Shortly after Talleyrand went to the capital to gain approval for another attempt at contacting the Eastern Empire, we finished preparations for the expedition to the Iberian Peninsula.
“Welco, Your Majesty.”
As the generals and I bowed in unison, Eris gave a slight nod in response.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
From experiencing civil war as a princess fleeing the royal palace to living as a wandering minstrel, then returning to heal people during a plague outbreak.
Having navigated the chaos of the revolutionary period as a Saintess and even fought a war against the Empire as a queen, Eris had changed significantly.
She was still an idealist, but the sowhat childish aspect was gone, replaced by a wise queen who had learned to compromise with reality.
She no longer found it burdenso when the generals and I paid her respects, having grown quite accustod to it.
“Still, it's a relief the expedition is in winter. I hear the Iberian Peninsula is quite hot, so you’ll be able to acclimate gradually by going ahead of ti, right?”
“Hahaha…….”
Though her face was covered by a veil, her playful tone made the generals let out a faint laugh.
Even though she had changed so much, so things remained the sa.
Like her attire: the usual white robe with a hood and veil, far from extravagant.
Eris is not accompanying the Iberian expedition.
Until now, it had been a state of war, and a war where the throne of Francia was directly at stake, so Eris had stood on the front lines, but the Assembly, which had been reluctant even then, was naturally opposed to the queen following along to soone else's war.
A more political consideration was that the Theocracy had discreetly conveyed their disapproval of the Saintess-Queen, whom they had officially recognized, assisting in the war of the infidel Kroxx.
The Holy Theocracy finds the idea of the Saintess siding with an infidel disagreeable, especially for a war explicitly to drive out those allied with demons from the central continent. What a ridiculous bunch.
It’s no wonder that even Eris, a Saintess herself, is wary of the Holy Theocracy.
While I was lost in thought, Eris, who seed to be making eye contact with each of the participants in this expedition, let out a small gasp.
“Wow—”
Though hidden by a veil, the direction her head turned was all too clear.
“Your Majesty.”
Christine smiled lightly and bowed her head to Eris.
Since the destination was relatively close this ti, it wasn't a very long voyage, and since Christine, an admiral in na, had never perford an official duty, she was tasked with escorting our army and set sail with us.
“Wow, is that an admiral's uniform? It’s wonderful, Countess Aquitaine.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
I nodded without realizing it at Eris's words.
Christine had always worn a simple black dress that looked like mourning clothes, but seeing her dressed in a military uniform for an official expedition as an admiral, she looked truly magnificent.
Clad in a black military uniform with a cape decorated with gold thread, as was her style, she looked even better than I had imagined, to the point that I wanted to show her off to the mbers of the National Assembly who had said it was ridiculous for a woman to be an admiral.
No, wait. There's no need to show such a magnificent sight to those kinds of people.
While I was having such silly thoughts, Eris, after a light conversation with Christine and the other generals, looked toward .
“Well then, Marquis Lafayette. Since it’s a war, casualties are inevitable, but I hope you won't overdo it. If possible, I hope everyone returns safely.”
Even through the veil, I could guess her expression, so I nodded at Eris and replied.
“Do not worry too much. I will be especially careful, Your Majesty.”
“Good, then-”
As Eris raised her hand to the sky, a brilliant light emanated from it.
“Ooh-”
Not only the generals but also the soldiers who had co out in unison to greet the queen gasped in awe.
The sight of brilliant light stretching to the sky, turning into powder, and slowly descending is always a spectacle to behold.
Watching Eris, I chuckled softly.
As expected of the Saintess-Queen, she's now quite good at these political performances.
Initially, I couldn't have imagined—huh?
As the light scattered by Eris touched , I felt a warm, powerful energy enveloping my body.
This, surely.
Sure enough, after emitting the light for a while, Eris staggered as she lowered her arm, and before the others, srized by the mysterious golden light scattering from the sky, noticed, I caught her arm.
“Eris……!”
With so many people here, what on earth have you done now?
As I quietly chided her, Eris replied in a small voice.
“I’ll be better after a few days' rest. I can't even go with you, so please let do at least this much.”
Even through the veil, I could almost see her pale face, but her tone was full of playfulness.
I could also imagine the expression she’d have, sticking her tongue out playfully even with such a face, so I waited for Eris to regain her balance and then let go of her hand.
“……Alright.”
It seems my Queen can only be at ease if she does this much, so it can’t be helped.
Everyone rejoiced at the energy they felt in their bodies as the brilliantly shining powder touched them, and then, after the curtain of light had completely faded.
“Then, I trust you will have a safe journey. May God's blessing be upon you all.”
The Saintess, who once said she didn't believe in any god, spoke in a bright voice filled with a desperate prayer.
*
After we set sail.
Aboard the Francia Navy's flagship, the 86-gun ship-of-the-line, ‘Libre’.
“Ooooh…….”
On the deck, everyone from generals to soldiers were gathered, too busy admiring the vast horizon and the distant territory of Francia to do anything else.
The deck beca so crowded that we organized them into groups to take turns watching, lest they interfere with sailing.
I chuckled watching them.
Most of them had never been on a boat before, so it was only natural for them to be amazed.
But that's only at first; they'll get bored after a while, and then only the hellish seasickness will remain.
Still, this ti it's a fleet to transport troops, so unlike the ti with Krafte, the sight of several ships moving in unison feels rather magnificent.
Ah, I hope I'll be a bit better this ti.
