About that night. There was a large audience in front of the theatre at the top of the imperial capital.
Looking forward to tonight's stage, everyone is inflating expectations. In the lobby, which was separated from the entrance of the general public, the dressed nobles met face to face and were busy socializing before the performance.
Although gentle, somewhere the floating talking sounds like softness.
However, many of the eyes of the people on the spot were poured into a certain point.
"-Leeche, give me your hand."
"Yes, Your Highness Arnold."
Encouraged by Arnold walking next to him, Leechee took his hand.
At that moment, the quality of the voice that was heard in the lobby changed. As far as Leechee's ears could tell, the voice seemed to be full of surprises.
All the aristocrats, after taking a glimpse of the leeches they had dressed up for the play, stare back at Arnold.
Arnold, wearing a black glove and a red cloak, had a look of no interest at all.
(Everyone's going to be surprised by that already......)
The theatre is a kind of social venue for the royal nobility.
Before Leechee came to this country, Arnold didn't even show his face at the evening party at the Imperial Castle.
It must be a stunning fact for the nobles that such a crown prince escorts women in the theatre.
(I can't believe you arranged a seat for me in a few days, even though I just casually spoke.)
Leechee looks back a few days as she walks on the red carpet.
I have less than a month left until the marriage ceremony, and I am in a hurry to prepare.
With the help of Arnold's office, Leechee was unconsciously murmuring as she spoke with Oliver to check on the day.
Is the opera being performed in the theatre in the Imperial Capital? Wow, I want to go...... ”
…………
It was almost a monologue, a desire to do so.
However, I noticed Arnold, who was organizing the paperwork at the desk, raised his face and looked at us. When Leechee stopped and raised her face, he said:
... I understand. Just a moment.
"-Yeah."
Oliver
Yes, my lord, as you say.
When I blinked thinking that it was impossible, I really got a seat at the opera a few days after that.
(Your Highness's work is a good reason to be quick... "If you decide to do it, don't postpone it, but do it immediately.)
Arnold's sideways face looked somewhat grumpy, as if his gaze was pouring out.
……
However, when Leechee noticed that she was looking up, her steepness was softened.
Even though it's as expressionless as ever, it feels calm. Arnold stretched out his free hand and touched Leeche's right ear, a shivering earring.
"Phew..."
"--Your hair is entangled in thin chains"
Having said that, he stroked the chain of earrings and hung Leeche's horizontal hair on my ear.
Even though it's a black glove, the sensation is ticklish. The aristocrats around them react as if they had seen something they shouldn't have seen, and the noise in the lobby grows louder and louder.
That was somewhat strangely embarrassing.
"Thank you..."
Yeah.
While Leechee's cheeks became hot, Arnold was still flat.
As it was, it was pulled down by the stairs leading to the upper floor, and there was a voice calling out to us.
Your Highness Arnold. My Lady Leechee.
A tall man stands at the end of the line of sight between the two of them.
The man, who had his brown hair cut short and his spine straight, was wearing a uniform indicating that he belonged to the Knights of Galkhain.
Rudolf Gert Gutheil.
……
At that moment, I want to believe that Arnold didn't understand that Leechee was slightly nervous.
“Thank you for appointing me as your security guard today. I will work with His Highness the Kingsguard to protect the upper floors.”
"Don't let anyone else on the top floor of the house." No exceptions, no matter how noble they are. "
"He said," As you know ".
Listening to the two interactions, Leechee bows her head to the man who called her Goutheil.
Dear Gootheil, thank you very much.
“I will risk my life to ensure you have peace of mind and enjoyment.”
Gootheil made a statement that made him feel a little overwhelmed.
You can feel the strength of your will. It's a long, sharp eye. Leechee knows that Gutheil is a good swordsman and has the talent to lead an army.
(... this is one of the subordinates who will report to His Highness Arnold in the future and contribute to the war of aggression...)
But, of course, I don't put it on my face.
Escorted straight to Arnold, you'll head to the top floor of the Grand Theater. No one would have noticed that Leechee was wary of the knights who were supposed to escort her.
