Belzer Castle.
It was the third day since Nike Valencier had been imprisoned by Vania in the castle's annex.
There were only Nike and the lieutenant in the deserted dining room, but the food served was all wonderful.
“Wow, paid vacation is so nice.”
Reiner stuffed his mouth full of food and chewed.
"Delicious?"
"Yes. Thanks to you, I'm being treated well too. Thank you."
Reiner, the adjutant who had tagged along by chance, was resting well and eating well. He was nagging at first, but he seemed to like it.
After all, it is a long-awaited break amidst the grueling schedule of Imperial Knights, where half the year is spent on expeditions and the other half on training.
“Hmm... Your Highness? I’ve been looking around the territory a bit.”
Only then did Reiner notice Nike was in a bad mood and spoke hesitantly.
"I heard there are rumors that Lady Belzer is ill."
"They're saying she's ill?"
“Yes, among the Lord family, no one is seen as rarely as the Young Lady. It seems the rumor started because she appears to operate only within the castle...”
“...”
"But well, she didn't look sick when I saw her before, did she? I guess she's just the type of person who doesn't go out much and dislikes troublesome things."
Reiner whispered into Nike's ear, who seemed lost in thought.
"So, what I mean is, it doesn't seem like there is a man in her life."
"Were you going around digging into someone's private life?"
“Why go to such lengths? I just looked into it discreetly because it seemed like Your Highness was concerned. After all, I heard this proposal was ordered by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince...”
Reiner grumbled.
"But whether there is a man or not, it doesn't look like she has any intention of getting along with Your Highness, does it?"
“...”
"She hasn't shown her face for two whole days since that day. Honestly, this is practically an expulsion order. If you don't understand, you're a fool."
"Ha..."
Nike let out a deep sigh.
As Reiner said, Nike had not been able to see Vania since the first day he arrived in Belzer.
On the day she hurriedly disappeared, saying she was going for a nap, Vania, who had clearly said she would see him tomorrow.
"The Young Lady is handling the affairs of the estate in the Lord's absence. She is busy preparing for the festival and does not have the time, so she asked me to convey that she will visit Your Highness when she has some free time."
The next day, she sent an escort knight to convey the message.
In fact, since the lord is absent, it is not unusual for his daughter to handle the affairs of the estate.
Also, it is true that when Ryan returns after the conferment ceremony, a festival is held in Belzer to celebrate his countship.
However, Nike felt uneasy.
No matter how busy you are, guests are here, and you can't spare an hour—no, not even 10 minutes?
Besides, Vania will be eating too, so couldn't we have a chat while eating together?
"Your Highness!"
Just then, Gerald, the servant who had been faithfully attending to Nike for three days already, entered the dining room and delivered the news.
"Miss Vania says she would like to visit the annex after lunch. Would that be alright?"
For two days after Nike arrived, I was surprisingly unable to lift a finger.
I woke up feeling heavy, then suddenly my fever rose, and I couldn't regain my senses...
It was something I hadn't anticipated.
"It’s because you’ve been scurrying around. You should have stayed right in bed at least until the coughing up blood stopped."
Merchen, sitting in the chair in my room with his arms crossed, spoke like a doctor displeased with a disobedient patient.
As he said, it did seem like karma for running around frantically trying to welcome Nike.
I couldn't say anything because I was afraid Merchen would go berserk, but I was also a bit shocked because of the marriage talk Nike brought up.
“Vania, are you listening to me?”
"Sure."
"You're just listening, aren't you? Seeing as you try to go out again just because things have gotten a bit better."
“Young master, please don’t be like that.”
Max, the guard who was in the room to help me leave, stopped Merchen from nagging.
"With His Royal Highness the Prince here, we can't just leave him alone. It would be against etiquette. Besides, he traveled all this way because of your request, Young Lady."
"Yes. And I haven't finished talking about work yet."
I stood up from my seat.
Actually, work was one thing, but I also intended to have a serious conversation with Nike about our relationship.
I'm also curious about what was going on in his mind when he brought up the topic of a marriage alliance with me...
Of course, before that.
“Max, shall we leave a little earlier?”
Need some relationship advice?
There are not many people who know all the details of Vania's secretive situation.
