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Episode 107

"No. My neck is fine."

"Ah. That's a relief then."

"……"

"……"

Silence fell between them again.

As the silence stretched, Kendrick couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.

'Maybe this is my chance?'

A chance to reveal his true identity.

He still felt guilty for deceiving Janet, and feared she might feel betrayed.

It was strange.

He hadn't been this nervous when confessing to Julietta.

Nor would he worry this much even if the Grand Duchess discovered his identity.

So why was it so hard to tell Janet the truth?

Hoo.

Kendrick let out silent sighs one after another.

Meanwhile, Janet, sitting with her knees drawn up, glanced several times at Kendrick's stiff profile.

'Does his ankle hurt that much?'

The wound had been quite deep, so it made sense.

But——

'Then why won't he turn his head?'

What did his ankle have to do with his neck? Even now, Kendrick kept trying to turn his head away instead of facing her.

Like someone trying to hide his face from her.

'Ah, could it be?'

Was that really it?

Was he trying to hide his face from me?

'What if I find out he and Theo are the same person?'

Yes.

Surprisingly, Janet had already figured out his identity.

Hadn't she seen his face while treating his wound earlier?

Though his hair and eye color were completely different from Theo's, and even his facial features and aura differed——

'It was definitely Theo.'

Somehow, she could recognize him instantly.

Only then did the puzzle pieces fall into place.

Why Theo had been so concerned about Julietta, and how he'd come to know her father.

'They must have met on the battlefield.'

Though he didn't show off in front of others, Theo's swordsmanship and martial skills were remarkable.

That made sense too.

As the youngest war hero, it was only natural for him to have that level of skill.

'I've been pretending not to know since he seems to want to hide his identity from me, but……'

Seeing him so on edge and watching her so nervously was starting to make her feel embarrassed on his behalf.

Just as she resolved once again to pretend not to know—

"Um. Janet."

"Yes, Lord Kendrick."

As she turned with a calm reply, Kendrick was now looking directly at her.

'Hm? He's looking at me?'

His face was tense, clearly nervous.

But unlike before, he wasn't forcing his head away or avoiding her gaze.

As if he'd made up his mind about something.

"I have something to confess to you."

"……Oh, okay. Go ahead."

Janet nodded as naturally as she could.

"The truth is, I……"

At Kendrick's uncharacteristic hesitation, Janet doubled down on her act.

She focused on pretending not to know with all her might.

I don't know anything.

I don't know anything.

"The truth is, I'm…… Theo."

"Oh!"

"……Hm?"

"Huh?"

For a heartfelt confession, the response was rather lukewarm.

Sensing something off, Kendrick blinked in doubt, and Janet belatedly scrambled to compose herself.

"Oh my! Really?! You mean Kendrick and Theo are the same person?!"

"……You already knew, didn't you?"

"……Yes. Honestly, I figured it out."

At Janet's ready admission, Kendrick let out a sigh mixed with relief and disbelief.

"How long have you known?"

"About twenty minutes ago?"

"So you realized when you saw my face without the mask."

"Yes. Somehow, it just clicked."

"I see. So that's how it was."

So the disguise artifact really didn't work on Janet.

'I wonder why.'

That artifact was so sophisticated that even powerful mages couldn't see through it—yet for some reason, it didn't work on Janet.

But that wasn't what mattered now.

"……You're not disappointed?"

"Pardon? Disappointed?"

Janet widened her eyes and looked at Kendrick.

"Yes. I was by your side the whole time, yet I kept deceiving you. You don't…… feel betrayed or disappointed?"

His hesitant tone revealed genuine concern.

But Janet didn't quite understand why he was worried.

Because——

"Not at all."

She truly felt no sense of betrayal or disappointment.

"Really?"

"Yes. Really."

If anything, seeing Kendrick's expression of disbelief made Janet tilt her head.

"That's understandable. I already knew Theo was hiding his true identity. I also knew his name was a pseudonym."

"Yes, that's true."

"Right. And to feel betrayed by the fact that Lord Kendrick and Theo are the same person……"

Well.

"I've only met Lord Kendrick two or three times."

That was true.

She had a deep connection with Theo, but with Kendrick, she'd only met him a couple of times alongside Julietta.

"It was a bit surprising that they were the same person, but not enough to feel betrayed……"

"……That's true. You're right."

"Yes."

"……"

"……"

The two blinked at each other. Then, simultaneously, they let out a small laugh.

"So that's really why you were turning your head away?"

"Yes. Without the mask, I was worried you'd figure out my identity."

"Ah. Was I not supposed to know?"

"No, it's not that. It was purely because of that reason……"

Kendrick trailed off with an awkward smile.

'So he was worried I'd be disappointed?'

Once that realization hit, Janet felt her cheeks grow warm.

She rested her cheek against her knees, which she'd drawn up to her chest.

"Janet."

"Yes, Theo."

Janet answered naturally, then raised her eyebrows.

"Ah, or should I call you Lord Kendrick?"

"Call me whatever you prefer. But if you choose the latter, please drop the 'Lord.'"

"Are you sure?"

"Please do."

At his playful tone, Janet smiled lightly and nodded.

"Alright, Kendrick."

At Janet's reply, Kendrick stared at her for a moment, then let out another deep sigh of relief.

"I can finally breathe."

"Were you really that worried?"

"Yes. That much. I didn't want to be hated by you, no matter what."

Janet blinked blankly.

Kendrick seemed utterly unaware of what he'd just said.

Janet pressed her face into her knees once more.

Her heart felt oddly ticklish and her face grew warm.

'This feeling, surely……'

Just as she drew in a sharp breath—

"Ugh."

"Janet?"

At Janet's soft groan, Kendrick called out in surprise.

But Janet only looked down at her left wrist instead of answering.

「Salvation」

The phrase, clearer than before, glowed brighter than ever.

"This is……"

"……Kendrick."

Janet called him in a dazed voice.

"Yes, Janet."

"I think I need to go."

"Go? Where?"

At Kendrick's urgent question, Janet drew in a soft breath.

"I have something I must do."

---

A short while later—

"Janet! Kendrick!"

Richard, who had been running toward the smoke from the signal flare, met Janet and Kendrick in the center of the forest.

At his joyful shout, the two paused briefly.

"If you found Kendrick, you should have stayed there—where are you going……"

"Perfect timing, Brother."

"What?"

"Take care of Kendrick for me."

"What? Wait, Janet! What are you……!"

Janet handed Kendrick off to Richard as if passing a burden.

Then, without giving them a chance to say anything, she began running out of the forest.

"Janet! Janet!"

Flustered, Richard glared down at Kendrick with annoyed eyes.

"Explain. What's going on?"

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