"--After all, the Imperial City is amazing!I can't believe those things come up in the night sky. "
On that day, the voice of candidate Sven echoed in the early morning training area.
"It was pretty clear from the inn I took.Lucius, you wanted to see it, too, right?
"Yeah, I wanted to see it.I was busy at the time, and I couldn't afford it. "
"Fufu. That's right, isn't it?Fritz, thank me, too.It was because I invited you to a study group!
Richie, dressed as a man, heard exciting Sven's words smile.
Today is the last day of special training for candidates.Following that, I carefully finished cleaning today, as my early morning training for Riesch and the others will also be finished.
The sky looking up is clear, and it is likely to get a little hot today.
Even though it's such a wonderful morning, Fritz's expression still doesn't come to mind today.
"Fritz started a wish by mistaking it for a shooting star.Hey, Fritz? "
"Nh... huh!?Ah, ah!
……
Fritz raised his face in a hurry because he was still blurry.
Sven felt something and said, slapping him on the shoulder.
"Lucius, Fritz, lend me both those wooden swords.I'll take care of it. "
"Huh? It's okay, Sven.Shall we all take it with us?
"Don't worry!... Fritz, I owe you this!
Fritz turned his eyes round, but eventually lowered his head to Sven.
Fritz and I will be left alone in the training area before the training begins.Riesch walked away from Sven's back and spoke to Fritz, who stood next door.
Sven, you're kind of stretched out.
"Ah... yeah, that's right."
Fritz leaned down and felt a little nervous.
"... Lou. We were summoned yesterday by Lord Lovine."
What that word means can easily be imagined by Leicher.
"So you're going to be a knight!?
"... ahh. He said he would come back to the Emperor's capital once he had gone home and finished preparing.From there, I officially became a knight apprentice in Garchain. "
"Congratulations, Fritz!!
I was as happy as I was when I heard the good news.
Each candidate has a wonderful place.Among them, Fritz and Sven were outstanding.
"I knew I'd be chosen, but I'm glad to hear it again.Did you write to your poor man?Yeah, but I'd like to see your face and report it!Really, you... "
"... before I came here, I met Lord Lovine."
As Riesch rounded her eyes, Fritz squeezed out her voice with a very spicy expression.
"'Lucius Orcott won't join the Knights.'That's what Lord Lovine said. "
……
Rovine didn't tell me Richie's lies.
After Michelle's incident last night, I wrote to Rovine.
He apologized for lying about who he was and for disrupting the important training venue.
Though he must have been busy, Lovine replied promptly.He and I are supposed to meet again tonight at a night party to drop off Coyol's party.
And his letter was accompanied by a sentence like this.
"If time permits, please join the training as a cadet until the end of the day."
(After what happened last night, I don't know how much I can trust Lord Lovine... but I'm sure he's trying to protect my days as a candidate for Lucal Orcott.)
With that in mind, Riesch apologized to her dear friend.
"Sorry, Fritz."
Look Fritz in the eye and tell him without hesitation.
"The truth is, I'm a very big liar."
"... Shh?
"Thanks to that lie, I was able to come through here and train with everyone.But because it's a lie, I can't be a knight now. "
The sixth life that chose that path is very different from the seventh now.
"I lied to you, too.... I'm really sorry. "
When I said that, I felt that Fritz's eyes were shaking.
Lou, I'm sorry.
"Oh, no. Why would Fritz apologize?
"That's...."
When asked, Fritz hesitated slightly.
After that, he leaned down and shouted like he had made up his mind.
"... Actually, I've noticed you lying for a long time...!!
"Eh!?
The speech popped out and Riesch opened her eyes unexpectedly.
"I always thought it was weird!'Cause Lou's tiny, and he's gorgeous!
"Fritz...."
"My voice is high and my hair is thin, so...!!
(I can't believe I even noticed a woman....)
In a hurry for unexpected facts, Fritz says this with a serious face.
"You're actually about 14 years old!?
………………
My body became stiff.
"... eh"
"This training is only available after the age of fifteen.But Lou must have come here for the house, pretending to be old, right?
"... no, yeah.Um... "
"I don't care!!If they find out you lied, you'll be at a disadvantage in exams after next year.You don't have to say that because I was right...!!
……
Fritz is desperately asking, but apparently he's not really aware of it.
Though Riesch may be younger than prescribed, she didn't realize she was a woman.
(... that's right.For the sixth time in the knight's life, I was the only one who knew I was a woman...!!
