Chapter 118: Moon

The moon was beautiful.

Drawn by those words, I had left the party hall with Second Princess Emma.

“The breeze feels pleasant, doesn’t it?”

“Yes.”

We walked together through the royal castle’s garden, beautifully maintained by its gardeners, beneath the moonlight.

“War truly is awful. It may sound strange coming from someone who once pursued promotion with a soldier’s mindset, but there are so few days when we can leisurely look at the sky and the flowers like this.”

“That’s true. On the battlefield, looking up at the sky usually means checking whether enemy soldiers are there.”

“Exactly. There’s no atmosphere there at all. Only dreadful scenes. War really is hateful.”

“…Yes. Without question.”

“In such a hateful world, what do you enjoy, Noah? I like having a drink each evening. I enjoyed the days when we drank together while you were at the front.”

“I don’t remember seeking that out on the battlefield.”

“That’s the problem. You’re a little too serious. You need to find one or two things you enjoy. You always wear such a gloomy expression and simply let yourself be swept along.”

“…Hmph.”

“The battlefield is the only place where you voice your opinions. You should be more assertive in your private life. If you don’t want to become the next head of your family, say so. I’ve never once heard you say what you want to do.”

“I’ve never thought about that.”

Ending the war quickly was what mattered most to me now.

“That won’t do. You can’t keep your shoulders tense all the time.”

“…”

Come to think of it, I had found few hobbies since coming to this world. Was drinking tea with Shia-neesama my only recreation here? I had devoted myself to preparing in case I was driven from the family and had lived with war drawing ever closer.

Perhaps I hadn’t enjoyed this world very much.

“Hey… Noah.”

“What is it?”

“Couldn’t I become that for you?”

“…Become what?”

I repeated the question.

“We’ve actually known each other a long time, haven’t we?”

“Yes. We first met when I came to rescue you, Second Princess Emma. If we count from our first meeting, then I suppose so…”

People didn’t usually describe a relationship as long simply because they had met early. We had hardly spent time together.

“The moon is beautiful. There could be no better night. Don’t you think it feels like fate? The night you saved me was like this too.”

“Was it?”

“Don’t you think it’s fate? This is such a good night to confess one’s feelings.”

“…Second Princess Emma.”

“But I won’t say the rest. You would reject me anyway.”

Before I could answer, and before she could say anything definite, she ended the conversation.

“Let’s go home for today. We leave for Wa tomorrow, so we need to rise early.”

“…Yes, that’s true.”

“Would you come home with me?”

“I’ll have to decline.”

“What a shame. Then I’ll return to the castle, and you should go back to your estate. You aren’t returning to the party, are you?”

“No… Then I’ll take you up on that.”

I bowed to Second Princess Emma and left the castle as though fleeing from her.

“…Love, huh?”

I didn’t understand romantic feelings.

…

………

But someday I would have to marry. As someone with a public position, I would need to marry someone whom others would recognize as suitable.