Chapter 95

The inspection continued.

The university, the lecture halls, the past results—although they were necessary confirmations, our movement was uninterrupted. I stopped my feet for a moment.

“…Shall we step outside for a bit?”

Marc raised his gaze slightly.

“I will arrange the escorts.”

“I leave it to you.”

Replying shortly, I turned around.

“Princess Elysia.”

When I called out, Princess Elysia quietly raised her face. Her expression was composed as usual, but a slight shadow of fatigue could be seen.

“There is a river ahead. The maintenance is still underway, but it is at a level where one can walk. How about taking a stroll?”

Princess Elysia blinked just slightly. An expression saying she hadn’t expected this.

“…Is that a necessary thing?”

It was a cautious tone. I answered while keeping the tension out of my shoulders.

“It’s just a change of pace. Your body must be stiffening up, right?”

I let my gaze drift lightly.

Princess Elysia did not answer immediately. In that time, I could tell numerous thoughts were circulating. Eventually, she let out the faintest breath.

“…I suppose so. Then, I shall take you up on your offer.”

Her tone was just the slightest bit softer.

Upon stepping outside, the escorts had already been deployed.

Several people in front and behind. Keeping their distance, they distributed their gazes to the surroundings. It is the outing of royalty. Unobtrusive, yet there are no openings.

The path along the river had stones laid here and there on newly packed earth. The sound of water flowed quietly.

Princess Elysia looked at her surroundings as she walked. A slightly relaxed gaze, different from the time of the inspection.

“…It is a quiet place.”

“Only for now. It is currently under development.”

Elysia smiled slightly.

“Meaning it is a luxurious time?”

“I suppose so.”

Words did not continue for a while. Only the sound of water and footsteps overlapped. Princess Elysia started to say something, but stopped.

Eventually, she opened her mouth slightly.

“…I am not used to this kind of time.”

Keeping her gaze directed forward.

I answered.

“It isn’t bad, is it?”

Elysia looked this way for just an instant.

Then, she suddenly averted her gaze.

“…I suppose not.”

A slight smile was mixed in that voice.

The river surface reflected the light. The wind became just a little bit stronger.

While advancing along the river path, I suddenly saw figures ahead of my gaze. In a place slightly apart, leaning toward the shade of the trees, there were two noblewomen and their attendants.

“…”

I stop my feet. An older woman had sat down, seemingly resting. Standing beside her, a young daughter. But their movements are strange.

“…Is that Lady Lydia?”

I mutter softly.

The moment I noticed, I sent a gaze to Marc. Marc immediately steps forward one pace.

“I shall go see how they are.”

“I’m counting on you.”

When I replied shortly, he ran without hesitation. As I was seeing his back off, a voice dropped from beside me.

“…Is she an acquaintance?”

It was Princess Elysia. I answer without returning my gaze.

“Yes. The young woman is the next lord of the neighboring territory. We are purchasing several things from them, such as agricultural products.”

Elysia nodded slightly.

“…Is that so.”

That voice was quiet, but somewhat stiff. Eventually, Marc returns.

“It was Countess Crawford and Lady Lydia.”

His breathing is not even disordered.

“It seems they walked a bit too far, and the Countess is resting.”

I thought briefly.

“Send someone to assist them.”

“Yes.”

Marc nods and sends a signal to one of the escorts.

Immediately several people moved, quietly closing the distance. Averting my gaze, I resume walking.

Princess Elysia was staring at the woman in the distance.

“…Lydia.”

The faint voice was small and lost in the wind, and I did not notice it. Princess Elysia said nothing more and quietly faced forward once again.

Lydia’s Perspective

Her mother, who had sat down in the shade of the trees, was finally beginning to settle down. Lydia, while watching over that state, quietly set her lips.

Her father had returned to the territory a step ahead.

…Because Mother brightly said, “I feel like I can walk today.” Because her complexion was good this morning, and her steps were light. That is why I ended up thinking it would be fine to extend the distance just a little.

“…I made her push herself too much.”

She spits out softly. Why did she bring only older attendants with her on this day of all days?

An unreliable lineup for supporting someone in an emergency.

The fact that she misjudged tightened her chest.

At the time she dropped her gaze, she suddenly noticed a presence.

A group approaching along the distant river path with a uniform pace.

…That is.

She unintentionally raises her face. The moment she recognized the figure in the center, her breathing stopped.

“…Prince Leonhart…”

Unconsciously, that name spills out. And, the person lined up beside him.

“…Princess Elysia…?”

Deep in her chest, it swayed quietly. Her fingertips trembled slightly, and the distance between the two and the Princess’s figure burned into her eyes.

She clearly understood that the Princess was an extremely beautiful person. Eventually, she saw people heading this way.

“…Assistance.”

She exhales softly. Even without saying anything, he must have observed the situation and guessed. Deep in her chest, a different heat lights up.

“…He hasn’t changed.”

A faint smile oozes. Relief and gladness. She directed her gaze his way for just an instant, and immediately averted it. Because she knows she must not look for long.

“…From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.”

She says it to no one in particular, but certainly directed toward that direction.

The wavering had not yet disappeared.

However, she already knew what the thing inside that wavering was.

—Prince Leonhart.

That name sinks quietly and heavily. And the existence standing beside him, Princess Elysia.

Lydia cast her eyes down slightly.

The figures she saw for just an instant earlier. Refined demeanor, an unshakeable presence, and a distance that felt no incongruity in them standing side by side.

“…You make a fine match, don’t you.”

She mutters faintly, without letting anyone hear.

As a lord, she understands. That Princess is suitable for that person. Position, power, what they bear—everything balances out.

She knows that is correct.

“…But.”

Her words do not continue.

Something catches in the back of her throat.

Her fingertips were gripped slightly tight.

“…Even so…”

She shakes her head just slightly. The emotion of not wanting to admit it was certainly there.

Not as logic, but simply as an emotion.

“…I dislike it, don’t I.”

A faint bitter smile floats to her lips. Even she thinks she is being childish, but, even so.

She raises her gaze.

The backs of the two growing distant. That distance looked like something that would no longer cross.

Deep in her chest aches quietly.

However, Lydia slowly adjusted her breathing.

“…Right now.”

Softly, as if telling herself.

“I must prioritize my mother.”

That is her position and her duty.

With the wavering still unvanquished, Lydia nevertheless straightened her back.

Those eyes were already looking only forward.