I freely enjoyed Lidi, who was sweet like a candy, and after cleaning our bodies contacted Clara.
Clara understandingly brought in the meal right away, perhaps I should say it"s as expected but despite several hours pa.s.sing since then the meal was still warm.

"Sorry. Even though I had said I"d come home early, I kept you waiting a long time. You"re hungry, right. It"s late, but let"s eat dinner"
"Mu. If you had noticed, I wish we had eaten before"

She must be saying we did it too much. Implicitly criticized for ultimately not being satisfied with three times, I smiled wryly. I reached my hand for her cheek. Acting spoiled, Lidi snuggled up to my hand.

"Yup, but Lidi was immensely cute. I thought we could have dinner later"
"… Idiot"

When I kissed her lips, the outer corners of her eyes, that had slightly risen, easily lowered.
It"s obvious she isn"t seriously angry.
She must"ve wanted to complain once to feel better. Her empty stomach seems to bother her.
As Lidi began clutching her stomach in her arms in hunger, I placed her on my lap.
When I brought food to Lidi"s mouth to feed her, she obediently opened it.

"Delicious"
"I"m glad"

As Lidi"s mood immediately recovered to match the situation, I stroked her hair.
Which reminds me.
When we did things similar to now.
The first time she wasn"t embarra.s.sed in the slightest. After some time pa.s.sed, she began being strangely bashful.
And now that our feelings have become mutual… although bashful, she opens her mouth with a happy face.
While chewing, she pulled on a sleeve of my clothes and appealed that she wants to do it next. On top of answering her, I opened my mouth.

"I want to feed you too"
"… Jeez, it just can"t be helped"

As I said that, Lidi made a happy face. As if she was happy by just returning the favor, she fed me.

"Yes… Say aah"
"Aah. Nn, it"s delicious. I wonder if it"s because I was fed by Lidi?"

When I said that her ears turned slightly red.

"T, there"s no way, right. Then, my turn…"
"I know. What do you want to eat next?"

Lidi looked at me wanting more. Her face was so extremely lovely I dropped a kiss on her forehead.

"Fuwah…! E, err, see…."

Kissed, Lidi laughed embarra.s.sedly. She snuggled up to my body. I"m happy. I"m extremely happy.
Such a dinner is fine too once in a while. After finis.h.i.+ng the intimate meal with Lidi, I had the court ladies who had been waiting tidy up.
It seems Lidi only noticed the existence of the court ladies at that time, but when I whispered "It"s too late, isn"t it", she hung her head in resignation. I want to clearly note that Lidi who looked up at me bitterly was very cute.
… Yup. After all, let"s make Lidi the after meal dessert.

"I see… So Cain has already departed"
"Yeah, he told me to take care of Lidi. He didn"t need to ask though, Lidi is my lover after all"

The court ladies withdrew, and when we returned to being alone, we moved to the couch and talked about Cain heading for Sahaja on his own.
When I told her Cain immediately went away after talking with me, Lidi showed a slightly lonesome face.

"Nn… Lonely?"

I don"t mean to be jealous towards Cain. I understand both Lidi"s and Cain"s feelings. But seeing her so blatantly down, after all a hazy feeling welled up.

"Yup… After all, I am. I"m worried Cain will do something dangerous"

As Lidi sighed, I irritably poked her cheek.

"Cain too must not want to make Lidi worry"
"Mu. What does it mean"
"Sorry, sorry"

I apologized to Lidi who looked at me with reproachful eyes.
After all there"s something dispirited about her. I hugged Lidi and said to calm her.

"… It"ll be alright"
"Freed?"
"Cain looked quite strong to me. He"ll surely be alright. So don"t make such an uneasy face. Even though I don"t mean to, won"t that make me jealous"
"… I thought you weren"t jealous of Cain"
"Well, see"

Lidi looked at me with surprised eyes, as expected she noticed.
But, after all deep down I feel it would be good to be the only one who Lidi worries about.

"I"m not jealous of Cain. That"s the truth. But look, it"s unpleasant for Lidi to have strong feelings for anybody aside from me, even if they aren"t love. I want Lidi to only look at me"
"Freed… You"re narrowminded"
"Yup, isn"t that what I always say. When Lidi is concerned, I am an exhaustively narrowminded man"

When I tightly hugged her, her arms wrapped around my back.

"Even though I"m only worried about Cain because he"s going to a dangerous place…"
"Yup, I understand that. But, I"m jealous that he has Lidi worry for him"

I don"t doubt Lidi"s feelings. But, I just think he has it nice.
When I spoke my honest feelings, Lidi said troubledly.

"… In case Freed leaves for war again… I think I"ll worry incomparably more than about Cain? After all Freed is my most important person"
"Hee? I"m happy about that"

When I said that teasingly, Lidi pouted.

