How much does he see? How deeply does he feel for me?
If I could, I’d stay his beloved forever and never leave his side. But I was beginning to get the inkling I would end up hurting him soon because of how badly I wanted that.
I loved him too much to let him fight alone. Too much to ever lose him. So just for now, please let me stay in this peaceful moment. Let me lie to you a little longer…
“Yes. Thank you, my knight.”
Lucas vanished back into the cheers of the arena and crushed the General’s record without breaking a sweat. Meanwhile, I smiled through the ache in my chest, grateful for his trust.
I sighed as I watched him bask in the applause. Beside me, Yana chimed in sympathetically.
“Honestly… Everybody loves him, young or old, huh? You’ve got your hands full. I think even Islan might’ve been easier. Islan’s great with kids and old people, but young people can’t stand him.”
“That’s not…”
…True… I didn’t say it, but the look on my face probably gave it away.
I hesitated, then asked what had been tugging at my mind. “Princess Yana, have you ever considered leaving Prince Islan?”
“Wh-what kind of question is that?!”
Oh my, she’s flustered! That’s adorable!
Also, Yana’s way of speaking is refreshingly blunt. I really like her. Come to think of it, I’ve never really had a girlfriend my age I could talk to like this.
Even my so-called friends kept their distance because I was the second princess. Had I secretly been a lonely, noble daughter this whole time?
Felix used to ditch me at parties all the time, so it made sense that I never learned how to handle romance. I couldn’t ask Anna or Finn for advice, because the former was a terror and the latter was somehow worse. So Yana, please! I’m begging you! Teach me the ways of romance!
“Weren’t you the one who said you’d do anything to help me? I’d love to chip away at Islan’s influence while I have the chance, but if that’s going to put you in a tough spot, I need to plan accordingly, right?”
“What? You’re terrifying! Really terrifying. No wonder you’re married to the Hero. You two are a perfect match…”
When I clasped my hands together and brought up the request, for some reason, her cheek twitched as she backed away from me.
Excuse me?! Lucas and I are nothing alike, I’ll have you know!
But I wasn’t about to let her give me the slip. I had so many questions.
“You and Prince Islan don’t seem that compatible, but am I to assume you’re happy with staying lovers?”
C’mon, teach me all about love, Professor Yana!
“L-Lovers?! Gah, that’s not what this is! We cooperate under contract, and he’s just my sponsor!”
Seriously?! So if you’re not into him, then why risk pissing off Lucas of all people?
“Didn’t you already know Lucas would reject your advances and that we’d sworn to be each other’s one and only love?”
I watched as she sucked in a sharp breath, and her face crumpled.
“Ugh, you’ve got such a sweet face, but your words can cut like a blade. I’m begging you, please stop… It’s not like I knew for sure. I just wanted to believe he wouldn’t, that’s all. And in the end, I made him angry anyway.”
“Princess Yana…”
She gave a breathy, bitter little laugh, and I lowered my head before I realized what I was doing.
Even though there were cushy benefits to being in a harem, it was hell for the women who fell in love with the man at its center, especially if he refused to settle on one of them. The heart wears thin, and then it breaks.
And in her case, the man she served told her to go to bed with another.
I couldn’t imagine the despair she felt.
“I apologize.” I placed my hand over my chest, regretting how casually I’d pried into matters that were none of my business.
“It’s not like that. It really isn’t. If you bring love or romance into a harem, you’ll just destroy yourself. And if you don’t act, more and more wives will join the harem, so you can’t afford to let yourself get carried away by such feelings anyway. That’s why I had to go along with Islan’s request. I’m a chieftain’s daughter, you know. The pressure is insane!”
I couldn’t imagine how painful it would be to compete day in and day out for a fickle man’s favor. If something were to happen, and things spiraled out of control, and Lucas ever told me he needed a concubine, there was no way I could compartmentalize like that, even if I remained the only one he truly loved. The thought of sharing him with someone else was just completely unthinkable. I’d totally break.
