Reiner was looking down, recalling the events of that day. Nanalie indeed looked similar to the young woman she had been—well, it had been her, so it was natural that they would look similar.
Reiner looked up, moved the hand that had been covering his mouth, and looked Nanalie in the eyes as he spoke.
“Are you... Are you really the noble lady from that day?”
Nanalie smiled, seeing the shock on his face. “You finally remembered,” she replied with a giggle. “I was quite worried that you’d forgotten about me.”
“Urgh, I apologize. However, I can assure you that I did not forget. It’s just that you give off quite a different impression today than you did back then, Lady Nanalie...”
Reiner carefully chose his words as he took another look at her. When they’d met in the aristocratic quarter, she’d been covering her eyes with her bangs, and she’d had her hair tied up in a bun. Not only had her hair been different but she had also been dressed in understated clothing, so it was hard to believe that the same woman was sitting in front of him now.
Nanalie seemed pleased by his response and smiled. “Looking beautiful isn’t the only reason for a woman to adjust her appearance. At times, dressing a certain way may be used to deceive men.”
“I see. You must have had your reasons for appearing as you did that day.” Reiner nodded understandingly. She’d likely been disguising herself to avoid being accosted by men like Rogus Galliano. Looking back on how she’d been dressed that day, it would have been difficult for strangers to recognize her.
In that case, how did Rogus see through her disguise? Reiner wondered. Was it her voice?
Nanalie blushed a bit and met Reiner’s gaze with expectant eyes. “By the way, if I may ask, how do I appear to you now, Sir Reiner?”
“What?! Well, that is, um...”
Reiner was completely thrown by her question. Flustered, he bashfully averted his gaze. Nanalie also appeared a bit shy, but her excitement over his positive reaction toward her overcame any embarrassment she felt, and she was leaning forward, closer to him.
After a moment, Reiner seemed to give in and prepared to respond by clearing his throat. “I am completely moved to see that the rumors about the Crimson Lady are true,” he replied.
Reiner had meant that as a compliment, but Nanalie seemed to disagree. Her eyebrows furrowed as she silently thought for a moment, holding a hand up to her face. Several moments later, she spoke up.
“Sir Reiner, um, while it may be rude, may I ask what you meant by that?”
“What?! You want me to explain what I meant?!”
Reiner thought that he’d successfully navigated her question despite his embarrassment by mentioning her informal title, and he now felt troubled over what to do. Across from him, Nanalie sat looking a bit worried.
“I apologize for asking such a thing,” she said. “It may seem trivial, but it is important to me.”
“I understand... Um, well, I meant that you are just as beautiful as everyone claims the Crimson Lady to be,” he cautiously answered. “I apologize if that upset you in any way...”
“Huh?” she responded in a dumbfounded tone. As she processed what he’d said, her face grew bright red, to the point that it seemed like steam might rise from her head. She looked down and tried to hide her red face with both her hands but quickly looked back up and cleared her throat to move on. “I apologize for my behavior. I didn’t expect you to have meant something so wonderful.”
Reiner seemed confused by this, and he couldn’t help but clarify. “Is there some other meaning associated with the Crimson Lady?”
Nanalie seemed a bit uncomfortable, but she bashfully began to share the reason for her initial concern. “Well, the truth is, before our families began discussing our marriage, I’d received several proposals from other families in the nobility. All of those discussions fell through because of the so-called vitriol I’d directed at my prospective partners. Since then, rumors have been spread that I am a lady of red-hot temperament, dubbing me the Crimson Lady.”
“My, I had no idea such things were being said,” he replied, unable to hide his surprise.
Before Reiner had become a prospective partner, Nanalie had received several proposals from other nobles in the capital. To her, it had been clear that those nobles had been after her beauty and her family’s status. Since noble relationships were important, she’d had to decline their proposals carefully. So she had agreed to only decline after participating in the customary meeting of prospective suitors...or at least that had been the plan.
Nanalie had found all of her potential suitors to be not even worth speaking to, let alone discussing marriage with, and she’d thought they were all complete fools. She’d initially politely declined their proposals, but toward the end, she had lost her patience. Paired with her spirited personality, her annoyance had resulted in some bitter words directed at her suitors, which had swiftly ended her marriage meetings and successfully made men withdraw their proposals.
Rogus Galliano had been one of those men who’d faced her vitriol, and as a result, he’d gotten together with several other noblemen who’d felt burned by how Nanalie had treated them and spread the rumor about her being the Crimson Lady—a woman of red-hot temperament. Nanalie herself had found such rumors ridiculous and had them paid no mind.
Interestingly, the rumor had taken shape in a way that neither those noblemen nor Nanalie had foreseen. For some unknown reason, the Crimson Lady evolved into an epithet that referred to her beauty and grace, and rumors of a completely different nature had spread throughout the capital.
“I never thought you’d compliment me in such a way,” Nanalie said with a giggle. “I certainly enjoy your definition of the Crimson Lady, Sir Reiner.”
As he listened to her and watched her smile, Reiner finally realized that he was falling for her. The two continued to engage in friendly conversation, and after some time passed, the air around Reiner began to change. There was both determination and a bit of fear in his eyes. Nanalie noticed that something seemed different, and she began to feel nervous.
Reiner sat up straight and looked her right in the eyes as he carefully began to speak. “Lady Nanalie, I find myself incredibly drawn to you. If you would like— No, I should say, I would love to welcome you to the Valdia Mark as my wife.”
His gaze and words were both sincere, and she could sense a bit of fear as he waited for her response. Nanalie took a breath, and with her face flushed, she slowly offered her response.
“Yes, I have also been drawn to you, Sir Reiner. If you will have me, I will happily accept your proposal.”
Reiner gasped. “Thank you very much. I vow to protect you and to make you happy.”
A wave of relief washed over him upon hearing her response. Just as he’d said, he vowed in his heart to always protect her and to ensure her happiness.