No, don’t just look at his face. Take a look at that perfectly built body.
It was the kind of physique that would make any decent swordsman drool with envy.
Of course, his face was startlingly handsome, too.
“But what’s with this room?”
Kay whispered.
“What about it?”
“It looks like someone brought in a bunch of expensive-looking things from all over the place and just dumped them wherever.”
“……”
He was right. I had nothing to say.
“Does the owner of the room have… questionable taste?”
“…That was me.”
“Ah. I see.”
It wasn’t as if I knew the first thing about interior design.
If even Kay noticed, Elhardt must have realized it ages ago.
Why hadn’t he said anything until now?
I gave Kay a light kick in the shin and turned around, only to freeze in surprise.
Elhardt was staring at Kay and me, his eyes dark and somber.
“…You two must be close.”
“Ah, well…”
I hadn’t done anything wrong, so why did I suddenly feel guilty?
“I’m from Bardia as well, Your Highness. I’ve had several opportunities to work alongside this maid.”
Kay smoothly explained our relationship.
As expected of an intelligence operative.
He was skilled at mixing lies with the truth.
“I see.”
Elhardt replied in a low voice and finally looked away.
Kay wandered into the room, glancing around as though he were simply curious.
He was probably checking the layout and identifying places where he could hide.
Elhardt and Kay sat facing each other, with the table between them.
“Would you like some tea?”
I asked as I went to fetch the teapot, but Elhardt and Kay both sprang to their feet and answered at the same time.
“I’ll do it, Ser.”
“I’ll take care of it, so please come—”
“……”
What was going on with these two?
The way they eyed each other as though sizing each other up was downright suspicious.
“Don’t tell me, Your Highness…”
Kay spoke, his lips trembling.
“Have you been drinking tea prepared by this maid all this time?”
Elhardt slowly nodded.
“Ser enjoys making tea.”
What was with that solemn expression?
“I see. You don’t happen to prefer it bitter or astringent, do you?”
Kay’s ridiculous question prompted me to answer on Elhardt’s behalf.
“What are you talking about? Who likes tea like that?”
“Of course. Quite right.”
Wrinkling his nose, Kay strode over and gently pushed me by the back.
“Please, have a seat. I’ll take care of it.”
“……?”
Well, if he insisted.
When I returned to the table, Elhardt gently took my hand.
“Sit here.”
I followed his lead and pulled my chair up beside his.
I felt as though someone was watching us from behind.
“Is your fever… gone?”
Elhardt placed his hand on my forehead.
“You weren’t feeling well, and then you disappeared for so long. I was worried.”
I’d been perfectly fine just moments ago, but the instant he touched me, my face grew hot.
“If you’re not busy, I think you should rest early today.”
I’d deliberately avoided him since morning, but now that I was looking at his face, I felt happy.
His gentle, concerned gaze made the corners of my mouth soften into a helpless smile.
“Mhm, I will.”
Clang!
I heard the sound of a teacup striking something hard.
Those were high-grade magical artifacts and teacups we’d brought from the Crown Prince’s palace. Surely he hadn’t broken anything?
Just as I was about to turn around, Elhardt took my hand again.
“Ser…”
He met my eyes as if asking me to look at him, and I couldn’t bring myself to turn away.
Why is he acting like this all of a sudden…?
Has his attitude toward me changed because of what happened last night?
Or could it be… that he was jealous of Kay?
Come on. As if.
Anyone could see that Kay was… well, Kay.
“Here you are. Please, have some.”
Kay set the tray on the table and placed a teacup in front of each of us.
I took a sip and was startled.
“It isn’t astringent at all!”
Kay let out a long sigh.
“Of course it isn’t. How much high-quality tea have you been wasting?”
Was there a special way to brew tea, too?
I’d assumed all the tea that was popular these days tasted astringent.
It was a rather embarrassing moment for someone who’d been proudly proclaiming herself a capable maid.
“I’ll show you how to do it properly later.”
“There’s no need.”
