Proposal or whatever, love was enough. Mercedes thought so as she joined the evening dinner. The meal had just begun when Carlos made an unexpected suggestion.

“Mel. Would you like to go out for a bit after dinner tonight? There’s a lake nearby that I’d like to take you to.”

Taking a walk while watching the slightly shortened sunset due to the passing of summer was their daily routine after dinner. So Mercedes nodded in agreement without much difficulty.

“A walk sounds nice. But where is this lake? I’m not very familiar with the palace geography.”

“Hmm. It’s behind the imperial palace, so ordinary people can’t easily access it.”

“That’s quite a privilege.”

“Indeed. It’s a privilege I earned in exchange for my hard work.”

Thinking of Carlos who was always swamped with work, it wasn’t wrong, so Mercedes chuckled softly.

“That’s true. I’m curious to see how beautiful the scenery you’ve earned through your work will be.”

“I used to go to that lake often with my mother when I was young. The night scenery there is quite beautiful. And it’s really close too.”

She nodded in response to his gentle whisper, looking at him.

“If you want it, I want it too. Let’s go there together for a while today.”

Carlos replied with a satisfied smile at her permission.

“How does my lady always speak so beautifully?”

“Oh my. I learned it all from you.”

“Well. I’ve often been told I’m more suited to be a mercenary captain than an emperor.”

“No matter how I look at you, you seem like a sovereign. Whoever said that must have poor judgment.”

“It was Gregory.”

“Pardon?”

“Gregory said that. No, actually, all of our soldiers say so. They say I was too barbaric on the battlefield. I think I’d exude nobility wherever I go.”

Mercedes’ laughter burst out brightly at Carlos’ joke.

She watched Carlos as he cut the meat into pieces and transferred it to her plate.

Such consideration had become familiar now. At first, she wondered why he cut the meat for her, why he seated her next to him.

Now they naturally sat close together, feeding each other food and whispering and giggling.

‘Quite some time has passed.’

She suddenly had that thought.

“If you had become a mercenary… you probably would have been recorded as some legendary mercenary.”

Mercedes pushed the perfectly sized piece of meat into her mouth. The well-cooked beef melted tenderly.

“A legendary mercenary who’s excellent at fighting?”

“That’s right, but I think the barbaric part fits too?”

“My goodness. You think so too? I have no one on my side!”

“Thinking of our nights together, I have to agree with Sir Gregory.”

She could now make such slightly, no, quite embarrassing jokes. Carlos also chuckled and caressed her cheek.

“My lover is really testing me today.”

“When have I not?”

“At first, you were like a hedgehog.”

“Hmm… That’s true, isn’t it? Did you get pricked a lot by my quills?”

“No. As I’ve always said, I’m a person who feels guilty towards you, so I was unaffected no matter how much you pricked me. I was more worried that you might prick yourself with your own quills.”

“A hedgehog would never prick itself with its own quills, you know?”

“Then that’s a very good thing.”

Carlos wiped his mouth and kissed the back of her hand. Mercedes chuckled.

“And how long are you going to keep saying you feel guilty? Stop it now. There were circumstances, weren’t there?”

“Oh my. I was planning to love you forever and feel guilty forever.”

“I only want the love.”

“If that’s the case, I’ll try to let go of the guilt. I’m a hard worker, so I should be able to do what you want.”

“That’s the most welcome thing I’ve heard.”

The two of them continued their conversation for a while longer before finishing their meal.

As the night air was starting to cool, they put on some additional outerwear. Then, after tying the luggage prepared by the servants to the saddle, they mounted Carlos’ horse side by side and set off.

“It’s unfair! Just because I’m not used to riding yet! Having to ride in your arms because I’m slow.”

Mercedes grumbled, sitting in front of Carlos on the horse.

Carlos just laughed and spurred the horse. His steed galloped forward, cutting through the wind. It felt very fast to Mercedes, who had just started learning horseback riding.

At the same time, she could feel how stably Carlos was riding.

“From what I can see, you’re overflowing with talent. You’ll learn quickly.”

“You compliment me for having talent even when I’m just eating.”

“Being good at eating is a talent too.”

Mercedes wiped the sulky look off her face and laughed again at Carlos’ brazen expression of affection.

She kept laughing like this. Even though it was just light laughter, she laughed so much that sometimes tears would lightly form at the corners of her eyes.

“You really are…”

They rode along the forest path behind the imperial palace.

The sky, mixed with red and blue hues, was incredibly beautiful. The sunset was shining all around, and the forest path was well-maintained with no hazards.

Only the sound of galloping hooves, the horse’s breathing, Carlos’ breathing… The kind and beautiful sounds and scenery of the forest.

She felt completely protected in his arms. Thinking that she was being perfectly loved and that she would never forget every moment for the rest of her life, she closed her eyes for a moment.

She could hear Carlos’ heartbeat. His unique musk wafted over her.

