(TN: These chapters need to be t.i.tled She and her Fetish)

While in a daze, I took Freed's hand as he smiled at me.

Unable to look him in the eye, I avoided his line of sight. He found this amusing.

“Lidi. Because there some words to receive from his Majesty, come over here.”

“eh…y-yes”

As he pulled the hand I entrusted him along, I fl.u.s.teredly nodded.

Even in this situation, I couldn't believe my own boldness for not being able to do anything.

I continued ahead together with Freed, and the two of us bent our knees, lowering our heads in the presences of the King.

“I, Johannes Van De La Wilhem, now recognize Lidiana Von Vivoir as Crown Prince, Friedrick's, Princess Consort*. I now declare here that in half a years time, the wedding ceremony will be held.”

(*TN: I feel like previous translators have touched up on this but the t.i.tle 正妃 – roughly translates to official princess consort, 妃 is used for legal wives of royalties the female consort equivalent. 正妃 is usually the t.i.tle for wife number 1 for royal families that practice polygamy, basically the alpha of the wives.)

At hearing such a serious declaration, I lowered my head even more. With a low penetrating deep voice, I felt a degree of gravity as one would expect from the ruler of this country.

Instantly the surrounding became noisy, but after carefully considering the hall's atmosphere, immediately returned to silence.

The sound announcing that the ceremony ended without incident played, and the King and Queen started to withdraw.

At last, lowering my head for the last time in this engagement ceremony, I let out a sigh of relief as Freed next to me prompted me to stand.

“Lidi, here”

Accepting his escort, we followed behind the King and Queen.

The other officials, even my father, all lowered their heads.

Freed lead me out through the center of the crowd.

And just like that, when I was brought in the direction of the King's office, I clearly began to feel tired.

Even inside the carefree head of mine, the military uniform festival has finally ended, and seem to be entering the clean up stage.

I understandingly felt relieved

when my thoughts regained composure.

I was obviously not okay earlier.

(TN: I can't believe she still hung up on that- lol but an explanation if it sounds confusing, she was imagining a literal j.a.panese festival in her head.)

My father later enter into the office.

As he closed and locked the door, he lightly nodded in the direction facing the King.

“Lady Lidiana”

“Yes, your Majesty”

Hearing the King's voice, I took a step back and lowered my head.

With that, I shook off Freed's hand.

“Up to here is fine. Raise your face. More than that, I think we should first concern ourselves with the confirmation of the「King's Flower」”

“Of course, your Majesty. Certainly, please confirm.”

I had no power to refuse.

Understanding that, I took off the bolero I had on.

It wasn't a problem since this was a type of dress that didn't needed a bolero in the first place.

As soon as I took off the bolero, the Blue Rose「King's Flower」could be seen.

Confirming that it certainly existed on my left breast, the King looked to the Queen.

“My Queen. Please confirm”

“Yes, your Majesty”

The Queen, who had been standing silently next to the King this whole time, reached her hand out to me.

I was perplexed as I didn't know what to do, but seeing the King and Queen's serious expressions, I kept my mouth shut.

Silently, the Queen placed her hand gently on top of my「King's Flower」.

Tightly I felt something warm inside my body. It felt like being tied together with something else by a fine thread.

Giving a surprise expression, I was met with the Queen's beautiful amber eyes.

The expressionless Queen had a very beautiful face.

Because she was born from another country, in her slender chiseled features that was different from our country, you could see deep colors of fatigue appearing and disappearing in her face.

After staring at me in silence for a moment, the Queen lifted her hand and it was over.

“Your Majesty, this is without a doubt the「King's Flower」”

“I see”

Informing it as such, the Queen returned to her spot next to the King.

As I stared on blankly, Freed, while saying ‘thanks for the hard work’, returned

returned to my side.

“This is also part of the ceremony. Sorry. This is because a woman that's been granted the「King's Flower」, receives a confirmation from a woman that also holds a「King's Flower」.”

“confirm…?”

Hearing this, Freed thought so that was「King's Flower」.

“Even I didn't know, that there was an invisible connection between those that had the「King's Flower」. And that it was used for the sake of confirming, because you can feel it through touch.”

“Earlier's……”

It was a warm mysterious feeling of being tied together with something. Was that it?

As expected it wasn't just something like a mere tattoo. As I was thinking that, the King turned to Freed and spoke.

“You did well, Freed. As of now you are officially recognized as our country's Crown Prince. Don't let me see anything that would put your position to shame.”

“I understand”

While I watched him bow gracefully, I recalled that the royal family would not officially recognize him until he received a princess consort. If that was the case then up until now, I wonder if he was just treated as the Crown Prince only in name.

“Lidi”

My father, that was standing apart from us, came over to my side with a relieved expression.

