Hyakuren no Haou to Seiyaku no Valkyria - Volume 23 - Chapter 4

ACT 4

“Ephy! P-Please marry me!”

“...Huh?”

It happened during the children’s nap time. While Ephelia was busy in the inner palace tending to the needs of Yuuto’s children like always, Nozomu approached her, looking awfully nervous, and dropped a bombshell of a request.

For an instant, she was shocked. However, her expression quickly turned into a smile. “Tee hee. Your feelings are appreciated, Lord Nozomu, but you can’t get married unless you’re an adult. Ask me again once you’re a little older.” She bent down, meeting him at eye level.

“I-I see, so I have to be an adult first...” His downcast face looked adorable to Ephelia, and she had to restrain herself from embracing him right then.

He was still only eight years old. Still in his cute stage.

“It’s a shame, but yes,” she said, adopting the most disappointed expression and tone she could muster, but she was honestly so overcome with joy that it was quite difficult to maintain. To Nozomu, this seemed to be a serious matter, so it would have been rude to laugh.

“Then I’ll ask again when I’m an adult!” he proclaimed.

“Yes, I’ll be waiting,” she replied warmly.

“Then it’s a promise! You’ve already promised to marry me now, Ephy, so you better not marry anyone else in the meantime!”

“Pfft. Yes, I understand.” He was so adorable that she ended up snickering. Could anything be more cute and lovable?! Embracing him was no longer enough—now she was compelled to kiss him on the cheek.

“Pinky promise,” Nozomu said, holding out his little finger.

Ephelia was confused. “Huh?”

“What, do you not know what a pinky promise is?” Nozomu asked her.

“F-Forgive me, I don’t,” she replied.

“Dad and mom do it when they promise something to each other,” he explained.

“Ah, I see.” Ephelia nodded as though she understood. If it was something those two did, it had to be a custom from the land beyond the heavens, not here or Yggdrasil.

“Well, what do I need to do? Could you teach me?” she asked.

“Hold out your pinky like me, Ephy,” he replied.

“Okay.” When she did so, Nozomu wrapped his little finger around hers, then bounced it up and down while saying in a singsong voice, “Pinky promise, whoever lies will swallow a thousand needles!”

“A thousand?!” Ephelia was shocked at the sudden, decidedly un-kid-friendly direction the promise had taken. Of course, if you were Japanese, you knew it was just a figure of speech, but Ephelia hadn’t been raised within that culture.

“Th-The land beyond the heavens sure is frightening!” She shivered in fear at the resolve needed to form a promise there. Now she understood why Yuuto went to such lengths to make good on his promises.

“U-Um, about the ‘thousand needles’...”

“We already shook on it with our pinkies, so now we have to keep our promise!” When Ephelia timidly inquired about the contents of the promise, Nozomu made that declaration and crawled underneath the covers of the futon, as if to say the decision was final and no further amendments would be acknowledged. She couldn’t help but feel like she’d just made a deal with the devil.

“Well, he’ll probably forget about it soon enough,” she thought to herself. It was common enough for a young boy to look up to an older girl and propose, mistaking their admiration for love. The fact that Nozomu thought so fondly of her made her remarkably happy. But those feelings of his were nothing more than a temporary delusion. She was sure he’d forget about it when he got older. He might even be embarrassed to recall he’d ever done such a thing.

To begin with, she was a former slave, and even though she’d pledged her loyalty to Mitsuki, she was but a lady-in-waiting. Nozomu, on the other hand, was the son of the divine being who had both been sent from the heavens to rescue the citizens of Yggdrasil and who had inherited the position of þjóðann from Sigrdrífa. Though he was young and innocent now, he would one day inherit the position of þjóðann from his father, so he was held in high esteem.

In addition, Ephelia was nineteen, and he was eight. The gap between their social statuses and age was far too great. No doubt everyone around them would disapprove. Nozomu’s promise could never come to be. In the future, it would merely become a distant reminder of when the boy was still young and impressionable. Deciding to consider it an honor that Nozomu had chosen her, she locked it away within her heart. Perhaps one day over drinks or idle conversation, she would recount the tale and have a good laugh.

Or so she thought.

“Ephy! My coming-of-age ceremony’s over now!”

“Yes, congratulations! Your formal wear looks so good on you, Lord Nozomu. Very dignified. You’ve really grown into a fine young man...” Ephelia said, speaking from the bottom of her heart.

Six years had passed. The boy she’d looked after all this time as his caretaker had become fully grown. While their social statuses were as different as heaven and earth, she’d come to think of Nozomu as her little brother, or even her own son. There was no way she wouldn’t be beside herself with emotion.

“A man, huh? Then does that mean I’m finally an adult in your eyes?” Nozomu asked.

“Yes, Lord Nozomu. You’ve become a wonderful adult.” Tears brimming in her eyes, Ephelia nodded emphatically. Of course, she would be lying if she said she wouldn’t feel lonely now that it was time for him to leave the nest and walk his own path, but she felt more joy than sadness. Normally, she didn’t drink, but since today was a special occasion, maybe she’d enjoy a glass of wine all to herself in her room.

“Really?!” Nozomu broke into a grin. The way he smiled and his facial features were the spitting image of his father, Yuuto. It was enough to make her believe that a younger version of Yuuto had somehow appeared before her.

“Then it’s time to fulfill our promise, wouldn’t you say?”

“Pro...mise?” For a second, she didn’t know what he was referring to, but then that precious scene of yesteryear that she’d locked away in her treasure chest of memories came to her mind’s surface.

“It couldn’t be...? No, no way,” she thought.

That verbal promise back then had only been a child’s whimsy, a mere bubble fated to pop with the passage of time—

“Marry me, Ephy,” Nozomu proclaimed boldly.

“So? What’d you say?” the pretty young woman in front of Ephelia asked, munching on a biscuit and getting crumbs everywhere. Her unconcerned tone and expression communicated that she had no actual interest in the affairs of others. But even though such an attitude would typically be a detriment, she couldn’t deny that the woman was a beauty in her own right. In fact, she even had a bewitching air about her. “Her beauty is so genuine she doesn’t even have to work at it,” Ephelia idly thought.

The woman in question was Kristina, and she’d been Ephelia’s longtime friend since they were schoolmates at the vaxt many years ago.

“I politely turned him down,” Ephelia replied.

“What?! Why’d you do that? Lord Nozomu’s a good kid! He’s cool too, like his dad!” Kristina’s older sibling Albertina shouted. In appearance, they were identical, but the way they expressed themselves made it easy to tell them apart.

“Well, I have to agree it’s a bit of a waste. You could’ve married into royalty, you know? Lived the good life.” Kristina smirked, resting her chin in her hands. Though she hadn’t shown much interest previously, she now looked like she was enjoying herself. “Typical Kristina,” Ephelia thought. “You haven’t changed a bit.”

“I mean, I’m almost double his age!” Ephelia argued.

“But he said that didn’t matter to him, right? So, what’s the problem?” Kristina replied.

“Yeah, yeah! There’s no problem at all!” Albertina added.

