A Flawless Performance
…Indeed, such flawless acting. The crow was certain of it. That man was now leaving the Imperial Palace and heading for the market.
「…I must inform Her Highness.」
The crow spread its wings in haste. Watching the man’s every move was, after all, the grave duty Her Highness had entrusted to it.
…Of course, Her Highness had never actually given such an order. She had merely told it to “watch” before tossing it out the window, but the crow firmly believed those words carried a profound meaning. To watch meant to never take its eyes off him for even a moment.
Well, perhaps not, but still… How could a mere creature like itself dare to ignore such deep consideration?
「Your Highness! Your Highness!」
The crow shot through a window of the Imperial Palace. Then, in an urgent, excited voice, it reported at once.
「A grave matter, Your Highness! That sword… Kyle Lowenheim has just left the palace and is heading for the market!」
“……”
Victoria, seated by the window, slowly turned her head.
「Surely, there must be some suspicious movement! Perhaps he is attempting to escape from Your Highness’s side…!」
“…The market, you say.”
Victoria quietly repeated the words. Her crimson eyes began to gleam with a peculiar light.
「Yes! Therefore, please give your command on how to proceed—」
“Very well.”
Victoria rose from her seat at once.
“…Well done.”
With that, she began preparing without another word, completing her disguise in an instant.
「…Y-Your Highness?」
“You have done well. You may withdraw now.”
Leaving only those words behind, Victoria departed without hesitation, as though every second counted.
The crow stared blankly at her retreating figure.
「…Ah.」
A realization dawned upon it.
「…So that was it…!」
The crow shuddered violently. Think about it. The moment Her Highness heard that the sword was heading to the market, she had risen without a single moment of hesitation. And then she had personally gone after him.
…Why? There could be only one answer.
「…She is going to personally ensnare that sword.」
The crow sighed in awe. Yes. The task of taming that dangerous Emperor’s Sword. Her Highness had not entrusted that monumental undertaking to her subordinates. Instead, she had moved her own royal person to handle it directly. That was the true bearing of a sovereign.
「Moreover…」
A scene suddenly flashed through the crow’s mind. That time at the market, when Her Highness had clung to the sword’s side, acting as though they were lovers, behaving so affectionately.
「…Surely, she intends to play the lover again…!」
A chill ran down its spine. It was something no ordinary noble would ever do out of shame. …But Her Highness was different. For the sake of the great cause, she was willing to use even her own body like a blade. To pretend to be a false lover and completely ensnare that fierce sword’s heart. That terrifying honey trap—she was going to carry it out with her own hands.
「…As expected of Your Highness Victoria.」
Its entire body trembled with excitement. That profound scheme. That terrifying resolve. And that merciless, thorough devotion that spared not even her own body for the sake of the great cause. …How could anyone dare to scorn such a person as a mere lowborn princess?
「…She alone is」
The crow bowed deeply toward the fading traces of Victoria’s departure.
「the true Emperor of this nation…」
Its small chest swelled with uncontrollable loyalty. The petty thought of fleeing that had occupied it just moments ago had vanished without a trace.
「…This humble one shall serve her with all my life!」
Of course, at this very moment, the crow could never have imagined what the “great” Victoria was actually thinking as she headed for the market. …She was simply rushing over because the man she liked had gone shopping, eager to spend time with him once more by pretending to be his wife again. That single, fluttering thought was all there was. The crow, mere bearer of messages, could not even dream of such a thing.
Thump, thump, thump.
The closer she drew to the market, the more uncontrollably Victoria’s heart began to race. At last, she could meet him again. Thanks to the crow’s report, she already knew where he was headed.
Having changed into commoner’s clothes and with no attendants, Victoria wandered the market alleys with an excited stride, all the while trying to suppress the smile that kept threatening to escape her lips.
‘I wonder if I can do it like last time.’
Suddenly, memories of that day surfaced. Clinging to his side in this very market, acting as though they were lovers. His flustered expression, his ears flushed bright red, that helpless look on his face… Just recalling the sight made her heart melt with affection.
