Pi~Hiroh.

　A bird's song can be heard from somewhere in the distant sky.

(A courtship...)

Okay, okay, okay, does that mean he asked you to marry him?

　I screamed.

　Mggggh.

Shout it out!

　Mr. Kilt's reddened hand presses down on my mouth in a hurry.

　A brief silence.

　I nodded coyly, 'I'm not going to shout.

　Quilt-san's hand leaves me.

　I immediately ask.

'Is that this morning?　Is that why Mr. Arnold called you here?
Hmm. I suppose so.

　Quilt nodded.

(Whew....)

　Adult.

　I'm an adult!

　What a big deal.

'And then what?　How did Mr. Kilt respond?

　I move my face closer and ask him a question.

　Mr. Kilt flinches a bit at my up-close face, breaking his gaze.

I'm afraid I have to put that on hold.

　Oh, oh?

　Does that mean you have a pulse?

No, of course I refused at first, but he asked me too seriously. But he was so serious that he asked me to do it. He was so dismissive that I had to wait until tomorrow to give him my answer.

　That's how Mr. Kilt explains it to me.

(Ha~, I see.)

　When I met with Mr. Arnold this morning.

"I told you what I had to tell you.

The rest is up to her to decide.

　That's what he meant when he said that.

　And after thinking that far, I suddenly became calm.

(Huh ... wait a minute?)

　Mr. Arnold is, I believe, the prince of the land, isn't he?

　You are the man who will one day be king of this country, right?

　So.

If we get married, Kirt, will you be the queen of this country?
"Someday.

　Mr. Kilt replied with a dour face.

(Heee........)

Just being the 'Golden Mark Demon Hunter' is amazing, and now he's going to be the 'Queen of a Kingdom' next, how far will he go?

　I stare at her beauty, stunned.

　And.

"Telling.

　tightly

　He lightly flicked my forehead with his finger. Ow, that hurt.

"I told you I haven't decided yet.
Uh-huh.

　I nodded, holding my reddened forehead.

　I calmed myself down.

So what does Mr. Kilt think of Mr. Arnold, as a matter of fact?

　I asked.

　'Hmm,' said Mr. Kilt, folding his arms in thought.

'He's a good-natured guy. I don't hate him.'
Yes.
I think we're on the same wavelength, and I enjoy talking to him. He's got the right stuff, and he's not bad at all. ...There are racial differences, but I don't mind the strawberry so much.

(Hmm?)

　He doesn't seem to feel bad about it.

But if you ask me if that's the only reason I would marry you...
Are you lost?
Hmm.
What did Mr. Arnold say to you?

　Mr. Kilt was a little silent.

　With a blush on her cheeks.

They say they've never seen a woman as good as a strawberry in all the world.

　Oh......

'Beautiful, strong, and knows how to enjoy a drink. More than anything, it was your strength of mind that attracted me. I couldn't help but make a courtship....

　I didn't want to regret it, even if he refused.

　If you respond, I'll make you happy for sure.

　At least, if you're next to me, I'll be happier than anyone else in the world.

　-- He said that he had said that to me.

(Hey, that's fervent.)

　It makes me nervous to hear it.

　Even Kilt-san let out a big breath as if he was remembering that moment, as if to take the heat off.

'I'm not going to lie, I was happy.
..........
'Because while I've been recognized as a warrior, I've never been asked to be that much of a woman before.

　.....................

　Huh?

　Didn't the late Mr. Eldorado Rogue also ask you to marry him?

I don't trust a word that comes from a harem man.

　Mr. Kilt, I assure you.

　Alas, Mr. Eldorado.........

　Well, let's leave him out of it for now.

Still, you're not sure about marrying Mr. Arnold?
Um....

　She frowned formally, as if troubled.

'I don't know if I like that man ... partly because I don't know if I like the man ... but more importantly, because of the responsibility.
"Responsibility?
He's a Shumurian demon hunter with the Golden Mark.

　That's a strong voice of determination.

　Mr. Kilt looked at his right hand.

This hand is needed by many for salvation. My hand is needed by many people for their salvation, and I have decided to respond. I have decided to respond to it, and I will not give it up.

　...........

(I see.)

　To marry is to become a Vega nation.

　It means, in other words, abandoning the people of Shumuria.

(You can't do that, Mr. Kilt, with all your responsibilities.)

Arnold said he would wait.
..........
'I hope you will serve Shumuria for the next few years and marry her with a clear mind.

　I'm serious, Mr. Arnold, I said.

　I said, "I'm serious.

"What's wrong with that, Mr. Kilt?
..........

　Mr. Kilt did not answer.

　Eventually.

I don't know.

　That's what he said in a lost voice.

　As it was, she narrowed her golden eyes and looked up into the air.

　Her beautiful silver hair fell off her shoulders.

''It's not that I'm not attracted to that man. It's not that I'm not attracted to that man, but I also think that my days as a woman who isn't a demon hunter are not bad. But something about it sticks in my mind.

