I've messed up!

Although I called out to him driven by an impulse, having my ident.i.ty exposed out of nowhere I solidified.

That said, you could say I finally came to myself from that shock.

What the h.e.l.l am I doing carelessly starting a conversation with Senpai who may be the enemy. Father and Brother tend to scold me for acting with excessive momentum, and unfortunately my bad habit came out today.

I haven't heard from Cain anything about Senpai getting in touch with anybody. That's why I'm certain Senpai doesn't have comrades, still I want to bury myself due to my rashness.

"What's the matter? You had business with me, right?"

As I perfectly stopped moving, s.h.i.+on-senpai asked me a question in a soft voice.

Firm posture, calm expression. He's completely different from me.

Totally disturbed by blundering, what came from my mouth was the most inconsequential topic among what I had to ask about.

"Umm, how did you…"

It's like I'm admitting to being Freed's fiancée, however it's been exposed from the start anyway.

There's no point in hiding it from s.h.i.+on-senpai anymore.

When I asked nervously, Senpai answered, amazed.

"Because we have met once. Besides, you have the characteristic violet eyes and well-maintained long hair not found among common people. I think anybody with a trained eye could tell right away"

"I, I wonder about that… I'd never been told anything like that until now…"

It's embarra.s.sing, but I'd never thought about my hair. I looked at its tips. Certainly, they're l.u.s.trous, I clearly understood they undergo some special care. I wonder if it's from the hair treatment I receive in the Royal Palace.

"They didn't have a discerning eye at all. Even if you wear somewhat shabby clothes, your demeanor doesn't change. Even without actually knowing it, one can at least tell you are a daughter of somebody with a court rank"

You better be careful. Told that, I nodded awkwardly.

I've been coming to this town for several years. I had never been told such a thing.

I wonder if everybody thinks I'm a daughter from a good family… but because we are already acquainted, they pretend not to notice. Supposing that's the case, I feel very sorry and awfully ashamed of myself.

… I think it's simply s.h.i.+on-senpai being excessively perceptive.

"However, it's considerably careless to walk around dressed like a town girl. What happened to your escort? I find it impossible to believe that that His Highness the Crown Prince would leave the fiancée he's infatuated with in town without escort"

I reflexively talked back at his reproaching tone.

"I have an escort"

My excellent ninja called Cain.

Only when Senpai understood my answer he calmly nodded.

"Of course. Them not coming out yet means they are still watching the situation, does it not. And? What is your intention in calling out to me while acting like this?"

As s.h.i.+on-senpai asked a reasonable question natural for him, I regretted going with momentum and calling out to him. Obviously I had no plan.

Looking at Senpai fixing his eyes on me from up close, I could only see him as s.h.i.+on-senpai.

How relieved would I be if it was an accidental resemblance.

It's said that there are three people similar to yourself in the world. I realized that in the end I was somewhere expecting this man to only resemble s.h.i.+on-senpai. I laughed at myself.

―――― I'm stupid.

Didn't I understand that he's Senpai when he sang that song.

There's no mistaking that this man is s.h.i.+on-senpai.

Senpai in front of my eyes looks a little older than the Senpai I knew.

The slightly old-looking gla.s.ses look exactly like what Senpai used to wear in the past.

The outline of his face is tighter than before, creating a stiffer impression.

His gaze is cold, I feel like his fastidious character is more emphasized now. I can see traces of wrinkles on his glabella.

… He must've had a hard time.

Judging by the sharp gaze Senpai directed at me, I think he went through considerable hards.h.i.+ps in Tarim.

And after all I do wonder when did Senpai come here.

I'm very interested in that, but I'm not so foolishly honest as to expose my ident.i.ty to ask about his circ.u.mstances.

I am a person whose life in that world had already ended.

I now live in this world as Lidiana.

I don't feel like confessing about my old self this late.

"Errrr…"

How should I explain. Be that as it may, I absolutely don't want to say goodbye here.

A chance to talk one-on-one will never happen come again. It's an opportunity I created taking a great risk.

While I was frantically wracking my brains for a thing to say, my stomach rumbled at the worst timing.

Guuuuu.

"… ah!"

Embarra.s.sing!

Really, why is it always at the worst timing.

In a panic I held my stomach, but for some reason the sound of my stomach didn't stop.

After resounding for three long times, a strange silence fell.

Senpai looked at me with a complicated face.

It wasn't the previous cold expression, but I wanted to cry by how amazed he was.

I, I feel like running away!

Rather than that, I'm sorry! I wanted to run away by sliding into a dogeza. No, I'm seriously thinking so. While I was just hanging my head and holding my stomach unable to say anything, before long I heard a small laughter in front of me.

"Pu… Kukuku…"

"Huh?"

When I gingerly raised my face, Senpai was covering his mouth and trying not to laugh.

Wiping the tears in the corners of his eyes, he asked me a question.

"Are you hungry? The lady who will be the future queen? Kukuku. Your impression is considerably different from your appearance. Fine. Shall we change the place. We can continue the talk there"

"Change the place…?"

"Yeah, I was just thinking of going to each lunch. If you don't mind, how about going together? Of course, it will be something that will suit commoner tastes, so it's up to you"

"…"

At the attractive suggestion I took a fleeting glimpse behind s.h.i.+on-senpai.

After some time of talking with Senpai, I had started seeing Cain's figure there.

Of course, it was to ask Cain. I acted to make him notice me. I appealed with my eyes.

―――― Can I go?

He knit his brows a little, still Cain nodded to show acknowledgement.

I wonder if it's my imagination that his expression was saying that it can't be helped.

