7th Time Loop WN Vol. 5 Fan Translation

153

Feeling embarrassed, Rishe quickly averted her gaze. At that moment, Dietrich, sitting across from them, seemed to finally notice the situation and spoke up.

"What is that position you're in!? You're not even married yet, and you're holding her waist...!?"

Dietrich looked at Arnold, his face turning red up to his ears. "That's indecent!!"

"Excuse me?"

At Arnold's short words, Dietrich leaped up from the long chair.

It was an incredibly cold glare. Even Rishe, just listening beside them, felt a chill down her spine. Even after silencing Dietrich, Arnold didn't ease his hostility. With a heavy gaze fixed on the cowering Dietrich, Rishe apologized to Arnold.

"Your Highness Arnold... I'm terribly sorry about that..."

"There's nothing for you to apologize for." The words directed at Rishe were gentle and calm.

But Arnold, after giving Dietrich another cold look, spoke with an air of indifference.

"...So?"

At Arnold's terse question, Dietrich tensed up.

"I-I'm talking to Rishe, not you!"

"You're allowed to be here because Rishe wanted to have a conversation with you. Understand that, ideally, you wouldn't be in a position to directly converse with 'the queen of this country.'"

"B-but, Rishe isn't your queen yet. It's too early to treat her as yours!"

At this, Arnold gave Dietrich a quiet, contemptuous look.

"You seem to have a fundamental misunderstanding about the rights of a 'husband.'"

"What!?"

"Rishe is my wife, but she is not my possession. The only one who owns rights regarding her is herself."

"Guh...!"

"I won't restrict her actions as long as Rishe isn't in danger. You should know that it is you that I do not allow freedom of action.."

(Arnold always respects what I want to do. He even allowed this meeting with Dietrich for me...)

Arnold spoke in a low voice, almost as if he were crawling on the ground. "Answer Rishe's initial question... 'Why are you in this country?'"

(He seems genuinely displeased...)

Even though he's the crown prince of the powerful nation of Galkhein, under normal circumstances, Arnold would have chosen his words more carefully. At least when speaking with royalty from other countries, he wouldn't suddenly use an ordering tone unless it was during wartime with an enemy nation. Arnold clearly found conversations with Dietrich mentally taxing.

"Dietrich."

To end this quickly, Rishe spoke up.

"I've been exchanging letters with Marie recently."

"What!? You're corresponding with Marie!?"

"That's what the letters said. Marie has been dedicating herself to Dietrich's education' since I left the Hermity Kingdom."

Upon Rishe's arrival in Galkhein, Marie had sent numerous apologies. Across several pages, Marie apologized for her actions and listed what she planned to do to make amends. Among the heartfelt words, there were also mentions of Dietrich's future.

"Even if she doesn't become the crown princess, Marie wants to support Dietrich to become a fine gentleman."

"...But, I found it strange. Dietrich enduring such 'education,' even if it's from beloved Marie-sama..."