The White Marriage of the Seamstress and the Ice Count

Rosie was very pleased with the loungewear I had made for her.

“Look at this, big brother! Look at all the frills on the shoulders!”

Rosie, who has quickly changed into her light blue loungewear just before, got off the bed and twirled around. 

But she lost her balance and stumbled.

Alexis immediately caught her in his arms.

“Rosie, don’t be rash.”

“I’m sorry… But I’m so happy…”

Seeing Rosie return to bed with a shudder, but then immediately caress the embroidered rosemary at the cuff of her loungewear, made me feel happy. I was glad she was using the pillowcase with small birds that I gave her the other day, too.

“It looks great on you, Rosie.”

“Thank you very much, Sara!” Rosie said with a smile. Maybe it was just my imagination, but she looked better than before.

　✧✧✧

When we returned from our visit Master Alexis said, “We need to talk,” and led me to his room.

This was the first time I entered Master Alexis’s room ever, so it was a bit nerve-wracking. 

It was a spacious room, cozily furnished in soothing colors, fitting for him. 

We sat down on chairs facing each other and he started talking.

“The demons have been appearing in the woods between Searfield and the Royal Capital, attacking local folk. There has been an order issued for the Knights to march out. I must organize a strike force and leave immediately. I’m sorry to leave you all alone in the castle, seeing that it hasn’t been long since your arrival, but…”

“No, Master Alexis, it’s okay. I can handle it. Johnson has been teaching me a lot, and… Just, please be careful when you go,” I said with a smile. I was truly helpless, but it was Master Alexis who I was worried about, with him having to leave for a dangerous battlefield.

Master Alexis stared at me blankly.

Ugh… I thought I got used to him, but when his beautiful, ice statue-like face was turned to me, I still couldn’t calm down. Blood rushed to my cheeks and my heart started to race.

Also, we were in his private room all alone, just the two of us.

I wouldn’t be able to bear it if I started to see him in that strange light.

I gathered all my strength and looked away.

“I, I will visit Rosie every day! I though she seemed to be feeling better recently, so maybe we could walk around the villa together for a bit this time…”

“…I see. Thank you, Sara.”

“Y-yes, yes, no, not at all…”

“Sara.”

Master Alexis leaned forward and looked at my face.

We were so close that my heart almost jumped out of my mouth.

“It looks like there will be a big battle this time. Several ogres have been seen with the packs of silver wolves, so the Royal Capital also dispatched a team to take them down… And among them was the name of Viscount Dexter’s son.”

“Eh…?”

“Your previous fiancé. Now… he is your brother-in-law, isn’t he?” 

“…Yes.”

“His unit seems to be deployed in the rear, so there is little to no risk present. Besides, if I recall correctly, he is called the “Miracle Knight” since he never returns with even a scratch, I think? So… You don’t need to worry.”

…Worry?

Did Master Alexis think that I was worried about Master Conrad?

When Master Alexis said that, I was surprised at my own heartlessness in not worrying about Master Conrad at all. 

Not long ago, when Master Conrad was going to the battlefield, I was so worried about him that I couldn’t even finish my dinner…

Now, there was someone I worried about more. 

That someone — Master Alexis, who normally wouldn’t show much emotion, but today wore a melancholic expression on his face that was obvious at a glance. 

“I’m sure Master Conrad will be fine,” I said hurriedly. “Miriam will give him plenty of magical power through a ‘Transfer.’ But I don’t have any magic, so I can’t give any to Master Alexis… I am truly sorry…”

Not being able to help in any way at such a crucial time was the worst. 

Silver wolves were demons that could be defeated by just one skilled knight, but they could become really formidable when in a pack. On the other hand, ogres were one head larger than humans, highly intelligent and brutal.

Master Alexis said that there were several of them working with the silver wolves. It was inevitable that they would have to be countered with an equally large group of the Knights. It was sure to be a tough battle.

Just thinking about what could happen to Master Alexis made me choke up. 

But the color of melancholy disappeared from his face and instead, his jaw relaxed.

“You don’t have to worry about that… But since I’m going to be away from you for a time, I would like to have something to remember you on the battlefield.”

“Eh?”

What Master Alexis said was sweet, in a way.

Suddenly, my whole body became hot.

This request was as if we were really lovers or a couple. 

Well, we were married, but… It was only a formality, with no connection between us needed.

But still-

“Well, actually… I made a sash for Master Alexis, but…”

“For me?”

“Y-yes… If it’s a bother, then…”

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Ah, I knew I shouldn’t have told him.

Suddenly, I had a flashback to the memory of the blue scarf I gave Master Conrad. 

I couldn’t even make him wear a scarf; a sash would be much too intrusive.

It was probably crossing the line for a “white marriage.”

But.

“Of course, I will wear it every day. Thank you, Sara,” Alexis said with a wide smile on his face.

Sashes were decorative pieces worn by the knights in this country around the waist. 

They could have any color and any form. They were often given to a knight by a lover or fiancée, embroidered with their significant other’s family crest to bring them luck in battle.

The Middleton family’s crest was four lilies on a silver background. 

I embroidered on a black cloth that matched Master Alexis’s beautiful dark hair. With silver and gold thread with all my heart it became a magnificent work of art, even for my standards. 

I took the sash from my room and handed it to Master Alexis.

Master Alexis gasped in amazement and immediately put it around his waist.

He was not armor-clad now, only wearing a surcoat and a pair of pants, but I could clearly see the outline of his well-built body.

With that black sash with his family’s crest tied around his shapely waist, Master Alexis had an appeal that drew my eyes to him. 

“Does it look good on me?”

“It suits you very much…!”

Master Alexis nodded with satisfaction at my strong words.

“Thank you. I will return when we defeat the demons.”

“I understand. I will pray for your safety.”

Master Alexis looked at me with a somewhat wistful look.

Then he knelt down and took my hand.

And then he kissed it.

When he looked up, the skin around his eyes was faintly red.

“I’m off, then.”

“…Yes…Take care,” I somehow managed to say in response.

He nodded and left the room.

(Oh no… I decided that I would never let myself fall in love again…)

My heart was pounding so hard it hurt.

I could still feel the hand that he had kissed earlier.

(…I…have fallen in love with Master Alexis…)

I should go downstairs to help Master Alexis prepare for his departure and see him off with the castle servants.

But I couldn’t move at all. For a while, I stared at the door through which he had just left.