It was the second day of my visit to the Riefenstahl estate. That afternoon, I was going to take a walk with Lieselotte and Fiene in a flower garden said to be in its peak season. As we were getting into the carriage to go there...
“Fieeene, black-iron fowls have appeared in the western plains!” Miss Adelina exclaimed.
“Let’s go defeat them! You can practice your magic at the same time!” Miss Katrina added.
The twins ran up to the carriage, with Miss Cecilie walking behind them. The three of them were dressed for adventure.
“Black-iron fowls?” Fiene asked. “Th-The birds known for their unbelievably delicious meat?!” She whirled around to face the trio, seeming eager to join them.
Black-iron fowls were indeed said to have delicious meat, but more importantly, they were extremely aggressive and had sharp beaks and claws. They were rather tough monsters to deal with...though they likely wouldn’t stand a chance against three Riefenstahls and Fiene.
“H-Hey, don’t shout like that in the presence of His Highness!” Lieselotte said.
Fiene looked up at me with a start. She gulped in panic, but since I had already seen her eyes light up, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“It looks like Miss Fiene would much rather go to the western plains than the flower garden,” I said. “I don’t mind. Why don’t you go with them?”
“Sorry, Your Highness and Lieselotte!” Miss Adelina did not miss a beat. “We’re borrowing Fiene!”
“It’s for the sake of preparing a great dinner for our important guests, so please forgive us!” Miss Katrina said.
The twins pulled Fiene by the hands. She lowered her head to me as she happily ran off with them. “I’m sorry, Your Highness! I’ll bring back delicious meat!”
Miss Cecilie, arriving after the twins, lowered her head deeply to me and then glanced up at Lieselotte. “To us, they might just be delicious game, but to people who can’t use magic, they’re dangerous monsters. We need to exterminate them quickly, so please forgive us, Lieselotte.”
“Yes, protecting the people is the responsibility of the nobility,” my fiancée said. “Quite a lot of people pass through the western plains, including merchants, so it’s true that we should take action as soon as possible. Very well. Go, and be careful. However, tell Adelina and Katrina to give His Highness a proper apology when they return.” She sighed.
Miss Cecilie nodded firmly before running to catch up with her sisters.
“I’m very sorry for my sisters’ rudeness, Your Highness,” Lieselotte said, lowering her head deeply.
“No, there’s no need to apologize,” I said hurriedly. “Raise your head, all right? I agree that the monsters should be taken care of as soon as possible. Also, you and your sisters don’t have to be so formal towards me. I’m here in my private time. Right now, I’m just your fiancé.”
“E-Even if you say so, I am to blame for being unable to keep my younger sisters under control.” Lieselotte’s face was slightly flushed. “If you noticed, they only took Fiene with them. They must dislike me because I’m always nagging them.”
“Nah, they love Lieselotte,” Lord Endoh said. “They just aren’t honest with their feelings, like her.”
“Yep, to the point where it’s heart-wrenching for us otome gamers,” Lady Kobayashee said. “Basically, they were being considerate and giving their precious big sister a proper date with her beloved fiancé!”
I see. So that’s how it is.
“Don’t you think your sisters were being considerate of us?” I chuckled.
Lieselotte finally stopped apologizing. She tilted her head, doubtful.
I took her hand in mine. “I think they took Miss Fiene with them because they wanted to let the engaged couple go on a date.”
“Wh-Wh-What?!” My fiancée instantly turned bright red.
“Lieselotte’s overheating!” Lord Endoh said. “Is it the summer sun that’s making her dizzy? Or is it Sieg’s dazzling smile?!”
“Hang in there, Liese-tan!” Lady Kobayashee added. “Control your tsun! Take the chance your sisters gave you without shame!”
Lieselotte gripped my hand as if obeying the Voices of the Gods she couldn’t possibly have heard. “S-Since my sisters are gone, I shall take full responsibility for providing protection and hospitality for Your Highness!”
