Formerly, The Fallen Daughter of the Duke

"Keith, what do you think that means"

"What the hell is that, Veek?"

Keith, who should know exactly what Veek meant by the question, sounds like a jerk.

"The..."

"You were holding Claire and crying."

"Oh, no, I didn't turn my hand."

Is it true, Your Highness?

"... that won't be the problem"

Vike, who couldn't allow Keith to be amused, stares at Keith with cold eyes as he blushes.

"I'm sorry. He looked like he'd never seen much of it."

Keith, realizing that he was making too much fun of him, returns to his expression as a sidekick with regret.

Vik was recalling the night his brother Oswald was executed.

It was true that he noticed Claire crying after his feelings for his brother had settled and wanted to hug him. That, naturally, was not a problem where it was to be endured.

Vike admits it's true to the point where he was sincerely glad he didn't have to move into action when he saw Keith and the others come into the room just at that time to create some awkward air.

But what bothered me was before that.

Vik doesn't have many people who can forgive their minds without thinking about their position.

His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen, who are too busy to talk privately or anything. The nanny, who had forgiven her heart, was gone from the royal palace on the occasion that she turned 8. Keith, Lewis and Donnie are also dear friends, but before that they were Kingsguard knights and flanks.

Claire is a lady of the prestigious Duke's house, which is also a bypass to the royal family of neighboring countries. I have pride in my standing behavior and also think about the impact it has on my surroundings.

It even seemed comfortable to him that no matter how far Veek tried to pack it, it was more than necessary.

If that girlfriend sympathized with herself without any intention, she was a great happiness that would not have been better for Vik if it had been true.

"At first, I just thought she was an interesting and resourceful woman who walked barefoot along the coast and said without even thinking about her opinion."

"Claire is a wonderful young lady. If positive…"

Vik blocks Keith from trying to say the word "righteous queen".

"I asked Claire the other day." The 1st Me, "she said, took Claire to that high ground where the city of Ultz could see."

"... heh"

Keith looks out. The high ground, where Claire and Vike viewed the city at dusk, is a special place Vike has cherished since childhood to think about the happiness of his people. He knew that.

"... I didn't expect a day to come when I was jealous of myself"

Keith nibbles and replies to Veek with a seemingly complicated look.

"I can't believe the day is coming when I can talk to Veek like this... as an adult. Pleasure, Your Highness."

"Shut up."

After the joke, Keith goes back to his side face.

"It's just... no matter how kind of a courtesan Claire is, and how involved she was in the '1st Life', it's strange to think so vik that she forgets me... We've still met, like, a month."

"Oh. Right. Sure, it's uncomfortable"

Vik leans back against the chair.

"Will you talk to me?"

―――――

"So, what do you do? Don't you have to tell Your Highness what happens in the future?

To Dion's words, Claire holds her head.

"You want to talk to me as soon as possible? But... how am I supposed to talk..."

A week after Dion became Claire's official squire. After dinner, it was routine for the two of us to get together in Claire's room like this and talk.

When Claire took on this contract, Dion hoped to go out for a night out with Donnie, but so far he hasn't actually gone out. Dion firmly said no, even if Claire took care to ask Donnie to ask her out.

In Claire's eyes, that was not herself, but her loyalty to Vik, who saved her life.

"Claire used to live in Baron Lene's house and tutor her."

"Yes, it is."

"His Royal Highness was there to visit."

"Yes."

"I don't know, it just feels special, doesn't it? Your Highness doesn't feel the" pre-retrograde relationship. "

"So... I didn't say that."

Claire just talked that far, and the window kicked open.

"If you think someone's coming, it's you, Dion"

"Your Highness..."

Says Dion when he sees the look on Veek's face that doesn't hide his discomfort at night at having a man in Claire's room.

"Oh, well, here I am. You two take your time."

Claire grabs Dion's arm as he tries to leave with a nagging smile on his face.

"A little better, Dion."

At first glance, behind Claire's eyes smiling calmly, I feel desperate.

It was the first time since that night that Claire and Vike would face each other alone.

……

"Ah, then I'll make some tea over there. Alcohol is fine, Your Highness?

"Either way. Just brew it slowly."

"Yes."

Dion withdrew after losing pressure from Veek. After all, he seems to be pledging allegiance to Vik, not Claire.

Says Veek, who sat directly opposite Claire.

"You seem to be doing well with Dion."

"... Yep. I can talk to you a lot, so I'm here to help."

Although Claire sat down heavily, Vique's emerald green eyes could not be looked directly at. If you stare accidentally, that night is going to turn bright red with the feeling of flashing back.

"Consultation, huh?"

Vik's voice color is as gentle as usual, but I can see how he doesn't interpret it.

"I've always wanted to thank you for Dion. I'm sorry to make up for my lack of strength."

"What do you say? I was the one who wanted to talk about Dion. Vik's not so bad."

"Oh well."

Vike continues while concealing complex feelings mixed with relief and jealousy in Claire's expression.

"I heard that the contract papers with Dion contained a long letter from His Highness Asberto of the Noston Nation,"

"You heard it from Lewis."

Claire laughs all the time.

That day, the contract from Oscar was accompanied by a letter of recommendation from Asberto and a letter to Claire. The letter detailed Charlotte's recent developments, and I could deduce that Asbert was measuring me as requested by Claire.

The letter looked thick because Asberto sent Claire a flower note and an envelope as a gift. I remember looking at the letters, the gifts, and Claire in turn, and Lewis muttered 'heavy'.

"It wasn't actually that long of a letter, and there's nothing particularly important about it. I don't know what's going on with the sister I'm asking you for."

"Right."

Vik nods. I clearly feel a special intention from Asberto, but I knew Claire wasn't willing to do that.

Claire, on the other hand, was feeling that she was finally getting used to the tension and conversation.

Between the two of them, there is a gentle air running unchanged.

Claire fumbled, wondering why Vik came here today.

(When he calmed down, maybe he remembered something he said he wanted to talk about.)

The look on Veek's face glancing straight into Claire's eyes is soft and warm. Nowhere was the face of the sharply staked First Prince, which I had often seen recently.

That's what Veek is daring me to do, I even felt that way.

We have to talk now. Claire thought so.