I’m the fifth son of a count’s family, but I became the head of a duke’s house.
After Erich and Kurt left and I was taking a breather, I heard some rustling again near the entrance.
“Again?” I wondered.
Then Leila suddenly popped her head out from the doorway.
“I came,” she said.
“Huh?”
Without caring that I was surprised, she came trotting closer.
Of course, she had a towel wrapped around her body…
“Excuse me,”
she said, stepping into the bath.
I wasn’t sure if it was from the steam or what, but I felt my cheeks grow warm.
Well, maybe it was nothing since we’re married, so it didn’t really matter.
Still, the open-air bath setting somehow made her feel more alluring than usual… or so I thought.
Leila moved forward inside the bath and sat down right beside me.
Our shoulders touched lightly.
She looked up a bit and gazed at the sky, murmuring:
“Even though this place is so nice, we have to leave today…”
“Yeah…” I replied.
There’s still work waiting for us, and it’s better to stay in the capital to respond quickly if anything happens.
More than that, we have to rotate the soldiers and knights guarding our absence. I’m sure they’re looking forward to the hot springs too.
Leila then turned her gaze from the sky toward me.
“I hope, Ainzich-sama, that your fatigue has gone away…”
“Yeah, I think so…”
I looked up at the sky.
Well… it was fun, and I guess I did get some rest.
“I feel like I can work hard again.”
“Ainzich-sama, please don’t overdo it, okay?”
“Thanks.”
It’s strange. Even though they worry about me working too much, that worry actually makes me happy and motivates me to try even harder.
“Actually… I have something I want to talk to you about.”
I shifted my gaze from the sky back to Leila.
She looked serious.
“What’s up?”
“I want to help you, Ainzich-sama. About the education of the civil officials… could you let me assist with that?”
I was surprised without meaning to.
Indeed, Leila, as a duchess’s daughter with proper education, is perfect for training civil officials. Given the shortage of hands, it’s a welcome offer.
But what surprised me most was that this proposal could somewhat jeopardize Leila’s position. She hasn’t been involved in political affairs until now.
That’s because Leila originally came from a noble family that was once our enemy.
I personally don’t care about that, but the members of the Count Vaiwarl’s faction would definitely be suspicious about a princess from a former enemy noble family getting involved in politics.
Leila must have realized that too… no, even knowing that, she offered this for my sake…
“Ainzich-sama?”
I had been lost in thought and forgot to respond.
Leila looked a bit worried, furrowing her brows anxiously as she stared at me.
I smiled to reassure her as best I could.
“I definitely want you to help, Leila.”
“Y-Yes!”
Some nobles from the faction might say something about it, but I will protect Leila.