Chapter 2: Ojou-sama, enjoys the life of commoners

Leon was holding Diana’s hand. It had been a while since she had felt the warmth of another person’s body, and it brought her relief.

“What happened after that?”

“Yes. Diana-sama fainted and was bleeding from her head. So we called the village doctor and gave her first aid.”

“I see. . .How many days did I sleep?”

“About three days.”

Diana let out a sigh. It had only been three days.

She suddenly felt her stomach growl.

“. . .I’m hungry.”

At that moment, Leon’s tense expression finally relaxed.

“Do you want something to eat?”

“Yes. Is there anything?”

“Dried meat and potatoes.”

“Just that?”

Leon shook his head in disbelief. 

“I’m sorry, Ojou-sama. Commoners’ meals are like this everywhere.”

Diana averted her gaze. 

“. . .I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. Diana-sama just didn’t know.”

Leon let go of Diana’s hand and immediately stood up, rummaging through the corner of the shed for ingredients. Diana gently sat up and observed him with curiosity.

Indeed, there was only potatoes in the box.

Then he started cutting the dried meat hanging from the ceiling with a knife.

He chopped it into small pieces and threw it into a pot, simmering it with rock salt.

Then he added the diced potatoes.

That was really all there was to it.

Diana thought, “Unbelievable,” but didn’t say it out loud.

It seemed like a dish that could be made by simply putting it on the charcoal fire, and Leon sat down on a chair.

Diana asked the question that was on her mind.

“Leon?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you come to the Heinz mansion at that time?”

Leon closed his eyes for a moment, lost in thought, and answered.

“I was worried about the people of Heinz Trading Company.”

“Why?”

Leon opened his eyes wide, as if he wanted to say that it was unbelievable.

“Because I was greatly indebted to Aurel-sama and Camilla-sama.”

“I see. But all the mansion’s servants had already fled. . .”

“. . .They wanted to do that. But I didn’t want to. That’s all.”

I (俺ore).

Diana was convinced that she had heard Leon’s true feelings. The change in the first-person pronoun had a convincing impact on her heart.

“I was going to enter through the front entrance. Then, Mr. and Mrs. would have been. . .in the crowd.”

Leon’s words choked up.

“I thought it wouldn’t work from the front entrance, so I was thinking about how to get to your room and climb up to the second floor.”

Diana held her chest.

“When I was about to pour water on them and try to save them, Diana-sama fell from above. So, that. . .I’m glad.”

He spoke in a simple and straightforward manner. But Diana felt that those words were like a shining gift.

Diana rubbed her eyes. Leon turned his whole body towards her, still sitting in the chair.

“As you can see, I am a commoner. While doing agriculture, I started working as a gardener as a side job. Aurel-sama generously let me eat my fill. He said I was like a son, being the same age as Diana-sama.”

Diana nodded. She also remembered her kind father.

“For me, the Heinz mansion was like a dream place. That’s why I couldn’t afford to lose it.”

“. . .Leon.”

“I’m glad we both survived.”

“Thank you, thank you, Leon.”

Diana tried to stand up, but Leon quickly flew over and pressed her shoulder.

“Don’t get up. Rest for a while.”

At that moment, the pot overflowed.

“Ah!”

Leon rushed over and moved the pot.

“. . .Ha.”

Diana chuckled softly. Leon blushed slightly and turned back to her.

“It’s alright. I can stand now.”

Diana got up from the bed.

And then. . .

Thud.

A seed bag fell from her pocket onto the floor.

Diana gently picked it up. In that instant, her father’s smiling face as he talked about seeds vividly flashed in her mind.

“. . .Otoo-sama.”

Tears welled up, and Diana burst into sobs.

“Otoo-sama. . .Okaa-sama. . .”

Leon approached Diana with a serious expression. She couldn’t stop crying and was at a loss.

“Diana-sama.”

Diana lifted her tear-stained face.

“May I hug you?”

Time stood still for Diana.

“. . .Huh?”

“Oh, if it’s bothersome, it’s fine. I just. . .couldn’t leave someone who’s crying alone.”

“Bothersome. . .it’s not.”

Diana shook her head, her face turning bright red.

As Leon approached, she entrusted her body to him, feeling relieved. 

In his sturdy physique that she had admired in the garden that day, Diana was securely held. 

In that moment, enveloped in a strange sense of peace, she realized clearly.

(I. . .I like this person. . .)

Leon, as if treating her wounded heart, carefully held her in the same position, standing there hesitantly. 

In his clumsy posture, Diana found herself even more fond of him than before.

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