The Kingdom of Everlasting Night and the Last Ball

Looking at the plump leafy forest, Dia holds on to her aching ankle.

When I sneak up on my skirt, my right ankle is swollen nicely.

I still can't go back to the room today, so I thought it would get worse from here, and I let out a deep sigh.

(...... I hope no one noticed that it's so terrible)

I try to walk without dragging my legs as much as I can, but unfortunately I am accompanying a knight who is sensitive to the movement of others.

I'm sure the extent of the injury will be known and reported to Ricardo even after the hunt is over.

Today is a royal hunting day, and Dia was visiting the venue at the invitation of Ricardo.

Originally, I had planned to move moderately around the hunting grounds on horseback, but I was injured by the fall of my horse as usual, so I had to round up the plan.

That said, it's not like I can go home on my own because my leg hurts.

Reluctantly, he turned to his fiancé, Ricardo's tent.

The escort knight who accompanied me gradually arrived at the destination just before Dia was about to soften her voice, saying that she had enough to walk through the woods.

Although it is a dress for hunting today, women's shoes are slightly heeled.

I hate that slight slope, and I don't want to throw my shoes away anywhere.

Bulky, wind-pregnant cloth makes a noise.

The white cloth of the tent swaying in the slight breeze was well reflected in the deep red-stained forest of the leaves, and the entrance of the tent of the First Prince was covered with a bright blue carpet.

All of a sudden I was blinded by its vibrancy.

(...... beautiful)

White and red and blue.

I thought the contrast between the bright colors was beautiful, but there was no one to tell them about it.

The wind that touches my cheeks is cool, and the blue sky is peeking from the gray clouds.

Somehow, it was like the entrance to a story.

Most of the men were out hunting, so there weren't many knights left.

While doing so, he recognized Dia, who had returned with one of the bodyguard knights, and Ricardo's bodyguard knights looked slightly confused.

However, since he is still the fiancée of the First Prince, one of them advances here.

“What's going on?”

He was one of the guards who guarded Ricardo's tent, and was ranked higher than the knight accompanying Dia, and was said to be the second son of the Count family.

The slightly nervous appearance was probably due to the fact that I rarely met Dia in person.

Ricardo didn't want Dia to get involved with anyone without his eyes, and if he was a Kingsguard, he must have figured it out.

(Especially since you won't be able to keep an eye on me anymore......)

That said, Dia was also sorry because of the background.

We should try to reduce the conversation as much as possible so that these knights won't be blamed later.

Therefore, as an unmarried woman, I know that there is a lack of softness, and I will tell only the necessary information.

"Prince Kareldo swung me off the horse he lent me, and I hurt my leg, so I decided to rest in my tent."

"...... ahhh"

Speaking of falling from the horse, the knights looked like nothing, but today's Dia was not the usual horse that was said to be calm.

The third prince, who doesn't like his brother's fiancé, is a clever horse, so he's a rambunctious horse.

It was a very gentle horse, but from any point of view, it was a rather temperamental horse.

However, those who were nearby pretended not to see, so they had no choice but to cross as they were told.

And, of course, Dia was quickly bounced off her horse.

There are fallen leaves on the ground in this seasonal forest, but they are not soft enough to be safely thrown from the back of a large horse.

Because they knew that, everyone around them would have left the scene in no time at all, for a reason.

(If Master Ricardo had been with me, he would have turned me down so that I wouldn't get a horn......)

The engagement was fantastic and thought-provoking, but Ricardo still protects Dia where he stands out.

As a result, the people around them would only help Ricardo while he was sheltering Dia, so at least someone in the group wouldn't have done this.

But there was no one there, and that's why Prince Kareldo did that to Dia.

Or maybe you brought that horse because you were turning your hand somewhere like this.

With that thought, her heart ached with misery, but Dia tried not to put as much weight on her painful feet, and she still straightened her spine.

Someone will not personally take care of you, so you must protect your own integrity.

