“Tomorrow, let’s just take it easy for the whole day.”
“Mm.”
Jin and Elsa were currently relaxing in the living room of their mansion in Loizart, having just finished their baths.
It was 9:00 PM.
Before them sat a bottle of white wine—a 3454 vintage from the Ehrlich region.
“Isn’t this Reinhard’s favorite brand?”
“Yes. It’s a high-end wine called an Auslese. The Ehrlich region covers the entire eastern shore of Lake Wasu,” Elsa explained.
Because this sweet wine was delightful even without any snacks to accompany it, it served as an excellent nightcap. Jin and Elsa each poured themselves a glass.
“It’s very smooth,” Jin remarked.
“Mm. Many white wines are sweet, which makes them easy to drink.”
Elsa went on to explain that while many people expected red wine to be sweet, most varieties were actually dry. Furthermore, because the red color came from the grape skins, it had a distinct astringency. Thus, she concluded, it wasn’t particularly suited for beginners.
“I see.”
Back when Jin lived in modern Japan, he had never spent his own money on alcohol, so he knew next to nothing about such connoisseurship. Elsa, on the other hand, was quite knowledgeable on the subject thanks to the influence of the wine-loving Reinhard.
Aside from Jin and Elsa, the only ones in the mansion were Butler D, Reiko, and Edgar. It was a peaceful, quiet evening.
Jin set his wine glass down on the table and spoke softly. “...You know, it’s finally starting to feel real.”
“What is?”
“The fact that you’ve actually become my wife, Elsa.”
“Ah... ugh...”
The flush in Jin’s face didn’t seem to be entirely due to the alcohol. Since the wine was so palatable, he had been drinking at a fairly brisk pace.
“Jin-nii... are you drunk?” Elsa asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“I might be.”
Jin was well aware that he was feeling the effects.
“If you drink too much, you’ll have a headache tomorrow.”
“...Then I’ll just have you cure it for me, Elsa.”
“Eh?”
“What? You won’t help me?”
“I—I mean, I’ll cure it, but...”
“Then it’s fine, isn’t it?”
“...Okay.”
It was a trivial exchange, but it held a sense of deep, certain connection.
After a few more glasses of wine, the two of them headed to the bedroom together. They surely both had wonderful dreams that night.
＊ ＊ ＊
“Father, Elsa-sama, please wake up.”
Jin and Elsa were roused by Reiko’s voice.
“...Ah, morning already?” Jin muttered, rubbing his eyes.
“It is actually closer to noon than morning,” Reiko replied.
“Wait, is it really that late?”
“Yes. It will be 10:00 AM shortly.”
“...We really overslept.”
“I do wonder if staying up quite so late was wise...” Reiko found herself beginning to nag Jin, but she immediately lowered her head in apology. “...Forgive me. I was overstepping my bounds.”
Jin reached out and patted Reiko’s head. “Reiko, please say whatever’s on your mind. It makes me happy when you do.”
“Yes, Father,” Reiko smiled happily, then added, “...Um, I believe you should be directing those kinds of words toward Elsa-sama instead.”
“Eh?”
Prompted by Reiko, Jin looked to his side. He found that Elsa had also woken up and was currently staring at him with a slight pout.
“...”
“Sorry, sorry.”
Jin suddenly pulled Elsa into a firm hug.
“...!”
Elsa stiffened in surprise for a moment, but she quickly relaxed and leaned into him. Jin whispered something into her ear.
A soft blush colored Elsa’s cheeks as she nodded. Jin gently released his hold on her.
“Let’s take a shower and then get some food.”
Jin climbed out of bed and stretched. Given the time, their meal would end up being a combination of breakfast and lunch.
“...Mm.”
Elsa, her face still a bit red, gave a small nod.
The two of them changed and left the bedroom with Reiko following. Outside the door, Edgar was waiting with towels in hand.
＊ ＊ ＊
“Now then, what should we do today?”
Having finished their late breakfast—or perhaps early lunch—Jin and Elsa considered their schedule. Since it was already past 11:00 AM, they only had half a day left.
“Let’s just take it easy, like you said yesterday,” Elsa suggested with a gentle smile.
“That sounds like a plan.”
There was no rule saying they had to be productive. Jin decided to take the suggestion literally.
“...I guess my restless nature just won’t let me be,” Jin muttered to himself.
“That reminds me, do you need to visit your family home?”
Elsa’s family home was located on the opposite shore of Lake Tosmo from the Shouro Empire's capital, Loizart. If they wanted to go, they could be there in an instant aboard Konron 3.
“No, not yet. I think we should go after all the formal receptions are finished.”
Elsa explained that, for now, she wanted to prioritize their roles in public spaces.
“Besides,” she continued. “My home is wherever Jin-nii is now.”
“...I see. Thank you.”
Jin felt compelled to offer his thanks in response to that declaration.
Ultimately, the two of them spent the entire day without ever setting foot outside the mansion in Loizart.