「Welcome home, danna-sama. Madam.」
「I’m back.」
「……」
Supporting Noie, who was utterly exhausted, likely more from trauma than seasickness, I stepped down from the carriage.
Seeing the familiar maids waiting to greet us filled me with the warm feeling of 「I’m finally home」 and eased my mind.
「How was the dragon hunt?」
「Noie is the greatest dragon slayer in the kingdom.」
「I see.」
The luggage containing spare clothes and other items was unloaded, and the royal carriage departed back to the castle along with its escort knights.
「How was the southern region of the kingdom?」
「Since it hasn’t rained there yet, it might actually be better than here.」
「I see.」
When we fought our way back upstream against the current, the capital was already under a heavy downpour.
By the way, I had been looking forward to seeing how they would get the ship back upstream… only to witness the astonishing sight of ropes being pulled from both sides by teams of horses.
It took a long time, so Noie’s exhaustion was beyond extreme.
「Tomorrow morning I’ll go have my left arm examined, so please prepare everything.」
「In that case, your salaries have also been delivered. Would you please confirm them?」
「Huh? Already?」
I’ve really started to lose track of payday. That’s quite the change in my mindset.
Still, as the head of the household, this is one task I have to handle properly.
「Noie. Can you hold on just a little longer?」
「……It’s fine.」
Her response was slightly delayed, but Noie still managed to follow along.
Together with the maids, we headed to the mansion’s treasury and stepped inside.
「This seal here… yeah, it’s intact. This batch is the one?」
「Yes.」
Noie’s salary paid in gold bars is, in a way, easy to count.
But there are also quite a few gold coins mixed in… ah. This is going to be tedious.
「Noie. Can you handle it?」
「It’s fine.」
「Then please.」
She lifted the heavy bag stuffed with gold coins.
Opening the mouth of the bag as wide as possible… she flung the entire contents toward the ceiling.
Noie’s right hand moved in a blur, snatching every single coin one by one and returning them neatly to the bag.
「……Total of 844 coins.」
「Thank you.」
While gently rubbing her head in circles, I skimmed through the documents the maid had brought.
The total payment for husband and wife… yes, it matches. The money I lent has been repaid with interest included.
I signed the papers smoothly and finished confirming everything.
「Danna-sama.」
「Yes?」
As we were about to leave the treasury, the maid called out to us in a tone that clearly said “wait just a moment”.
「What about tomorrow’s payment?」
「Ah, I forgot.」
Preparing it properly would be a hassle…
「Just use that bag.」
「……Is that really all right?」
The maid stared at the bag Noie had counted, looking faintly stunned.
It might sound shady and the way I talk is questionable… but that doctor’s skill is the real thing. And every once in a while, it’s fine.
「Noie, is that okay with you too?」
「Yes.」
Her slightly sleepy reply sounded like she wasn’t really thinking, but Noie basically never refuses.
「Then please do it that way.」
「Understood.」
「We’ll be in the garden until the bath and dinner are ready.」
「Yes.」
Now I can finally relax.
The two of us headed to the garden. I sat in a chair and let Noie rest her head on my lap.
I stroked the head of the girl who had worked so hard this time and showered her with affection.
This is pure bliss.
-0-
「Promise.」
There was no escaping her as she pressed in close.
After a short nap to recover, we finished dinner and the bath. Just as we were about to go to sleep, it happened.
「Noie… let’s calm down, okay?」
「Promise.」
Here I was, pinned beneath her on the bed as usual.
With child-Noie right now, maybe I could push her off with full strength… but of course I can’t.
Her teary eyes looked straight at me.
「Arg-sama said. Wait until the injury heals. So I waited.」
「……」
She gently placed her hand on her own stomach. There was no hesitation in those blue, not crimson-black, eyes.
「I want. A baby.」
「……」
I know. I know perfectly well that Noie truly wants this.
But right now you’re so very childlike… and doing that in this state is completely, utterly wrong, isn’t it?
「Noie. Listen…」
「Promise.」
Waaah. She’s gone full stubborn mode. This is definitely the pattern where she won’t listen to anything I say.
As her forehead nearly touched mine, I gave up and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
Ahaha. Whatever. I don’t care anymore.
-0-
I woke up to a cute sleeping face right in front of me.
She was still in her child form. She had not returned to normal.
Lutte had gone back to normal without any trouble and headed home… but Noie stayed like this.
I knew that in five years she would grow into a beautiful wife, so I was not in a hurry. Still, the absence of her ahoge felt strangely lonely.
I quietly moved my face closer and kissed the spot where her ahoge used to be.
「……Afu.」
Huh? Did she feel that?
When I did it again, Noie let out a soft breath.
So even if I could not see it, it was still there?
Somehow I felt like I understood the trick.
In other words, her childlike appearance might be some kind of illusion, and she was actually still Noie underneath.
If that was the case, then what I did was safe. Yes, I would think of it that way!
Feeling relieved, I suddenly wanted to tease Noie.
I reached out and hugged her with all my strength.
「……Arg-sama?」
「Good morning, Noie. How was yesterday?」
「Yesterday?」
Her face, her completely naked face, turned bright red as she thought for a moment.
But I was not letting her escape.
「Auu! Hau hau!」
「How was it?」
「Aauu!」
Even though she wanted to run away from the embarrassment, she could not force her way out of my hold.
She really was a gentle and adorable wife.
「Noie… I love you so much.」
I leaned in and gave her a proper adult kiss.
When our lips parted… Noie’s face was redder than the ripest tomato.
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