This afternoon I received telepathic communication from Cain.

Before that I had been contacted that Lidi would go to town to visit the witch, so I thought he conscientiously informed me she got back in time, but my expectations were betrayed when the telepathic communication connected.

He asked for my time. His voice was serious, so although I nodded, unsure of the topic I braced myself a little.

The reason is, Cain only moves for Lidi's sake.

Cain is a Hiyuma.

Hiyumas don't move for anybody but their master. Because that Cain asked me to make time to talk, I thought something important happened.

There was still work left, but I immediately sent Alex home and waited for the meeting time alone.

But, when I heard the story from Cain who arrived on time, I was honestly surprised.

He said he's going to Sahaja and to take care of Lidi.

Of course I nodded immediately.

He doesn't need to ask that. Lidi is my beloved mate. I'm the only one who should protect her.

Looking relieved, Cain explained the situation, entrusted Lidi to me, and departed for that country, but…

The man, who has no intention of getting along with me and never shares more than the bare minimum of information, unusually provided me with lavish information.

It's not something our spies could obtain.

Valuable information that can't possibly be known to anyone but him, such as information on a.s.sa.s.sin guilds and even Apostate's method of attack. I was surprised, since I truly hadn't expected to teach me so much.

With the information taught by him, various things connected.

The King hired Apostate. And he's aiming at Wilhelm royalty.

With that alone, separate information that until now were like dots formed a line.

“For now I have to organize information”

The line connected. What else will it connect.

Their final aim is of course to kill me, but it's too roundabout. I have to grasp how their actions connect to me. Aah, right. That matter isn't unrelated either.

Phew, breathing out I tidied up doc.u.ments. It's finally the end of today's work.

By sending Alex home first, I ran quite late.

Even though I said I'd come home quickly; I feel sorry to Lidi.

Surely she's eagerly waiting for me. Thinking she might sulk, I felt impatient.

And realizing that Lidi waiting for me has without a doubt become natural for me, I laughed a little.

With our feelings becoming mutual, Lidi has come to regard me as her lover and has become even more spoiled than before.

Her behavior unique to lovers is to sum it up in one word cute.

When she calls my name, her voice is filled with sweetness. Just hearing it makes my body s.h.i.+ver and rouses unbearable desire. To make matters worse, happily laughing she snuggles up to my body, there's no way I could endure it.

Even without that, my only mate is with me. My state where I can't help but want to always touch her could be seen as punishment, but fortunately for me, after our feelings became usual, the number of times she pleads me to do it has increased.

Lidi tells me “I love you” with her beautiful violet eyes moist. Somebody please tell me what man could endure being clung to by their impossibly lovely lover. After instinctually indulging in her lips, there's only rus.h.i.+ng into it.

Sweet times with my lover who reciprocates my love and who I'll marry soon.

I'm so happy it's dizzying, I think I'm extremely fortunate to be able to spend time like that.

I nimbly tidied up my desk and left the office.

Clara, who was waiting outside, called out to me.

“Thank you for your hard work. Your Highness. Princess Consort seems to not have eaten a meal yet, what will Your Highness do?”

“Lidi hasn't?”

“Yes. She said she is waiting for His Highness's return”

“I see, I did something bad. I promised Lidi I would return early”

“Indeed”

Immediately I felt regretful over making her wait hungry.

But, hearing Lidi is waiting for me, I felt my heart fill with a warm feeling.

I am truly happy that I can now experience her love in even such a trivial way.

“Afterwards we will… No, could you bring the meal to the room. I will indicate the timing via telepathic communication”

“Certainly”

Leaving behind Clara who was bowing her head, I hurried to my room.

Lidi makes miserable faces when hungry.

Thinking that around now she's waiting for me with an empty stomach, I naturally quickened my pace to return quickly.

If I could use telepathic communication with Lidi it wouldn't be like this, but this isn't bad either.

Not knowing when I'll come back, Lidi always shows a smile like an enthusiastically blooming flower. I am always healed by her expression that shows how happy she is. My fatigue is blown away in an instant.

“Lidi?”

I opened the door.

The lights were on, but there was no Lidi to be seen in the main room.

When I wondered what's going on, I heard a quiet voice from the bedroom.

“… Freed? Are you back?”

“Yup, sorry I'm late. I'm home, Lidi”

I felt relieved to hear the voice unmistakably belonging to my beloved and headed for the bedroom.

There was a bulge on the bed. Lidi must be under.

When I called out to her again, Lidi suddenly stuck out her head. She looked around, and upon discovering me, her expression lightly slackened.

… Cute.

“Welcome home, Freed”

“Yup, why is my Lidi hiding under the bedsheet?”

I sat on the bedside and took the bedsheet in my hand.

“Ah… Don't”

No no, for some reason Lidi resisted, but without caring I tore it off… And, tumbling out, she appeared, stark naked. I blinked my eyes and stared at her. In the twinkling of an eye her whole body turned bright red.

“Lidi…”

“No… Give it back. Jeez… Don't you remember. Wasn't I supposed to do this…”

I avoided Lidi as she desperately tried taking back the bedsheet from me and pinned her down.

