Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 308

"Eh?"

I stopped at the voice I'd last heard only this morning and looked back. The spot that had been a wall just a moment ago was open like a door. While I was surprised, Freed appeared there.

"Freed!"
"I kept you waiting, Lidi… It was close. Just a little more and things would turn out troublesome."

Smiling with relief, Freed entered the room. As soon as he stepped inside the room the door disappeared, turning back to an ordinary wall.
Because it's a world of magic and magical arts, it might not be so surprising, but I couldn't help being startled.

"The door disappeared…?"
"Aah, yup. It works like that… Come, Lidi."

Beckoned, I rushed over to Freed. When I clung to him, his arms wrapped around my back.
It's almost like a conditional reflex to jump at Freed by now.
Freed's appearance was mostly the same as when we had parted before. I heard that I would meet up with Freed somewhen in these three days, but I didn't expect it to be so fast.

"Freed, why are you here? You're much earlier than I thought…"

When I honestly expressed my doubt, Freed said while peering at my face.

"Let's see. How about I explain in detail. How much have you heard, Lidi? About these three days."
"I heard that during these three days I'm to pray to God and that you'd join part way through, Freed. And then, Mother-in-law said to ask the person inside for details."
"Hmph, so even Lidi was hardly informed…. It might be unavoidable, but I'm surprised."

When I told him what I'd heard, Freed's eyes slightly widened, and he taught me about the ritual.

"It's not wrong to call it a three-day seclusion. However, the contents are slightly different. Praying is unnecessary. That's the ostensible reason. This is the final place to conduct the Royal Flower ceremony."
"Nn? The final place?"

I don't understand. While I was tilting my head, Freed said.

"Royals like me who found their mate generally can't endure and grant the Royal Flower immediately, so we don't need to use it. However, the royals who find a mate are truly lucky. There are many royals who never find one. Some of them after searching and not finding a mate decide to marry a partner who isn't their mate, but there are also some who can't accept it and wait with the Royal Flower ceremony until the last minute."
"… Yup."
"This is the final place for such royals. Because marrying is impossible without the Royal Flower, they truly abandon their search for a mate three days before the wedding ceremony, and embracing the partner they will marry, they perform the Royal Flower ceremony. And three days later, they come out together with their consort who'd been given the Royal Flower and challenge the wedding ceremony."
"…"

While I was listening to him in silence, Freed smiled a little and continued.

"Exiting this room properly is impossible for consorts who don't carry the Royal Flower. The exit reacts to the Royal Flower. Lidi, the blue rose that you tried to touch. If a consort who carries the Royal Flower touches it, the exit will appear."
"Ah… That's why you stopped me"

Hearing about the time he'd called out to me, Freed made a troubled face.

"Right. I was startled. Lidi, as soon as I spotted you, you were about to touch the bull's-eye. You have the Royal Flower, so it would definitely react. Lidi, if you appeared from the exit alone before I arrived… It goes without saying, right?"
"… Err, sorry."

Things would surely get messed up.
It was within a hair's breadth. While I was glad that I hadn't touched the wall, Freed said.

"You didn't know, so it couldn't be helped. Lidi, I know you're brimming with curiosity. If anything, it's my mistake for not at least warning you not to touch the blue rose even without going into detail."
"Mistake, you're exaggerating… I was only a little curious."

I wasn't thinking of doing anything wrong.
I think it's natural I'd be drawn to the same Royal Flower as mine.

"Anyway, this is such a place. Supposing the Royal Flow ceremony fails, they can't leave through the proper exit and go back the way I came. But that means failure. Naturally, the wedding ceremony is cancelled. The royal is expelled from royalty and the fiancée punished. The condition of being a consort of a Wilhelm's royal is to be a virgin. Lying about this absolute condition is unforgivable. We put our lives on the line by using that art. It'd be troubling if our partners felt like it wouldn't get exposed if they kept silent."

Without the Royal Flower controlling the divine power, Wilhelm royals would soon die from their magical power going out of control. Recalling what I'd heard from Freed, I nodded.

"Be that as it may, there may be no royals anymore who would wait with the Royal Flower ceremony until three days before the wedding. Even if the partner isn't their mate, they give up a month before the wedding and get the Royal Flower ceremony over with. Cancelling the wedding at the very last moment is too scandalous. It seems it had happened in the past though."
"That's right. Foreign envoys and invitees are all gathered…"

It's quite difficult to suddenly announce the ceremony is cancelled.

"The ritual has been reduced to a mere formality, but it continues until today just in case. In addition, we entered from separate entrances to make sure others don't realize what's going on. The Royal Flower ceremony is a highly confidential information. Everybody thinks me and Lidi are in different places, going through our respective rituals. In three days, it will be my father and mother who'll come for us."
"Haa… It's done thoroughly."
"Our weakness are princesses consort who have the Royal Flower. If by any chance foreign countries learned that secret, princesses consort would be definitely targeted. It's the easiest way. To avoid it, others must be kept in the dark."
"I see…"
"Lidi, I absolutely don't want you targeted. Even without it, you were targeted just recently."

When he pointed out that I'd been kidnapped, I nodded seriously. I don't want it to happen ever again.

"I'm aware. In other words, it's kept secret to protect us. But… What should we do for the next three days then? We won't pray to God, right? How did the previous Royal Flower owners spend time?"

Since it's an official ritual, we aren't allowed to leave for three days. But what should we do, being essentially done with it?

"Why don't we start the newly-married life a little earlier? Lidi, we're confided here for three days together, and we have a bed and food. No one will disturb us, so let's have fun together."
"… Eh, but Freed, you have a two-week leave after the wedding, don't you?"
"Yup, what about it?"
"…"

Dumbfounded, I stared at Freed who looked at me in puzzlement.
It's terrible, but the King accepted Freed's application for leave extension, and the one week stretched to two.
Even though two weeks in the villa alone await us, what's with three extra days before that? I haven't heard about that.
I don't dislike it, but since I wasn't told before, I couldn't prepare mentally.
No wait. I pulled myself together.
Freed being himself, I was sure that he'd have sex with me to his heart's content in these three days, but he might only want to flirt. Because, we'll have a two-week honeymoon after the wedding. Even Freed shouldn't want to add another three days to that.
That's why I carefully asked him.

"Err, Freed? Just in case I'll ask, how do you intend to have fun for these three days?"
"Eh? Since there'll be no hindrances, I'm of course thinking of thoroughly loving you, Lidi."
"…"
"Ah, it's okay. I'll hold back properly the day before the wedding. It would be a problem if the wedding got affected."
"Ah… Yup."

Hearing the words returned like it was a matter of course, I dropped my shoulders.

―― Yup, I knew! I knew it! After all, it's Freed.

I was an idiot to have strange expectations.

"… Of course."
"Nn? Don't want it, Lidi?"

As I spoke in miserable voice, Freed asked me a question. Shaking my head to it, I answered.

"There's no way I wouldn't. I love you, Freed, and I'm happy to be embraced by you. It's just, how should I put it… I worry about being sore before the wedding."

I'm doubtful whether I'll be alright, but I don't want to refuse. Love is indeed a weakness. If he so desires, I'll go along with it for as long as my stamina allows. I also received the medicine from Ms. Delris. Besides, I will be Freed's wife, so I must accept my husband's matchlessness.

"I'll do my best… Okay?"

I don't know how long I can do my best though.
As Freed heard my answer, he laughed, "I love you," and drew my body to himself.

Chapter end