Note:
I’m really sorry for this late update! My laptop had an error and couldn’t detect the SSD (so it’s unusable) and is still in service as of now T__T Please wish me luck so that it can be fixed and it will be fixed as soon as possible!
Anyway, happy reading and don’t hesitate to comment~!
Thank you for all my patrons as well as readers :3
That man was staring at me from the tip of my head to the tip of my toe, as if he was rudely treating me with contempt.
It was said that the attendants were like their master, and the three attendants were indeed similar.
It was extremely uncomfortable, but since I didn’t know what kind of social position he had, for the time being, I lightly cast my eyes downward as I kept silent.
“—Colonel Karnak-dono, I hope you’re doing well.”
I thought that he was still quite a young man, but with that kind of stiff manner of speaking, he looked like a middle-aged old man.
After he talked, the way he shifted his gaze towards Orgueil was also stiff.
“—Well, isn’t it Chairman Asard?”
Orgueil responded with a chilling voice.
He always spoke expressionlessly, but it was my first time hearing such a chilling voice from him.
“I had thought that you’d be present at the regular hearing by this time…”
He seemed to be implicitly asking, ‘why are you here?’
The man—who seemed to be called Chairman Asard—didn’t even falter from Orgueil’s below-freezing-point attitude as he showed an insincere smile.
“It’s as you said, but an express messenger from my principal residence arrived not too long ago. There was an inevitable incident unfolding that I had to leave my seat, and I’d be leaving after this.”
Chairman Asard smoothly said without any faltering. Even while he was saying so, his eyes were turning towards me and Orgueil as if his gaze was coiling us.
“…The express messenger didn’t sound calm. It wouldn’t be good to keep them detained. …Until then.”
With an obvious attitude that seemed to say, ‘hurry and return, then,’ Orgueil very lightly bowed, then he respectfully lent a hand to escort me, but…
“And who might this person be?”
Completely showing no sign of leaving, Chairman Asard frankly threw a question.
Orgueil seemed to be exasperated and didn’t seem like he wanted to introduce me at all.
“…The person being led by Colonel-dono is very lovely, but I don’t seem to have seen this person up until now.”
‘There it is,’ I thought.
‘Haven’t seen,’ means that he’s indirectly scoffing about how unknown my origin is.
Putting aside the matter about being lovely.
He is an unpleasant old man, but it’s within my expectations. Since he was a man who was called as [Chairman] in the historical Gladius house’s administrative district, he’d have a suitable social position, and his class consciousness would be high. Even Leon-sama and Orgueil, though they exceeded him, they couldn’t put on airs. Since their dignity, confidence, and ability weren’t just a pretense, there was no need to be haughty.
As I silently decided to dislike this person, Orgueil intentionally took my hand with respect, saying as he continued to face the man.
“—Princess. This is Chairman Dyson Leroux do Asard.”
Orgueil coolly sought a fight. At any rate, it seemed that he didn’t agree that the other party didn’t introduce himself first. He seemed to decide that he’d introduce me after that.
It was likely that the chairman noticed it, as his face subtly showed his unhappiness, but his curiosity towards me won over it, so he said with an unexpected composure,
“I’m Dyson Leroux do Asard. I was appointed as the chairman in the General Assembly. Pleased to make your acquaintances.”
And he bowed.
He took my hand as he seemed to want to give me a greeting that was normally given to ladies, but Orgueil separated us, so he bent his waist and dropped the idea.
Orgueil lightly nodded as if it was natural.
Nevertheless, the General Assembly should be something similar to the parliament. And when one speaks of the chairman of such thing, that person should be a rather important higher-up. I was slightly worried as I thought that I should be exuding a bit more reserved attitude.
“—Chairman. This is Princess Riviere Emil la Tuura. She is Duke Evangelista’s relative, and the person receiving his Excellency’s patronage.”
The chairman and his attendants—all four of them were clearly taken aback.
I was told that Orgueil would be introducing me to the people we met inside the castle, so I decided to leave it up to him, but now, it seemed that he had introduced me to the point, and in one go. [Receiving the patronage] of a noble man—in other words, it implied that I was his lover. It was no big deal to be referred as his lover or sweetheart since he had no legal wife, but being introduced like this to a person at the level of the [Chairman], it meant that I was to be treated as the [Duke’s Mistress].
Inside my heart, I thought, “Even I was also taken aback!”, but I only drew one of my legs silently, bending my waist.
“I’m Riviere Emil la Tuura.”
Since I didn’t want to leave too much impressions, I only gave my name. Besides, since Orgueil seemed to have introduce me in a grand way, or rather, giving me a first-class introduction, I thought that it was unnecessary to give common flowery words such as ‘I’m not used to living here yet, so please guide me well,’ and so on, as my greetings.
“?! …This is, well, well…”
He was so surprised that he was at a loss for words. What was up with his ‘well, well’ anyway? I unfavorably thought.
Well, since I was the rumored person who seemed to be related to the house despite coming from a remote region, and as someone who was favored by the Duke Evangelista, it wouldn’t be weird for people to be surprised and for them to want to see me.