“There’s a big problem! An old woman like me is wholly unsuited to be Lord Nozomu’s bride!” Ephelia smacked the table as she made her appeal. She was already going to be twenty-six this year. In twenty-first-century Japan, that would’ve been a suitable age, perhaps even considered a bit young for marriage, but sadly, this was the fifteenth century BCE. Here, she was considered much too old to still be single.

“I mean, you’re plenty attractive, Ephy, and popular within the royal court too. Even if you couldn’t be his formal wife, I don’t really see a problem with you being Lord Nozomu’s concubine, at the very least.”

“I could never... Someone like me could never...”

“Okay, if you give me any more of that nonsense I’m going to get upset.”

“Huh?”

“Do you think I don’t know? Advisor Jörgen’s grandson, Gendo, who’s well on his way to becoming a government official. The late Rasmus’s grandson, Mustafa, who’s rapidly making a name for himself as the Horn Clan’s second-in-command. Lady Fagrahvél’s cousin, Barr, who just got assigned to lead a newly formed tank unit.”

Ephelia’s face stiffened when she heard those names.

“Oh yeah, and recently there’s also been Babel, who was, surprisingly enough, promoted to frontier commander, right?”

“H-How did you know they...?” The names of those four were all familiar to her. Each and every one of them had proposed to Ephelia. She hadn’t told a soul about any of them. She didn’t want it to affect their honor, so she thought she’d kept it secret.

“Hee hee, there’s nothing I don’t know about the royal court,” Kristina said with a smug grin.

She wasn’t just blowing smoke. While she was a bit callous at times and did things her own way, Kristina was a dear friend of Ephelia’s. They’d known each other for so long that Ephelia felt she could talk to her about anything. Because of that, it was easy for her to forget that Kristina was a genius that held the entire nation’s intelligence network in the palm of her hand.

“Wooow, she’s even more popular than I thought!” Albertina remarked in surprise.

“Yes, she’s popular indeed, this woman. So popular, in fact, that if she continues to assert that ‘someone like her’ could never amount to anything, the ladies of the royal court might end up burning her at the stake,” Kristina said.

“Urk... But what about you and Al? Aren’t you two awfully popular as well?!” From a young age, the twins had already possessed looks that made people’s heads turn, and now that they were adults, that beauty had only blossomed. Currently, they enjoyed massive popularity as the most beautiful twins in the entire nation, and were known by many as “The Sun and Moon That Illuminate Steel.”

“Well, in our case, we belong to Father. All they can do is admire us from afar. No one in their right mind would ever hit on us,” Kristina said with a seductive smile. True, one would need to be quite foolhardy to hit on one of the þjóðann’s concubines. Incidentally, Albertina had given birth to a boy and a girl by now. Kristina had no children, but she didn’t seem to mind, as she loved her older sister’s children like her own.

Kristina still had more to say. “On the other hand, you, Ephy, belong to no one as of yet. You’re attractive, have a good personality, and have plenty of experience as the caretaker of Father’s children. You’re the ideal catch for just about any man.”

All Ephelia could manage in response was a pained groan.

“And, you’re already really, really popular! Like, people even ask me to introduce them to you!” Albertina added.

Cornered by the twins’ coordinated advance, Ephelia could only moan. She had no rebuttal.

“This topic’s never come up before now, so I’ve let it slide, but now that Lord Nozomu’s involved, I just have to ask,” Kristina said before clearing her throat in preparation for her next comment.

“Yes...?” Ephelia replied, equal parts concerned and curious.

“Why exactly have you not accepted any of those proposals?” Kristina asked. “All of those men have good social standing and have promising careers ahead of them,” she added.

“...Because I used to be a slave,” Ephelia replied frankly.

“I knew it.” Apparently expecting that answer, Kristina let out a small sigh. “That was over ten years ago, Ephy. You’re in such high regard with everyone because of how well you’ve taken care of the children, and that’s still bothering you?”

Kristina cut straight to the heart of the matter without hesitation. While Ephelia admired Kristina for that unreserved personality of hers, at times like these, it’d be nice if she were a bit more delicate. On the other hand, some part of her wanted to let it all out. To finally tell her story to someone.

“...Of course it is.” Gripping her right shoulder tightly, her voice was so strained it came out in a whisper. On that shoulder was the incontrovertible proof that she’d been a slave—proof that would never disappear for all eternity.

Ephelia was born far north of where the Wolf Clan’s home, Iárnviðr, had been, in a town called Isa belonging to a small nobility known as the Fur Clan. Built on the edge of a lake, Isa was a small town that enjoyed prosperity as a trade hub for merchants and nomads. Her memory was hazy, but Ephelia thought she recalled her father being an authority within the town. She remembered her house being full of people she’d assumed were servants. Being a woman, Ephelia herself was usually at the town’s local vaxt.

Her mother and father were both incredibly kind, and she could vividly recall every day being fun.

It was not to last, however. In a single night, her happy everyday life was shattered into pieces.

A neighboring nomadic tribe had staged an attack against them.

“D-Daddy?!”

At first Ephelia, didn’t realize that the disembodied head before her was her own father’s.

“Ephy, no! Why didn’t you stay inside like I asked?!” Her mother was pinned to the ground by a strong-looking man she didn’t know. Her clothes had been torn open at the front, exposing the skin underneath.

“B-Because I heard you crying, mommy...”

In fact, her mother had let out a shriek unlike anything she’d ever heard before. She’d screamed her husband’s name so loud her vocal cords had surely torn—a scream of absolute terror.

Ephelia knew she’d been told to hide, but after hearing something like that, she couldn’t help but be concerned and have to check on her mother.

“Oh, so you had a daughter too? Heh, she’ll grow up to be quite the beauty. Takes after you, doesn’t she?” the man said and grinned obscenely. Even now, fifteen years later, she could still vividly recall that smile. Every time she did, she recoiled in fear.

“Grab ’er!” Responding to the man pinning her mother down, another man who’d been lurking in the shadows of the room approached Ephelia, letting out a peal of indecent laughter. Ephelia shrieked.

“Stop! Please don’t touch my daughter!”

“What? We wouldn’t do anything to your daughter. We’re not that heartless.”

“R-Really?!”

“Yeah, she’ll grow up to be a fine young woman. In that case, she’ll fetch a high price as a slave!”

“No! Ephy! Run away! Run!” her mother screamed in anguish. Unfortunately, she would do no such thing. Ephelia was frozen with fear.

“No! I’m scared! Mommy— Gah?!” In no time at all, she was snatched up, and her mouth was crammed full of cloth.

“Mmmpphh! Mmmpph?!” Unable to let out a sound, she was then bound with her hands behind her back and pinned to the floor. She tried to resist, but she was no match for the strength of the adult men and was unable to budge even an inch.

“Hee hee, now then, it’s study time, little girl. You just sit there and observe your mother’s charming figure for a bit.”

Ephelia then watched as they rode her mother, one by one. Each time they thrust forward, her mother screamed. At the time, she had no idea what was going on, but now she was certain. They’d violated her.

“Stop it! Don’t bully mommy!” Ephelia pleaded with tears in her eyes, but of course, that request fell on deaf ears, and her mother’s screams echoed throughout the house for a few more hours.