I don't think there is any need to care about the reputation of others in such a person, but if it is too neglected by the bypass, this kind of thing will continue in the future.

Weakness is more malicious than good.

Dia didn't want to feel any more painful or scary, so she didn't want to create eye-catching flaws.

Well then, please rest here.

The knights who guarded the tent were discussing for a while, but eventually, a gentle smile appeared as if there was no such thing as a tent, and Dia was guided into the tent.

As you enter through the many cloth-drawn entrances, you'll find the First Prince's tent, with a splendid fire pit and expensive fire magic stoves to warm your body in the cold autumn breeze.

Since the first snowfall begins to be observed early in the Farsi fall, it is the season when the bottom becomes cold anyway.

"............ mmu"

However, I finally thought it was comfortable, but when I put it in the tent, the guard knight who had been with Dia before would also fall.

It's only natural to say that if you stay here, you won't get lost or escape, but you can't deny the feeling of being left alone without mentioning any medical treatment, and Dia lowered her brow sadly.

But I can finally sit down.

I looked around the tent and avoided the chair, which I knew was for Ricardo's sake.

Dia chose a simple wooden chair.

It might be a chair for the head knight, or it might have been prepared for a visitor to this tent.

Then I thought about going there, but this time, it was a tent that was set up with a carpet in the forest camp where the fallen leaves were swept out, so I couldn't say that it was easy to walk flatteringly, and I didn't care about the eyes anymore, so my body shook.

Although it's a good fit for the First Prince's rest stop, it's at least just enough ground to walk normally if it doesn't hurt your ankle.

Dia told herself that it was only after sitting on the chair that she took off her shoes, but she continued to move slowly and painstakingly. She sat on the chair after cleaning the dress again just in case.

"...... Ah,...... uu!!"

Because I was exhausted from walking while sheltering my legs, I sat down in my chair.

As a result, unfortunately, my buttocks and back were also hurt when I fell from the horse, and I hit the hard seat, and now you screamed.

Without being able to utter too much pain, she fainted, and as she bent her body, she heard the sound of lifting the cloth at the entrance of the tent.

”............ you fell from the horse again?”

"Yoel......"

Looking at you, it was Joel, one of Ricardo's chief knights, who came in.

Although I didn't stand out as a Guardian Knight, everyone knew that this knight was the first prince's arm.

That said, after the winter solstice the other day, the contents became the king of the night kingdom, so all Dean could be called Nein.

I don't know what kind of interaction was on the surface, and I didn't know whether it came into my husband's tent without hesitation, but my face came in somewhat, and when I glanced at Dia, who was enduring the pain by shrinking his body, Noine's face was dazzled after her open eyes.

"Did you fall again?"

“This time, there's a little bit of a special situation. The horse that Prince Kareldo lent me...... obviously had a broken character."

"...... it's a horse."

"Even though I felt like I was going to get rampant from the moment I saw it, until I got on my back, I stared at me with cold eyes, and as soon as the knights who helped me on the ride were away, they shook me down with all their might. I have to say, that horse has a bad personality."

"Even the usual horses can't ride satisfactorily, but I'll ride a horse like the first time."

"...... I was grateful to you from Kareldo that you should definitely come here." It was a calm and clever horse, but according to the leaks from His Highness's guards, even the horseman seems to want to get hurt. ”

"......... oh. It's going to be enough."

Dia sat with her body round and small in pain, but Noine stood nearby and watched him without doing anything.

I must have just come to confirm that I didn't do what I was supposed to do.

You could have been angry with such indifference, but I'm not on Deer's side with Noin here.

It would only be annoying to complain to a mere audience, and more than that, Dia wanted Noin to be here a little longer.

On a day when everyone was living happily, I walked up to this tent by myself without softening anyone's voice, and I was sad and could not bear it.

Did you happen to be here?

"...... I see."

I wondered where he'd heard this noise, but he seemed to be nearby by accident.

