THSMW 43

chapter 43

“Ah…”

For a moment, I was at a loss for words. My heart felt like it had just dropped with a thud. I had never made a mistake like this before.

The fact that Siegfried was planning to leave after the monster subjugation was something no one knew. Not even Siegfried himself.

The idea of him returning as a war hero was something I had only read about in the novel. At this point, Siegfried had only accomplished one major feat during the monster hunt. There was no way he had already decided to head for the battlefield.

I awkwardly curled up the corners of my mouth. I had messed up. How should I cover this up?

“…Um, didn’t Your Highness say before? That you came to Elifritz not only for the monster subjugation but also to leave a good impression on the nobles.”

“I did say that.”

Siegfried replied with a sour expression. I quickly continued.

“I just thought that applied to the entire empire, not just the South. There are many territories that regularly conduct monster subjugations, but they usually start in the winter… and these days, the empire is struggling with barbarian tribes in the East. So I thought, maybe you’d be participating there as well…”

“I’ve never really thought about it. But now that I hear it, it doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”

Siegfried looked a little impressed, his lips parting slightly. It seemed I had managed to get past the awkward moment. I let out a small sigh of relief.

“But, by chance…”

Then Siegfried spoke again, and I looked at him in surprise. His eyes narrowed.

“You’re not saying all this just to send me away, are you? Because you don’t like having me around?”

“N-No way…”

Why was he twisting it like that? I had a feeling I’d be hearing that line—‘Do you not like me?’—for the rest of my life. Siegfried had a strangely persistent personality.

“Why would I dislike Your Highness, especially after receiving a whole farm? I do have a conscience.”

“You didn’t seem to like it very much.”

“What, the farm?”

“Yeah. You rejected it so many times that I still think about it. I wonder if I pushed too hard.”

Well, I didn’t really blame him. He had made a huge scene about giving me the farm in front of all those nobles.

If he had called me aside quietly, I might have found a way to refuse. But rejecting a prince’s gift in front of the aristocracy? That would’ve been seen as quite rude.

“No, really. In the end, I accepted it gratefully. You remembered what I said to you so well.”

Too well, in fact.

Sure, I had suggested he should appeal with his looks and wealth, but I didn’t think he’d actually take it so literally.

Well, he’s the male lead—of course he’s smart. I’d better be more careful about what I say to him from now on.

“Of course. I always take your words to heart.”

“That’s… not really necessary…”

“So don’t just go rejecting me outright all the time.”

Siegfried said with a smile, resting his chin on his hand. Strangely, I kept seeing the older version of Siegfried from my visions, and it made my chest flutter. I ended up nodding, gazing into his softly folded eyes.

“The eastern front, huh. Not a bad plan. But, Your Highness, a battlefield is a completely different matter from a monster hunt. Perhaps it would be wise to think it over more carefully.”

That was when the dishes we ordered began to arrive. Abission, who had been quietly sipping wine, spoke up.

Siegfried rested his chin on the table and fell silent in thought.

“Of course, I know this isn’t something to decide lightly. Defeating the barbarians would surely be a great help to me—as long as I come back alive.”

“…Your Highness, I was just speaking hypothetically. Don’t take it too seriously.”

“I know.”

Siegfried smiled faintly.

You won’t die anyway, even if you go to war. You’re the protagonist.

That line came right up to my throat. But of course, I couldn’t say that. Still, I wondered if there wasn’t something I could tell him.

Siegfried looked just as lonely as when we had first met, despite achieving such great success during the subjugation.

I suddenly stood up, knocking over the dishes with a loud clatter.

“I-I believe in you…! Even if, by any chance, you go to war, I’m sure you’ll come back safe and sound!”

“…Ah, faith and comfort.”

“Yes…!”

Siegfried looked up at me quietly.

When I clenched my fist and made a cheering gesture, he laughed like he truly couldn’t help it.

“Thank you. No one else says things like this to me.”

