Tol had never met her gaze, let alone had a conversation with her, and he could count on one hand how many times he’d seen her face from afar, but he felt very fortunate to hear that news, all the while hoping that she would meet a good man next time who would help her and continue the glory of her family and be happy.

Because it was him anyway who thought he wouldn’t see much of her until she was handed the title of the marchioness.

“Nice people all call me ‘Sherri’. Hmmm. I hope you call me that, too, Tol.”

“How outrageous, Madam Kasheira. And I feel more comfortable when I am called ‘Tolcher’.”

However, it had been about two months since Hans suddenly recommended him to become an escort for the princess. She, whom he’d kept a close eye on during that time, was a bit different from what he’d expected.

“Tol, do you know the duties of being an escort of a noble young woman?”

“To keep her safe from danger—”

“No, no. Not that! I’m talking about what goes on at ‘night’. Hans didn’t tell you?”

He had always heard that she was bright and smiled often. However, he had never dreamed that she was such a juvenile person because she was famous for her brilliance. On top of that, she often did these fascinating expressions that made his heart sink, so Tol tried to suppress his broken heart, saying that his eyes were betraying him.

But what about what went on at ‘night’… He had never heard about that.

The most important thing among what the former escort Hans had requested was ‘Don’t go against the spirits of an overworked young woman.’ In response to his efforts not to lose his dignity as a successor, he emphasized again and again that he should never be mistaken when she expressed “friendliness” above the average level to her closest acquaintances.

On top of that, the butler that’d worked at the marquis’s home from time to time repeatedly warned that he should bear no more than loyalty to the innocent girl in any case. And that was all.

So, only belatedly did Tol realize what her words meant. But nothing changed.

“Hey, uh, Mr. Jade.”

“Who is this? Tol, is that you?”

“…greetings.”

Tol’s eyebrow wriggled slightly at the words of the senior knight, who was pleased as he patted his robust shoulder. Tol knew that ‘Tol’ was a nickname that Jade used as a joke to tease him. However, it was the young woman who had given it to him, not Jade. Like that, the nickname ‘Tol’ had become something sort of special to him. But he’d never allowed her to call him that nickname.

Originally he had thought the nickname didn’t suit his large stature and dry full name. But it was pleasant in its own way to hear it through Sherri’s bright voice.

Oh, this isn’t it. Coming back to earth, Tol shook his head lightly to clear his thoughts.

“All right. What is it at this hour?”

“May I ask one question, sir?”

When the senior knight permitted with a shrug, Tol opened his mouth, still hesitating.

“Do you know… about what goes on at night between a young woman and an escort, sir?”

He secretly lowered his voice as he looked around, just in case someone was listening. And at that moment the senior knight, who had had a playful smirk on his face, wiped the smile off his face. He noticed why Tol had hesitated with his question just now.

“Don’t.”

At his firm answer and distinctively altered tone, Tol directed his head in the senior knight’s position. It was plainly revealed that his ever-unshaken purple eyes were turning into an embarrassment.

“Huh?”

“I said not Miss Sherri.”

Tol, who was never embarrassed, absently took a step forward.

“N-no, sir. I didn’t dare make up my mind to do something vile…”

And what he desperately tried to blurt out while stuttering was cut off by the senior knight’s hand held up to his face.

“You think someone asked about your feelings? I mean, you can’t even if you wanted to.”

Tol, bowing his head again to hide his eyes that began to shake violently, gently nibbled on the flesh on his inner cheek while the senior knight, Jade, scrunched his face as he stared at him.

So it really is true what Hans said.