Akuyaku Reijo Ni Koi Wo Shite

When carriages arrive one after another, unload the luggage. The luggage and the people carrying it littered the front of the school gate.

It is a sight that can be seen every year at the time of admission.

To avoid congestion, at a distance from the school gate, Rion stood alongside Vincent and gazed at the scene.

"came!"

Rion cried out after finding the desired carriage.

"Oh, yeah, let's go."

"Yes"

The two run toward the school gate. A carriage with the coat of arms of the Winheels had arrived.

Two maids descended from the carriage. Following that, Eriel appeared.

"... Rion"

Finding Leon who was picking him up, Eriel muttered his name.

He straightened his hand straight into Rion, standing in front of him, and with a slightly surprised expression, Rion gently attached his hand. With a happy smile at the action, Aeriel gets off the carriage.

"Where did you learn this?"

With her hands out of the way, Eriel asks me:

"Vincent is like this"

"What about your older brother? Well, when did your older brother begin to have this kind of mischief?"

"I care, not mischief."

"... it's surprising."

Airiel first heard the words of concern from Vincent's mouth.

"I'm a little grown up. Come on and stay in this place forever and get in the way of other houses. Carry your luggage."

This is also surprising. Airiel could not have imagined that Vincent was not only concerned with words, but also when he really cares about others. As a grown-up, Airlieal thought it was true.

And it must be thanks to Rion, who is carrying his luggage.

"Rion, you should have enough hands even if you don't carry it."

Airiel was more important to talk to Rion than to carry his luggage.

"Is there something Elwin's luggage?"

"... Yeah"

It is not uncommon for Leon to care for others, but when it comes to Elwin, Eriel feels bad.

"Isn't that Erwin-sama together?"

"No, I saw that I was preparing the carriage, but I came first."

Clinging, shaking off my parents, we should start more slowly while tears.

"Yes, anyway, carry your luggage. There will be some unpacking, so there's nothing wrong with hurry."

"Yes"

"Well, here it is."

"Why does Rion know the location of the women's dormitory?"

"Oh, no, it's on the premises, so it's natural to know ..."

"... That's true, so please guide me."

"Yes……"

As soon as I met, it was Airiel who was in full throttle mode. With this, Rion is quite insensitive, noticing Eriel's favor.

For the aristocrat, Aeriel, he is a commoner and he is not a man, even if he believes in the excuse that Aeriel thought to be with Rion.

Vincent watching them had a happy, sad, and complicated thought.

The year of graduation is also the year of adulthood. Waiting for an adult, Aeriel will marry Prince Arnold. It is only three years since Aeriel and Rion have been here.

It was a sandwich between the desire to spend that time carefully and the sadness of three years later, and the desire not to get too close.

"Your brother! If you stood up in such a place, it would be in the way of another house!"

The younger sister calls out like this without knowing his brother's worries. It's clear that Vincent's statement was ironic.

"Oh, I know. I'm going now."

Vincent chased after the Aeriels who were already ahead.

◇◇◇

Once you bring your luggage into the dormitory, it is the job of the maid. Rion was walking along the school building, accompanied by Eriel, rather than excused.

The target room is a salon.

Vincent is not attached. It's about avoiding trouble. Anyway, Vincent tries to keep Maria from contacting Lancelot if possible. Of course, this is in line with Rion's wishes.

Vincent, who can only feel like a ladder character rather than an enemy character when he comes into contact with Maria, will surely lose his reputation. Because of these ideas.

Leon doesn't want to be in contact with Airiel, but that is not always the case with Airiel. We cannot avoid Prince Arnold, his fiancé, and if he does, he will almost always have to meet Mary, who is working with him.

I am heading to the salon now to give a greeting to Prince Arnold. In Aeriel's position, of course, it must be done.

"I'm Eriel from the House of the Winheels. I'm here to greet the Crown Prince."

Inform the attendant in front of the room of the purpose of the visit.

A servant listening to Leon talks into the room. I guess he went to make an inquiry.

"Rion"

"Yes"

"What is here?"

"What is ... salon?"

Rion is puzzled by Aeriel, who asks her what she should know.