Aah. Don’t look at me like that, like you find me adorable. Now you’re making me imagine the adult Siegfried returning from war and hugging me. And then, soon, the lovely female lead will appear at his side…

I was starting to feel a little down. I slumped back into my chair with drooping shoulders.

Siegfried pushed a plate of roast duck—my favorite dish—toward me. Before we knew it, we had returned to casual conversation.

* * *

“Wow, the water is so clear.”

I cried out in surprise. The beach in this village was a dazzling emerald green. Unlike the sea at Corte Village, overrun with monsters and just a day’s ride away, this place was peaceful and pristine.

There weren’t any three-eyed crows flying around, only cute seagulls. I immediately fell in love with this village’s ocean.

“What’s this? Trash?”

“No, it’s a seashell.”

“First time seeing one. Oh—it broke.”

Right now, I was at the beach with Siegfried.

Apparently, he’d been so eager to explore the village that he had been waiting for me in the front hall since morning. The problem was, we hadn’t set an exact meeting time.

He couldn’t bring himself to wake me, so he just paced around watching the stairs, waiting for me to come down. Imagining that made me chuckle a bit. It was kind of cute.

“You were just gripping it too hard, Your Highness.”

I looked down at the shattered little seashell in his hand. Siegfried poked at the sand with his toe, fascinated by how it shifted beneath his feet.

“So this is why you said to take off our shoes.”

“Yeah, it’s better to brush the sand off your feet than deal with it inside your shoes.”

Siegfried nodded, brushing off the broken shell. A handsome boy on the beach—my eyes were delighted. I couldn’t stop smiling. At least, until Siegfried said something bizarre.

“How much do you think this beach would cost?”

“…Huh? What are you suddenly talking about?”

I was a little taken aback. I had an urge to peek inside his head. What kind of thought process led to that comment? Such a materialistic man.

“You seemed to like it.”

His answer was clear and straightforward.

He was still fixated on the idea of flaunting his wealth. I briefly wondered just how much an endless beach like this would cost… before realizing how pointless the thought was.

“The sea doesn’t belong to anyone. It’s not something you can buy or sell.”

“Then how about the village?”

“The village… Hmm, I’m not sure. It doesn’t belong to any territory.”

“So that means I could buy it?”

“You want to buy it for me?”

“Yeah.”

Siegfried answered without batting an eye. I knew his sense of scale was unusual, but this was going too far.

“I-I’m fine! Really. Just the thought is enough.”

“Thoughts are invisible. I want something tangible.”

That was such a valid point that I couldn’t argue. But since I had already received a fancy farm, I didn’t want to encourage more of his extravagant spending.

Anyway, he’s going to be emperor one day. Wouldn’t the village end up his eventually? He doesn’t need to buy it right now.

“But how would you even… No, really, I’m okay. I know you’re rich. Message received, loud and clear.”

“I don’t want to just send a message—I want to make it real…”

“Oh! Your Highness, isn’t the puppet show starting soon?”

The perfect distraction—puppet shows. Siegfried glanced toward the square where people were gathering.

“Looks like it.”

His cheeks were slightly flushed. Just how much had he been looking forward to this?

Worried he’d start talking about buying the sea or the village again, I quickly grabbed his arm.

“Let’s hurry. It’s going to be fun, right?”

Siegfried let himself be pulled along. We brushed off the sand and put our shoes back on. It was just past midday, and the square was crowded.

We found seats a little distance from the stage and sat down.

Soon, the puppet show began.

Thankfully, Siegfried seemed to forget all about purchasing the village and focused on the show.

Such a child. I thought, as the female puppet dropkicked the male puppet in the gut.

By the time part one ended, Siegfried stood up. I looked up at him.

“Part two will start soon if you wait just a little longer.”

“I have something to take care of.”

“Eh? But what business do you have here, Your Highness?”

We only arrived yesterday!

I looked at him suspiciously.

Siegfried opened his mouth as if to explain—but then suddenly turned away.