We sneak back into the venue with just the two of us, Noie and me.
The journey back was a comedy of errors. Getting lost on the way, getting lost again after finally arriving, then running into some problem right when we thought we’d made it.
Misfortune after misfortune.
The curse of the Republic is definitely making me unlucky.
We ran part of the way, so my clothes are a little disheveled. I straighten them quickly.
Noie… looks perfectly fine from what I can see.
「Where’d you two disappear to?」
「The office.」
The idiot prince with his dumb expression approaches with light steps.
「So you got all worked up seeing your wife all dressed up and went for a quick round? Time-wise… two rounds? Three? Onii-chan’s starting to worry about his little brother’s lack of stamina, you know?」
「I’ll end your life right here, you moron～. If we’re doing it, it’s at home.」
「Yeah, fair enough.」
What kind of vulgar joke is that to drop out of nowhere?
I’m definitely not… quick, right? Wait… I don’t really know how others are, so I can’t exactly puff out my chest and answer confidently here.
The anxiety is so bad I want to curl up in the corner hugging my knees, but the idiot prince laughs and slaps me on the back.
「So, what were you actually doing?」
「Just got lost.」
「Again? Why?」
「Went to grab some documents I forgot in the office and got lost on the way.」
I show him the papers I actually did pick up on the way back.
「Marisan’s schedule starting tomorrow, huh.」
「Yup. Just gotta follow these locations in order, right?」
「Pretty much.」
The idiot prince leans against the wall, looking bored out of his mind. He’s clearly over it.
「Witches tend to have nasty personalities, so don’t let her provoke you into sending Noie after her just because she teases a little.」
「Ahaha. It was during drinks, so she let it slide?」
「Even if she lets it slide, the nobles who are taking Republic money will make a fuss. Plus your reputation’s been pretty bad lately.」
「Huh? The civil officials keep saying things like 『We’ll follow you for life!』 though?」
「The military officers are saying 『It’d be great if he fell off his horse and died』.」
That’s news to me.
The moment I find whoever’s saying that, Noie and I are going to pay them a little “visit”.
Well, I admit I’ve been overdoing it lately for the sake of a certain plan.
Speaking of which, this idiot prince is here alone today.
I thought he’d at least bring his fiancée since she was supposed to be in the capital… so why isn’t she here?
「So where’s your wife?」
「She didn’t come.」
「……Why not?」
「She said she can’t dance.」
……If that’s enough reason to skip, then where do I vent this pent-up frustration after staying up all night practicing dance and… other things with her?
「Yeah, so that’s why she’s not here.」
That’s good, but… I heard from Renila-sensei that members of the royal family are technically supposed to dance at least once, right?
Well, that was ten years ago, so I don’t know if it still applies now.
「You don’t have to dance?」
「Hm? Technically I should, or Father and aniki will complain. What a pain.」
Looks like the obligation is still in place, sensei.
「Then who are you going to dance with? Wait… you can’t dance then?」
「Hm? …Frea’s more than enough for a partner.」
「You can actually dance if you have a partner?」
Apparently irked by my words, the idiot prince marches over to Frea, who had been chatting politely with some older noblemen, grabs her hand without asking, and drags her straight to the center of the floor.
Despite her fierce resistance, they slowly begin to dance.
Damn it… he’s actually doing it.
As expected of someone with an athletic background, his axis never wavers at all. Watching him feels incredibly stable.
But because he forced her so rudely, Frea is deliberately stepping on his feet, satisfying to see.
He stops dancing and jerks his chin at me like 「Get over here」.
You, now that you’ve picked a fight, there’s no running away.
「Noie.」
「Yes.」
「……」
She had been so quiet because she never stopped eating meat.
Yeah. She’s eating very elegantly, so I’ll forgive her.
She’s surprisingly well-mannered when it comes to things like this.
I get the feeling someone inside taught Noie proper etiquette.
「I’m completely hopeless at dancing… so is it okay if I leave everything to Noie?」
「……It’s fine.」
I decide to trust her as she clenches both fists and shows me her confidence.
I gently invite her and head toward the center of the floor.
Once we link up and begin to dance lightly… it’s exactly like with Renila.
All I have to do is relax my entire body.
Noie moves me with shifts in her weight and precise footwork.
Noie really is good at dancing. She more than covers for my complete lack of skill.
「Noie.」
「Yes.」
「From now on, teach me how to dance, okay?」
「……Yes.」
She nods with a happy aura around her.
-0-
I spent the entire ball dancing only with Noie and successfully avoided everything else.
Considering how several women kept staring at me, waiting for an opening, choosing to nurture love with my wife was definitely the right decision. I hate troublesome things.
Well, the problem is that starting tomorrow I have to entertain that witch.
「Noie.」
「Yes.」
「Stay with me for a while starting tomorrow.」
「?」
「Even if it’s sunny, don’t go dragon hunting.」
「……Yes.」
The future felt far too gloomy, so on the ride home in the carriage, I ended up making that unreasonable request to the girl who was clinging to me sweetly.
I thought I caught a flicker of conflict in her expression, but Noie nodded anyway.
Once we got home, we went straight to the bath. She washed off the makeup and everything else, then we headed to the bedroom as husband and wife.
Tonight’s Noie is wearing her usual sheer camisole. I’ve given up saying anything about it.
She sits on the bed looking at me, somehow resembling a dog waiting for a command.
Hm? Was there something I wanted to ask Noie…? Oh, right.
「Noie.」
「Yes.」
「That thing. The dangerous thing the witch used… do you know what it is?」
「……I know.」
Her eyes wavered slightly. She isn’t lying, at least.
「……Can you use it?」
「……」
After a long silence, she turns her face away and nods.
「I figured.」
「I won’t use it. I won’t use it on Arg-sama. So, 」
「That’s not what I meant.」
She looks panicked, tears welling up in her eyes.
Noie must have jumped to the conclusion that I would be angry. She completely misread me. If anything, it’s the opposite.
「If you don’t look into the eyes, it’s safe, right?」
「Yes.」
「What happens if you keep looking into them?」
「……」
Noie’s gaze drifts again. She probably can’t explain it properly.
I get it. But since it’s Noie, it’ll be fine, right?
「Is it dangerous when Noie uses it?」
「?」
「If Noie uses it on me, will I die or something?」
「No such thing.」
She shakes her head furiously, full power denial.
I already knew that. If it were truly that dangerous, the witch wouldn’t still be alive right now.
「Yeah, thought so. Then try using it.」
「……」
Noie pulls back slightly. Her upper body leans away.
Did I say something weird?
「Noie would never hurt me or do anything strange, right?」
「……Yes.」
「Then just lightly. Yeah. Lightly, try it.」
「……」
「Is even a light use dangerous?」
If that’s the case, I’d have every right to lodge a complaint with that witch.
「It’s not dangerous. But…」
「But?」
「I don’t know what to do. What should I order Arg-sama to do?」
「Hmm～」
Ordering… so it really is a domination-type thing?
In that case… how about having her hug me all night long… something like that?
「Got it.」
After a brief explanation, Noie nods once and stares intently at me.
As always, Noie is cute and beautiful. Her eyelashes are so long, and thanks to her blessing her skin is perfectly smooth… It’s strange that someone this wonderful still hasn’t had a child with me.
That’s it. I must not be trying hard enough.
In that case, I have to go all out with Noie for baby-making.
This is our family’s grand enterprise.
Ahahahaha… I’ll show her the full power of this man in his prime!
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