The victory celebration continued until dawn.

Although the official victory ceremony takes place in the capital before the Emperor, after which the troops can finally disband and return to their families,

The Emperor allowed an informal celebration to be held so that the returning soldiers could fully enjoy their joy when they reached their hometowns.

Without strict formalities and a freer atmosphere compared to the capital’s ceremony, soldiers sometimes spotted their tearful families in the crowd and ran to embrace them in emotional reunions.

Though it was a midnight celebration, it seemed no house was asleep.

“Julius put in quite the effort.”

Even journalists were genuinely surprised at how Julius spared no expense.

“His Majesty the Emperor will have to step up to not be outdone by this celebration.”

Those who thought it strange to start a victory celebration at midnight came to realize Julius had played a masterstroke in showcasing their night scenery, creating a special celebration that didn’t appear to challenge imperial authority, as fireworks erupted and beautiful lights adorned the night sky.

It was an unprecedentedly rich and splendid victory celebration in history.

It was hard to believe the controversies over inadequate supplies over the past five years.

* * *

The sky’s color was changing as dawn was breaking.

Reina’s mind was being bleached along with it.

‘What am I doing here…?’

Reina had been standing next to Arthur on the golden chariot for the victory parade, waving to the people of the territory for eight hours straight while wearing a dress.

Now I’m not sure if I’m waving my hand or if it’s cramping.

Was a victory celebration always this exhausting?

“……”

My feet hurt in these shoes.

My heels hurt more than my newly pierced ears from last night.

There was even an aching pain somewhere in my chest, perhaps from the corset being too tight.

It’s hard to breathe. I hope I haven’t broken a bone?

The smell of food was wafting from all directions as people held festivals, but Reina couldn’t eat anything as she had to maintain a noble smile and wave to the cheering crowds.

I’m hungry. But I don’t even have an appetite. I’m too exhausted.

My feet hurt. My arms hurt. My chest bone hurts.

I’m cold. I’m even dizzy, maybe from the heavy earrings.

I might collapse and die right here before even reaching the gallows.

“My lady, you mustn’t lose your smile. The journalists are watching.”

The two maids standing nearby whispered softly as they supported Reina and adjusted her clothing.

As they fixed her disheveled hair, touched up her makeup, removed wilted flowers and replaced them with fresh ones, Reina stared blankly at their faces.

Our eyes met briefly. They were maids I recognized but didn’t know by name.

They must have surely realized I wasn’t “Lady Christina,” but they didn’t even look surprised.

Calling me “my lady” seemed so natural, I almost doubted for a moment if I actually looked like a real lady to them.

I suppose they had to attach themselves to me to make me look like a lady?

It would be strange if the lady wasn’t being attended to by anyone.

The Duke’s household probably didn’t want anyone to know about my situation.

I wonder if they were told they’d receive double wages if they kept quiet about this?

“……”

Thump.

Suddenly feeling a soft sensation on her shoulder, Reina blinked.

And then she heard whistles and what sounded like jeering cheers from the surrounding crowd.

Looking to the side, she saw that Arthur had taken off his coat and draped it over her shoulders, then withdrawn his hand.

He averted his gaze as if nothing had happened, without saying a word.

“……”

Had my memory been distorted?

I think I lied when I said he was quite handsome.

He possessed an excessively attractive appearance.

Even his expressionless face and casual posture seemed to create moments that would be etched in someone’s memory as deeply meaningful.

“……”

Why is he so handsome? It’s not like looks were needed on the battlefield.

Even knowing that our history might drag me to the gallows, he was so captivating that my fear momentarily dulled.

In the dim pre-dawn light, he looked unbelievably dashing, casually looking elsewhere while wearing just a loose white shirt.

How can such a person exist in this world?

I feel unnatural just standing still and breathing, and now my face and arms feel like they’re about to cramp up.

Hasn’t he been standing and waving his hand all night just like me?

How does he look so comfortable and free, as if he just came out to enjoy the dawn breeze?

Indeed,

“…Is it because he’s a warrior, his stamina…”

Gasp.

Reina closed her mouth. That wasn’t meant to be said out loud.

Was it because the corset was squeezing her body too tightly? The inner thoughts that should have stayed in her chest escaped between her lips without her realizing.

Reina covered her mouth.

“……”

I spoke too casually. Did he hear?

Hoping he hadn’t heard, she stole a glance at him.

He was smiling, still resting his arms on the railing in front of him, gazing ahead.

“Is it very tiring?”

……He heard.

Reina bit her lip and looked at the back of her hand.

What would the young lady have said in this situation?

“…I understand that the victory celebration is a necessary process.”

Arthur laughed.

“You’re not saying it’s not tiring.”

Well, that would be a lie.

But I couldn’t honestly say it was tiring either.

I wasn’t brazen enough to complain about my arms going numb from waving too much to someone who had just returned from five years on the battlefield.

Reina hesitated before answering.

“…Thank you for the coat.”

Suddenly, she felt uncomfortable.