Of course I remember the capricious promise from the morning.

I was frustrated to have been instigated by Lidi yet unable to do anything, so I pleaded that I'll come back soon so I want her to wait with her clothes off.

I said it jokingly, but of course I was serious.

But I certainly didn't expect her to really do it.

Lidi stared at me with teary eyes. Her moist eyes had an inexpressible appeal. I unconsciously gulped. I understood the heat in my lower half got severe.

… I'm glad I told Clara I'd contact her later.

It would be unbearable if she intruded in this situation.

I've waited until now.

Lidi too doesn't seem to mind accepting me. Still pinning her down, I silently kissed the King's Flower.

“Fuah? Freed?”

Her body quivered with a twitch.

She must be doing her best despite embarra.s.sment because I want it.

I'm tremendously happy about her sweet feelings.

My mouth spontaneously loosened.

“Of course I remember. Lidi, you did your best, right. I'm happy”

“… Nn”

Thank you, as I said that, though embarra.s.sed Lidi nodded.

Really, she's so cute I don't know what to do.

I was very late to come back, so Lidi must be hungry.

I know that, but I can't possibly let go of Lidi when she's like this.

I buried my face in her neck, and quietly asked her a question.

“… Can we do it three times for now?”

“Eh… Three times…? Huh? Freed?”

―― I felt sorry for Lidi, but I couldn't pretend I'd only do it once.

◆◇◆

“Uuuu… What should I do”

Some time after Cain said he's going to Freed.

I am extremely troubled.

That said, what's troubling me is not really Cain.

Of course I'm very worried about him, but I feel it won't make me lose sight of my usual self. I can keep my promise with Cain by living every day properly.

Just recklessly worrying and moping would trouble Cain, Freed and others too would be inconvenienced.

In the end I decided to be how I usually am.

That's why it's not this that worries me at the moment. It's not this… Err, it's that. The promise with Freed.

“You don't have to wear clothes, I want you to wait naked”, this morning I was told such words jokingly. I wonder if I should seriously put them into practice.

I am seriously considering it.

“Em… bara.s.sing… But Freed said he wants it…”

Fortunately, n.o.body will ever enter Freed's bedroom without saying anything.

There's no problem in terms of not being seen, so I have room to consider it.

“I… I also want us to embrace… If Freed will be pleased, I feel it's worth trying”

Imagining Freed smiling happily, I turned bright red.

… Jeez, I really do love Freed.

It's dreadful how there's no stopping various things since our feelings became mutual.

“But… I'm happy, so whatevs…”

Ufufu, as I was laughing by myself, I heard knocking on the door to the main room.

I looked up at the watch. Judging from time, it's Clara.

“Yes”

“Princess Consort, may I?”

“Yeah, feel free”

Hearing the expected Clara's voice, I let her enter the room.

When Clara went in and noticed me, she formally bowed. The court ladies following her also bowed their heads.

“Princess Consort. It will soon be time for dinner, will you move to the dining room?”

Understanding what she came here for, I gave a composed nod and thought a little.

Freed said he'll quickly finish work today. In that case――.

“I will wait for Freed. Occasionally I want to eat with him”

“Certainly. Then I will report that to Head Chef”

“Yeah, please do”

Clara and the court ladies again bowed their heads and left the room.

Left alone in the room, I moved to the bedroom.

“Alright… Women must be brave. I'll be immediately undressed anyway, it shouldn't be different from the usual. Go! Me!”

Having persuaded myself, I resolutely threw off the clothes I was wearing.

…

……

“… Uwa. No good, this is incredibly embarra.s.sing”

I tried taking them off, but I have no idea what I should do next.

I only understand this is extremely embarra.s.sing.

“… At least let's wait in bed”

It's impossible for me to wait naked sitting on the bed. Let's wait for Freed buried in the bedsheet.

It will be a little less embarra.s.sing that way.

“Uu… Come back quickly… Freed…”

My stomach growled. Of all things for my stomach to cry just when I decided to wait.

“Uuuu…. I feel hungry, Freed…. Hurry up”

I held my stomach under the bedsheet.

However, the more time pa.s.ses, the more embarra.s.sed I am.

But, feeling like I'd somehow lose if I put on clothes this late, I continued waiting for Freed in bed frustrated, but――.

Foolishly, I completely forgot.

That my lover is a matchless prince who prioritizes libido over hunger.

Perhaps I should say it was expected, but after coming back Freed was honest to his desires.

Even after the number of time exceeded what he'd told me at the start, he didn't stop moving his hips.

I'm happy to be embraced a lot, however, having enough of being hungry I pushed his body to complain.

“I'm hungry… Let's continue after eating…”

“Yup, got it. But, let's do it a bit longer, okay?”

I can't say I don't want to under his gaze.

“Uu… I, I will really only keep you company for a bit longer, okay?”

“Thanks”

“Nn… Ah…”

And then, again and again coaxed by Freed, I ultimately ended up having a meal only after a few hours.

It was at that moment that it sunk in that being in love is a terrifying weakness.