"Lidi!"

"I'm home, Freed"

Early morning. After unseemly sleeping in Mother-in-law's bosom and having a breakfast with her, I returned to Freed's private room.

When I opened the door, I was immediately hugged, as if he'd been impatiently waiting for me.

Smelling Freed's familiar scent, I lost strength. As his sweet, soft voice resounded next to my ear, I breathed out ecstatically.

"Welcome home. I was waiting. The night without Lidi painfully dragged on"

"Nn. I was lonely without Freed too…"

While returning a tight hug, I responded.

When our eyes met, he smiled sweetly and dropped a kiss on my forehead.

I will be embraced next. I was a little excited that we'll go straight to the bedroom, but I was only taken to the sofa in the main room.

There was tea prepared on the table.

"When I heard Lidi was coming back, I had it prepared beforehand. Good job, it was hard to keep Esteemed Mother company, right. You didn't need to force yourself"

Freed sat next to me saying so, reached out his arm, and this time drew my waist towards himself.

Although we were close, I too wanted to stick to him, so in silence I brought my body even closer to him.

Seeing my movement, Freed delightfully smiled.

"It's cute how spoiled you act. Were you so lonely?"

"Yup. Even though I'd said it myself I'd stay there, I felt lonely…"

I nodded. As expected, it's calming to be by Freed's side. My heart beats fast, but it seems this is my place.

That's why I rubbed my cheek against him, but in an enchanted voice I was told "Don't" to stop me.

When I stopped moving and sullenly looked up at Freed, his narrowed eyes met mine.

"If you do something so cute, I'll eat you right away"

"… So what, you can eat me"

Rather, I want it, I stared at Freed with a gaze filled with such expectations, but he only wryly smiled without kissing me.

"Freed…"

I pursed my lips. Freed gently pressed his index finger on my pouting lips.

"Don't make that vexed face. It's painful for me as well. Actually, I couldn't quite finish yesterday's work. I couldn't take a day off today in the end. I have to go for a while. That's why, I'm sorry. I can't cherish Lidi now"

He surprised me a little.

"How rare for Freed to leave work unfinished…"

I only have the image of him always working efficiently without wasting time.

While my eyes were wide-open, with a bitter smile Freed told me yesterday he'd showed up at the Chivalric Order for the first time in a while.

"I meant it as a quick change of pace… But I was caught by the knights. While instructing them, evening pa.s.sed by"

"So that's how it was…"

Although I nodded, in my heart I was disappointed.

Freed with a sword in his hand instructing knights.

I wanted to see it by all means!

"How nice, I want to see it"

"Lidi?"

When I unconsciously muttered my real thoughts, Freed blinked his eyes. His face seemed surprised.

"It's not a place for women to get close? It smells of sweats, and I think Lidi would hate it"

"But Freed was there training with a sword in hand, right? I want to see it once"

"Of course if Lidi wants to see it you can come… However, there's nothing interesting about it. Do you still want to come?"

"Yup"

My goal is to look at Freed. Look at him instructing knights and agonize alone "That cool person is my lover and fiancé, gufufu". Now that I've fallen madly in love with him, including his outwards appearance, I'm attracted even if he's not wearing a military uniform… It's terminal.

When I nodded while beautifully concealing my shameful desires, Freed muttered "Then I must be particularly fired up on that day… I can't show anything uncool to Lidi". Apparently, he'll show me his cool side. Hohohou. I'm very happy.

"You look happy, Lidi"

While smiling, Freed examined my expression. He's close.

His lips were so close, I tilted my head and kissed him.

Freed was cute as he blinked in surprise.

"Lidi?"

"Freed, I love you"

"… Jeez"

When I again kissed him, Freed pressed down on his forehead and breathed a sigh.

"To say that even though I have to go to work… Why only on such days…"

"Freed?"

There there, I tried stroking his head since he exaggeratedly lamented so much.

As soon as I did, I was tightly hugged. I felt I'd melt in his strong hug.

"To toy with me, you're a bad girl, Lidi"

"I didn't do that?"

"You did. You've been instigating me for a while… If I'm to be honest, I should be embracing Lidi about now"

Freed seems to find it regrettable from the bottom of his heart, but so do I. That's why I said.

"Then… Finish your work quickly? I'll be waiting"

"You're right, I will do that by all means. Lidi will be waiting for me tonight, so I'll hurry up and finish work… Hey, Lidi. Tonight you don't have to wear clothes, wait for me in bed in your birthday suit. Honestly, taking off clothes is a waste of time"

"Idiot…"

My whole face flushed as Freed asked me to wait naked in bed.

But, I'm happy to be straightforwardly desired; I think love is truly a troublesome illness.

Both of us closely stick together. My right hand entwines with Freed's left. When I tightly grasped his and he strongly squeezed back, I felt very happy.

"Ehehe…"

I happily grinned.

"What is it?"

"Nn… I thought that I'm happy"

When I laughed ufufu, Freed smiled hopelessly.

"Really… This girl didn't understand a word I said…"

"Freed?"

"It's nothing… Let's stay like this until I leave for work"

I felt strength in the hand grasping mine. Feeling happy, I squeezed back.

"Yup. Ah, do you still have time?"

"Not enough time to embrace Lidi. What is it?"

I lightly scowled at Freed who seemed to say it not entirely as a joke.

"Jeez, that's not it… Listen, it's about Prince Maximilian. Yesterday I said I'd talk, right?"

"Aah"

As if he recalled it, Freed nodded.

Freed knows about my previous life, about Cain, about neutralization magic, and everything.

There's no need to hide anything anymore.

"What does Freed want to hear? If you ask, I'll answer"

Even if I don't mean to hide anything, I don't know what I should talk about. That's why I tried frankly asking.

Freed looked like he thought for a short while, then spoke.

"Let's see… Then, what did make Lidi catch Prince Maximilian's eye? To catch such a troublesome man's eye… I had had an unpleasant premonition, but when it turned out to be right on mark I wanted to cry"

"Ugh…"