Chapter 4

Luke immediately entrusted a few trusted aides to reinvestigate and retake the testimonies, as promised. Now, we're waiting for the results.

In other words, free time!

"Luke! What's that? I've never seen such food before."

"That's a local dish. It's called preffen, a kind of baked grain similar to bread, which you eat by dipping it in the soup that comes with it."

"Wow, it looks delicious. All the stalls smell so good too."

"There are many single workers at the underground resource mining sites, so there are a lot of food stalls, and they offer a wide variety."

When I said I wanted to see the town, to my surprise, Luke came along.

Since that day, he has been making time for me as if he had never neglected me before. We have breakfast together in casual clothes, and he comes to say goodnight before bed. As we spend more time together, I notice his expression softening, but the maids seem to have a different impression.

'He's just putting on a sweet face to let his guard down, but his eyes aren't smiling.' 'He sighed the moment he left the room.' 'I can tell he's just putting up with me.'

Hmm, preconceived notions are really scary. What surprised me was that Ann has recently started to support me and is becoming anti-Luke. Well, I should buy her some delicious souvenirs.

By the way, in such situations, people usually go incognito or in disguise, but they said there's no way we wouldn't be recognized in such a small town. I trusted their words and went out, but I was the fool.

"Hey, is it true that the lord is walking with a woman?"

"I was worried about him being single for so long, but maybe he's finally getting a bride."

"What a beautiful lady. I wonder which noble family she's from."

"…Luke, aren't we getting a lot of attention?"

They might think they're watching us from a distance, but their voices are so loud that we can hear everything. At first, I thought I could pretend not to notice, but this is impossible. I thought I was used to being the center of attention, but this is different. It's sticky and heavy with expectation.

Luke must be hearing it too, but he seems completely unfazed.

"It's fine. If we show that we're getting along well, the strange rumors will soon disappear."

(I wonder if he means the rumors about the daughter of Viscount Floche.)

"The investigation into your conduct should be completed and reported today."

"Okay."

I don't know who started the false rumors or why, but spreading them is a serious offense. But for now, I'll forget about it and enjoy myself.

"Still, it's really peaceful inside the walls."

I hadn't gone down to the town before, so it was my first time seeing it. Overall, it's clean and safe. Despite receiving few supplies from other regions, everything needed is well-managed.

The income from the underground resources must be significant, but that alone can't create this peace.

(No wonder Father has always kept a close eye on this place.)

Right after the previous lord and lady passed away, there was concern in the capital about the next lord being too young.

There were even suggestions to appoint a temporary lord, but the influential people of Bartelink unanimously supported Luke. They said there was no one else who could be the next lord. While it was to avoid internal conflicts over the position or the worst-case scenario of an external appointee, the unanimous recommendation was still unusual.

When I brought up the topic, he casually answered.

"Did you know that Bartelink was an independent small country until about two hundred years ago, before it was integrated into the kingdom?"

"Of course. The victor of that war became the first lord of Bartelink."

"That's right. And the woman who became the wife of that lord was actually a descendant of the old royal family."

"Really?"

I had never heard that before. Wait, does that mean Luke could have been a king if the times were different?

"I don't know how much she was involved with the old royal family, but to marry the enemy who destroyed her country, I can feel the bloodline."

"I can understand her feelings…"

"Thanks to her, Bartelink is ruled by a descendant of the old royal family. Oh, this is a secret passed down only to the heads of a very limited lineage, so please don't tell anyone."

"Are you just going to casually share such a significant secret!?"

I sighed deeply. It had been about a month since I arrived in the territory. After being neglected for so long, Luke's lack of caution in the past few days seemed extreme.

"What's wrong? Are you tired?"

Luke's voice brought me back to reality.

"Ah, no, I'm fine. But it's getting close to evening, so can you show me where the soldiers' training grounds and barracks are?"

At my words, Luke's face darkened.

Today was the day when the influential people of Bartelink regularly meet, and I had come to greet them. They are private soldiers who have been responsible for defending this territory for generations and are more respected than some nobles in this area.

"I already told you before we left, but are you really going? They're good people, but they're short-tempered and rough because they deal with tough guys."

"I'm fine, really! Just leave it to me."

"Let me be clear, they are very practical and won't hold back even for a princess."

"Luke, you're being too persistent."

"…I'm worried you might get hurt unnecessarily."

Worried? Luke is worried about me?

I turned around, and indeed, there was a young man with drooping ears looking worried.

"No… that's not quite accurate. I'm worried that you might get upset and decide to break the engagement. I'm sorry, but I know we can't avoid them, and it's better to see if you can get along with them early on."

(………Huh? Does that mean…)

"…Luke, did you want to break the engagement?"

"From the beginning, I didn't want to. But you wanted to go back…"

Luke, unusually, hesitated and mumbled.

"Then, is it okay for me to be here?"

"If you think so, forever."

"Does that mean you finally recognize my usefulness!?"

I sparkled with excitement. But Luke laughed through his nose, as if to say, "What a trivial thing."

Hey! I'm royalty!?

"I've known that from the start. I was prepared to accept you, no matter how twisted and broken your character might be."

"Did you think I was that bad!?"

But Luke shook his head.

"No. If you were someone I could manipulate without feeling guilty, I would have done so."

"You're quite devious for someone who looks so cheerful."

"I wanted to do what you wished, even if it meant bending my judgment as a lord."

"……. Liar, you're supposed to live by your sense of responsibility and love for your territory."

"That's how you see me? Well, you're not wrong."

"Then why…"

"Do you not understand?"

I felt a mix of "What if" and "Maybe" in my heart, making my heart race.

"…I don't understand. You have to say it clearly."

"Because I love you. More than the Bartelink I grew up in, I love you, who have only been here for a month."

Luke's eyes, the same cold ice blue as when we first met, somehow felt incredibly warm, and I couldn't bear to look at them and turned away.

(I've heard 'I love you' so many times, so why…)

It squeezed my heart more than any other words I've heard.

Because I know who Luke is, I know how sincere those words are. I wanted to say something, but my chest was tight, and no words came out.

…I… I…

Suddenly, cheers and applause erupted from the crowd.

I looked around, and there were kind-looking uncles nodding and clapping, blushing girls staring intently, and elderly people who had watched Luke for years with tears in their eyes.

Wait, what is this?

"Wait, did they hear everything…"

"They must have. It's a public road."

Unlike me, who had been oblivious, Luke remained calm.

Wait. Did you just say that in front of so many people? ……I've never lost to anyone in terms of thick skin before!

I took Luke's arm silently and fled the scene.

By the way, the first meeting with the influential uncles, who were so worried, went smoothly.

Well, I was teased a lot about Luke. The rumors spread so fast in the border region…

◇◇◇

That night, as Luke said, the investigation results came in.

Rumors and stories based on hearsay and assumptions were excluded. The result was that one maid had been spreading particularly strong negative rumors. Further investigation into her surroundings revealed a certain person.

This must be it.

"…Please summon the daughter of Viscount Floche."

You've had your fun, but now it's my turn. Get ready!