(What...?)

I don't get it.
..........
So perhaps this is why the straw man is talking to Marl.

　Ummmmm.

　I have no idea what it is, but I have no idea what any of them are.

　Mr. Kilt looked at me.

"What do you want me to do?
What?
'Do you think I want the strawberries to marry?　Or would you still like me to be around?

　Am I...?

I'm not...

　I looked into my own mind.

　Then I looked straight into Mr. Kilt's eyes with my blue eyes and answered honestly.

'I miss you.'
..........
'I want you to be happy, Kilt. So if you want to get married, I'll support you. .... but I'm still sad to say goodbye.
..........

　My face is reflected in Mr. Kilt's golden eyes as he appeals to me.

　Those eyes were downcast.

'I see.'

　She said shortly.

　She sounded somewhat relieved.

　Ms. Kilt's hand reached out and stroked my hair as if she were caring for me.

'Perhaps I was afraid of the straw,'
What?
I guess I just couldn't accept the idea of being so different from the person I was before... the sudden switch to that kind of life... I guess I just couldn't accept it.
..........
You've been a bit of a coward, haven't you?

　I didn't even realize I was doing it, Kilt chuckled.

　His fingers stroking his hair felt good.

'Very well,'

　Those fingers came away.

　Mr. Kilt finally got his mind set.

'I'm sorry Arnold, but I still have to say no.

　What?

　The sudden assurances startled me.

　I immediately panicked.

'Oh, um ... if what I said bothered you, forget it, okay?'

　If you're refusing because of what I said, I'm sorry to Mr. Arnold.

　Mr. Kilt laughed.

'No. Merle had nothing to do with it.'
..........
It's not just that I was able to find my own mind,

　Is that so?

In spite of her appearance, it seems that Warawa was a 'weaker woman' than she thought she was. I've come to accept that fact.
..........
The harder you push yourself, the more likely you are to break.

　Holding his own ample bosom, he muttered.

　...........

''Are you sure?''

　I confirmed it.

　From my point of view, Mr. Arnold was a good man, and he was good looking.

　It seemed to me that if we got married, he would be a good match for Mr. Kilt, and I was sure he would make me happy with every fiber of his being.

'Mmm,'

　Mr. Kilt nodded.

'Warawa is not as 'good' as you think she is.
..........
He deserves better.

　Do you think so?

　But if Kirt-san herself felt that way, then I guess it was inevitable.

(Did I kind of feel bad for Arnold-san?)

　But even so, it might have been more unhappy for Mr. Kilt to force himself to marry....

　I don't have an answer.

　I'm thinking about it, and Kirto-san laughs.

'Don't worry about it. This is a matter for Warawa and Arnold.
..........
And this was just a strawman decision.
Yes.

　I nodded emphatically.

　Mr. Kilt laughed in annoyance.

　Then a white hand held the back of my head and tugged.

　Cotto.

(What?)

　Our foreheads bumped into each other.

　From a surprisingly close range, Kilt's beautiful face was staring at me.

　The sweet smell of citrus.

　I was a little nervous.　

　As we looked at each other, she said.

'If you're going to marry, a man like Merle would be just the thing for the straw.

　..............
　.......
　.................

(What?!).....

　The meaning of those words startled me.

　My face grew hot.

　Mr. Kilt smiled, showing his white teeth, and let go of my hand.

　The distance between our faces also leaves us.

'Ki, Mr. Kilt?'
This is not a joke.

　Kirt-san laughs lightly at my confusion.

(Joking...)

　That's true.

　I understood that, but I felt myself getting a little discouraged.

'What's up?'

　Mr. Kilt asks me.

　I chuckle.

No. I'm just sorry it was a joke.

　I answered honestly.

　Mr. Kilt blinked his eyes with a crackle.

'Oh, right,'

　He stammered a little and nodded.

　Then, with a somewhat curious look on his face, he held a hand to his chest.

'?　Mr. Kilt?
..........
..........
No, it's just my imagination.

　She muttered.

　Her cheeks flushed a little. Huh?

　She looked at me with her head tilted back.

"Perhaps you are a better man than Arnold," she said.

　Yes?

　She laughed at me as I pouted.

'It's nothing. Anyway, I'm done talking. Shall we practice this time?
Oh, yes!

　I nodded vigorously.

(That's the way it should be.)

　I stood up with the wooden sword in my hand.

　Looking at me like that, Kilt-san nodded with a gentle smile.

''If we're going to get married, Marle's the one...?''

　I muttered.

　Then he quickly returned his expression to that of his mentor.

Then let's go!
Yes, Mr. Kilt!

　We hold the wooden sword in each other's hands.

　I can feel the will.

　I can tell just by facing each other.

　There was trust, there was security, there was something more passionate.

　I can feel it.

'Hey!'

　I stepped in, carrying my heart on my sword.

　In the pure white training hall of the royal palace, our clashing wooden swords echoed lightly with clear tones - and then I stepped in.