“――So?”

No one has entered the dining room yet.

Arnold didn’t call for a server, but did his best to appease Rishe.

He sat her down in a chair, and sat himself down on the left side of the chair, stroking Rishe’s head as he asked.

“Slow down. I’m not going anywhere. Tell me what’s going on when you’ve calmed down.”

“My maids cleaned each room for me…”

Rishe managed to retell what she had just heard from the maids.

“While they were cleaning, they heard what sounded like a window opening in the next room, which was supposed to be empty. It was a little creaky, high-pitched, distinctive sound.”

“…It’s a castle by the sea, so the hinges must be rusting.”

“When the startled maid looked at the window, she saw that the window of the room remained closed. Thinking it was her imagination, she went out into the hallway to change the water in the bucket, and just as she went out, she spotted a vague shadow of a man in the distance!”

Remembering the horror Rishe had felt when she heard it, she curled up with a tremble.

“If there was a normal person there, they would have heard footsteps, right? But the figure slid away without a sound…”

She could clearly visualize the scene she hasn’t seen.

“The next thing they know, he’s all gone.”

“…………”

Rishe was terrified of ghosts.

Since Rishe herself has died multiple times and was still here by a mysterious fate, she didn’t think it was believable to say “there are no ghosts.”

Arnold stared at Rishe as she recounted the tale.

“You mean you’re afraid of that missing person?”

“Aren’t you afraid, Your Highness?!”

“What can something insubstantial do to us, if it did exist?”

“Oh, only someone who isn’t afraid of ghosts can say that!!”

But it was also reassuring.

“…These things get scarier and scarier when the people around you are also scared, don’t you think?”

As Arnold stroked Rishe’s head, she gently turned her head.

“In the end, I had to pretend to be calm because the maids turned pale. I told them there was no such thing as ghosts, and they were relieved, but I couldn’t tell them that I was scared too…”“So have you been holed up in this dining room alone, waiting for me to come home?”

Rishe nodded.

“There are a lot of candlesticks on the table.”

“Because I want the place to brighten up a bit.”

She thought about staying in the room with the maids, but that would be too deceptive.

She’d been reciting Arnold’s over and over again deep inside until he came back. Without telling that, she glanced up at him.

Arnold never laughed at Rishe.

“By the way, Your Highness, the rice…”

“I’m busy petting you.”

“… ???”

He said it as if it was his top priority. She knew she shouldn’t behave like a spoiled child, but this sense of security was amazing.

“…I like the sea very much.”

“I bet.”

“But the sound of waves at night in a room that might be haunted is kind of scary…”

“…”

“Is it difficult for you to stay alone in a room?”

She clutched the hem of her dress with her right hand and Arnold’s coat with her left.

“…Your Highness Arnold…”

Arnold looked tangled when she called his name.

Seeing this, Rishe panicked.

“I-Am I being a nuisance?! I’m a grown up but still wanting to sleep in the same room with you!!”

“Not really.”

Then he deliberated and gave a big sigh.

“…Not really…”

He said it twice…

She wondered why, but Arnold continued to frown.

“…I believe there are two rooms on the fourth floor to the south. Are they ready for use?”

“Y-Yes! The maids cleaned the whole castle, so it’s sparkling clean…”

While answering, Rishe blinked rapidly.

“Will you sleep in the same room with me?”

“…There’s no way I can just rip you out of this state and stuff you back in your room.”

This state probably referred to the left hand that was clutching Arnold’s coat.

She was embarrassed, but she wanted to hold on for a little while longer.

But the moment she heard a knock on the dining room door, she quickly let go.

“Excuse me, Your Highness. A messenger has just arrived.”

The one who showed up was one of the knight guards.

Hmm, I’m glad I let go promptly…

Not wanting to look pathetic, Rishe laid her hands on her lap.

“A messenger in a small boat has arrived ahead with a message. The ship carrying His Royal Highness, Prince Curtis is expected to arrive at the port in a few hours.”

Rishe was relieved to hear that. She was sure Harriet would be happy to hear about her brother’s arrival.

Arnolt responded to the knight’s message impassively.

“All right. Now, go quickly and call Oliver back.”

“As you wish. Also, His Highness Curtis has already eaten aboard the ship, so there is no need to worry about entertaining him tonight.”

“What about port security?”

“Well, about that――…”

Come to think of it, there was a rumor of a ghost ship on the coast of Sigwell.

Why on earth did she remember something unnecessary?

(~~~~)

Rishe hurriedly drowned out her thoughts and looked down and remained silent.

It’s still a little unsettling to be away from His Highness Arnold.

However, of course, she must refrain from acting up in front of the knight.