Past the gate, a single carriage waited.
Per plan, I’d board this carriage and return directly to Veret territory.
Normally there’d be parties day after day at the castle, but considering my wound, King Ambald granted complete exemption.
A huge help.
I’m already plagued with pain; I don’t want to accumulate fresh stress. ……Although stomach ache is already a stage too late.
”…… Fatigue is setting in.”
“Well done, Lord Ouga.”
Alice, waiting beside the carriage, wiped my sweat.
She joins this trip as my maid, doubling as care and bodyguard.
Of course, Father’s hired vigilantes, like Aliban and his men, rode on horseback escorting the carriage too.
Some familiar faces. Aliban’s underlings must’ve all joined.
“Excuse me, Lord Ouga. Please, inside.”
Alice spoke and went in first, then drew my hand.
A measure so I — with the injured right arm — don’t fall. The arm matters for balance.
I’ll appreciate her consideration.
“Heh…… makes me feel like a princess.”
But — I find that a touch unsatisfying now.
Previously I’d not minded, but our relationship has changed.
“Put your arm around my neck, Alice.”
“Lord Ouga…… kya.”
I pulled her hand instead. Naturally she fell forward against me.
Trusting my words, she didn’t even break the fall, just put her arm around my neck. Before her balance shifted, I extended my hand to her rear and lifted.
“Light, Alice. I lifted you with one arm.”
“L-L-L-Lord Ouga! P-put me down! If anything happens to your body……!”
“Your concern is welcome, but you, of all people, know my training survives this much. Or have you forgotten our training days?”
”…… That phrasing is a bit unfair, isn’t it?”
“Heh heh heh! Joking, joking. I know you remember our time well.”
Otherwise she wouldn’t have responded to my calls while brainwashed by Andrews.
Because of our irreplaceable training time, I could stand to the end and reach her soul.
I carried Alice princess-style into the carriage.
I sat on the seat — as expected of a King-prepared carriage.
Spaciousness, seat comfort — perfect.
A bit too flashy for my taste, but ornamentation for relations’ sake.
“Drive on.”
“Yes! Acknowledged!”
A minute after I told the coachman and closed the door, the carriage slowly began moving.
Let me revise my evaluation. Ride comfort differs too.
This should help with Mashiro’s motion sickness.
“U-um…… Lord Ouga. How long should I stay like this……”
“Naturally — until I’m satisfied.”
I buried my face in her neck.
She must be nervous from the princess-carry; her temperature was a bit high, with light perspiration.
“L-Lord Ouga…… s-such a place……. Mischief in moderation……”
“Let your master, who fulfilled an unaccustomed duty, indulge a little.”
”…………”
No answer, but Alice’s arms tightened — contact level rose.
She’s surely blushing from the unfamiliarity.
I’m the type to thump the stone bridge cautiously before crossing — but the moment I’m sure they love me, I push the offense.
The aftereffects of being a misreading virgin in my past life make me safe-oriented.
So with Alice, who’d told me directly she wants to be my bride, I’m further into the skinship than with the others.
You could say my long-suppressed urges are releasing.
A clean-cut useless person, I admit — but I wanted this life from the start!
Spring has finally come for me! Enjoy it!
If anything, I’m still holding back.
I know. Alice still wears a chest wrap under her clothes, hiding her real chest.
I want to gently undo it and grasp it with my hand.
But don’t rush. My target remains a harem life.
If I follow desire too much and create rank-difference between Mashiro’s group and Alice, that’d break the secret of mutual happy harem-life.
So with Alice, just skinship.
I trust my reason — which has held off this far — to endure.
…… And…… I sense the moment for my first step is near.
After several minutes of Alice-sniffing (akin to cat-sniffing) —
This can’t last forever, so I gently set her beside me.
She let out a reluctant Ah…… that pulled at my heart, but I managed.
As if reading my thoughts, she invited me next.
“Lord Ouga. The trip to Veret is long. How about resting here?”
She patted her own lap.
Knowing her lap-pillow is heavenly, I didn’t hesitate.
“As you say, by the time we arrive, it’ll be night. Lend me your lap?”
“Of course.”
Since Alice took the pre-emptive strike (proposal) by letter, she’s been voicing her opinions more.
Before, she deferred to Mashiro and Karen and rarely proposed.
In short — I’m being spoiled by an older beauty.
A huge deal. To go through life, being spoiled is essential.
No way to run without rest. You’d break en route.
“Whew……”
A single exhale upon reaching my haven.
I, too, could now show Alice my weak side.
”…… Alice. I want to praise myself for taking you out that day.”
“Same for me. I can proudly say the decision to follow you was right.”
Beyond the lower-chest filling half my vision, Alice smiled too.
The original aim of recruiting her has shifted wildly, but results exceed expectations.
Back then I never imagined a lap-pillow from Alice……
“Lord Ouga. ……May I touch here?”
“Yeah, gently. You have strong arms.”
“Fufu, of course. Then excuse me……”
Granted permission, she gently touched my immobilized right arm through the cloth.
The pain hits randomly, but as long as no strong shock, it’s fine.
Once she knew that, she’d been daily massaging the arm.
When she first touched the arm, her expression was awful.
She wore a fierce face as if begging the pain to transfer to her. Realizing it couldn’t go on, I told her:
“Men are honest creatures. Seeing the usual beautiful Alice rather than a worn-out face speeds my recovery.”
I knew it was an embarrassing thing to say, but if it stops her from blaming herself, fine.
Honestly, I’ve experienced things more embarrassing in past life.
It seems to have landed; she’s not had a pained face since.
”…… What is it?”
“Nothing — just looking at your beautiful face.”
“If my face perks you up…… would you like to sleep like this?”
That too is fine…… but for now I want to burn this view into my eyes.
Alice’s soft smile and the imposing southern hemisphere.
“No, sleeping here would mess my life rhythm. So talk with me so I don’t sleep.”
I masked my real desire.
“Right…… I’d like stories of Alice’s past I don’t know.”
“Understood. I’ll try to entertain you. There was a time during my Holy Knight days when I experimented to see how close a hand-cut could get to a real blade……”
That already sounds interesting……
Only Alice would test such absurdity. That’s why she resonates with me — also derided for foolish trials.
Martial and Magic. Different paths, same summit.
I listened to Alice’s fascinating stories.
Time spent in the carriage with her was very enjoyable.