"Why do you always have an answer for everything I say? Haah…" Historia let out a deep sigh, then took half a step back and opened her arms wide, as if inviting Gale to take a good look at her.
"Gale, I'm right here, your queen, aren't I? I go through all this trouble every morning just to see you when you're home, yet you can't even dress properly for me?"
"Hmm." Gale thought she was partly right, although if he told her once again that he had only been training, she might actually get angry.
Then he realized she wasn't wrong.
Normally, Historia only came to see him after finishing her own duties, usually at night. Recently, however, she had also started making brief morning visits, something rare since he had proposed a plan to protect her from external pressures.
During his many lessons in nobility and politics, Gale had proposed that the two of them publicly announce their engagement. This was because high-ranking military officials had many complaints that Gale and his family were monopolizing everything.
By controlling everything, Historia's authority would eventually lose its power. That was why they announced their engagement—to suppress those complaints.
By being engaged, all of Gale's power would essentially belong to the crown, and since he was the only member of his family, just like Historia, their future descendants would inherit a consolidated authority.
Of course, that was for the future, and Gale would respect Historia's feelings at all times. After all, they were playing politics.
But Historia seemed to be very enthusiastic about that proposal.
"We're engaged, after all. Even though the formal engagement ceremony hasn't taken place yet, it will happen soon. In time, we'll get married and spend the rest of our lives seeing each other every day, arguing and making up," Historia said without feeling embarrassed.
"Well… I suppose that's true." Gale had no choice but to nod slightly.
After a few seconds of silence, Historia said, "But I really don't know what it means to act like a proper fiancée. So I decided to try doing what I think a proper fiancée should do. Visiting you every morning is part of that."
Gale would never have guessed that was the reason. On the other hand, even though he hadn't clung to her as much, he had spent quite a lot of time with Historia even before she became queen.
During that time, they had seen the best and worst of each other, and their difficult lives had hardened them.
Moreover, although Gale didn't know where his enemy was or what they were doing, he knew that war would one day reach them.
Even if it wasn't an immediate concern, it was natural for him to feel a sense of urgency and remain constantly busy.
But for Historia, the situation was completely different.
She was barely eleven years old, had only recently stepped into the martial world, and had already experienced numerous crises, including an abrupt engagement.
Even if he didn't know everything about her, it was obvious that she still had expectations and fantasies about the world—far more than he did.
In retrospect, wasn't he also fighting—not out of hatred for his enemies or anything grand like that, but simply because he wanted to live a happy life with her?
Gale briefly reflected on whether he had been too indifferent, but before he could think further, Historia—who had been radiating a sulky atmosphere just moments ago—suddenly showed a playful smile.