“...... Now, Minerva. ”

A determined voice broke the near-frozen silence, and Valrhona stared at the girl who hung her head deeply.

There was no sympathy or pity in her voice or expression, she just asked indifferently as if confirming the facts.

"You, like Roland?"

“......”

Of course, like.

The answer that should have blurted out without hesitation choked in his throat.

Just because she heard Valrhona's meaning.

Valrhona didn't want to hear the "official formula answer", she just wanted to confirm...... A girl's mind.

Whether you really fall in love with Roland from the bottom of your heart.

Do you regret your union with Roland.

If not sincerely.

If you regret it now.

If it is still only to fulfill the "obligations of being a royal family" and maintain the relationship with Roland.

Perhaps it would be a relief for both parties to dissolve this twisted relationship before it has done irreparable damage to both parties......

In this turbulent era, people do not have the luxury of choosing fate, everyone moves forward involuntarily in the tide of fate, and sometimes the seemingly cruel breakup is actually a gentle end.

"I-"

He looked up sharply, but he didn't know where to start.

I don't know what to say, but my head nodded unexpectedly easily.

That's right, since I was a child, I have been educated by the "standard royal family", and I have always been stuck to the identity of the "princess", just to live to be an "excellent princess", and other things and thoughts are completely out of sight.

At first, he did have an interest in Roland and had a good impression, but approaching him was more out of obligation.

Knowing this, Roland still treats her gently.

The more gently you are treated, the more guilt accumulates in your heart. Unconsciously, guilt and obligation tear and confuse her feelings for Roland, and Minerva, who has always been wise, does not know what to do with this feeling.

After all this, the rules and regulations that bound her mind have loosened and fallen off, and the girl's personality and heart have finally been released.

For the first time, the mask came loose from the face.

"Valrhona ......"

“...... I'm listening. ”

With a smile on her lips, Valrhona responded kindly, quietly waiting for Minerva's answer.

"I don't want to leave him......"

Valrhona echoed with a soft "um", a little excitement and joy in her voice.

"This separation made me understand...... I don't want to be separated from him, I want to be together forever and ever. ”

Once you start talking, the words go on and on, and you can't stop at all.

As soon as the dam that controlled thinking and behavior broke, Minerva felt as if she had become a different person, pouring out her thoughts as if she were not herself. But every time he said a word or a word, the lump in his chest dissipated a little, and his heavy heart became a little lighter.

"I don't want to leave him...... But in this war, we have no chance of winning against the Divine Will Agent...... I know how despicable this is, but I still can't help but rely on Roland and send him to the battlefield again and again...... I don't know what to do, maybe it's the right thing to do to keep him away from this damn war...... However, once that is done, once Roland is no longer our 'savior', we will only have one way to separate. So - what the hell to do, really...... I really don't understand......"

"Hmm. ”

"The more I think about Roland, the harder I feel in my heart...... I want to fulfill my responsibilities as a 'princess', but I can't do it......"

"Hmm. ”

"When I was hugged by Roland...... I always thought it was a very, very happy thing...... Actually, now that I think about it, I was actually very scared at that time...... To that rough ...... But...... But...... Somewhere in my heart I still feel happy. If...... If...... If it's the usual Roland, that...... It will definitely be more ...... So, so ...... I want him to hug ...... That ......"

The girl could no longer organize coherent sentences, and her sobbing poured out into writhing moans, her face flushed, and her body could not sit still.

It's not like a princess who shoulders the fate of a country at all, it's just a little girl who can be seen everywhere.

"You're doing a great job. ”

Freya gently stroked Charlemagne's head, a narrow smile on her face.

"Hey, what......"

Minerva, who realized that she had been successfully attacked, realized that her face was full of tears.

"Overly ......"

Wipe away the hot water stains on her cheeks, Minerva slightly puzzled cross-examination.

"It's too much, the way I cry, is it that funny?"

"It's funny. ”

Contrary to the teasing laughter, Valrhona's expression was very gentle.

"I can't bear it at all. ”

"What do you mean by not being able to bear ......?"

"After all, for the first time since I have been dealing with you, I have seen you like a puppet, and you will also speak the truth and show the feelings that people should have. ”

“......”

The flushed face lowered again, and the girl who was said this for the first time didn't know what to say for a while.

Valrhona didn't intend to let her go like that.

"Stop pretending, isn't it good to be so honest with Roland?"

“...... But. ”

Minerva whispered.