But what about his express messenger? It’d be better if he could just return home quickly.
When that thought popped up in my mind,
“…This, please forgive my rudeness. …You are such a beautiful person. …Good gracious, it seemed that you came here while bringing a jewel, but Milady, you are the jewel itself.”
Chairman Asard said as he corrected his posture.
It felt bad. Clearly disgusting. He was trying to curry a favor with me by saying that I was a jewel, it was a similar phrase to how he was thinking of me while taking a bath.
His three attendants seemed to have sensed that, as they were looking at me with their unpleasant smiles.
Then, Orgueil covered me, standing in front of them who were sending their evaluating gazes to me as a woman with some hints of ridicule.
“…Exactly, the jewel in his Excellency’s hands. Originally, we planned on having her official debut, but we managed to have an audience with you before that, as per the princess’ request, today I’d be accompanying her around the castle.”
He bluntly said. In other words, since it was unofficial, he was grateful that we managed to meet before the debut.
His refreshing beautiful voice was slightly filled with power.
“Since we have an arrangement after this, please excuse us. …You shouldn’t make the express messenger wait any more than this, too, right?”
After Orgueil said that over his shoulders, he took my hand again and turned back.
As expected, they didn’t say anything more after that, nor did they follow us, but I could tell that they were staring at us painfully until we disappeared from their field of vision.
“…I’ve let you feel unpleasant.”
As he gently took my hand and walked, Orgueil said.
It was fine if he let go of my hand now, though.
Besides, it would be bad if he were to be seen walking while holding my hand, as I was dressing myself as a man.
“I was the one who asked to have this field trip around the castle. This kind of a thing is within my expectation, so it’s okay.”
“Unpleasant is still unpleasant, though!” I added it afterward.
“This degree of gaudiness is no big deal, but it’s painful to my eyes!”
Right. Anyway, that sticky gaze that seemed as if it was coiling about.
However, Orgueil seemed to have the same kind of gaze as he looked towards me…
It’s similar to how one person can have two different things they like, huh?!
An idea hit me.
…Yes, there is, there is! That kind of thing, like favorite food! …He isn’t as beautiful as picture, though.
–Orgueil must have been prominent in both his looks and quick wits since he was a child. It won’t be weird if he wanted to be favored by such a person. Nah, it was a matter of course for a person with that kind of preference. He would always cast amorous glances at Orgueil, associating with him, and as that gave him a pleasant feeling, even if he knew that Orgueil seemed to be irritated, he still ended up wanting to talk and see Orgueil. At that time, there was one beauty whose gender was difficult to determine next to Orgueil—
“…You are thinking of an unpleasant thing in your imagination now, aren’t you?”
Orgueil said as he gripped my hand slightly stronger.
It was a bit painful.
“Orgueil, I haven’t even uttered any single word…”
“Riviere-sama, if necessary, you can express yourself without any word or gesture. In most cases, everything is shown in your facial expression.”
“Orgueil, in any case, let go of my hand…”
“Well, it’s all right if it’s just in front of me or his Excellency. And earlier, you could perceive my will and gave a greeting.”
As I thought. Giving a minimum greeting was the correct choice!
I noticed that it was as if I was being praised, so I grinned. At that time, Orgueil suddenly pulled my hand.
“?! Eh… Uhm, …?!”
In an instant, I was in Orgueil’s arms.
Today, Orgueil was wearing a black knight uniform with silver decoration, but there were lots of badges on his chest, so I thought that it would hurt, but he was hugging me very gently.
When I looked up in surprise, my figure was reflected in his deep purple eyes.
“Orgueil, this is, we’re in the corridor…”
Even if we’re not in the corridor, I ended up thinking that I’d still be wondering why Orgueil would do this kind of thing.
“…Whichever angle one may look at it, this is a blind spot.”
Certainly, there was a large pillar’s shadow. However.
“It’s fine with the blind spot, but this is a little…”
“I’m going to protect you, Riviere-sama.”
It was such a sincere and exceedingly sweet voice. A voice that I heard for the first time.
“…Princess la Tuura. His Excellency’s loved one. I fear that it’s likely you’re going to become his wife sooner or later, but that path wouldn’t be a smooth one. In addition, it’s not just Duke Evangelista who’s desiring a wife.”
When that kind of thing was spun by his lips, it felt as if it was already a fact.
About being a loved one or a wife, it was within my expectation to some extent, but I wonder if there is a more terrific thing?
When I obediently let myself being hugged, Orgueil slightly smiled as if he was satisfied.
“?! …Kuh…”
This is yet another surprise attack! Orgueil’s smile, which is even rarer than a four-leaf clover!
(By the way, I don’t know if there’s clover or not in this world, but it’s just a metaphor.)
“…There are surely lots of things. It’s just the beginning. But, be rest assured. Orgueil do Karnak will protect you and ensure your safety.”
After saying that, he put his lips on my forehead.
Feeling both happy and awe-inspiring. Questioning why or for what reason. I was overcome with such kind of emotions.
This situation itself and my near future which was quite turbulent. I was in shock of everything that my brain ended up frozen, and for a while, I was absentmindedly being hugged by him.
