On the way back to the Ferbache Royal Mansion in a carriage.

Johan gazed sternly out the window. His face reflected in the glass wobbled faintly. It looked somewhat unfamiliar.

“Today… really had a lot going on.”

Princess Raliana Rojino. Her confident smile and blunt suggestion of a marriage proposal still lingered in his mind.

Her proposal was… quite exhausting. He couldn’t relax for a moment until Raliana got up from her seat.

Fortunately, she hurriedly rose and cut off that conversation, but… they would meet again.

And she would likely propose the same sort of arrangement again. Raliana’s interest would not end with mere curiosity.

He could accept that much. After all, the arrogance of royalty is on a level that pierces the heavens.

However… visiting Rudella was a mistake.

Who could have known that a woman destined to become a Crown Princess might confess her feelings to him?

“Headache.”

The confession itself was fine. It was a pure sentiment. It was Rudella’s first desire, longing, and greed, having always lived passively.

He could simply reject her to minimize hurt. She probably said it knowing she’d be rejected as well.

But… it was the next words that posed a problem.

If he accepted the proposal, she would offer him the power of the Queen and say she’d personally give him the women she wanted, including herself.

Hearing that made Johan feel a chill deep in his guts. It was discomforting to his very bones.

Rudella was trying to use the position of Queen to draw him in, purely to satisfy her desires. No, she might not even realize that’s what she was doing.

Regardless of intent, her words trampled Johan’s dignity and pride.

…To be honest, her proposal was something any man would find enticing and a dream. A chance to live freely, enjoying the life of a powerful ruler without restraints.

However, Johan was… far from that inclination. If he were, he would have been parading around with noble ladies since his academy days.

Of course, being a man, he didn’t entirely despise the idea of a harem life with many women.

But thinking about the emotional toll and effort that life required… well, he wasn’t that diligent.

“Forget it. Let’s stop thinking about this. It’s over.”

If Rudella had any shame, she wouldn’t call him for designated tasks anymore. He had clearly drawn the line at the end.

He felt uneasy about how strongly he spoke at the end, but it probably wouldn’t matter much. Rudella would find it troublesome if it became known.

“The rest is… Raliana Rojino, I’ll think about it later. Right now, my head hurts.”

Johan closed his eyes tightly. His mind was too heated to think any further.

As soon as he shut his eyes, the sound of Princess Raliana’s confident laughter and Rudella’s trembling voice mixed together, echoing in his ears.

*

The next day.

Inside the carriage heading to the Public Affairs Building, Fransia rested her head on Johan’s shoulder.

“I went to bed early yesterday and didn’t get to ask, but you didn’t have any issues, right?”

To her question, Johan averted his gaze slightly and replied softly.

“Nothing too significant happened.”

“Mm…”

Fransia narrowed her eyes, observing Johan’s response closely, then poked his cheek with her finger.

“Did you know?”

“What is it?”

As Johan tilted his head, Fransia smiled gently.

“You have a habit that comes out when you lie.”

Is there such a thing? It was the first time he had ever heard this in 21 years of living.

“Every time you’re talking to me, your gaze that never leaves me turns to the side when you lie. Did you not know?”

“…Not at all.”

“I figured as much. It doesn’t seem like a conscious action.”

Fransia covered her mouth and giggled. She had an air as if she knew everything about Johan.

“So, what happened?”

She asked. Johan momentarily turned his eyes away and hesitated to answer.

“I met with Your Highness the Princess on a mission. And also Lady Bismarck.”

“I see.”

Fransia nodded, then suddenly stared closely at his face.

“Hmm. But Johan, you’re hiding something, aren’t you?”

Johan hesitated, momentarily avoiding her gaze. She playfully poked his cheek with her finger and laughed.

“See, I knew it! You’re so obvious when you try to hide something!”

With her impressive deduction, Johan sighed and chuckled softly.

“Really, you’re like a ghost, catching me like this every time.”

“Hehe. I can know everything about you, you know?”

Fransia laughed heartily. But Johan didn’t know how to explain what had happened the previous day.

It was one thing to say that Princess Raliana had thrown hints, but telling her that Rudella confessed her love was not something he could easily do.

“What happened?”

“Just… we talked about some complicated matters.”

“…Is that so?”

Fransia crossed her arms and observed Johan’s reactions again. Her gaze kept drifting toward his accentuated chest.

“Well, since it seems you want to hide it, I won’t pry further. Every relationship has its secrets, you know.”

She smiled softly, then tilted her head slightly with a mischievous grin.

“Hmm? Looks like you can’t help being a man, can you?”

“…What are you suddenly talking about?”

“You were staring at my chest a lot!”

