It comes suddenly while she’s sleeping.
At first, I didn’t know how to handle it at all, but now I’m used to it.
I’ve grown too, you know.
Noie clings to me tightly, pressing her face against my chest, completely asleep.
Tears keep pouring from her eyes without stopping.
I quickly switch our positions and pull her into a full frontal embrace.
「It’s okay.」
I speak softly and stroke her head with gentle fingers.
The arms gripping me loosen just a little.
If I mistime this, my spine or ribs could end up in a very unfunny state.
I once heard a real ‘crack’ from inside my own body.
But right now, it’s fine.
「So just cry as much as you need to.」
I keep petting her head tenderly, slowly.
Her body relaxes with a soft sigh, tension melting away.
Back when this first started, I used to panic at how closely she pressed against me, 『O-Opai!!』, heart racing like crazy.
But after our nights as husband and wife, I’ve learned to stay calm even when…
「Raw oppai!!」
Wait, I forgot.
Noie is completely naked tonight!
Calm down, me.
And calm down, wild guy down there!
I thought since work starts again tomorrow… I might have pushed a little harder tonight.
I take a deep breath to settle myself.
It hasn’t happened lately, but maybe the move and new environment triggered it again?
Noie keeps crying without changing expression, unaware that tears are even falling.
If I ask her in the morning, she’ll just tilt her head in confusion.
「……ne」
No no no, danger!
Here, Noie. Head pats coming～.
I focus especially on her ahoge, stroking it gently.
Her arms finally relax completely.
「Everyo……ne」
The words that slip from her lips are flat, emotionless, just like her tears.
But hearing them makes my chest squeeze painfully tight.
「I’m sorry……」
I only know her past through other people’s words or writings.
I never intend to ask her directly about it.
I think that’s probably for the best.
Some might say sharing her sad past would bring us closer… but I feel differently.
Asking and listening would just be me learning about her pain.
It’s not sharing.
True sharing comes from experiencing something together.
So, I can’t share her past with her.
All I can do is gently hold the girl who carries that past and suffers from it…
and comfort her, again and again.
If that small act can encourage her even a little, then I’ll keep doing it until the day I die.
『Are you mistaking yourself for some kind of cool guy?』
That’s brutally harsh.
I don’t think that at all.
『Then maybe you’re just scared to hear her past?』
Maybe I am.
So what?
『……What a cruel man.』
That’s fine with me.
『That’s why I hate you.』
And with that, the conversation ends one-sidedly.
I’m okay with being a cruel man.
It’s true I’m scared to hear her past from her own lips.
But… the thing I hate most is making her say it herself.
Digging into her wounds and forcing her to voice them… I could never do that.
Because I love Noie so much it hurts.
So much that I never want to hurt her, no matter what.
「Sorry for being a weak man.」
I know my own weakness.
I might not be able to protect her completely.
Even so… even if it’s just a little… I want to protect her.
I softly kiss the tip of her ahoge.
Her whole body shivers in response.
The tears have finally stopped.
I gently wipe away the last traces lingering under her eyes with my fingertip.
「Good night… Noie.」
-0-
「This time, really, I’m so sorry…」
「……」
Krea’s attitude and glare toward me as I enter the office are ice-cold.
Watching Inel-kun fluster around in a panic is honestly so healing～.
「Here. Share these two cakes between you.」
「……Thank you for the food.」
She lets out one long sigh, accepts the cakes, and returns to her work.
I admit I went way too far, so today I’ll behave and actually do my job properly.
I sit down and first check the upcoming schedule.
「……Inel-kun.」
「Yes?」
「When did this arrive?」
「This morning.」
「……」
Yeah, figures.
I look away from Inel-kun’s suspicious stare and pull something out from the desk drawer.
Nut jam～
Krea’s glare is terrifying, okay? I’m not eating it!
I peel the key taped to the bottom of the jar and insert it into the drawer’s keyhole.
Let’s see… this one, I think.
「Inel-kun.」
「Yes?」
「Urgently find Kokono’s aide and deliver this to him.」
「Yes.」
I’ve finally learned that if I need my Prime Minister oniichan, I should look for his aide Kokono-san first.
And the other one is probably still in his room.
「Krea.」
「……Yes.」
「Take this to His Majesty right away.」
「Why do I get the harder job?!」
Is it really harder?
Kokono-san is often away from the castle too, so that’s pretty high difficulty.
「I’ll either be here or in the idiot prince’s room, so come find me if anything happens.」
They don’t look convinced by the sudden urgent tasks, but we leave the room together.
I hurry toward the idiot prince’s office.
-0-
Two maids stand guard in front of the room, which has been empty since the master left for his regional inspection tour.
「I’m going in.」
「Please do.」
One of the waiting maids opens the door for me.
Inside… the desk is buried under a mountain of paperwork!!
If none of it has come to me yet, it probably isn’t urgent… but if he dumps it all on me later, I’m definitely making that idiot aniki cry～.
I sit in the chair he usually uses, then clap my hands twice, pause, then once more.
「You called?」
A tall, slender maid appears out of nowhere.
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