First off, the family. And if I were to add one more, Max as well.
Max, who has a crush on 'Kali Belzer', Vania's closest bodyguard, her aunt on paper, and the current commander of the Belzer family knights.
Three years ago, he dropped a bombshell on Kali and got soundly dumped.
“We have work to do. So I have no intention of idling away on dating games. At least not right now.”
Later, Vania heard the rejection and encouraged him.
“Oh my god, Max! Does that mean you’re going to reconsider your confession later!”
He appreciated the kind words, but what could a young lady possibly know about relationships between men and women?
Vania told her story to Max, who was skeptical and said he couldn't believe it.
“Max, I have nothing to hide from you anyway...”
From that day on, Max became someone who knew the whole poignant love story of the young lady before her regression.
“Max, you’re the same kind of man.”
As she walked down the long corridor leading to the annex, Vania asked.
“Do you understand the Prince’s mind?”
Taking staggering steps one by one with a frail body that looked precarious even to walk.
"Hmm."
Fearing that she might fall, Max tightly wrapped her arm around his and supported her as he pondered his answer.
Two men and women who fell in love with someone they shouldn't have loved.
They loved each other more than their own lives and returned to the brink of death, but as a price, the man lost his memory, and the woman still loves her memory-lost lover.
“Since His Royal Highness has no memory, it is sad, but he probably cannot love the Lady passionately yet.”
"I know that, too."
You say you know, yet you're pouting.
“But he knows we used to love each other. That’s why he said he would wait for me. My plan is, once I turn 18, I’ll date again and...”
"It would be wonderful to have a beautiful wedding with everyone's blessings after catching Wassenberg."
"That's exactly it."
"However, His Royal Highness the Prince unexpectedly spoke of a marriage alliance regarding the Young Lady."
Max thought deeply and said.
“The flow of events is a bit strange. Even before I met the Young Lady, didn't I frequently see His Highness the Third Prince while going on subjugation expeditions as a mercenary?”
"Yes."
"I haven't spoken much with him, but I knew he was a man of integrity. I didn't think he was the type to go back on his word after making a promise."
“That’s right. So, I guess he was trying to teach me a lesson. Since I’ve been avoiding him for a year, he got anxious, so he brought up marriage to make me nervous.”
“But if that’s true, isn’t that a bit pathetic? The Third Prince I know isn’t that petty of a man.”
"That’s exactly what bothers me. He’s not the type of person to go that far."
“Hmm, I apologize for not being able to give you a satisfying answer. Since I did not see His Royal Highness the Prince’s face in person at the time, I am not sure what he was thinking...”
Max stopped walking.
Arrived at the annex before I knew it.
I saw Nike, who was out as if he had been waiting for Vania.
Max was speechless the moment he saw it.
Because of Nike's gaze, which swept over his face and even the way he was clinging to Vania with his arms crossed to support her.
'What? Just like you said, Miss, it was all for nothing!'
Max was immediately convinced. He knew very well when a man makes that kind of look.
That is how his eyes look when his colleagues are training half-naked, hanging around, or playing pranks in front of Kali.
He wants to smash all the guys clinging to the woman he likes.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
Max greeted Nike as he approached, feigning composure despite being dying of anxiety.
“Your Highness, you were with me?”
"Yes."
Two people are talking.
Max began his observation.
“By the way, where is that knight you always take with you? I haven’t seen him.”
Nike asked. It is about Kali.
Max knows all too well why he is suddenly asking about Kali's whereabouts.
(It looked a bit awkward walking around arm in arm with a male bodyguard, so) Max wished he had asked, "But where is that (female) knight you always have with you...?)
“Suddenly? Why are you curious?”
Vania asked back, wary like a hedgehog with its quills raised.
Max understands perfectly well why the young lady is acting like that.
He wished she had retorted, "Suddenly? Why are you curious (about another woman in front of me)?"
"Did I ask the wrong question? It’s natural to be curious when you’re not seeing it after always seeing it."
"She's in the capital because I had something assigned to her. She won't be here for the time being."
"... Yes."
"...Yes."
This is driving me crazy.
Max's gaze clouded over as he watched the two hesitant people.
