Entering a certain shop, a young woman placed a stack of papers on the shops counter.

"Hn? What's this, young missy?", the shop owner asked.

"I have come on the orders of my master. He wishes for these items to be made. Today, if possible"

Hearing the girls words, he eyes the paper and closely inspected it.

The shop owner made a few grumbling noises before nodding his head.

"Well...It's not that's it impossible for me to finish it today but considering the design and the quantity, you'll be getting all of them by tomorrow. You fine with that?"

The shop owner gave his honest thoughts to which the girl nodded in acceptance.

"Very well. I expect to receive it tomorrow. Will this be enough as payment?"

The girl places a bag that is filled with silver coins on to the counter.

"Five is more than enough. I'm a craftsman not a greedy merchant", the shop owner snorted.

"Forgive me", the girl apologized.

"Is fine...Really now. Your master's real interesting to want this to be made. What's the use of it? My craftsman's curiosity is itching to know"

To the shop owner's words, the girl couldn't help but show a faint smile before answering.

"My master explained that it is a strategic game that is played by two people. I did not understand it very well, so pardon me for being unable to tell more"

"So it's a game? To design such pieces. I wonder what kind of imagination does he have?"

Looking at the drawn image on the piece of paper, the shop owner couldn't help but admire the designs.

He became interested in meeting with the person that made such drawings.

As a craftsman, he had seen various designs from various people, but not once had he been commissioned to create a game.

Seeing the shop owner admiring the papers, the girl couldn't help but chuckle in her heart.

An image of the master that she swore to protect appeared in her mind.

Though she saw her absence by his side as a failure as his guard, she could not help but answer to his wishes.

She swore that she would train herself to be able to quickly get to his side, even if they were far apart.

She vowed in her heart that never again would she let him face any danger. For he were to disappear, she would as well.

---

After accepting His Majesty’s request, I arrive in front of what I assume to be the princess's room.

Knock Knock Knock

The maid that guided me here, knocked before introducing my arrival.

“Princess, master Yuriel has come to see you”

There was no reply for a whole minute before the sudden clamor of someone hurrying could be heard coming from the other side of the door.

“Yuri!!!”

A soon as the door was swung open, a girl tackled me to the floor.

I felt winded by the sudden charge, but I still had strength to look at my attacker.

Straddling on top of me, is a girl about my age.

This person should be Princess Charlotte Centra Demure, the youngest daughter of His Majesty, King Kelvin Centra Demure…right?

The girl’s small arms wrapped around my body, holding herself close to me. The smell of flowers entered my nose due to how close her crimson-colored hair was to my face.

I was momentarily enraptured by her scent but I quickly pushed those thoughts aside.

“Princess, you are troubling master Yuriel”

A maid that came from inside her room went out to tried to pry her off of me. Sadly, it was no use as she was holding on strongly.

“How dare you make me worry! I forbid you from dying without my permission!”, she scolded while continuously gripping on to me.

Her maid was still trying to separate her from me but the small girl refused with all her might.

Seeing that it was useless, I raised my hand to signal the maid to stop.

I was hopeless as was to do in this situation, so I could only place my hand on her back and slowly caressed her head.

“I’m sorry”, were the words that I spoke.

It was clear that this girl deeply worried over me, over Yuriel.

Supporting her weight, I raised my body in order to get a better look at her face. Also, no matter how clean this corridor is, it’s still wrong to lay here.

She raises her face to meet mine, silently looking at me with her deep blue eyes that were clouded with tears.

I smiled at her then took out a handkerchief from my pocket. Wiping her cheeks that had tears dripping down her face, I smiled and spoke.

“Better?”, I asked her.

“Un…”, she nodded meekly.

I felt an unconscious smile crept on my face when I saw her adorable expression.

Seeing that she calmed down, I cast my eyes to her maid to which she understood as she immediately moved to help the princess stand up.

For a moment, I felt as though she was rather reluctant to separate from me but in the end, she stood up.

“...”

As she stood, she just quietly looked with her hands stretched out. She waiting for me to take her hand.

Smile~

I, of course, accepted her offer that which made her form a radiant smile.

She once again hugged me when I stood up.

“It is better that princess and master Yuriel enter the room. Doing such acts in this corridor will be quite troubling in someone were to see it”

The princess’s maid beckons us inside. Looking around, the maid that accompanied me here seems to have also left some time ago.

“Come inside, Yuri!”

Pulling my arm, I was made to enter her room by force.

“Um…princess?”

“Yes~?”

“This position is kinda…”

As soon I was inside, I was made to sit on a soft cushion on the floor by the princess. That in itself wouldn’t have been a problem but the princess also sat between my legs with her back comfortably leaning against me.

“Do you dislike it?”, she looks at me with puppy eyes.