That was so wonderful.

That this was everyday life.

She didn’t know if everyone was this happy and peaceful, but the fact that not only was she not abused or cursed at, but she was loved and could get along kindly with people.

Wishing that every moment would stop like this, she needlessly grabbed Carlos’ arm. It could have been a bit dangerous since she was in front, but Carlos skillfully embraced her with one arm and steered the horse with the other hand holding the reins.

His muscles expanded as he supported her while riding the horse.

How long had they ridden like that? When the sunset was hanging at the edge of the horizon and the forest started to feel dark.

“We’re here, Mel.”

Mercedes, who had closed her eyes wanting to fully feel this moment, slowly opened them at the whispered low voice.

“Did you fall asleep?”

“Mm. No… I just liked this moment so much… Wow.”

Rubbing her eyes slightly and straightening her back, she let out a short exclamation of wonder at the scenery in front of her and then lost her words.

The lake was beautifully shimmering, reflecting the almost faded sunset light. It was as if diamond dust had been sprinkled on it. A scenery like a beautiful painting colored by inheriting the hues of the sky.

A long and wide lake, surrounded by forests, its extent uncertain though somewhat estimable.

It was a scenery she had never seen before in her life.

The light seemed to twinkle like stars. Even as the sky was gradually darkening, the calmness of the lake still seemed visible.

“It’s… so beautiful.”

“I knew you’d like it.”

Carlos dismounted first with a leap, then helped her down.

She had recently started learning horseback riding, so normally she would have insisted on getting down by herself, but entranced by the scenery before her, she allowed herself to be held in his arms as he set her feet on the ground.

Does beautiful scenery make the world anew? The low grass touching her feet were familiar things, yet they felt strange and exciting.

Carlos watched the back of Mercedes for a moment as she walked towards the lake in a daze, entranced by the scenery. He smiled briefly, then lowered the saddle and loosened the reins so the horse could rest.

However, the well-trained horse didn’t leave its master’s side, only going to the lakeside to drink water.

He took out the blanket to spread on the ground and drinks that the servants had packed, placing them near the lake. The basket also contained a lantern and light finger foods to eat.

“Mel.”

“…Yes.”

“This place is especially beautiful when the sun sets.”

“Yes.”

Mercedes couldn’t take her eyes off the lake. There was a small island-like formation on the left side of the lake, and even the lush branches there looked like a painting.

“Mel, sit down and look.”

“…Okay.”

Mercedes, who seemed to have become a doll only capable of saying ‘okay’, was both cute and amusing. He understood though.

Carlos also loved the sunset at this lake very much, and when night fell, he wanted to fall asleep embracing the pouring starlight.

So he simply picked her up and sat her down on the blanket. Mercedes seemed to come to her senses, a bit startled.

“Look comfortably, Mercedes. It’s a scenery I love. A place I always came to as I grew up, a place I would run to when I thought of my mother.”

“…Really. You should have… should have brought me here earlier.”

Mercedes jokingly teased. It seemed she had regained her senses a bit now.

Carlos smiled and lightly stroked her face, then poured fruit wine into a glass for her. Mercedes moistened her throat with the sweet wine and leaned against Carlos’ shoulder.

Carlos embraced her and they silently looked at the scenery together.

The sunset passed faster than expected. The sparkle of the water touched by the setting sun quickly subsided and soon night fell.

“…It’s a shame.”

“We can come again.”

“That’s true. Is this what you wanted to show me? Shall we go back now?”

In the fully darkened forest. Mercedes finally took her eyes off the lake and looked at Carlos.

It was an ambiguous time when the moon hadn’t fully risen yet.

Carlos made a ‘hmm’ sound and then lay down.

“Mercedes. When I was young, I used to have such a thought.”

“What thought?”

“That I wanted to embrace the stars here and use them as a blanket to fall asleep. I never got to do it though. My mother was worried I might catch a cold.”

“Oh my, I’ve finally found someone besides me who worries about you.”

“Haha. That’s right. When no one else worries about me…”

Carlos spread his arms and patted the space beside him as if telling her to come into his embrace. Mercedes hesitated for a moment before lying down using his arm as a pillow, feeling his warmth.

“But now I can do it, can’t I?”

“You mean sleep here?”

“Even if it’s just a very short nap.”

“…Hmm.”

She pondered for a moment, looking around. Then she spotted the first star blooming in the sky.

“Oh dear, I guess we have no choice. The night here seems like it will be too beautiful, I want to see it.”

“Your sense of adventure matches well with mine.”

Carlos held her tight. As the warm heat rushed in, she somehow felt sleepy.

Was the alcohol content of the fruit wine a bit high?

Mercedes blinked her eyes and suddenly fell asleep.

Carlos stroked Mercedes’ back as she slept, just looking at the calm surrounding scenery.

Recalling once again the gift he would give her today and choosing his words carefully.

She didn’t know.

How nervous he was right now.