I was worried that they would distort the contract on their own, so I guess they came to see what was happening.

Now that the conversation had broken off, Dia thought about sitting in her chair again.

One side of my buttocks hurt too much, so I accidentally kept one side of my body afloat, but the legs of those who didn't hurt like this are also burdened, and it seems that the back that hurt the whole body is about to reach its limit.

"............ Pi"

But Dia's plan was a dramatic failure.

It was just sitting on a wooden chair, but it was so painful that it raised its voice like a mukumogoris that it was stomping on its feet.

"... do you plan to participate in the official event in ten days from tomorrow?"

"...... Fuah,...... no, no. Why do you ask that?”

"I guess it's because I'm wary of magic drunkenness."...... I don't want to. Did you fall without even taking your passive? "

With an unpleasant sigh, Noine, the figure of Yoel, flickered and waved her hand.

At that moment, Dia could not express it well, but the way the surrounding colors looked changed like they were surrounded by transparent glass.

Then, after making a rough noise and solving Yoel's figure, Nein returned to her original form.

I can't see what's going on out there, so if Ricardo returns, it'll be dangerous.

"There is a magic of shielding." Until I finish my errands, no one will let me in, and no one will notice. "

"...... well, you can do that, can't you?"

Otherwise, if Dia and I try to take off our shoes, we'll be warned in a low voice.

When I looked at Noine, I wondered if it would be a problem if I stopped wearing my shoes, and Noine who was standing nearby at some point lifted me up.

Noin?!

"In this state, it's hurting from the waist up." Be quiet....... Bones and flesh. Needless to say, you've walked so far. It would be too fragile. "

"Could it be that you were fractured......?"

"For this one time only, I will adjust it because it will interfere with the purpose later." We'll get paid later. "

"...... Yes"

Dia dropped her shoulder when she was told that she had unexpectedly managed to get to the bone.

Noin, who was lifting Dia, lowered Dia once more onto the chair.

The lifting did not hurt for some reason, but I was prepared to wonder if it would hurt again when I returned to the chair to the stone, but for some reason I was made to sit on a fluffy seat.

(Not even a little bit...... it doesn't hurt)

"...... isn't that the wooden chair?"

"It's just for now." He's putting me through a lot of trouble. "

"That's... I'm sorry..."

"Anyway, they will plant poison tonight for the reason that they have lost their health by participating in this hunt." Even after a few days of sleeping, you'll be able to do something about it. "

"...... That means I'll be sleeping with Noin for a few days after this, right?"

"...... Don't say that in a strange way. The magic you use to heal your wounds is just too strong for you."

"............ mu"

Whatever that means, when you blink your eyes, you bend over to Dia, who sits on the chair, and Nein lifts the hem of her skirt on her own.

When I kept my eyes closed and hardened, I was able to take off the shoes on the foot of the person who hurt me.

(Huh......?)

I thought it would hurt to take off my shoes if it hurt so much, but fortunately it didn't.

Placing the shoes on the side, Noin's expression quickly turned cold.

"...... if you're unpleasant, you can stay that way."

When I'm done hunting, I'll have to go home on my own.

"Yes, it will be very hard, but you can ride the carriage to the royal palace and you will not die."

It was a fact, not a strength, so Diae did not choose the words.

At any rate, Dia has little choice.

(For example, like I had to ride that horse.....)

Nein, who looked at me, slightly shook his eyes, slightly lifted his eyes, and his face gazed magnificently.

And for some reason, I stood up and played Dia's forehead with my fingertips.

"......?! What are you doing?!"

"I don't know. I think it's because your answer was incorrect."...... Today, stay here until the hunt is over. "

(...... ah)

Noin stood up and Dia jerked off.

It was a sign that I was going to leave, so I rushed to find a word to connect the conversation.

However, Dia, who is not good at socializing in the first place, can't choose the best one even if he suggests that he should stay here a little longer.