With some complexity, a guilt of lying is recruited.
Nevertheless, Arnold told me last night, "I can't help but let Rovine know, but the cadets will continue not to realize it's a woman."
"... sorry, Fritz.I'll tell you the truth from my mouth... "
"Don't do that, don't do that!More than that. "
When Rieschett raised his face, he had a clear smile.
"'Soon'.... even after today's training, you expect to see me again. "
Listening to the words, Riesch understands.
Fritz had a face that didn't float because he spared me goodbye.
In just ten short days, he poured all the friendship he could into Riesch, who didn't even tell the truth.I'm really happy about that, and I'm smiling.
"Of course. Maybe in a slightly different form than it is now, but still, definitely!
"By then, I'll be stronger than I am now.Promise. "
"Fufu"
Richie grabbed back the hand she was offered.
"Let's do our best together.Fritz "
……
At that moment, I felt like Fritz was kind of crying.
But it looks like it was a mistake.Putting aside a beat, he smiles like the sun as usual.
(lest we let you go to a gloomy battlefield)
Riesch felt a sign of someone and looked at the entrance to the training ground.
Border Burrowein walks slowly.He glanced at us and thanked Riesch for understanding.
When Riesch returned the same thanks, the rest was the usual "instructor and trainee."
Nevertheless, I tried my last special training while trying to get through all sorts of thoughts.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, Riesch, who had done some errands, was walking in the hallway of the detachment.
Asked Oliver, who had passed by on the way, Arnold said he was in the office.I saw Oliver off to the main castle, then knocked on the office door.
Arnold looks at Riesch unexpectedly as he enters the room waiting for a reply.
"... that was pretty quick."
"This will be enough time.Thank you very much. "
He was prompted to sit down and sat on a chair placed on the right hand side of the office.
As Arnold watches it, he once again drops his gaze on his hand and says as he runs his pen through the documents.
"Are you satisfied?
"Yes, I had a good conversation with the teacher."
After the morning training, Riesch headed back to Michelle.
The face of the kingdom of Coyol leaves the Imperial Capital early tomorrow morning.Kyle is busy greeting everywhere because today is the last time she spends the whole day here.
Arnold took care of Kyle so that he could speak to Michelle, who had been cautious about the "little noise."
I wish you could take my head out and give me just the knowledge.
At the top of the opening, Michelle let go of the noise.
Richie, who is accustomed to his behavior, really enjoys it.While embarrassed, I poured honey into Michelle's tea.
There's no such way, and it doesn't make sense in the first place."Inspiration does not come from existing knowledge, but from new experiences"?
Oh, you know very well.... but I think it's too tolerant. "
While receiving tea that was too sweet, Michelle gently lay down her eyes.
"If you're going to execute me or make me make a lot of medicine for war, no.I don't think it's a good idea to have Coyol and Garchain work together to make good things in the world. "
"... Sensei"
Richelieu turned down Michelle last night and only told Arnold the whole truth.
The existence of gunpowder or what Michelle tried to use it for.
I'm sure Michelle wants to make amends.
Arnold said, "Michelle Evan's usage hasn't changed," with an irrelevant expression.
Michelle herself, who caused the commotion, seems unconvinced by the decision.
While fully understanding the feeling, Riesch explains to Michelle.
I say so, but I think it's a very severe punishment in normal times.Because it is a business involving royalties from both countries, and we are always required to continue to achieve the best results.I thought you'd feel a lot of pressure if you were a normal person. "
Hmm, that's right.I don't know if I want to work hard. "
In a fluffy way, this is in a sense amazing.I've never seen Michelle work hard in an alchemist's life.
I'm not used to it, but I'll do my best.--I 've never studied with that feeling to create something wonderful for the world. "
I'm looking forward to it too.What kind of inventions does the teacher's new frontier create? "
When Rieschett said so seriously, Michelle smiled strangely.
The smile seemed to make me happy.
I've never seen him laugh like this.Michelle lay her horizontal hair on her ear and murmured with her eyes down.
"... I wanted to apologize for what I said to you the other day."
Apologize?
Didn't I tell you the wrong thing?
That reminds me of something like that.
I don't think it was that wrong.
Yeah, I'm sure it's a good fit.But I really think it's a shame. "
The colored eyes looked at Leicher with a soft look.
Don't you regret it?Life as Arnold Hein's bride. "
Of course, Doctor.
