I Don't Want to Hand Him Over

The carriage heading to the capital gave a slight lurch.

It wasn't because it was rattling violently enough to make me motion-sick; this was the Grand Duchy's finest carriage, not some ordinary one.

“Nervous, Yuria?”

“Y-yeah. A little. We don't even know why he called me here.”

“Don't worry too much. The old geezer's got plenty of power, but he's a good person. Besides, if he actually picked a fight, we'd win.”

“I have no intention of becoming the cause of a Northern rebellion.”

He'd invited me before, then even followed up with a letter, all to summon me here and say whatever it was he wanted to say.

If it were Derek, I'd understand.

For all he might not look it, he's important enough to rank among the ten most influential people in this country.

It's only in front of me that he puts aside his status and strength, and just acts like an ordinary friend...