“That’s… I couldn’t help it.”

“Hehe…?”

Fransia looked at Johan with a cheeky smile, her expression suggesting something playful.

“I’ve come up with a way to beat you.”

“What is it?”

“Hehe.”

She gently undid a button on her uniform, exposing her smooth collarbone. The elegant outline of her bones subtly under her fair skin.

An alluring sight that captured attention. A hint of sensuality heightened a man’s desires.

“This is the place you can’t resist kissing every time. What do you think?”

“…Hmm.”

Johan gazed intently at Fransia’s collarbone. The way her muscles moved followed her motions gave an elegant vigor.

“…That’s a bit embarrassing from this angle.”

“Wasn’t it meant to be shown to me?”

“Ah, seriously…! Why am I the only one feeling embarrassed…”

When his reasoning failed, Fransia hurriedly clasped her uniform back together, covering her collarbone. Johan’s hand instinctively grabbed her arm.

“Oops!”

Her uniform loosened again. As it slid down her neckline, her ample upper chest became exposed. Johan buried his face there and gently kissed.

“Haah…!”

Fransia trembled all over, arching her back. Breathing in her scent as he traveled from her collarbone toward her neck.

The sound of his lips kissing her skin could be heard.

As Johan pressed kisses along her upper chest, collarbone, and neck, he finally met her gaze. She was blushing deeply, panting for breath.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Haah… really… you’re so mischievous.”

“Didn’t you show it to me for this?”

“Ugh…”

Since they were in contact, Fransia’s pounding heart could be heard. Johan chuckled and kissed her cheek.

“Please don’t do this again next time.”

“…It seems I should.”

Leaning against the carriage wall, Fransia covered her blushing face with her arm, breathing heavily. Johan had left traces of his kisses on her upper chest, collarbone, and neck.

With each breath she took, her subtly revealing chest rose and the delicate, fair skin glistened.

The sight was so lewd and sensual that Johan found himself swallowing hard.

“You can’t do this here… It’s in the carriage… Someone might see…”

While panting, it seemed like Fransia recognized his desires as she turned her flushed face away and hastily buttoned up her uniform.

“I thought you wanted me to be provocative since you reacted this way.”

Johan smirked charmingly and leaned in to kiss Fransia’s neck once more.

“Uheh…!”

As Johan’s breath brushed against her most sensitive skin, she arched her back once more. There was a thrilling sensation in doing such things in the carriage.

“Isn’t this really something you want to do, Fransia? Your reaction is quite intense.”

“……”

“I’ll finish quickly, so shall we secretly do it once? I think it’d be fine.”

“Ah…”

She sighed, not opening her lips any longer. She merely hid her flushed face with her hands. That delicate act was so cute that Johan couldn’t help but chuckle.

“I’m just kidding. The coachman might notice, so how could we manage that? I want to keep and enjoy Fransia’s this lovely side just for myself.”

Johan suppressed his desire. He planned to keep her alluring image to himself without showing anyone else.

“…Good thinking.”

Fransia said that, yet she also felt a tinge of regret. Deep down, she wished to see Johan lose control over his desires…

“Hmm…”

Feeling oddly ticklish, Fransia absentmindedly adjusted her neck and quietly turned her gaze to Johan. There he was as usual.

“Your expression has returned.”

“Returned? What do you mean?”

“You looked serious until just now.”

Fransia smiled lightly, then, with her fingertips, began to gently tickle Johan’s thigh as she caressed it.

“Hehe, your face was one that seemed to carry all the world’s worries alone. I’m glad it seems you’ve forgotten it now.”

“Ah.”

“I’ll take responsibility and help you forget your worries.”

With a playful smile, she glided her finger along Johan’s neckline.

“We’ve arrived.”

As they shared affection, the wheels of the carriage abruptly came to a stop.

After three knocks from the Ferbache knight, the door opened, letting in a rush of cold air.

“Have a good day today as well.”

After a polite greeting, the knight stepped back. Johan stepped quickly out of the carriage and held Fransia’s hand as she followed suit.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Having stepped down from the carriage, they exchanged casual greetings with the knights and headed toward the Public Affairs Building.

From early morning, people were bustling about with significant activity.

As Johan and Fransia passed through the crowd, they sensed a heavy atmosphere.

“…Looks like something’s up?”

Fransia, naturally interlocking her fingers with Johan’s, whispered with a worried look.

“Let’s check first.”

Johan and Fransia hurriedly quickened their steps and entered the Public Affairs Building.

As they stepped inside, the heavy air bore down on their shoulders.

“What’s going on?”

When Johan asked a nearby public affairs officer, he received an immediate answer.

“Well… an imperial edict has been issued to prepare for war.”