“There was something like that in my memories of getting it back. Around the spring of my twentieth year...”
“Aaaargh!”
Ryan was shocked.
“Hey! Why on earth are you telling me this now?! When you received the memories before, I clearly told you to write down every single major event! You didn't write them down then, so why now!”
"Because it wasn't an important matter."
“Why not?!”
“Calm down. I’m going to become Vania’s lover anyway. That means the marriage proposal didn’t work out. There’s no need to bring up something that fell through and make her worry.”
“No, ha!”
He was right, too. If Vania had known this, the shock would have been quite significant.
“An arranged marriage? Is it something like that?”
“That’s right. It’s a kind of marriage alliance.”
“Then isn’t that quite a big deal? The news must have spread all over the neighborhood, so why didn’t Vania know about it?”
Nike somehow stammered in response to Ryan's question.
“...I don’t know up to that point since I haven’t received all the memories.”
"Hmmm."
“Anyway, what I’m curious about is things like the relationship with the Kingdom of Ebonwind around this time or the international situation. I was wondering if there might have been some kind of problem if the marriage alliance with them had fallen through.”
“I see. For now, yes. I’ll ask... ah, wait.”
Ryan frowned.
"“You said it would happen in a month, didn't you? So, His Imperial Majesty... is issuing an order for Your Highness to get married.”
"Yes."
“Then it must be March. Calculating the timeline, that means the Prince didn't know Vania at all before the regression, right? Since the two of you originally met for the first time this summer. This June, correct?”
"That's right."
Ryan, who had been speaking as if analyzing, swallowed hard and asked.
“Then, since you didn’t have a girlfriend back then, what do you think you answered when His Majesty the Emperor told you to get married...?”
"It’s just as you guessed."
Nike spoke simply about the situation in his memory.
"It turns out I had accepted that marriage proposal."
At the very moment, Ryan was deeply confiding his worries to Merchen.
Nike was thinking of Vania as he busily packed his bags.
He regrets it.
That he had received back the memory of our first meeting from Vania three years ago.
This is because it became very difficult to deal with Vania once he remembered the moment he fell in love.
"Your Highness!"
Whenever Vania, who hadn't yet shed her childishness, approached him with flushed cheeks, a warning light went on in his head.
It was too early for them to reunite as a couple. It was impossible even if Vania were mentally mature. Only a select few knew the truth, and to others unaware of the circumstances, their relationship could not be perceived as unethical.
Nike has acted thoroughly to ensure that no strange rumors would spread.
"It’s been a while since you’ve been here, and you’re leaving right away? Would you like to go for a short walk with me?"
"I've seen your face, so that's enough."
“...”
He admitted that my attitude, which was firmer than an iron wall, was too much for Vania.
But what if your heart flutters for a young lover? What if you want to hold their hand? What if you want to hug them?
“Your Highness, a wonderful restaurant has opened in Belzer~”
"I've already eaten."
“...”
It was an unavoidable choice for himself and for Vania.
It has been two years since they kept their distance like that.
Vania, who used to approach him first without giving up despite his cold attitude, stopped showing her face at some point.
At first, he thought there might be some reason, but after being repeatedly refused a meeting, he couldn't help but notice.
Vania was definitely 'avoiding' him.
It had been more than a year since he last saw her face, and just as pointless worries and fantasies were mounting in his head.
[Now, haa... Uh, will you... come to my house... haa, uh, come...?]
Vania's strange telepathic voice suddenly flew into his ears.
Naturally, as soon as Nike heard it, he went home and immediately began preparing to go to Vania.
'The end.'
As the servant shouted to announce the visit, a brief silence fell beyond the door.
In a moment.
"Let them in!"
“Don’t come in!”
The voices of his father and brother were heard at the same time.
“...”
Although momentarily flustered, Nike quickly made a decision and spoke.
“This is His Imperial Majesty’s office. Open.”
“Aaaargh!”
Ryan was shocked.
“Hey! Why on earth are you telling me this now?! When you received the memories before, I clearly told you to write down every single major event! You didn't write them down then, so why now!”
"Because it wasn't an important matter."
“Why not?!”
“Calm down. I’m going to become Vania’s lover anyway. That means the marriage proposal didn’t work out. There’s no need to bring up something that fell through and make her worry.”
“No, ha!”
He was right, too. If Vania had known this, the shock would have been quite significant.
“An arranged marriage? Is it something like that?”
“That’s right. It’s a kind of marriage alliance.”
