After laughing and chatting for a while, it got quite late. Lariette gathered herself up and said she was going to evening training.
“It’s nice to talk to my sister like this after a long time.”
“Yeah. I liked it too.”
“Hurry up and tell your feelings to His Majesty Klaus.”
“Do you want to keep talking about useless things?”
I lifted the dowsing finder and waved it menacingly in the air. Lariette screamed and playfully avoided her body.
“Anyway, thank you. I know you tried to make things work out well for me and His Highness Rudyard.”
“I’m glad you understand.”
“……His Majesty Rudeat also reminds me of the past a little bit.”
Lariette, who hesitated, spoke cautiously.
I nodded slowly.
Lariat and Rudyard’s past. A tragedy sparked by Elena Seves’ empty wish for her world to be ruined.
Lariette, who once had that memory, did not believe me and even suspected and feared that I was in cahoots with the devil.
“thank you so much.”
However, unlike before, Lariette smiled at me with a bright face.
“What are you thankful for?”
“I think I know now. I was just having a terrible dream, and now my life is a lot brighter.”
“Lariette.”
“The empire is always noisy, but it runs well, His Highness Rudyard lacks flexibility, but there is no darkness in his heart, epidemics are cured right away, and people do not blame each other.”
Lariette said, counting them one by one.
“And although my sister has always been a bit immature, she communicates well with me, believes in my absurd dreams, and even forgives me when I say things to her because of my dreams.”
“You said you went through it, so I should believe it.”
“If it were me, I would have dismissed it as a dream. Or I would have gotten angry at him for not believing me.”
Lariette lowered her eyes sadly. And she nodded her head again.
“I’m sorry I suspected you had anything to do with the devil. I’m so grateful I had nothing to do with it.”
“Lariette, that.”
“I really like you!”
… … What should I do? I have a relationship with the devil.
‘This dowser is also a gift from the devil… … .’
I stared at my dowsing finder in vain while being held by Lariette.
The carriage drove calmly down the road.
Klaus and I decided to visit the Western Guard ourselves.
The luxury carriage provided by the imperial family was very comfortable to ride.
However, my mind was not as comfortable as the feeling of riding in the carriage. The reason, of course, was the conversation I had with Lariette not long ago.
“So you’re worried that you haven’t been able to tell Lariette Sebes about your relationship with the devil yet?”
“Yes. What should I do?”
After reciting the conversation with Lariette to Klaus, he sighed.
Lariette, who hates the devil so much, seems to have finally been freed from her memories of the past, but isn’t I actually related to the devil?
I was scared just imagining what Lariette would look like if she found out that the dowsing detector she saw every day at the training ground was a gift from the devil.
“Besides, Lariette said that an angel brought back time. I’m also worried about what will happen if they find out that we are suspicious of the angel.”
“What? Lariette Sebes said an angel turned back time?”
“Ah yes.”
Klaus reacted in confusion. I too realized my mistake later and apologized to Klaus.
“I’m sorry. I just mentioned it in passing, so I forgot for a long time that I was going to tell you right away.”
“No. Even if I knew that, nothing would have changed right away.”
Klaus nodded while answering that question.
“But I’ll have to think about it from now on.”
“Ugh, did I tell you too late?”
“That’s not true. However, I hadn’t thought about that either. If I had returned back in time with the power of the god that remained at the source, I should have thought about how Lariat Sebes had memories from before returning.”
Klaus clicked his tongue lightly. I asked.
“Did an angel really turn back time?”
“Things like that happen, too.”
“He… Duke Bruedel?”
“It may or may not be Duke Brudel. There are many other Elyos.”
I once again thought of Duke Brudel, the king of the North.
Duke Bruedel often visits the capital of the empire due to his position as a northern duke, but I have never heard of him meeting Lariette.
It is said that the reason why Elena fell in love with Duke Bruedel in the first place was when she was young, before Duke Bruedel ascended to the throne, when she saw him come to the mansion to open a business network with her father, she fell in love with him and followed him around alone.
Lariette was embarrassed to see Elena like that, so she tried to avoid meeting Elena, who followed the Northern Duke wherever he went.
If that were true, Lariette might not have known that Duke Brudel had the same face as the angel she met.
“Besides, even if Duke Brudel really brought Lariette back, I can’t figure out the reason.”
Lariette has a reason to choose regression.
