"- So?"
There is still no one in the cafeteria.
Arnold tried to forgive Riesch without calling for service.
Sitting on a chair, he lowered his hips to his left and asked as he stroked Richie's head.
"Take your time. I'm not going anywhere. Tell me when it's settled."
"My maids cleaned each room....."
Richie managed to explain what she had just heard from them.
"During the cleaning process, there was a sound of a window opening from the room next to the room where no one should be present.It's a bit crooked and has a high armor and a unique sound. "
"... because it's a seaside castle.The hinges must be rusty. "
"When the maid looked at the window, the window in the room was not open.I think it's because of my mind, and as I went out into the hallway to change the water in the bucket, there was a blurry shadow of people in the distance...!! "
Remembering the fear when she heard it, Riesch sifted back.
"If ordinary people had been there, they would have made one of the footsteps, right?However, there was no sound from the human shadow, and it slipped away..... "
I can clearly imagine the sight that I shouldn't have seen.
The next moment, it just disappeared.
…………
Richie is afraid of ghosts.
Leesher herself has died many times, and I don't think she can say 'there are no ghosts' as long as she is here with a strange fate.It's not necessarily that there is no one who has died and become only a soul.
While listening to Riesch, Arnold stared at us.
I mean, are you afraid of that missing person?
"Aren't you afraid...!?"
"Even if it existed, what could it be without substance?"
"A theory that only people who aren't afraid of ghosts can say...!!"
But my heart is also pouring out.
"... this kind of thing gets more and more scared when people around you are scared, right?"
While Arnold stroked his head, Riesch leaned gently.
"The maids were turning pale, so I kept pretending to be okay.After forgiving that there were no ghosts, the maids were reassured, but they couldn't say 'I'm scared too'.... "
"So you were sitting alone in this cafeteria, waiting for me to go home?"
Riesch nodded hard.
"... there are lots of candlesticks lined up on the table."
"Because I want to make it a little brighter...."
I thought I'd stay in the maids' room, but that doesn't seem to deceive me.
I called a lot of Arnold's names in my heart before he came back.Without talking about it, I glanced at it.
Arnold doesn't laugh at Riesch at all.
"... by the way, Your Highness, dinner..."
I'm busy caressing you.
……
That's all I have to say, it's a top priority.I don't think it can be sweet, but I feel so relieved.
"... I really like the sea."
I guess so.
"But in a room where ghosts might come out, the sound of waves at night is a little scary...."
……
"It's hard to be alone in the room."
Grasp the hem of your dress with your right hand and Arnold's jacket with your left hand.
"... Your Highness Arnold..."
When I called his name, Arnold looked complicated.
Looking at that, Riesch panicked.
"No, I'm sorry for the inconvenience!?I can't believe a good adult wants me to sleep in the same room...! "
"No, it's not."
So he meditated and sighed.
"... that's not true..."
(I was told twice....)
I wonder why. But Arnold keeps going like this with the traffic.
"... there must be two rooms south of the fourth floor.Is it ready for use? "
"Ha, yes! The maids cleaned the castle, so I'm glad...."
While answering, Riesch blinked.
"Will you sleep in the same room?"
"... there's no way I can tear you apart and put you back in your room."
This state may refer to the left hand that grabbed Arnold's jacket.
It's embarrassing, but I wanted to stay a little longer.
However, when I heard a knock on the dining room door, Rieschett let go of her hand.
"Excuse me, Your Highness Arnold. A messenger just arrived."
It was one of the Knights of the Kintetsu who showed up.
(And I'm glad I let go aggressively...!)
Richie lays her hands on her lap because she can't look pathetic.
"The messenger on the canoe came to deliver the message in advance.His Royal Highness Prince Curtis' ship is expected to reach the harbor in a few hours. "
I'm relieved to hear that.Harriet will certainly be pleased with his brother's arrival.
Arnold responded to the knight's message with little emotion.
"Okay, then, hurry up and get Oliver back."
"I understand. And since Curtis is eating on board, there's no need to worry about tonight's entertainment."
"What's going on with the port security?"
"Ha-ha, about that--"
(... speaking of which, there were rumors of ghost ships on the coast of Sigwell...)
I wonder why I remembered so much.
(~ ~ ~ ~)
Riesch scratched her thoughts in a hurry, leaned down and remained silent.
(When I left His Highness Arnold, it was still a bit thoughtful....)
But you have to be careful in front of the knight.
That's what I told myself, right after.
――
Arnold's hand then touched Riesch's.
Under the table, each other's fingers are tangled and tied together to play.
He looks at Arnold in astonishment, but he has a strange face.He continued his clerical conversation with the knight, holding hands with Riesch.
The tied hands and hands remain hidden behind the table.
(But there's someone else right there...!!)
When I thought about it, I was not afraid anymore.
Such a secret is too bad for the heart.If he tries to let go of his hand, Arnold rejects and grips again.
However, the sound is still faint.
When I reached out to everyone in private and listened to Arnold's voice, I felt burning in my ears.
"... I'll reschedule tomorrow as I just told you.Tell the others. "
"Just like I said. Now, if you'll excuse me, Your Highness."
"Ha, yes...!"
The bowing knight leaves the room and the dining room door closes.
Didn't that knight find it odd that Arnold and Riesch's chairs were close or that the meal had not yet been carried?I think about it a lot, but the problem is still the left hand.
"Ah, Lord Arnold....."
Hmm?
With a slightly soft reply, his finger traced Richie's ring finger.
"Thank you for connecting.Um, but, um... "
……
His eyes, with his cheek cane on the opposite armrest, are pointed towards the ring of his ring finger.
This is the ring Arnold gave Riesch.
"You're always wearing this ring for now."
"... but it's important..."
It is true, but I am strangely embarrassed when pointed out.
(I didn't think Lord Arnold would be interested in what kind of costume I would wear.....)
Perhaps you are even aware that every time you see this sapphire, you are always looking at the surface of the stone.
I feel more and more embarrassed and upset when I think so.
"Goldsmithing is Coyol's technique.It is well maintained despite such fine workmanship. "
"Ah, well, Your Highness....."
"What is it?"
Arnold lay his eyes down and rubbed over the ring.
I wonder what he thinks of Reese's face as red.
I am concerned, but I can't ask directly.Rieschett squeezed her courage and said something completely different.
"Well, it's time for dinner....! Prince Curtis seems to be eating on board, and I hope that Lord Arnold will be able to pick you up...!!"
……
Arnold smiled and slowly took his hand off Riesch.
"I can't help it. Your tremors have stopped."
(What can I do...!?)
But first, you need to calm your heart down.
Riesch took a big deep breath and rang the bell calling for service.