After the shoot, Kisei was resting on the upper deck of the [Odervansen]. The sea breeze feels good on his heated body. He stares off into the blue horizon illuminated by the setting sun and lets out a sigh.
“You look tired, My Love.”
Valentina sits down next to Kisei with a small smile. She also seemed to be quite tired herself. It’s reasonable given that she had to witness such a scene enacted by her elder sister and a man she loves.
“That was a disaster huh. Both you and I, who would have thought that we would be doing something like.”
“Too true…….”
Kisei frowns and glances at Valentina. She’s 20 cm taller than him so she’s obviously still bigger when they both sat down. Her cheeks looked somewhat reddened, but that’s probably due to the effect of the shoot earlier.
“By the way, what about Diaroze? I don’t see her anywhere.”
“She said that she had to pick up something and went off earlier.”
This ship originally belonged to Diaroze so she should have a lot of her personal belongings left on board. He doesn’t know what she wants to grab but Kisei decided to leave her alone.
“Don’t you think you give her too much freedom? She might have something that can disable the slave collar stashed here you know?”
“Well, it will probably be fine.”
Diaroze seems to be enjoying her life to the fullest lately. Unless something drastic happens, there’s probably no need to worry about her betraying them, Kisei thinks.
“More importantly……since you two are finally able to have a normal relationship, won’t you consider calling her your sister again? She’s no longer your enemy after all.”
“……I’ve already cut ties with her so I planned to go through with it. She probably would be troubled if I try to mend it after all this time too.”
“Diaroze doesn’t care about that though. She does badmouth you sometimes but she never holds a grudge against you, you know.”
After all, she even asked him to marry Valentina as well. Diaroze may look like that but she unexpectedly cherishes her little sister quite a lot.
“……….”
However, Valentina silently shrugged. It seems that she no longer has any intention to discuss this any further.
“Still, you sure have gotten along with that woman quite a lot lately huh. Given your first experience with her, I’m a little surprised you know.”
“Well, yeah. But the past aside, Diaroze is pretty easy to get along with you see. She’s smart and bright, she can be a bit crazy sometimes though…….”
“Hmm, then you don’t hate Diaroze huh.”
“I like her a lot actually.”
“……….”
Valentina had a complicated expression at his answer. It was a mix of pain and excitement, a weird expression. Kisei tilted his head at the sight but since she seems like she doesn’t want him to ask, he decided to say nothing more.
“…….come to think of it, what will Valentina do after the war is over?”
Kisei asked so as though he just remembered it.
He recalled Diaroze asking him to shake up Valentina to make her go berserk later.
“That is obvious right? If I can defeat Mother then the other princes and major aristocrats will start fighting for the empress’s throne. I’m going to lead the soldiers who follow me to suppress them.”
Said Valentina with a straight face. She then reaches for the sun [Alp] as though to grab it out of the sky.
“Then Mother’s……the empress’s crown will be mine. With that, I will create a peaceful country with no more war and senseless slaughter.”
“Is that so……”
It seems that her goal still hasn’t changed. Certainly, the current Nored is not a good country. They are waging wars of aggression in various countries and have no qualm in slaughtering civilians. Valentina’s desire to stop that is something he’s ought to support.
“But, I’m sorry, I can’t go down that path with you.”
“……..why?”
Because he has already decided to marry Schleer and Diaroze as well as the others. He can’t just throw away his family and go to war after he finally makes a decision to settle down. It was Kisei’s honest feeling that he should prioritize his loved one before some grandiose ideal, no matter how great it is.
“I think that what Valentina wants to do is great. But that’s too big a dream for me. It’s not something that a single mercenary can do anything about, and it’s not the kind of thing you personally want for me right?”
“Th, that’s right. I want you to be my life partner……no, not that. I just don’t want to burden you with that kind of responsibility, My Love…….”
“If I become a husband to the empress, that kind of excuse won’t work, right? Besides, I don’t want to get myself involved in politics.”
Valentina turned silent at Kisei’s firm denial. Kisei also looks away without saying anything more. There’s no situation more awkward than this.
“Thanks for the wait! Man, it’s been too long so I almost forgot how to open my safe.”
Suddenly, a joyful voice came from behind the two of them. Before they knew it, Diaroze has already snuck up behind the two and tapped their shoulders.
“What’s with the long face you two. Are you hungry or something?”
“…….!”
Valentina clenched her teeth before jerking her body away from Diaroze’s hand. She then silently stood up and left.
Diaroze gazed at her back with a joyful expression.
“You’ve shaken her up real good huh. It seems our preparation is perfect.”
“….were you listening?”
“Well, yeah.”
Kisei shrugged at Diaroze’s blunt reply. What a terrible personality she has.