Now, even if Minerva opened her heart and confided her heart, Roland might not believe it.

After all, he hurt him again and again, sending him to the battlefield to face danger and experience all kinds of despair. Now to say "I like you", how much credibility does it have in Roland's ears?

It's hard to trust each other – it's always the same at all times.

"Speaking of which, there is another report from the front. ”

With a sudden change in tone, Valrhona got up slightly, and the spider, who had been silent, frowned slightly, then sighed lightly as if she understood something, got up and walked to the door.

"Didn't you say before that others were pretending to be and going around in circles, and just said, 'Let the two of you be alone'?"

"Long-winded. Do you want me to tell you why you're not popular?"

"Yes, yes, no one likes women who don't understand amorous feelings. ”

Opening the door, the spider turned her head sharply and greeted Minerva with a meaningful smile.

"According to the doctor's examination, the little young master's body is still very weak. Your Royal Highness Princess, even if he wakes up, he can't make coquettish demands. At least put up with it until he recovers. ”

"Asking for anything?"

Minerva didn't understand what the spider was referring to at first.

Only a second later.

"Ahhhh!!!h

As her face turned red, Her Royal Highness screamed like a boiling kettle.

"Come on, the two of us who get in the way will flash first. ”

Pulling and pulling, Valrhona dragged the spider and quickly disappeared outside the door, and the intermittent rebuke and defense gradually moved away, and finally disappeared.

Minerva, who sat back in her chair, smiled wryly.

Although she still couldn't adapt to the spider's alternative cheering, and couldn't respond to the colored encouragement except with a wry smile, Minerva really felt the spider's recognition and encouragement for her. Not to mention the confiding in Valrhona, which made her feel a certain redemption.

Thank you –

The young girls who were not good at words of gratitude silently recited this sentence in their hearts, and it was they who encouraged themselves to stop and gave themselves a little courage to face Roland.

Look back at the bed.

The fingers slowly lifted, gently caressing the boy's cheek, and the familiar touch came along the fingertips.

A simple movement, a little skin touch.

Just like that, the feeling of happiness keeps pouring out.

Unilateral violence has not been completely forgotten, but it will not be deliberately entangled. Perhaps for those who constantly take advantage of others and weave lies to deceive others and themselves, this is self-inflicted. Thinking about it like this, the guilt in Minerva's chest was also somewhat lightened.

Minerva now fully understands that the relationship that once existed between her and Roland was anything but normal.

Perhaps the arranged political marriage did have an element of last resort at the beginning, but after experiencing various crises and difficulties, they developed a good impression of each other. If Minerva hadn't been so obsessed with the "duties and obligations of the princess", if she had opened her heart and confessed to Roland, maybe they would have already bred true love.

However, Roland violated Minerva in order to harm her, and Minerva voluntarily took possession of Roland for the sake of the country and the royal family by turning herself into a collar that bound Roland. The superficial union cannot hide the emptiness behind it, and the mere physical pleasure for a time does not bring spiritual happiness. The distance between hearts is not closer, but is blocked by a solider, invisible wall.

Something had to be done.

Minerva decided.

Something had to be done for Roland to compensate him, he had to be restored to his original appearance.

It may be reprimanded, it may be violent again, and it may be extremely difficult to make up for the trust that has been destroyed, but Minerva is determined that she will not give up even if she spends her life trying to make up for her mistakes.

“......！！”

The fingers that touched the boy's cheek suddenly trembled like an electric shock.

At some point, Roland opened his eyes, and his purple eyes were looking at Minerva.

"Roland......!!"

The determination he had just made up was instantly shaken again, and when he stood up in a panic, he knocked his chair to the ground, and at the thought of the cold words and angry scolding that would soon fall, his body couldn't help but shrink and freeze in place.

Being mentally prepared does not mean that you can eliminate your fear when you actually face it, and it can still be painful to hear your loved one's verbal violence in your ears.

"Right...... I'm sorry. ”

In a hurry, all the apologies and love, all the concern and fear, condensed into such a sentence.

With that, Minerva hung her head and waited for Roland's response.

No matter how ugly the words were, she was completely ready to bear it at this moment.

And yet—

“...... I'm sorry. ”

It's the same thing as Minerva said.

Imbued with sincere apologies, without any embellishment, without a perfunctory candid apology.

A sincere apology dispelled all of Minerva's worries and fears.

When the girl came to her senses and covered her trembling lips with her fist, tears overflowed from her eyes again.