The days that followed were a veritable hell for Ephelia. With her arms and neck bound with rope, she was dragged along like cattle to a town she didn’t recognize—if memory served, it was the Ash Clan capital—where she and her mother were taken to the clan leaders. Without any idea what was happening, she was stripped naked, and every inch of her was examined, even her delicate parts. Once that was over...

“Ahhhhh! It hurrrrts! Mommy, it hurrrrrts!”

...she received a brand on her right shoulder. It was proof that she was now someone’s property.

Shortly afterward, her life as a slave began. It was like hell on earth. From sun up to sun down, every day, her new family worked her to the bone. Her primary jobs were laundry and housekeeping. Even during winter, she was forbidden to use hot water—the water was so freezing cold that her fingers would go numb as she washed the clothes. If she spoke up, she was beaten. Her diet consisted mainly of moldy bread and foul-smelling vegetables, and the portions were so tiny that she felt sure she would starve as long as she remained with this family.

To make matters worse, the family had a young boy around the same age as Ephelia who often pulled her hair and kicked her in the back. He bullied her constantly.

“You belong to me. Dad said that when I’m an adult, you’ll be mine.”

Just remembering those words made her shudder to this day.

“I’m sorry... Ephy, I’m so sorry...” She was only able to meet with her mother during bedtime, but when they were together, all her mother ever did was apologize. She sounded like some sort of broken toy.

Finally, after around a year of suffering, something changed. The head of the family fell ill and passed away, and she and her mother were sold back to the slave market. Naturally, there was no way his actual wife would want to continue sheltering other women her husband had been with. It didn’t matter whether she’d actually loved her husband or not—as a woman, she’d lost to the likes of a slave. There’d probably been no greater blow to her pride, so she’d disposed of the unsightly women without a trace.

Finally, after two months of being dragged around from town to town by the slave traders, she’d arrived in Iárnviðr, where Yuuto had taken her in.

Truthfully, she hadn’t had high hopes at first. It didn’t matter where she went, slaves were always going to be treated like property, not people. She’d learned that well from everyone she’d met over the past year.

But when she got to the palace, everyone was so kind. It was like she’d arrived in Valhalla. She began to realize exactly how much she’d missed being treated well. Warmth began to seep its way back into her heart. Gradually, little by little, she could feel the friendly, inviting atmosphere begin to heal and dissolve her trauma.

But even so, it couldn’t be completely wiped away. There had been so much built up over the past year that some remained imprinted in the depths of her heart, in the nooks and crannies of her body. And, above all, there was still the brand etched into her right shoulder, the despicable insignia that marked her as a slave. As long as that remained, she wouldn’t be able to forget. She’d always recall the fact that she’d been a slave—the fact that her worth had been below that of a human’s.

“So yeah... That’s why I’ve been scared of men in general, honestly.”

Having finished her whole story, Ephelia let out a large sigh. It was the first time she’d ever told it to anyone. It was kind of a downer, so she’d kept it to herself up until now, but now that she’d gotten it off of her chest, she honestly felt much better. Somewhere within her, she’d probably hated keeping it all bottled up inside and had wanted to tell it to someone all along.

“Ephy... I had no idea... That’s so saaaad!” Tears were pouring from Albertina’s eyes as she sobbed. Meanwhile, Kristina remained composed, but she frowned as though she were deep in thought.

“As far as I can tell, you’ve been able to interact with men just fine, haven’t you?” Kristina asked.

“Well, as long as it’s part of my job, I can manage. But when they start seeing me as a woman, all bets are off,” Ephelia explained.

She was now able to manage a friendly rapport on the surface, but back when Yuuto had first purchased her, she hadn’t even been able to do that. She’d been like a frightened rabbit, timid and cowering, and she’d gotten over a lot of that. However, whenever she was approached as a member of the opposite sex, that image always flashed through her mind—the image of the man pinning her mother to the ground as he violated her. The image of the man grinning obscenely as he reached toward her. The face of the boy sneering at her as he told her she belonged to him. It was a reflex—she couldn’t help it.

“In fact, those with status and authority are especially difficult for me to handle,” Ephelia added.

“Because they inevitably remind you of the time when you were a slave,” Kristina stated.

“Yes...”

“And that’s why you’ve turned down proposal after proposal.” Kristina nodded as though she finally understood.

Of course, she didn’t think all of the men that had confessed to her were bad people. Some were probably quite nice. They may have even been able to give her an even more blessed life than she had now. But her fear stood in the way. When men looked at her as a woman, she couldn’t help but feel sick to her stomach.

“Hm, okay. Since we’ve come this far, I’m going to ask something a bit intrusive. You’ve had a bit of a crush on Father since you were a teenager, haven’t you?” Kristina asked.

“Huh?!” Taken completely by surprise, Ephelia practically let out a yelp. She thought she’d hidden it so well all this time...!

“Huh?! Really?!” Albertina seemed just as surprised.

“Yes, while it’s true she hid it rather well, there’s no doubt.”

“Uggghh...”

“And the reason you never confessed to him is of course because you were a slave, correct?” Kristina asked.

“Yes, I was too afraid,” Ephelia replied.

“I see.”

“Ah, but it wasn’t His Majesty I was afraid of.”

“Huh?”

“I was afraid of...myself. Afraid that I might become scared and end up rejecting him,” Ephelia explained.

To Ephelia, Yuuto was the hero who’d rescued her from the depths of hell—someone who had always been incredibly kind to her, with no regard for her status or her past. She owed everything to him.

But that was precisely why she was afraid. Even though he’d done so much for her—even though she knew how kind he was by always observing him from nearby—she was afraid that she might still end up doing something terrible to him, or that she might one day feel sick to her stomach in his presence. If that happened, she’d never be able to forgive herself. She’d rather die.

“So...I put a lid on those feelings,” Ephelia continued.

If it meant keeping that from ever becoming a reality, then she’d much prefer being his “little sister” forever. After all, she was already surrounded by kind people, and she was already plenty blessed, more than she honestly deserved. As a slave, it was wrong for her to wish for anything more.

She knew it was spineless. She knew she was a coward. But in the end, her fear would always win out.

“But it’s fine. I’ve already come to terms with it, and I now think of him as family.” Ephelia’s final remarks were warmhearted, but who could truly know how she was feeling at that moment?

True, there had been a time when she’d seen Yuuto in a romantic light. But rather than a man to pursue a relationship with, Ephelia now saw him as a doting big brother. The husband of her big sisters. The father of the children she adored.

“I see. By the way, did you feel sick when Lord Nozomu confessed to you?” Kristina asked.

“Huh?!” She hadn’t expected that question. “Of course not! He is the eldest son of His Majesty, the man to whom I owe everything! I’ve taken care of him since she was a baby! He’s so adorable I simply can’t take my eyes off him, and... Huh?”

Having gotten that far, Ephelia finally realized.

“The likes of a former slave being Lord Nozomu’s bride is the height of discourtesy!”

“Such a thing would never be allowed! Before that, I’d never allow it!”