My heart tightened from seeing her make that face, so I quickly corrected myself.

“What? O-Of course not!", I hastily answered. "It’s just that… don’t you think that this position is improper?”

“That is true but I haven’t seen Yuri a whole week! I was lonely!”

Hearing her words, I couldn't help but be troubled about my current situation. How I 'lost' my memories because of the incident and that I am still relearning everything.

“I know that face", the princess suddenly said. "I know that you are feeling troubled that Yuri doesn't really remember me”

“...How?”, I asked rather surprised.

“Well firstly, old Yuri wouldn't let me sit in this position”

“I guess…”

Even the me right now is having trouble being in this position right now.

“But even if new Yuri doesn’t remember his old self, Yuri will always be my Yuri...but”

“But?”

“I like the new Yuri more. You are kinder than old Yuri”

I could only smile wryly at her words.

“I am glad to hear that, princ-”

“Charlotte”

“Nn?”

I tilted my head in confusion but she turned bright red in return.

“Just call me Charlotte!”, she yelled. “We are e-engaged after all?”

“...Eh?”

My thoughts suddenly halted.

'What did she say? Engaged? Does that mean that she and I are…Eh?'

“Pr-”

“Char~lotte~”, she inflated her cheeks in annoyance.

“...C-Charlotte…what was it that you said again? I think I misheard you”

“You misheard nothing! Father and Uncle already agreed that I will marry Yuri when we grow up! You will become my husband after we graduate from the academy!”

She hugged me tightly, burying her face on to my chest.

I looked towards her maid in the hopes of better understanding what she said but her maid only made a nodding gesture towards me.

“...Do you not want to?”

Charlotte's face looked as if was on the verge of tears. Her fingers tightly gripped on to my shirt.

“N-No! That's not it!", I quickly answered. "…It’s just…I didn’t think I would be in a relationship so soon. And being betrothed to such a beautiful girl”

My face felt my face turn ablaze as I continued my words. I unconsciously turned my head away due to my embarrassment. 

'God... Why am I feeling so much embarrassment from a 9 year old girl!? Is it because I am now a child that I'm being so flustered?'

“Me? Yuri called me beautiful!?”, she shouted joyfully.

“...”

I simply nodded with my head turned as I couldn't really meet eye-contact with her.

“Ehehe~", chuckled with her cheeks turned rose pink. "Yuri is embarrassed”

Charlotte's grin widens before she opens up her arms to give me a tight embrace.

“Kkrk!!? Char-!!!”

My embarrassment quickly vanished as it was now replaced by an excruciating pain.

I was already conscious of it a moment ago but now I was truly made aware how this girl was someone that contradicts her appearance.

“C-Char...lotte…”

My insides felt like they were being squeezed out of my body as the strength of her embrace increased by the second.

“P-Princess, I believe that you should stop now!”, the maid called out in worry. “Master Yuriel had just recovered. It will be troubling if he were to be injured again”

“Ah! I-I’m sorry, Yuri”, she quickly released me from her grip. “A-Are you okay? Does it hurt?”

She proceeds to caress my back out of worry.

“N-No…I’m fine”, I replied.

I took deep breaths to recover that which was squeezed out of me.

'Is this what His Majesty meant by trying not get myself hurt?! From just where exactly does this girl get her strength from!?'

Just as I was finally able to catch my breath, Charlotte took hold of my hand and said.

"Y-Yuri...I'm sorry...but I still want you to know that no matter what. I will always be yours, so I hope that you also stay by my side"

We stared at each other in silence for sometimes before she quickly let go of my hand and ran off towards her bead, burying herself under a pile of cushions and pillows.

Is it bad that I find her actions to be charming?…Well no matter.

If I am now going to live as Yuriel Northe, I might as well follow what my feelings are telling me.

Approaching her bed, I sat on the edge of it and spoke.

“...Let us catch up on the time that I have forgotten, Charlotte”

“...Un”

Peeking under the mountain of pillows, she shows a bashful look as she accepted my offer. Her bright red cheeks showed her loveliness that shined brightly in my eyes.

---

After a while of catching up, Charlotte decided that she wanted the two of us to play a game.

I fully expected us to play with dolls or something a princess would want to play. Instead, Charlotte took out two wooden sword from a chest that laid at the corner of the room, throwing one towards me.

And with a wide grin on her face, she quickly dashed off and struck me without warning.

Regardless to say, I lost rather miserably.

It wasn't even once but multiple times.

Each time I was painfully struck by her without an ounce of mercy.

I really just wanted us to spend a leisurely time together.

Even though her maid was trying to stop her at first, but she eventually gave up and brought out a medical kit while seemingly sending me an apologetic gaze.

