Aria remembered something from her past.
When she asked, 'What is the first night?', he replied, 'you're going to die.'
The rough and innocent boy from that time, grew up and became a beast.
'At that time, I thought he was like that because of the malice he harbored.'
Now that she sees it, it has a different meaning.
"You know. I think Lloyd will kill me someday."
"I won't let that happen, but I hope you become stronger."
How long will my wife be weak? Lloyd whispered in a pity and kissed her exposed shoulder.
"No matter what I do, I won't be as strong as Lloyd…"
What could she do to catch up with God's lineage?
She shook her head for a moment.
And she lay quietly on the bed. It was to fill the lack of sleep.
"Lloyd, go do your business."
"…"
"You must work hard, Your Highness."
"There is no such urgent task."
"Really? But why is Vincent swearing at Lloyd downstairs?"
Lloyd sighed and got up.
"I will be back."
Aria closed her eyes at a kiss that was dripping into her forehead.
A languid morning.
Aria, who has been sleeping a lot lately, fell into a deep sleep again.
It was not until much later that she became aware of her bizarre dream again.
Summer, a long-awaited rainy day.
Aria took Lloyd's hand and walked down the street.
In Lloyd's hand was a blue parasol with lace. Of course, it wasn't his, it was a parasol that matched with Aria's dress.
Lloyd was holding it and tipping it towards Aria.
"Lloyd, is it that fun?"
Aria gave up halfway and whispered softly.
She had already said it three times. Of course, she tried to take away the parasol he was holding truly, not just in words.
It failed of course.
"It's hard to lift it."
"I'm not that weak."
"You can't even breathe well."
She couldn't breathe? She was momentarily speechless.
"It was so hot that I was just panting a little…"
It was scorching hot today.
Aria wasn't sweating, but instead she seemed to be drained of energy from just a short walk in the scorching sun.
Maybe it was because she wore uncomfortable formal clothes.
Her breathing quickened and her whole body was limp. But despite that, she couldn't just stretch her body in the heat.
'Because there are eyes to see.'
It's not just 'eyes to see'.
Right now, Aria was being watched by those who she especially wanted to look good for.
She gritted her teeth and straightened her back. While maintaining a neat and disciplined gait.
Lloyd looked down at her for a moment without saying a word, then added as he let out a faint sigh.
"I know you wanted to look good… But know that I'm holding back, wanting to hug you as much as I can."
Hug her? Here? Aria shook her head.
"I don't want to be a talk in people's mouths for the rest of my life."
"I guess so."
Lloyd smiled as if he knew her answer. So it seems like you should listen to me quietly.
'Making such a face while holding a cute parasol....'
Aria had a secret conversation with him, but she stopped and looked around.
The people of Valentine's territory lined up left and right. They held a basket in their arms and scattered petals at every step they took.
"The hero who saved the empire!"
"Our savior has come!"
"Welcome, agents of God! Welcome!"
"Please look here!"
Today was the day she went out to inspect the territory with Lloyd.
Aria was taken aback by the more intense welcome than she had expected.
'Well, since I saved the country, perhaps it's a natural reaction.'
Garcia's foundation was destroyed, and the imperial family was completely overturned.
After that, it was the first time she appeared in front of the local people.
Could it be that rumors of Aria and Lloyd have already spread in Valentine's territory? People flocked endlessly.
"Were there originally this many people in the territory?"
"Because it's a Grand Duchy."
Thanks to this, they were trapped in a procession of people and could not escape. Although she was smiling and waved gently, it was actually a bit frustrating.
'Still... That's good.'
Monsters, villainesses, devil's subordinate. It was a word referring to Aria.
The devil refers to Lloyd.
However, they became God's agents and heroes before she knew it, and received all kinds of praise and welcome in front of people.
'It's like a dream.'
When she opened her eyes, she still felt like she was still trapped in a dark cage. Suddenly, there were times when she became anxious that all of this might be a vision she was seeing after she died.
'But, it can't be.'
The bright expressions of people desperately waving their hands while sweating, their cheers, are so vivid.
As if to reciprocate, Aria said with a faint smile.
"No matter how, I can still lift a parasol."
"Oh really?"
Lloyd raised his eyebrows exaggeratedly as if he didn't know.
"I thought you couldn't even lift a parasol because you couldn't hold my hand properly."
