"Why.... that brother went out of his way to this place..."
After a flirtatious step back, Theodore saw the leachet.
"No way, for you?
"His Highness Arnold. I've been waiting for you."
Theodore looked up at his brother with a sad look after he distorted his face abominably as Liesche thanked Arnold.
"... it's all a misunderstanding. It's a misunderstanding, brother! Until now, I didn't mean it. I just wanted to get along with my sister-in-law, so I just tried to intimidate her a little...!
"Theodore."
That low voice calls my real brother's name.
Theodore clasped his mouth with it alone and pressed silently.
"I told you to stay away from Leishe."
"... eh"
Arnold's eyes, looking down at his brother, are chilling from the bottom of his heart.
I can't see any emotions, but it's a horrible thing to reject. The leashes just watching are breathtaking, too, to the nervousness of being swordtipped down your throat.
"... sorry, no. Brother."
Theodore said that as he leaned deeply, shaking his body. Even to that appearance, I see Liesche, just as Arnold is not interested in anything.
"Lieche. Let's go."
"Wait, Your Highness. Talk to your brother, just a little more."
"Not necessary"
"But..."
What the hell do they have in the meantime?
Theodore doesn't seem to want to break loosely with his brother because he showed his excuses earlier. But Arnold can't see any bare gestures about his brother.
(His Highness Theodore wanted to set me up to fear Arnold Hein. What's that for?
"Liesche"
"... Yes"
I'm not going to be able to keep Arnold here any longer.
I gave up and tried to walk out to the door where he was, that was when.
"... oh..."
With a tiny little voice, Theodore growls.
"- I knew you were right. Sister-in-law"
"Huh!?
The moment I heard that, a chill ran down my spine.
Liesche sees Theodore as he was played. And I realize for the first time that the reason he was leaning down wasn't out of fear.
(... laughing...?
It was a glossy dim, beautiful grin somewhere.
"I'm so sorry. Brother."
Theodore looked up, this time staring at his brother with a serious face.
"From here on out, I'll be gone. Though I don't think that conveys the feeling of reflection"
"... Your Highness Theodore"
"My sister-in-law, too, I'm sorry to surprise you. 'Cause I'm not saying that mean anymore."
And after thanking Liesche, Theodore told his brother.
"Good night, brother. It's been a long time since I've seen your face around here."
……
Passing beside Arnold, Theodore leaves the chapel.
Leishe was thinking about the grin Theodore had shown earlier, leaving behind a slight tension.
It was Arnold who opened his mouth first in the chapel where it was just the two of us.
"... I told you the same thing. Liesche."
The same would mean a warning to 'stay away'.
"Because I can't ignore it any more than I was summoned by His Highness Arnold's name. I didn't expect your busy Highness to come sooner than time."
"It's better to receive a reply to a letter I don't remember sending out and try to stay"
When I heard the answer, I was convinced it was the same.
After Theodore received the disguised letter, Liesche called Else, the samurai, and wrote this reply.
- 'I understand your invitation. Then at your appointed 9: 30, we will go to the chapel alone'.
The stated time is thirty minutes after the time called from Theodore.
I replied too quickly and entrusted the letter to the samurai just before Liesche left the room so that she could not stop herself from leaving.
(The fact that you came early helped. But)
Liesche looked up at Arnold.
(I don't think His Highness Theodore wanted to be asked where he is saying bad things about him...)
"... what's up?
He asked and tried to shake his neck sideways saying it was nothing.
But in retrospect, Liesche decides to be ready.
Because I felt like I needed to hear it right.
"Why are you said to be cruel, etc."
……
Arnold then lowered his eyes slightly.
"I guess that's because it's true. I'm actually killing a good number of people on the battlefield. Not once or twice have I done a miserable deed"
(I know. But)
Nor is what he taught me, after all, what Liesche wants to know.
"I don't need to bother listening to stories from third parties."
"So what do you want to know?"
"... about your thoughts"
Not the words unleashed by third parties.
Right now, I just want to know what we can only hear from Arnold.
"Thoughts, you say?
"I do hear Your Highness was given a tough martial arts medal in the war ahead. I also know they turned a terrible, terrible eye on the bandits who attacked our carriage.... Still, you didn't kill those bandits"
At that time Leishe thought it might be because the place where the raid took place was other national territory.
Think about Arnold Hein, the emperor you know, because there's no way he can forgive the thief.
But when you look at Arnold up close like this, you can't even think that's the only reason.
"... hmm"
In the blue eyes I looked up, a dark shadow falls.
"Apparently, I've had enough of you."
Arnold's hand was stretched this way.
I wonder, that right hand with the black gloves fitted slowly grabs Leishe's neck.
"If you want to survive in this castle, get rid of that bullshit right now."
……
A beautifully shaped finger slightly devoured the throat.
Even a weak force now would make it easier for the big hand to tighten Leishe's neck.
"... I believe in what I have seen"
"You haven't even seen me on the battlefield, what are you talking about?
"Even you, who have given me so much consideration, will undoubtedly be who you are"
"Ridiculous"
Arnold makes a mockery and whispers in a slightly plundered voice.
"I brought you here to use you."
"Then, all the more so"
Liesche laid her hands gently over Arnold's.
Instead of pulling it off your neck, try to push it and wrap it around. Will this convey at all?
"I don't think I'm cruel about you.... Sir."
――……