Solor reached Ellie, she happened to be sitting in the garden drinking tea.

The daily life of a noble young lady always seemed like this.

If she wasn’t going out, she would be in the back garden.

Admiring flowers and drinking tea.

Other young ladies might gather with friends to chat.

But Ellie’s personality was introverted.

Although her name was well known in social circles.

She had almost no social interactions.

As a princess, many people wanted to become Ellie’s friends.

But every time, she rejected them.

Often with the excuse, “My health isn’t very good.”

When most people are in poor health, they try every way to recover quickly.

Some even take medicine indiscriminately.

But Ellie was different.

Her frailty became an excuse to avoid everything.

And she liked that excuse.

She lived in her own small world.

In the past, Solor always felt uneasy.

He worried that Ellie might die at any moment.

He was anxious.

But he wasn’t a psychologist.

He couldn’t find the cause.

And he couldn’t cure her.

Now… Ellie seemed much better.

That should be the case.

But that feeling of being neither close nor far felt stronger than before.

In the past, Ellie had truly been by his side.

Now, even though she smiled again.

Solor felt like she might leave him at any moment.

“…”

Whenever he thought of Ellie, that ominous dream surfaced.

He saw her chest pierced by the sword he should have been holding.

He heard her faint calls.

Brother…

Brother—Royal Brother—

Like a nightmare’s whisper.

Echoing endlessly in his ears.

Eric seemed to have truly succeeded.

He had become his brother’s nightmare.

“—Royal Brother, you’re here?”

The voice in his mind merged with reality.

Solor focused his gaze.

It landed on Ellie, who had turned to look at him.

“Are you not busy today?”

“Ah… it’s fine.

I’m busy, but not nonstop for twenty-four hours.”

Solor replied.

He walked to Ellie’s side.

He placed the snack box on the table.

“This is?”

“It’s Fers’s apology.

Egmad came as well.

He said Fers made it together with Miss Iveria.

They hoped it would make you feel a bit better.”