episode_0144

*

“Are you buying a house?”

“Yes. My lord has shown me favor. Ms. Reika was really happy. They said they were happy just having a kitchen where they could cook freely.”

“Oh, that’s right. Reika, you bake bread really well.”

A bench in a small park created at Eingart Castle.

There, I was having a peaceful time chatting with Irene.

From what I heard, she had apparently been appointed second-in-command of the occupation force.

Only after hearing that story was I able to clearly understand the conversation that Serpina had just had with her general.

Being the second-in-command of the occupying force means sharing some military power, if not the level of commander, so it will certainly not look very good from the perspective of the existing personnel.

Even Irene, after all, had changed rulers twice.

I’m sure he’s getting strange looks because he’s tied up with wholesale money, having changed his clothes three times.

That’s probably why Serpina continues to say things like this to protect us.

‘Still, I’m glad you seem to have accepted it quite bravely.’

Well, whispering here won’t even be enough.

Because she was in an even more absurd situation in Brans County.

As we talked, my eyes naturally turned to the red knight’s uniform she was wearing neatly.

The Eingart family emblem engraved on the silver steel guard covering her chest now felt quite familiar.

‘however… … It’s definitely fascinating.’

While staying with Irene, I noticed that she had a compression bandage on her chest, but-

Considering her natural breast size, I think those braces would be quite restrictive.

Well, seeing as I was getting along well, it didn’t seem like that was necessarily the case.

Or did you overcome that pressure through physical training?

Now that I think about it, my lord, there was a time when Serpina’s breasts touched my body.

It was definitely an oppressive size that could be said to be not an ordinary woman’s… … Maybe it was because I always watched Irene, who had breasts so large that they seemed to destroy my world view, but I didn’t think they were very big.

“Swen… … ?”

“Yes?”

“Do you have any concerns? I think I just talked about myself too carelessly, without thinking from your perspective… … .”

I was able to tell by looking at her hesitating and not knowing what to do.

It seemed like she was having trouble thinking about her breasts.

Even if I were beaten to death, I couldn’t say that I couldn’t concentrate on the conversation with Irene for a moment because I was contemplating her huge breasts.

“No. It’s not that big of a deal, so you don’t have to worry.”

“Really? If that’s the case, I’m glad… … Still, if anything happens, I’d like you to tell me. It’s okay for me, and it’s okay for Reika too.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

So, some stories come to an end.

“Hmm, hmm.”

“… … ?”

Seeing her clear her throat for no reason, I naturally felt like I knew what she was thinking.

It’s been a while. Since there were few opportunities to talk like this, I felt a sense of normalcy just by reading her actions.

“I guess you have something to say?”

“Huh?! Oh no… … That’s it.”

“Right?”

Iren blushed, lowered her head, was silent for a while, and then-

Soon, he looked up at me slightly with a resigned smile.

Her pink lips felt very moist as she spoke.

“Swen. You… … Really, it’s like you can see inside me.”

“Of course. How long have we lived together?”

“I see. anyway… … So.”

Even after that, Irene hesitated for a while.

I waited without urging her until she spoke first.

As long as I wasn’t waiting for her to return safely from the battlefield, any wait was okay.

“Swen. therefore… … Right now, the situation is still a mess, so I’m not saying what to do right now. After the situation has passed and has stabilized to some extent… … .”

And she finally-

He looked straight into my eyes and felt his own emotions.

“Would you like to live with me? … ?”

“Together?”

“No, that’s… … So, that… … There are lots of rooms! The separate building is bigger than I thought. There are a lot of spare rooms, and there are quite a few maids to help, but I still feel somewhat lonely… … Of course, I’m not saying that I’m calling you because I have a spare room, but I… … !”

When I saw her shaking her hand and looking embarrassed, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“I like it. I think you can just tell the accommodation that you are moving out.”

“Really?… … Thank goodness.”

As she breathed a sigh of relief, a question arose.

“But why is it so difficult?”

“Huh? Like what… … ?”

Because she tilted her head, the side of her red hair slightly fell to the floor.

It was strangely cute to see her purple eyes looking up at me.

“We have been together ever since we first met. In some ways, this moment is unique, and it is returning to its original state, right?”

“That’s right, Swen, it’s exactly what you said… … .”

Irene hesitated, as if she was embarrassed, and then-

Soon, he carefully removed his lips.

“So far… … Because that’s just the situation.”

“What is the situation?”

“At first, you came to my house because Rin told you to. And after that, Yuuri just gave the house away… … I have never been able to formally propose to you that we live together.”

