Or I called a physician――. Milly raised her voice when I was about to say those words.

I don't understand why she's being so stubborn.

However, I couldn't really say anything else, so I decided to quickly finish my business.

Once the tea party is over, she'll have no choice but to go home. I can only do this as Milly firmly refuses to go home. Because I wanted to talk, I didn't call for a court lady, but well, whatever.

"Milly."

"Yes… Um… Lady Lidiana."

"Nn?"

"That's…"

When I thought of talking, Milly nervously presented a white paper bag. When I received it, it was still warm.

When I looked inside, freshly baked madeleines and financiers were there.

"Ara, thank you. Was this made by the cooks from your mansion?"

Marianne and others often bring presents for tea parties, so I didn't find it unnatural.

Having gladly received it, I smiled.

But for some reason Milly's shoulders trembled with a start as she said.

"N, no. Umm… Actually, they're presents I received from an a, acquaintance…. I want you to have them by all means, Lady Lidiana… And… then."

"Did you specially bring them for me? Then I wonder if they are considerably delicious confectioneries. I am looking forward to them. Thank you, Milly."

"N, no…"

I only said my thanks, and yet for some reason this time her tears welled up and she hung her head. Although I found her att.i.tude strange, I lined up the confectioneries on a small plate on the table.

"Hee, they're baked to a good color."

"That's… umm… no, it's nothing."

"?"

From a while ago Milly has been acting suspiciously. While wondering what happened I sat next to her on the sofa and held out the small plate.

Milly stared at me in surprise.

"Eh…"

"Nn? You'll eat, right? Feel free."

It was a natural consideration, but with a no Milly firmly refused.

"Um… umm, I do not feel well, so…"

"I see… It's regrettable, but it can't be helped."

"I, I apologize."

"What are you saying? You're the one who brought them, right? In which case, I shall enjoy them."

I can't be forcing her. Thinking so, I picked up on financier and took a bite.

The taste is a little different than I expected. It's somehow mysterious.

"Hee, it's an unusual taste. I wonder if the taste of b.u.t.ter is a little strong? Are the seasonings different? The flavor is unique."

"Y… yes."

It's very different from what the Castle Head Chef Bart or I make. It doesn't feel like a traditional financier, but it's by no means bad. I wonder if it's some regional baking method. Wilhelm is vast. It's normal that the recipes and flavors of sweets vary per region.

"Hmph… It's unusual, but it's not bad. Milly, where did you get this?"

"Hii…"

I just wanted to ask about the recipe, but Milly's complexion turned white as paper.

"Milly?"

"… N, no, it's nothing. I, I also got it from someone… so I don't know the details…"

"Is that so?"

I drank tea and took a breath. After a period of silence, with "Listen." I again broke the ice.

"… Milly, there is a reason I invited you to a tea party today."

"Eh?"

At my sudden confession, Milly raised her downcast face.

I met her eyes.

"I'm sorry I couldn't answer properly before. It's late, however I want to report it to you properly."

"Report… is it?"

"Yeah."

I nodded to Milly, who didn't look like she really understood, and slowly began speaking.

"I love His Highness Friedrich. I am prepared to stand by his side as his princess consort… I wonder if that's alright? Does this answer the question you had at the start?"

"…!"

When I asked that with a smile, Milly opened her eyes wide and covered her mouth with both hands.

Her hands were trembling.

"Milly?"

"That… that… after all."

"Milly? What's the matter?"

Milly's state visibly changed. Her whole body trembled, and with "It's a lie." she shook her head over and over in denial.

Then, she fixed her eyes on me with a dumbfounded expression and asked.

"… Lady Lidiana, do you… love the Crown Prince?"

"Yeah. Very. I can't think of anybody but him anymore."

Without any intention to conceal my feelings, I nodded while still smiling. For some reason Milly made a face like she was about to cry.

In a quiet voice that I couldn't quite make out, she muttered.

"No way… Then… Just for what sake did I…? Did it… have no meaning? After all… I did something simply stupid… Aah…"

"Milly!"

Milly tried to stand up from the sofa, however perhaps she couldn't muster her strength, as her legs gave in on the spot.

Milly sat on the carpet and continued shaking her head for a while, then looked at me with vacant eyes.

"Milly? Are you alright?"

Thinking it'd be better if she sat on the sofa again, I presented my hand.

Milly didn't take it and instead stared at my face. As if she returned to her senses, she blinked her eyes and with a serious face said.

"L, Lady Lidiana. P, please run away from here immediately. To the Crown Prince… Quickly…! Otherwise, otherwise, you won't make it…!"

"Milly? What are you saying suddenly?"

Grabbing the hem of my dress Milly desperately appealed while trembling.

However, while we may be close to the general area, we're still fully inside the royalty quarter.

Strange people can't enter here. I tilted my head at her telling me to run away with a pale face despite that.

Milly firmly pulled the hem of my dress over and over.

Tears flowed from her eyes in single lines.

"I don't have the time to explain now. I, I beg you, get away from here… Like this, even if I apologize to the Crown Prince… Ah… Kuh."

"Eh?"

Suddenly, with a groan Milly fell down on the carpet while clutching her arm.

I have no idea what's going on. What's the matter, I asked and tried to lift her up - when the ground swayed.

"Eh… wha, t?"

Reflexively I placed my hands on the carpet. The world was swaying.

I felt I'd throw up from the awful dizziness that suddenly came. I started hearing a ringing in my ears. The strange echoing in my ears, the sudden vertigo, the feeling like I'd throw up, were all too much for me to endure, and I collapsed next to Milly.

"… Ah. Wh… y? Suddenly… I'm dizzy."

"L, Lady Lidiana… Please… Stand up. Quickly… run away… Uugh."

Milly's voice weakly resounded from next to me. However, I couldn't move.

The most I could do was to breathe roughly. From above our heads, I heard a woman's laughing voice.

"―― Well done, Lady Miriallia."

While my consciousness seemed to be receding, inside the room resounded the voice of another person who shouldn't be here - the voice of a third party.

Author's note

Thank you very much.

※ Just in case there'll be a lot of people who are worried.

From here on, more or less serious chapters will continue for a while, but there won't be any depressing developments for the protagonist or the hero, so please be relieved.

It's okay. This is Outais.h.i.+hi after all ( ˘ω˘ )

Editor: Valeria