With the tension in the air dispersing, I understood that the rites that were planned for today were all over with.

“Father”

At any rate, it seems he had something on his mind but decided not to say it. I felt like crying from relief. I was tired. While I approached my father in order to appeal to him that I wanted to quickly return home, Freed grabbed on of my arms.

“Well then Father, we are done here, right?”

“Eh?”

Not understanding the meaning, I looked up to Freed.

“Can't you wait just a bit longer? You are a little too impatient”

“I want to quickly be alone with just the two of us. Please do not disturb us.”

Freed, who spoke to the King in a casual manner, latched on to my arm and was not letting go.

As I looked to my father with a troubled expression, he weakly shook his head. He seems to have given up.

Eh? If the ceremony is over with already, then I want

I want to go home quickly.

“Freed”

He pulled my arm with a few light tugs.

Despite telling him to let go, as if misunderstanding something, he instead narrowed his eyes at me and caressed my head.

………ahh. As expected he's good-looking.

“See, even Lidi says she quickly wants to be alone with me. If it's about the discussion we can have it again at anytime, so for now please pardon me for the day.”

“Eh…..that's not…”

“Let's head to my room, okay? I’ll show you the way.”

As I turned red from his smile, it was taken as a yes, and I was slowly dragged outside.

Completely like a helpless calf, I looked to my father for help, but he quickly diverted his eyes.

Ah, I’ve been sold.

It was like getting roped away by something long.*

(TN: continuation of her imagery of being sold like a calf)

Of course, I knew in the olden days it was like being sold, but what kind of father would not reach his hand out to his obviously troubled daughter.

Freed, who was in an unusually good mood, brought me along while walking down a beautiful corridor, still holding my arm. Even so, I called out to him in a voice that could not be ignored.

“Freed”

“What is it Lidi?”

“Today's arrangements seemed to have finished. If that's the case, since I don't have a reason to be here, I wanted return home…”

“You can't”

Despite raising a sound argument, it was flatly rejected.

Furthermore the grip on my arm tighten, and my face scowled in pain.

“….it hurts”

“Sorry. But right now it's Lidi's fault. For a whole day yesterday I didn't see Lidi right? Yet you already want to go home, how's that not too much?”

“Even if you say that……”

“Besides, Lidi said she likes this outfit right? Don't you think you want to slowly appreciate it”

“Wha-!?”

Hitting the bullseye, my cheeks became hot. Even though I was being careful not to be found out, I never expected I’d be noticed. How careless!!

“……I don't know what you’re talking about”

Even I thought this was a poor excuse, but I didn't need to say it.

Freed decisively followed up with the heart of the matter.

“You were

the matter.

“You were absentmindedly watching me in fascination the whole time, you know.”

He let out a smile, and I wanted to disappear from the embarra.s.sment.

Since I was already found out, there was no meaning in hiding it now.

Dejectedly dropping my shoulders, I gave up and apologized.

“……..I’m terribly sorry”

“There's no need to apologize. If Lidi captivated by it, then even if I’m in a cramp formal wear, there's meaning to it.”

Saying that, Freed inserted 2 of his long fingers into his collar, and gently loosened it.*

‘Fuuu’, letting out a breath, he lightly stretched his neck.

His beautiful blonde hair gently spread about.

(*TN: left the verbatim translation because it was funnier)

“––!”

Forgive me………

…..that gesture was seriously going to killed me, I thought.

No good, it was too much to bear.

Unintentionally I covered my mouth with one hand and shut my eyes*, and squeezed out a voice while trembling.

(TN: with a ‘gyuuto’ sound – ぎゅうっと)

“…..if it's a just bit then”

I’ll go, before I noticed the words came out.

“Really? I’m so happy”

It was certainly a complete defeat.

I nodded to my defeat by the appeal of the military uniform.

But it couldn't be helped. That gesture, no matter how you look it, was foul play.

Me, who wanted to bring home pretty men in military uniform.

……….I’m sorry.

I couldn't stop this heart-throbbing situation like an iiot.

Freed happily smiled at me, who was nodding with a bright red face.

It seemed that there was something dark mixed in with that smiling face, I wanted to think that it was just my imagination.

By the way, there were naturally royal guards stationed nearby, but it was undoubtedly not a mistake that I noticed being watched with warm eyes.

Letting go of my arm, Freed in exchange wrapped his arm around my waist.

“Let's go”

As he whispered in my ear, I shook my head with a yes.

Military Uniform festival was not over. I’d just come to realize that.

–––––Military Uniform Festival, FOREVER

Muttering that in my heart, I raised the white flag to surrender and obediently followed him.

……More or less I wanted some of my overreactions to be forgiven. Even I, myself don't really understand why I’ve become like this.

……Really, why??