Reflexively, she denied her own feelings. But...

“I suppose...I didn’t feel sick...”

When Nozomu had asked her to marry him, she hadn’t felt an ounce of the fear she normally felt. If anything, it was the rebuking stares and cold gazes she’d received after turning him down that had really been scary. The thought of meeting him again after the fact was awkward and unpleasant. But she had never felt fear toward Nozomu himself.

Was that because she’d watched over him since he was a baby and knew his disposition better than anyone else?

Was it because she believed from the bottom of her heart that he’d never do anything like those men had done?

“Then why don’t you seriously think about taking Lord Nozomu as your husband?” Kristina stated bluntly.

Ephelia instinctively, vehemently shook her head. “What?! N-No way! That would be far too degrading for Lord Nozomu!”

“True, if you were the one actively pursuing him, I might tell you to act within your station. But Lord Nozomu himself desires it, so I see no problem.”

“...You think it’d be okay?”

“Yes. It’d probably be much more complicated if you were to be his formal wife, but as a concubine, it should pose no problems.”

“Yeah, go for it!” Albertina chimed in.

“...I see.” When she thought about it, the twins were right. While royalty taking a commoner or a slave as their formal wife was indeed unheard of, it was rather common to take such women as mistresses. In fact, Ephelia’s former master had had several slave mistresses. There were also cases where nobility would purchase prostitutes to take as their mistresses. While it may be frowned upon in the twenty-first century, in this era, prostitution was regarded as a respectable, resourceful way to make a living.

The only thing Ephelia wanted out of Nozomu’s formal wife was for them to love and cherish him from the bottom of their heart. As long as they could do that, it didn’t matter if they were a commoner or a slave. As long as Nozomu truly loved that person, Ephelia would give them her blessing.

...She would?

“Well, um... I’ve never really seen Lord Nozomu that way...” While she obviously didn’t hate or feel revulsion toward him, it was true that she harbored no romantic feelings for him. She saw him not as a man, but as a cute little brother. The fact that she’d readily give another woman her blessing was probably proof of that.

“That shouldn’t be a problem either. Women are fundamentally creatures that want to be loved and desired, and there are all sorts of cases where women come to realize they like someone only after being confessed to,” Kristina explained.

“...Really?” Ephelia replied.

“Is that really true, Kris?” Albertina tagged on.

“Yes, it’s a known fact. So how about using this as an opportunity to really take your time and test it?”

“Test it...?”

Test what? What—or who—could she be talking about? There were so many possibilities it made her head spin, and she couldn’t come up with an answer.

“Whether or not you’re able to see Lord Nozomu as a member of the opposite sex, of course.”

Ephelia let out a shocked gasp in response.

“I think this is a good chance for you to find out, no?” Kristina said, unable to suppress a snicker.

“Easy for you to say when this is all just entertainment for you!” Ephelia thought, but while it was clear from Kristina’s expression that she was being teased, she also detected a hint of kindness in her eyes.

Kristina had one last point to make, however. “All that said, Lord Nozomu’s a bona fide prince. Whoever he marries, it’s going to be a political affair. It’s not something he’ll be able to decide on his own. So how about you discuss it with Father and see what he has to say?”

While the girls were having their conversation, something was unfolding in the palace...

“I can’t believe it! I didn’t think there was any way I’d get turned down!” Nozomu yelled as he writhed in (mental) agony on his bed.

Now fifteen years old, he had sleek black hair like his parents, and whether it was due to genetics or simply from being well-fed, he was taller than the average boy from this era. He was also well-built and muscular, thanks in no small part to the martial arts training he’d received from Sigrún ever since he was young. In fact, he’d already earned Sigrún’s seal of approval—according to her, he was already skilled enough to join the Múspell Unit, making the sight of him flailing his legs and crying into his pillow all the more surreal.

“And you were so sure she’d accept too,” Nozomu’s little brother Rungr snickered. Younger than Nozomu by one year, he was the son of Yuuto and Felicia. He shared his name with the clan’s now-deceased sibling subordinate—a hero who’d rescued the Steel Clan from grave peril in the midst of a tumultuous war waged on the western side of the lost continent of Yggdrasil.

“What was it you said again? ‘The only reason Ephy won’t marry me is that she’s staying true to our promise and waiting for me to become an adult’?” Rungr teased.

“Grr! I’ll kill you!” Nozomu leaped at his brother from the bed. Rungr jumped backward to avoid him, but despite being only a year apart, the difference in their physical abilities was too great. In no time at all, Nozomu had Rungr in a headlock, his fist grinding into Rungr’s temple.

“Ow ow! Ow, that really hurts! Sorry! I’m sorry for teasing you, so stop already!” Rungr pleaded.

“Hmph.” Since he’d apologized, Nozomu decided to forgive him and released him.

“That was mean! Why’d you get mad at me when all I was doing was stating facts?” Rungr complained, straightening his golden locks. His handsome face made even his scowl look dignified. Perhaps those good looks were why he was so popular with the ladies of the court. That pissed Nozomu off even more because it made him wonder if maybe even Ephelia preferred Rungr over himself.

“So, what are you gonna do? Give up?” his twin sister Mirai asked disinterestedly as she munched on a piece of fruit. Despite being twins, however, Nozomu looked more like their father and Mirai like their mother—they didn’t resemble one another in the least. Their personalities, too, were polar opposites: Nozomu was hot-blooded and reckless, often acting on impulse, while Mirai leisurely took things at her own pace, preferring to laze around the house.

“Like hell I’ll give up!” Nozomu’s reply was immediate. He couldn’t remember a time when he hadn’t wanted Ephy’s hand in marriage. If one rejection was enough for him to throw in the towel, he would have long since abandoned his dream.

A silver-haired girl named Wiz spoke up. “Then we need to devise a plan, Brother Nozomu. According to Sun Tzu, war is won by many tactics, not few.” She was Nozomu’s younger sister by two years, and her name had apparently come from one of her mother’s martial arts instructors. “Failure just means you were ill-prepared,” she added.

“That only applies to war, Wiz. Love and war are two different things,” Nozomu replied.

“Not true. Dad says that Sun Tzu’s teachings apply to all aspects of life,” Wiz explained.

Nozomu simply groaned in response.

“Sun Tzu also says that if you know the enemy and you know yourself, you need not fear even a hundred battles. ‘Enemy’ might not be a suitable word in this case, but you didn’t even take the time to consider how Ephy feels, or how she views you,” Wiz continued.

Nozomu groaned, this time louder than before.

Clearly not content with what Nozomu could only feel was an attack against his psyche, Wiz spoke up once more. “From my perspective, I’d say Miss Ephy sees you as more of a little brother than a man.”

The unreserved sting of her merciless words caused Nozomu to moan in agony. Unlike with Rungr, there was no hint of joking or teasing here, and often, it was the truth that cut the deepest. That frankness of hers was just like her mother Sigrún, but as far as Nozomu was concerned, he wished she’d only inherited her mother’s beauty and left it at that.

