Only with Your Heart

Alde offered to help me get dressed, but Chizuru gently refused to do so, choosing the dress with the most mature design to wear on her own.

Alde was fixing me a messy bed in the meantime, but even if I could just glimpse it on the side, my female eyes would be meaningfully narrowed and I'd know what to take in my hands. Once the bed was ready, Alde looked back at Chizuru with a grin that could only be described as a nymphomali.

"Was Master Ruklov kind?

"Damn."

Chizuru stunned for a moment and moved his mouth like a goldfish. "... so, so easy to understand?

To the reaction of Chizuru, so good as beginnings (Ubu), Alde gently broke his face and stood in front of Chizuru a few steps further. Explain in a mother's tone as you re-examine the strings that squeeze the hips of Thousand Cranes' dresses with familiar hands.

"Actually, I came to this room once since Master Chizuru was off last night. To let you know that dinner is ready. Then there was Lady Ruklov. I have fallen asleep, Master Chizuru, and I feel important here."

Alde pointed to the bed and cut the words once here. He seemed to think of something appropriate.

"... well, you didn't feel like you could get in the way. It's been a really long time since I've seen Mr. Ruklov smile."

"Huh..."

Ruklov's smile?

I can't believe I haven't seen a thousand cranes like that yet, but I showed them to Alde at some point. He fell asleep last night to pass out in the middle of an intense act, and he had no memory of the area at all.

Does that mean he... enjoyed it at all?

"It's beautiful. I always admired Lord Chizuru's straight brunette."

When Alde got out of somewhere, he carefully began to comb (su) Chizuru's hair.

With the sun rising even higher and the dazzling morning sun entering through the window, Chizuru decided to keep her eyes closed and leave herself to the care of the lady. From now on, a new day in this castle begins. This is how they gave me the room, and I asked her to follow me to my midwife.

Though the existential significance of Chizuru now to Ruklov may just be a gateway to desire, I guess it is taken care of.

Is there anything Chizuru can do?

I wonder what the new life that's about to begin will be like.

Chizuru and Alde, who had completed their duties, went down to the first floor together and headed to the dining room.

It has already been sloppy and noisy before it passed through the entrance, and many people are busy getting in and out, carrying meals and cleaning drinks like wine spilled on the floor.

The dining room was as large as the great hall, with long wooden tables lined up in a row in the center. It seems that all the human beings who inhabit the castle are gathered here, from the less privileged like the squire and the ladies to the splendid bodily ones who would be knights. It's like a buffet, eating dishes on a table on each plate.

They don't exist, for example, the decree of the beginning of a meal like "I'll have it" or "Welcome". Everyone ate whatever they wanted and stood seated when they finished eating.

"The upper seat is on the other side. Master Ruklov is always there."

Taught by Alde, Chizuru looked in the direction he was told.

If you look closely, it is true that the seating order was not chaotic at all, with a high upper seat provided at one end of the table, and a luxurious chair with a dark red velvet. Overall, many of the knights and others are gathered on that side, and the servants seem to be concentrated on the opposite end.

I'm sure that dark red chair belongs to Ruklov, and the higher his status in the castle, the more indiscriminate it is that he can sit near him.

"Alde always, where do you eat?

"Is it me? I'm just a servant, so I'm on that side. Lady Ruklov doesn't care. She says that we should all take our favorite seats, but this is the way it's come naturally."

Alde, naturally, fingered the end of the table in the opposite direction from the upper seat. The servants sit around the meal brightly, with a small number but also some children walking around. Overall, the atmosphere is flamboyant.

Meanwhile, as he shifted his gaze toward the upper seat, the knights of the harsh-faced succeeding flesh were silently turning to the plate. Some of them have been wearing armor since morning, and there is so much air. At least, it wasn't an effortlessly close atmosphere.

"May I eat over there, too, with Alde?

"Well, Master Chizuru, it's outrageous. Aren't you Mrs. Ruklov's important future wife? I'll get you a seat right next to your seat, so please wait."

"Oh, wow?

Without waiting for Chizuru's reply, Alde was just walking out toward the upper seat.

When that happens, the still unsuspecting Chizuru will have to follow her. I managed to catch up with her on the run and pulled her hand to explain.

"I'm misunderstanding you, Alde. I'm not Ruklov's lover anymore. Just a mistress, because she made it clear... I can't be next to her."

"Huh?"

Alde looked back and looked down at Thousand Cranes with his eyes looking at the strange things. "Mistress...? That shouldn't be..."

At that time, suddenly, Chizuru's shoulder was grabbed by his big hand.

Surprised and looking up to the side, there was a rucroft - - not wearing armor, but dressed close to a featherless tunic over a clamshell, with feet stiffened with long boots to the knee.

"Thank you, Alde. You should go eat now. I'll guide Chizuru."

To Luklov's firm instructions, Alde bowed his head and followed "Yes, Master Luklov" as he stepped back. However, before leaving, Alde still saw Chirali and Thousand Cranes when he said something.

"Luklov, um... I thought I'd eat with Alde and the others..."

Chizuru said so as modestly as possible, looking up at Ruklov.

Looks like Ruklov has already done his morning support, and the shadow of the mustache he he was stretching has been beautifully sledded off and his hair neatly done. The quiet but dignified standing did remind me of the master of one ancient castle. I'm not a twenty-two year old youth knight, I'm an adult duke figure.

"I didn't have to come all the way down here to get my meal to my room..."

With that said, Ruklov ran his gaze from the top of his head to the tip of his nails, grinning at his face in a grumpy manner, as he identified the thousand cranes. It's like looking at one's own work that an artist can't do and being disappointed.

─ ─ And rude.

Indeed, it may not be honorable for the mistress of a relationship only of the body or the like to be made face to face in a place where all the men of the castle gather together. But Chizuru didn't want to say anything. The opposite of Ruklov's seat, if necessary, is satisfactory enough at the end of the line.

"I will go that way. Don't worry, I'll make it as discreet as possible."

Towards the gathering seat of the servants, Chizuru tried to get away from Luklov.

but Ruklov put even more effort into his hand grabbing Chizuru's shoulder and turned her towards him as he curled.

"I have no choice. It's a good opportunity to let the castle know who you are."

And he held one hand tightly with his big, muscled hand.

It's like new lovers to each other.

As if, in the old days.

"But Luklov..."

Despite Chizuru's confusion, Ruklov withdrew her hand and headed straight to the upper seat. As the dark red chair approaches, the knights gather together and look back at the two and begin to stare. There were even those who kept their mouths wide open as they were eating.

It didn't seem very welcoming... and Chizuru felt like he wanted to escape.