Volume 1 Chapter 17 When We Start Using Nicknames, It Feels Like We're Closer
On the day they received temporary entry permission for Elizabeth from the royal palace... Randy, Elizabeth, and Eleonora were hurriedly leaving Victor Territory.
After safely crossing the border and having a calm journey without any incidents for about ten days... Randy and the others had reached a point very close to the royal capital.
"Well, it's surprising that we got permission after all this time."
"Well, His Excellency and my old man were secretly scheming."
Randy shrugged and looked out at the grasslands stretching outside the window. He knew that his father Alan and Marquis Lucian were working behind the scenes, but he didn't know the details.
Still, he didn't pry into their discussions because he understood that he wouldn't be of any help.
Reincarnated person.
A second life.
It sounds nice, but he wasn't a Superman who could do anything.
Even if he had a privileged start, he was a complete amateur when it came to the political games and the scheming among nobles. It was better to leave what he couldn't do to those who could. Thinking he could handle everything from start to finish was just arrogance.
(They say to leave it to the experts... but I'm sure I'm being watched.)
Randy's gaze caught the massive castle walls of the royal capital in the distance. Elizabeth seemed to notice the walls too, showing clear signs of tension. It was understandable. Besides crossing the border, no one knew Elizabeth's face.
But now they were heading to the royal capital and the academy. It was hard to believe that anyone who knew Elizabeth's face wouldn't look at her strangely, knowing what had happened to her.
"Don't worry. It's just at first. Right now, you're not the daughter of Marquis Braubelg, but a civil servant of our family. I'll protect you if anything happens."
Randy smiled, and Elizabeth nodded softly, saying, "Yes."
"The master protects the servant, huh?"
"Well, that's how it is. Right person for the right job."
Randy shrugged, and Elizabeth couldn't help but smile a little. It seemed her tension had eased a bit, and feeling relieved, Randy said, "By the way," as he rummaged through his pocket and pulled out 2 bracelets──
* * *
Time rewinds.
On the day it was decided that he would attend the academy with Elizabeth, Randy had come to Beast Forest. He claimed it was to gather meat for dinner tonight, but that was just an excuse.
The real reason was that he couldn't stand being there any longer. And another reason was...
"Alright, I think I have all the materials I need."
...because he wanted certain materials. If someone asked what materials he wanted the day before going to the academy, it would be the materials to make a protective charm.
It was good to guard Elizabeth, but Randy had no way to deal with something like poisoning. So, he decided to use this Craft ability to create a charm to protect himself from poison.
Randy hurriedly hunted beasts in Beast Forest to gather materials for a while... After collecting the materials he needed, he started crafting items right in the middle of the Beast Forest.
He was making an amulet that would protect against status effects like poison and paralysis.
(Hmm. What shape should I make it? A ring... probably not a good idea.)
While thinking, Randy crushed a giant lizard that attacked him with just one punch while sitting down. It was a Greater Lizard. In terms of beast rank, it was about B, but it wasn't something you could crush with just one punch.
However, Randy easily did it and said, "Oh, this one has a better color," as he pulled out the Greater Lizard's red eye. The sparkling eye, like a shiny ruby, resembled Eleonora's eye color in some way.
"Perfect."
With a smile, Randy combined the pure white magic stone and the ruby-like eye──creating a small magic stone that glowed red. He tossed aside a dull red magic stone he had taken out from his pocket and pulled out a blue magic stone instead.
When he placed the blue and red magic stones side by side, they emitted a glow that reminded him of Elizabeth and Eleonora.
As if drawn by the glow, another beast appeared, but before it could sink its fangs into Randy, its body was split apart and blown away.
"Um, let's do it like this..."
This time, Randy decided to make a bracelet-type amulet to give to Elizabeth. With his limited magical power, it was a bit risky to create a complex tool from scratch, but a simple shape like a bracelet was no problem.
He transformed some unused silverware into a bracelet, mixed in materials from beasts that were resistant to poison and paralysis, and just needed to attach the magic stones──an easy job.
After a while of quietly making the bracelet... 2 oddly shaped bracelets appeared in Randy's hands. They were asymmetrical bracelets with red and blue magic stones attached, looking quite similar.
(I hope they fit well together.)
As Randy wished for this while bringing the bracelets together, the two bracelets perfectly overlapped and became one. It was a simple bracelet with no fancy decorations, except for the two magic stones side by side. Satisfied with how it turned out, Randy nodded, but at the same time, he realized something.
(Is it really okay to give such a handmade charm?)
Randy had worked hard on it, and it didn't turn out badly. But the recipient was an ancient great magician and a former marquis's daughter. He couldn't help but think it might have been better to ask Marquis Lucian for a high-quality item instead.
(Well, I'll decide whether to give it to her based on her reaction.)
* * *
Randy presented the crafted bracelet to Elizabeth.
"What is this?"
"It's a charm that protects against status effects like poison and paralysis. Though, it's disposable."
While explaining, Randy handed one with the blue magic stone to Elizabeth. Seeing Elizabeth's eyes sparkle with joy, Randy let out a sigh of relief inside. He didn't think kind Elizabeth would react strangely, but it was a relief to see her genuinely happy.
"Miss Elizabeth, I'm sorry, but could you switch with Eleonora?"
Randy's words and the other bracelet left in his hand must have given it away. Elizabeth nodded and switched places with Eleonora.
"What's up, kid? Calling me out like this──."
"This is for you."
Randy handed over the bracelet in a blunt manner, causing Eleonora to furrow her brows.
"Isn't one for the girl enough?"
When Eleonora continued with, "There's only one body," Randy shook his head.
"Even if there's one body, you two are separate, right? So it wouldn't make sense not to make one for each. After all, the body belongs to Miss Elizabeth. I have to protect you too."
