††† (Julia's perspective)　　　


　Master Ryke, the sorcerer of Ismus.
　What a wonderful lord.
　Julia, the daughter of the ruler of Zenobia, thought honestly.

　This was the first time she had ever met someone to whom she could marry, to whom she would be willing to give her purity.

　Is this what first love is all about?
　Julia had never been in love before.

　She has met a number of men at the urging of her father, but she has never had a crush like this before.

　The same is true of the son of a great merchant I visited the other day.
　He has no talent for anything but bragging about his father's accomplishments.
　He was just a boring man who used his father's prestige as an umbrella to show off.
　But Ryke-sama is different.

　He has a sense of justice that helps strangers, a kindness that shows mercy even to his enemies, the thieves.

　When Yuria saw that scene, her heart trembled.
　--this must be fate, she thought.
　This is what it means to fall in love with someone for the first time, she thought.

　I had thought that the word love at first sight was a word that only appeared in dictionaries and romance novels.

　It was a word often used by the maids of honor, but he thought it was unrelated to him.

　Someday, as the daughter of the ruler of Zenobia, she would marry a clogged man, become the wife of a clogged man, and bear the children of a clogged man.

　I thought I would suffer the natural fate of being born the daughter of the ruling class.
　But she didn't expect this kind of fate to befall her.
　I put my hand on my chest.
　Its heart is beating as fast as a bell.
　Just thinking about him made my heart race.
　Just thinking about him made my earlobes heat up.
　Maybe this is what I call my first love.
　It's the first time in my life that I've experienced this, and I'm confused.
　I wanted to talk to someone about it, but I couldn't think of a suitable person to talk to.
　I'll talk to Ryke-sama's maid, that Satie or some other girl.
　I thought that for a moment, but Yuria shook her head.

''........No. That girl is probably my rival.

　I don't know how Ryke-sama feels about it, but at least she's favoring Ryke-sama.

　That much Yulia had also guessed that much.
　Yulia isn't insensitive or stupid enough to consult with a romantic enemy.

''Then maybe it's best to consult with a maid of honor after all.

　When he comes to this conclusion, he calls up a samurai woman who has served him since he was a child.
　She's the maidservant who rode in the carriage with me the other day.
　Seeing the serious expression on Julia's face, she seems to have understood the situation.

''Yulia-sama wants to be tied to Ryke-sama at all costs, right?

　Julia nodded seriously.

　She is the most trustworthy and wisest of Julia's handmaidens.
　She might be able to give me some good ideas.
　That's what I thought, and I consulted her, and it seems I was right.
　She made an unexpected suggestion.

"You are aware that Master Ryke is requesting a meeting with Master Etruria, right?

Of course I know. Something about trade with the Ismouth State.

I came here originally to see Lady Eltria. Why don't you take advantage of this opportunity?

...use.

　Julia drops her voice.
　Because it wasn't a very good sounding word.

　Julia was blindly in love with Ryke, but she still didn't want to use trickery to force him to marry her.

　She wanted to captivate Ryke with her own charm alone.

''......................''

　Distressed, the maidservant says as she pushes Yulia back.

''Lady Julia, do you know these words?　Since ancient times, it has been said that we can use any means necessary in regards to war and love. The one who wins in the end is justified.

"...whoever wins in the end is justified.

　Julia blurts out.

'That's right. I have seen Master Ryke up close and personal, and it is a lifetime honor for a woman to be the wife of such a man. I think you should do whatever you can to make a vow with Ryke.

...I'm sure you're right. You think so too, don't you?

Yes, if you miss this opportunity, you'll never have a chance to see a man like that again.

　Hearing those words, Yulia nodded in her mind, ".......yes".
　Then, having made up her mind, Yuria decided to make a certain wish to her parents.

　Or if she used this method, there was a chance that Ryke-sama would hate her, but still, Julia wanted to be Ryke's.

　She wanted to be his wife.

　Determined to do so, Yulia headed to her parents' bedroom.
　In order to make a certain wish--.