“Now, now, that’s enough. Look, Big Brother’s already down for the count,” Rungr cut in with a bitter smile. Truth be told, Nozomu was grateful for Rungr’s assistance. He had an uncanny sense of when to step in and mediate an argument—perhaps he got that from his mother.

“You’re too soft on him, Brother Rungr,” Wiz replied. “Brother Nozomu is going to succeed our father one day to become þjóðann. If he can’t even overcome something like this, we’re doomed.”

“It’s not like I have to succeed him. Father has plenty of children, right? You could do it, Rungr, or even you, Wiz. Actually, that’s brilliant! Why didn’t I think of that before? You certainly act the part.” Nozomu nodded emphatically, as if he’d hit upon a wonderful idea.

While most would probably give their right arm to become the þjóðann, Nozomu felt that his duty to succeed his father was nothing more than a nuisance. He’d seen Yuuto work from morning to night without even a moment’s rest, handling one important duty after another. He’d seen his father’s frowning, stressed expression more times than he could count, even when they had family time together and were supposed to be relaxing. He was always thinking of his subjects, always trying so hard, yet except for a small portion of his retainers, his approval rating was at rock bottom. Nozomu wanted no part of that. If he could hand the position over to anyone else, he would in a heartbeat.

“Hmm, the þjóðann, huh?” Rungr mused. “Perhaps I could. I think I’d be much more suited to an advisory position, though.”

“Enough nonsense, Brother Rungr. The only one who officially shares the blood of the former þjóðann Sigrdrífa is you, Brother Nozomu, which means you can’t switch out with any of your other siblings.”

Yuuto was the þjóðann, but he didn’t have royal blood within him. He had simply inherited the position by being the husband of the former þjóðann, Sigrdrífa. As far as anyone was aware, the only one who possessed that blood was Nozomu.

“Except I don’t have that blood either,” Nozomu muttered, pursing his lips. It’d been announced that he’d been born from Sigrdrífa, but that was largely only because it’d been more convenient from a political standpoint. His mother was Mitsuki, not some woman named Sigrdrífa whom he’d never even met or seen! What’s more, because of a stupid reason like that, he’d had the annoyingly heavy responsibility of succeeding the throne foisted upon him!

“Wasn’t the leader of the Steel Clan and the Oath of the Chalice supposed to be decided by merit?!”

“I’d rather rise up the ranks through my own achievements, not by riding on my dad’s coattails!”

“Do I have no choice but to walk the path my dad’s already laid out for me?!”

“All the rest of my siblings are basically allowed to decide on whatever path they like, so why can’t I?!”

“My dream was always to master the blade and become Mánagarmr, the Strongest Silver Wolf, yet I’ve never even gotten a chance to try!”

Those feelings had always plagued Nozomu’s heart.

“I bet that’s the reason Ephy rejected me, isn’t it?! Because I’m slated to become þjóðann! Dammit!” Nozomu yelled.

“Nah, I don’t think so. Marrying the þjóðann means you’re set for life, so it’s a good thing,” Mirai said, her mouth full of biscuit this time. Nozomu had never seen her without some sort of food item in her mouth. It was a complete mystery how she’d managed to keep such a nice figure.

“You might think that’d be the case, but Ephy’s oddly self-conscious about that sort of thing.” He’d heard through the grapevine that Ephelia had been a former slave, and even though she’d already long since purchased her own freedom using her wages from the palace, many within the royal court still looked down upon her for that reason. It was plausible, then, that the difference in their status could be the reason for her refusal. At least, he hoped that was all it was.

“Well, it’s true that it’d be problematic in more ways than one if Ephy became your formal wife, considering her age and origin,” Rungr said, nodding.

“Yeah, I know...” Nozomu agreed.

“But you only have eyes for Ephy, right, Brother Nozomu?” Rungr asked.

“Yep,” he replied without hesitation. Although he didn’t want to brag, Nozomu had to admit he was popular. When he walked through the palace, gaggles of girls always waved and called out to him, and his retainers had also introduced him to more of their daughters and granddaughters than he cared to count.

But that was entirely because of his status as a prince. They were only seeing the authority and wealth behind him, not Nozomu himself. Ephelia, however, was different. She alone saw Nozomu for who he really was, and she wasn’t afraid to tell him off if necessary. Aside from his father’s wives, she was the only one who did. The other caretakers were too intimidated by the shadow of his father behind him and kept quiet. Whether he wanted it or not, he was going to come into incredible authority and power sooner or later, so he at least wanted his partner to be able to keep him in line. He was afraid that if he didn’t have that, he might end up going rogue without even realizing it.

One thing was more important to him than any of that, however.

“I love Ephy. In my mind, there’s no one else,” Nozomu stated bluntly.

That’s right. It had nothing to do with logic. He had always loved her. From the time he was a child, he’d never wanted to hand her over to anyone else, not even to his own brothers. That was how possessive he was of her. He wanted her to stay with him forever.

Of course, that didn’t mean he wanted to dominate or exert his authority over her. She was the most important person to him in the world, so he wanted her to live a happier life than anyone else in the world. He wanted to make her happy. So it wouldn’t work if she didn’t choose him of her own accord.

“Proposing fresh out of his coming-of-age ceremony, huh? That’s my boy, all right.” Those were the first words out of Yuuto’s mouth when he heard what Ephelia had to say. He didn’t seem troubled by the course of events. If anything, he seemed to find it rather amusing. It even felt like he was implicitly praising his son. “I’ve known for a while that kid’s been interested in you. It’s as plain as day to see. Although, I didn’t think he’d go as far as to propose to you right out of the gate.”

“I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it?” Mitsuki grinned. She didn’t look upset either; on the contrary, she looked to be in high spirits. It honestly confused Ephelia. She thought for sure they’d be opposed to it, or perhaps at least show a stern face or two.

“Um, but, isn’t marriage to the crown prince a political affair? Someone like me couldn’t possibly...”

“Nah, it doesn’t bother me. Of course, that only hinges on whether someone like him is good enough for you.”

To her surprise, Yuuto replied to Ephelia’s timid question with swift approval. Not to mention he’d taken her “someone like me” and twisted it around on her. Wasn’t she supposed to be the one unsuited for this marriage?

“R-Really?! There’s no problem whatsoever?!”

“‘No problem whatsoever’ is probably going too far, but it wouldn’t be any big deal, at least. If it’s for the sake of my cute son and little sister, I’ll take care of anything. Not to mention, the timing couldn’t be better.” He grinned with confidence, as though he was saying “Leave it to me.” This was, after all, the man who’d already weathered a myriad of ridiculously dangerous and difficult situations. Now that he was in his thirties and a full-fledged king, a problem on this small of a scale was probably nothing to him.

“That’s right, just leave it to Yuu-kun. He’ll take care of it. What’s important is how you two... No, Nozomu’s already made his decision, so it’s how you feel, Ephy.” Mitsuki agreed, looking at Ephelia with a smile as if waiting for her answer.

“How...I feel?”

“That’s right. If you don’t see him as a man, then go ahead and turn him down. It’s not like I’m going to fire you if you do, and if you’re worried about feeling awkward around him after the fact, I’ll just change where you’re stationed. So don’t worry about us; do what you feel in your heart is right.”