The Emperor, Arnold Hein, had five subordinates to use on the battlefield.
They worked for the Invasion War in the absence of Arnold, and won as Arnold commanded.
The world invasion of Galkhain quickly progressed not only on Arnold himself, but also on their obedience.
One of them is Rudolf Gert Gutheil, who just came to say hi to the guard.
(I can't believe I met that person here...)
In a special seat (Royal Box) on the fourth floor of the theatre, Leechee gently blinded herself.
The red velvet chairs are fluffy and cushioned.
It's not a one-person seat, but a chair-shaped seat where you can sit down and sit side by side with Arnold.
The seat itself is wide, but when I try to sit down in a good position, my shoulders naturally get closer to touch.
Right next to Arnold, Leechee flipped through a performance brochure, pretending to read it.
(The future Lord Arnold was not yet alone. That's why I thought there was still a respite in this regard.)
Leechee stops and asks Arnold.
"Your Highness Arnold, how did you manage to secure Mr. Gootheil tonight?" In addition, there were other people who were not His Highness's Kingsguard in the hallway security until they came to this seat. "
Arnold gave a slightly surprised expression.
Your Highness?
"... there are about fifty of my Kingsguard knights, but some of them have never had a direct conversation with you." What if you remember the faces of everyone? "
"Yes, because the Kingsguard were chosen by Lord Arnold?"
It means that Arnold is a knight who has a clear intention and has made himself his subordinate.
Leechee knows that Arnold looks at his men like this.
To be his queen, even if he is a knight he has only met once, he cannot forget his face or his name.
……
Arnold turned his mindlessly or softly toward Leeche. After that, it tells me like this.
"When I lend my guards to the country of Coyol, there is a shortage of personnel." In addition, I thought it was time to increase the size of the Guard. "
"... that is, if you increase the number of people..."
Somehow, I have a bad feeling about it.
At most, there are only fifty Arnold's Kingsguard. However, even in a small country like Leechee's homeland, the Prince's Kingsguard usually has more than a hundred men.
(There are too few Kingsguard Knights in a country like Galkhain, a country that specializes in the military. I know that, but....)
I really don't know whether mere expansion is the aim.
(Two years from now, His Highness the Arnold of Past Life will become the Emperor by killing his real father....... Of course, the strength at that time would have been your Guardian Knights.)
Arnold's "expansion of the guards" was also about preparing for future coups d 'état and war.
(In parallel with the preparation of the marriage ceremony, information shall also be collected in that area)
Leechee takes a gentle deep breath.
That said, it seems suspicious to think about it too much. She regained consciousness and traced the name written in the brochure on her lap with her fingers.
"Nevertheless, I can't believe that the star of tonight is Princess Sylvia." I can't wait to hear her sing. ”
"... have you seen the opera performed by this actor before?"
"Yes, that was, uh..."
Organize information by stopping for a moment to avoid mixing it with other life memories.
"-And my former fiancé, His Highness Dietrich!"
…………………………
At that moment, Arnold snorted.
"The performance was different, but she was the star of the show. It was crystal clear, and it was a powerful singing voice, and it was incredible.”
…………
"His Highness Dietrich, who was watching with me, also seemed to have a good time." I usually go to the opera with her, but she seems to get bored along the way. "
……………………
Arnold bowed his eyes slightly while listening to Leechee.
(Will His Highness Arnold enjoy the opera?)
With that in mind, I turn the page of the brochure and go back one step at a time.
(I don't think you're very interested... but you said you're new to the opera. It would be much better if you could feel that you didn't like it after experiencing it than if you had never experienced it before)
Leechee flickered, believing it would be.
"Your Highness, do you have any questions about the opera? If there's anything I can tell you...!?"
At that moment, a weight hangs on his shoulder.
(Eh.....)
I was surprised and inadvertently took a breath.
Arnold, who was shallowly hanging from the chair, placed his head on Leechee's shoulder, which blinked.
In other words, Arnold started looking at the pamphlet with a little complacency, as if he were leaning on Leeche.
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