Until not too long ago, I had been a recluse in the academy. As of the present, I had to negotiate with the aristocrats of Ninorsk for funding.

Of course, I did believe I’d be able to bring someone as an assistant. For example, Balakirev who was helping to manage the territory.

Nevertheless, negotiations must be conducted between people of the same status.

Only I—his fiancée, could represent the Margrave of Arkhangelsk.

“Will I be able to do this?”

I asked Alex-sama briefly.

I couldn’t do anything on my own. I was but a timid duke’s daughter.

Even so, could I manage a negotiation with Ninorks all by myself?

I asked Alex-sama.

My eyes must had been riddled with anxiety.

However, Alex-sama stared straight at me without hesitation.

“If it’s Alisa, I’m sure you can do it. I apologize at my lack of help, but I’m sure that you’ll be able to pull it off.”

“B, but, I… if Alex-sama is there, I’ll be able to act with courage even if I am scared. Even in a desperate situation, I can fight with hope. But, without Alex-sama, I’m just a weak girl who isn’t needed by anyone…”

“You are mistaken.”

Alex-sama kindly said that. Then, he put his hand on top of my head.

He thus ruffled my hair.

I was embarrassed and looked up  at him. Alex-sama tenderly stared at me with his blue eyes.

“Felix, Elena, Anastasia, Balekirev, the mayor, and everyone else—they trust you.”

“T, that’s because of Alex-sama…”

“That’s not the case. Elena doesn’t trust me just because Alisa is with me. The same should apply for everyone, don’t you think?”

He has a point…

When I couldn’t answer, Alex-sama smiled as if troubled.

“Does Alisa trust me?”

“Of course, in this world, I trust you the most!”

“T, thank you…”

Alex-sama blushed slightly. My answer to his own question seemed to have him bashful. Honestly, I was embarrassed by my own reply, too…

As if to regain his senses, Alex-sama cleared his throat. Regardless, his face remained red.

“Alisa trusts me. Then, if I were to say that I believe in Alisa, would you be willing to believe in yourself?”

“But…”

“I want Alisa, the one I believe in, to believe in herself.”

Alex-sama said that as he stared straight at me.

I trusted Alex-sama. Alex-sama also trusted me.

Everyone—Felix and Elena—was the same.

In order to stay with everyone, to stay with Alex-sama, I had to solve the territory’s debt problem.

I was the only one who could do it.

Believe in myself was hard to do, yet this was something that I had to do.

That was the only thing I could do for Alex-sama and everyone else. There was no other choice but to negotiate for funding in Ninorsk.

I nodded to Alex-sama.

“…I’ll go to Ninorsk.”

“Thank you, Alisa.”

“…But, I want you to cast a spell on me so that I can believe in myself.”

“…A spell?”

“…P, please hug me.”

After whispering that, my cheeks began to burn.

Alex-sama was astonished. As he lowered his face, it turned into a deeper shade of red.

I added in a hurry—

“—Forgive me, I said something strange!”

“No, there’s nothing strange about that…”

As if he had come to a dicision, Alex-sama put his hands on my shoulders.

When I looked up, I found Alex-sama’s handsome face right before mine.

Then, Alex-sama embraced me tightly.

“If it’s only this much, I’ll do it as much as you want. I fully regret that this is the only thing I can do for Alisa…”

“Alex-sama…”

I could feel Alex-sama’s warmth.

Back in the academy, I’d have never imagined that be hugging like that.

However, said warm sensation was now my happiness.

I alone had to fight for said happiness.

Within his embrace, I whispered to Alex-sama.

“Yes… I will make sure that the negotiations are successful. I’ll do my best to protect our territory.”

---

***T/N: I salute Alex-sama’s supportiveness. I thought he gonna prevent her from going because she’s a fair maiden.

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