Noie gazes out the window, her ahoge drooping limply like a wilted plant.
Dragons, with their lizard-like nature, struggle to regulate body temperature in the constant downpour and enter a semi-hibernation state.
They won’t attack unless someone gets extremely close, but they’re still dragons, capricious enough to strike on a whim.
Their active period shortens dramatically, so Noie basically ends up with a lot of free time.
「Noie.」
「……Yes.」
「Let’s head to the castle for now.」
「Yes.」
We get ready, and I rely on Noie’s help to mount the horse.
I seat her in front of me, wrap us both in waterproof dragon-leather cloaks, and we set off.
No escort knights today.
When she’s with me, they’re simply unnecessary.
「Arg-sama. Are you okay?」
「Yeah.」
The new horse we borrowed doesn’t listen very well.
The previous one started freaking out at the sight of people after the last attack incident.
This replacement is scared of Noie and barely obeys.
「Maybe during this rainy season we should visit Mische’s family and buy a horse.」
「……Yes.」
「We’ll go together, of course.」
「Yes.」
Lately she sticks to me even more than before.
Our bodies are always touching.
Today the cloaks hide it, but normally citizens stare in wide-eyed excitement whenever she clings to me like this.
The main reason is probably how unbearably adorable she looks when she sweetly leans on me.
-0-
We ride at a leisurely pace and arrive at the castle.
I hand the horse and cloaks to the gate guards and step inside.
Noie holds my right hand tightly, refusing to let go.
My left arm is still firmly braced with wooden splints and bandages.
This world apparently has no concept of proper casts or slings, so I asked the maids to make a cloth one because it hurt too much otherwise.
Feeling Noie’s warmth in my right hand and the dull ache of the fracture in my left, we enter the office.
「「Good morning.」」
「Morning～」
「……」
Ever since Noie started coming here regularly, Krea and Inel-kun always look a little happier.
Older generations tend to fear Noie, but the younger ones admire her deeply.
To them, Noie von Draguknight is simply a hero, a commoner who became a knight and slays dragons.
Plus, marrying a prince?
It’s the ultimate love story romance.
No wonder they’re thrilled.
I sit in my usual spot.
The chair originally meant for one person has been changed to a two-seater for Noie’s sake.
In other words, we sit side by side on the same chair.
I’m fine with it.
I could just relax on the sofa, but Noie refuses to leave my side at all.
「So, what’s today’s workload?」
「The pile on the left side of the desk.」
「And the right side?」
「From the royal guard.」
Inel-kun says it apologetically, but it’s not his fault.
We’re still in the process of splitting off into our own squad, so we’re technically still part of the royal guard for now.
「Maybe it’s time to go complain to that idiot aniki.」
「Together.」
「Yeah. We’ll go together when the time comes.」
Noie squeezes my hand tightly, showing her determination.
So cute.
Krea… why are you secretly praying to something?
It’s just an idle talk.
Probably.
-0-
「Good morning.」
「Morning～」
The air in the room sharpens the moment Frea-san enters.
As expected of the aggressive-lingerie enthusiast.
Her presence alone commands respect!
「Who’s off today?」
「Mische. She’s preparing to go home for her long break, so she’s off today.」
「Next is you, Frea-san?」
「Yes. Lutte is last. Since Lutte and I stay in the capital, please call us if anything comes up.」
I get why Lutte moved here with her family.
But Frea-san never talks about her own home at all.
「Krea.」
「Yes?」
「What’s your family like?」
「……Why ask me that?」
「Because if I asked Frea-san, she’d get mad.」
「I wouldn’t get mad.」
She says it with a thick vein bulging on her forehead.
She’s definitely mad.
「My sisters come and go at home, so it’s hard for me to go back.」
「You’re extremely disliked, right?」
「Just to the point of being disowned.」
Same thing.
「Is marrying someone you actually like really that forbidden?」
「……I’ve done whatever I wanted for a long time. To my sisters, who’ve followed the family’s wishes perfectly, that must be incredibly frustrating.」
She says it with a resigned smile.
Yeah… imagine desperately walking the path your parents laid out, going to a good school, becoming a civil servant…
only for your little sister to do whatever she pleases and become a top idol or something.
Murderous intent would be understandable.
「Well… if it ever gets really tough, just tell me. I’ll use my former-third-prince authority to do something about it.」
「……If only that kindness had been in ‘him’.」
She gives a bitter smile and starts working.
‘Him’ probably means muscle aniki.
I heard he picked a wife during this regional inspection tour…but I haven’t seen him since he got back.
Maybe it’s time to storm in and complain!
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