“O-Okay...” Honestly, she didn’t understand at all. This was the þjóðann, the þjóðann’s formal wife, and the crown prince—any way she looked at it, she was practically at the bottom of the societal totem pole. So why were they leaving such an important decision up to her?

“Why...would you go this far for me?” Ephelia asked.

“Well, that’s obvious. I want you to be happy just as much as I want Nozomu to,” Yuuto immediately replied.

“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” Mitsuki agreed, giving an emphatic nod.

“Your Majesty... Lady Mitsuki...” She was so overcome with emotion at that moment that tears began to spill from her eyes. “I truly am fortunate to be blessed with such caring employers. They treat me so well—more than I could ever deserve.”

“Sigh... What should I do...?” After leaving Yuuto’s room, Ephelia walked back to her own in a daze, completely at a loss.

She truly was glad the two felt the way they did. She even got the impression that her marriage to Nozomu was exactly what they wanted, so part of her wanted to respond to their expectations just to appease them. But they had told her to choose in the end. That was what made it so difficult.

Just what did she really want to do, anyway? How did she really see Nozomu? She had no clue. After all, up until now, she’d never thought about it even once.

“I wish they’d just decide for me...” As pathetic as it was, that was all she could think. Then she could just comply with whatever they decided. Yuuto had said it was no big deal, but wasn’t a prince’s marriage a huge event that concerned the future of the kingdom? Wasn’t putting that decision in the hands of a lowly maid like her illegal or something?!

“In the first place, what do I want our relationship to be?” Truthfully, she would’ve been fine with things staying just the way they were. Keeping their current status as “siblings” or perhaps even childhood friends with just a bit of an age gap would’ve suited her just fine.

But that wouldn’t work anymore.

Everything about her relationship with Nozomu had changed irreversibly. If she accepted his proposal, they’d obviously become husband and wife, but even if she rejected him, it’d be too awkward to go back to the way things were. Either way, the pair had passed the point of no return, so to speak.

“If only I could turn back time,” she wished fervently. But unfortunately, time only flowed forward.

“Should I turn him down, then...?” Naturally, she felt that becoming the formal wife of the future þjóðann was too heavy a burden for her to bear. It wasn’t as simple as just taking care of your husband. You needed to be aware of the þjóðann’s consorts and have the tolerance to govern them. What’s more, you also needed the management and hospitality skills to welcome and entertain bigwigs from foreign countries and their retainers. Mitsuki was quite adept at this and was able to do so not just competently, but outstandingly. It was almost like she was born to be a queen.

“Yes, I think I’ll pass.” When she considered all this, she steeled herself and made her decision. That was all far beyond her capacity. While she doubted they’d be on Mitsuki’s level, she was certain there were plenty of other suitable candidates for Nozomu. Letting that person take the position instead would, in the end, benefit the country and Nozomu much more.

“But... Doesn’t that mean I won’t get to speak with Lord Nozomu in the same way I have up until now?” The instant she’d made her decision, anxiety began to creep into her heart. She knew it was selfish, but she didn’t want that either. After all, he was the special person that Ephelia wouldn’t have found her purpose in life without.

Ever since being bought by Yuuto, Ephelia had always felt inadequate.

She was infinitely grateful to Yuuto for rescuing her and her mother, and she would never forget that kindness. But on the other hand, she was convinced she had nothing to give in return. There were a number of women around Yuuto who’d rescued him from countless deadly situations with their overwhelming strength. Compared to them, all she could do was help cook, clean, set the table, do the shopping, and take care of the children. Each of those were things that the rest of the women could already do. Rather, they were jobs that anyone could do. On top of that, even though they were menial tasks, Yuuto paid her handsomely for performing those services.

At this rate, she’d never be able to repay her debt. Compared to what she was always receiving, she wouldn’t be able to balance it out.

When she asked herself what else she was able to do, the answer was nothing—not even wait on Yuuto in the bedroom. At the time, she was still a child and her body was small. Compared to the rest of the buxom adult women around Yuuto, her looks were average and her body was wispy. She was sure he’d never be satisfied with that.

She really, truly had nothing. If only she could be so brazen as to say she’d pay him back someday when the opportunity struck, but Ephelia was too diligent of a girl to do even that. Instead, she was crushed further and further under the weight of her own mounting guilt.

Things didn’t change until she was eighteen—nearly six years after moving to the New World.

“Hi-yah!”

“Kyaa!”

One day, Nozomu had swiftly kicked one of his maids in the rear. Despite being only seven at the time, his large body was still able to deliver a powerful kick that sent the maid crumpling to the floor. But Nozomu wasn’t finished. He jumped on top of her back, riding her like a horse.

“Giddyup, horsey! Giddyup!” He slapped the maid’s rear with his palm.

“Y-Yes, my lord.” The maid did as she was told and let Nozomu ride her, walking around the room on all fours.

“Too slow! Go faster! You’re a horse, aren’t you?!” He slapped her rear several more times.

“Y-Yes, my lord.”

“Horses don’t talk! Give me a whinny!”

“N-Neeigh!”

It was a pitiful scene. The maid was already in tears from embarrassment.

Including Ephelia, there were five maids in the room at the time, yet no one even made an effort to tell him off. That came as little surprise—he was the crown prince, after all. They were all afraid of what might happen if they ended up invoking his ire, so they diligently went along with whatever he commanded.

Children were surprisingly sharp when it came to certain things. By now, he surely realized that he only got scolded when Yuuto and Mitsuki were around, but not when they were absent. Furthermore, since his reasoning was still undeveloped, he was only guided by his desires. With no adults to set him straight, he felt he was higher and mightier than anyone else, which meant he was prone to running amok.

Normally something of this caliber could probably be laughed off as a mere child’s prank, but today was different.

“Meh, I’m bored now. And hungry. Hey, you, bring me something to eat.” After riding the maid around the room a number of times, Nozomu leaped off of her back and issued orders to another maid nearby. The maid hurriedly brought forth a plate of fruit. Unfortunately, however, the maid was still new and hadn’t yet learned Nozomu’s preferences.

“Are you stupid?! Do you not know that I hate grapes?!” Immediately incensed, Nozomu threw the plate right at the maid’s face. The maid ducked just in time to avoid coming to any harm, but the plate hit the wall and shattered.

“Why’d you avoid it?!” Her insubordination only served to stoke his anger further, and he picked up a nearby toy block next. The moment Ephelia saw that, her former master and his son’s repulsive grins flashed through her mind. At this rate, Nozomu would undoubtedly become like them. With that thought, her body moved instinctively.

“Lord Nozomu.” She spoke his name, and before he could react in any meaningful manner...

Slap!

While the other maids were paralyzed with horror, Ephelia walked over to Nozomu and struck him in the face with all her strength... Well, maybe not all, but a good deal of it. For an instant, Nozomu looked dumbfounded, but then his eyes began to fill up with tears.

“Uwaaaah!” He began to wail. When his parents were away, he was always spoiled, could do no wrong, and was never scolded once, so this was the first time someone had ever raised their hand to him. Considering the shock of being hit had probably been just as great as the pain itself, it was no wonder he was sobbing so hard.

