「……」
The ceiling looked familiar.
It was so familiar that for a moment, I wondered if everything had just been a dream.
I remembered kissing the stone floor face-first, but that must have been my imagination.
I tried to sit up, but my body was too heavy to move.
Oh no. This is real. That means I definitely passed out and collapsed.
I looked around, but it was just our usual marital bedroom. And Noie was nowhere to be seen.
Haaah!
My chest hurts. I’m seriously about to cry. Tears are actually streaming down my face.
I collapsed, yet no one even came to take care of me… Did I really anger Noie that much?
I could call for her directly if I wanted to, but calling her now, when I’ve been rejected, would be a bad idea.
I desperately crawled out of bed and bit onto the speaking tube installed in the corner of the room.
When I pulled the signal string, I heard the sound of a bell ringing through the pipe.
「Hello?」
『Are you awake, Danna-sama?』
「Yeah, so about that…」
『Please wait a moment. I have orders from His Majesty Schnitt.』
「……」
The maid cut me off and came rushing in with quick footsteps.
Hearing footsteps was rare, which meant she was in quite a hurry.
「Danna-sama. I have a message from His Majesty Schnitt.」
「…Yes.」
I respectfully took the paper she offered. It contained instructions from my older brother.
『I am having Noie work hard to give her a break. Please do your best not to interfere with her.』
I see. So Noie was being made to work so she could rest.
Perhaps because I felt relieved, my legs suddenly gave out, and I slumped to the floor. The maid rushed over in a panic and helped me back into bed.
「Danna-sama.」
「Yes?」
「Shall I bring you something to drink?」
「Please.」
The maid bowed and left the room.
I stared at the ceiling and let out a deep breath… only to feel my consciousness fading again.
「Noie. Do your best.」
As I whispered softly, I thought I heard a tremendous explosion in the distance.
Yep. Good luck… to the soldiers reporting for duty today. Noie seems highly motivated.
-0-
After rampaging as much as possible, Noie returned to the waiting area and quickly changed her clothes.
The waiting soldiers also finished cleaning up and were just heading back into the castle.
Just as Noie seemed ready to leave immediately, she stopped and pondered for a moment.
She marched right up to Lutte.
「Tell me.」
「…Yes.」
Intimidated by Noie, who leaned in close enough to touch faces, Lutte nodded repeatedly with tears in her eyes.
「How do I get angry?」
「Huh?」
「How do I show anger?」
Lutte, who was currently being treated as if she were in trouble, didn’t understand.
She looked around for help, but the two vice-captains were absent today.
Frea had gone home after half a day, and Misha was away on other business.
「Tell me. How do I do it?」
「…I think what you’re doing is fine.」
「…?」
「Your current demeanor feels very angry, Captain.」
Noie looked around at herself in confusion.
She gave a big nod and then vanished without a sound.
「What was that? Mouuu～!」
No one answered Lutte’s shout.
-0-
「……」
「Noie…san?」
「……」
I was scared of the person who stared at me, leaning in close without saying a word.
Because she had rushed straight to the bedroom after coming home, the maids stood on the other side of the open door, looking troubled. Usually, bath time and dinner go hand in hand, after all.
But perhaps sensing the atmosphere, they gave a slight nod and closed the door for us.
In the bedroom, now just the two of us, Noie silently stared into my eyes.
She said nothing, just staring directly at me.
Then, she stepped back and began counting on her fingers, checking something.
「…Apologize.」
「I’m sorry.」
I apologized obediently as told, and Noie’s ahoge wobbled slightly.
Then, she counted on her fingers again.
「Name.」
「Name?」
She nodded and looked at me.
I’m sorry, Noie-san. That is simply not enough information.
After a moment, Noie’s ahoge swayed left and right, looking troubled. Then, she started counting on her fingers again.
「Apologize. Next is… name.」
「I’m sorry, Noie. You’re not giving me enough words.」
「?」
She tilted her head and looked at me, seeming dissatisfied as if to say, 『Why don’t you understand?』
Since we’ve faced each other every day, I’ve become able to interpret even small changes in her expressions.
「Name of what?」
「…Arg-sama, strange.」
My heart was on the verge of breaking from those sudden words.
However, Noie opened her mouth with her usual expressionless face.
「You wake up from sleep. Arg-sama, call by different name. Strange….Scary.」
Looking into her teary eyes, I realized.
So that’s what it was.
「Tell me. Why different name? Arg-sama says, 『If you don’t say it, I won’t know.』 I don’t know. Arg-sama doesn’t say it, so I don’t know.」
「Ah～」
「Say it. I don’t know.」
Seeing her cry, my heart felt like it was being crushed.
I wanted to say it. I wanted to say everything and feel relieved. But,
For a brief moment… Noie leaned forward as if about to fall. She took one step, then another, steadying herself before lifting her face.
「…You know what will happen if you say it, don’t you?」
Her blue eyes were cold and freezing.
They were the same color as mine, as if I were looking in a mirror. Well, naturally… she has the same blood running through her veins as I do, so it’s no surprise we share the same traits.
「I know. Glodia.」
「Good. Even if you do something that makes Noie hate you, I will never allow you to reveal our existence. Do you understand what will happen if you do?」
「I don’t want to hear it.」
「Then I’ll tell you. From inside Noie, your mind will be—」
「So don’t say it!」
At my clear refusal, she grinned and closed her mouth.
I understood. There are things I cannot tell Noie.
After that, I had no choice but to keep apologizing to her as she continued to cry.
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