Episode 193 Shadow Peace –
The sound of waves softly heard in the target’s ears.
And a warm breeze with a hint of salt tickles my cheeks.
I slowly opened my eyes and stood up.
When I opened my eyes, I was very pleased to see the familiar sight of black hair spread out in front of me, so I smiled quietly.
I went out first after covering Christine, who was sleeping with her bare shoulders, with a blanket in case she caught a cold.
When you come outside, you can see the wide horizon at a glance.
This is a villa in the Aquitaine region of southwestern France.
This is the place we chose as our travel destination, and even though we see this coastal scenery every morning, we never get tired of it.
Spring is almost over and summer is just around the corner, but I still really like the weather, which feels warmer than hot.
I woke up, relaxed my body, and went back in to prepare a quick breakfast. As I was about to finish, I heard the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs.
When I glanced over, I saw Christine coming down the stairs with a blank look on her face, and our eyes met.
In a short period of time, her dark eyes, which had been slightly out of focus, slowly came back to life and a smile slowly appeared on her lips.
Christine slowly opened her mouth as she felt happy about the fact that such a short but slow time could feel overwhelming.
“Good morning Pierre.”
“Good morning Christine.”
Only then did Christine, who had finally returned to her usual pace, approach with graceful steps and sit down at the table.
…It’s strange to do that not in a dress, but in a chemise with bare feet and slippers, but it seems to be a natural behavior that she does unconsciously.
As I cut the bread, stuffed it with washed vegetables, and spread the sauce on it, Christine, who was watching quietly, looked a little embarrassed and said,
“After all, you prepare more than me.”
I answered by bringing the finished dish in front of her.
“Haha, there is such a thing as a habit.”
There were many times when I had to prepare my own meals while rolling on the battlefield, and for the same reason, I often woke up early.
If I were to be honest, my skills were no more than that of a common field cook, and I didn’t often find myself in such difficult situations after returning, but in any case, I was nothing compared to Christine, who had a habit of skipping meals.
“Besides, I’m just happy that you took the effort to prepare for me.”
Christine paused for a moment, but then, without saying anything, she bit into the bread and started mumbling.
It was so cute that I was staring at it, and she blushed slightly and averted my gaze.
“Don’t look too hard, Pierre.”
“Hahaha….”
I decided to stay at the villa without anyone during the trip, intending to spend time alone, but to my shock, Christine said she would prepare a meal for me.
When it comes to eating, Christine would be so lazy that she even skips the meals provided by her employer because she is too lazy to do so.
To put it mildly, the butler was complaining to me, so I was almost shocked and horrified to see her preparing the dinner, as I knew it well…
What was even more surprising was that the meal Christine prepared was quite decent. No, to be honest, it tasted much better than what I did. To the point where I felt ashamed of the suspicious glances I gave her.
When I asked what happened, I was told that while preparing for the wedding, I learned from the employees in my spare time.
Even though I didn’t learn to cook professionally, the cooking she learned in about two months in her spare time tastes better than the cooking she learned while fighting on the battlefield for 20 years.
I never thought that the talent of an irrational genius could be applied to cooking.
Still, I was moved by the fact that Christine, who was not bothered to cook and eat for others, learned to cook just because she wanted to cook for me, so for the first two days, I only ate the meals she cooked.
The problem was that I overlooked the fact that my beloved wife was on the strange side.
When I repeatedly told her that it was delicious, Christine was very happy and offered to prepare dinner for breakfast as well, so she got up early in the morning and spent two to three hours preparing the meal.
I was grateful, but I still didn’t think this was a good idea, so I said I could have a light breakfast, and Christine’s answer was a masterpiece.
-…I haven’t learned that kind of thing yet.
Should we be amazed by the brain of a genius who can remember and recreate difficult dishes without even knowing simple dishes, or should we be dumbfounded by her processing cooking with information rather than senses?
I was half fed up and said I would prepare breakfast for her, but Christine looked at me with a shocked face and asked.
-…Was the meal I prepared not tasty?
When she, who usually didn’t show her emotions, asked me with a look of regret and disappointment on her face, I had a hard time suppressing my joy.
Christine said it was so simple to cook, so I thought it was just because she was a genius, but watching her do this clearly showed how hard she worked and how proud she was when I told her it was delicious.
Who dares call this person the Black Witch of Aquitaine without blood or tears?
It’s so cute and adorable I can’t stand it.
As I was smiling and remembering Christine’s relieved face after clearing up her embarrassing misunderstanding, Christine secretly rolled her eyes.
“What are you thinking, smiling like that?”
“I think you’re cute, Christine.”
Christine opened and closed her mouth and looked like she was about to say something, but then gave up and started concentrating on eating the bread again.
It felt cute as it was, so I couldn’t help but laugh.
Christine once said that it was really nice to see me flustered, but somehow I feel the same way, so it’s a big deal.
After finishing the meal.
Christine, who was sitting across from us and drinking coffee together, slowly opened her mouth.
