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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: To Me, There's Only Seria
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Before the annex, only silence hung in the air.
The north wind blowing in scattered Seria's silver-gray hair.
I waited until her dry eyes met mine without flinching, then slowly opened my mouth.
"Seria."
"...."
"Why did you run away yesterday?"
It was a straight ball.
I was tired of beating around the bush.
It didn't suit my personality either.
Seria's eyes trembled faintly.
She bit her lip hard and barely squeezed out her voice.
"Run away? I had urgent business..."
"A lie."
I took one more step closer.
"Whenever you lie in front of me, you always have the habit of fidgeting with your fingertips."
Her gaze snapped down to her hands in surprise.
Her gloved fingers were flailing about, lost for direction.
"...."
"And I know you're not the type to make that face just because of work. It's been fifteen years, Seria. That's how long I've been watching you."
I closed the distance until I could feel her breath and continued.
"Did the engagement with the princess... hurt you?"
"...No."
"Then why were you crying?"
"...."
"You avoided my eyes and ran, cried all night until your eyes swelled, and you're still avoiding my gaze now."
I caught my breath and threw out the final question.
"Could it be... you've had feelings for me?"
"…."
Seria's head drooped down.
Her shoulders trembled faintly.
She didn't deny it.
That silence was a clearer answer than any words.
My chest swelled with emotion even as it tore with pain.
I couldn't even imagine how long this foolish woman had been suffering alone.
I reached out and gently grasped her shoulders.
"Lift your head, Seria."
"...I'm sorry."
Her voice was soaked with moisture.
"How dare I... harbor such presumptuous feelings... I'm sorry, Your Grace. I must have been out of my mind."
"No."
I gently lifted her chin to meet her teary eyes.
"There's no need to apologize. I've... felt the same way about you."
Seria's eyes widened.
She stared at me with a dazed expression, as if she couldn't believe it.
"...What?"
"I'm sorry for being so dense. I thought the lines you drew were just rejecting me. I thought you disliked me and were keeping your distance."
I gave a wry smile.
"I was a coward too. The Duke of the North, hesitating for over ten years out of fear of confessing and being rejected."
"Y-Your... Grace..."
"So don't apologize. We were just too cautious with each other."
Tears she'd been holding back streamed from Seria's eyes.
Seeing her like that, I wanted to comfort her right away, but there was still a problem to resolve.
I wiped her tears and brought up the most important matter.
"But Seria, right now... I can't give you anything."
"...."
"The engagement with the princess is absolutely necessary. For the future of Kaltstein, and for the deal with her."
I carefully explained once more the contract with Roselia, the secret of the dragon's lair, and why we had to deceive the imperial family.
"This charade will continue until the princess is safe and we get what we want. In the meantime, I have to officially be Roselia's fiancé."
It might sound cruel.
Confirming each other's feelings only to ask her to watch me with another woman.
But I couldn't lie.
"I know it's a selfish request. But... can you wait for me?"
I asked with desperate sincerity.
"Until all this is over and the fake engagement ends. Can you stay by my side, believe in me, and wait?"
Seria gazed at me for a long while with her wet eyes.
A long silence filled only with the north wind.
Finally, she slowly opened her mouth.
"...I'll wait."
Her voice was soft, but there was no tremor.
She looked at me with her old gaze, yet somehow richer with emotion.
"I've been waiting my whole life since the moment we first met... A little more time is nothing."
"Seria."
"In return, promise me. That it's just a play. That the only one Your Grace's heart turns to... is me."
For the first time, she showed some greed.
I gripped her hand tightly, suppressing the surging emotions.
"I swear it. My heart will beat only for you, just like the music box I gave you."
"...Do you know how cringey that sounds?"
"...Ahem."
Seria chuckled through her tear-streaked face.
Finally, life returned to her expression.
Even in the cold northern wind, a warm spring breeze bloomed between us.
"Shall we go, Your Grace? If you're late, Her Highness the Princess will nag you in that dramatic tone again."
"Ugh, dreadful."
We smiled at each other and walked side by side toward the main keep.
We didn't hold hands, but we were more surely connected than ever.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The next morning, leaving behind Seria who really did have urgent business, I was having breakfast just like yesterday, in front of the maids and the head chef.