Aria realized it belatedly.
The fact that she shook off Lloyd's hand at one point was because of the heat.
'... Was that a complaint?'
Aria looked up at him for a moment, puzzled.
Lloyd looked even more puzzled. He noticed from her reaction that she didn't shake his hand off on purpose.
"You mean you knew I was holding the parasol but didn't know you let go of my hand?"
"Maybe I don't know…"
"There's no way you don't know. It's my hand."
Lloyd replied shamelessly.
However, that was also true. It was because she never let go of Lloyd's hand unless there were circumstances beyond her control.
Unless she was really having a hard time.
"Aria."
Lloyd smiled softly with his eyes and held out his hand politely.
"Stop pushing yourself and come here."
Before I hug you.
Then he leaned over and whispered uncivilized words into her ear.
Aria stopped being stubborn and she obediently accepted his escort.
Lloyd dispersed the crowd in the blink of an eye.
Aria was relieved to see the crowd who had gathered like a miracle would happen just by approaching her, splitting in all directions.
In fact, hot and exhausted, she was in no mood to refuse his consideration any longer.
"Go and change into comfortable clothes."
Aria went into a clothing store and changed into a sheer summer dress.
When she came out feeling much more at ease, the people who had been lined up endlessly in a thin line were scattered before she knew it.
"Where did everyone go?
Aria spotted Lloyd leaning in the alley next to the clothing store and asked.
He looked down at her and said.
"They dispersed on their own."
Oh, really? Aria shrugged her shoulders.
It seemed that they had stopped greeting her, noticing that she looked distressed.
"You look disappointed."
"Because they're my people. I want to greet each one of them…"
Each one? Lloyd recalled the number of local residents who had flocked to see the two today.
Suddenly, his eyebrows furrowed.
"I never thought you'd have such ambitions."
"Is it enough to call an ambition?"
"Because you'll be the first Grand Duchess to collapse while being greeted."
"Don't exaggerate."
It's all because of the weather. Aria told him that all humans suffer from heat.
"Get some rest and you'll feel better."
said Lloyd, putting his hand on her head, as she was stubborn.
"Let's greet them slowly. We have plenty of time ahead."
It was true. Because of the deal with the devil, Aria was given the next 100 years.
'I'm not time limited anymore, really.'
She could die of old age.
She could spend the rest of her life here.
With Lloyd.
Aria, who had finished her thoughts up to that point, put on a happy face like a cat enjoying the sun.
"Aria."
She turned her head automatically at the voice calling her softly. When her eyes met with the striking black eyes.
He naturally blocked out the surrounding gaze with the parasol he was holding and looped her waist.
Kiss.
Lloyd pressed his lips as if he was stamping a seal, then whispered to her lips.
"Shall we go further inside?"
He held out his hand as if offering an escort.
Behind him she could see a gloomy alley.
A dark shadow was cast over it, and it seemed that no matter what the two of them did in hiding, they would never be found out.
"As a gentleman, you are proposing to behave not at all like a gentleman."
Did he insist on using a parasol for this? She knows it's not, but it suddenly occurred to her that might be the case.
"So, you don't want to?"
Aria glanced back, her cheeks flushed. In fact, she was a little moved by the plain kiss, which was different from usual.
Besides, they were already standing at the entrance of the alley. It meant that the current place doesn't have many people.
'If only for a moment....'
As she was at a loss.
"Rock paper scissors!"
"Eh."
"You didn't put out anything. You're the tagger!"
"Hey, that's not fair!"
"Tagger, tagger!"
Children ran out of the alley, screaming.
Aria was startled and shook off Lloyd's hand.
"Hey, kids. Play quietly!"
From afar, a woman who was presumed to be their mother approached with a look that could not stop them.
Aria further distanced herself from Lloyd.
"Oh so, sorry, sorry."
A woman approaching spotted Aria and Lloyd and stuttered.
She seemed concerned that the children were so noisy that they might offend the Grand Duchess.
She was surprised, but fortunately, she didn't know what Aria was trying to do with Lloyd.
"You have nothing to apologize for."
Aria smiled softly at her and stroked her chest.
The children running around vigorously despite the scorching heat were just cute.
"It's cute, right."
Aria smiled and turned to Lloyd.
But he didn't seem to hear what she said.
He was staring at the child and the mother of the child who held the child's hand with a strange expression.