THSMW 51

chapter 51

By the time I came to my senses, I realized I was pulling and stretching Siegfried’s cheeks. Siegfried blinked calmly.

“What on earth are you doing? All of a sudden?”

“Ah, sorry. You’re just too cute. Smile a little.”

“There hasn’t been a single thing worth smiling about these past few days.”

“Which is why you should smile now. Don’t you feel energized, happy, and your heart race when you see me? Lately, it feels like you don’t really like me anymore.”

At my words, Siegfried frowned and stared straight at me. Then, a slight arc formed at the corners of his lips. He smiled with a scowl.

“I like you. So don’t say things like that. When I return from the war, I’ll propose to you. So…”

“You want me to wait? I think I’ve heard that about 2,000 times already.”

“I haven’t said it that many times.”

Then maybe I just repeated it to myself 2,000 times. I quickly accepted it.

“I’ll wait. So, Your Highness, don’t bring back another woman. I’ll really show you what a mess looks like.”

“There is no other woman but you.”

“Oh, that one was pretty good. I almost got butterflies.”

“I mean it. And—‘almost’? So you didn’t actually get butterflies?”

“Nope.”

Maybe I answered too indifferently. The smile on Siegfried’s face vanished without a trace.

I considered just saying I did get butterflies, but before I could open my mouth, Siegfried suddenly pulled me by the waist.

He lifted me up onto the dining table. Then he spread his arms out and blocked me when I tried to get down. His rough hand brushed my cheek. What the—didn’t I say no kissing?

He tilted his head slightly, bringing his lips close to mine. I flinched and closed my eyes.

“…If you didn’t get butterflies, why are you closing your eyes?”

His breath brushed against my lips and scattered. But he didn’t kiss me. I opened my eyes again. Siegfried was grinning mischievously.

“I-It was a reflex.”

“If you didn’t get butterflies, why are you stuttering?”

“I’m not stuttering.”

“You just did.”

“…”

I glared at Siegfried in silence. And then, as our eyes met, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Siegfried raised an eyebrow, seemingly unable to understand, but a faint smile tugged at his lips as well.

“What could I possibly expect from Your Highness? Though… your strength is kind of cool.”

“Oh, really now.”

Siegfried ran his hand through his hair in exasperation.

That’s when it happened. Chup—a soft kiss landed on his cheek. He jerked his head up and glared at me, his face bright red.

“…I guess I’m the only one getting butterflies.”

Leaving just those words behind, Siegfried fled the dining room.

Left alone, I blinked blankly while touching my cheek. Then, as I remembered his reddened face reaching to the back of his neck, I burst out laughing again.

✦ ✦ ✦

“Young Lady, here are today’s letters.”

“Just leave them there and go. Abission’s busy lately, so I’ll organize them instead.”

The butler nodded and left the room. I slowly sat up from the lounge chair in the parlor.

“Hmm, this one’s for Abission… this one too… wait, all of them are for Abission?”

Before the monster subjugation, I used to get more than ten marriage proposals or letters of interest every month.

I expected this, but now that my suitors have actually dwindled, I can’t help but feel a little disappointed.

Is this my future now? Waiting day by day for Siegfried to return, constantly anxious that Eisa might try to approach me?

“Oh, this one’s got His Majesty’s seal.”

Even though no one was around, I muttered out of habit as I sorted the letters. I thought all the mail on the table was for Abission, but a few were party invitations addressed to Miliard or me.

And just as I finished sorting, I came across an envelope stamped with the emperor’s seal. It was addressed, of course, to Siegfried.

The emperor, Eisa, and everyone else seem desperate to send Siegfried off to war. I clicked my tongue and left the parlor.

The annex was smaller compared to the main mansion, but no matter how much I searched, Siegfried was nowhere to be found.

I did hear he’d been frequenting the library looking rather troubled lately. So I decided to head toward the library, exiting the annex.

The sun was still blazing, but the breeze had turned cool—autumn must be approaching.

As I descended the stairs and brushed away the golden hair covering my eyes, I spotted some maids giggling as they walked past carrying laundry baskets. They were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn’t notice me.

“Every time I see him, my heart stops. It’s such a shame he’s leaving soon.”

“You should at least say goodbye. I mean, he’d probably ignore you… yeah, he would. When I brought him laundry last time, he didn’t even look at me.”

Even without names, I could guess who they were talking about. So, I quietly followed behind the maids.

They still hadn’t noticed me and their conversation turned more personal.

“Hey, is it true Angela’s got a thing going on with Charles?”

“Pfft, Angela’s got a thing going on with more than one guy.”

“Oh wow, go Angela. If I were a guy, I wouldn’t leave her alone either.”

“What’s with that tone? You sound like Lady Ariel imitating some old man—EEK! My lady!”

The maids jumped in surprise when they turned and saw me. The laundry nearly flew out of the basket.

But with impressive reflexes, they caught the clothes before they hit the ground. I clapped.

“Do I really sound like an old man?”

“N-no, not at all…”

“It’s fine. I don’t really care. Anyway, do you know where His Highness is?”

The maids, who had been about to deny it fiercely, paused to think and then pointed behind the mansion. I followed their gesture.

“I think he was headed toward the clearing. That’s where I saw him.”

“Got it, thanks. Oh, and can you tell Angela that Charles isn’t a good idea? He’s got dandruff.”

“Eugh, seriously? I’ll definitely tell her. Why doesn’t he wash?”

One of the maids made a disgusted face. I nodded in satisfaction.

Eavesdropping on maid gossip was fun, but I decided it was time to go find Siegfried. As I turned away, I heard them whispering.

“Ugh, dandruff is the worst.”

“Hey, I heard the Young Lady and His Highness are that close.”

“No way. His Highness is the same age as Young Master Miliard!”

Exactly. That’s what I’m saying too. I scratched my cheek as their voices faded into the distance. But what can I do if Siegfried likes me? We’re way past the stage of using age as an excuse.

I greeted the passing workers as I walked and soon arrived at the clearing. Pushing through the bushes, I looked around—and there he was.

Siegfried sat leaning against a large shaded tree. The breeze blew through the clearing, brushing past him. His black hair and white shirt swayed slightly.

One knee up, his arm resting on it, he spun a pen absentmindedly in one hand, a slightly dazed expression on his face today.

This time, just like before, I tried not to alert him and quietly crept around to approach from behind.

Just as Siegfried sighed and lowered his head—

“WAAAH!”

“….”

I popped out from behind the tree, shoving my face in front of his. But Siegfried just stared calmly at me with no reaction.

“What an amazing response.”

Disappointed, I stepped back and mumbled. Siegfried replied as if it were obvious.

“I saw you coming from way off in the distance.”

“Aww, then you should’ve at least pretended to be surprised.”

“What would be a fun reaction? You were already excited on your own—what more could I do?”

“Maybe clutch your heart dramatically or something…”

Siegfried wasn’t the type to do that, huh? He gave a half-hearted imitation of grabbing his chest, looking like he didn’t want to but humoring me anyway.

…Watching that, I felt like giving up. I crouched a little to meet his eye level.

“So, what were you doing here?”

Up close, I noticed a piece of stationery in the hand that wasn’t holding the pen.

Siegfried quickly crumpled the paper as if trying to hide it from me.

“Huh? Oh, nothing.”

He shook his head and tucked the folded letter into the front pocket of his shirt.