“What’s with you? How much longer are you going to cry?”
Astraea, now clear-headed, held Ron’s head helplessly while he continued to embrace the little elf’s petite frame.
They had maintained this position for half an hour, during which Ron seemed to be venting his emotions as if something was deeply troubling him. The little elf’s soft chest had started to feel quite sensitive as a result.
Blushing, Astraea instinctively sensed something off, but seeing how earnest Ron seemed, she could only let him get it out of his system.
Of course, being held by Ron felt good—that was something the little elf would never admit aloud.
Another half hour passed. Ron, who had been faking his sadness, finally stopped his free-loading behavior. Reluctant to part from the little elf’s softness, he looked up and saw…
Astraea staring back at him with a gentle expression. Ron’s heart thumped uncontrollably. No matter how many times, he would always get lost in that tenderness.
But now that he thought about it, his recent shameless behavior…
“It’s okay, Ron. You wanted to prove yourself, right?” Astraea said softly. She was an elf, not a block of wood. She had noticed his fake tears and cuddling trick, but she still chose to indulge his greed.
In her eyes, a seventeen-year-old was still just a child. Children weren’t ready to face the world, so as an adult—at least mentally—it was her responsibility to protect him.
Even if he had some mischievous intentions mixed in.
This time, Ron’s conscience was truly troubled. He suddenly felt he couldn’t quite grasp the path of knighthood. After all, he hadn’t mastered any of the virtues a knight should have.
What? If it were about knightly virtues, he should draw his sword and cut down the little elf right now.
Never mind. Better not bother with that nonsense.
That said, his conscience still gnawed at him, yet he couldn’t bring himself to let go of the little elf in his arms.
In Ron’s eyes, having grown up without maternal love, the gentle and adorable Astraea was someone who could simultaneously be his mother, lover, and even daughter!
How could he bear to let go of someone like that? No, not only would he not let go, but he also refused to be separated from Astraea. He wouldn’t allow anything to harm the one in his arms—not even a so-called god.
In that instant, Astraea felt a change in the aura emanating from Ron as he held her. Just as she was puzzled, five dazzling beams of light burst from Ron’s body. The light was so brilliant, just like what she had dreamed of earlier.
But this brilliant light didn’t harm Astraea in the least. Instead, she found herself unconsciously drawn to it, pressing closer into Ron’s embrace.
For the first time, Astraea found clothes to be such inconvenient things. She wished she could stick to Ron right then and there.
“Astraea.” Ron looked directly into the little elf’s eyes, and she looked back into his.
Ron’s eyes were pure, only showing their natural brown hue. Even with the five-colored divine light radiating from his body, his eyes remained unaffected.
“Hmm?” Astraea responded, suddenly feeling a premonition that she would never be able to escape Ron for the rest of her life.
“Don’t leave me, okay?”
Ron spoke solemnly to the little elf, still unwilling to let her go.
Now, Astraea faced two choices.
One: refuse, and then be fried, fried, and fried again by a despondent Ron.
Two…
“I won’t leave you, Ron. You’re my centaur… no, my good student.”
Realizing she had said something unlucky, Astraea quickly corrected herself. But she didn’t notice that upon hearing her reply, Ron’s eyes dimmed for a moment.
“Just a student? Oh well.”
Ron finally let go of Astraea. He stood up and stepped back. His two-meter-tall frame was imposing, but the little elf could only feel closeness from him.
Radiating five-colored divine light, Ron picked up his longsword and planted it on the ground. The scabbard made a clang as it touched the floor made of some wood Astraea couldn’t name.
Then Ron knelt on one knee, his expression solemn. “By… my own witness, I, Ron Ilwan Logan, shall become Astraea Saienxier’s guardian knight, until death do us part.”
Ron remembered the little elf saying she didn’t like any gods witnessing their vows, so he changed the oath on the spot. Yet Astraea could still feel a mysterious connection being established between them.
A guardian knight!
The most devoted oath a knight could swear, and Ron used it for her. Astraea’s feelings were complicated.
She did have some affection for Ron now, but she wasn’t ready to entrust herself to him.
Yet Ron had sworn to become her guardian knight, meaning even if she wanted to kill a god, Ron would stand in front to protect her.