It was the third day since Nike Valencier had been imprisoned by Vania in the castle's annex.
There were only Nike and the lieutenant in the deserted dining room, but the food served was all wonderful.
“Wow, paid vacation is so nice.”
Reiner stuffed his mouth full of food and chewed.
"Delicious?"
"Yes. Thanks to you, I'm being treated well too. Thank you."
Reiner, the adjutant who had tagged along by chance, was resting well and eating well. He was nagging at first, but he seemed to like it.
After all, it is a long-awaited break amidst the grueling schedule of Imperial Knights, where half the year is spent on expeditions and the other half on training.
“Hmm... Your Highness? I’ve been looking around the territory a bit.”
Only then did Reiner notice Nike was in a bad mood and spoke hesitantly.
"I heard there are rumors that Lady Belzer is ill."
"They're saying she's ill?"
“Yes, among the Lord family, no one is seen as rarely as the Young Lady. It seems the rumor started because she appears to operate only within the castle...”
“...”
"But well, she didn't look sick when I saw her before, did she? I guess she's just the type of person who doesn't go out much and dislikes troublesome things."
Reiner whispered into Nike's ear, who seemed lost in thought.
"So, what I mean is, it doesn't seem like there is a man in her life."
"Were you going around digging into someone's private life?"
“Why go to such lengths? I just looked into it discreetly because it seemed like Your Highness was concerned. After all, I heard this proposal was ordered by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince...”
Reiner grumbled.
"But whether there is a man or not, it doesn't look like she has any intention of getting along with Your Highness, does it?"
“...”
"She hasn't shown her face for two whole days since that day. Honestly, this is practically an expulsion order. If you don't understand, you're a fool."
"Ha..."
Nike let out a deep sigh.
As Reiner said, Nike had not been able to see Vania since the first day he arrived in Belzer.
On the day she hurriedly disappeared, saying she was going for a nap, Vania, who had clearly said she would see him tomorrow.
"The Young Lady is handling the affairs of the estate in the Lord's absence. She is busy preparing for the festival and does not have the time, so she asked me to convey that she will visit Your Highness when she has some free time."
The next day, she sent an escort knight to convey the message.
In fact, since the lord is absent, it is not unusual for his daughter to handle the affairs of the estate.
Also, it is true that when Ryan returns after the conferment ceremony, a festival is held in Belzer to celebrate his countship.
However, Nike felt uneasy.
No matter how busy you are, guests are here, and you can't spare an hour—no, not even 10 minutes?
Besides, Vania will be eating too, so couldn't we have a chat while eating together?
"Your Highness!"
Just then, Gerald, the servant who had been faithfully attending to Nike for three days already, entered the dining room and delivered the news.
"Miss Vania says she would like to visit the annex after lunch. Would that be alright?"
***
For two days after Nike arrived, I was surprisingly unable to lift a finger.
I woke up feeling heavy, then suddenly my fever rose, and I couldn't regain my senses...
It was something I hadn't anticipated.
"It’s because you’ve been scurrying around. You should have stayed right in bed at least until the coughing up blood stopped."
Merchen, sitting in the chair in my room with his arms crossed, spoke like a doctor displeased with a disobedient patient.
As he said, it did seem like karma for running around frantically trying to welcome Nike.
I couldn't say anything because I was afraid Merchen would go berserk, but I was also a bit shocked because of the marriage talk Nike brought up.
“Vania, are you listening to me?”
"Sure."
"You're just listening, aren't you? Seeing as you try to go out again just because things have gotten a bit better."
“Young master, please don’t be like that.”
Max, the guard who was in the room to help me leave, stopped Merchen from nagging.
"With His Royal Highness the Prince here, we can't just leave him alone. It would be against etiquette. Besides, he traveled all this way because of your request, Young Lady."
"Yes. And I haven't finished talking about work yet."
I stood up from my seat.
Actually, work was one thing, but I also intended to have a serious conversation with Nike about our relationship.
I'm also curious about what was going on in his mind when he brought up the topic of a marriage alliance with me...
Of course, before that.
“Max, shall we leave a little earlier?”
Need some relationship advice?
***
There are not many people who know all the details of Vania's secretive situation.