After some hesitation, the other maids in the room tried to run over to him, but Ephy raised a hand to keep them back. “I’ll take responsibility for this. For now, don’t get near.” Her assertion was firm. Now was the time to repay back what she owed, she thought. The others were unable to scold him because they were afraid of his status, but that wasn’t going to help him grow at all. He might end up hating her for this. She might even be sent to the gallows for humiliating a member of royalty. But she didn’t care. She had nothing to offer but her own life anyway, and right now, Nozomu needed to be scolded by someone. If he was left to continue down the path he was treading, he would surely end up miserable.

“Did that hurt, Lord Nozomu?” After five straight minutes of crying and sobbing, Nozomu finally began to calm down. Ephelia knelt down in front of him, meeting his eyes. He nodded without a word.

“Well, if that plate had hit that woman, she would’ve been in a lot more pain than you. It might have even left a scar on her face for the rest of her life,” she explained.

“More pain...than this?” he replied sheepishly.

“Yes, much more.” Ephelia picked up a nearby toy block and dashed it against a nearby desk with all her might. Pain ran through her hand from the impact, but she endured. Intentionally keeping a composed expression, she continued.

“Would you like to see just how much?”

“N-No, I’m good!” Nozomu shook his head from side to side animatedly. Ephelia nodded.

“And that’s because it’s not very fun to be in pain, right?”

He nodded emphatically several times.

“Well, you’re not the only one who doesn’t like getting hurt. In fact, no one likes getting hurt.”

Nozomu looked shocked. Because he was a child, his ability to empathize with others was still quite underdeveloped. With that example, he finally was able to understand others’ pain.

“That’s why it’s not good to bully your maids. If you continue to hurt someone, they’ll end up disliking you. I don’t want you to grow up to be someone everyone hates, Lord Nozomu.”

“...Okay.”

Nozomu nodded earnestly. “It’s going to be all right now,” Ephelia thought.

Afterward, Ephelia was summoned to Yuuto’s chambers. He’d apparently heard about the whole thing from Nozomu.

“I’m so grateful that you put him in his place, Ephy. I can’t even begin to thank you enough.” Yuuto bowed to her—an unthinkable act by all accounts. She’d raised a hand to the crown prince. It was an action that she honestly wouldn’t have been surprised to lose her life for, so seeing her king doing something like this was the last thing she’d expected.

“B-But, Your Majesty, I...”

“I put Kristina on the case immediately to ask around and see what all he’d done, and it turned out that he’d been quite the terror. I’m sorry for all the trouble that brat’s caused.” He bowed to her again, deeply. He was the þjóðann, the most important and most powerful person in the country, and yet he was bowing down to her. He was just as much of an enigma to her as always.

“This is in part due to my negligence, but there’s also another issue. I thought it might happen, but everyone’s really holding back toward him.” Yuuto sighed and smiled wistfully, looking both exhausted and apologetic.

“Yes... It seems so,” she replied.

“He probably feels lonely because of that. That’s why he acts up around everyone. Of course, that’s no excuse for his behavior, but it’s not like I don’t understand how he feels.” Yuuto gave a small smile, as if he were gazing at something from a distance. As the þjóðann, Yuuto was also in a special position that drew a line between him and everyone else. Perhaps because he knew the pain of being in that position, he understood his son’s pain as well.

“But you can’t choose the family you were born into. Whether he wants it or not, he’s going to have to live life as my son,” Yuuto added.

“That’s...true.” People couldn’t become anyone else but themselves. No matter how much they wished for it, they would never be able to change that fact.

“So I feel grateful having someone like you by his side,” he said cheerfully.

His last comment took her completely by surprise. She was the type of commoner you could find anywhere. There was absolutely nothing special about her whatsoever, so she never would have imagined Yuuto would feel that way.

“I want you to be Nozomu’s full-time nanny,” Yuuto said to her. “If he does anything else stupid from here on out, absolutely let him have it. Of course, we’ll do our part to set him straight as well, but children often need someone other than their parents to guide them in life. That goes for Nozomu especially,” he explained.

“I... I understand!” Ephelia replied nervously.

After their chat, Yuuto communicated to the rest of the maids that they were also free to scold the children for any wrongdoing, but no one else seemed to have the guts to tell off the þjóðann’s kids in the end. In fact, perhaps because of the earlier incident, they always handed off that role to Ephelia. Her coworkers would always apologize for giving her such a bothersome task, but Ephelia didn’t mind. On the contrary, she was glad to do it.

This was something only she could do. It was a special role just for her. She could, at long last, repay Yuuto for all he’d done! She’d always worried about whether or not someone like her had any business being in a palace. But now she understood. She belonged here to take care of Nozomu. At that moment, Ephelia had finally found a purpose in life.

“I wonder if I’ve managed to pay him back a bit now,” Ephelia muttered, sitting on a bench in the palace courtyard and looking up at the sky. From the moment Yuuto asked her to be Nozomu’s nanny, Ephelia had always adopted a strict, nagging persona toward Nozomu. Even if this made him dislike her, or if it drove a rift between them, or if he ended up resenting her, she was resolved to do her duty. Curiously enough, however, Ephelia had ended up becoming Nozomu’s favorite caretaker. Perhaps her sincerity and devotion had gotten through to him and touched his heart.

Ever since Ephelia had slapped him, Nozomu had done an about-face and became kind and gentle toward others. He was always the first to volunteer to help take care of his other siblings. Nozomu’s first proposal may have taken Ephelia by surprise, but she’d also been thrilled that he’d grown enough to open his heart to others.

Much time had passed since that day back then, time that was filled with sad things, painful things, and major incidents. It was always hectic, and there was never a dull moment. Things may have been hard at times, but all things considered...

“It was fun.” Put succinctly, that was how she’d evaluate her time here so far. All the children had their quirks, but they had all grown up to be wonderful human beings. Watching the adorable Nozomu grow day by day had been therapeutic and fulfilling. Somewhere along the line, she found she’d completely forgotten about her original goal of repaying Yuuto. All she wanted now was to be together with the children. She unconsciously found herself wishing time would freeze so she could be with them always.

“But I know it can’t be this way forever,” she mused.

Time only moved in one direction, and it couldn’t be stopped.

Nozomu’s coming-of-age ceremony was over, and he was now an adult. He’d recently been praised by Linnea for showing promise in politics and agriculture, and even Sigrún held his swordsmanship and combat ability in high esteem. Of course, he still tended to let his ego get the better of him and bite off more than he could chew, but that was just because he was young, and that could certainly be remedied. All the retainers evaluated him highly as well. This made Ephelia extremely happy and gave her a sense of accomplishment. Seeing Nozomu grow up well had moved her to her core.

At the same time, she couldn’t help but feel a bit empty and melancholy. With this, her role was over. Up until now, Nozomu’s growth had been her sole purpose in life. Now that he was an adult, it was like a gaping hole resided in her heart.