“Then isn’t that quite a big deal? The news must have spread all over the neighborhood, so why didn’t Vania know about it?”
“I guess he fell over without anyone noticing.”
“Why did he fall over?”
“...I don’t know up to that point since I haven’t received all the memories.”
"Hmmm."
“Anyway, what I’m curious about is things like the relationship with the Kingdom of Ebonwind around this time or the international situation. I was wondering if there might have been some kind of problem if the marriage alliance with them had fallen through.”
“I see. For now, yes. I’ll ask... ah, wait.”
Ryan frowned.
"“You said it would happen in a month, didn't you? So, His Imperial Majesty... is issuing an order for Your Highness to get married.”
"Yes."
“Then it must be March. Calculating the timeline, that means the Prince didn't know Vania at all before the regression, right? Since the two of you originally met for the first time this summer. This June, correct?”
"That's right."
Ryan, who had been speaking as if analyzing, swallowed hard and asked.
“Then, since you didn’t have a girlfriend back then, what do you think you answered when His Majesty the Emperor told you to get married...?”
"It’s just as you guessed."
Nike spoke simply about the situation in his memory.
"It turns out I had accepted that marriage proposal."
***
At the very moment, Ryan was deeply confiding his worries to Merchen.
Nike was thinking of Vania as he busily packed his bags.
He regrets it.
That he had received back the memory of our first meeting from Vania three years ago.
This is because it became very difficult to deal with Vania once he remembered the moment he fell in love.
"Your Highness!"
Whenever Vania, who hadn't yet shed her childishness, approached him with flushed cheeks, a warning light went on in his head.
It was too early for them to reunite as a couple. It was impossible even if Vania were mentally mature. Only a select few knew the truth, and to others unaware of the circumstances, their relationship could not be perceived as unethical.
Nike has acted thoroughly to ensure that no strange rumors would spread.
"It’s been a while since you’ve been here, and you’re leaving right away? Would you like to go for a short walk with me?"
"I've seen your face, so that's enough."
“...”
He admitted that my attitude, which was firmer than an iron wall, was too much for Vania.
But what if your heart flutters for a young lover? What if you want to hold their hand? What if you want to hug them?
“Your Highness, a wonderful restaurant has opened in Belzer~”
"I've already eaten."
“...”
It was an unavoidable choice for himself and for Vania.
It has been two years since they kept their distance like that.
Vania, who used to approach him first without giving up despite his cold attitude, stopped showing her face at some point.
At first, he thought there might be some reason, but after being repeatedly refused a meeting, he couldn't help but notice.
Vania was definitely 'avoiding' him.
It had been more than a year since he last saw her face, and just as pointless worries and fantasies were mounting in his head.
[Now, haa... Uh, will you... come to my house... haa, uh, come...?]
Vania's strange telepathic voice suddenly flew into his ears.
Naturally, as soon as Nike heard it, he went home and immediately began preparing to go to Vania.
'The end.'
He finished packing his bags and was about to leave the room.
"You're joking, right?"
Lieutenant Reiner stood in front, blocking the way.
“Your schedule has been packed all day due to official Imperial events, so to completely ignore that and suddenly head to the East Coast—obviously you’re joking, right?”
“...”
Spread his arms wide, block Nike's path as he tries to pass by, and once more.
“But you’re going to see Sir Ryan Belzer’s daughter for no particular reason? Suddenly? That’s so random. You’re joking, aren’t you?”
"Does it sound like a joke? I'm getting ready to go with you, too."
“Just in case, I’m asking: do you have something going on with that daughter?”
Nike thought for a moment.
"You're joking, right?"
Lieutenant Reiner stood in front, blocking the way.
“Your schedule has been packed all day due to official Imperial events, so to completely ignore that and suddenly head to the East Coast—obviously you’re joking, right?”
“...”
Spread his arms wide, block Nike's path as he tries to pass by, and once more.
“But you’re going to see Sir Ryan Belzer’s daughter for no particular reason? Suddenly? That’s so random. You’re joking, aren’t you?”
"Does it sound like a joke? I'm getting ready to go with you, too."
“Just in case, I’m asking: do you have something going on with that daughter?”
Nike thought for a moment.
It's about time Renier learned about it, too.
"Yes."
“..?”
"There's something."
“...You must be crazy.”
Rainer's mouth dropped open in astonishment.
As Nike lightly pushed the dazed Reiner aside and left the room, he thought.
'Why did she tell me to come?'
One week later. The ceremony for conferring Ryan's countship will be held at the Imperial Palace.
