AN: Fi… Finally… (´;ω;`)bursts into tears

As planned, the next morning I visited the castle with Father and Brother.

The schedule for today is welcoming Freed in the morning. And in the evening, a victory celebration party.

The purpose of the time until the victory celebration party is to give soldiers a little time to spend with their families and fiancées who came to greet them. Once the party is over, the soldiers will return to their usual duties and have no time to relax. They may be given special holidays, but that's something decided later. For soldiers who want to meet their families quickly, it's an important time.

As I followed after Father and Brother through the castle's corridors wearing a formal dress, I understood everybody else heading towards the same place looked at me with great interest. I was able to hear their secret conversations.

"Hey, it's Vivoir House's…"

"Unbelievable, isn't she the Phantom Princess. There's a rumor she's sickly, is it really fine to come here"

"It's the first time I see her. Hee, as expected she's a beauty…"

"If I'm not mistaken, she's His Highness the Crown Prince's fiancée? It's the result of Prime Minister's abuse of authority"

"She will not be able to perform Princess Consort's duties with a frail body. It is a matter of time before a concubine is invited"

"But, His Highness seemed to declare he won't take a concubine during the engagement ceremony?"

"Just how true is that?"

"My! Alexei-sama came as well. He is as lovely as ever"

"Yeah, he seems to have returned from the territory. It's said he'll return to being His Highness the Crown Prince's close aide at once"

"It is an unusual sight for the three of them to be present"

The rude gazes and words are beyond unpleasant.

As usual, I'm treated like a rare animal. I don't really mind.

But, I must do something about my feeble setting already.

When I tiredly sighed, Father, who's walking in front of me, spoke without looking back.

"What's wrong? Lidi"

"No, I guess everybody likes rumors"

When I answered with a bitter smile, Father surveyed the surroundings with a sharp gaze.

Everybody who just now has been talking about me shriveled and sank into silence.

Brother, who's next to Father, laughed kuku from the bottom of his heart.

"Those guys can only gossip. They will do neither harm nor good. Ignore them"

"Yes"

I obediently nodded to Father's words said loudly on purpose.

Certainly, that's right.

I shrugged my shoulders at the lot who didn't deserve entertaining beyond being looked disapprovingly at.

But, the moment I tried thinking about something else, I heard a shrill voice.

"She is Crown Prince's fiancée? I wonder if she, who does not appear in high society enough, is fit for the role of Princess Consort"

I remember the feeling directed at me.

There's nothing confusing about it… It's jealousy.

Because it came at the time when everybody fell silent, her voice resounded through the corridor. Unsurprisingly, I can't ignore it, slowly I looked at her.

Wearing a dress with fas.h.i.+onable design, a slightly plump woman with a round face glared here. When I compared her against my memory, I realized who she is right away.

―――― Baron Citrine's eldest daughter, huh.

While at it, I recalled her profile. And, oh? Is what I thought.

She made an obviously nasty remark, but surely, she's engaged to one of the members of the Primera Chivalric Order who's returning today.

Only relatives of the partic.i.p.ants of the campaign against Tarim are in this place now.

That is to say, she came here to welcome just one person, her fiancé.

… I see, she's so jealous she'd make nasty remark despite having a fiancé.

With somewhat mixed feelings, I fixedly stared at her.

Apparently, Freed jealousy event happens regardless of marital status.

Receiving my gaze, she backed off several steps flinching.

Speaking of the Primera Chivalric Order, they're a famous chivalric order comprised fully of elite knights. Most of them are children of n.o.bles. I think she has it quite good to be engaged to one of them, but even so, it seems the gra.s.s is always greener on the other side.

At any rate, getting caught in young ladies' worthless jealousy is quite a bother. I wonder if I can't get rid of it somehow.

"Lidi"

Father's voice made me return to my senses.

With a giggle, I softly shook my head as if it was nothing.

Even so, I haven't forgotten her remark. My eyes aren't laughing for sure.

"It is nothing. Just, I wondered if my engagement with His Highness the Crown Prince is enviable despite having a fiancé in the Primera Chivalric Order. That is why I laughed a little"

"Wha"

I guess she heard my words, as the young lady flushed and became lost for words.

Father watched that with a little smile.

"There are fools who cannot understand their status everywhere. Not allowing others to have what one wishes for can only be called petty and unseemly"

Furthermore, amused, Brother followed up Father.

As we're in official place, he's in the mode of the yearned-for ducal house's successor.

"Although feeling jealous might be inevitable, expressing it through slander is truly shameful. I simply cannot think of it as a behavior of a n.o.ble. Isn't it unbecoming, Father?"

"It is as you say"

Receiving their criticism, the young lady has already collapsed.

The people around who may hold ill feelings towards me cast down their eyes. Having the tables turned on them must be unbearable.