“But in the end, I can’t help it. I still want to stay by his side.” This desire was probably different from romantic feelings between a man and a woman. This wasn’t the burning desire that drove people crazy that she’d heard so much about. There was no fuzzy feeling in her heart like she’d felt with Yuuto. When she was with Nozomu, her heart didn’t skip a beat, nor did she feel like the world was more colorful.

In the end, it was probably because something that had been within her for so long had disappeared, and anxiety and loneliness had moved in to take its place.

“Could Lord Nozomu be feeling the same way I am?” If so, then maybe what he was feeling also wasn’t love. It was dependence. Both she and Nozomu needed to graduate from each other, she thought.

Maybe she should let Yuuto know that it’d be best for the both of them if they stayed apart for a while. She could work for Botvid for a bit. She’d gotten to make his acquaintance through being friendly with his twin daughters, so it wasn’t like they’d be complete strangers.

“Ephy! I’ve been looking all over for you!” Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Nozomu appearing before her, out of breath as though he’d been running all around the palace.

“Good grief,” she thought. Behavior like that just made him seem more immature than he was. “He still needs my help.”

But perhaps she should make this her last service toward him.

“You can’t do that, Lord Nozomu. Running around the palace in a panic is unbecoming of a crown prince. You have the dignity of the royal family to uphold,” Ephelia chided him, raising an index finger. She’d heard from Yuuto on occasion that a supreme commander had to remain composed and mindful of their position at all times. Any signs of weakness would make the public uneasy. Even if she chalked it up to behavior expected of his age, Ephelia couldn’t help but be concerned.

“Oh, hush. Who cares about that? This is probably the most important event in my life. I can’t just rest on my laurels, or my chance will slip away. If Wiz were here, she’d probably say ‘Swift action brings success’ or something.”

“W-Well, that may be true on the battlefield, but...”

“Love is a type of battlefield. And Ephy, you’re much more important to me than anything those stuffy old retainers think.” Nozomu stared straight at her. The earnestness in his eyes made her chest flutter.

“A-As a crown prince, prioritizing a woman over your duties as royalty could seriously affect the well-being of the country...” Despite her words, however, even she could tell her heart was hopelessly pounding. After all, there was no woman on earth who wouldn’t be thrilled to be thought of so highly.

“It’s the opposite. Without you by my side, the country’s as good as doomed. If hypothetically I end up heading in a bad direction, you’ll be there to slap me across the face and correct me, right?”

“Lord Nozomu... I think you need to correct your reasoning.”

“Really? Dad says that the woman I choose should at least be able to do that. There are apparently women like that all around him, but in my case, I only have you.”

“Only me? But...we don’t need to necessarily get married for me to guide you down the right path, right? If it’s what you want, I shall stand by as your advisor from now on.”

“It’s not advice I want, Ephy. Agghh, I’m getting the order of things all mixed up here! In the end, none of that really matters!” After nearly tearing his hair out in frustration, he took several deep breaths to calm himself down and looked right into Ephelia’s eyes once more.

“It’s you that I want. I love you, Ephelia. I love you so much that I don’t want anyone else to have you, so please marry me.”

It was such a straightforward confession that it rendered Ephelia at a loss for words. She blushed furiously.

“I see... So Lord Nozomu is a man as well...”

Of course, she’d already known that, but up until now, it was something she’d understood only with her head, not her heart. In her heart, she’d still seen him as a boy. At this moment, for the first time, she saw him not as family, but as a member of the opposite sex.

“But I guess that settles it. I really don’t feel sick around Lord Nozomu.” Even though she was desired as a woman, she didn’t feel one bit uneasy. After all, he was her pride and joy, the boy she’d taken great pains to raise. She knew better than anyone else that he would never do anything untoward to her, so how could she be afraid?

“And, well... We’ve already been together for fifteen years now, but I’ve never gotten tired of you once, Ephy. In fact, I want you to be by my side forever.”

“I-I see.” Her heart was pounding out of her chest so hard that it hurt. Even though she’d never seen him that way until now, every word of his was making her feel like the happiest woman in the world.

“Yep. If you marry me, I can be together with you until the day I die. And, if it’s you, I’m confident we’ll always get along.” He smiled a radiant smile.

It was true what they said: love completely changes your perception of someone. She’d always thought he was adorable, but seeing his grin, she now found him incredibly handsome and cool. Since a bit ago, her heartbeat had only gotten faster and faster, with no sign of slowing down.

“When I first proposed, my feelings didn’t get through to you at all. But I still wanted you to know how I really feel. It may seem like I’m just being a sore loser after being turned down, but...I really didn’t want to give up.”

“...You love me that much?” Ephy timidly asked, desperately trying to suppress the thumping of her heart.

“Yes, Ephy. I love you that much.”

“Oh, Lord Nozomu!” The immediacy and certainty of his response pushed her over the edge. She now had no choice but to admit it. Selfish though it was, she, too, had ended up falling in love. It was just as Kristina had said. Having such earnest and straightforward feelings lobbed at her, she couldn’t help it. After all, she’d already been affectionate toward him from the start.

“I think this would be a good opportunity for you to find out.” Remembering Kristina’s words, Ephelia realized she’d been absolutely right. Yuuto, too, had already given her his blessing.

After swallowing hard and letting her heart calm down a little, she spoke.

“I...I see. I...love you too, Lord Nozomu.” She said it slowly, as if processing every word. Saying it out loud made her truly realize that she meant it romantically this time.

For an instant, Nozomu’s eyes went wide with surprise. “R-Really?! Not as a little brother, or as family?!” He stepped toward her and seized her shoulders. However, she wasn’t afraid. She knew that with Nozomu, it would be all right. In fact, seeing Nozomu’s elated expression made her even happier.

“Yes. Up until now, I had seen you that way, I’ll admit.”

“I knew it.” Nozomu slumped his shoulders in disappointment. However, she wasn’t finished, and she wanted him to listen till the end.

“But right now, I see you as a man, Lord Nozomu. My heart’s practically beating out of my chest right now, I’ll have you know.”

“R-Really?! Then you’ll accept my proposal?!” Practically falling over himself with excitement, Nozomu beamed.

Ephy gave a troubled smile. “To be honest...I don’t think I’m prepared for that quite yet.”

“Gah!” Let down once again, Nozomu staggered as if he’d just been hit.

She felt horrible, but at the same time, it was also Nozomu’s fault for getting his hopes up before letting her finish. She wanted him to hear exactly how she felt before giving his reaction.

“I just feel like marriage will be an issue, considering the difference in our ages and positions.”

“Th-That won’t be a problem at all! If anyone says anything, I’ll protect you! I promise!” Nozomu hit his chest and spoke with confidence. At times like these, he was so much like his father, Ephelia thought. Perhaps she saw Nozomu as a man now because she was actually looking at the shadow of Yuuto within him?

She thought that for an instant, but then quickly denied it. After all, thinking about Yuuto no longer made her heart race, but when she thought about Nozomu, her heart started hopelessly throbbing.

“Well, I guess I have to admit that I’ve been beaten here.” How was she supposed to resist a surging maelstrom? No, the truth was she didn’t want to resist. She wanted the waves to sweep her up. She wanted them to conquer her. And by the time she thought that, there was no going back.