"Jeez… Even though it"s the truth. To be honest, I don"t want you to go. That"s why… I wish a war doesn"t break out"
"You"re right"

I gently stroked Lidi"s back as she strongly clung to me.
That said, Tarim will move south the next year, and a war with Sahaja is probably inevitable. Somehow I sense the war drawing near.
And although Lidi doesn"t know, she surely feels the unsettling atmosphere too.
That"s why she"s so anxious.

"It"s alright. No matter what happens, I will definitely return to Lidi"
"Yup"
"At such times it"s good that I"m strong. Because I can promise I will definitely return"
"… I don"t want you to stand at frontline"
"Sorry, that"s impossible"

I shook my head with a wry smile.
My presence at the frontline relieves soldiers of their fear. Just knowing that, I couldn"t nod no matter how much Lidi wishes for it.
Lidi too must know it"s an impossible request.
I understand that, sorry. She apologized, crestfallen.
Even though there was no need for an apology. I understand Lidi said that purely because she thinks of me.
If the scene wasn"t like this, Lidi would have never said it.
I strongly hugged her, happy that she holds me dear.

"I"m sorry for making you worry. But, it"s my job to protect the country, and besides it will lead to protecting Lidi. That"s why I"ll definitely win and return, no matter what happens I won"t hand over the role of protecting Lidi to anyone"
"I, I will protect Freed too"

I felt warm as Lidi appealed that she doesn"t want to only be protected.
n.o.body mentions protecting me.
They may think I"m somebody to be protected, but as a matter of fact I"m stronger than anyone in this country.
It"s only my beloved fiancée who understands that and yet seriously says she wants to protect me.
I tremendously love such Lidi.

"I"m always protected by Lidi, you know?"

My world has colors because Lidi is on my side. I can smile because Lidi loves me. I"m already protected by Lidi more than she imagines.

"That"s why I want to protect such Lidi"
"Freed?"

When she looked up, I dropped a light kiss on her lips.
Then I said.

"I will protect you. Surely, no matter from who. That"s why Lidi, don"t look away. Look only at me"
"I"m not looking away"

I sweetly smiled at Lidi who protested while inflating her cheeks.

"Yup. Then you don"t need to worry about Cain anymore, right"
"Eh"
"Lidi is fully occupied just by looking at me, right?"
"Eh? Eh? Waa"

I lifted Lidi in my arms and headed for the bedroom.
When I dropped a kiss on her forehead, Lidi became obedient at once. She tightly grasped my clothes.

"Jeez, jeeez… We did it so much before"
"It wasn"t enough at all. Or I can"t? I want to enjoy Lidi more though…"

When I said the words oozing with sensuality, Lidi flared red and gave a small nod.

"F, fine"
"Fufu… Thanks. Hey, Lidi"
"Nn?"

As Lidi raised her face, I narrowed my eyes and said.

"My words before. Don"t forget them. I"ll definitely protect Lidi. It doesn"t matter if Cain is here or not. That"s why Lidi, call me at any time. I"ll immediately leap to you then"

When I told her that with my gaze cast down at the King"s Flower, Lidi blinked her eyes.
Then she softly smiled.

"Yup. Freed is my only prince. It"s alright, even without being told that I"d surely call Freed"
"It"s a promise"

When she nodded, I gently put her down on the bed.
The sweet time is beginning again. Feeling that, I smiled.

"I love you. I"ll make Lidi experience so much you won"t have time to feel anxious… So don"t worry about Cain more than necessary"
"So it comes to that? … Who said he"s not jealous of Cain?"
"You"re saying it now?"

The bed creaked.
Lidi had a troubled face, but she didn"t return a refusal.

"Yes, say aah"
"Aah. Nn, since Lidi fed me it"s delicious"
"T, that"s not true. It"s delicious because it"s Head Chef"s cooking…"
"But, I feel it"s more delicious than usual"
"It, it"s your imagination…"
"You"re cute when bashful. Here, want a grape? Say aah"
"Nn… Aah… Delciious"
"Heh… I"m glad"

―― Flirt flirt. Flirt flirt flirt.

Before my eyes His Highness and Princess Consort are intimately eating while clinging to each other, so much that I can almost hear those words.
I had no problem with bringing in the meal per His Highness"s orders, but for some reason His Highness put Princess Consort on his lap and began feeding her the meal.
I can"t help but be embarra.s.sed by them being so lovey-dovey it"s difficult to look at them straight.
Both me and the five court ladies under me were looking down while feeling like running away.
Even if we should welcome the future King and Queen being close, doesn"t this go a little too far.

"Yes, next… Aah, Lidi. You have cream stuck on your cheek…"
"Eh? Where? Hyah"

With a smooch His Highness licked the cream off Princess Consort"s cheek.
Although Princess Consort blushed, she happily laughed.

"Jeez, jeeez, I would"ve removed it myself had you told me"
"It"s faster if I remove it, right? Or was it unpleasant?"
"U, unpleasant… I, I was happy, okay?"
"Cute…!"