"Isn't everybody able to meet unless they wish for an agency like this?"

"Probably"

"so……"

The beautiful eyebrows of Aeriel are frowned. This is a signal when you don't like it.

"Did you have something?"

"Do you know Leon's philosophy?"

In this institution, the royal family and the commoner take a seat together. Now, because they are classified according to their status, this is not the case, but originally it was.

Both royalty and nobles must know the voice of the commoners. Despite being a strictly religious kingdom, the philosophy of the institution was to go beyond the status quo.

The current state of the salon is contrary to the school's philosophy. Yes, Eriel says.

"I know, but it would be better not to say anything about this."

"……why?"

Eriel seems dissatisfied with what Rion said should not be corrected.

"It will not be for Airiel"

"... but also to correct mistakes"

"Yes. I think it's the right thing for her. But Eriel isn't yet."

"... Yeah"

Although his dissatisfaction has not disappeared, he understands Rion's feelings. Although reluctant, Aeriel spoke.

"We've been waiting for you. We'll see you in a little time."

"... then, Airiel, inside."

She was dissatisfied with Lion's servant's words up to Rion. The fiancee Airiel is coming, it's natural to meet. I think it's courtesy to pick me up.

Aeriel seemed to have nothing to do with this, and went into the room without complaining. Rion then enters the room.

As expected, the room has the usual members.

A sofa placed facing the center. Prince Arnold and Maria sat on the sofa in the back, and Lancelot and Charlotte sat on the sofa in front of him.

After seeing this sight, Rion's heart became angry again, but again, Eriel would not say anything.

As he went into the room, he bowed gracefully to Prince Arnold and opened his mouth.

"The Crown Prince has been a long time."

"... Oh, yes."

To Ariel's greeting, Prince Arnold returned grumpy.

"From today, I'm in the dormitory. I'm honored to be able to spend my time in the same school building as the Crown Prince."

"... I see. So what is it for?"

"No, I just got over the greeting."

"Then we're done."

"Yes, so I'm sorry."

"What?"

Prince Arnold had a slightly embarrassed color. That attitude also creates a thought in Rion's heart, throwing cold words at it, and worsens the impression of Prince Arnold.

"Let's go, Leon."

"However……"

Again, Aeriel does not respond. A cool voice urges Rion.

"I'm done. It's bad to keep my brother waiting."

"……Yes"

As far as Airiel does not say, Rion is silent. If that is not the case, he cannot complain to the prince, but Rion tends to be less calm in the face of sadness to Eriel.

He expressed his unsatisfied feeling openly and tried to leave the room following Eriel.

"Rion-kun"

A voice calling insensitively without noticing Rion's inner anger. There is only one such person. If not, you can tell by voice and someone.

Determining that he did not need to respond, Rion stepped forward.

"Rion! Wait a minute!"

Rion, ignoring this at all, tried to get out of the room.

"Hey, hey! Isn't it rude to ignore Maria calling ?!"

I can hear the boy's voice blaming Rion's attitude. You don't have to turn around, you know who this is.

However, this voice cannot be ignored. Rion turned and returned words to Lancelot.

"Do you want something?"

"It's Maria who has a purpose"

"So Maria, are you sure?

"Did you talk, because you're here?"

"Are you talking to Eriel?"

"No, Rion-kun."

"I'll refuse."

"Why?-I've bothered so far, so I should just talk."

"I came here to accompany Aeriel, not my will."

"Hey, isn't it rude? Even though Maria is inviting me with a favor"

In addition, Lancelot comes in. But Leon has no idea what it means. It's obviously rude to be rude. There is no so-called blame.

Normally, Rion would pass over properly without losing his polite attitude, but this is where Prince Arnold was originally angry with Prince Arnold.

I couldn't be silent.

"Ask Lancelot."

"What?"

"This is a place where only the children of the upper aristocrats are allowed to enter and leave. Is it okay for me, a commoner, to chat and talk in such places?"

"That's ... not good, but if Mary wants to talk, I'll forgive her special."

After hearing this reply, Leon realized that Lancelot couldn't be talked about. Rion's words are just the irony of being the same commoner, Maria, in my face and being here.

