As soon as His Majesty the King announced our formal marriage… everything started moving at an incredible speed.
From the Republic, someone who is not exactly a prince but holds a similar status is coming. From the Empire, a great general is attending. The whole castle has suddenly become tense and buzzing.
Apparently, the Empire pinned all the blame on a few civil officials and executed them. That is exactly what we heard would happen, but still… it is chilling.
Everything is progressing frighteningly smoothly. The preparations too.
But lately, Noie has been unusually quiet.
Has she really caught marriage blues?
Normally, when she gets home, she heads straight to our bedroom.
If I am already back, she goes to bathe, then we enjoy dinner together before returning to the bedroom.
If I come home later, she waits sitting on the bed. Then we bathe and have a cozy dinner.
But recently, it is none of those patterns.
When she returns, she goes straight to the bed, sits on the very edge, and looks utterly dejected.
Mostly it is her silly ahoge that droops, but still.
After finishing our bath and dinner, we head to the bedroom as always.
This room has nothing but the bed. No table, no chairs.
From a Japanese perspective, if something comes up, you would sit on a chair to talk, but in this world, the bed serves as everything.
Even drinks are brought by maids. We drink, then send the cup back. If we want more, we call a maid again… Thinking about it, it is an incredibly luxurious life.
As someone with Japanese roots, I am basically the patient, enduring type. And Noie hardly ever asserts herself.
So, when she gets this downhearted, it really worries me.
「Noie.」
「……」
I sit behind her on the edge of the bed and wrap my arms gently around her from behind, holding her close.
「Did something happen? You have not seemed yourself lately.」
「I am fine.」
「That is a lie.」
Her ahoge is still limp and droopy. Even when I tug it lightly, it just flops over weakly.
「Please tell me, Noie.」
「……」
「If you do not tell me, I cannot protect you.」
「……」
She gives a small, soft nod.
I wait quietly for a while… until I hear a tiny sigh.
「I cannot do anything. Even though Arg-sama does so many things for me.」
「Yes.」
「Why does Arg-sama want only me as his wife? Everyone says it is strange.」
「Do they? For me, having only Noie is enough.」
「…Only me?」
She glances back over her shoulder at me, her eyes wide and curious.
「We are talking about wives, right?」
「Yes.」
It seems she understands now.
I have to choose my words carefully, or it could turn into something outrageous.
「I love spending time like this with Noie.」
「…Yes.」
Her hand gently touches my arms that are wrapped around her.
It feels like she is confirming the warmth, the realness of it.
「I want to do something. For Arg-sama.」
「Hm?」
「I want to do what I can. What should I do?」
「What should you… guh.」
I accidentally swallowed hard, my mind racing with all sorts of thoughts!
Begone, worldly desires! We will move forward once our new home is ready and we have real privacy for just the two of us!
「I cannot do anything. That is…」
「Do you hate that?」
She shakes her head quickly in tiny nods.
People say all kinds of things, but Noie is thinking about me this much. Just realizing that makes my heart feel so warm and happy.
「Then give me a lap pillow.」
「Yes.」
I rest my head on her soft thighs as she sits properly on the bed.
Her bare skin feels wonderfully smooth and cool against my cheek.
「What else?」
「Hmm～」
I gently take her hand and place it over my chest.
「Then pat it like this… yes. Just like that is perfect.」
「Is this good?」
「Yes. It makes me really happy.」
「I see.」
She pats my chest steadily, rhythmically.
When I was little and cried from missing my father who was not around, or when I caught a cold and had to stay in bed, my mother would do this for me.
She was truly kind.
She tried so hard to fit in with the local people through work and everything… even though the strain made her body weaker.
「Arg-sama?」
「I am okay. I just remembered something from long ago.」
「I see.」
I quietly wipe away the tear that slipped out.
Her hand stops patting my chest. Gently, she helps me sit up.
Then she wraps her arms around me from behind… and her soft chest presses warmly against my back!
「……」
Her slender fingers stroke my hair so tenderly.
It feels incredibly kind and comforting.
「Thank you, Noie.」
「Yes.」
「I am so happy… I feel truly blessed.」
「…Yes.」
That night, I fell asleep still held gently from behind by Noie.
It was quite a challenge calming down my selfish little guy who kept making demands.
-0-
「Halfren.」
「Hm?」
「Can we consider the preparations complete now?」
「Pretty much. There are still some small details left… What is it, aniki?」
「I spoke with Father and something came up that bothered me.」
「Please, no more troublesome talks.」
In the hidden room his brother uses as an office, Halfren lets out a deeply exasperated sigh.
「So what is it?」
「It is about Argusta.」
「What did that idiot do?」
「…There was a report that he died before coming to this world, right?」
「Yes. Hard to believe, but he himself says he died and was wandering.」
「It is certainly unbelievable, but there is no doubt he was dead, correct?」
「If his own words are true.」
Now interested, Halfren stands from the sofa and looks at his brother seated at the desk.
As always, his eyes and hands move steadily, slaying the mountain of documents.
「If he died and came back to life… is it not possible he received a 『blessing』?」
「No way… Could that actually happen?」
「The possibility alone is enough.」
His brother stops his hands and eyes, staring intently. Halfren shrugs with a tired sigh.
「So, check it out, and if he has one, make him a pawn?」
「No. It is a strict order from His Majesty the King. If he has a blessing… let Arg use it however he wishes.」
「Is he serious?」
「He seems unwilling to allow any further use that prioritizes national interest. In reality, the boy is already doing more than enough work.」
「That is true, but…」
Halfren’s words trail off uncertainly.
In current Univance, there are fewer than ten confirmed blessing holders. They are that rare and precious.
Telling them not to use one… it feels like far too great a waste.
「It is a strict order. Well, if we investigate and he does not have one, it will just be unnecessary worry.」
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