Rieschett spoke clearly.
Speaking of which, the other day, I couldn't say anything until the end.
So I'll tell you with a smile.
"The most important thing I want to know in the world right now is who will be my husband."
More than any research results or principle.
I thought so from the bottom of my heart, and I repeated my words.
That's why I'm going to be next to him.Even if my engagement was abandoned, I'd be kicked out. "
Fufu. Then I have no right to stop it. "
Glad that you understood, Riesch stood up and thanked you.
Sorry to bother you for so long.We apologize for taking the time to prepare for your return. "
Yeah, I was glad to talk to you.I'll say goodbye to you for a while. "
Michelle stood up and said with a gentle smile.
See you later. My teacher. "
……
- Say goodbye.
I remember the last words I had with Michelle in my life as an alchemist.The sound of "goodbye", meaning reunion, was completely different from the moonlight one day.
Thanks to Lord Arnold.
In thanking him, Arnold went to the waiting desk and said with a voice that seemed uninterested.
"It's not a big deal."
"No, you did a generous treatment."
"It's better to use it in a useful way than to make noise about what happened."
And Arnold goes on.
"I received a report about Michelle Evan's behavior.No matter how talented a scholar you are, I'm afraid you'll have to take that rope.In that case, it would be better to invest in joint research with Coyol and reap profits without administrative hassle. "
"Still, I think it's generous....."
"It doesn't matter.... besides, do you read it regularly so that you can never study it with strange intent again?
Reese nodded loudly at the words.
"--Yes, I hope you'll leave that to me now!
This is the first time Arnold has entrusted anything to me.
If you think so, it means that you will be in the mood again.
"I'm looking forward to it. Lord Arnold, Prince Kyle, and Miss Michelle, what will they develop?"
"... I don't know how long it's gonna take me to get to your 'Horseless Carriage'."
"Fufu"
At that time, she was pretending not to do anything to her opponent, and she was thinking about it properly.
I was strangely glad about that.
As long as Arnold and someone else are working together, it seems unlikely that the future will be possible for Rieschett to make a desperate choice.
(Anyway, I want to move towards a better future, not life to avoid the worst future!His Majesty's thoughts remain unclear, but they should be progressing gradually.....)
I wish I could stack these changes and change the future someday.
The days of training as a cadet are over.From now on, I plan to start full-scale preparations for my marriage ritual.
And finally, the next thing I know...
While planning in his head, Arnold stopped the pen and looked at us.
"... so that's the face you're thinking about?
"No, no, no!
Quickly switch topics while smiling vividly.
"And then, Your Highness Arnold!Another report from Coyol's tech connection. "
"Report?"
I quickly removed a small box from the bag I was holding.
It is a small box enough to sit on a stretched palm of Velour.Looking at that, Arnold also seemed to know what was inside.
"... are you finished?"
"Yes"
Among them is a ring from Arnold.
Coyol's maquiladora finished it and gave it to Riesch first thing in the afternoon.
The ring remains in the box, but Richie hasn't seen it yet.
Because I thought it would be better to open the present in front of the person who gave it to me.
"You promised me you'd show the ring to His Highness Arnold first, right?
……
"I was just looking at the design painting first, but it was really nice.I'm sure the finished product... "
When he was excited to open the box, Arnold called out his name to block it.
"Riesch"
Yes, Your Highness.
When I raised my face, Arnold's eyes looked straight at me.
He spoke calmly and quietly with the same unusual expression.
"--You don't have to wear that ring."
At that moment, the back of my chest was sore and painful.
Without Arnold seeing his face, Riesch turned aggressively downwards.
I'm sure now that you've heard Arnold's words, you look so pathetic.
(What is this?)
Unconsciously wraps the box of rings on your lap with both hands.
And I was confused by my feelings.
Because I was sad and I missed you so much.
"I didn't have to...."
Careful not to lose my voice, I managed to put it into my mouth.
Why are you so sad?
With the usual Riesch, it's enough that no one can empathize with you if you love what you like.
"I told you.All I ask of you is that you give me a ring. "
……
Arnold opened his mouth, but he didn't seem to have the courage to look at him.
The chest pain is too painful to see Arnold's face again.
The Crown Princess, who can't see her husband's face, shouldn't be a disqualified commotion.
(What should I do...)
Arnold told Riesch that he thought about it.
"I have no right to want that."
"... eh"
You hear unexpected words and raise your face as if you were being played.
