"… Waa."
"Shh… Quiet. Princess Consort is sleeping, so let's clean up quickly."
After finis.h.i.+ng preparing His Highness and sending him off to the office, I and my five subordinates headed towards the bedroom.
The bedroom with the curtains still drawn was dim. On the large bed was a bulge the size of a person. Straight light brown hair was peeking from the linens.
Confirming that the bulge was regularly breathing in her sleep, I told my subordinates in a whisper.
"Princess Consort is tired, so you must not wake her up. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
The formal wear and the dress His Highness and Princess Consort had worn yesterday were pitifully lying around the bed. I carefully picked them up and collected them. My subordinates quickly began to clean the room.
I glanced at Princess Consort to check her state. Going by her the sight of her shoulder, she seems to not be wearing anything. At the same time, I turned my attention to the night clothes prepared yesterday. As expected, there was no evidence of them being touched.
I thought they could have at least changed clothes, but as I could easily imagine His Highness not allowing it, I held my tongue.
His Highness favors Princess Consort and, except for that time of the month, pa.s.sionately desires her every night.
His Highness said she hadn't slept, and she really might not have gotten a wink of sleep until morning.
It's painfully obvious when cleaning the room like this while walking on tiptoes around Princess Consort.
Especially yesterday, His Highness returned from battle, so he should've been particularly excited. I'm just a little worried about Princess Consort, who had the considerable burden forced on her.
Having said that, their relations.h.i.+p is excellent as ever, so there's no need to worry in the slightest.
Last night too, Princess Consort was smiling delightfully held up in His Highness's arms. Rather than either's feelings being stronger, they look to be in a balanced relations.h.i.+p that gives off a good feeling.
The wedding will be soon. There's no doubt it will be a ceremony where everyone will smile.
Having taken care of His Highness since he was young, I'm joyful. I bless this marriage from the bottom of my heart.
"The bathroom… What should we do about it?"
While I was cleaning with my head in thought, a court lady asked so.
"Are there any traces of usage?"
In the back of His Highness's room is a one-person bathroom. Princess Consort uses it alone. If possible I would like to properly take care of her in the royal bathroom, but His Highness seems to love Princess whenever he has time, so thinking about the frequency, I understand it would be difficult.
Even if her body is cleaned with magic, Princess Consort tends to take hot baths, so the bathroom is diligently checked and cleaned.
"No. It looks like it wasn't used yesterday."
At my question, another court lady checked the bathroom and answered.
I nodded to it and ordered.
"In that case, only clean it lightly. Just in case, replace all linens."
"Certainly."
Both court ladies disappeared inside the bathroom.
With the bedroom cleaning finished, I prepared a change of clothes for when Princess Consort wakes up. Going by her state, it doesn't seem like she'll wake up yet.
"She must feel tired…"
While looking at the soundly sleeping Princess Consort, one of my subordinates said so in a whisper.
"Every day she keeps His Highness company with such a slender body… She looks happy, but sometimes I think she's pitiful."
"… Princess Consort has to bear His Highness's child. Princess Consort is the daughter of the preeminent ducal house. It needn't be said that she perfectly understands her duty."
"But… They haven't even married yet."
Although her point was reasonable and I agreed with it, I said.
"She has the Royal Flower. She is to be treated as His Highness's proper Princess Consort. Besides, both His Highness and His Majesty wish for it."
"Yes…"
"Having said that, I understand your worries. His Highness's favor is extraordinary. However, considering the state of the person in question, I believe it's a needless fear."
When I said that while recalling how Princess Consort runs around full of energy in spite of being loved until morning every day, the court lady laughed, "Indeed," with relief.
"Really, His Highness and Princess Consort are well-matched in all sorts of ways. It's just my selfishness, but recently I've been truly glad that His Highness's partner is Princess Consort. Because, His Highness seems friendly and shows a plethora of expressions in front of Princess Consort."
I agreed with those words from the bottom of my heart.
"Yeah. If not for Princess Consort, I'm sure we wouldn't have the current His Highness."
That much is certain.
His Highness smiling happily, His Highness lowering his eyebrows troubledly, and all the various expressions His Highness shows now wouldn't be possible without Princess Consort.
"Lady Clara, we've finished."
"Good job. Then let us withdraw."
I addressed my subordinates who finished cleaning and once again looked at Princess Consort. Princess Consort was sleeping soundly. I'm sure she doesn't realize at all how amazing what she's done is.
―― Thank you very much. Please keep at it.
I expressed my heartfelt grat.i.tude for making His Highness regain various things and for being at his side. After silently bowing, I left the room together with my subordinates.