There is no such topic, and my chest hurts again.

"...... From lunch onwards, I was going to have lunch in the queen's tent. I have to join you.”

Will the Queen be the only one to participate?

"... no. Since it's a luncheon, there is a lady with whom the Queen is close to and Prince Kareldo..."

Rejected.

"Well, this time, even if you say my condolences..."

It's not a place where you don't have to go because you don't want to go, so that's why Noine's eyes look stunned.

Dean had no choice but to explain our situation, but Nein interrupted us.

"I'll arrange the luncheon for you." I don't have to go....... in the first place, the prince must know that you have fallen. On top of that, if you go to lunch, you'll be forced to have a troublesome conversation with a troublesome person. "

"...... if you don't have to go, I don't want to go"

"Do it.... it's going to be a terrible payment for you."... I'll make that one of my quid pro quo. We're only here for lunch, right? "

"...... Yes......"

The truth is, I only had one more plan.

However, Dia did not dare to mention it because it was something that would be lost if the luncheon with the queen passed away.

However, it took a while for Nein to respond, so she raised her eyebrows silently.

"Looks like you have one more thing to do?"

"...... Mugu...... I was going to play with the ladies after lunch to pick up the deer."

"What is that......"

I turned to Noin, who had a very strange face, and didn't say it because it would be like that, but I kept looking at it silently, so I told him to explain it.

When she was a troubled outsider, she leaned against her back, and Dia noticed that her body didn't hurt anywhere.

I tried sitting back in my chair again, but my buttocks and back were very strong.

"...... My body no longer hurts"

It was very late to notice, but it was arranged enough not to bother my hands.

"...... That's right. Thank you....... Deer picking is a popular game among the ladies of the capital these days, enjoyed on hunting days."

In the past year or so, the deer picking game has become popular. It is the preference of the lady who moves and plays several kinds of deer-shaped tokens on a board with squares like a camouflage board.

While the men hunt, the women waste their time.

Since it is a game where you can win or lose, you are betting on small accessories and sweets, etc., and it seems that a little social interaction will be conducted using the mechanism.

And in some cases, Dia was secretly looking forward to participating in that play that could be a hassle.

(...... I haven't done it since deer picking began to become popular)

It was only today that I could participate in the play that the ladies were having fun talking about.

The Queen, who called out to me that you would do it, was very excited to see what she was going to bet on, and she consulted Ricardo and got her a bigger lace handkerchief.

With Ricardo's help, Dia's life in the Royal Palace of Farsitar would not have been possible without the help of her fiancée and guardian, the king and his wife.

I was thinking about honestly spoiling myself here, and I was secretly doing a summary of how to play in the carriage until I came.

(But I guess I'm going to have to give up today......)

If Nein was to coordinate anything, Dean would have been uninvited to a luncheon with the Queen.

No one seems to care what happened to Dia in the meantime.

There has been such a thing before, so Dia knows about it.

In that case, Dia's lunch will be gone, but we'll have to give it up.

Everyone knows that, and Dia is the only one who doesn't know that.

"...... is it for human entertainment?"...... Anyone have the board and tokens ready? "

"Board......?"

Suddenly, Nein said something like that.

When Dia blinks her eyes and asks, Noine looks at us and shakes her head to the side, saying it's not you.

Immediately after that, a deer removal board appeared in one hand that Nein was unnaturally lifting, as if someone had given it to him.

"...... this is the pawn."...... that's a naive workmanship. "

"Well, from nowhere, a deer-playing tool appeared...!"

“As part of checking the culture of this country, I'll just hang out with you a little bit.”

"Will Nein...... play with the deer?"

I'm telling you, do you need anything to bet on?

"Yes, yes! I've got everything I want to bet on!"

With a mean smile on his face, Dia took out the racing handkerchief she had in a hurry from the jacket with the daily hunting pocket to Noin, who had placed the deer tray on the small desk she had also taken out from somewhere.

