Raul quickly mended his expression and put on a gentler one.

“My sister Harriet has been engaged to Fabrania since she was very young. I’m selfishly concerned, even though I’m the one who forced my sister into it!”

Then he shrugged.

“Anyhow, few couples in a political marriage end up being happy.”

“…I suppose so.”

Rishe caught that tinge of sneer in Arnold’s voice.

“It is nothing short of spiteful behavior to corner a country and force it into a political marriage based on a power differential.”

“Your Highness Arnold.”

Before Rishe could at him at the back, the hat he took from her was placed on her head again.

“Rishe, are you interested in discussing books with Curtis-dono?”

“…Yes.”

Not really, but Rishe was trying to divert Raul’s attention from Arnold.

Rishe nodded with that thought in mind. Rishe looked up at Arnold, who turned a calm gaze toward her.

“Then I’d better go.”

“!”

Arnold’s words bore an undertone, as if he had drawn a line on the sand.

His voice was gentle and the same was true with his expression, but Rishe distinctly felt it.“I’m going back to my official duties for now. If you need anything else, please come to my office…”

“Your Highness!”

Rishe caught Arnold’s hand as he walked away without hesitation.

“―― ……”

Arnold looked back at Rishe with eyes wide in surprise.

Rishe squeezed their hands together and courageously intertwined their fingers.

“…Rishe.”

I don’t care what His Highness meant by what he said earlier.

Right now, Rishe just had to do what she wanted to do.

So, she reached out and “did what she wanted.”

She had a feeling that one of them included taking Arnold’s hand like this.

“I’d like to stay with you, Your Highness.”

“…………”

Arnold raised an eyebrow at her bluntness.

To counter any opposition, Rishe wrapped Arnold’s hand with her other hand.

“Your Highness…”But Arnold remained silent.

Could this be an indication that he would reject her?

Despite her misgivings, Arnold took a breath and said, “I still have some spare time.”

“!”

His reply made Rishe happy.

She breathed a sigh of relief and smiled naturally at him.

“Let’s go back to the castle and change for now. Even though we’re almost dry, we’re still a mess.”

“…Hmm.”

“Well then, if you’ll excuse us, Your Highness Curtis.”

Rishe held hands with Arnold and turned around smilingly.

“Have a good day.”

“…Yeah, you too, Rishe-dono.”

Raul huffed and squinted, giving a signal that only Rishe could understand.

“See you later.”

“…”

Although Rishe still didn’t know the purpose of the trip, she decided to walk with Arnold for the time being.

She had no way of knowing that Raul, who had remained on the beach, had muttered in a low voice: “A beautiful couple…In the eyes of the world, they’re probably a perfect match.”

His red eyes were directed not at Arnold, but at Rishe.

“I can’t say for sure, they’re a dangerous couple…?”

A smile settled on Raul’s face, like a hunter aiming for his prey.