Randy snorted, and Eleonora gave him a scrutinizing smile.
"You're quite the diligent man. Treating me as a person."
"Of course. You and Miss Elizabeth are different people. You're strange, but you're you. It's only natural to treat you separately from Miss Elizabeth."
Randy snorted again, and Eleonora laughed heartily.
"I never thought you were in love with me."
"Why would it be like that?"
Randy looked exasperated, and Eleonora laughed again, saying, "You're blushing." This made Randy feel the need to retort.
"If you got your body back and turned into a curvy beauty, then maybe I'd consider it."
With a mischievous grin, Randy made Eleonora laugh again, and she shifted her focus back to Elizabeth.
"Curvy... you say?"
Randy quickly shook his head at Elizabeth's somewhat icy gaze. "I-It's just a joke!" Seeing Randy panic so much made Elizabeth smile as she put the two bracelets on her arms.
"They're beautiful. The colors match mine and Eleonora's. Sir Randolph... thank you very much."
"I'm glad you like it."
Randy felt a sigh of relief inside, but he froze at Elizabeth's next words.
"Sir Randolph. Since you went through the trouble, could you please talk to me casually like you do with Eleonora?"
"Huh?"
A silly voice slipped out of Randy, but he shook his head vigorously.
"N-No way I can talk casually to Miss Elizabeth."
"But from now on, I'm your servant."
"Ugh... that's true, but..."
Randy hesitated, struggling to find the right words.
"Then, at least only in front of everyone──."
He noticed Elizabeth's face slightly clouding at his words.
"Got it."
Randy slapped his thigh, making Elizabeth look up in surprise.
"Okay. Since we're master and servant, I'll talk to you casually... but just because I talk casually doesn't mean I won't hold back."
"Yes!"
Seeing Elizabeth's happy face, Randy let out a big sigh, feeling like whatever happens, happens.
"First, let's activate the charm."
At Randy's words, Elizabeth looked down at the bracelet.
"If you channel the magical power into each gem, the effect will activate. Even if the body is the same, the quality of the magical power depends on the soul, right? Like... Elizabeth and Eleonora."
Randy gathered his courage and almost called her by a nickname, but in the end, he hesitated and just used her name. It felt pretty pathetic, but he thought he couldn't mess up the distance with a girl... Even though he was determined, he noticed Elizabeth looking a bit dissatisfied, and he sighed, thinking (I messed up).
While Randy sulked, Elizabeth used her magical power and switched back with Eleonora.
"Hey, you actually have a cute side, don't you?"
Eleonora laughed loudly through the magical power, teasing Randy. He pouted and looked out the window, saying, "Shut up."
"That's right, kid. I'll give you the right to give me a nickname."
"I don't want it. Are you trying to annoy me?"
"Don't be shy."
"Who's shy──."
Randy turned to face Eleonora, but he saw a hint of seriousness in her joking gaze.
"...I see. The name of the ancient great magician is a bit tricky, huh?"
"You're surprisingly smart."
Eleonora nodded happily, and Randy sighed, saying, "I guess I have no choice."
(Eleonora... Eleanor. Normally, it would be Nora.)
The sound of Nora felt too strong for Eleonora, so he couldn't bring himself to call her that. Since he had the right to give her a nickname, he thought he would tease her with something really cute, and a mischievous smile appeared on Randy's face.
"I've thought of a great nickname!"
Randy's bad smile made Eleonora look slightly annoyed. She probably realized his intentions, but it was too late.
"Your nickname is Ellie. How's that? Cute, right?"
"What kind of cute nickname is that?!"
"It's a nickname. It's cute, so it's fine."
Randy laughed with a "Kukuku" and, with a triumphant look, patted Eleonora on the shoulder, saying, "I look forward to working with you, Ellie."
Since he was the one who said it, Eleonora couldn't back down. She stiffened her smile a bit but nodded as if she had given up, saying, "Well, fine."
"I'll allow you and that girl to call me Ellie."
Saying that, she disappeared again, switching back to Elizabeth... but when Elizabeth returned, her gaze seemed a bit envious.
"Elizabeth?"
"Yes."
She smiled happily, but there was something about her expression that seemed a bit off.
(Should I give Elizabeth a nickname too?)
Randy looked straight at her, and Elizabeth tilted her head slightly.
(I, I don't know the right answer. But, should I try?)
Hoping for a better reaction than before, Randy decided to speak up.
"I was thinking, calling you Elizabeth every time feels a bit too formal. But 'Liza' is a nickname for the Marquis family, right?"
Maybe she understood his intention, as a glimmer of hope appeared in Liza's eyes.
"That's true... Elizabeth, huh?"
(If I think about it normally, it would be Betty, but that feels a bit off.)
"How about Eliza... Liza... or Liz?"
"Yes! From now on, please call me Liz!"
Her bright smile was dazzling.
(Who was the idiot that called her [Ice Princess]?)
Randy felt relieved that he had somehow guessed correctly, and since they were alone, he decided to make a certain suggestion to Elizabeth, or Liz.
"I'm fine with you calling me Randy when it's just the two of us. I'm not good with formal stuff."
Liz nodded at Randy, shrugging his shoulders.
"Okay. I look forward to working with you, Randy."
The combination of her smile and the nickname was overwhelming.
(If this gets back to His Excellency, I hope I won't end up sinking in the sea or something.)
Ignoring Randy's worries, the carriage soon arrived at the royal capital──
"Calling each other by nicknames feels like a scandalous relationship."
"Shut up! You stay out of this!"
"Y-yes! We have a pure relationship──."
The cheerful voices spilling from the carriage made the driver, Harrison, look up at the blue sky.
"Being young is nice, huh?"
His words were carried away by the cool breeze that was starting to blow.
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