Elhardt cut off Kay’s offer.
“I can teach her myself.”
“You know how?”
At my question, Elhardt nodded.
“You can make it taste this good?”
“Of course.”
“Then why have you been drinking bitter, astringent tea all this time?”
“Well…”
Elhardt’s lips moved as though he couldn’t find the words. Then he lowered his eyes and said,
“Because you went to the trouble of making it for me…”
“……”
I stared blankly at him as he spoke, the tips of his ears turning red.
It wasn’t something I’d normally think about a grown man.
And it was especially unsuited to Elhardt, with his tall, imposing build and sharp features.
Wow… He’s seriously adorable.
It was only when I heard a small cough that I remembered Kay, whose presence I’d completely forgotten.
“If you don’t mind, may I ask Your Highness a few questions?”
“If there’s something you’d like to know, ask away.”
“What are your views on marriage?”
Elhardt’s eyes wavered at Kay’s completely unexpected question.
“And do you plan to have children…?”
With a resolute expression, Kay launched into a barrage of questions.
“Even if you become the most powerful man in the land, can you promise to cherish and love only one woman…?”
By this point, anyone who hadn’t caught on would have to be an idiot.
“Kay?”
I smiled sweetly at him.
“Isn’t it about time you started preparing dinner?”
Kay immediately understood the meaning behind my words: One more word, and we’re both dead.
“Oh! That’s right.”
I’d send him away for now and give him a proper scolding when Elhardt wasn’t around.
“Please excuse me, Your Highness.”
“Wait. Stay a moment.”
Kay had leaped to his feet, ready to flee, when Elhardt called him back.
“You should hear my answer first.”
“Elhardt…?”
I turned toward him in confusion and saw him smiling faintly, though his expression was somewhat strained.
“There’s already someone I’m responsible for.”
Huh…?
“Whether I become the most powerful man in the land or rot away, imprisoned in this room, that won’t change.”
I stared at him blankly.
Surely he doesn’t mean me…?
Of course, we’d spent the night in the same bed.
And last night, I’d realized that he wanted me enough to consider marriage.
But harboring those feelings privately was one thing. Declaring them aloud was another.
Did he really need to take responsibility for me for the rest of his life over something like that…?
“So my own values or plans don’t matter. Her wishes will become mine.”
His eyelashes trembled slightly, casting delicate shadows over his golden eyes.
Elhardt laid bare his feelings, with no time to hide how nervous he was.
Only after he’d finished speaking did he slowly turn toward me.
“……”
My breath caught instinctively under his gaze.
There was no way I could mistake what this meant.
I couldn’t doubt that he was sincere.
And that was the problem.
Because now, even my excuses for running away had vanished.
“Elhardt, I…”
Just as I opened my mouth—
“Please excuse us.”
Kay seized my wrist and pulled me to my feet.
He led me out of the room, my face still clouded with confusion. Elhardt didn’t try to stop us.
He merely watched, keeping the emotions surging within him like an explosion locked behind his eyes.
***
“The maps of this era never cease to amaze me.”
Inside the moving carriage, the Pope—who had reclaimed his rightful position after more than three hundred years—murmured as he studied the large map spread before him.
“Haha… Indeed, Your Holiness.”
The Pope slowly turned his gaze from the map to the man beside him.
“What do you find so amusing?”
“I-I beg your pardon…”
The Cardinal, who had been laughing affably, hurriedly climbed down from his seat, knelt, and pressed his forehead against the floor of the carriage.
“B-But, Your Holiness… Why have you suddenly decided to visit the Cradion Empire?”
He’d finally found the courage to ask the question he’d been holding back all this time, because the Imperial Palace of Cradion was now just ahead.
At this point, he truly needed to know the reason.
“How can those who serve the Goddess be so slow-witted?”
The Pope clicked his tongue reproachfully at the Cardinal, then looked out the window.
“The Goddess’s spear has struck this land. Surely, we must go and meet its wielder.”
With that, the Pope smiled gently for the first time since returning to the Church.
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