However, Lancelot responded normally without noticing the irony. Moreover, it is an unreasonable reply that the commoner Maria wants to forgive her.

I don't think I can make a normal decision.

"Even though Lancelot is forgiving, I am not comfortable. I will refuse it."

"Hey, do you think you can just go against me?"

Listening to these words, Lonlot thinks that Lancelot is definitely more suitable for an enemy character, and that's it.

With that in mind, it was Leon's ignorance that the response was delayed. Aeriel was interrupted while he was empty.

"What does it mean to just do it?"

"what?"

"Is your ears bad? I said," What does it mean to be free? "

"I heard it from the beginning"

"Well, answer me, did I ask a question?"

"... the man's attitude is not Hou's attitude toward humans."

"I haven't heard that. I'm hearing the meaning of the word that I can't do it. Give me the answer."

"that is……"

Lancelot is pushed by the atmosphere of Aeriel. At the same time, the same haiku seems to be understood by Eriel. Forgetting his anger, Rion was impressed in her heart.

"Well, apparently there's no answer. I can't help it. I'll tell you here."

"... what is it?"

"If you do something to Rion, I'll make sure you get the reward you deserve."

"What is it?" "Aeriel!"

"Rion is a man of the House of Winheels. It is natural that an attack on Lion is considered an attack on the House of Winheels."

"Eriel, that's it."

"Lion is silent. This is a house-to-house problem."

"... Hou family will fight each other?"

Lancelot has been upset by Airiel's sudden expansion. In fact, he was a servant, and the marquis could not come out, but he did not know it.

"It's a fight that you've sold. There's no one there. Isn't that different? His Imperial Highness Prince."

"Oh, oh, oh."

Suddenly, Prince Arnold returns a word of consent.

"That's it. Rion will go."

"……Yes"

After that, Prince Arnold leaves this place before he turns his words. This leaves the Airiel advantage.

Even if he knows it, Rion has no choice but to curse himself. Rion must have been aware of Vincent's case that this is not the end.

"Airiel"

"What is it?"

"Isn't unnecessary collision good for Hou's family?"

"... I'm not useless, that's what I need."

"To protect me. That is useless."

"I can't do that."

"I'm serving for Airiel. It's not my intention that Airiel gets involved in a mess."

"But ..."

Rion is not pleased with his actions for Rion. Dissatisfied with this, Aeriel sharpened his mouth slightly and showed a relentless look.

"Take care of yourself. You will be in conflict with the same lord, and doing so in front of the Crown Prince will make Aeriel's position worse."

"... I'm fine."

"I'm fine"

"I'm fine. I'm so hated."

"eh?"

"I hate the Crown Prince, long before my official engagement was decided."

"……why?"

Rion heard this for the first time.

"I wondered why I would be a fiancé of the Crown Prince when I was convinced that I was looking forward to seeing the Crown Prince from that day. I was going to do my best. ''

"If so, why would you hate me?"

"Did you meet too hard when you met for the first time? I acted as a fiance even though it was not officially decided? There are many other things, I do not know which one.

What I did not notice at that time, now I can analyze calmly. It's not just because you're an adult. Airiel's feelings have changed since then.

"But Aeriel's feelings for the Crown Prince are serious."

That does not lead to Rion.

"... It's only meaningful if you feel it. It's worthless if you don't."

"That's not the case. If you think about your partner and strive to be worthy of that person, there will definitely be value there. Even if you do not communicate your feelings ..."

Rion once stopped here. I realized I wasn't talking lightly. I was speaking above all and I was not convinced of my words.

"Rion?"

"... It's painful that I can't communicate my feelings."

"Yes"

"Still thinking of an important person and working hard for that person, even if there is no value there ..."

"Even if I'm not born?"

"I think I'm happy"

"Yes ... yes"

Rion said, "I think," not "I think." It is not Airiel who does not notice this difference. Rion seems happy, even if she is not rewarded. Then, when wondering what he was, Aeriel thought he didn't seem like Leon. Reason knows that you have to think so. But emotions do not allow it.

Even though he was an adult, he did so, and even more, Eriel's hidden inner emotions were still young.