The Count's Heir (2)
In the garden of the Valentine Countship.
Having finished lunch, Milia was strolling through the garden with Schwarz.
"Hwaaam… I think I ate too much. I'm getting sleepy…"
Perhaps because she had finally managed a proper midday meal for the first time in a while, drowsiness crept over her. Feeling it settle in, Milia let out a long, languid yawn.
A pleasant fullness, the gentle warmth of the sun, and a soft breeze that brushed past her skin. If she simply laid her head down on a sunlit desk, she felt certain she would be asleep within a minute.
"If you fall asleep right after eating, you'll put on weight, you know."
"Ugh!"
When Schwarz teased her with that playful remark, Milia glared at him and began lightly punching his side with her fist. Of course, to Schwarz the blows were so gentle he barely felt them at all.
"It's not like I've been moving around much lately. My skirts are starting to feel tight."
"Hmm… that does sound like a bit of a problem."
Schwarz let out a low hum at her grumbling. Lately she had barely left her office because of work, and the stress had her reaching for sweet snacks more often than usual. In a way, it was only natural. Managing Milia's diet was one of Schwarz's duties, so he could hardly let the matter slide.
Maybe I really should cut back on the snacks a little…
Just as the thought crossed his mind—
"You're not thinking of cutting my snacks right now, are you?"
Somehow she had read him perfectly. Milia looked up at him with an uneasy voice.
"I'll have to consider it. Your health comes first for me, My Lady."
"Th-that won't do!! Snacks are one of the few joys I have left these days!"
Milia answered in a rush as Schwarz calmly listed it among the options. Looking at it from her side, it wasn't hard to understand. With the mountain of work growing every day, her stress climbed right alongside it. She had only two real ways to unwind: spending time with him, and sweet food.
People often said sugar helped ease stress… Whether that was settled science or mere superstition, it clearly helped Milia, so he couldn't simply slash her snacks without a second thought.
Which left only one approach.
"Then would you make a promise with me?"
"A promise? All of a sudden?"
Milia tilted her head at Schwarz's faint smile. She had no idea what he was about to propose, but it was only proper to hear him out first.
"Go on."
"I won't reduce your snacks. In return, please eat proper meals from now on, and take at least ten minutes of rest every two hours."
For all the grand talk of a "promise," it simply meant she should rest properly. Schwarz hadn't spoken without thought. Skipping meals only made her crave more snacks, and when that piled on top of too little exercise, the result was exactly what she was complaining about. Rest would ease her exhausted body and mind, lower her stress, and naturally cut down how often she reached for sweets.
"How does that sound?"
"Well… that much isn't hard."
She had no real reason to refuse, so Milia nodded.
"We're not finished yet."
"What?"
There's more?
Milia's eyes went round. Schwarz grinned at her and continued.
"If you break the promise, no snacks that day."
"…!!"
Milia sucked in a short breath. No snacks. Was there any threat more terrifying?
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I'll cut the snacks."
"…"
Schwarz answered her trembling question with a smile so bright it was almost radiant. In that moment, the smile looked downright menacing—and she was certain it was no illusion. A light shiver ran through her.
"Urgh…"
Accept his proposal, or accept fewer snacks. In truth she had no real choice. Bernus had already granted Schwarz the authority to decide Milia's daily regimen; cutting her snacks would be effortless for him. With her health as the perfect justification, there would be no grounds for complaint either.
"Fine… I'll do it."
"A wise decision, My Lady."
After a brief struggle, Milia answered with a short sigh. Schwarz nodded, clearly satisfied. From the start it had been a proposal she could only accept…
"You're so sly, you know that?"
"I'll take that as a compliment."
As she grumbled at him, Schwarz gave a faint smile and gently stroked her hair.
That night.
"My Lady. It will soon be time for bed."
It was already past ten. Schwarz had brought the documents she had requested and set them on her desk as he spoke.
"Just a moment… once I finish these, I'm done."
Milia answered without looking up, staring hard at the last few papers remaining. Beside her, a stack of documents nearly as tall as she was when seated still waited.
"You're rather quick tonight. I remember there was even more work than yesterday…"
"Right? Maybe because you made me rest a little in between?"
Compared to the previous day, the remaining pile was noticeably smaller. Perhaps the proper breaks had helped after all. Thinking as much, Schwarz watched her absorbed in her work and smiled faintly.
Then—
"Haa…"
"Is something the matter?"
Milia suddenly let out a short sigh. Schwarz tilted his head at the sight.
"It's nothing."
"…??"
Could she be carrying some worry she can't speak of?
Puzzled by her odd behavior, Schwarz stepped closer. Looking over her shoulder at the document she held, he immediately understood the reaction.
That was the paper in her hands. Apparently several of the manor's maids had requested time off.
"Would you like to go somewhere on a trip, by any chance?"
"I-it's not that…"
Milia shook her head at his careful question, but Schwarz saw through the lie at once. For more than three months she had been shut in her office from morning till night, buried in work. It was obvious she needed rest more desperately than ever.
Her sense of responsibility is admirable, but I wish she would be a little kinder to herself…
He let out a low hum. Once spring arrived, the flood of work would make free time nearly impossible. Miss this chance and they would have to wait until late autumn or winter at the earliest. If they were going to travel, now was the perfect window.
This is troublesome…
Yet one problem stood in the way of any travel plans Schwarz might make.
Everything else was fine—but where would they go?
He had never once set foot outside the kingdom. What did he know of the wider world? At best, the Valentine Countship and the royal capital of Barenberg made up the whole of his experience. Far to the north lay the Capels Empire; to the east, the Riel Coalition; beyond the desert, the Kingdom of Al-Bamada was said to exist. There were many places, but all he possessed were fragmentary scraps of knowledge.
Maybe I should look for some travel books…
He was still humming thoughtfully when Milia narrowed her eyes at him.
"What are you thinking about so hard?"
"It's nothing important."
He shook his head at once. Of course Milia was no fool; she would never take the words at face value.
"Nothing important, my foot. Anyone can see you're planning a trip."
"Was it that obvious?"
"Honestly, you're hopeless. Even after I said it was nothing…"
Still, she didn't dislike this side of him. It meant Schwarz treasured her that much, and every time it happened she felt anew that he was truly her lover.
"If we miss this chance, we'll have to wait a long while again. You wouldn't like that either, My Lady."
"Well… that's true enough."
Miss this window and the next opportunity would not come until late autumn or winter. Milia knew that perfectly well herself.
"…!!"
Then, as if something had suddenly struck her, Milia flinched and went still. Color flooded her cheeks; her eyes began to tremble.
"My Lady…?"
Schwarz tilted his head at her abrupt reaction. Had something serious happened?
"Ah—it's nothing! Don't worry about it!"
"Understood…"
Yet she waved both hands as if to dismiss any concern. What on earth could make her so flustered? Schwarz watched her with a grave expression as she sat lost in thought.
"A trip… hehehe…"
Meanwhile, paying his gaze no mind at all, Milia let out a low, private laugh. Only one keyword now occupied her mind—and what it was, only she herself could know.
And so the night grew deeper still.