But Dia, who showed it to her with pride, saw Noin shaking his head to the side with a face on his face.

"I wonder if it's a woman." I'll bet you something else. "

"When that happens, I can't hold it......"

"Huh? I was going to bet on lunch, but is that okay?"

"I can't help it." I'm sure Noine needs to do the same, so I'll hang out with her. ”

It was a strange time.

Dia and the others were in Ricardo's hunting tent, but no one came in, as they were told.

On the contrary, conversations and signs of people from outside the tent do not come through, as if they are isolated somewhere here.

Inside the tent, his dick was warm, and Dia, sitting on a comfortable chair with her shoes off, explained to Noin how to play with the deer that she had learned so hard, and this time, she lifted the edge of her lips, saying that she must be advantageous.

After all, from the day the queen invited Dia to the luncheon, she spared no effort to study deer hunting while she slept in order to wrap up sweets from the queen and other ladies.

I'm sure you won't lose to Noin, who just asked you how to do it a little bit.

But Dia was dumbfounded as soon as she thought it.

"Geez! I'm losing...!!"

"I'm sorry to hear that." It's too late....... never ride the horse recommended by the Third Prince again. "

"...... Could that be a substitute for betting goods?"

"I'm busy too. I don't want to make this noise again." Unfortunately, I don't think we need to prepare lunch. "

Again!! I won't lose next time!!

"Huh? I don't think so, but do you think you can win next time?"

"Guru!!"

I wonder if you were afraid of Dia's physical intimidation. Noyn fought for me three times after that.

Unfortunately, Dia is completely defeated in all battles and suffers disgrace enough to smash a small ore pawn in the shape of a deer.

(That said, it was worth the stick...!!)

As expected, the third time, Noin guessed.

He said he would never give up fighting again until he had lunch.

"Shit. This time it's over." Instead, I'll make you lunch. "

I won!

No, the battle itself is a good place to lose big.

"This seems to be a game with a lot of bad rules......"

"Oh my God..."

(No one's coming yet.)

It's been a long time, but as usual, no one opens the entrance to the tent.

Dia looks at you wondering, and Nein smiles pitifully like a stranger.

Deeply beautiful, but somewhere with a dark smile, Dia became a little uneasy about what was going on outside.

"Noin, what's going on outside..."

"For lunch, I'll make you a cream stew of chicken." There was also bread with dried grapes and...... freshly made cheese. Hold on to the tea in this tent. As expected, it will be a burden on your body. "

”And, chicken cream simmered and bubbles... bubbles”

Noin looked at Dia, whose arousal was too blurry, dumbfounded.

However, there's no way that you won't be upset if you give me something that looks so delicious.

Furthermore, after completing a heart-rending lunch that was so delicious, Dean left the tent after seeing Nein solve some kind of magic, there was nothing there anymore.

As soon as Dia and the others left, the tent suddenly disappeared, and the autumn forest, which had been illuminated by the dull morning sunlight, had already sunk into the blue of the evening.

Naturally, there were no people in the woods who enjoyed hunting, and there were no carriages left for Dia.

"...... well. Have I been left in the woods?"

Speaking of which, did you have a problem returning home?

"If it was about the conversation earlier, I was planning to ride back in the carriage..."

This was unexpected.

No way, I was wondering if I was going to walk back from here, and Nein laughed a little bit.

Looking up at the king of the night next to him, his purple eyes glowed brightly even in the dark forest at night.

A stretched out hand rested on her head.

“I can't help it. I'll walk you to your room.”

This time, you left me in the carriage because of Noin, right?

"That's right....... If it still looks that way, I guess I can put another one on it." When I get back to my room, I'll add one of my baked goods. "

Yaki!

Looking back as if Nein would receive something from someone he couldn't see, there was a pitch-black horse that appeared from somewhere.

Dean feels like a horse again, but when Noin lifts him up and places him on the horse, Nein straddles the horse from behind to behind.

