IN THE MIDDLE of the capital city market was a cake shop with a sterling reputation. Business was booming, but to enter the place, guests had to meet certain conditions.
Apparently, the store only accepted business from couples. Rishe had discovered it on her second clandestine outing with Arnold, on their way back from thanking the owner of the jewelry store for her ring.
"That's what I heard, at least. While we're waiting in this line, please pretend we're a couple!"
Beside her, Arnold pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed. "I can't believe you."
The line outside the shop was long. This was likely unfamiliar territory for Arnold, but the reason for his sullen look seemed to be because Rishe had proposed pretending to be a couple.
"I don't see why we have to pretend. We're engaged. Isn't that good enough?"
"Well, apparently, they don't just let you in because you're married. Their selling point is the couples-only atmosphere. If they relaxed the restrictions, their reputation would suffer. I think they'd turn us down if we were just formally engaged."
In Rishe's mind, being "a couple " and being "engaged " were two clearly separate things. Arnold seemed to understand and relented at last.
Rishe found herself waiting in line prepared to play the role of Arnold's girlfriend, and just as she expected, she found it difficult to relax.
"I feel like the employee who's watching the line is giving us the stink eye."
Unconcerned, Arnold said, "He's just a regular citizen. You're paranoid."
"You can't underestimate the observational skills of a merchant. They practice every day to spot counterfeit currency and people who will leave while failing to pay."
"Those seem like pretty specific offenses, but…"
Rishe took in her surroundings with grave caution.
We must be thorough with our act. Maybe imitate what other people are doing.
Making full use of the senses she'd honed in her life as a knight, Rishe noticed something. After getting over the shock of it, she glanced at Arnold. Steeling her will, she sidled up to him, only for him to look down at her with a grimace.
"What is it now?"
"Look at the people around us." Rishe pulled Arnold down by the sleeve and whispered to him, "The real couples are standing right next to each other. But we had enough space for a person in between us, right?"
"…"
I've still got the habit from my previous life to maintain the space to draw my sword. And I'm guessing Prince Arnold is the same.
Rishe mimicked the other couples and inched closer, her shoulder nearly brushing Arnold's arm.
"Come to think of it, one does look intimate with a gentleman if one snuggles up to him a bit. I learned that a long time ago—that is, during crown princess lessons back in my home country."
"Oh?" Arnold's voice was lower than usual.
Rishe looked up at him, wondering why. Green eyes met his blue. Their glow was slightly darker than usual too.
"These would be lessons you took to be some other man's queen?"
"Huh?"
Before Rishe could react to the unexpected question, Arnold wrapped his arm around her waist with a huff.
"Fine. If you're so insistent, I'll play along and pretend."
"Wh-what? Wait, Prince—eep!"
Arnold tugged her closer, and Rishe's breath caught at the sensation of being pressed up against him. He wasn't manhandling her—this was the normal distance for, say, dancing—but it was so unexpected that Rishe was having trouble processing it. And then he whispered in her ear.
"If you're so stiff, that employee with the 'incredible powers of observation ' will catch on."
Rishe gasped. He was right—this was ideal, actually. Since Arnold was on board now, they could be more thorough in their act. She squeezed her eyes shut, nodding a few times to disguise how red her face felt.
Now that she'd gotten this far, she had no idea what to do. All the information she'd gathered observing the other couples went straight out of her head when Arnold wrapped his arm around her.
"Sh-should I do something too?" Rishe looked up desperately at Arnold for some hint.
The way he was smiling was rather ill intentioned. "Well, what did you learn in your little etiquette class, hmm?"
"I forgot! Whatever I learned, I can't put it into practice! My head's completely blank right now!"
"Pfft." Arnold snickered.
Apparently, Rishe's protests were amusing. With a self-satisfied look, he reached out with the arm that wasn't around Rishe's waist and took her left hand.
"Er, does it seem a little noisy around us?"
"Just your imagination," Arnold said nonchalantly, but people were definitely watching them.
It was no wonder, really. If a man with such a beautiful face began acting like this in public, he was bound to attract the attention of any nearby ladies.
Yet Arnold continued to speak, his tone perfectly sincere. "Your feet don't hurt from walking around town, do they? I don't mind carrying you while we're waiting in line."
"I, um…! I-I-I'm fine! I have plenty of energy left!"
He was taking the role so seriously, it was like he was actually trying to seduce her. Her head was swimming. And then Arnold murmured in her ear again.
"At a time like this, it's better to just let me take care of you."
Really?!
That was shocking, but she'd only been answering honestly. Maybe it was the wrong thing to say, since they were supposed to be a couple.
Confused, Rishe whispered back to him, "Th-that's too much, though! Carrying me is too much!"
"What do you want to do, then? I'll go along with whatever you decide."
"Way to put me on the spot!"
Using the couples around them for reference was no longer going to work, since everyone in line now had their eyes glued to Rishe and Arnold.
Oh no, are we standing out because we're not couple-y enough?!
She couldn't let Arnold do all the work. Rishe mustered up the courage and squeezed Arnold's hand back.
Well, how's that?!
Rishe looked up at him, feeling accomplished, and found his eyes slightly wide. Managing to surprise him delighted her.
While she was staring up proudly, Arnold chuckled ever so faintly.
Wow…The expression on his face was so soft, Rishe felt her heart skip.
"I was surprised at how small your ring felt when I held it the other day, but I suppose it's only natural…" Arnold linked his fingers with hers. A sweet tingling sensation went through Rishe at the skin-to-skin contact. "Your fingers are so delicate. I feel like I'll injure them if I'm not careful."
Rishe's only response was spluttering until Arnold abruptly let go of her hand.
"That should about do it."
"Hwha?!"
"The employee went back inside. That should be enough pretending, right?" Arnold's face was completely blank as he removed his hand from her waist.
Finally freed from his arms, Rishe scrambled to correct her posture before her weak knees could send her sinking to the ground.
A-am I just too self-conscious?! Maybe I am… I mean, Prince Arnold was just cooperating with me out of the kindness of his heart, right?
But then her eyes met Arnold's, and he smirked.
"What's wrong? You look flustered."
Rishe let out a cross between a groan and a scream. Arnold was teasing her. She wanted to protest, but he was helping her. Rishe swallowed her complaints and simply thanked him instead. For some reason, that brought another chuckle out of him.
Coming out of the experience slightly worse for wear, Rishe nevertheless obtained some worthwhile information inside the shop. And so, she was satisfied.