Today is the final day of our stay at this hot spring villa.
Apparently, work has piled up quite a bit since I’ve been gone.
The biggest problem is the royal guard’s paperwork backlog.
I want to complain “Get to work, you idiot prince”, but from what I hear, he’s swamped with cleanup on his end too.
The nobles who were puppets of the Empire have all been arrested and will face trial.
Many held official positions, so there’s a massive reshuffle of personnel.
Thanks to that, Krea and Inel-kun have been working nonstop without rest, pushing themselves way too hard.
As for me, the one with the broken bones, I technically don’t need this much rest.
This vacation is His Majesty’s way of apologizing and showing consideration.
So, with tomorrow’s return to the capital approaching… I decided tonight I would face Noie properly.
-0-
「Arg-sama?」
The bed in this villa is much smaller than the one at home.
Sitting on it brings our faces much closer together.
She looks a little confused as I stare at her intently.
What could she be thinking right now?
「Hey, Noie.」
「Yes?」
「That day… why did you come even though I didn’t call you?」
「……」
Noie’s eyes instantly well up with tears.
No, that came out wrong.
「I’m not angry, okay? I just want to know how you realized I was in danger.」
「……」
She doesn’t answer, just looks away with glistening eyes.
Does she not want to talk about it?
「I can.」
「Eh?」
「I can do it.」
She murmurs softly and finally turns those teary eyes back to me.
「Because I used the spell on the child who was with me. So now I can hear all voices.」
She speaks haltingly, looking anxious.
Maybe she thinks I’ll be angry that she kept a secret?
「So, you could hear my voice the whole time, Noie?」
「……Yes.」
「Everything?」
「Yes.」
…Wait a second.
There were definitely a lot of things I said that a wife should never hear!
This is dangerous. Embarrassing.
This might be actual torture.
「I’m sorry, Arg-sama.」
She presses her face to my lap, worried as I writhe in shame.
「I won’t do it anymore. I won’t listen.」
「……」
「So don’t disappear.」
「……It’s okay. I’m not mad.」
I sit up and gently stroke the head of Noie, who’s started crying again.
Her ahoge has completely lost strength and droops limply.
「I just… would’ve preferred if you told me beforehand.」
「I’m sorry.」
「By the way… since when could you hear me?」
She hesitates for a long moment.
Meaning… she’s been hearing everything for that long?!
「The wedding.」
「Huh?」
「The morning after… we did it once.」
That was from way back!
「You’ve been hearing everything since then?」
「Yes.」
「I’m not mad, I’m not mad.」
I wipe away her fresh tears with my fingertip.
Noie’s tear ducts have been extra loose lately.
「Besides that spell… is there anything else you’ve been doing to me?」
「……」
Her eyes dart around frantically.
She’s really bad at lying, isn’t she? Classic Noie.
「Just tell me honestly.」
「……Substitution.」
「Huh?」
「I take half of Arg-sama’s injuries onto myself.」
「……」
Now that she mentions it… my injuries from that fight were bad, but not ‘that’ bad.
Getting crushed by a giant like that should have turned my organs into mush, but aside from the punctured lung from the broken rib, everything else held up.
「Anything else?」
「……I don’t remember.」
「So you did everything you could?」
She nods firmly, still crying.
She doesn’t have to cry…
Noie really is so kind and sweet.
「Noie.」
「……」
I gently take her hand.
She trembles intensely.
I can tell she’s scared.
Right now, she’s terrified.
「You still haven’t broken a single promise.」
「Eh?」
「You did everything you could to protect me, right? Thank you so much, Noie.」
「Arg…-sama…」
Tears spill freely.
I lean in and softly lick one off her cheek.
「You’re the absolute best wife. So please…」
「Yes?」
「Stay with me forever. Don’t disappear, okay?」
「……Yes.」
She bursts into sobs and clings to me tightly.
It’s okay.
As long as it’s not her full-power hug, my ribs should hold.
「Arg-sama.」
「Hm?」
「What is this feeling?」
「Eh?」
「My chest feels like it’s about to tear apart. It hurts so much… it’s really painful. But it’s so warm… so cozy.」
「I see.」
「What is it?」
I cup her cheek gently and guide her face toward me.
Her flawless, makeup-free skin feels soft against my palm.
「What do you think it is, Noie?」
「I don’t know.」
「Does it feel bad?」
She shakes her head quickly, left and right.
「It hurts… it’s painful… but I want it to stay forever.」
「Yeah. I feel the same way.」
「You too, Arg-sama?」
「Mhm.」
I lean in for a soft kiss and gaze into her eyes.
Those red-black eyes are calm and beautiful today too.
「I love Noie so much… the feeling overflows and won’t stop.」
「Love? Is this love?」
「For me, yes.」
She presses her ear to my chest and closes her eyes.
「I don’t understand. But this feeling… is really nice.」
「Right?」
「If I can understand this feeling, then surely…」
Her face suddenly flushes bright red, and she clamps her mouth shut.
Ah～ she’s definitely trying to dodge something.
「Hey, Noie. Say it properly.」
「……」
「Noie?」
She’s already fallen asleep, eyes closed.
Jeez… what an adorable wife.
I shift her into a lap pillow and gently stroke her back.
「I love you so much, Noie. More than anyone.」
「……Yes.」
I think I heard the faintest reply.
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