(...... Warm)

I wonder why I get a little upset about the temperature that goes through my back.

However, this is the first time I've had a body like this, and I've been drowning in an unfamiliar sense of distance.

However, Noin doesn't seem to care. He takes the reins and manipulates the horse dexterously, and he goes straight home.

There was a way out that Diae could not have known by relying solely on the moonlight in the deep woods that she had never seen before.

The two horses carried me to the garden of the Nocturnal Palace without going through the main gate of the Royal Palace, and somehow I entered the room through the doors without the guards, and I didn't see anyone until Dia's room.

Is this also a magic wonder?

I'm surprised to hear that, but Dia has a problem with this.

I looked up at Noin who was following me to the room and tried to complain softly.

"...... If I can't see anyone tonight, what should I do with my clothes?"

"After a while, someone will come to prepare the dinner."

"Yakisaki......"

"...... Don't eat all at once. One a day."

Dia, who could not bear to be returned like this, urged the baked goods. Looking at the plate Nein took out, her eyes rounded, she was handed over and put on her lap in a hurry.

There are even five baked goods made from apricots on a beautiful white plate with an oval shape.

A maximum of one per day can only be enjoyed for five days.

"......... are you going to do this to me?"

When I saw the delicious baked goods, Dia wanted to cry for some reason.

I felt like my chest was squeezed tight, and I wanted to reach out to the beautiful person in front of me.

What would happen if I held Noin here now and told him not to go anywhere anymore?

Are you going to go somewhere in awe?

Will I never see you again?

Thinking of such a foolish thing, Dia gently lids the wish.

"I'll hang a cloth with magic for preservation, so leave the rest on the desk around there." I can't see anything but you and me, and I can't touch you. "

"...... well"

"That said, I'll be in bed for a few days, so I can eat the second one a little bit further."...... Don't ride the rampaging horse anymore....... it's troublesome. "

"...... Mugu....... It's delicious"

Hiding the tears that had been burnt up, I couldn't put up with the burnt scent and wore it for today, and Noin's face turned dazzling again.

Apparently, this baked goods also serves as a warning against falling off a raging horse and causing trouble, but it's a very nice bribe, so thank you.

Noin seems to have left while Dia was eating the baked goods.

The sound of knocking and knocking brings the usual dinner to the room.

While Dia was disappearing, it didn't seem to be any problem, and to the extent that she wasn't suspicious, I asked the maid who came to help me change, and Dia fell off the horse, but she took part in the hunt without any particular problems, and it seemed that she also went to the queen's luncheon.

It was unwilling to say that it was completely lost in the deer picking game, but since it was not the actual thing, it may not be necessary to worry about it.

In time, the lace handkerchief disappeared from the jacket pocket, and the marquis, who was close to the queen, took it home.

I'm sorry to say that the dinner was prepared with the sweet scented water of the snow daffodil as Noin had seen it, and Dia went to bed with a fever for two days from that night.

Noon hadn't bothered Dean like that, but when he woke up in the heat and looked at the table where he had left his baked goods, it seemed like he couldn't even touch them without anyone noticing.

(...... I want to eat the second one quickly)

Thinking so, she turned her head back to the pillow, and Dia suddenly realized that she had completely forgotten that she had been injured by Prince Kareldo's plan.

When I remembered this, I thought that the pain in my chest that I felt while I was heading to Ricardo's tent would come back to me, but I thought that I was hiding an apricot baked treat that no one could find on the table, and it filled my heart with it.

I closed my eyes with irregular breathing, and I thought of the warmth of my back that I had deposited with Noine on the way home.

I felt like someone had touched my forehead with the palm of my hand at midnight at the same temperature, but I must have had a dream because of the heat.

In addition, Prince Kareldo, when he tried to take out the proud rambling horse again at a later date, was in a turmoil, involving Ricardo, who happened to be nearby.

Although it didn't matter, he was very depressed when his beloved eldest brother got scratched.