“It’s already been 6 days.”
There was deep regret in her voice, so I smiled and answered.
“Iknow, right. “Time flies so fast.”
Then he pulled Christine’s hand and kissed it lightly.
Slowly on purpose, filled with regretful feelings.
Up to the index finger, middle finger, and ring finger.
As I took my precious time kissing each finger once and looking up, Christine smiled softly and said,
“Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to just keep living like this.”
“ha ha ha.”
I’m sure that would make me quite happy too.
Neither of us will do that, though.
one week.
The time we spent alone during our short trip was as happy as a dream, but my role was too big to continue spending time like this.
I have to go back to Lumiere.
To those who are waiting for us, who choose to walk together instead of giving up on others and surviving on our own.
I looked at Christine for a moment and then asked.
“Have you thought about it enough?”
Christine smiled slightly and said with a slightly mischievous look on her face.
“I don’t think it’s enough. “Because someone wouldn’t let me go.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
…No, but when I think about it, she had a hard time at first, but later on, she was no easy on me- As I was thinking harshly, Christine opened her mouth.
“I once asked Lewis before I became an adult.”
“hmm? What?”
“If you were to run Aquitaine, how would you like to do it?”
“Haha, you’re being mischievous.”
I don’t know, but Lewis must have had a lot to think about when he was asked that question.
Christine smiled slightly and answered.
“They said they wanted to spend the money they earned in a good way.”
“Haha that’s Lewis.”
When I answered simply, Christine smiled slightly and asked.
“Pierre. “You thought from the beginning that there was no way Louis would get Aquitaine, right?”
“I wasn’t sure, but I thought it was highly likely. Ah, but I really meant it when I said that even without Aquitaine, Christine, you would be enough. Please believe that.”
Christine responded by quietly leaning back into my arms.
There was a pleasant silence as I felt her body heat.
“At the time, I thought it was a childish and naive thought…”
Christine began again.
“I don’t think it would be a bad idea to have that as a goal. “It’s a top income earned like a devil, so it’s also spent like an angel.”
“Earn like a devil and spend like an angel haha. Are you trying to increase your charity work?”
When I asked Christine as I hugged her from behind, she took my hand and slowly kissed each finger as if she was following what I did earlier and answered.
“Besides that, I have other thoughts. … I’ve earned enough notoriety by now.”
I smiled softly.
The Black Witch of Aquitaine.
It never has a good meaning, but at the same time, it is a nickname filled with a lot of reverence and fear.
It’s also an image that Christine intentionally built.
This is also because such an image was quite helpful in her secret activities behind the scenes…
If she was going to hand over Aquitaine to Louise anyway, she would rather take advantage of the notoriety than go through the hassle of managing her image. It must have been his intention to leave without hugging him.
“That’s interesting. “Of course I respect you, but I didn’t expect such a change of heart.”
Regardless of my love for her, I am confident that I have a fairly good understanding of Christine as a person.
Christine may not be as vicious as people think, but she’s still selfish enough to warrant it.
However, I had no idea that Christine would set a goal that only Eris could dream of during her honeymoon and to think about her lost life goals.
Christine also smiled lowly as if she knew what I was thinking, then snuggled into my arms a little more and raised her head to face me.
Christine, who was silent for a moment, smiled and stretched out her hand to caress my cheek and spoke in a whisper.
“Because I’m not alone anymore. “The respected commander-in-chief of the revolutionary army, my beloved husband.”
Were you worried that I would get the bad name too? Thank you too.
I took her hand and lightly kissed the back of it before answering.
“I am very happy, but I wish your life goals were for yourself, ma’am.”
“It’s there for me too. Because…”
Christine, who was speaking, lowered her head as if thinking about something.
“huh? Christine?”
Why are your ears red?
As I was thinking that, Christine spoke softly.
“If I have children, I want to make sure they grow up proud of me so that I can hear good stories about them.”
A daughter who lost her mother at an early age and grew up unloved.
Instead, it was something she said after being betrayed by Lewis’s mother, who treated her as family, but who only thought of her son as an enemy, and had to turn her into an enemy.
I couldn’t bring myself to tell her what to do, so I gave her a hug instead.
Christine leaned towards me and spoke softly.
“You don’t have to comfort me, Pierre. Please love me instead.”
He pretends to be more cool-headed than anyone else, but in reality, he answers the appeal of a person who is hungry for affection.
“…As much as you want.”
I will gladly fill in all the portions that she did not receive from her parents.
As I was thinking that, Christine turned around, wrapped her arms around my neck, and whispered.
“Then, since we have set a goal, we should execute it, right?”
Run? what?
ah.
…kid?
“I don’t know about that, but maybe-”
Couldn’t it have already happened?
Apart from briefly looking at the scenery or eating, we stayed in the villa for most of the trip – Then Christine smiled brightly and answered.
“A good commander should minimize even one variable. Isn’t that right, Commander?”
That’s right…
“…You’re right, Admiral.”
It will always be a night operation until the last day.