Chapter 444: A Problematic Encounter

After deepening his friendship with the prince at the palace, Tauro decided it was time to leave as the sun was starting to set.

While being guided by the soldiers inside the palace to the castle gate, a figure wearing an expensive-looking hood (judging from the silhouette, it looked like a woman?) called out to him.

“Hey, wait! Don’t leave me behind!” 

From her voice, Tauro recognized she was indeed a woman, but he didn’t recognize her.

“Huh?” 

Who could this be? Even with the light from his modified magical tool, the ‘Lantern,’ illuminating the darkening surroundings, the shadows were too strong for him to see her face clearly.

“Oh? Who are you? —Never mind, let’s just hurry up,” she said, grabbing Tauro’s arm and pulling him toward the castle gate while glancing back at the palace.

Both the soldier leading Tauro and Tauro himself exchanged confused looks, but the guard at the gate made no effort to stop them as they were leaving.

Moreover, Tauro had presented his dagger emblazoned with the royal crest, which afforded him a certain level of respect.

So, both the soldier and the guard bowed respectfully as they saw him off.

“Um… Who are you?” Tauro asked.

“Huh? How did you manage to become part of my entourage? —Well, whatever. Just hurry up and show me around the royal capital at night,” she replied.

Looking closely at the woman’s face, she was quite beautiful.

She seems to be about the same age as Aeris.

 While she may not compare to Aeris in terms of appearance or style, it was evident that she made an effort to enhance her beauty with makeup and by acting like an adult woman.

　Still, what is this feeling of déjà vu?

Tauro thought with a “?” mark in his head.

“It seems that you have been mistaking me for someone else for some time now. Do you think I’m part of your entourage? ‘cause It’s not like that.”

While Tauro replied, Inwardly, he was going, “Ahhh!” 

Could it be that this person …… is the “saint” that His Highness the Prince was talking about?

No way, “The Saint?” Tauro realized that he had taken the “saint” out of the royal palace.

“Wait, didn’t I tell you to wait in front of the castle gate?!” 

It appeared the ‘Saint’ still thought he was related to the person she was supposed to meet.

“Maybe you’re at the wrong gate? That gate is usually used by those of lower status. The person you’re supposed to meet might be at the opposite gate,” Tauro suggested, sighing at the misunderstanding.

“!?… Well, fine. You show me around then. You should be honored; I’m a big deal!” 

　The “Saint” arrogantly ordered Tauro.

She must be the ‘Saint’! This is going to be troublesome… I have no choice but to return her back to the palace.

Thinking this, Tauro pretended to comply, leading the ‘Saint’ toward the castle gate typically used by people of higher status.

“…Hey you. You’re trying to take me back to the palace, aren’t you?” the ‘Saint’ said, stopping in her tracks, seemingly sharp enough to catch on.

Crap, she figured it out. I hate kids with good intuition!

While Tauro was thinking to himself that he had heard that line somewhere before, but when he actually opened his mouth to say something, he said something else.

“I don’t know who you are, but you certainly seem to be of noble status. It would be presumptuous for lowly person like me to guide you. I suggest you return to the palace and then go out again with the person you’re supposed to be meeting,” he replied, trying to sound convincing as he started to walk toward the castle gate again.

“If I go back now, I won’t be able to go out again! It’s such a shame to come all the way to another country and only attend parties; I don’t want that! If you know who I am, just shut up and show me the way!”

But that’s just what I don’t want to do!

Tauro did not wish to get involved any more than necessary with the ‘Saint,’ who was possibly the most important person in the country at the moment.

He had already accepted Prince Fleue’s proposal to help Haku build connections with peers of the same age.

“I won’t ask for your name. If I were a suspicious person,  anything more would be dangerous. Please return to the palace quietly.”

Tauro was resolute; he definitely didn’t want to cause any issues with the ‘Saint.’

After all, it could inconvenience the Graundewald family.

“Clearly, you have no idea. I am exactly what you say—a noble person. More than you can imagine! I am traveling incognito, do you understand? Well, I guess commoners wouldn’t get it… Only a select few people of the upper class might understand how this ‘Saint’ feels.” 

The ‘Saint’ revealed her true identity herself.

Don’t tell me!  What do you think I meant when I said I wouldn’t ask for your name? So that if anything happens, I could claim ignorance!

Internally, Tauro was screaming.

If this continues, I feel like I’ll get more and more drawn into it.

　Besides, if Prince Fleue is true to his words, in a few days I should be accompanying the ‘Saint’ as one of her attendants during her stay in the royal capital.

The more she remembers my face, the more awkward it would become for me.

　I want to hand her over to the gatekeeper at the castle gate no matter what.

However, as if sensing his thoughts, the ‘Saint’ began to walk away from the castle gate.

It’s too far away to call out to the gatekeeper.

Besides, if he lost sight of her while trying to call, it would potentially become a huge problem now that he knew she was the ‘Saint.’

Therefore, Tauro had no choice but to chase after the ‘Saint.’

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