‘For an elf like me, such determination?’
Astraea lowered her gaze and saw the collar around her neck.
Damn. That killed the mood.
The little elf remembered her dizzy state when Ron tricked her. Her face darkened.
She reached out and grabbed Ron’s cheeks.
Squeeze, squeeze, squeeze.
Ron didn’t resist, just knelt there, letting her knead his face.
The trick was indeed his fault, but now he was sincere.
Seeming satisfied, Astraea released Ron’s cheeks after a bit.
The texture wasn’t great, but he had what it took to be a knight.
With that thought, Astraea stepped forward and pulled Ron’s head into her embrace.
“I accept.”
Astraea smiled gently. As she responded, the connection between them peaked. She could even feel the throb in Ron’s heart for her.
Then… Ron nuzzled his head against the little elf’s soft chest. Astraea paused, then let go.
“Pervert! Beast! Scum! So you really like this kind of thing, don’t you!”
Astraea’s eyes showed disgust. Without thinking, a smooth chain of insults flowed from her lips.
Ron nodded in satisfaction. The dizzy, gentle little elf was cute, but he preferred seeing her like this.
Feeling Ron’s intentions through the guardian knight contract, the little elf’s face showed even more contempt. Sensing something, Ron immediately put down his sword and flopped onto the ground.
Sure enough, he soon felt something small and soft land on his head.
Astraea’s foot.
She had taken off her shoe, revealing her small, cute foot, and unceremoniously stepped on Ron’s head.
“Absolutely hopeless pervert of a knight.” Astraea’s scornful words didn’t hold back. “Wanting to be stepped on by me. You’re a disgrace of a noble, aren’t you? What would your father think? He’d definitely disown you. Being trampled by a woman, your knightly honor is gone. Such a pervert…”
Ron was shamefully excited. That excitement transmitted to Astraea, whose contempt deepened.
“Pervert scum knight. I’m wearing a skirt, you know. If you look up now…”
Ron immediately lifted his head and saw a magnificent sight.
Holy crap, this lady’s name is Meichuan Neiku!
“Hey, pervert knight, you actually looked?”
Fully aware of what she was doing, the little elf stomped her foot hard onto Ron’s handsome face, fighting back her embarrassment as she played along with his absurd game.
Until the door opened. Astraea, flushed from face to ears, turned to see the duke standing at the entrance.
“You youngsters sure know how to have fun.” Having just finished a game even more outrageous than theirs, Maximus commented with a smirk before closing the door. “Lock it next time.”
…
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. A guardian knight. That elf has really bewitched you, kid.”
Sitting in his study, Maximus eyed Ron and Astraea with interest as they entered.
He wouldn’t judge Ron’s choice. Everyone had their own path. Becoming a guardian knight for an elf was unusual, but not unheard of in history.
Though Maximus recalled the last person who did that ended up burned alive by the Church of All-Father’s priests in front of the elf he guarded.
More precisely, the knight and elf were burned together, face to face.
Ron kept a straight face, but Astraea was mortified. She could smell the elf scent on the duke, even stronger than when they first met.
“I called you here for something important. Let me formally introduce myself. My full name is Maximus Aurelius Flavius.”
“I’m Ron Ilwan Logan.”
“Astraea Saienxier.”
Ron and the little elf gave their full names briefly, waiting for Maximus to continue.
“Good. Sir Ron, are you interested in working for me?”
Maximus sat in a massive chair custom-made for him, his hands clasped on an equally huge desk as he stared intently at Ron.
Ron’s thoughts were unclear, but Astraea’s eyes lit up.
This was the regent of the Human Kingdom! The pay and benefits must be incredible! If Ron could latch onto this thigh, wouldn’t he be able to do whatever he wanted in the entire Human Kingdom?
But Astraea wasn’t blinded by good treatment. She knew every gain came with a loss. The Human Kingdom wasn’t peaceful. In her one month of memory, she had encountered countless bandits and robbers.
Why were there so many bandits? Surely it had nothing to do with the kingdom’s heavy taxes, right? Ha ha.
In short, many factions in the kingdom were dissatisfied with the duke. Astraea calmed down, ready to hear what Maximus had to say.
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