「Captain? Is something wrong?」
「…….」
She had returned carrying the dragon she captured, but now she stood frozen, gazing toward the castle.
Her head tilts just a little, as if puzzled.
「It is still too early for dinner, you know?」
「…….」
「Captain?」
「…What does it mean to love?」
At those sudden words, Mische feels all the blood drain from her body.
She tells herself it must be an illusion… just a hallucination.
「Captain?」
「Tell me. What does it mean to love?」
「It was not an illusion～! Waaah!」
The tiny vice-captain suddenly dashes off, shaking free from everyone trying to stop her as she runs far away.
In her place comes… the golden-haired vice-captain.
「Did something happen, Captain? Mische was yelling something like 『Traitor～』 as she ran by.」
She does not quite understand the meaning of those words.
Even so, Noie repeats the same question.
「Tell me. What does it mean to love?」
「…Oh my. Captain, you are being so bold.」
Noie watches the way she wiggles her body playfully, then casually tosses the dragon in her hands toward something in her field of vision.
With a wet squelch, it collides and crashes to the ground.
「Tell me. What?」
「…Well. It is not limited to men and women, but it is mostly used between them.」
「…….」
「Um… When a man and woman grow close, in a normal relationship like yours with Argusta-sama, it would not be strange for you two to say it to each other.」
「In a normal relationship?」
「Yes. Marriage is something people do when they like each other… or love each other. So normally, Argusta-sama and the Captain would be considered a couple who love each other. But in your case, there is a strong political side to it.」
As the daughter of a high-ranking noble, Frea herself should never have been able to marry someone she truly loved.
But the man she fell for was skilled enough to master ceremonial magic and possessed strong magic power by common standards, so her parents did not oppose it, in fact, they welcomed it.
Her older sisters, however, were all in purely political marriages, so they deeply resented her. That resentment is probably why she ended up with her current job.
「Do I love Arg-sama?」
「That answer is something only your heart can give, Captain. I do not know.」
「…….」
Even when asked like that, Noie does not understand what 『love』 feels like.
In the first place, she does not even understand what a 『heart』 is.
「Does… Arg-sama love me?」
「Probably. I think he does love you.」
「I see.」
She does not understand. So Noie stops thinking about it.
If she does not understand…
『Just ask. Keep asking until you understand.』
That is what she taught her. That person did.
-0-
Today, when I came home again, my wife was sitting upright on the bed.
I slip behind her with smooth, practiced movements and wrap my arms around her gently.
Somehow, I think Noie has really taken a liking to this.
「Arg-sama.」
「What is it?」
「Do you… love me?」
Who is it this time? Who taught Noie such embarrassing things? That leftover woman? No, this pattern feels more like Frea-san.
She is surprisingly serious about romance… that aggressive lady.
「Ah… I love you. Yes. I love you.」
「I see.」
She responds so coolly after making me say something incredibly embarrassing! Is Noie secretly a sadist? Does she enjoy tormenting me mentally?
But her silly ahoge is drooping softly in a weird way.
「…What is wrong, Noie?」
「I do not understand. I do not know that feeling.」
「I see.」
「Do I like Arg-sama? Do I love you? I do not understand.」
「Yes. It is okay like that for now.」
「…….」
It must be that. She is probably feeling what they call wedding blues.
「Noie will protect me, right?」
「Yes.」
「That is enough. Because I know that feeling, I am okay.」
「Why?」
「…Would you protect just anyone?」
Her head shakes gently from side to side.
「Because it is Arg-sama.」
「Yes. I know. That is probably the 『like』 or 『I love you』 feeling inside Noie.」
「…….」
「Even if you do not understand it now, teaching you that is my role.」
「…Yes.」
「So, if anything happens, please tell me honestly, Noie.」
「Yes.」
Noie really is such an obedient, good girl.
Today I will give her my full-powered head pats again.
Stroke, stroke… She really is too cute.
「Arg-sama.」
「Hm?」
「When my head… is done like this, something warm sparks deep in my chest.」
「Yes. I see.」
「Yes.」
That warm spark is probably what 『like』 feels like.
Normally, people experience those things from childhood and learn naturally… but the days she spent were anything but normal. She was in an environment where she could not even remember such feelings.
「I really like you. I love you.」
「…Yes.」
「Shall we take a bath together today?」
「Yes.」
「After that we will eat dinner… and then here again, I will stroke your head more.」
「Yes.」
Her ahoge sways happily back and forth.
Do not call it cheap… This is the reward I can give her right now.
「Arg-sama.」
「Hm?」
「Reproductive activities after the new house is ready?」
「Who is it! Who taught Noie such weird things!」
「Everyone asks. How was reproductive activity with Arg-sama?」
Those squad members!
「After we move. I will really try hard then. I will show you my serious side.」
「…Yes.」
Being nodded at so calmly makes me feel like nothing but a total pervert!
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