"Hey, Freed. There"s something I want to talk about."
"Nn?"

Right when we returned to the room after finis.h.i.+ng dinner, I called out to Freed.
He drew my waist towards himself and was just about to kiss me, but with a slightly disappointed voice he stopped.
… I"d known this would happen, so I called out to him first.
Recently, Freed makes a move on me as soon as we return to the room.
I don"t really mind that, but on days like today it"s a little troubling.
I might get tired from s.e.x and fall asleep, and it"s not a talk I want to have in the characteristic post-act flirty mood.
That"s why I hurriedly called out to him, but I felt sorry seeing him make a face like he"s made to wait.

"Umm, err… Sorry?"

I subconsciously stretched my back and stroked Freed"s head.
I stuck my fingers in his pleasant-to-touch hair. As I did that, Freed slipped out a chuckle.

"Why are you apologizing? I won"t deny that it"s regrettable, but you want to talk first, right?"

Apparently, it didn"t spoil his humor. While glad, I said to Freed.

"Yup, I do. The explanation will be long, so first of all sit down."

I led Freed to the sofa and had him take a seat. I sat down next to him.
Immediately, a hand was wrapped around my waist. Feeling like it should be okay, I leaned my head on Freed"s shoulder.
Somehow, I have a feeling recently this has become a standard position for us.

"First of all I"ll talk, so could you listen to the end?"

When I broached the subject, Freed nodded slightly in agreement.

"Okay. Perhaps, you"ll talk about what you said some time ago, that you"d tell me when you understood everything?"
"Yup, that"s right."
"Got it."

When I affirmed, Freed nodded, satisfied.
His face turned earnest. Apparently, he intends to listen seriously.
I can"t advance without Freed"s cooperation, so I was relieved he took a listening posture.

"Thanks. Listen, it"s about His Majesty and Mother-in-law――."
"… Eh? About those two?"
"Yup…"

I explained what I"d understood until now in order.
There were some things I didn"t want to talk about yet, but since I decided to have Freed cooperate, I talked about everything.
When I finished talking, Freed had his eyes wide open in astonishment.

"… Truly?"
"Yup, I think there"s no mistaking it."

Rather than coming off as doubtful, his voice sounded like he didn"t want to believe it.
However, Freed said with a complicated face.

"Certainly, it appears to be the only explanation going by your story, Lidi… but honestly, I had never considered it."
"I was quite skeptical from the beginning."
"Is that so?"
"Yup, after all, wasn"t their behavior quite easy to understand?"
"… I wonder."

I didn"t notice at all, said Freed.
He exhaled like he was tired.

"That Mother did… huh. But with that in mind, I feel Father is pitiful…"

I understood from Freed"s att.i.tude until now that he"d take the King"s side, but I still couldn"t ignore it.
I sternly said.

"Freed, it"s different. His Majesty isn"t pitiful. Because, the first one to make a mistake was His Majesty. Not Mother-in-law."
"Lidi?"

When I clearly told him, Freed looked at me with a surprised face.

"Mother-in-law was driven to the wall. She was exhausted of the life where she was desired day after day, be it morning, day, or night, without ever being told that she was loved. His Majesty cornered Mother-in-law to that extent. Even her current att.i.tude is in a sense His Majesty reaping what he sowed."
"Lidi, but Mother is a person who said it"d be good if she hadn"t given birth to me."

Freed said to interrupt my words. But, his voice was trembling.
Unable to endure it, I hugged Freed on the spur of the moment.

"I know."
"Ah."

Hearing my words, Freed"s shoulders shook with a start. To comfort him, I stroked his back.

"Sorry, Freed. When I stayed overnight at Mother-in-law"s place some time ago, I heard that story from Mother-in-law. Mother-in-law unintentionally spoke those words when she was driven to the wall by His Majesty, they weren"t her true feelings. Even now, Mother-in-law regrets them."
"Ah!"

He must"ve absolutely not expected me to answer like that. The movement of Freed"s hand that was hugging me stopped. I continued talking to persuade him who was like that.

"Freed, when you heard those words, Mother-in-law was already at her limit. Had her Royal Flower changed like mine, that wouldn"t have happened, but it hadn"t for Mother-in-law. Honestly, I don"t think ordinary women can keep up with your family"s libido. Even I had a hard time in the beginning."

Actually, thanks to Ms. Delris it was hardly a hard time. Even so, I don"t know if I could"ve held out without the stamina recovery medicine.

"About that… sorry."

Hearing my words, Freed grimaced.
I calmly shook my head to that.

"It"s fine. Freed, you managed to make me accept you, so I don"t mind. However, it"s different for Mother-in-law… I want you to understand that."
"Yup…"

He must"ve given it some thought. From within my arms, Freed returned an affirmation.

"Freed, at that time, Mother-in-law was exhausted both mentally and physically and wasn"t able to even apologize to you. But, she regrets that choice even now. I understood from talking with her. Freed, Mother-in-law properly looks at you and loves you."
"…"

Freed didn"t answer. Probably, his mind"s in turmoil.
Without minding that I continued.

"My conjecture is that Mother-in-law is unaccustomed to being honest. I wonder if she simply was too stubborn towards you two."

She was royalty from the start, her pride must be high like mountains towering amongst clouds. I"m sure she couldn"t back down while putting on a brave front.
The line about her being envious of me and Freed being close, I think that was Mother-in-law"s true feelings.

"… I don"t think her stubbornness is on the level where it can be explained as unaccustomed to being honest."

After a while Freed muttered so.
He stirred, so I released him from within my arms. He looked at me with a troubled face. Seeing Freed like that, I asked.

"After all, you can"t believe it so suddenly?"

The misunderstanding continued for fifteen years. Moreover, it became a wound for the young Freed that remains even now. There"s no way he could suddenly accept being told that it"s alright and he"s actually loved.
However, Freed silently shook his head. His expression was surprisingly calm.

"I believe. If I were told by anybody else I wouldn"t, but it"s Lidi who said it… Lidi, I believe what you say unconditionally."
"Freed…"

He was so very dear when he said he believes it because I said it, my chest trembled.
Aah, after all I love Freed. I hopelessly love this person, who loves me so straightforwardly no matter what.
Freed softly cast down his eyes.

"Honestly, I"m confused. However, I can"t pretend not to notice when I"ve been made aware… I must be an adult here… How pathetic that this is the Crown Prince."

Editor: Valeria