“This is my first time. To you, my heart… … What was conveyed correctly is.”

“… … .”

The moment you hear those words-

My head felt hot.

I felt my body getting hot.

-lovely.

This person is such a lovely person.

“So… … It’s bound to be difficult. Because it’s my first time.”

Iren said that and smiled slightly.

“Rather than holding a sword and risking my life on the battlefield, I would rather say a word to you, Swen… … It’s more difficult for me. Doesn’t it seem stupid? Because I’ve lived a funny life of looking at people who don’t look at me… … Dealing with people feels like the hardest thing in the world.”

“No.”

It’s not stupid.

“I don’t think so.”

Not for a moment did I think Irene was a funny person.

“Irene is a great person.”

Even in a situation where a criminal would have been in despair, the fact that he held on without collapsing.

No one can point a finger at you.

“I’m glad you told me this first.”

and.

The moment I realized that I had been abandoned by my lord… … Thank you for believing in me and following me.

“Good.”

“You like it? That means… … ?”

“Yes. We live together.”

“… … !!”

Her eyes sparkled when she heard what I said.

It was shaking like the Milky Way in the night sky, as if a meteor shower was about to fall at any moment.

I have never seen such clear eyes before.

“Thank goodness… … I’m really, really glad.”

“Are you that fortunate? I think it’s natural.”

“But… … Because of the circumstances, I thought he had no choice but to live with me… … Because that was the situation. Always, always.”

I could feel her voice becoming more and more dull.

It wasn’t a big deal from my perspective, but it seemed like she was going through quite a bit of trouble on her own.

Irene was quite a crybaby compared to what she looked like.

In fact, when we lived together, she always said she was sorry for making me feel a little uncomfortable.

He said that it would be difficult to deal with him because the genders are different and he is a superior.

Even in a situation where a subordinate of the opposite sex had to be brought into the house by the monarch – instead of getting angry or hurting me, she kept apologizing.

but.

“Not really.”

I can assure you that not once did she feel uncomfortable.

I loved watching her smile. It was nice to see her regaining her confidence.

Rather, life has been empty these past few days.

So much so that I realized how important she was in my life.

I hope this feeling is conveyed well.

I quietly folded my hand into Irene’s hand.

She was startled for a moment, but—

――You will not reject my touch.

“Actually, this may not be our destination. But, wherever I am, I want to stay with Irene.”

“Me too… … .”

“No matter where we are, please stay by my side. If Irene isn’t by my side, I’ll be in trouble in many ways. Did you know?”

“… … Yes.”

He nodded and held her hand tightly.

When I was in Brans County.

Even though he contributed the most to the Brans army’s conquest of the central continent, he was demoted.

Nevertheless, the precarious Irene Juliette, who did not give up and continued to try to be recognized, and who seemed to break if touched, no longer existed.

Instead, what is in front of you is-

Above all, she was a woman who looked at me with a firm, unwavering and upright heart.

* * *

A night when everyone is asleep.

Serpina spent the whole day thinking about the test Swen gave her, forgetting to sleep in her bedroom not far from the palace.

The outfit she is currently wearing is a slightly see-through negligee.

It was a very private outfit that he never wore anywhere other than his bedroom, where no one could access it.

Not a single person has ever seen her dressed like this.

The precarious lines of the negligee showed off her near-perfect feminine body.

What she was doing now was to open the map and look at the current situation between countries.

If you form an alliance with your country, the country that will benefit the most is-

‘It’s Brans.’

After reducing the front line as much as possible, we were able to stop the southern major offensive without worry.

Because there were no troops in the Aishous army capable of launching a full-scale offensive against Branth.

Nevertheless, he argued that it would be beneficial for us to form an alliance with the Brans army.

And I said I was in a position to know why.

‘No matter where you look, if it is true that it is beneficial to Brans Army but also beneficial to us… … Maybe, inside Brans, they don’t think so… … ?’

Serpina thought about how she would accept this situation if she were Brans-kun.

Aside from the strategic benefits, what if you belong to the Brans military?

What if I were Lin Brans or a subordinate under him?

‘… … !!’

Serpina seemed to realize something and stood up.

‘… … no way… … .’

“If you’re in that position, isn’t there something you can’t help but feel?”

“Serpina. You’ll probably be able to figure out the reason in no time. I trust you, Serpina.”

‘I think I know why you said that, Swen… … !’

Once a plausible conclusion had been reached, it was now time to put it into action.

‘if… … If things really work out the way I think, then… … !!!’

Serpina laughed with a deep blush on her face.

In her heart, a different emotion that she had never felt before in her life was filling up.