Life as a maid in the Marquis’s household wasn’t easy, but it was a peaceful existence where I didn’t have to worry about starving to death or suddenly being stabbed in the middle of the night.

I could even indulge in the hobby of saving up bit by bit to buy nice things for myself.

Even amidst the hardships, I could dream of going to the seaside someday.

“……”

The peace I’ve enjoyed until now was probably protected by this man risking his life and enduring hardships.

Yet here I am, just borrowing his coat and having this kind of conversation about how tiring the victory celebration is.

Reina awkwardly fiddled with the coat he had draped over her.

“……”

“Don’t make a fuss.”

“Lord Arthur was just momentarily angry.”

“Your role is simply to quell the current uproar. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“……”

I know. Perhaps this street is just for today.

If I’m not dragged to the gallows for insulting the imperial family, this moment will remain a glorious memory I’ll never experience again in my lifetime.

A prince from another world whom I could stand close to for just a brief moment.

I may never have the chance to talk with him like this again.

I’ll probably only see him through news bulletins for the rest of my life.

Regretting then that I should have tried to have a more impressive conversation.

……Should I try to say something? It could become a lifelong memory.

“……”

Reina blinked blankly.

What conversation?

I must be out of my mind.

I should just stay quiet and wait for the gallows to pass by safely.

I’d rather not be the shrimp whose back gets broken in a fight between whales.

I should just keep as quiet as possible, try to get through this moment, and somehow find a chance to run away.

To the farthest sea possible before the whale fight breaks out…

“……”

Reina shifted her gaze outward.

The gathered people were looking at them.

Reina tried to smile like a doll again and extend her arm out from under the coat Arthur had draped over her to wave at the crowd.

“A drink?”

Surprisingly, it was he who spoke again.

Reina startled and looked at the glass he was holding out to her.

“……”

Once again, she heard what sounded like jeering cheers.

Just before dawn broke.

Though not as large as the night crowd, there were still quite a few people remaining around them.

They seemed to be raising excited cheers, livening up the atmosphere as if expecting Reina to accept the glass.

“……”

Reina took the glass.

Clutching the coat lapels at her chest with one hand, she reached out with the other.

“……”

She looked at the glass in her hand for a moment.

What he gave her was mulled wine.

I can’t drink alcohol at all, but…

I received a drink from him.

How could I refuse this glass?

It will be a lifelong memory…

“……”

Even if she were Lady Christina, she probably wouldn’t have refused in this atmosphere.

The young lady is good at drinking too…

“In front of him, be thoroughly Christina.”

The autumn dawn was chilly.

A faint mist was forming on the surface of the wine swirling inside the glass.

It looks warm.

“……”

Reina brought the glass to her lips and drank it all at once.

“Haa……”

A breath scented with warm wine spread into the dawn air.

Nice.

It was sweet and warm.

The people cheered again.

·

·

·

“For the Emperor.”

As Arthur raised his sword and shouted briefly, the soldiers saluted in unison.

“For the Emperor!”

The informal victory celebration had ended.

* * *

…The young lady has fallen severely ill with a fever. But as you know, today is the day of the important victory celebration.

The young lady said she wanted to go out no matter what, but her fever is so high she can barely stand.

The Marquis judged that he couldn’t present the severely ill young lady before the people.

But we can’t tell Lord Arthur to wait outside the castle for a few days until the young lady recovers, can we?

After all the hardships the victorious general and soldiers went through to return.

If we say the young lady can’t go out because she’s a little sick.

We might be misunderstood as slighting them.

Not just Lord Arthur, but the soldiers returning home after five years are waiting for the time to return to their families’ arms.

So just for tonight, Reina will take the young lady’s place at the victory celebration.

So you all help Reina not to make any mistakes.

You know without me saying that we need to be careful not to attract any unnecessary gossip on such a good day, right?

·

·

·

“……”

The two maids who had assisted Reina blinked in bewilderment.

So, for that reason… the young lady is currently not the young lady…

“Open it.”

“……”

Perhaps, does Lord Arthur not know this?

Why… Why is Lord Arthur? Carrying her into the bridal chamber?

The second largest bedroom in this Julius mansion, assigned to Arthur and the young lady.

Probably the room that would have belonged to the son of this family, if there had been one.

In front of the closed door of the bridal chamber that the maids and Marchioness had spent over a month carefully preparing.

Carrying Reina, who had suddenly lost consciousness and gone limp at the end of the long victory celebration – whether she had collapsed or fallen asleep – in his arms, Lord Arthur said.

“Can’t you hear me?”

The maids’ pupils began to shake uncontrollably.

Wait, wait a minute, you shouldn’t do this, right?

Wasn’t Reina just supposed to march in place of the sick young lady?

You’re going into the bedroom together? That’s the bridal chamber you’re supposed to use with the young lady?

Should we stop this right now and say it’s not right?

Or should we keep quiet in front of Lord Arthur for now?

What is this, what’s going on! What should we do?

My lady? Lady Christina? Lady Hurst?

Where is everyone!

Lord Arthur, how far are you going to go!