By Zephyria 
Sunday.
Only one day remained of the scheduled three.
Thanks to the consideration of the others, I was given time to spend entirely alone with Ruben from morning till night. Ruben accepted the breakfast I brought him in bed again today, and after the empty tray was taken away, he suggested we lie down together and be lazy.
Wondering when I would be able to be this close to the child again, I lay down obediently.
Ruben, who was lying with his head on my arm, looked weary, so I asked if he was tired, but he said no. I knew well that Ruben would quietly lower his gaze whenever he fell into deep thought. I paused, tucking a stray strand of hair behind his ear, and planted a soft kiss on his straight forehead.
Only then did the child’s gaze meet mine.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
“…I like you so much? I’m sad to part?”
“…Cough, that’s not it…. I’m curious about what we should do first when we get to the capital, things like that.”
At that, the child let out a sigh.
It seemed my guess about him worrying about going to the capital was correct.
“First, as soon as we arrive, I’ll need to contact Hestia Yeldidus. I suspect Yeldidus or Grimsvein is hiding Lucilla right now.”
“Mm.”
“And I’ll have to check on the Grimsvein front… I really have no clue about that. The Ranunculuses also stopped coming altogether after that day.”
“Will it be alright?”
“Matt Nico might act foolishly, but he’s not truly stupid. Even if the capital is in chaos, I think he’s still holding up to 50% of the territory. I’ll have to go and check.”
“Mm.”
“And I’ll be looking for figures loyal to the First Prince among the nobles in the capital. If there are any who wished for a peaceful abdication, I’ll persuade them to join my side, and I’ll also find out where Richard is and what he’s doing, capture him if possible, kill him if possible…”
The child, who had been calmly reciting chilling words in a peaceful tone, pulled my hand up and buried his face in my palm. His large hand completely covered his lower face. Ruben kissed my palm several times with soft smacking sounds, then grinned.
“Still, thanks to you, I think things will go well.”
“Thanks to me?”
“Originally, among the five ducal families, Grimsvein was close to the Marquisate of Antines. But you brought Valentia, Withrow, and Kiadris with you. Yeldidus is the enemy of my enemy… So, even if we go to the capital, you don’t have to worry about being outmatched in terms of influence. That’s all thanks to you.”
“…Ah.”
“If we can properly defend against the Black magicians, I think the succession ceremony will be fine… but I’m not sure about that.”
I had already told Ruben about meeting Hershey Milton at the Bivan Royal Palace and what he had said. After a moment of thought, I asked again.
“What about Floyd?”
“Floyd… Sigh. Honestly, if Richard isn’t in the capital, he’ll probably be there. But information about Floyd is too limited. I’ll have to see when I get there.”
Ruben’s brow furrowed. Mmm, he whined, burying his face in my chest, so I let him and held him close. After taking a deep breath in and out, contemplating various things, the child suddenly spoke again.
“I’m also thinking about something else.”
“What?”
“Thinking about us getting married.”
“Yes…?”
“I heard that Baron Bicov’s wife wore a white suit and a veil. Who will wear it for us?”
I couldn’t help but let out a giggle. I tickled his cheek, and Ruben looked up with a face full of mischief. Knowing he liked it when I kissed him without permission… I hesitated less in many ways.
“Mmm, yes…”
Ruben soon let out a pained groan. Our tongues tangled until they tingled, and he asked in a voice still tinged with laughter, “What do you want to do?”
“Hmm… I feel like I should wear it for one day… but then again, I want to see you wear it…”
“It doesn’t matter to me. Do as Ruben wishes.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. You know more about clothing than I do. If Ruben likes it, I like it too.”
“Alright, I’ll think about it.”
You sly thing.
The tips of our touching hands and feet were warm. It was clear we hadn’t left the warmth of the blankets for long. Even though spring was near, our whispered moments, clinging to each other as if in midwinter, were undeniably sweet.
After receiving plenty of affection, the child said something amusing.
“Father, Mother, I’ll take care of them. Don’t worry.”
“…Yes?”
“Count Ernhardt and his wife. I can call them that now, can’t I…? Or not?”
When the child asks like this, saying “no” would be a huge mistake.
“Yes. Call them that.”
“Father will be very surprised, won’t he?”
“…Probably?”
Well. My father is a very timid man, but… I think he knows enough now.
However, if Ruben said it, I would agree even if he called a cow a horse. I just nodded along again, and the child giggled happily.
