Published: August 10, 2026
Even if I'm told that I should make love come true, that's a problem.
For one thing, I'm not in love.
And I want to bring Ferdinand, who has been ordered by royal decree to head to Arensbach as soon as possible, back to Ehrenfest.
...And, if I'm being honest, I don't want Tulli to misunderstand me in some weird way!
"A-um, Lady Hannelore. It seems my words, like those of the nobles around us, are not being trusted very much, but I truly am not in love with Lord Ferdinand."
At my words, Hannelore blinked and slowly tilted her head.
"At the banquet, I heard that you declared you would save Lord Ferdinand even if it meant making enemies of the royal family and the gods..."
...Gyaaah! Tulli's eyes are shining! Wait! It's not wrong, but if you only hear that part, of course you'll misunderstand!
Tulli is covering her mouth so she won't make a sound, and her shoulders are trembling in tiny little bursts. This is bad. I have to clear up this misunderstanding no matter what. Just thinking about what kind of information would spread through my family in the downtown is terrifying. Corinna, who was continuing the fitting as though she could not hear our conversation at all, also had eyes gleaming with curiosity. There was no doubt that it would all leak to Benno and the others too.
"That is certainly what I said. I have no intention of denying my own words. Lord Ferdinand is someone very important to me, almost like family. But feelings for family and romantic feelings are different, aren't they?"
I'm aware that Ferdinand is especially important to me compared with other people. He's as important to me as my downtown family, the attendants at the temple, or Lutz and the Gutenberg group. But I still don't think it's love.
...The gods have never danced before me, either...
"If Lady Hannelore had a family member, or someone as important as family, collapse from poison in another territory, wouldn't you, just like me, rush to save them no matter what you had to make enemies of? Please think of it that way."
"...Um, if something happened to my family that they couldn't handle on their own, then it would be a situation where whatever I did would be meaningless, wouldn't it? I can't really imagine a case where my actions would make things better..."
Hannelore murmured this with a somewhat distant look, saying that she would probably either have to escape the crisis on her own while flailing about, or spend her time holding back everyone around her who would become more fired up than necessary about revenge.
...No good. With the way Lady Hannelore acted in this battle, she wouldn't be able to understand, and since I don't know Dunkelfelger's standards or common sense, it's hard to sympathize.
"Dunkelfelger's circumstances seem to be different, but I have no intention of choosing my methods when it comes to protecting my family, and that is how I have lived until now. So if someone as important as family is in danger, I will rush to them. But that is not love."
A look of understanding appeared on Tulli's face.
But I couldn't tell whether she understood my explanation that I wasn't in love, or the part where I would go berserk for my family.
"Then what kind of person is Lord Ferdinand to Lady Rosemine? Does that mean you don't consider him a marriage partner?"
At Hannelore's words, I thought about Ferdinand as a marriage partner. Even without romantic feelings, there are candidates like Wilfried and Prince Sigiswald being considered for marriage. In the same way, I should be able to consider Ferdinand as a candidate without romantic feelings.
...Hm? Isn't Lord Ferdinand, like, an insanely good catch?
"I don't have romantic feelings for him, but if I were to think of it as a political marriage, Lord Ferdinand might be the most ideal partner. He has lots of books, he gave me a library, we understand each other and are close enough to feel like family, and he's been in more or less the position of my personal doctor for a long time, so he's taken care of my health and medicines. He's capable and dependable, and when I'm anxious or lonely, just seeing him or talking to him puts me at ease..."