But why did Duke Brudel return Lariette?
Judging from his actions so far, Duke Bruedel does not seem to have any intention of leading the future of the empire in a positive direction.
So does this mean that Lariat’s return also has some other intention?
Or is there simply a restriction that requires one to regress through lariette’s regress?
“Relax your expression.”
“It’s a pain in the ass.”
“Think about it slowly. It’s not a problem yet.”
Klaus spoke calmly. The calm voice was reassuring.
“Well, the security guard I’m going to meet now is also a headache.”
I calmly straightened my back. Klaus laughed.
“I think the young lady is more enthusiastic than me.”
“Ah. Now I know that your highness is the type of person who pretends it’s not like that but rushes in with more sincerity than you think.”
In the past, I thought Klaus just smiled and calmly got out of situations, but now I realized that he was the type of person who pretended to be relaxed on the outside but worked hard to find a solution behind the scenes.
‘I’m the type of person who works hard on the outside but doesn’t think about things when things get too complicated, so I’m the exact opposite of Klaus.’
But Klaus didn’t answer and was just staring at me.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“I’m quick to notice things like this, so it’s not like I don’t have any sense. I’m wondering what the hell is going on.”
“What didn’t I notice?”
“……Okay. Please let me know when the time comes.”
Klaus said only that and slightly turned his head.
His attitude doesn’t seem much different from usual, but… … Now that I’ve been with Klaus for a long time, I know.
‘This man is unusually upset!’
What happened that made me act so insensitively?
… … ah!
“Thank you so much for taking me on such a large imperial carriage. Is it because I am late in expressing my gratitude?”
“Then, should we tie the lady to a horse and go? Of course, we should put her in the carriage.”
I guess not.
“Ah. I rode a horse once. I thought I was going to die from seasickness.”
“You don’t get motion sick today?”
“It’s completely strong. I was wondering what would happen if I sang to His Majesty that I was going to die like I did back then, but I’m so glad that I was able to get away safely like this.”
“…It’s good to be healthy, but the problem is that my mind is not disciplined enough.”
Klaus muttered softly.
… … Is this perhaps just a petty complaint, like wanting me to sit closer to him in the carriage?
The spacious carriage allows people to sit facing each other, so naturally I took a seat opposite Klaus.
Klaus suggested that I come and sit next to me, saying that because it was in the reverse direction, I could get motion sickness, but I declined.
Although the seat is spacious, it would be more comfortable for Klaus to sit facing him rather than next to him.
In fact, the carriage was so comfortable to ride that I didn’t get motion sick.
Are you really saying that because you regret it?
“majesty?”
“why.”
“……no.”
Ugh, I can’t bear to ask, ‘Are you really angry because I didn’t sit next to you?’
okay. Could it be possible for Klaus to do that? It really doesn’t seem like a big deal.
I shook my head lightly to shake off the distracting thoughts.
The area where the Western Guard was staying was Wayond Village, a small town centered on commerce and agriculture for the Guard.
The family in charge of this place is Count Belen, and the count welcomed Klaus and I, who visited his estate, with a wide smile.
“Oh, Your Highness! The person next to you is the famous daughter of Count Sebes.”
uh? You know who I am?
“Well, have I become that famous too?”
“Didn’t you know? Let’s go in.”
Unlike me, who was embarrassed, Klaus escorted me very naturally.
Count Belen also greeted me and Klaus happily, rubbing his hands repeatedly.
“Oh my. It’s a great honor for you to come to Velenga. The Countess too.”
“Well, I’m honored too.”
“Oh, no need to bow your head.”
“Yes? But….”
I am the daughter of Count Sebes, and Count Belen is the head of the family who received the title of count.
Considering his age or status, Count Belen had no reason to bow to me, but he kept bowing to me without any hesitation.
‘This atmosphere is so burdensome… … .’
When I kept making gestures to show that I was concerned, Count Belen wiped his sweat with a handkerchief and laughed brightly.
“Oh, don’t worry about it. Aren’t you going to soon become Her Highness the Princess?”
“Yeh?!”
“Khom.”
What does this mean again? Why am I becoming Her Highness the Princess?
Klaus cleared his throat briefly and tapped the table to summon Count Belen.
“I stopped by while I was out on a short inspection trip. Don’t worry about it too much.”
No, over there. You can’t end it like this.
Because I’m really worried?
