Part 5
I think I was excited to be able to have tea with Milene-san for the first time in a long time.
As I was preparing tea in a good mood, Milene-san spoke to me.
“——You have something to say to me, right?”
Apparently, she had noticed.
I prepare a cup of tea without stopping, and then I go straight to Milene-san to discuss my business.
“I don’t like it when things get rough in the country. So I would like to get it done in a short period of time.”
I pour tea into a cup and offer it to Milene-san.
Milene-san seemed to be mocking me as she looked down at the tea in her cup.
“You said if you could do that, you wouldn’t have any trouble, would you? I heard from Ange. I heard that the foreign student knight from the empire fought to a draw with the Duke. It is possible that the Empire has stronger knights and weapons. Do you still think you can win?”
“I have no intention to fight the Empire.”
“Even if the Duke doesn’t intend to fight, the other side is different. Everyone is afraid of someone who is powerful.”
Even Ange couldn’t persuade the current Milene-san.
If I were to talk politics, I’m sure she wouldn’t be convinced.
So I decided to force the issue.
“I’m having Jilk and the others proceed to cut off the alliance. And Duke Fannos has promised not to betray us.”
“——You really do unnecessary things. It feels like a lie to me that they were disinherited.”
To the talented Jilk and his friends, Milene-san might have been trying to say, “Get serious from the beginning!” I guess.
It seems that she can’t help but wish that they had shown their ability to do so before they were disinherited.
“I know it was bad, but I hate war.”
As I take my seat, Milene-san raises her head and looks at me.
“It is the arrogance of a powerful person. A choice that can be tolerated because of the great power of the Lost Item.”
“Is that so?”
“The individual can end a war at will. What would you call this if not arrogance?”
Somehow, I understand what Milene-san is trying to say, too.
For many people, war is something they get involved in.
And it can be easily ended at the will of the individual.
If one wanted to, it would be easy to start a war.
It’s a luxury to have more options than other people.
“Then being arrogant is fine. There is no need to use our enemies to get our allies involved, is there?”
“——Didn’t we talk about this before? For the kingdom —— For the royal family, the feudal nobles were potential enemies.”
“I hear that, but aren’t they on our side now?”
When I say this with a smirk, Milene-san wrinkles her eyebrows.
She doesn’t seem to like my attitude now.
“Have you ever thought about the future, Duke? Have you ever imagined a hundred years into the future?”
“No. I’m not alive, so it has nothing to do with me.”
“I see. But the royal family has a duty to act for the future.”
She didn’t like my answer and gave me a disappointed look.
Even so, a duty, huh —— I admire someone with a strong sense of responsibility.
I shrug my shoulders, take a sip of tea, then put down my cup and declare to Milene-san.
“I don’t like the current method. I’ll end it my way.”
I look into Milene-san’s eyes and say so.
After a few seconds or dozens of seconds, Milene-san looks away from me and bites her lower lip. Apparently, she accepted it.
“If the Duke decides, the royal family now has nothing against you.”
“I’m sorry. But I don’t intend to make matters troublesome.”
I must avoid the mere idea of other countries joining this fight.
Milene-san looked at me and questioned me.
“Can you do it? It’s not just a matter of defeating the enemy.”
“I’ll figure something out.”
I had no basis for this, but when I declared that I would do it, Milene-san was puzzled.
I couldn’t beat Milene-san with logic or good arguments, but if I pushed hard enough, it was surprisingly possible.
Milene-san lowered her head.
“I envy the Duke for being able to live so freely. If I had the power too, I could have lived more as I pleased.”
“It’s not too late.”
When I said so in a light tone, Milene-san looked up.
She looks as if she has been released from some tension and is at ease.
“I really wanted to marry Erika off to the Duke. I thought it would make her happy.”
“I hate to admit it too much, but the princess prefers her fiancé.”
“He is not bad, but he is not as good as the Duke. If she had married the Duke, she and the country would have been safe. Things are not always as planned, are they.”
Milene-san, who mocks herself, doesn’t know that Erika is my niece from a previous life.
That’s why she tried to get me to marry her.
It’s impossible for me to marry my niece.
“Give me a break. I would prefer Milene-san than the princess.”
Milene-san blinked many times, not understanding what I said at first. Then, she finally realized what was being said, and her cheeks turned red and she became upset.
“Even at a time like this, you tease me”
“I’m not teasing you, though?”
“How can you tell such a lie after visiting Erika so many times? Men really do like young women.”
“——For me, Milene-san is more attractive.”
“Y-You tease me again like that.”
Her harshness was gone, and now Milene-san was as lovely as before.
Yes, that was Milene when I first met her.
“No, I really think so.”
“Eh?!”
I find it upsetting to be doubted, so I speak in a more serious voice than usual.
“I prefer Milene-san instead of Erika-sama. If I were to marry, I would choose Milene-san.”
If only she really didn’t have her status, she would be perfect.
If only she were not a Queen, I sincerely hope.
Then, Milene-san’s face turned bright red. She picked up the cup, drank the tea, and began to regulate her disordered breathing.
“Duke——Leon-kun, you are truly a terrible man.”
“Is that so?”
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login