Beyond the hedge—

  I never knew such a space existed behind the wall of flowers.

  I gently parted the Luminaria. There, I found a small washbasin with a fountain. Beside it, the Queen sat quietly on the stone ledge.

  She was different from how she had been in the Audience Chamber moments ago. The air of majesty and tension had vanished, yet she still carried a dignified aura.

  The light of the fmes illuminated her profile softly. Like a bonfire flickering in the silence of winter—she looked warm, and there was even a hint of innocence in her expression.

  ...Ah, so this is the person who chose me.

  As I watched her, the Queen lightly tapped the empty spot on the stone ledge beside her with her finger.

  —Sit, she was likely telling me.

  But I didn't have that kind of courage. To sit right next to her? Impossible.

  Thinking I should at least show proper etiquette, I stepped closer and knelt on one knee.

  "It’s fine. At ease. ...You’re on your break, aren't you?"

  "No, I... I have duties regarding Lord Barriston, so I should be—"

  "I see."

  The Queen gave a small nod and conjured a butterfly of fme from her fingertip. The flickering red light dissolved into the air, and another rose to take its pce.

  "This is a secret spot that requires a long walk from a different route... How did you get here?"

  "...I managed to squeeze through the hedge in the corridor."

  "Heh. To think a knight would do such a thing. You're like a child who found a secret base."

  Her ughter echoed like a patch of sunlight.

  —So, she can ugh like this too.

  Gentle as a spark, yet dazzling.

  (...If possible, I wanted to keep watching you from afar for a little longer.)

  But as if she had seen right through my feelings, the Queen continued.

  "The audience a few days ago... I understand if you felt like running away. I did state my intentions rather boldly, after all."

  "..."

  "So, shall I ask you once more? Or... you said 'As you command.' May I take that as your consent?"

  "...I only said that in the heat of the moment."

  "Is that so? Still, thanks to that one sentence, I was able to escape a mountain of paperwork—and your 'iron mask' has finally slipped."

  She rested a finger against her lips and lit another fme.

  "...Getting angry at your colleagues, getting scolded by your superior, dropping your supply cup... oh, and then—"

  "Pl-please, stop, Your Majesty...!"

  I couldn't believe it. To think the Queen had been tracking my behavior to that extent—my face burned with embarrassment.

  Knowing exactly what she was doing, she wore a mischievous smile.

  "What do you think? I know you well, don't I?"

  There she went again, saying things just to throw my heart into turmoil.

  (...How? How can you smile so naturally like that?)

  It was warm, yet it made my chest ache slightly. I felt acutely aware of how far I still was from being able to stand by her side.

  The Queen watched my reaction for a moment before finally switching the subject.

  "You were watching the negotiations today, weren't you?"

  "...Yes. ...It was a magnificent performance."

  "Naturally. I am the ruler of this kingdom, after all."

  She paused for a beat. Then, her crimson-fme eyes narrowed slightly.

  "Besides—I suppose I wanted to look a little cool in front of the one I 'chose.'"

  Those words were like a fme suddenly ignited. Like a spark falling onto a still surface of water, they sent ripples through my heart.