Although her words were positive, I couldn’t help but laugh at her refusal to admit we were going on a date. It seemed that all of House Riefenstahl’s young ladies experienced difficulty with honest expression. Well, the first of them, Lieselotte, is immensely adorable for it.
“How dependable.” I chuckled. “Thank you. Shall we go, then?”
Lieselotte glared at me as if she wanted to call me mean. However, her hand never left mine, not only as she was getting into the carriage, but for the entire ride.
✦ ✦ ✦
It was the last day of summer break, during the period of time when evening turned to night. I was in my office, writing a report on the places I had inspected over the summer.
A cool breeze blew in from the window. I looked at the dusk sky outside—a purple expanse that still held some light. The color reminded me of the eyes of my fiancée, Lieselotte. What is she doing at this time?
The chamberlain called to me. “Prince Siegwald, someone from House Riefenstahl is here with a letter from Lady Lieselotte.”
I tilted my head. It was unusual I would be called while the messenger was still present. Normally, I would be informed the letter had been received.
I was about to tell the chamberlain to politely accept it as per usual when the Voices of the Gods rang out.
“Can you hear us, Sieg?” Lord Endoh asked. “It’s not just a letter. Lieselotte herself is here!”
“Just now, she asked to keep her arrival a secret because you’ll see each other at school tomorrow anyway,” Lady Kobayashee said. “But it’s super cute how she’s looking up at the light coming from your window and smiling with satisfaction, so hurry and come outside!”
I gasped. Hearing the voices of the gods who watched over Lieselotte was proof she was here.
“Ah,” I said. “School resumes tomorrow, so this letter will be the last of our summer correspondence. It’s special, so I think I’ll accept it in person.”
I stood up and the chamberlain lowered his head, delighted. Though Lieselotte had told him to keep her presence a secret, he must have been reluctant to let her go after she had come all this way.
The moment Lieselotte saw me, she shouted, “Y-Your Highness?! Wh-Why on earth would you come outside in person?!”
“It’s just as weird for the daughter of a marquis to deliver a letter in person,” Lord Endoh said.
“She must’ve been thinking, ‘If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to see him. Even if I can’t, I want to be as close to him as possible. Just knowing he’s on the other side of that window makes me feel happy,’” Lady Kobayashee said. “Now that’s what I call a maiden in love!”
I smiled at Lieselotte without hesitation. “When we’re back at school, we won’t be sending letters to each other anymore, will we? The thought was rather moving, so I couldn’t help but want to pick it up myself. Is that also why you came to deliver it in person? Or did you come to see me?”
“U-Um, well...” She blushed and looked away, clearly troubled.
I guess I shouldn’t tease her too much. “Either way, I’m glad I came outside. Not only do I get to receive a letter from you, I even get to see you. Oh, while you’re here, would you mind accompanying me for a short break?”
I held out my hand, intending on leading her inside. However, instead of taking it, she took a step back.
“I-I didn’t mean to get in the way of your work!” Lieselotte said. “I’m well aware of how busy you are, so please don’t mind me!”
“You aren’t getting in the way. In fact, I was only able to get through this summer because your letters encouraged me. If I can have a little chat with you now, I’m sure I’ll be able to work very hard afterwards. Think of it as helping me out, all right?”
“Liese-tan’s pretty lovey-dovey in her letters, just like she was in her memoir,” Lady Kobayashee said. “She’s more honest when she can calm down and take her time thinking.”
“But also, when you flash your princely smile and shower her with sweet words like you did just now, she goes weak in the knees and listens because she doesn’t know what to do anymore,” Lord Endoh said.
As Lady Kobayashee said, Lieselotte’s letters contained many words of concern for my well-being. They were heartwarming and I could feel her love in them. And as Lord Endoh said, she was currently relenting and taking my hand.
I see. If I want to make Lieselotte honest, what I need is a letter, a smile, and sweet words.
“Y-Your Highness, I just had a bad feeling,” my perceptive fiancée said. “You aren’t thinking anything strange, are you?!”
I simply smiled back.