Chapter 34 - Volume 2 (1/2)

Is she 15, or 16? Her facial features show that she’s at that exquisite time when she’s about to change from a girl to a woman, so absolutely lovely I can’t help but be captivated. If we call our princess a white lily, this beauty must be a violet.

Her straight, blonde hair flutters in the wind, the sunlight subtly changing its color to a slightly red tint. That’s probably what they call strawberry blonde, isn’t it? With a grace so difficult to describe, that hue adds even more color to her sweet features. Her big eyes are a deep purple, bordered by long, thick eyelashes the same color as her hair. They’re almost like amethysts, glittering in the light.

I freeze at the sudden appearance of this beautiful girl, and her deep purple eyes look towards me. I become even more unable to move at that excessively direct vision. The girl smiles sweetly.

I thought I’d gotten used to beauty, with that man at the top. The young man who was the hero was also beautiful, the princess too, the leader of the knights too. But this girl is different from the ones I knew. She boasts a beauty that’s more appropriately described as ‘lovely’.

Was her flower spirit-like appearance the reason I couldn’t move? I don’t know what she thinks of me as I stay silent, but she slowly opens her light pink mouth.

It was just then that a new person entered that place.

「Please wait, don’t just enter whenever you want–…… Filmina?」

「……Edi?」

I murmur that really softly, letting out a sigh of relief – all without realizing it. That beautiful voice I know by ear, calling out my name. I look in that direction to see that familiar beautiful face, the same as when I sent him out from the mansion in the morning, clad in that black robe that’s the mark of wizards working in the Black Lotus Court.

By the time I realize it, my stiff shoulders relax. Closing the parasol I held, I approach the man who is my husband.

「How do you do, E—」

「What are you doing here?」

「Huh?」

At those sunrise-colored eyes squinting at me with an expression of loathe, I stiffen up again. I wonder if I misheard, but his expression shows me whether I like it or not that he really meant the words he said.

Although we haven’t made it public yet, I am his wife for the time being, going through the ceremony and everything. I’ve visited him just like this countless times, so there’s no reason for him to make this face at me after so long.

I don’t understand. It’s because I don’t understand that anxiety crosses my chest. What’s going on here? I look at the man who’s stopped in his tracks, but our eyes meet for only just a short moment before he looks away. Looking away from me, those sunrise-colored eyes look towards Arche.

「Have you harvested today’s lot?」

「Huh?! Y-yes!」

「That’s enough for today, then. Good job. Leave for the day.」

「O-okay. Excuse me…..—!」

Arche too must have realized that his voice was lower than usual. Right as she quickly, strongly bows her head, she runs away from here with the same force. ‘What kind of way is that to talk to the girl that does so much for you?’ I wanted to say that but my voice wouldn’t come out.

Left here are me, the man supposed to be my husband, and the beautiful girl I’m seeing for the first time.

「That’s so cruel, Sir Agedilus! I wanted to talk to try talking to that lady too.」

「She’s no one you need to be worried about. More importantly, please return indoors right away. This may be inside a castle, but I don’t know what might happen.」

「Oh, but you’ll protect me if something happens, won’t you?」

「……That’s true.」

「Right? So there’s no need to worry.」

At his unusual manner and actions, I can do nothing but remain frozen as I’ve been since this girl entered. Ignoring me, they begin a conversation, standing together.

The combination of the man that boasts matchless beauty like a night fairy, and the girl as beautiful as a flower spirit. This might not be the right time to say this, but they really do make a perfect picture together. To be honest, it’s a sight for sore eyes.

Now that it’s come to this, I’m the one that feels out-of-place. Just like he said, 「What are you doing here?」 It’s so strange. Oh dear, I just can’t stand still being here.

Ah, just what’s up with this? I’d rather run away without saying anything, but I can’t do that. At any rate, she’s the kind of person that he has to speak using polite, honorific language to. They say wizards are the kind of beings freed from social position. This man is supposed to be singled out among even that handful of beings, and he’s talking so humbly.

I can vaguely see some leftover rudeness, but it’s still a rather polite way of speaking compared to usual. Just who can this girl be to make him talk to her like that?

By the time I realize it, my basket is about to fall off my arm. Holding it properly again, I silently look at the two of them. The girl suddenly looks over here. I can see myself looking so foolish, reflected in her glittering, deep purple eyes.

「Nice to meet you. What’s your name?」

That lovely voice, perfectly suited to her beautiful looks. Flustered, I lightly get on a knee and bow, the way one would to a superior. I don’t exactly know her social position, so it’s just for the time being.

「So lovely to meet you. My name is Filmina—」

「She’s Filmina Veer Adina. You must know the Adina family, the Governor of Magical Books.」

He says that, drowning out my words. I’m speechless at what he said, fumbling with my words. Ignoring that, the girl claps her hands in front of her chest. She quickly nods countless times, looking fixedly at me. There really is a strange impact you feel when being stared at with that direct gaze and those looks.

I smile vaguely, brushing it off one way or another, and she puts breaks into a smile on her lovely face. Perhaps it’s because of how young she is that her glittering eyes pointed towards me are certainly dazzling; I can’t help but feel like flinching.

「Oh my, you’re from the Adina family! I’ve heard of you in rumors, about how you have the king’s favor.」

「No, it’s nothing like that……」

「Haha, so you’re being modest. My introduction’s rather late now. I’m Lunamerie Elle Valentine. I hope we stay acquaintances from now on.」

「……!」

Just who could blame me for gulping then? Just wait a minute. Did you say ‘Valentine’?

Once again, I freeze. In front of me, that girl smiles like a blooming flower beside that man. Ah, they really are picture-perfect together…… No, this really isn’t the time to think such escapist thoughts. I hurriedly bowed again, deeper this time.

If I didn’t have this basket to hold, I could’ve taken a more formal bow by holding my dress too. But unfortunately, both my hands are being used now so I can’t do that. That’s why I go lower on my knees, bowing my head so I can’t see her face.

「So you’re Lord Valentine’s daughter. Please excuse me. I apologize for being rude.」

The Valentine family. That’s one of the grand aristocrats of this country, with eminent political power. It’s not one of your ordinary, run-of-the-mill aristocrats.

Earlier, she said my family, the Adina family 『had the king’s favor』, but the Valentine family easily surpasses the Adina family in that area. I’m not very familiar with politics, but I’m familiar enough with it to know how much the Valentine family has dug into the center of this country.

The man in front of me has just erased his earlier displeased look, now expressionless. Now I can easily understand why he was talking like that to her. He may be the royal palace’s grand wizard, the hero that saved the world, and a man that basically doesn’t care about social status and position. But of course, he still can’t take his plainly blunt, cold attitude in front of 『that』 Valentine family.

Why is the daughter of the Valentine family here? With my head still lowered, I turn over those thoughts in my head. A worried voice comes from above.

「Would you please raise your head? I find formalities difficult to deal with. Please call me Luna.」

「But—」

「I’m telling you it’s alright. There’s no need for such restraint.」

「…..Alright.」