𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐤𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮
It was an incredibly refreshing morning.
Due to habits formed during my time as a kitchen maid, I still wake up early even after coming to the academy. I wash my face, get dressed, and apply makeup, which is a bit heavier than before.
I’ll have Chris style my hair later, so for now, I simply tie it back. I walk through the empty room and head to the kitchen to put on an apron.
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The main dish is ham steak. The lord knights prefer a hearty meat dish for breakfast. To offer a variety of flavors, I prepare mustard, mayonnaise, and steak sauce.
Next, a well-cooked omelette. Mine is slightly runny.
Sweet pumpkin soup, pickles of bell pepper and cucumber, and a slightly spicy salad of beans and colorful vegetables.
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“From my perspective, it’s a lavish breakfast, but I suppose it might seem lacking to the nobility.”
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The timer goes off, signaling that the weighty bread and croissants I had entrusted to my cooker-kun are done.
As I leave the kitchen with the food, I see that Roa-sama has just woken up. He looks sharp, but his hair is slightly tousled.
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“Good morning, Alice.”
“Good morning to you, too. . .”
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My voice cracks, making it sound like I greeted him with excessive enthusiasm.
Roa-sama chuckles lightly.
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“Let me help.”
“Thank you. There’s food in the kitchen, could you please bring some?”
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After laying out the prepared dishes and bringing various types of jam and butter, breakfast begins.
We eat breakfast while conversing at leisure. Roa-sama has about three times the amount I do, but he eats quickly, so we finish at the same time.
Before, I used to wonder how he could eat so much with such a slender frame, but now it makes sense. He’s grown larger and has more muscle.
We review today’s schedule and have tea after the meal.
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“Roa-sama, you’re up early today.”
“Yes. Something good happened yesterday, so I woke up easily.”
“Mmmph.”
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I nearly inhaled my tea.
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“To be honest, I thought Alice would be opposed to it.”
“. . .So it wasn’t a dream. . .”
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I had a blank space in my memory after being embraced by Roa-sama and woke up to find it was morning. So, I had half-convinced myself it was a dream.
Roa-sama rests on one elbow in a rare posture, his cheek in his hand, tilting his head.
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“I wonder, is it alright for me to seek my own happiness? Alice was the one who said it was okay.”
“I’m sure there are many others who would say the same.”
“There aren’t.”
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His definitive statement carried weight but lacked any sense of despair.
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“For the sake of this country, I will utilize myself to the fullest. Those who follow me also desire this. This is my life.”
“Your life is. . .”
“Even my brother would choose the country over me in a critical situation. Because he is in a position where he devotes himself to the country more than anyone else.”
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. . .Could it be that Roa-sama’s brother is. . .
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“I can’t prioritize personal desires over national interests. However. . . Alice said it’s okay to think about my happiness. Both during my time in the Fourth Knight Order and yesterday, twice.”
I am at a loss for words, staring at him.
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I’m being made out to be a very good person, but that’s not the case.
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“That’s only because I don’t fully understand your position, Roa-sama. I’m sure there are others who wish for your happiness, absolutely!”
“Is that so?”
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Staring intently at Roa-sama, who doesn’t believe.
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“What does happiness mean to Roa-sama?”
“Well. . . I want to assist my brother in maintaining a prosperous reign for as long as possible. To do that, I must expose Dyson’s crimes and ensure that no one is plotting to usurp the throne. I aim to become a knight, but. . . actually, I want to try being a shepherd.”
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Roa-sama is adorable as he speaks of his aspiration with a slight blush.
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“That sounds nice. Leaving the sheep to the sheepdogs, taking care of the fields leisurely, having picnics every day.”
“That would be good. Have picnics in spring, play with water in summer, venture into the mountains in autumn, and stay indoors during winter to work on wool. Wake up with the morning sun, and drink warm coffee while watching the stars at night.”
“You’ve changed a lot since saying you didn’t know how to take a break.”
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Roa-sama just smiles and looks at me.
I don’t know what to do; his eyes are eloquently speaking. I avert my gaze gently.
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“I heard that the Norchev family received anonymous support. It’s Roa-sama, isn’t it?”
“Why do you think it’s me?”
“Just a hunch. . . Women’s intuition.”
“I’m pleased that you thought of me. Feel free to accept the support without any reservations.”
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Roa-sama didn’t explicitly say it was him.
That’s just how Roa-sama is.
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