I dashed straight back to the detached wing of the royal palace.
I’ve run before, but my heart was pounding so hard it wouldn’t calm down.
Telling me to do something that shameless with Noie?
No way, no way, no way. Absolutely impossible. I’m curious, sure, but I can’t do it!
「Argusta-sama. Are you still not feeling well?」
「Yeah, I’m fine」
The maid who greeted me had such a gentle voice.
But even maids like her, once they get into bed… Noooo! I didn’t want to know about this adult world～!
Ignoring their warm, knowing gazes, I bolted away.
-0-
「Is something wrong?」
「Just my imagination」
「I see」
Noie, who had been staring into the distance, casually tossed aside a small dragon whose neck she had just snapped.
The sun was almost setting.
No dragons within sight showed any sign of heading our way.
Some are nocturnal, but most dragons can’t see well in the dark.
As a result, they usually return to their nests at dusk.
「That should be it for today」
「Yes」
As always, the short vice-captain stood on her tiptoes, straining to see farther.
I once picked her up and held her overhead a few times to help, but she got mad, so Noie stopped doing that afterward.
「Then I’ll leave the cleanup to the subordinates. You can head home early today」
「Yes」
「…Is something wrong?」
Normally it would be 「yes」 followed by immediate preparations to leave, but today she didn’t move.
Leaving the dragon cleanup entirely to the subordinates, Vice-Captain Mische walked side by side with her superior toward the log cabin.
Thanks to the healing blessing, the dragon blood splattered all over Noie dripped onto the ground drop by drop.
It pretty much eliminated the need for a bath, but it didn’t clean her clothes or armor. She still needed to change.
「I did what I was told. But nothing happened. Did I do something wrong?」
「Hmm～ From what I saw today… the captain’s husband seems like the quiet type. He does spit venom, though」
「Venom?」
「Nothing, forget I said that」
Noie nodded firmly and forgot about it.
「That’s it. Let’s try a different approach tonight」
「Yes」
Mische smiled inwardly as she shared her wisdom.
She wasn’t teaching anything extra. It was purely out of a sincere wish for her superior’s happy marriage.
Her real feelings… she secretly hoped it would crash and burn, leading to divorce so Noie could return to the single life.
Being without a partner in singledom is lonely, after all.
「That Frea who keeps making lovey-dovey faces because she has a fiancé deserves some divine punishment someday」
「……」
「Listen carefully, Captain. Being single is the best」
「Yes」
They had no idea this conversation… was being overheard by Halfren’s spy.
-0-
「Argusta-sama. Noie-sama has returned」
「Yeah」
「She will have dinner first, then take a bath, and we will guide her to the bedroom」
「…Dinner?」
I lifted my face from the pillow where I had been pressing it while chanting 『banish impure thoughts』 in my mind.
She’s supposed to eat at the barracks.
I hurried out of the room and checked with the waiting maid. Sure enough, Noie was in the dining hall.
Is something wrong?
A little worried… my feet naturally carried me there.
In the dining hall, she was eating very neatly.
Yeah, neatly. How does someone dismantle meat on the bone so elegantly?
The large table was piled high with food, and she was silently working her way through it from one end.
She’s quite the big eater.
The amount that would shock even a competitive eater disappeared before my eyes.
Then she noticed me.
「Argusta-sama. I’m back」
「Welcome home, Noie」
「Yes」
And she went right back to eating.
The supply couldn’t keep up with the consumption. Incredible speed.
I asked the serving maid for a drink and sat across from her.
Her mouth never stopped moving.
「Is she always like this?」
「Yes. She never leaves a single bite of any dish, so the cooks get weirdly fired up yelling 『I’ll show you my true skills～!』 and start cooking with extra passion」
「It sparks a rivalry they can’t afford to lose all on its own」
I got a cup of hot wine poured for me… and sipped it slowly, almost licking the rim.
It seems like a popular drink in this world.
I would’ve been fine with water, but water from shallow wells has issues if drunk straight.
Boiling makes it safe, so they just heat up wine instead.
Watching Noie eat so heartily somehow warms my heart. And it’s endlessly entertaining.
「Something wrong?」
「Nah. Just watching. Does it bother you?」
「It’s fine」
We exchanged that short conversation once, and I kept watching her meal until the cooks finally threw in the towel.
-0-
Then came the second night.
I was rolling around on my usual spot on the bed again.
Noie would be back soon. And then yesterday’s awkward scene would repeat!
Tonight, I’m safe. We’ll just sleep quietly… Begone, impure thoughts planted by that evil god(brother)!
But knowing about the adult world now is stirring up my little guy.
Noie is different. She wouldn’t say stuff like aniki’s concubines!
Knock knock
「We’ve brought Noie-sama」
「Yes, come in」
She slipped in silently through the smoothly opened door.
Tonight too, just underwear and a thin top. But different from yesterday—the lighting.
For the wedding night they had lit the room brightly, but now every light was out except the lamp by the bed. This somehow feels even more seductive.
…Begone! Impure thoughts!
「Come on, Noie. Don’t just stand there. Get in bed」
「Yes」
She won’t come unless I call her. There’s gotta be some meaning to that, but—!
My thoughts completely froze.
I expected her to climb in and lie down like usual, but for some reason… she hugged me instead.
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