episode_0275

After hearing the soldier’s voice, I immediately spoke to Reika, who was sitting across from me and had her head bowed.

“I… …I think I’ve arrived, Reika-san.”

“Huh?! Ah, ah… … Yes, net… … !”

“… … .”

So, our conversation ends.

In fact, for several more days before we arrived here from the relief camp near Kehlstein Castle, this was roughly what Reika and I were going through.

A time when we don’t exchange a single word except for essential conversations and can’t even make eye contact with each other properly.

It was certainly strange, considering that we chatted about this and that on our way to the relief camp.

……no.

Actually, there wasn’t anything that strange.

Well, since ‘that kind of thing’ happened, it was inevitable that the relationship would become awkward.

‘… … .’

I unconsciously swipe my tongue across my lips.

Even though quite some time has passed, I still get the illusion that I can smell a strange sweet scent.

‘Miss Reika… …you kissed me.’

Why on earth?

Because she rushed forward so fiercely and without hesitation, I too had mixed feelings.

You suddenly developed feelings for me? Something… … I can’t think of a specific reason.

Did you originally have feelings for me? If so, wouldn’t you have said something when the marriage proposal came up?

wait for a sec.

So, do you want to marry me?

That’s right. She didn’t seem like the kind of woman who would put her lips on someone she wasn’t even going to marry. Reika, on the other hand, was a person who was close to being completely shy.

‘Hmm… … .’

No matter how much I thought about it, I still couldn’t understand why she acted so rashly, but it wasn’t like I felt bad about it.

I carefully looked at Reika’s face.

A soft, fluffy white face, breasts that give the impression of being quite large, and plump thighs visible under the skirt.

This body is definitely something that people who like soft things will really like.

Not only her body, but her face as well… … She’s pretty to that extent. Serpina has an appearance that’s completely different from others, but Reika’s looks were enough to make many men sway. It’s just that she couldn’t do it because she’s timid.

Was it unpleasant to kiss a woman like that?

If it was someone I just met, it might have been a little uncomfortable, but if it was someone like Reika, who I’d been with for quite some time, then well…

In conclusion, it was good. Honestly, I definitely got a response from men.

Anyway, I didn’t want to drag this situation out any longer.

She and I live under the same roof anyway, and if this subtle atmosphere continues, it’s obvious that our landlady, Irene, will be uncomfortable.

Now that we’ve finally arrived in the capital, I think it’s time to start talking.

“Hey, Reika.”

“Heeek… … !”

“… … .”

Just when I was thinking that I might get hurt, Reika quickly waved her hand and said.

“Ah, no! S, S… … Swen. I, I’m sorry… …! I, I had a slightly different idea… … so… … .”

“Is that so? Is it a bit difficult to talk?”

“No no! The conversation is fine! Totally! Totally fine… … Yeah! Maybe… … too.”

After saying that, Reika lowered her head again and muttered something like, “I’m sorry” or “I’ll just die.”

“… … What… … happened that day, right?”

“… … !”

“You know?”

At my words, Reika quietly nodded her head several times.

He doesn’t answer, but instead his face turns red like a ripe tomato.

“Well… … Honestly, I was a little embarrassed… … but I didn’t say no or anything.”

“Ah… …yes, yes.”

“So, what… … that is.”

……this.

I tried to speak as calmly as possible, but it was harder than I thought to say it out loud.

I continued talking, avoiding eye contact with her and placing my hand on my heated head.

“Let’s just… …let’s just pretend it never happened… … .”

“… … !”

“So, I hope you don’t worry too much and just act comfortably. If I continue to be awkward like this with Reika-san, I think I’ll be really lonely too.”

After saying that, how long did he wait for her to answer?

I turned my gaze to where she was at the sound of an inaudible voice-

“… … .”

“Ms. Reika… … ?”

Tears were flowing from her eyes.

Embarrassed, I approached her.

“Wh, what’s going on? Reika-san?”

“Ah, that, that… … that.”

Reika hurriedly wiped away her tears with her sleeve.

Looking at this, it seemed like even she herself didn’t know why she was crying.

“That’s right… … Huh? That, that’s right… … .”

‘… … ??’

I quickly rolled my head.

Even if you type a question like ‘Why is Reika Nighthart suddenly crying?’ in your head, you won’t get a proper answer.

So now I have to think about what I should do for myself.

‘……no way.’

Fortunately, there was one part that I had a guess about.

It was extremely embarrassing to say it myself… … but I hated seeing Reika crying more than I did feeling embarrassed.

“Let’s pretend it never happened. That is, it doesn’t mean we’re literally pretending it never happened.”

“… … Yes?”

“Just… … If you keep feeling embarrassed and awkward about that… … It’ll be hard to talk to Reika anymore, right? So let’s just let it go. Let’s accept it. That’s what I mean. That, the kiss… … I’m not saying that it wasn’t anything at all.”

For some reason, this felt like the right answer. Maybe he was sad that I treated that kiss as if it never happened, or something like that.

Just a moment ago, I was too embarrassed to even look you in the eye, but seeing you crying made me say those words so easily.

I definitely felt weak when someone cried. Both with Serpina and with Iren.

“So… …don’t cry. Got it?”

“… … .”

Instead of answering, Reika opened her arms and hugged me.

I hugged her too.