With my fake fiancée, the possessed soul.
"Things must have gone well yesterday? Your face looks brighter today."
Roselia pointed her fork at me as she spoke.
"Honestly, I thought you'd come storming to my room after getting dumped and chew me out."
"I'm not the narrow-minded type. If I got dumped, I'd think there was a good reason and move on."
"Liar."
Roselia narrowed her eyes and grinned playfully.
"I can tell just by looking at your face. You had 'The world ends if she dumps me' written all over it. Well, glad it worked out. You know it's thanks to me, right?"
"If you think so, sure."
I shrugged and sliced my steak.
"But Your Highness, there are many eyes watching. Please refrain from private talk that could cause misunderstandings."
"Oh? What else do we have to talk about besides private matters? We're engaged, after all."
She shot back coolly and winked.
"By the way, what's your morning schedule, my love?"
"…."
Ah, seriously, that damn 'my love'—please stop.
I barely suppressed my inner frustration and replied.
"The knight order has regular training today. I plan to observe and instruct personally."
"Knight order training?"
Roselia's eyes sparkled.
Like a kid dying to go to an amusement park.
"Can I come watch?"
"Watch?"
"It's been my dream! To see sweaty, muscular hunks... I mean, valiant knights training with my own two eyes!"
"...."
I barely held back a laugh.
Hey, Mr. Possessed.
This isn't some fantasy novel or... oh, wait, it is a novel.
Anyway, does it make sense that an imperial princess has never seen knight training?
'Why does this girl seem kinda... lacking in some ways?'
I clicked my tongue inwardly, but mischief sparked, and I asked with a slightly puzzled expression.
"It's surprising that Your Highness has never seen knight order training."
"Huh? What do you...?"
"Don't all Loen imperial princes and princesses undergo mandatory sword training with the imperial knights for three years before adulthood? You went to the academy too, so surely you've trained and seen sword training yourself?"
"...Huh?"
Roselia's face froze in an instant.
Her fork-hand stopped midair.
I could see her eyes darting left and right furiously.
'...Oh, right. There was that setting? Wait, yeah, I think there was. Damn it, I'm screwed.'
Her lips moved as she muttered just loud enough for me to hear.
Her face flushed red with panic.
I rested my chin on my hand and enjoyed her reaction.
Let's see you talk your way out of this.
"W-Well...!"
Roselia cleared her throat loudly, then switched back to her brazen acting tone.
"Of course... I did. Obviously. But the imperial knights' training was so... stiff and boring! I thought the north's might be different, so out of pure curiosity..."
"Ah, curious about the north's wild charm? It's colder here than the south, so the knights must be bigger and more muscular too?"
"Y-Yes! Exactly!"
She nodded desperately.
I could see a bead of cold sweat trickling down her temple.
Cute.
I stood up, dabbing my mouth with a napkin.
Then I politely extended my hand.
"Very well. I'll show you how strong the north's knights are. Shall we head to the training grounds, Your Highness?"
"...Yes, let's go."
She sighed in relief and took my hand.
But her hand trembled faintly.
Pretty spooked about getting caught in a plot hole, huh.
This possessed soul has this charming idiocy inside that contrasts with her pretty, haughty princess exterior—it's oddly appealing.
'Of course, to me, there's only Seria.'
Finishing our meal, we left the dining hall side by side and headed to the outdoor training yard.
Roaring shouts already echoed from beyond the windows.
The princess savored those shouts with a pervy expression for a moment, then suddenly turned and stared at my face.
I tilted my head and met her eyes squarely.
"Do you have something to say?"
"...I know it's rude, but..."
"If it's rude, shouldn't you not ask?"
"...Got it. Sorry."
"No need. I was just teasing—speak freely."
Why is teasing this possessed soul so fun?
Even when I try to get serious, she loosens me up.
As I leaned in to listen, Roselia mouthed 'damn it' and cautiously asked her question.
And.
"Are you stronger than the previous duke, Kailus von Kaltstein?"
"Oh... what an unexpected question out of nowhere."
Her question was so far from what I'd imagined that my brain short-circuited for a moment.