Prince Luifon tossed his apple in the air. He caught it, and tossed it again, laughing scornfully. “I’m sorry to break the news to you, but there’s nothing cool about what you just said.”
“I don’t need you to think I’m cool.”
“Oh, yeah? I guess you can just spend the rest of your life acting like an idiot if that makes you happy. Do whatever you want,” the prince spat out before turning on his heel.
I caught his arm, and he turned around. I stared right into the prince’s eyes. “Lord Kyros is cool,” I insisted.
“What?”
“Lord Kyros is cool,” I repeated. “I…um… I think he is, at least. And he…he has a lot of other good sides too!”
My voice failed me and broke halfway through my declaration. I’d had a ton of his good sides in mind and I’d wanted to list them, but all of that got caught in my throat.
Still, even if I didn’t sing Lord Kyros’s praises, I was sure Prince Luifon would know what I was talking about. After all, he loved Lord Kyros and knew all the positive things about him too!
It has taken me some time, but I can see right through you now, Your Highness! You summoned me because you wanted us to talk about the person we were both supposed to love!
The prince averted his eyes, embarrassed, and scratched the back of his head. Then, he sunk his teeth into the apple he was still holding. He spat it out immediately after.
“Urgh! Bleh! That’s a decorative apple!”
Lord Kyros burst out laughing. “You should have realized that the moment you touched it, you idiot!”
The shopkeeper was also laughing. As for the prince, his face flushed red.
“I won’t forget that! I’m a prince of this kingdom, and the proud commander of the royal knights, you know! I’ll have you two arrested for lèse-majesté!”
He squared his shoulders to intimidate us before stomping away. The three of us couldn’t help but laugh even harder.
“His Highness is a very interesting person,” I said.
“You sure never get bored with him around,” Lord Kyros replied, holding his sides with laughter.
Mio seemed to notice the uproar and finally joined us. I’d been about to calm down, but I started laughing again when I saw the mountain of food she was carrying. I was laughing so hard tears formed in my eyes.
I’d been interrupted so many times in my attempt to peel my apple that, when I finally finished, the sun had long set and there wasn’t a single other stall left open.
I showed the shopkeeper the long, thin strand I’d ended up with. It was roughly four times my height. In return, I received his remaining stock of apples—five large crates. With Mio and Lord Kyros’s help, we managed to carry them outside the gate.
“Welcome back,” the coachman said, confused. “You’ve…acquired quite a bit of luggage.”
It was a bit difficult, but we managed to fit all the crates inside while leaving interstices for us to sit. I was the first to board the carriage, and Lord Kyros helped me by holding my hand. Even after I sat down, he kept my hand in his and smiled at me.
“I still have work planned tomorrow,” he said. “Go back to the castle without me.”
“All right. Good night, Lord Kyros.”
“Thank you for coming today, Marie.”
“N-no, thank you. The festival was a lot of fun, and I got to see your cool side.”
Lord Kyros laughed. “I’m glad I got to show off. Truth be told, I’ve never won a fencing match against Luifon before.”
“You would have been plenty cool even if you’d lost,” I said.
I meant it. This wasn’t about technique or arm strength, nor was it about rank, wealth, or looks. Lord Kyros was cool and strong regardless of any of that. Not that I could bring myself to say it, but it rang true in my heart.
I used to believe Lord Kyros was a difficult man, but I now knew better. In actuality, he was a very honest man. He liked people he thought were talented or interesting regardless of their rank, and he was never ashamed to say so. That mindset extended to other things too: foreign cultures, food, and even apple-peeling contests and word-chain games. He wasn’t against trying anything that could be fun, and he didn’t hesitate to thank people or apologize to them. He was also the kind of man who treasured what he loved with all his might. I couldn’t imagine he was possessed of any sort of misguided pride—I knew he was much too bighearted for such a thing. He never seemed to feel like he was losing out by apologizing, showing gratitude, offering help, or giving praise.
“You really are a great man, Lord Kyros. A strong man,” I whispered.
He squeezed my hand. “My strength is yours to use, Marie.” His shining green eyes found mine. “It’s all yours. You said you’d marry me, and if you do, then everything I have—the Granado Trading Company’s financial power, my social status, my physical strength, and me myself—all of it will be yours.”
“You… You’d give me your everything?”
“Of course. If it’s all yours, you won’t have to restrain yourself anymore. You’ll be able to use it all as your own strength, right?”
Lord Kyros smiled unreservedly. He seemed genuinely happy. Then he let go of my hand and whispered, “Good night, Marie.”
He turned his head and tried to step back so that Mio could board the carriage, but I grabbed his arm to stop him. I pulled him forward and pressed my lips against his cheek. I’d squeezed my eyes closed in embarrassment throughout the whole process, so I had no idea if I’d done it well. I thought I had, considering I’d felt the warmth of his skin against my closed lips, but…
Lord Kyros turned to look at me, but I pushed him away and slammed the door of the carriage shut. Then I let myself fall against a crate of apples and screamed, “You still have work, right? They say a man’s workplace is like a battlefield, so go and rest up!”
“H-huh?! M-Marie? What was that—”
“Good night!” I shouted from inside the carriage. “Coachman! You may depart!”
“I haven’t boarded yet, Lady Marie,” Mio called out while knocking on the door.
I realized my mistake with a start. Oh no! I was about to forget her!
I opened the door, but Mio didn’t hop in immediately. She probably had something to tell Lord Kyros, because she pulled him away and the two of them discussed something. It didn’t take long, and she soon returned and took her place next to me.
“Sorry for the wait. Let us get you back home,” Mio said with a smile.
As the carriage cut across the royal capital and headed toward the old castle, I felt the gentle aroma of apples envelop me. I thought the sun was done setting, but when we exited the walls of the city and buildings stopped blocking my field of vision, I noticed that there was still red light stretching across the horizon. The days were becoming longer, and soon it would be summer, though this season when the sun was so hot it burned your skin was rather short in this country.
In two and a half months, when the tomatoes would be as red as the setting sun, our engagement ceremony would be held in the white-walled castle. And after that, I would marry the man who used to be my sister’s fiancé, Kyros Granado, a man six years my elder.
Now, I knew a bit more about him than just that. I knew he was tall and strong, and that his masculine and sharp features were a little scary. I knew that despite his scary appearance, he was a kind man with a sweet tooth. And I also knew that his best friend, his family, and his servants loved him dearly.
I’d come here to replace my sister, but it seemed that he saw me as more than that. He seemed to like me, at least a little. And I…also liked him a little.
I was, of course, my sister’s replacement, and this was certainly a marriage of convenience, but I knew we’d grow closer. One day, we’d be a true couple, connected by our love for one another. I hoped I would be happy, and I hoped he’d be happy too.
Actually, I hoped that the two of us would be happy—together.