"Freed."

Perhaps relieved that the Apostate disappeared, Lidi came trotting.
When I unconsciously spread my arms, Lidi settled down inside them like it was natural. When I put strength into my embrace, Lidi snuggled her cheek up to my chest.

"Lidi. It"s alright now."
"Was it okay to let him go? That was Apostate… right?"
"It wasn"t okay, but it couldn"t be helped. Besides, we don"t have time either. I have to return quickly…"
"Time? And return? To the castle?"
"Aah, not there――."

When I told Lidi, who was looking at me blankly, that I entrusted the army to Sion, she blinked her eyes.

"Eh? Sion as a tactician? Rather… Eeh? The battle isn"t over yet… Or rather, it hasn"t started? Was it okay to leave?"

As Lidi asked questions in rapid succession, I explained things one by one.

"They will manage. Besides, both Sion and Alex encouraged me to go right away. They seemed to be afraid I"d become a cowardly general with Lidi gone."
"Cowardly… You, Freed? No way!"

Lidi looked up at me in disbelief, but they didn"t tell a lie.
Recalling I had been about to unconsciously have my magical power go out of control, I could only realize that I am truly useless without Lidi.

"Actually Lidi, I was so worried about you that I couldn"t move. I had to go and yet my body wouldn"t move. It was a first for me."
"Freed…"

While Lidi continued looking up, I reached out my hand for her cheek. Her soft skin felt comfortable.

"I"m a failure as the Crown Prince. However Lidi, you"re my everything. I was made to realize that if Lidi is gone, I literally can"t breathe. That"s why, I really want you to be careful. Lidi, when I heard you were kidnapped, I stopped feeling alive."
"Um… I"m sorry…"

Hearing my words, Lidi hung her head.
I slowly stroked her head. I didn"t want an apology. I just wanted Lidi to understand that she"s an irreplaceably important existence for me.

"You don"t need to apologize. Lidi, I understand you wanted to save that marquis"s daughter. It seemed like something you"d do, Lidi. I"m really glad you"re safe…"

When I tightly hugged her while softly saying so, Lidi nervously raised her face.

"Um… Listen, Freed. What about Milly…?"

After all she seems worried about Miriallia"s treatment. To rea.s.sure her, I stroked her back.

"Lidi, knowing that you saved her, there"s no way I could kill her, right? Of course, she"ll receive punishment, but I don"t intend it to be death penalty. For now, I ordered she be put under house arrest."
"Really? I"m glad…"

Lidi must"ve been so worried that her body lost strength, and she showed a weak smile.

"Thank you, Freed. Both for Milly and for coming for me. Um… Listen, I believed you"d come, but after all it was very rea.s.suring to see your face, Freed… I was so happy I teared up."

How lame, right? Saying that, Lidi was incredibly cute. I"m glad from the bottom of my heart that I protected this smile.

"It"s natural I"d come when you"re in danger, Lidi. Just… That"s right. When it"s all over, would you give me a reward? I want Lidi."
"Jeez…"

When I whispered in my sweetest voice, Lidi flushed.
Even so, she gave a small nod.

"―― Fine. I"ll give you lots."
"Ah…"
"After all, I too want to feel your temperature, Freed… Okay?"

Lidi said such a thing with upturned eyes.
I wonder what she"s doing, inciting me pointlessly like this.
While I was seriously thinking I have to hurry up and finish the battle quickly for this, I felt a strange magical power distortion from behind.

"…!"
"What is it? Freed."

Lidi noticed my expression change, and she asked so with an uneasy face.
I separated from Lidi and turned back.
Checking the source of the magical power confirmed my expectations.

"Andre, huh…"
"Freed?"

Swelling magical power began leaking from Andre. Andre himself was still unconscious. But that"s exactly why his magical power became uncontainable and leaked.

"That"s bad. Like this Andre"s magical power will spontaneously go off."
"Eeh?"