As if he couldn"t stand it, His Highness hugged Princess Consort who turned bright red and hung her head.
Princess Consort showed no resistance to being hugged.

"… Head Court Lady. Would it not be better if we waited outside?"

One of the court ladies next to me suggested so in a whisper.
How good would it be if I could nod to her.

"… We cannot do such a thing of our own accord without being told to leave. Our job is to wait until the meal is finished"
"… Yes"

When I rebuked the court lady similarly in a whisper, she obediently backed down, perhaps too understanding that.
… However, I understand what she wanted to say.
Rather than us being a hindrance to His Highness, this sweetness is too much to bear, is what she must"ve wanted to say.

"Yes, next. What does Freed want to eat?"
"Nn? Anything Lidi chooses is fine"
"Is that so? Then, this. I found it delicious before, so I"ll feed it to Freed"
"Thanks… Yup, it"s certainly delicious"
"Right?"

The distance between them giggling with their foreheads brought together is incredibly close.
They were intimate before, but I feel recently even sweeter atmosphere drifts from them.
Especially from Princess Consort.
It was obvious that Princess Consort had feelings for His Highness before, but she drew back from His Highness"s touch a little.
And yet, around a month ago that barrier was suddenly removed.
His Highness was originally like that, but when Princess Consort began responding to him, I wondered what I should do.
And as a result, they began exhibiting an impossible degree of flirting.
Still, both seem aware of it, so they"re a little better when outside… But now they"re in their room, they can only be seen as flirting with all their power.

After the meal that tested our perseverance finished, I cleaned up the dinnerware together with my subordinates.
Partway through, Princess Consort seems to have recalled our existence, but when His Highness whispered "It"s too late, isn"t it" to her, she hung her head.
I"m glad. Princess Consort still seems to have the sense of embarra.s.sment.
Please, don"t lose it.

"Then please excuse us"
"Yeah, sorry for being so late. I was saved"
"No, it is most important we could prove useful to His Highness. Good night"
"Good night"

I gave His Highness nightly farewell and left the room with the court ladies.
The door closed. The instant it did, I could hear five people breathe out. Everybody"s sighs resounded surprisingly loud.
One court lady said with a bright red face.

"Jeez, jeeez. Aren"t His Highness and Princess super lovey-dovey recently! I certainly thought they were close before, but! Jeez, His Highness"s affection is embarra.s.sing to look at! Both of them seem extremely happy!"

Another court lady next to her deeply nodded.

"Truly! They were feeding each other! Jeez, what is it! Why are they so lovey-dovey. I can"t bear to watch it! How nice! I want a lover too!"
"Even Princess Consort was elated… With Princess Consort joining in, who will stop His Highness! I was envious just watching… My lover won"t do such things to me!"

I gave a sharp look to court ladies who immediately started making a noise. Making a noise in such a place is only an inconvenience.

"… This is why they won"t stop. Never mind, let"s transport the tableware. Head towards the kitchen"
"Head Court Lady… Yes"

As expected, the court ladies fell silent, but well… I want to say the same things as them.
While on the way to the kitchen, I spoke.

"… Recently, the relations.h.i.+p between His Highness and Princess Consort seems particularly good. It is desirable for the future of the kingdom"

When I summarized, my subordinates returned "Yes".
Everybody working inside the Royal Palace knows the relations.h.i.+p between the current King and Queen is not very good.
That may be exactly why the excessively intimate relations.h.i.+p between His Highness and Princess Consort is so dazzling.
Looking at the two of them happily cuddling close together, there"s a great number of people narrowing their eyes in relief… Or rather, almost everybody thinks that. But similarly, they seem to find it hard to endure.
Marks of His Highness"s owners.h.i.+p I see when I a.s.sist Princess Consort in changing clothes every morning. Overwritten every day, they"re colored red. The future of the kingdom… surely is secure.
One of the court ladies put her hands on her cheeks.

"I"m looking forward to the wedding"

At those words voices of consent arose one by one.

"Truly, we have to do our best at makeup!"
"Let"s dress up Princess Consort beautifully… His Highness will surely be delighted when we make her the most beautiful maiden in the world"
"It"s important to make His Highness look cool too. Surely Princess Consort will be overjoyed"
"I"m itching to put my skills to use"

In spite of being admonished, my subordinates didn"t stop conversing.
But, well, whatever, I won"t stop them. While walking through the splendid corridor I thought.

In the end everyone is glad that His Highness, who had always been alone, could become happy.
And everyone is even more glad that Princess Consort reciprocates His Highness"s love.
That"s why――.

"Fufufu. Let"s continue working with royal guards to actively drive off young ladies who try to disturb His Highness and Princess Consort"
"Yeah, naturally! We won"t let anyone pour cold water on their happiness!"
"Let"s review patrol routes. Then talk with royal guards again!"

… I pretended not to hear court ladies" disturbing remarks.