I guess she felt like being mean since she was jealous of me being the Crown Prince's fiancée. But, the opponent is out of her league.

I felt sick being told that, so Father and Brother wouldn't stay silent.

In the worst case the problem might spread to her father, Baron Citrine.

Leaving the paled baron's daughter behind, we quickened our steps.

Exiting the corridor, Father continued walking outside.

I was told we'd welcome them right at the Transfer Gate and brought into a vast empty s.p.a.ce near the east tower.

Seeing the unexpectedly huge Transfer Gate for the first time I was taken aback.

No wonder. Even if it's called Transfer Gate, it's only two enormous pillars several hundred meters apart. On those pillars, intricate pattern was tightly engraved, I only understand it's a high level formula.

I couldn't hide my surprise, since it was too different from ordinary transfer gates in towns or churches.

"Huge…"

Father provided me, who was overwhelmed with its size, with an explanation.

"It's a transfer gate that can move thousands at once. Its form is considerably different from ordinary transfer gates. As it can transfer a large number of people, it requires considerable magical power and delicate maintenance. For generations, its management was done by the head of the magic division, currently Will is the sole person responsible for it"

"So that's how it is…"

While being impressed by Father's explanation, I heard a low ba.s.s call out to Brother.

"If it isn't Alex"

Looking in the direction of the voice, the King escorted by royal guards was watching Brother with a gentle smile.

Without panicking, Brother respectfully bowed.

"Excuse my impoliteness, Your Majesty. I sincerely apologize for my delayed greeting"

"Fine. Your ducal training has ended. It will certainly be rea.s.suring for Freed to have you back. I ask you to a.s.sist him"

"I am unworthy of these words. I shall certainly comply"

Following Father and Brother, I also deeply bowed.

Having noticed me, the King called out to me.

"Miss Lidiana. It is good you came here. You coming here will be the best reward for my son. Although I think my son will cause trouble, accompany him for many years to come"

"It is an undeserved honor. I am prepared to support His Highness to the best of my ability"

"Umu"

Seeing the King nod in satisfaction, I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. I felt terribly nervous.

Still, Freed and his father really look alike. With his blond hair and blue eyes, that are said to be the colors of the Royal Family, he looks like how I imagine Freed would look when older.

I quickly scanned over the surroundings, but it seems like the Queen won't be coming. It was a bit regrettable, as I wanted to talk with her about various things.

And like that, the King and Father began talking.

Not partic.i.p.ating in the conversation, I took few steps back, when suddenly the Transfer Gate palely glowed. An enormous magic formation appeared in the sky and the light steadily intensified. It was so dazzling I couldn't see its source anymore.

"They're coming"

Brother, who approached me before I realized, secretly whispered into my ear.

I stared fixedly with squinted eyes at the Transfer Gate, and as the light disappeared, a great number of soldiers materialized.

Even though I was informed in advance, the sight of thousands of soldiers appearing all at once was stunning.

I was struck with admiration seeing the large-scale magical art for the first time.

The soldiers who came looked for and ran to their families right away.

As I was watching that pleasant scene, I noticed a conspicuous man with golden hair. I have no doubt, it's Freed.

He hasn't noticed me yet. He seems to be talking with somebody.

"Ah"

Unconsciously I raised my voice.

He, who's talking with somebody he transferred with, looks a little thinner than he was a month ago.

His hair that may have grown out is casually swept back.

I don't know what I should do.

I can't call out to him, and yet my gaze doesn't move from him.

Seeing my appearance, for some reason Brother laughed amusedly.

Tap, he patted me on the back.

"Lidi, it's Freed"

"… Yup"

I know. Even without being told I know very well.

Even so, my feet won't move, as if sewn together.

Are those business talks or something. I could only motionlessly watch him enthusiastically talk with the man next to him.

Before long, perhaps noticing my gaze, he finished the talk and looked here.

Our eyes certainly met.

When he noticed me, in an instant a broad smiled appeared on Freed's surprised face.

"Lidi"

I was called out in a low, gentle voice. Hearing this voice after the long time, my whole body s.h.i.+vered.

Seeing his open arms, I hesitated to go there.

Next to me brother said "Who's that" with his shoulders shaking in laughter, but I couldn't care less about that.

I can't take my eyes off him. Looking at me, Freed called out once again.

Drawn in, I took a step forward. Strangely, once I took the step, I spontaneously began moving. Before I noticed, I broke into a trot, and unconsciously jumped into his spread arms.

"Freed!!"

"I'm back, Lidi"

Being hugged, I felt so relieved I wanted to cry. I wrapped my hands around his back and returned a tight hug. As I buried my face in his chest, I could hear his heart pound thump thump.

As I finally really felt he returned safely, the inside of my chest p.r.i.c.kled.

Slowly but steadily tears welled up, while trying to conceal it I said in a small voice.

"… Welcome back"

Really, at last.