Ruben, who had hugged me tightly and then released me, whispered, “What would I have done without you?”
“…I don’t know…”
“…Would I have lived a less cute life?”
“Yes?”
“No, I just… I just said it. Even I find it absurd… but it makes me feel good.”
Had there ever been a time when Ruben wasn’t cute? I couldn’t figure it out no matter how hard I thought.
He was just saying whatever came to mind, drunk on sleep or love. Thinking so, I gently stroked the small of his back.
Ruben, for no reason at all, would sometimes act mischievously just to tease me.
“Oh, right, Mika. I’m wearing a Divine object today. Want to see?”
“…Yes?”
“Under my clothes… It’s more comfortable than I thought.”
Before I could say anything, he started to pull up his top, so I quickly grabbed his clothes. Ruben blinked a couple of times, pretending to be innocent, then smiled sheepishly.
Was I the only one blushing furiously and flustered, or was it the child’s ears turning red too? I was dumbfounded.
“You’re joking again…”
“Does it seem like a joke?”
“….”
“Yes, it’s a joke. But I’d like you to take a look. It is… more comfortable than I thought. But the neck part is strange. It’s not like I’m bare, so…”
“…Yes. Let’s take a look.”
Ruben sat up and was about to take off his top, but then he tightened it again.
I laughed for a long time, wondering why he was playing such a prank when I couldn’t even see it. Ruben played the same prank a few times, and only after I finally reached inside his top did he stop.
While playfully tickling his side, our eyes met again, and our lips met.
After a long silence, Ruben suddenly brought up another topic.
“Go and see the pinnacle of the sword.”
“….”
“You said it before. That you wanted to create your own sword. To make a Sword Art that contained only your own will, and teach it to me… You wanted me to understand and learn a Sword Art that contained both your roots and your present.”
“…Yes. I did.”
“I’ll be waiting. Even if I don’t receive your letters, I’ll be diligently practicing my Swordsmanship… Go well.”
“Yes.”
Ruben closed his eyes and relaxed his body. We intertwined like vines beneath a secluded tree, listening to each other’s breaths and counting the time. The silence would stretch for a long time, but whenever something came to mind, we wouldn’t hide it and would bring it up as a topic.
I wanted to bare my innermost thoughts to Ruben, but it felt as if he already knew everything, which made me feel embarrassed and shy. It was like that all day.
❖ ❖ ❖
Monday of the fourth week of April.
The Liberty mother and daughter set off for the Bivan Capital by carriage as soon as dawn broke.
A worker who had been employed by the Bivan Nobility Yearbook department, dressed as a coachman, led them. The arrangement the God of Records had given them would heal Brett Liberty.
Since Gloria had promised to have the Royal Palace magicians dismantle all the Magic Circles that had been gathering Contaminated Mana in the Bivan Royal Palace, everything in Bivan was now as good as settled.
The laborers were busy tidying up the last of the luggage. Knights were also bringing out their respective horses from the stables, making the villa garden quite noisy.
Feeling a sense of reluctance, I held Ruben’s hand and couldn’t let go. Marianne, who was pushing her luggage into Ruben’s carriage, let out a heavy sigh.
“Anyone would think we were parting forever.”
“…It’s because we haven’t been apart for long. I’ll let go when the time comes.”
“Should I not go? Just carry me with you, Mika.”
“…But…”
“Your Highness, stop teasing the child. Mikael is going to cry at this rate.”
“Nonsense.”
Benjamin, who had been standing nearby, strode over. He silently helped Marianne with her luggage. Marianne craned her neck to look up at him, then sighed loudly and poked his side.
Benjamin flinched at her fist, which lacked its usual strength, and looked down at her calmly.
“Benjamin, you too, have a good trip. It will be full of danger by Mikael’s side, but… still.”
“I will return as the fourth Grand Sword Master of Sierren.”
“You talk a good game, you do.”
There was one more person who would be riding in the same carriage as Ruben.
Samantha, standing with her hands behind her back and a straight posture, gave me a shy bow.
“Thank you for everything. I’ll see you again in the capital.”
“Yes. I’m counting on you.”
Familiar knights bowed and passed by. Someone clapped me on the back, and I turned to see Ivan. He looked at me once, then at Ruben’s face, and chuckled. Then he looked directly at me and praised me.
“Well done.”
“…For what?”
“Just… go well.”
I felt like I understood what he was saying, but not quite. Sienna Bicov, standing a short distance away, bowed so deeply she almost folded in half and got into the carriage.