Crest of the Strongest Knight

Chapter 171 - A Brief Respite

"I'm, uh... H-Hold on! Shouldn't I be the one saying that to you!?"

Viviane grinned, shaking her head as she pushed herself up into a sitting position. She leaned against the headboard of the cot, resting her hands in Medrauta's. "Nevermind. I'm sorry for passing out so suddenly like that."

"N-No! Don't apologize!" Medrauta said quickly. "Besides, I guess I know how you feel now when I suddenly collapse."

"Not too great, huh?" Viviane giggled. "You look like you've got a lot on your mind though."

"Hm? What do you mean?" Medrauta frowned, pondering the cause behind Viviane's latest statement. It was true that she had a couple things to consider after her chat with Scarlet and the memories of those childhood stories she'd regained, but they were hardly on her mind at the moment.

"I mean you look like you've been thinking a bit too much about something simple, Medrauta." Viviane grinned. "Besides, isn't there something you forgot?"

"...Something I forgot?" Medrauta looked around, searching for something she might've missed but finding nothing.

"My good morning kiss, silly!" Viviane laughed. "I know it's probably late into the afternoon by now, but don't you always kiss me when I wake up?"

"Ah... Right." Medrauta's cheeks reddened, averting her gaze from Viviane's. She had no idea why, but she suddenly found the idea extremely embarrassing despite having done so regularly. "I'm... Am I really allowed to?"

Viviane frowned, surprised at her knight's reaction. Normally, Medrauta would've just leaned in and gave her a quick peck on the lips without too much thought, but her behavior now was highly unusual. She peered a little closer at Medrauta's face, causing the knight's flushing cheeks to deepen in shade.

Sure enough, there's something bothering her, huh...? Viviane pursed her lips, thinking for a moment before coming to a decision. Abruptly, she gripped her knight's hands tightly and pulled Medrauta toward herself, eliciting a yelp of surprise from the knight.

Before Medrauta could react, Viviane planted a kiss on her beloved knight's lips, holding her there for several seconds before finally allowing Medrauta to break free.

"Of course you are," Viviane replied. "Since when did you forget that you're my girlfriend?"

"No, I mean... I know. It's just that I was thinking about..." Medrauta hesitated, not sure how to put her thoughts into words. After all, there was no easy way for her to explain her feelings after learning of the conditions for awakening a Paladin's Oath.

Conditions she somehow still hadn't met despite all she'd done.

"Hey, Medrauta." Viviane said abruptly, interrupting Medrauta's thoughts. "We're going to be on the attack tomorrow again. You'll be fighting the behemoth, and I... I know you'll win, but it'll be a while until we get a moment to ourselves."

Medrauta nodded wordlessly. Tomorrow would mark the beginning of their first real push to the second shield tower. The second shield tower where the Walpurgisknight lay in wait.

"I know you've got a lot to think about, but if it's not too selfish for me to ask, could you think about nothing else but me today? Let's spend this day together, just the two of us."

The tips of Medrauta's ears reddened immensely as Viviane leaned closer, unable to avert her eyes from her lady's golden gaze. Again, Viviane planted a kiss on Medrauta's lips, the knight's willpower capitulating under the indescribably soft sensation. When Viviane finally pulled herself away, the only thing Medrauta could manage was a meek "Okay."