The day of the hearing… Early morning.
Noie woke up with a snap, as usual, and without hesitation, turned her gaze to the side.
He wasn’t there.
She rolled her entire body over to the other side, and there he was.
「Good morning, Noie.」
「…Good morning, Arg-sama.」
Normally, the person sleeping comfortably would be asleep, but realizing he was awake and staring at her, Noie felt a sudden heat rise in her chest.
She didn’t understand the meaning, but she felt hot from the inside out.
「Hmm～」
The person she had been watching sat up and reached out to pat her head.
He rubbed it vigorously… and again, heat rose in Noie’s chest. But unlike before, this time it felt like a warm flush.
「Arg-sama.」
「Hmm～」
「Are you not sleeping?」
「Yes.」
She worried about him, seeing his tired expression.
Looking at his complexion, which had faded several times after he collapsed, she realized it looked similar to now.
It seemed that even Noie could remember things she had seen and heard, accompanied by a strong shock.
Then, Argusta noticed his wife, who looked like she was about to cry for some reason. He sat up and reached out to her shoulder, helping her sit up as well.
Sitting face-to-face, he reached out to her without hesitation… and gently pulled her head toward him.
「Arg-sama. The promise.」
「Yes.」
Noie placed her hands on his chest and tried to pull herself away.
The promise… was that they would not make skin-to-skin contact until he told her the secret he couldn’t share.
Incidentally, both were suffering from this agreement, which caused them considerable mental damage, but the stubborn Noie endured it desperately, satisfied with just having her head patted.
And yet,
「No.」
「Yes.」
「Let go.」
「Yes.」
「……」
She couldn’t use her original strength… her power as a Dragonslayer, against him.
Noie used “enhancement” through spell formulas in a way she herself didn’t fully understand.
Most of her power was “magic” and “spell formulas”. But she didn’t know why she could use them.
In that place… she didn’t know if she could use her companions’ powers.
Therefore, she tried to push him away with her original strength.
But in reality, Noie belonged to the average class. If she were naked, her body would be supple, but she was by no means muscular. She only had the amount of muscle typical for a woman her age.
Unable to push him away, Noie relaxed her strength.
「Arg-sama.」
「Hmm?」
「A little longer?」
「Yes. Please.」
「…Understood.」
So Noie, unusually, gave in.
There was her own internal conflict as the reason, but she was also curious about him, who wouldn’t let go just because she answered. Love and romance were still things Noie didn’t understand, but she didn’t dislike being hugged like this. If possible, she wanted him to do this every day… forever.
If she didn’t dislike it, she wanted to be held. Tentatively, she wrapped her arms around his back and hugged him herself.
Then, closing the distance… he hugged her tightly.
「Nnh…」
「Did it hurt?」
「I’m fine.」
She didn’t quite understand why the sound had escaped her lips, but for Noie, this closeness felt just right.
She continued to keep her arms around his back, increasing their intimacy.
Squeezed tightly… on top of Noie’s head, a single long strand of hair, like an antenna, swayed happily.
「Good. I’ve fully recharged.」
「…?」
Due to the height difference, his voice came from above, and Noie loosened her arms and gently looked up.
Looking up at him, he seemed somewhat sleepy… but he nodded with satisfaction.
「With this, I can fight for ten years.」
「…Yes.」
She didn’t understand what he meant, but she nodded anyway.
Then, looking up at him, Noie met his eyes and froze.
The distance between them, which he would normally close without hesitation, remained far. Something cold settled in her chest, which had been warm until now. It was very cold and painful.
Tears threatened to spill, so Noie closed both eyes to hold them back, keeping her face turned toward him.
The Draguknight family had a certain rule. The one being kissed closes their eyes.
Therefore, Argusta gently embraced her and pressed his lips to hers.
After a brief silence… Noie spoke, looking slightly angry.
「I said no.」
「Oh～?」
Argusta laughed it off, unable to accept her dissatisfaction.
-0-
「Do you understand that today is a rather important day?」
「Yeah, leave it to me!」
I responded with the high-strung energy typical of someone who had pulled an all-nighter, only to get punched by my idiot aniki.
Why didn’t my famous ninja-like response work?
Was he a demon for subjecting his younger brother, who was about to head into a battle of words, to a battle of fists?
Holding my cheek where I’d been hit, my foggy mind began to clear up.
「Oh～ You’re awake.」
「Should I send you flying back and forth one more time?」
「If I took another hit like that, I’d be sleeping in a different sense.」
I put some distance between us, holding my neck as it cracked from the impact of the punch.
Today, the hearing would be held in the Grand Council Chamber within the royal castle. It was usually locked, so although I knew of its existence, this was my first time entering the room.
「Geez… I can’t decide if you’re a big shot or just an idiot.」
「I’ll let you keep the title of idiot.」
「Then I’ll return it on my fist.」
「I oppose violence.」
I fled with all my might from him, who was aiming a fist at me.
「Well, fine. The fun ends here.」
As if signaling that it was time, my idiot brother pointed toward the door with his chin.
But there was something I needed to do first.
「I have a small request…」
「Don’t act humble, you idiot. It’s creepy.」
「Just shut up and listen! Put your fists away!」
If I did as he said, I’d just get violent treatment again. I felt a tremendous sense of absurdity.
He unclenched the fist he had been swinging around and shrugged with a sigh.
「So, what is it?」
「…I have a favor to ask.」
My idiot aniki showed an extremely sour expression at my request… but responded in a half-hearted manner.
Yes. Today’s battle was one I couldn’t afford to lose, and the criteria for winning or losing were unusual.
Above all, I couldn’t use the method of victory Glodia had suggested.
Because I… wanted to remain a husband Noie could be proud of anywhere.
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