Still, I was quite relieved I received Cain's permission.

I understand plenty enough that I'm doing something selfish and causing trouble. So if Cain forbid me, I was thinking of giving up at that.

I looked back at Senpai and agreed.

"I, I will go"

To be honest, I don't want to miss this ideal opportunity.

When I answered like I bit into it, Senpai laughed again.

Then I realized he thinks I'm so hungry I'd eat anything. Embarra.s.sing.

As Senpai started to walk while trembling, he said.

"Then shall we go? I have already decided on the shop"

Walking a little behind s.h.i.+on-senpai, I watched him from behind.

Having begun walking, Senpai held his tongue as if to not say anything unnecessary, so I couldn't talk with him about anything.

Still, he lowered his walking speed paying attention to my pace. Recalling that Senpai used to do it in the past, once again I thought that he's Senpai after all.

Judging from the direction s.h.i.+on-senpai is going, the destination is probably the curry shop.

According to Cain's information, he seems to be regular at my shop.

Cain is following us at a fixed distance.

The reason I know that is simple, he makes sure I see his figure regularly. It's only for a moment, but it's enough to realize he's appealing "I'm here".

Of course I need to be vigilant towards Senpai, still having Cain at my side gives me a considerable sense of security.

Especially ever since I talked to Senpai without thinking of the consequences.

It's extremely rea.s.suring he's at my side after nodding that it's fine.

… Let's apologize later for disregarding Cain's veto.

I stole a glance at s.h.i.+on-senpai's profile as he walked carefreely.

The same as ever well-ordered features are beautiful after all. He's aged a little, however he's the same as before.

Recalling that I liked to watch him read, I slipped out a giggle.

"What's the matter?"

"Eh"

Suddenly spoken to, I raised my face.

Senpai had his eyes fixed at me. I tilted my head as his eyes seemed to be searching for something.

"… Err, Mr. Éventail?"

Thinking it would be impolite to suddenly call him by his first name I asked a question, but Senpai nodded with "Aah" as if he came to himself.

"I don't mind being addressed as Sion. I am not used to being called by that name much. Try as I might, I don't feel like it's referring to me. In the first place, it is discourteous to have the future queen of the major nation Wilhelm to address me with an honorific"

"Is, is that so? Then, could you call me Lidi as well?"

"That too would be discourteous…"

"I'd be troubled to be called princess consort in such a place… If possible, I don't want my ident.i.ty exposed. Is it no good… I wonder?"

I looked up at him who easily allowed me to call him by his first name 'Sion'.

After looking like he pondered for just a moment, he lightly nodded.

"Certainly. It would be like announcing your identify to this town. Then, Lidi"

"ah!"

It's not my previous name 'Sakura' but 'Lidi'.

In spite of it being my demand, I was extremely surprised.

As I began acting strangely, Sion urged me with his gaze.

"Wha, what might it be"

"No, when you looked at me just now you showed a nostalgic smile. It caught my eye"

"Eh… Aah, that's…"

There's no way I can say I remember my previous life.

With my gaze wandering to the sky, I came up with a poor excuse.

"I think Sion and my old acquaintance are similar…"

It felt surprisingly right to address him without an honorific for the first time.

Sion said just to make sure.

"An acquaintance?"

"Yeah"

An old acquaintance. Yup, it just barely shouldn't be a lie.

I don't know if he was convinced by my forced explanation, but saying Is that so Sion didn't investigate anymore.

Since then the conversation casually continued little by little.

During it, I was asked.

"Even so, was it truly okay to come with me without asking me where I am going? Even if you say you have an escort, is it not too careless?"

Having an amazed gaze directed at me, I hung my head.

It's as he says. I followed Cain's okay sign, still speaking properly my behavior is reproachable.

"… You're right"

"You recklessly accompanied a singer whose ident.i.ty you don't know very well… It must be difficult for your escort. He needs considerable skill"

I raised my face at the words that sounded like they were teasing me, and firmly fixed my eyes on Sion.

"Even supposing I am careless. He's an excellent person. Because of that I don't worry about coming with you"

I fully trust Cain.

He'd dash here immediately, honestly I think I'm quite an unreliable master, but I'm still his master. We made such a contract. And if I'm his master, I have to start with believing him above all. That's the bare minimum for a master. Having doubts is absurd.

Supposing I were betrayed, that would simply be my fault for lacking ability. I've long ago prepared for that.

If he nods, it will surely be alright.

It's because I believe him that I came along like this.

When I conveyed my unshakable trust, for some reason Sion squinted his eyes as if he was dazzled.

"… Is that so"

Nevertheless, why did Senpai get angry at me after inviting me.

I feel like that's extremely unreasonable.

In the first place, wasn't it Senpai who invited me.

… Of course, I'm the one most at fault for going along with it.

"Aah, it's here"

While my thoughts were running around in circles, just as I'd thought Sion stopped in front of the curry shop.

It's just the rush time for the shop so it's quite crowded. More than ten people formed the line in front of the shop waiting for their turn.

Following Sion I obediently lined up at the end. While thinking of what to do if I'm suddenly spotted by Lars like the last time, I waited in line.

"… It's a nostalgic taste"

"Eh"

I raised my face in response to the few words he muttered.

Looking at the store, Sion had a very gentle expression. It was a nostalgic expression becoming of Senpai.

"I'm talking about the dishes served at this shop, the taste resembles my hometown to a surprising degree. Because of that I visit it frequently. Even though… I have no more business in this country…"

"Sion…?"

I asked Sion about what he's trying to say.

But Sion didn't say anything more.