Ch#84
"Of course big sis is more comfortable, right?"
Hilde asked Ibi, her face full of smiles.
Seeing the child blinking at her question, unsure what to do, she really felt like giving her a piggyback ride right then and there.
'When His Majesty the Emperor summoned us, I wondered what it was about......'
In fact, the Imperial Knight Order had already been informed about the incident at Yeongjae Academy during the day.
"They say there were no serious injuries, fortunately, but those insolent ones laid hands on His Majesty's person."
The entire Imperial Knight Order had hardened their faces.
Even if the one who tried to grab Clois was a noble girl from Yeongjae Academy, what if even a single scratch had occurred?
Of course, they knew it wouldn't happen since Clois was a knight strong enough to duel them.
But when the opponent was too weak, defense became harder instead.
Given the emperor's personality, he might find it bothersome to respond and simply forgo defense.
And if he got hurt......
'It would be a disgrace to all of us.'
That was why everyone had been tense.
Then a summons came from the emperor again, ordering them to guard not him, but someone else.
And it was clearly someone related to the daytime commotion.
So even knowing it was overstepping, Hilde had planned to refuse his order and beg to stay by his side.
But the moment she saw Ibi entering through the door, that thought vanished completely.
Since Clois had ordered no more children to be brought in, it had been ages since they saw any kids in the Main Palace.
Occasionally, children of knights would visit, but they were mostly teenagers going through puberty, so they were sullen. Of course, that had its own charm.
Besides, she was surrounded daily by colleagues training their foolishly muscular bodies.
So seeing Ibi enter with her hair neatly braided in a cute style, walking daintily inside.
At that instant, Hilde unwittingly approached and bowed at the waist.
Doesn't one sometimes blurt out 'Yes, yes, that's right?' upon passing a child or small animal?
'This is instinct. Can't be helped.'
It was a lame excuse for a knight who had spent her life trying to suppress such instincts.
And it wasn't just her.
Even Captain Rommel had hovered around Ibi before declaring to Clois, 'I'll take her back right away!' and practically dashing out of the room carrying her bag.
That led to this situation.
Hilde held Ibi's bag in her hand.
It contained books Clois had packed and desserts separately prepared by the chief attendant.
Since it was a bag sized for a child to carry, it looked even smaller than a toy bag in Hilde's hands.
All the way there, the knights kept suggesting to Ibi.
A piggyback? A hug? Or maybe a shoulder ride?
To them, making such tiny feet walk this long path felt somehow like abuse.
Of course, it wasn't.
"Oh! There's Yeongjae Academy! That's the gate leading over there!"
After walking some distance, a gate connecting to Yeongjae Academy appeared at the end of the path.
Just cross that gate and walk a bit more, and they'd reach Yeongjae Academy.
Seeing the familiar sight, Ibi quickened her steps.
The knights naturally matched her pace. Even so, it was practically crawling compared to their usual speed.
'Yeongjae Academy's Dean said she's sorted out the daytime commotion.'
Besides, no one would dare cause a scene at the guarded gate with sentries posted.
And with Ibi inside their protection, not even a single hair could be harmed.
But the moment the gate drew near, someone suddenly appeared from the Yeongjae Academy side.
"Ibi!"
The one running toward her calling her name was so fast that even the guards at the gate couldn't catch them in time.
The figure rushed straight to Ibi.
The knights immediately shielded Ibi behind them and gripped their sword hilts.
At that moment, Ibi behind them widened her eyes, slipped between their legs, and shouted.
"Airin!"
Airin swept the rushing Ibi into a tight hug and rubbed her cheek against her head.
"Are you okay? Does it hurt? Oh my god, what's with your face? You were really badly hurt, weren't you? Is that why you were so late?"
Ibi was the one injured, yet Airin's voice trembled as she bombarded her with questions.
In the atmosphere like reuniting with family after years apart, the knights released their swords and approached the two.
"Why were you at the Main Palace so long? And what exactly happened with His Majesty the Emperor? No, did you hear how things turned out with Izriella?"
"Ah, Airin. Could you ask one at a time......?"
Amid the flood of questions, Ibi's eyes spun.
Realizing her mistake, Airin released her shoulders and anxiously checked Ibi over again.
Then, noticing the knights surrounding them, her expression turned puzzled.
"Oh my, who are these people? Wait, the emblem of the Imperial Knight Order......!"
The knights assumed Airin, recognizing who they were, would step back in shock.
But contrary to their expectations, Airin pulled Ibi into her arms and glared at them without retreating.
Her eyes alone conveyed what she wanted to say.
Scram, shoo shoo.
* * *
Contrary to Airin's wishes, the Imperial Knight Order escorted Ibi all the way to the dormitory entrance.
And it didn't end there.
Leaving the other male knights behind, Hilde personally took Ibi to their room door.
"Airin's back!"
"Ibi Alden came back with her!"
The problem was that it wasn't time to enter the rooms yet.
Thus, all the female students hoping to see the protagonists of today's commotion had gathered on the dormitory balconies.
They whispered as they watched Ibi head inside under Hilde's protection.
"I-I know that emblem. It's the Imperial Knight Order."
At those words, the murmurs grew louder.
It was important that they were the strongest, but more crucially, they answered only to the emperor's commands. And they protected only the imperial family.
For the Imperial Knight Order to escort Ibi like this.
Didn't it mean the emperor had directly ordered them to treat her almost like imperial family?
By then, Ibi had opened the door.
Her face, tense the whole way from the familiar space and air, finally relaxed.
Ibi turned and bowed to Hilde.
"Thank you for escorting me. Please tell the other knights I'm truly grateful too!"
At Ibi's greeting, Hilde glanced at the students watching them, then placed one hand over her heart and bowed deeply.
"Having fulfilled His Majesty the Emperor's order to escort you, I shall take my leave, Miss Ibi Alden. Have a good night."
Hilde deliberately emphasized "His Majesty the Emperor" so all could hear.
She had been nonstop smiles the whole way, saying 'Call me big sis, want a piggyback? When will you come to the Main Palace again? Want to visit the knight order?'
But now, with a perfect knight's face, she gave Ibi a precise salute, bowing her head slightly.
The Imperial Knight Order bowed their waists only to the emperor.
For anyone else, even high-ranking ministers, they merely nodded their heads in greeting, never bowing fully.
Yet she had just greeted Ibi in the exact same manner.
The murmurs from the watching students grew even louder.
'This is going to be chaos.'
Airin pressed her forehead. Noticing Airin's distress, Hilde whispered softly.
"Everyone already knows His Majesty is looking after you personally, right?"
"True, but...... isn't this a bit much?"
At her words, Hilde winked at the two.
"Why? Now that the Imperial Knight Order has done this much, no one will dare pick a fight with you. And if some idiot does appear......"
Hilde dropped her smile and spoke seriously.
"That would be a challenge to the Imperial Knight Order and to His Majesty the Emperor. So if any such problem arises, just let me know anytime."
With that, she told them to rest well once more and turned to descend the stairs.
Down in the lobby, she scanned the people watching her.
As their eyes met, the female students startled and looked away.
Hilde smirked, then headed outside.
'His Majesty must have planned this far.'
It couldn't have been just simply attaching the Imperial Knight Order.
He had surely sent them to make everyone see clearly, ensuring nothing like today's incident ever happened again.
Understanding her lord's intent, Hilde strode out with more poise than ever, back straight.
The emblem of the Imperial Knight Order fluttered on the cloak behind her.
So everyone in the dormitory could see.