It never occurred to me that I might never see my face again.Arnold placed the pen with his eyes facing him and kept his body on the back of the chair.
"You can do whatever you want with everything you wear.Just because you gave it to me, you don't have to wear something that doesn't suit you. "
"Lord Arnold."
"Even if it is the ritual of marriage.--You 're free to choose what you like, without worrying about anyone's eyes. "
I heard that and understood what Arnold was saying.
In other words, Arnold only tries to respect what Leicher wants.
That is not acceptable to ordinary princesses.
In fact, from an early age, Riesch has been taught that there are things to prioritize over what she likes.
That's why there are times when that habit is about to come out.
When choosing the stone of the ring, it was like thinking, "The ceremony of marriage and what is appropriate for the position of the Crown Princess."
(But Lord Arnold says he respects my will.... even if it's the ring you gave me, you don't have to wear it for it.)
Arnold was always like that.
Whether Richie dresses like a man or not, she learns alchemy, but she forgives them easily.
(It is different from indifference and being left alone.You are about to properly affirm my "freedom")
The fact should be very pleasant.
(You should be delighted.I know you want too much more than that....)
Still, Riesch objected with a feeling of infidelity.
"... I'm not good."
What?
Unfortunately, I think I heard a stubborn voice.
Arnold looked surprised that Riesch's answer was unexpected.
I'm sure his expression is unusual.
Though I think so, I tell you the fact that I was going to hide it.
"Do you remember His Highness Arnold?When measuring the size of the ring, I chose my left ring finger. "
"... ahh. I asked why, but I didn't answer."
"In my country, when I get married, I get a ring from my husband to my wife.It's a custom started by the first king and his wife, always on the left hand ring finger. "
That's why Riesch did the same thing.
Speaking of which, Arnold raised his eyebrows as to why.
"I have a longing for such a ritual."
……
I'm sure I've said something I don't have to say right now.
Although I am aware of this, I can't help but suppress it.Riesch is in a desperate mood and stands up with a small box of rings.
"I want to wear this ring in a marriage ceremony, and I will choose a dress to match the ring!You said you didn't need it, but we will continue to use it in all situations!
"Riesch, calm down."
"Mm, rather, I just brought it here because I want to put it on my finger right now...!
Standing in front of the constable, Arnold took a slight breath.
"... so please, Lord Arnold, attach the ring to me."
Placing the box in front of Arnold, Riesch offered her left hand.
Then he says this with a difficult face.
I'm not wearing gloves right now.
"Uhh...."
When I first met Arnold in this world, he promised me he wouldn't touch a finger.
Until today, Arnold has guarded it with discipline and wore gloves at nightclubs and other places.
Arnold remained bare-handed today, and on the back of his exposed hand there was a muscle that was invisible when he was wearing gloves.
"It doesn't have to be."
I feel a little embarrassed to say this.
But it's easier than saying, "You can touch it directly in the future."
Arnold wanted very little from Riesch.
Because if he wins, he wins the game of listening to everything, and all he wants is to give Richie a ring.
Riesch wants to wear this ring properly.
And I want Arnold to see it.
"... I really need it now.So... "
Arnold is too good at making Richie selfish.
With such thoughts in mind, he shrugged his courage and said:
Please, Your Highness.
――……
Arnold, with his eyes down, sighed briefly.
When he stood up in his hand in a small box, he went around the waiting desk.
As I thought so, I grabbed Riesch's wrist and pulled my hand toward the person in the bench.
Sitting on a bench, Richie blinks.
Then Arnold kneels in front of Riesch.
Arnold's big hand took Leesher's left hand.
That's all, but my cheeks get hot at once.
As Arnold lays his eyes down in that position, he leans against the back of Riesch's hand.
This way, the lipstick is dropped on the base of the ring finger.
"Riesch"
Nh, nh
He called out his name with his lips pressed against him, and blocked his mouth with the free hand.
Arnold immediately stopped kissing and raised his face.
But after that, don't you fold each other's fingers?
(What is this...?!
The back of my head feels dizzy.
This is the first time I realize it.Riesch likes the color of Arnold's eyes as well as the shape of his hands and fingers.
Nevertheless, now is not the end of the line.
Arnold looks cool as he swings around.
Instead, he turned his sincere eyes to Richie and asked with a slightly plucked voice.
"May I touch it?"
"......!!
You've already touched me.
It's as if you want Riesch to nod properly and make sure with words.