Ranni was a little unhappy.
Was he trying to embarrass her?
Then again, it was not that big a deal. It was hardly the first time, and after it happened often enough, you got used to it.
But there were outsiders here. How could this foolish knight have so little sense of timing?
The moment she imagined how Iji and Blaidd might tease her about this later, the shame welling up inside her only grew stronger.
A young girl's thoughts could never stay hidden from the two people closest to her.
The one responsible, meanwhile, was completely unaware. Or rather, Nolan was enjoying the sight immensely. A bashful Princess was exactly the version of Ranni he liked best.
A strange silence settled over the room, with only Melina seeming completely out of place, as though she belonged to another world entirely.
Fortunately, that peculiar quiet did not last long.
Back when the Princess had spent time with Nolan in that small body of hers, blushing three times a day had been all but inevitable.
It was all Nolan's fault for being so painfully direct. He never knew how to hide what he felt.
Those feelings were so intense that even ice and snow had no choice but to melt before them.
Habit was a frightening thing. Ranni quickly forced down her shyness.
She lifted her chin slightly, let her gaze rest on Nolan, and said softly in a voice full of admiration,
"I already know everything you did in Limgrave."
"It turns out I was right about you from the beginning. The knight you once were has shed his old self and grown into a soaring dragon."
"Seeing how splendidly you have transformed gives me great comfort. And the moment you returned, you helped me greatly once again. You have worked hard, my knight."
The corners of Ranni's lips rose of their own accord, blooming into a breathtaking smile.
But she immediately realized she had let too much show, and quickly suppressed it, doing her best to restore her usual cool dignity. Even so, the delicate hand resting lightly over her lower abdomen gave away what she truly felt.
Her heart was anything but calm.
At that moment, it was overflowing with warmth and joy, and she was more certain than ever that her choice back then had been the right one.
The Baleful Shadows were executioners of the Two Fingers, and Nolan had already made his position clear. For her sake, he had chosen to stand against the Fingers.
Ranni had never wanted to drag Nolan into her troubles, but since he had already stepped in, she could only be grateful.
"It is only my duty, Your Highness."
Nolan answered with perfect righteousness, but Ranni gave a small wave of her hand and said with a smile,
"From now on, there is no need to call me Your Highness. You are no mere knight either, but a true Lord."
"..."
The moment he heard that, a look of surprise flashed across Nolan's face. He clearly had not expected Ranni to say such a thing.
And when Ranni saw that expression, not only did she not hold herself back, she laughed openly.
She was happy, though she did not know exactly why. She only said softly,
"Nolan, become a Lord for whomever you wish."
"Then I will do it for everyone. For all of you, and for myself," Nolan replied.
A perfect answer. Trina has good judgment after all. Yet the first person he came to see after returning was me.
So what if they knew him first? Miquella and Trina, the two of you are far beneath me.
Ranni lifted her chin proudly, unable to stop a trace of smugness from appearing on her delicate face.
She still had no idea how frenzied that younger brother and sister of hers had become, separated from them now as though by life and death, unable to meet even if they wished to.
Just then, Ranni's gaze drifted to the side and landed on Melina, who was still standing there in a daze.
At once, a nameless irritation flared up in her chest, leaving her inexplicably annoyed.
"Hmph."
Ranni could not help letting out a soft snort.
That idiot Nolan. It looked like he had stumbled into a huge stroke of luck, but in reality he had obviously fallen for one of Miquella's schemes.
How else could Torrent have ended up in that girl's hands?
There was clearly some unspeakable plot behind it. It had to be a devious method meant to bind Nolan tighter.
A spirit steed and a pretty girl. What a terrifying scheme.
What normal person would ever think of giving their beloved a pretty girl as a gift?
Ranni gave another light snort, feeling that her younger brother's lack of restraint truly had no bottom. He was capable of anything.
If Nolan were her Lord Consort, of course only as a hypothetical, there was no way she would ever do something like that.
Ranni felt that, as Nolan's former liege and now his friend, she had a duty to keep an eye out for him and make sure he was not deceived by bad people.
With a plan already taking shape in her mind, Ranni gracefully extended two long, slender fingers and slowly crossed them before lightly resting them together.
That tiny movement caught Nolan's attention. He raised a brow, and a glint flashed through his eyes.
From what he knew of Ranni, whenever she made that gesture, it meant that clever little head of hers was already working at full speed.
And just as expected, Ranni parted her lips and spoke in a clear, pleasant voice.
"Nolan, by slaying the Baleful Shadows, you have not only invited trouble upon yourself, but also done me a great service."
"This Princess has always been fair and just. I will not take advantage of you. Speak. What reward do you want?"
Seems to me that you are the one trying to take advantage of me.
Muttering inwardly, Nolan walked over to Her Highness the Princess. Looking at her cheeks, blue-toned skin faintly tinged red, he let a slight smile rise at the corners of his mouth.
"Ranni, the truth is, now that I've returned, I really do want Caria to help me with something."
Caria, not me?
Ranni froze for a moment, then her brows drew together tightly. The clever Princess had immediately caught the key point in his words.
"What is it?" she asked, full of confusion.
Could it be that he meant to seek a marriage alliance with Caria in his capacity as Lord of Stormveil?
Judging from the current situation, winning over a powerful ally would undoubtedly be a great boon to the royal house...
"I want Caria to help me stop Leyndell's people as much as possible. My next target is Mohg, and I do not want them interfering right now."
Nolan did not hide his intentions in the slightest.
Leyndell was already at war with Mt. Gelmir, so Morgott could not send a great army, but sending a few people to scout the situation was still well within his power.
Those were exactly the people Nolan was guarding against. The Fingers and the Greater Will still possessed a frightening degree of influence. This was not yet the time to make enemies of the whole world.
Ranni frowned slightly and said softly,
"But at present, both the eastern and southern shores of Liurnia of the Lakes have already fallen under the control of the Cuckoos. If Leyndell's people choose to pass through territory under their control..."
Ranni wanted to agree immediately, but the truth was that this was beyond her power.
Nolan had done Caria a great favor, and what he was asking for was only a small matter. By all rights, it should be granted.
What was more, it would not require a complete break with the mighty Golden Order. All they needed was a suitable excuse to seal the borders, and reasons for that were easy enough to find.
"Then please allow me to fight once more as a Dark Moon Knight."
Nolan took a deep breath and spoke with grave sincerity.