At least, unlike the long sea route to Krafte, Iberica is a short journey of only a few days.
I don't want Christine to see suffering miserably from seasickness.
Co to think of it, I seem to be fine so far. Can you get used to seasickness?
With that thought, I went to the admiral's room and knocked on the door. A voice ca from inside.
“It's , Admiral.”
“Co in.”
When I entered, Christine was sitting at the desk, looking as natural as if this had been her place from the beginning.
A sea chart was spread out on the desk, and Captain Dureng was by her side; was she in the middle of a eting?
“Ah, was I interrupting?”
“Ah, haha, not at all, Marquis! Well then, Admiral, having reported all there is to report, I will take my leave now.”
“Alright, you are dismissed, Captain Dureng. Good work.”
Christine responded with only a calm nod, and Dureng, after saluting Christine, quickly left—winking at lightly on his way out.
After unnecessarily clearing my throat, closing the door, and turning around, Christine was looking at with a slightly softened smile, as if nothing had happened.
Honestly, I liked monts like this.
It was a mont when I could see that Christine, always cool-headed and emotionally stable, treated only specially.
“Christine.”
As I called her na with a natural smile, Christine asked with the sa gentle smile on her face.
“How was Her Majesty the Queen?”
“…….”
Was it just my imagination?
She seed to be smiling softly as always, but there was a slight chill to it...
“……She seems to have overexerted herself, but she says she'll be fine after a few days of rest.”
……I realized it as I spoke.
During the first voyage, I was seasick right after boarding and looking at the scenery briefly, but now, there was no sign of it at all.
Could this also be the power of so unknown blessing from Eris?
No, more important than that right now.
“……You saw?”
“Yes, I saw. You caught her very naturally.”
Christine replied nonchalantly.
……Right, she wasn't the type of person to be captivated by such a dazzling light.
“No, that was purely in the realm of concern.”
“As a subject, for his sovereign?”
“Yes, that.”
Christine replied with a slight smile.
“I know.”
……Then what’s the problem?
No, in the first place, Christine doesn’t seem to be feeling any displeasure right now.
Then was she really just asking out of concern for Eris?
As I was thinking that, Christine, having gotten up from her seat, walked over.
I thought she was coming towards , but she passed , grabbed the door and there was a click.
“……Christine?”
Why is she locking the door?
As Christine spun around, her cape fluttered with her movent, capturing my gaze.
“Pierre.”
“……Yes, Christine.”
“Dureng told you were quite seasick on your first voyage. Are you feeling better now?”
“Ah, yes. I’m not sure, but I think it’s thanks to Eris’s blessing-”
I answered without thinking, but at the ntion of Eris' blessing, Christine's eyebrow twitched just slightly.
Ah, this is not my imagination; this is definitely not my imagination.
Christine, still smiling, approached and placed her hands on my shoulders.
The mont I instinctively lowered my waist a little, a soft sensation touched my lips.
Soft, warm, sweet. A blissful sensation.
……Why is a chill running down my spine?
Yet, I couldn't help but be intoxicated and lose my senses to sharing her breath.
After a brief kiss, Christine pulled away and finally smiled with satisfaction.
“Now, my head feels a bit clearer.”
“Ah.”
Only then did I realize that.
We would arrive in Iberica in just a few days, and then we wouldn't see each other for quite a long ti.
Yet, even in front of Christine, my worries about Eris hadn't left my mind.
Even though, after dropping off, she has to return to the capital and work busily to prepare for the war with Krafte.
“I'm sorry, Christine.”
Christine smiled faintly and, without answering, took sothing out of her pocket and put it in her mouth.
She kissed again, and after I swallowed what she passed to , I asked.
“What was that?”
As if quite pleased that I swallowed what she gave before asking, Christine replied with a deep smile.
“Birth control.”
“……Eh?”
That stuff is quite expensive, only people with money to spare would use it. But more importantly, why now?
As my mind filled with nothing but confusion, Christine, still smiling, untied the golden cord on her cape.
The cape slowly slipping from her shoulders and falling to the floor sohow felt strangely unreal.
Now? Here? In the admiral’s room in broad daylight?
“Uh, Christine? Your subordinates might be wandering around outside.”
I was so bewildered that I had to ask, and Christine's answer was beyond imagination.
“I thought you might want to try embracing the admiral in the admiral's room, just once.”
…It’s not like I didn’t have such fantasies while staying in the admiral's room on the way to Krafte, but.
“……I didn't know you had this kind of taste.”
I never imagined Christine would show this side of her, but the fact that I like it just proves I'm a hopeless case.
Hearing my words, Christine, without answering, reached out and gently pushed my chest.
Pushed back by her, my back hit the desk in the middle of the room, and Christine said with a provocative smile.
“Weren't you curious how I would react if you made sit on your lap and showed off to your subordinates?”
This truly sent a shiver down my spine, and I asked back without thinking.
“Do you actually read minds?”
Christine tilted her head slightly, then smiled and replied.
“Only for you, a little.”
Then she stretched out her arms, wrapped them around my neck, and said.
“And I just realized, watching you at a loss for what to do is quite enjoyable.”
Unknowingly, I swallowed dryly as Christine, who had drawn much closer, whispered in my ear.
“Until we reach Iberica, I will make it so that you can't think of anyone but .”
“I think you’ve already succeeded in that-”
The words that failed to co out were smothered by her lips.
Reviews
All reviews (0)