‘…What kind of face will he make today?’
The thought made her steps quicken even more. Her heart pounded harder, and her cheeks flushed pink.
The empire’s princess. The future empress who would one day rule this continent. To be this excited just to meet one man. If anyone saw her, they would be utterly dumbfounded. But what could she do? When something was good, it was good. When her heart fluttered, it fluttered. Even the great Victoria had no way to control this feeling.
Just as she was pushing through the crowd with that excited heart—
“……!”
Victoria’s steps came to an abrupt halt.
She had found him. Amid the gathered crowd in the distance, she spotted a familiar back. Those broad shoulders standing before the fishmonger, haggling over something.
Kyle Lowenheim.
A smile naturally spread across Victoria’s lips, and soon her crimson eyes filled with playful mischief.
‘…Hehe, let’s see.’
How should she tease him today? What kind of face would he make? With those thoughts, Victoria crept forward silently, muffling her footsteps as she approached his back. Then—
“Honey!”
She threw her arms around his arm with both hands. Like a newlywed bride clinging to her husband, she whispered in an excited yet perfectly natural voice.
“Honey, were you here? I’ve been looking for you for ages.”
“…Pardon?”
Kyle, who had been haggling, whipped his head around in surprise. Then, seeing Victoria smiling brightly while clinging to his arm, he—
“……?!”
—froze solid on the spot.
“M-My— No, d-dear…?!”
“Oh my. Why are you so surprised?”
Victoria tilted her head with an innocent expression, all the while tightening her grip on his arm. Just in case he tried to run.
“Between us, there’s no need to be so formal… Right, honey?”
“…!!”
In an instant, Kyle’s face flushed all the way to his ears. Ah, what an adorable expression. Victoria barely managed to swallow the laughter that threatened to burst out. …Yes, this was the face. This was the lovely face she had rushed all the way here to see.
The surrounding merchants soon began watching the two of them with warm, amused eyes.
“Oh my, looks like a newlywed couple. You two are so sweet together.”
“The wife’s completely smitten with her husband. It’s a lovely sight, truly lovely.”
“Young man, with such a pretty wife, why are you being so stiff? Smile a little, smile!”
“Goodness, look at the groom’s face turning red. He’s still shy, isn’t he? Hohoho.”
“The groom’s so embarrassed he doesn’t know what to do. The bride’s got the upper hand, all right!”
“While you’re out shopping, might as well enjoy some sweet moments. Go on, buy plenty~”
Warm murmurs echoed from all around. At those words, Victoria’s smile deepened, while Kyle’s face turned an even deeper shade of red.
“…Your Highness. This, this is a bit…”
“Shh.”
Victoria whispered softly into his ear.
“Right now, you have to call me honey… Otherwise, our identities might be exposed, don’t you think?”
“T-That’s…”
“Come now. Quickly… honey.”
Under Victoria’s mischievous urging, Kyle finally squeezed out in a voice barely louder than a mosquito’s—
“…H-Honey…”
…He had said it after all.
In that moment, thump, thump, thump… Her heart pounded violently once more, as if it might burst. Feeling that heartbeat, Victoria clung to his arm and gently rested her cheek against his sturdy shoulder.
“So, honey…”
“…Yes?”
“What are you planning to do for dinner tonight? …Since you’ve already done the shopping, how about the two of us spend some quiet time together…?”
Kyle was startled once again.
“D-Dinner? W-What do you mean…”
“Oh my, surely you’re not thinking of eating alone and leaving this wife behind?”
Victoria pouted her lips as if hurt, all the while pressing herself even closer to him.
“…N-No, that’s not what I…”
“Hehe.”
His flustered appearance was so endearing. Unable to hold back any longer, Victoria burst into bright laughter while still clinging to his arm. Ah, truly… How could this man make her heart flutter so?
Victoria pressed herself against his side, beaming with the face of the happiest newlywed in the world. …And that sight was being watched from afar, from the edge of a rooftop, by the crow, its eyes filled with reverence.
「…Indeed, such flawless acting. As expected of Your Highness…」