…

Today we were sent in twos to patrol the royal city. It served as a kind of exercise so that we could also find our way around the surrounding town. In addition, of course, we should also guarantee the safety of the citizens.

I was delighted that Jon was assigned here with me as he was born and raised here in the royal capital. Because my sense of direction was like that of a pebble.

The capital was quite large and confusing. Everywhere there were small alleys and winding roads that could lead you astray. Without Jon I would have been lost long ago.

However, as I walked down the crowded alleys with Jon, I noticed the looks of passers-by who kept eyeing us curiously.

This confused me a bit.

Was it so rare to see palace guard trainees out here in town?

Actually, that can't be the case, since there are new trainees every year. So the local residents should be used to seeing us.

"Tell me, Jon...why are those women over there looking at us so weirdly?" I finally asked, turning to Jon, who then started to smile knowingly, as we got closer to the group of the giggling women.

"They're not looking at us. They're looking at you." He answered.

"But-"

"I think they want something from you. Why don't you go and talk to them? That's probably what they're waiting for. There are some really pretty ones among them. Why don't you try your luck?" He advised me, so that I stopped for a moment, taken aback.

"B-but I can't do that! I'm on duty." I tried to talk myself out anxiously, while I caught up with him again. After all, i couldn't just tell him that i was attracted to men. that would probably just end in massive chaos.

"Honestly, Chris. You are far too shy and submissive. A little more confidence would do you good."

"I am sorry."

"And stop apologizing all the time." He admonished me, smiling mildly.

"Yes I'm sorry."

He then only reprimanded me with a playfully challenging look before we both started laughing together.

"Oh man. You are really something else." Jon said amicably and slapped me on the shoulder so that I almost fell over.

"If i had your face, i would have become a womanizer long ago. Why are you holding back so much? I don't think I've ever seen such a prudish eighteen year old." He said when we had finished our patrol and gradually returned to the palace.

"I...I don't know. I'd rather wait for the right person." I said evasively.

"Oh man, have you heard too many women's stories or what?" Jon asked laughing, which provoked me a bit.

"No, but I'd rather be responsible. Not that I don't catch something afterwards." I answered honestly, eyeing him sideways.

"What do you mean? That a pretty woman you've laid won't let you go?"

"No, I was thinking more of ... sexually transmitted diseases."

"What's this?" Jon really seemed to have no idea what I was talking about and it shocked me.

Actually, I should have known that normal guards were probably not enlightened on such topics either. Still, it was somehow a little scary. I'd better never come into contact with his blood.

"These are diseases you can get if you have sex with an infected person. People who don't really have well-known and constantly changing sex partners get that kind of thing quickly." I tried to explain it to him as simply as possible.

"I've never heard of that before. Are you making that up to scare me?" John asked, half laughing, half serious.

I looked at him horrified.

"Why should I invent something so horrible?! Syphilis, AIDS or chlamydia aren't funny. I've seen enough reports about them." I explained with my arms crossed in front of my chest.

"Reports? Have you ever done medical training?" Jon suddenly asked energetically, whereupon I paused again briefly.

Why did I tell him that? It was stupid of me.

How should a supposedly normal citizen or guard know about such diseases? And that in a world where it felt like only two percent of humanity could read?

"Uh...I don't know exactly...it just occurred to me. But I don't remember that well." I lied.

"That's awesome! So you were trained by a physician before you came here?" Jon made sure again.

I wanted to say no, but couldn't think of a good excuse.

"No … I don't think so." I tried to talk my way out. But it sounded like a lame excuse.

"Nonsense! It must have been like that! We absolutely have to report that to Commandant Braven! You were able to remember something of your past!" Jon was pretty excited now. But I couldn't blame him either.

After all, he still thought that he was somehow to blame for my memory loss during the accident. He probably just wanted to help me. He didn't know that he could indirectly lead me to my downfall.

"That... can we maybe keep that a secret?" I tried to ask him cautiously. I didn't want to upset him after all.

"Why?" Jon seemed genuinely confused. He probably didn't see why I wanted to keep this a secret.

How was he supposed to know? After all, he didn't know anything about my previous life.

"I'm not really sure if it's true and I don't want to disappoint anyone." I explained to him curtly.

"Sure, if you think so..." Jon said, only a little under his breath. He seemed a little bit disappointed.

I could only really hope he didn't tell anyone.