“Yuri became weak~?”, said Charlotte, as she rested her wooden sword against her shoulders.

“I can’t help it. I don’t remember how to use the sword after all”, I replied with a tired voice.

I tried to play it off it being caused by my ‘amnesia’, to which she seems to have accepted as a reason.

Even before dying, I never picked up a weapon to fight with someone, even as a form of playing.

The only time that I ever fought during my time on earth was when an idiot tried to mess with my sister, even then I barely managed to win against him.

“Well that’s fine! I’ll be the one to protect Yuri instead of the other way around. So Yuri should just go and focus on something different”

She puffs up her chest as she swings her prided wooden sword.

“If that’s the case, you won’t mind if I learned magic, right?”

“Yup! But I’m the one to protect Yuri so don’t bother learning how to fight with it”

“But I want to protect you too though?… Don’t you want me to?”, this time it was my turn to show a teary expression.

It seemed to have worked as she replied, “T-Then it’s fine, I guess”, with a bright red face.

I patted her head and thanked her.

“Nnn....It's unfair when Yuri uses his looks”

We continued the rest of our time chatting with each other. We talked about various things about her and she even told me about the things that the former Yuriel did.

I found out that the original Yuriel was deeply afraid of her. He often cried due to Charlotte’s ‘games’. There were often times when he would call Charlotte a ‘brute’ or ‘muscle-headed woman’ because he couldn’t stand her and her abnormal strength.

In spite of this, Yuriel didn’t seem to hate her, since if he did, father and His Majesty wouldn’t have let me meet with her. It may just be because Yuriel couldn't handle her rough playing.

“Lord Northe has ordered me to come get you”

Maybe because I was enjoying my time with Charlotte too much, I didn’t notice that it was nearing sunset.

A maid had come to inform me that father and I will be leaving soon.

“I want you to visit me soon, okay?”, Charlotte asks me after hugging me one last time. This time it was much gentler than the last.

“I’ll come as soon as I am free”

With our simple exchanges, I left Charlotte’s room to meet up with father.

When I arrived, father was already inside of the carriage, seemingly tired.

“Good work today, father”, I said as I entered the carriage.

“...Ah, Yuriel. Thank you…Father just needs to rest his eyes, okay? Because of His Majesty's careless use of magic, many of the documents became mixed with other documents”

Father didn’t seem to have the energy to speak anymore. Looks like his work today was more hectic than it usually was.

As the carriage moved down the capital’s streets, I heard father coughing to catch my attention.

“Yes, father?”

“...So? How was the princess?”

“She was nice. Quite free-spirited though but at least she knows when to be gentle”

“I see…then did you find out?”

“That the two of us were engaged? Yes. It was quite the surprise but I thought that it would not be so bad be marrying such a cute girl”, I gave him my honest thought.

Hearing my words, father smiled gently with his eyes closing in satisfaction.

“That’s good, that’s good. Though publicly, you are only known as a marriage candidate, His Majesty and I had already decided that the two of you will officially be engaged once both of you have reached your coming-of-age ceremonies next year. I had simply thought that you would once again request me to cancel your engagement with the princess”

“I refused the engagement?”, I asked.

“Before, yes. You kept insisting that you did not want a wife that was a ‘muscle-head’”, he showed a troubled smile while he scratched his cheek.

“...Ah…Father”, seeing his expression, I decided to say to him what I wanted to say for some time now.

“Hmm?”

“I’m sorry for being a such a difficult child before”, I bowed at him.

“.…..Well we know that we are also at fault for sheltering you too much, but that is now a thing of the past… Since your reputation is not that well, you will need to work hard in fixing it by yourself”

“I understand”

Father patted my head as he smiled.

“...Father, may I request something of you?”

“What is it?”

“I want to learn how to use magic. I want to be able to learn how to protect Charlotte and those who are important to me. I do not know what the future has in store for me but whatever it is that happens, I least want to be able to have the ability to protect those that I hold dear”

His eyes slightly widened. He couldn’t believe the words that a 9 year old child said, but after a short moment he once again smiled and caressed my head.

“As you wish. Luckily, Miss Riona is also a skilled magic instructor. I will inform her tomorrow and make it so that magic studies will be a part of your subjects”

“Thank you, father”

“But remember this. Learning magic is not an easy task and if you were to fail, it could result in injuring yourself. Are you still sure about it?”

“Yes. There is nothing in this world that comes without risk. I need to be able to endure at least that much if I wish to obtain my goals”

Nodding at my words, father once again rested his back against his seat.

“Hah…You are only 9 years old and yet you are already saying such mature words. It is as if losing your memory changed you into a completely different person”

I could only smile at father, who now had closed his eye to rest.

I couldn’t exactly tell him that I really was a different person after all.