At the same time as I felt her warmth, the touch of her shoulders shaking as she sobbed while being held, and the sweet smell I smelled when I kissed her tickled my nose again.

‘Maybe it’s time to think a little more seriously about marriage… ‘

I just thought, ‘It won’t be too late even after I return to Luna-kun’―

Still, it can’t hurt to make sure.

It’s marriage.

I always thought of the faces of women who were thinking about marriage.

Ms. Irene.

Miss Reika.

and–

‘……ah.’

When I think about it that way, the face of ‘that person’ comes to mind without me knowing.

That person… …

* * *

“It’s today.”

At Serpina’s voice, which seemed more excited than usual, Irene also responded with a slightly happier tone.

“If there are no problems with the schedule, I think it will definitely arrive today.”

“Hoohoo… … You can’t hide the joy in your voice, Irene.”

Instead of answering, Irene smiled faintly.

From that night, the day they confessed their feelings to each other and drank alcohol, Irene and Serpina’s relationship had become much closer than before.

The fact that he was stuck with her almost all day long due to his position as a bodyguard must have had a big impact.

In any case, during this period, Serpina was reborn as something much bigger to Irene than just someone who was ‘someone to repay a favor’.

It was the most satisfying feeling she had ever had in her entire life of public service. In other words, the feeling that she was finally serving a ‘master worthy of serving’ was energizing her.

Serpina, like Serpina, was closer to Irene than any of her close associates.

Since this was originally Swen’s place, he wanted to have someone close to him by his side, and above all, he was certain that Irene would not stab him in the back.

Moreover, there was definitely a part where he felt more comfortable with Irene, a woman like himself, than with Swen, with whom he couldn’t help but feel a strange sexual tension.

You might hear people say things like “sexual tension” or something like that when someone is in the position of a monarch, but she is still human after all.

In conclusion, the bond between the two was quite different from when Swen left.

“Stay with him today, Irene. He’s been through a lot, and he needs you.”

“Yes? But, since you just finished a hard day’s work, shouldn’t you give yourself some time to rest? … .”

Serpina, hearing Irene’s serious words, laughs as if she finds it funny.

“If you really think so, you’re a really great woman. It’s a pretty good response that makes me think again about Swen’s tastes.”

“Ah… … .”

For some reason, Irene felt embarrassed, blushed, and lowered her head.

Well, I don’t know exactly what Serpina is talking about… … but anyway, I didn’t feel bad about her saying that.

Should I say that it feels like we are on the same wavelength as humans, beyond just being rulers and subjects?

This feeling was even more evident considering that he was in conflict with Lin.

Serpina, rather than bringing up that topic further, changes the subject and brings up the stories she usually shares with him.

“… … Well, I guess I have to do what I have to do. The epidemic is slowly calming down… … .”

“Are you thinking of preparing for war?”

“Isn’t this a great opportunity to re-enter the Central Continent? I’m worried there will be interference, but… …it might be worth discussing with Swen.”

Irene also agreed with Serpina.

The Aesir army, which had been a slight threat, had been reduced to about 1/3 of its original strength, and the Kalintz and Chel armies had also been struck by the plague and were in a state of disarray.

This could be considered a golden opportunity for the Serpina Army.

It would be difficult to advance right away, as there is still a possibility that the plague may remain.

“Still, I hope we can move quickly this time. Something ominous is happening in the southern part of the continent.”

“Are you talking about the South?”

“Yeah. It seems like it’s true that the rebels won the battle against the Karelian army.”

Irene’s shoulders flinched slightly at the word rebel.

Well, that rebel force was none other than the new Lunalian army.

Contrary to what she said she would do right away, for some reason Swen was still here… … But since Irene was following Swen rather than Luna anyway, she didn’t really care where he was.

“Then, was it true that the rumor about a wizard appearing?”

“That’s highly likely. There’s a difference in military power that can’t be overcome.”

In the end, the rebels destroyed the existing country, and with good timing, a wizard appeared.

The words that Swen had said, ‘The one who will become the unified monarch is Lunarien’ flashed through Iren’s mind again.

“It seems that the destruction of the Karelia Army will destroy the balance of the southern continent that has lasted for a long time. So we can’t just sit back and do nothing.”

After saying that, Serpina asked Irene a question with an indifferent expression.

“By the way, do you remember the name of the leader of the rebels?”

“If you are the leader of the rebels… … are you talking about Lunalian Inian?”

“That’s right. The name was Lunalien. Lunalien Inian… … .”

……uh?

The moment she heard that name, Serpina’s eyes widened.

The pupils, which had shrunk, began to tremble, albeit very faintly.

‘It was a story I had heard that Kyle von Eingart claimed to be a supporter of Lunarien.’

Until then, she hadn’t thought much about it. After all, the only name she’d heard was ‘Lunarien’.

But… … what?

‘Lunarien… … Inian… … ?’

“My lord… … ?”

Instead of Irene’s worried voice, what came into Serpina’s head was――

“Princess. Please, bring peace to this continent that has fallen into chaos again… … Please build a unified empire again so that my younger brother can live in peace… … This is my last request. ”

“If someone like a princess… … had become my sister-in-law, it would have been really great… … But I am of humble origin, so I cannot… … I am sorry… … .”

The mistress of his brother Algoth, who had oxidized before his eyes.

It was Aria Inian.