He naturally assumed Vania would come along, too. At that time, he thought he would finally be able to see a face he hadn't seen for a whole year.
Judging by the fact that she asked him to come now, she probably wasn't planning on attending Ryan's award ceremony either.
At this point, it seems he's not the only one who won't meet her. He became maddened to know Vania's true intentions, as she refuses to take even a single step outside the house.
If he leaves today...
The distance from the island to Belzer takes four days to travel without stopping.
If he leaves now, Nike won't be able to attend Ryan's award ceremony in a week, though.
It can't be helped.
He chose Vania without hesitation.
Of course, it is a crazy thing to do.
Ryan's award ceremony is a significant occasion that the Crown Prince arranged for political reasons as well.
But Nike has been crazy for a while.
He probably hasn't been normal ever since he went back 10 years to save his lover from the enemy family.
Let's explain the situation to his older brother before we go.
Nike quickened her pace as she headed toward the Crown Prince's office.
If his older brother says no...
He can't do it either.
“His Majesty the Emperor is currently in his office.”
However, the Crown Prince happened to be absent.
It looks like he is having a conversation with the Emperor.
Of course, he shouldn't interrupt, and it is polite to wait until the conversation is over.
Also, even though they are father and son, Nike has no affectionate memories of him, and since he is always a difficult Emperor, it isn't a place where he could naturally fit in...
But he doesn't have time.
Nike moved his feet without hesitation this time as well.
When he arrived at his destination in an instant, having walked through this vast imperial palace almost as if flying.
“...Didn’t I say there was no need to ask!”
Nike was surprised.
Because the Crown Prince's angry voice was bursting out loudly even from beyond the firmly closed door.
'Brother... why?'
The guards and attendants were all pale and standing guard at the door.
With so many ears listening, if it is a matter of openly confronting the Emperor like this, it is quite a serious issue.
Nike, instinctively feeling that he had to stop him, signaled to the attendant.
“His Royal Highness the Third Prince has arrived!"
“..?”
"There's something."
“...You must be crazy.”
Rainer's mouth dropped open in astonishment.
As Nike lightly pushed the dazed Reiner aside and left the room, he thought.
'Why did she tell me to come?'
One week later. The ceremony for conferring Ryan's countship will be held at the Imperial Palace.
He naturally assumed Vania would come along, too. At that time, he thought he would finally be able to see a face he hadn't seen for a whole year.
Judging by the fact that she asked him to come now, she probably wasn't planning on attending Ryan's award ceremony either.
At this point, it seems he's not the only one who won't meet her. He became maddened to know Vania's true intentions, as she refuses to take even a single step outside the house.
If he leaves today...
The distance from the island to Belzer takes four days to travel without stopping.
If he leaves now, Nike won't be able to attend Ryan's award ceremony in a week, though.
It can't be helped.
He chose Vania without hesitation.
Of course, it is a crazy thing to do.
Ryan's award ceremony is a significant occasion that the Crown Prince arranged for political reasons as well.
But Nike has been crazy for a while.
He probably hasn't been normal ever since he went back 10 years to save his lover from the enemy family.
Let's explain the situation to his older brother before we go.
Nike quickened her pace as she headed toward the Crown Prince's office.
If his older brother says no...
He can't do it either.
No matter what!
However, the Crown Prince happened to be absent.
It looks like he is having a conversation with the Emperor.
Of course, he shouldn't interrupt, and it is polite to wait until the conversation is over.
Also, even though they are father and son, Nike has no affectionate memories of him, and since he is always a difficult Emperor, it isn't a place where he could naturally fit in...
But he doesn't have time.
Nike moved his feet without hesitation this time as well.
When he arrived at his destination in an instant, having walked through this vast imperial palace almost as if flying.
“...Didn’t I say there was no need to ask!”
Nike was surprised.
Because the Crown Prince's angry voice was bursting out loudly even from beyond the firmly closed door.
'Brother... why?'
The guards and attendants were all pale and standing guard at the door.
With so many ears listening, if it is a matter of openly confronting the Emperor like this, it is quite a serious issue.
Nike, instinctively feeling that he had to stop him, signaled to the attendant.
“His Royal Highness the Third Prince has arrived!"
As the servant shouted to announce the visit, a brief silence fell beyond the door.
In a moment.
"Let them in!"
“Don’t come in!”
The voices of his father and brother were heard at the same time.
“...”
Although momentarily flustered, Nike quickly made a decision and spoke.
“This is His Imperial Majesty’s office. Open.”
Comments
Post a Comment