My mission: patrol and guard the districts of the Royal Capital.

  Though I maintained a facade of calm, my mind had been in a constant state of unrest.

  Those words from st night—

  “You... why don't you become my consort?”

  The Queen’s crimson eyes in that moment wouldn't leave my mind. Every time I remembered them, a dull heat throbbed deep in my chest.

  (...Forget it. Just focus on your duties as a knight, like always.)

  As I tried to force myself to move forward, my gaze was suddenly drawn away.

  A red-haired young man was passing by.

  His age and stature... they were somewhat simir to the boy from "back then."

  (...Could it be?)

  For a split second, my heart leaped.

  But on his ear, the "proof" I had been searching for—the gold earring—was nowhere to be seen.

  It’s not that I was disappointed.

  I had repeated this process hundreds, thousands of times. Even so, I couldn't stop my heart from growing just a little bit colder.

  (...Where are you?)

  I kept walking, staring straight ahead.

  Yet, every time I turned a street corner, my eyes would wander.

  Red hair, red eyes.

  No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't help but overp that color with someone else.

  It was the Queen’s color.

  And the color of the fmes borne by every citizen of the Ignis Kingdom.

  Red.

  Red.

  Every "red" flooding the city stirred something in my chest. At the same time, it forced me to realize the sheer scale of this country, and the weight of the burden carried by that silhouette.

  (...I want to protect her.)

  Trying to shake off the sudden surge of emotion, I spoke up.

  "I’ll watch this area. Fall back, Kyle."

  "Yeah, yeah. Loosen up those shoulders, will you?"

  With a flippant remark, Kyle followed behind me, twirling a Luminaria flower between his fingertips.

  Carriage wheels rattled over the cobblestones, and the scent of baking bread drifted from somewhere. The shouts of merchants. The ughter of children.

  This ordinary, everyday life.

  The "daily life" I vowed to protect.

  ...At least, that’s what I thought.

  After walking for a while, Kyle started his usual grumbling.

  "Man... you walk too fast. I’m exhausted already~"

  "What are you even talking about...?"

  I turned around, exasperated.

  As always, he was a troublesome man. But in a way, I was saved by his lightheartedness.

  (...I’ll keep it a secret that I’m actually grateful for him.)

  "Patrolling is also about 'visibility.' It’s a problem if you look zy."

  "...Alright, alright. Message received~"

  Kyle responded dismissively.

  That small exchange made my tension ease just a little.

  I still haven't sorted out my feelings.

  But as long as I can keep walking like this—I’ll be okay.