「I am back～」
She leaps off her galloping horse, spinning gracefully like a dragonfly before landing perfectly.
The soldiers on break send sparse applause for her unnecessarily beautiful acrobatics.
「Thank you, thank you. If possible, I would be happier if you introduced me to a marriage partner.」
Grumbling as the clapping stops dead, Mische suddenly remembers something and dashes off.
Her destination is Noie, who is mechanically carrying food to her mouth without pause.
「Captain～!」
「……」
「I just heard this at the castle, but they are going to hold a formal wedding ceremony for Argusta-sama and you on the grandest scale imaginable!」
「Wow… That sounds amazing, Captain.」
「……」
Noie finishes chewing and swallowing, then looks at the small, flat-chested vice-captain who is buzzing with excitement.
「We already did it before.」
「That is why this is another one, a proper formal wedding this time!」
「Another one?」
「Yes～ They said it will be on a scale where practically the whole nation can join in. It is almost as big as the first prince’s would be. Ahh, I am so envious… The jealousy might make me commit some terrible mistake.」
「Please calm down, Mische-senpai.」
「Fu fu fu… You with that huge chest who can seduce any man you want would not understand, Lutte! Specifically, give me those breasts, seriously, hey～!」
「Hey! Do not grope… and do not put your hands inside!」
The one usually tasked with watching Noie’s behavior wears light clothing.
She sweats heavily during work, so keeping clothes on would cause her skin to prune or break out in rashes. That is why she often strips down for the job.
「What is with this! These massive lumps of fat! My fingers sink in and disappear! Kiii, it is so frustrating!!」
While watching the two of them flailing about wildly… Noie simply continues her meal for the time being.
If they say to do it, she will just do it again. That is her basic approach.
But… remembering one thing, she quietly places one hand against her own lips.
『If a person of the opposite sex presses their lips there… that is your precious person, Noie. So, protect them no matter what.』
Those words that never faded are one of the few memories tied to someone whose face and name she can match together.
「Protect…」
She lowers her hand from her lips and turns her gaze toward the castle.
「I will protect Arg-sama. That is right… isn’t it, Camieu.」
-0-
When I got home, for some reason my wife is sitting formally on her knees on the bed.
「……」
Overwhelmed by that silent gaze, I hurry behind her and wrap my arms around her from the back, holding her close.
「Marriage.」
「Yes?」
「One more time.」
「Ah. So Noie heard about it too.」
She nods over and over. Information leaks surprisingly easily. Or maybe they are spreading it on purpose.
「Yes. This time it is a proper formal wedding ceremony.」
「But we already did it.」
「Yes. We did.」
「One more time?」
「That is the plan. Leaving out the complicated reasons… it seems we will be in trouble if we do not.」
I catch a glimpse of her expressionless profile over her shoulder.
「Arg-sama will?」
「It will be me too, I guess. Probably something like that.」
「Understood. We will marry.」
「No, we are already married. Noie is my wife.」
「…Yes.」
How deep have I fallen for Noie that this whole exchange feels so incredibly cute?
She is beautiful, surprisingly serious at her core… and above all, she has no hidden sides. She is so straightforward.
「Noie.」
「……」
I squeeze her tighter from behind, and her hand gently touches my arm.
If I listen closely like this, I can faintly hear her heartbeat. Though mine is pounding much louder.
「Arg-sama.」
「What is it?」
「Am I human?」
「Noie is a human.」
「I see… That is good.」
Hmm～. Very cute indeed.
I cannot help it. I have to pet her head now.
I release the arms hugging her from behind and gently stroke her hair.
She leans her weight lightly against me and glances up with those clear eyes.
Smoothly shifting positions, her beautiful face comes right in front of mine. Skin so flawless and white, without a single scar or blemish.
「Arg-sama.」
「Yes?」
「I remembered.」
「Yes?」
「This is the place where lips touch with someone precious… Someone told me that long ago.」
Her slender finger traces softly over my lips, sending a little shiver through me.
「But I do not understand. Is Arg-sama my precious person? If not, then I…」
Her face dips ever so slightly, shadows of doubt flickering.
Come on, me. You said you would become a man who can protect the woman he loves, right?
「Noie.」
「……」
「I love you so much. That is why I want to protect you. You probably see me as nothing more than a tiny, insignificant existence… but even so, I want to protect you.」
「……」
「If your feelings are not settled yet, that is fine. Until they are… please let me protect you.」
Proposing after we are already married is completely backwards in every way!
But it is okay. I finally put it into proper words. Leaving things vague would not be right.
Then, her slender finger touches my lips again.
「I do not understand. I do not know… what a precious person really is.」
「……」
「But I wanted to remember Arg-sama’s name and face. This is only the second time I have ever felt like this. So surely…」
Her finger moves away. Her soft, pale lips gently brush mine.
「Arg-sama is my precious person. I will always protect my precious person.」
「Thank you, Noie.」
I pull her close in a warm hug and kiss her once more.
Um… if possible, could you close your eyes? Being stared at so intently is making my heart race even more.
「Then let us protect each other.」
「Yes.」
「Noie… I love you.」
At those words, her silly ahoge twitches in confusion.
「I…」
「It is okay. When you understand what the words mean, tell me.」
「…Yes.」
Just for a tiny moment… it feels like she smiles.
Leave a Reply