Although she was surprised, she was, by no means, scared. What she's feeling was more of... anticipation. She wanted to see just how good the young man was. That's why she didn't dare look away.
"Go and help him," she said to the two knights by her side.
"But your highness--"
"Go. I will be fine here," she said, cutting off whatever the two was going to say. Because she already knew what it would be. They would just say that they had to protect her. "We can't just let someone who's kind enough to help us fight those demons alone."
The last thing she said seemed to get through her two knights. But they still looked very reluctant to leave her alone. So, as a compromise, one knight stayed by her side and the other helped the young man.
With the two working together, defeating the demons became much easier. Although it took quite a lot of time, they managed to kill them all without any casualty.
Keith swung his sword to the side, making the blood of the demons he killed shook off at the force. He was planning to continue hunting when a voice called out to him from behind.
"Wait, please."
He glanced back and saw that it was the woman. Now that there were no demons around, he finally had a good look of the three people. Among them, the woman was definitely the most remarkable.
She had long strawberry blond locks and a pair of baby blue eyes full of determination. Keith could quickly tell that the other must be one of those aristocrats. He had dealt with one or two before when he went to the nearest town to sell the remains of the demons he killed. But the impression he had of them was the worst.
In this era when everyone could be killed easily by a demon attack, they still think that they're above everyone else. He didn't like that. He didn't like the fact that they think their lives were more important just because of their bloodline.
So, seeing the woman, the frown on his face became even more prominent. "Is there something?"
The question was sharp and neat, just like the way he fought with his sword. Somehow, the woman felt like she's being hated for no reason. But because of her upbringing, she did not get angry or annoyed. Maybe the other was just the type who didn't trust people easily.
That's why she still said in a good-natured way, "Thank you so much for helping us get rid of those demons. If it's okay with you, can you escort us to the nearest town? I promise, you'll be compensated well."
Keith was slightly startled by the woman's generous attitude. Because it was too different from the aristocrats he had met before. And it didn't feel force as well. The rejection he felt at first for the other lessened a bit.
Thinking of the other's request, he could kill demons while earning good money on the side. And since the other seemed to be a good enough person, there's really no reason for him to reject her offer. So, he agreed at the end.
The woman smiled brightly with that. "Great! I'm Eleanor, by the way. What's your name?"
"Keith."
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