And then, the man who once swore to give his all to protect everything I held dear would bind himself to that promise and hold my hollowed-out self while cursing the world. No way! I could never let that happen.
No one would be happy in that kind of future, and more importantly, I refused to let him suffer like that. That meant it was on me to make sure I could stay by his side no matter what happened, even if I couldn’t give him children. I just had to hold onto him, like Yana held on to Prince Islan.
“You really care about your subjects. I have a great deal of respect for you and the people of Aram,” I said with genuine admiration.
She gave me a gentle smile in return this time. “Thanks. And I’m really sorry for going after your husband. Will you accept my apology?” She sounded a little tentative, but sincere.
Without even thinking, I reached out and took her hand. “Yes, of course! I gladly accept it!”
Her right hand was firm like Lucas’s, with a sword fighter’s callouses. No doubt it was proof of her hard work as one of Aram’s monster-hunting warriors. I contained my admiration, which apparently embarrassed her.
Her cheeks flushed, and she glared at me. “H-hey, don’t look at me with those sparkly eyes! That’s exactly why you’ve ruined that man, you know. You’re all sweet and innocent on the outside but totally calculating underneath!”
“Am I?”
I guess that implies I actually have some game, doesn’t it? But I don’t. If I really had that kind of charm, I’d have Lucas totally wrapped around my finger by now.
And between the two of us, he’s the one who’s more calculating, which is quite frustrating as his wife!
But if I were good at it, I might as well start putting it to good use. Where was this supposed charm, anyway? I glanced down at myself and heard a big, dramatic sigh coming from Yana.
“Honestly, what’s with you two? You’re both totally oblivious. He must be working hard to keep up…”
Okay, now it just sounds like she pities us! Or maybe she’s just afraid of Lucas…
I was still trying to figure it out when Yana smirked at me with a teasing laugh.
“Well, I guess a supposedly pure and innocent girl wouldn’t be able to act all composed after a kiss like that, let alone walk around with those obvious marks on her neck. You’re pretty bold!”
“Wha—huh?!” My whole face went up in flames.
Bold? Bold in what way?! You’re not trying to call me a pervert, are you? I mean, yeah, people do say married couples start to resemble each other, so maybe some of Lucas’s, er, tendencies have rubbed off on me, but…
I grabbed at my collar in a panic and ducked my head, only for her to floor me with a follow-up remark.
“You’ve got way more moves than I do. I figured a husband that pretty would be easy to seduce, but with kisses like that, it’s clear he’s taught you some tricks of his own. There’s no way I could’ve stood a chance against you.”
“Huh?”
“What’s with that face?”
I was staring at her in astonishment, even though I knew it was rude.
“Um, actually, Lucas is the first and only man I’ve ever been with. And I didn’t really have any experience at all when we met. So every time he wants it, I just sort of go along with it. But sometimes I get a little worried that he’ll get tired of me…”
Sorry, but I have zero seduction skills over here!
I looked up only to see her face frozen in utter disbelief.
“Ohh, so that’s what happened in the dressing room. Wait, hold on…”
“What?”
“You said ‘every time’… You mean that, right?”
“Y-yes, um, the thing that usually happens at night. Yes, that…”
Did I say something weird? Uh-oh. Should I even be talking about this?!
“Usually? Wait, are you telling me that ‘the usual time’ isn’t enough for him? Are you telling me that insanely jealous man is also that insatiable?”
“U-um, yes…”
“Goodness… How often?!”
She sounds pretty interested for someone acting so horrified!
“Um, just whenever he wants to…”
“Wait, wait, wait. You mean, even during the day? Every day?”
“Y-yes. I mean, we’re married. It’s not that strange, right?”
I wanted to die, to just curl up and disappear on the spot. This whole encounter was not going where I’d intended at all. My cheeks flushed as I slumped over, bracing myself for judgment.
And sure enough…
“Ahh, yeah. Sure.” Her tone was clearly disapproving. Disturbed, even. I wanted to cry.
“Nngh…”