The Villainess Enjoys Her Seventh Life as a Free-Spirited Bride (hostage) in a Former Enemy Country
Chapter 66.1: The Fire Once Seen

Then came a clattering noise.

That must be the sound of Arnold’s sword falling. Apparently, he even threw the sword in his hand to catch her.

The moment she realized it, she felt like she couldn’t breathe.

“Arnold, Your Highness.”

She desperately wanted to speak and ended up calling his name.

Her heart skipped a beat.

It was no surprise. After all, Arnold has now elfolded Rishe in his arms!

“Uh-um….”

For some reason, he wouldn’t let go of her, so Rishe hurriedly added, “I’m sorry if I’ve surprised you. But uhm, Your Highness…”

She clutched Arnold’s coat. She wanted to look him in the eye, but she didn’t think she could even raise her face.

“Your Highness knows it already, right?　That I could jump over this far without problems.”

“…Yeah. After all, you jumped off a balcony to the ground.”

“Then why would you……”

“…”

A few seconds of silence followed.

With that thought in mind, Arnold who was carrying Rishe muttered vexedly, “…Despite knowing it, you can’t blame me for moving reflexively.”

“!”

That unexpected response took her breath away.

He has always had a gutsy smile when he was trying to ruffle Rishe.

But now, his voice sounded reluctant and slightly sulky. This unusual behavior threw her off balance.

As the strength of his arms relaxed, Rishe awkwardly moved away from him.

Then with a gasp, hurriedly picked up Arnold’s sword. He threw it out for her, but it was important to a swordsman.

“Thank you very much.”

Arnold took the offered sword with a somewhat tangled look on his face.

Then he took his eyes off of Rishe and turned away. Could it be that Arnold was feeling awkward as well?

“…Why did you jump over in the first place? I think you should have just walked out into the hallway and into this room through the door.”

He said that deceptively that Rishe blinked.

“Through the door?”

“Through the door.”

“Instead of jumping over the balcony?”

“Yes.”

“…”

Mulling over calmly at his words, Rishe finally realized.

“…Right!?”

“Ha-ha.”

Arnold looked down and chuckled.

Then he looked at her and gave her a gentle, yet grating smile.

“It’s the same as when you tried to go across the ‘shortest’ as you did then.”

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

She had an idea about it, but she brazenly feigned ignorance.

Even so, Arnold was tolerant of Rishe’s behavior.

Rather than being disgusted or scolding her and lecturing her on the proper decorum of a Crown Princess, he looked around as if he was enjoying the view.

At first, I thought he was just teasing me.

He appeared really enjoying himself, so she couldn’t really get mad at him either.

You’re a strange man. Arnold would probably look bitter if she were to say that outright.

“By the way, why does Your Highness have a sword?”

When asked, he looked up at the fireflies and said, “I mistook this light for the light of a torch.”

“…”

That made sense.

The light of fireflies blinked at regular intervals. They drew a line of light, broke off once, and then shone again, and so on.

Come to think of it, it’s quite similar…

To the torches seen on the battlefield.

Rightly so, it could be said that it resembled the movement of a scouting unit approaching, hiding in the shadows, relying on the light of a torch.

Of course, the resemblance wasn’t so great that they could be immediately linked. And since they were inside a castle, it was obvious that such caution was unfounded.

Still, it was natural for Arnold to pick up the sword.

The memories of the battlefield are deeply rooted in this man…

If Rishe had not experienced the life of a knight, she probably couldn’t understand it at all.

Or would she have feared Arnold or distanced herself from him more than necessary?

However, this was no longer the case for Rishe who was standing next to him.

“–If it were me…”

She prefaced it and pointed to the ramparts that should be on the other side of the darkness.

“I would create narrow gaps in the walls and place archers in every part of those walls. I’d install a bell in each of the compartments so that we can ‘warn’ others loudly and repel other intruders we replace.”

“…”

She looked up at the man who was once her enemy and smiled as if to challenge him.

Arnold looked surprised for a moment, then immediately said with amusement.

“–The sound is tricky, but the bow isn’t much of a threat. Everywhere you go, there is an emphasis on ‘knightly virtue’ or something like that, and archers are only seen as an auxiliary force. They aren’t very skilled, and the accuracy of their aim is limited.”