Upon hearing my words, Lidi looked at me and Andre in surprise. As if she immediately got it, she said.

"S, spontaneously go off… Is it about the divine power?"
"Right. Andre"s divine power is no longer containable. It"s his limit."
"Won"t it be a disaster? T, then, what if I neutralize it…"
"That will be difficult."

I appreciate Lidi"s suggestion, but it"s not suited for this.
Andre"s magical power continues leaking. Lidi"s power is suitable for erasing released magical power, but it"s poorly compatible with magical power that continues to flow. To erase it, she"d have to keep touching Andre. That"s too big of a burden for Lidi, and above all, I hate it.

"Err, then what can we do…?"

I calmed down panicking Lidi and checked the breast pocket of my coat.
I felt relieved from the hard sensation.
I"m glad. It"s in the same place as usual.
I glanced at Lidi. There was a tinge of exhaustion on her face worried about Andre.
Lidi repeatedly insisted that she"s okay, that she"s doing fine, but she must"ve received a considerable shock from suddenly being kidnapped.
I don"t want to deal further damage to Lidi.
If Andre flas.h.i.+ly explodes before her eyes, a large scar will remain in Lidi"s heart.
I thought about escaping before that, but the fact that he"ll be "dead" remains. Surely with how gentle Lidi is, she would despair over abandoning him.
Just like avoiding having him killed by Apostate before, I must somehow overcome this situation. To protect Lidi"s heart.
That"s why I told Lidi.

"Lidi."
"W, what?"

Probably sensing the seriousness of my voice, Lidi fixed her eyes on me.
While nodding to her, I said.

"It"s just my prediction, but if he"s left as is, Andre will be crushed by his divine power and die. I wouldn"t mind if he died. But even though he"s such a man, you wouldn"t want to see him die, right Lidi?"
"Y… yup. If that"s possible… Sorry."

I expected the agreement she returned in a whisper. It"s different from the attack during the date before. It"s hard to accept death of somebody you know, if even a little.

"Why are you apologizing Lidi? It"s fine. Then, I"ll try one possibility I"ve been thinking of. If it goes well, Andre will be saved."
"If it goes well? Then, if it fails?"

I showed Lidi a slight smile as she found fault with my words.
Then I patted her shoulder.

"Lidi. Are you seriously saying that? Lidi, do you really think I"m a pathetic man who won"t make your wishes come true? I"d be sad if I appeared that way."
"Freed."
"I said if it goes well, but I didn"t say that there"s no way. Can"t you believe your future husband?"
"… I can. I believe. After all, you"re Freed."

There was trust in Lidi"s eyes as she nodded at me.
If Lidi wants it, I"ll make it come true, no matter what it is. No matter how unreasonable the demand is.
That"s my way.
That"s why I smiled at Lidi with a feeling to leave it to me. As soon as I did, Lidi"s face flushed. I couldn"t help but find Lidi lovely as she reacted so adorably.

"Ah… Freed… Um."

I dropped a light kiss on Lidi"s forehead while she was fl.u.s.tered. While saying, "Hau", Lidi turned further red.

"If you make such a cute face, I"ll want to discard everything and go back. Then Lidi, don"t fret and wait for me. ―― I"ll finish it immediately."
"… Yup."
"If you like, you can go further away. Even if you think it"ll be alright, it"s scary after all, right? Even if you"re away, I"ll protect you, Lidi."

I said that, but Lidi didn"t nod her head.

"No. It"s fine. I want to be close, Freed."
"… Got it."

Respecting Lidi"s will, I nodded.
I put my hand on her head. While stroking her small shapely head, I turned my gaze to Andre. The situation is dangerous. However, my heart is strangely calm.
I don"t feel one bit anxious.

"Now, Andre. Be grateful for my fiancée"s kindness."

If I were alone, I"d abandon him.
I whispered so, and approached him.

―― As long as Lidi is near, I won"t ever fail.