The Abandoned Baroness is one of the Black Knight’s favorites

Hans came along as Sofia lined up the flowers on the empty salon table.

"Ma'am, are you here?"

Hans doesn't seem to be in a hurry, but he walks up to Sofia.

"Mr. Hans. Anything wrong?

"No, I heard your wife was here."

When he tried to stop his hand, Hans told him to continue. Sofia nods and balances the flowers in the vase at hand. I decorated it well and put it close to the edge.

"It's okay."

Sofia smiled small.

"I have received a letter from Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess."

"From Emilia?

Emilia and I personally had tea once, but perhaps we know about this because of our position as princesses and princes. Have I worried you?

Yes, this way.

Receive the letter and open the seal. It had beautiful, well-written letters, starting with seasonal greetings, words of concern for Sofia and invitations for the next tea party. It says there is no need to worry because it is personal.

"I've been invited to a tea party, so it's better to reply quickly. Soon after that....."

Sofia thought it would be better if Hans didn't bother to bring it so far. Not to mention a letter from the princess. When he raised his face, Hans looked bad.

"No.... well..."

I have a bad denture. Hans smiled bitterly when he tilted his neck.

"I wanted to make sure my wife was here, so I followed her here. Never mind, keep going."

It was an emotional statement for Hans, and Sofia was surprised.

Huh?

"The fact that my wife wasn't here and I wasn't relaxed is that I was the same. I'm really glad you're back safely. Sophia, you have to be with Gilbert."

Hans calls Sofia by a name that hasn't been called in a while. It seemed to be a sign of love, and Sofia was happy. Recently, I have been conscious of being called a wife, but more importantly, I feel that I am accepted as a member of the Marquis.

"Thank you, Hans. I'm happy to be here, too. ─ ─ After all, I'll write you back as soon as this is over. I can't keep Emilia-sama waiting very long."

Hans answered briefly and left the room. Carina smiles bitterly, silently at the edge of the room.

"Hans isn't feeling well either. Sofia, you can't leave now."

"Yeah, I don't like it anymore. It was my carelessness. Sorry, Carina."

In Sofia's words, Carina shook her neck from side to side.

"Yeah, I couldn't either. I was thinking of asking Hans to learn more about self-defense. Sofia has an escort when you go out, but it's not going to work out here."

Carina lowered her eyebrows as she did this time. The longest time on Sofia's side is probably why you feel responsible. Sofia shuts her eyes to the words.

"That's right...."

I have troubled and worried a lot of people this time. I hope that the same thing will not happen in the future. Carina laughed at the depressing Sofia.

"Do you want to join Sofia? It might not be bad to move your body."

Brightly speaking, Carina's serious thoughts are all in one stroke. Sofia laughed unexpectedly.

"Self defense?... Master Gilbert, what do you say?"

Sofia, who had no experience with such matters, leaned her neck. As the current wife of the Marquis de Folster, should we still learn? It's not that I'm not interested, but I still have questions.

"Why don't you ask?

Yeah, yeah.

Sofia laughed ambiguously and brought flowers to the last vase.

"─ ─ Self defense?

Speaking to Gilbert on his way home today, Gilbert wrinkled slightly between his eyebrows.

It's hard for me after all.

Sofia sat on the sofa and slowly dropped her shoulders. Gilbert remains a difficult face.

"I see... you should have the means to protect yourself."

Well then ─ ─

"But you will not learn self-defense. Let me think for a moment."

Gilbert pounded Sofia's head. Sofia nods silently. Gilbert repeated himself.

"It's good to gain strength, but I want you to give me the job of protecting you. Don't get too nervous."

"Dear Gilbert...."

"It's okay. We have double-checked the identities of the servants and the merchants entering and leaving, and the security of the residence has been enhanced. I won't let you see the same thing anymore. ─ ─ I swear."

Gilbert hugs Sofia loosely without saying anything. My arms were warm and I felt like I was finally losing my strength.

Ever since I got back, I've been spending some time without realism. It feels like it fits neatly into a hole in the shape of Sofia that was open in a familiar house. I was going to live the same way today, but I wonder if it was impossible.

Gilbert's words seemed to pull Sofia out of the mold and envelop her. I felt like it was warming me up so that I wouldn't have to.