After Cecilia and Roy made a deal, Cecilia finally returned first together with Sir Robert. The two of them became the center of attention when they came out of Roy's room. After the commotion they caused in his room, people were curious about how they managed to get out in one piece.
Unfortunately, Cecilia and Roy had put on their disguises again. None of them knew that the people who had just come out were the Magenta royal family, along with their knights.
When they returned to the surface, Cecilia rushed back to the palace. They used their departure route. However, when Cecilia reached the secret passage that would lead them into the palace, Sir Robert suddenly stopped.
"Robert?"
Sir Robert had been gloomy since they came out of Roy's room. It had come to a head now. Even if the secret passage wasn't well-lit, Cecilia could still see how frustrated Sir Robert was.
Cecilia let out a long sigh. She then turned to look at Sir Robert face to face.
"This is why I said I should go alone."
Sir Robert secretly clenched his fists. Cecilia said that intending to tell him that she didn't want Sir Robert to worry about her. But unfortunately, Sir Robert took it the other way around.
"I... I'm your knight, aren't I?"
"Of course."
Cecilia didn't even need to think about answering that question. Sir Robert was the first person to die for her out of everyone. From the start, Cecilia had never doubted his loyalty.
"Even so... I don't understand, Your Highness."
Cecilia waited quietly. She needed to know what was bothering Sir Robert this time.
"Why do you trust and open up so much to a man like Roy?" Sir Robert finally said. "From what I see, he's just an assassin. People like him are used to living in the shadow of blood and betrayal. And you... ask him to protect you."
His voice almost trembled as he added, "Have I failed so much... that you no longer trust me to protect you?"
Cecilia fell silent. She looked at Sir Robert deeply and saw the hurt and disappointment behind his lowered gaze.
"If I have indeed let you down, I swear I will atone for it with my life. But please… do not place your trust carelessly, especially in someone who has left scars on your body."
Cecilia knew Roy was bothered by the blue bruises on his neck. This time, Cecilia agreed. She had indeed been very careless in letting Roy strangle her just because she knew he would never kill her.
Cecilia knew what kind of person Roy was, but Sir Robert had no way of knowing. Her carelessness made Sir Robert feel uneasy, and it hurt Cecilia to see.
Cecilia took a few steps forward. She put the torch that was originally in her hand away to touch Sir Robert's cold hand.
"Roy is no stranger to me, Robert," she said softly. "I know you won't understand what I mean. But he has saved my life many times."
Sir Robert stared at her, clearly confused because he never knew when Cecilia had come to know someone like Roy.
"He was my teacher… the one who gave me new hope when I was about to give up. He was a good man, but that doesn't mean you are any less good than him."
Cecilia didn't wait for Sir Robert's response as she continued her words calmly.
"I asked for his help not because I don't trust you. Quite the opposite. I asked for his help because I don't want to lose you."
Cecilia didn't know that her words had pumped Sir Robert's heart until he felt like his heart was about to jump out of his chest. Sir Robert's mind suddenly went blank. He… he didn't know that Cecilia was thinking about him like that.
Sir Robert was thinking about one thing while Cecilia was thinking about another. But there was no way for either of them to know each other's thoughts. Sir Robert was confused by what Cecilia meant, while Cecilia just wanted Sir Robert to know that he meant something to her.
"You've worked too hard for me, Robert. Sacrificed too much. And I… I don't want to see you die because of me."
Sir Robert shook his head quickly. Cecilia's words managed to bring him back to his senses again.
"Serving you is my honor, Your Highness. There is nothing I want more than to live to protect you."
"But I don't want you to die for me, Robert," Cecilia replied firmly. There was a sense of fear in Cecilia's heart as she remembered how Sir Robert had died in every life.
"You are my only knight. I will not let you die, never."
Sir Robert fell silent. Under the flickering light of the torch, Sir Robert could not think of anything other than feeling that Cecilia was very beautiful when she was talking seriously.
"I'm sorry for acting without talking to you," Cecilia said, her voice soft but clear. "I just wanted to do something to protect everyone."
After a while, Sir Robert finally took a deep breath. He smiled slightly as he gently touched Cecilia's hand back.
"You don't need to apologize, Your Highness. It was me who was selfish for daring to question your decision."
A faint smile appeared on Cecilia's face when she knew that Sir Robert was no longer frustrated. Cecilia moved to hug Sir Robert. In her hundredth life, it was the first time Cecilia had opened up to Sir Robert again.
"It's okay. I know you're just worried about me," she whispered.
Cecilia could feel Sir Robert slowly hugging her back. Neither of them said anything else. But each of them knew that neither of them was worried about the other's safety.