First off, the family. And if I were to add one more, Max as well.
Max, who has a crush on 'Kali Belzer', Vania's closest bodyguard, her aunt on paper, and the current commander of the Belzer family knights.
Three years ago, he dropped a bombshell on Kali and got soundly dumped.
“We have work to do. So I have no intention of idling away on dating games. At least not right now.”
Later, Vania heard the rejection and encouraged him.
“Oh my god, Max! Does that mean you’re going to reconsider your confession later!”
He appreciated the kind words, but what could a young lady possibly know about relationships between men and women?
Vania told her story to Max, who was skeptical and said he couldn't believe it.
“Max, I have nothing to hide from you anyway...”
From that day on, Max became someone who knew the whole poignant love story of the young lady before her regression.
“Max, you’re the same kind of man.”
As she walked down the long corridor leading to the annex, Vania asked.
“Do you understand the Prince’s mind?”
Taking staggering steps one by one with a frail body that looked precarious even to walk.
"Hmm."
Fearing that she might fall, Max tightly wrapped her arm around his and supported her as he pondered his answer.
Two men and women who fell in love with someone they shouldn't have loved.
They loved each other more than their own lives and returned to the brink of death, but as a price, the man lost his memory, and the woman still loves her memory-lost lover.
“Since His Royal Highness has no memory, it is sad, but he probably cannot love the Lady passionately yet.”
"I know that, too."
You say you know, yet you're pouting.
“But he knows we used to love each other. That’s why he said he would wait for me. My plan is, once I turn 18, I’ll date again and...”
"It would be wonderful to have a beautiful wedding with everyone's blessings after catching Wassenberg."
"That's exactly it."
"However, His Royal Highness the Prince unexpectedly spoke of a marriage alliance regarding the Young Lady."
Max thought deeply and said.
“The flow of events is a bit strange. Even before I met the Young Lady, didn't I frequently see His Highness the Third Prince while going on subjugation expeditions as a mercenary?”
"Yes."
"I haven't spoken much with him, but I knew he was a man of integrity. I didn't think he was the type to go back on his word after making a promise."
“That’s right. So, I guess he was trying to teach me a lesson. Since I’ve been avoiding him for a year, he got anxious, so he brought up marriage to make me nervous.”
“But if that’s true, isn’t that a bit pathetic? The Third Prince I know isn’t that petty of a man.”
"That’s exactly what bothers me. He’s not the type of person to go that far."
“Hmm, I apologize for not being able to give you a satisfying answer. Since I did not see His Royal Highness the Prince’s face in person at the time, I am not sure what he was thinking...”
Max stopped walking.
Arrived at the annex before I knew it.
I saw Nike, who was out as if he had been waiting for Vania.
Max was speechless the moment he saw it.
Because of Nike's gaze, which swept over his face and even the way he was clinging to Vania with his arms crossed to support her.
'What? Just like you said, Miss, it was all for nothing!'
Max was immediately convinced. He knew very well when a man makes that kind of look.
That is how his eyes look when his colleagues are training half-naked, hanging around, or playing pranks in front of Kali.
He wants to smash all the guys clinging to the woman he likes.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
Max greeted Nike as he approached, feigning composure despite being dying of anxiety.
“Your Highness, you were with me?”
"Yes."
Two people are talking.
Max began his observation.
“By the way, where is that knight you always take with you? I haven’t seen him.”
Nike asked. It is about Kali.
Max knows all too well why he is suddenly asking about Kali's whereabouts.
(It looked a bit awkward walking around arm in arm with a male bodyguard, so) Max wished he had asked, "But where is that (female) knight you always have with you...?)
“Suddenly? Why are you curious?”
Vania asked back, wary like a hedgehog with its quills raised.
Max understands perfectly well why the young lady is acting like that.
He wished she had retorted, "Suddenly? Why are you curious (about another woman in front of me)?"
"Did I ask the wrong question? It’s natural to be curious when you’re not seeing it after always seeing it."
"She's in the capital because I had something assigned to her. She won't be here for the time being."
"... Yes."
"...Yes."
This is driving me crazy.
Max's gaze clouded over as he watched the two hesitant people.
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