The dinner party had passed peacefully, and we moved to a separate room.
The music room inside the Royal Palace. In the back of the room a grand piano is installed, thereās also a stage.
On the wall in the back a painting with a motive of a famous opera was painted on a grand scale.
Next to this perfectly soundproofed room musical instruments are stored, in ordinary times their management is entrusted to the leader of the Royal Court Orchestra, whoās also the conductor.
In front of the stage seats for a number of people had already been prepared, weāre eagerly waiting for the appearance of the singer.
āI and Lidi will sit hereā
The seat Freed presented was in the best location in front of the middle of the stage.
Since itās a seat that naturally should be presented to the King and Queen, I looked up at Freed.
āHere?ā
āRight. This event is a request from the singer to Esteemed Father under the pretense of a reward. Since he wishes for me and Lidi to hear the song, itās Esteemed Fatherās consideration to offer us the best seatsā
āI, I seeā
If the King says so, I have no right to refuse.
I nervously sat on the special seat.
A splendidly comfortable two-person coach made of wood painted gold with an embroidered velvet cover.
When everybody took a seat, snacks and drinks were brought to side tables.
My heart beats fast thinking that I can at last meet the singer.
What sort of person is he? Because I reincarnated I look like a normal person of this world, but based on what Iāve heard it might be different for him.
I wonder what kind of person is the first Japanese Iāll meet in a long time, I fixed my eyes filled with anticipation at the entrance.
Freed gazed at such me with a wry smile.
āLidi, youāre too excitedā
āEh, itās because Iām looking forward to itā
āYouāre like a child⦠Cute. It makes me want to eat youā
My held-out hand was grasped. Being stared at with passionate eyes, I lost my cool from embarrassment.
āI, idiot. What are you saying in such a placeā
I softly muttered to hide my embarrassment, but Freed declared, without changing his attitude in the slightest.
āThe location doesnāt matter. No matter where I am, if Lidi is cute Iāll say that? Because I love youā
āā¦. I, IĀ s e eā
Somebody, please help. Iām happy, but thereās a little, no, quite embarrassing person here.
When I hung my head, Freed whispered into my ear.
āYou turned red, cute. Iāll love you the whole night todayā
āIdiot⦠Let me sleep properlyā
Iām okay doing it, but I dislike lacking sleep.
Even though I had succeeded in reducing the number of times through my efforts, I feel like the amount of times has been increasing recently. Itās because Iām too indulgent, still, I hate going to sleep before dawn.
āBecause, Lidi is so cute I canāt help itā
ā⦠At least finish when the day changesā
āItāll be difficult, but Iāll tryā
āJeezā¦ā
āFufu⦠Still, I love Lidi, who doesnāt say she canāt anymore, very muchā
āHeyā¦!ā
As soon as he pressed lips against my ear with a smooch, Freed separated.
I tried scowling at him, but it had zero effect.
He looked to be cheerfully smiling.
When I realized he would only be pleased by whatever I say now, I gave up.
I took a glass placed next to tea in my hand. Itās filled with my recently favorite lemon water.
It seems it was expressly prepared knowing I like it.
While I was relieved by the refreshing taste, I grasped that a royal guard opened the door and a young man confidently walked inside the music room.
When I raised my face now that heād finally come ā my eyes met his.
āāāāā!ā
The surprise was so much I couldnāt get my voice out.
My hand that was still holding the glass trembled.
I could only watch him with my eyes wide open.
āLidi? Whatās the matter, Lidiā
I couldnāt reply to Freed.
I could do nothing but be dumbfounded.
Who entered was an adult man who looked to be in the latter half of his twenties.
Heās tall⦠Whatās he is wearing is a three-button single-breasted suit.
Black hair and black-rimmed glasses.
Not many people know, but the eyes looking here that seem black are as a matter of fact dark brown.
The finely refined looks with a straight nose are still in my memory.
No, heās a few years older than when I last saw him which gives him a stoic appeal, it looks like his manliness considerably increased from before.
While I was still staring at him, rendered speechless by the situation, his eyebrows knit a little and he nimby removed his gaze.
He went up the stage, and bowed with neat movements.
āI am glad to meet you. Your Highness the Crown Prince and Princess Consort. I am a travelling singer called Sion. I am deeply grateful for Your Majesties for granting my selfish request to present my song to them todayā
āāāā Sion.
As soon as I heard that name, I received a shock as if my head was hit with a blunt weapon.
Having what I didnāt want to believe thrust at me, I continued staring at him, unable to take my eyes off.
Like that, I recalled when I caught sight of his figure at the end of that date.
At that time I considered it an accidental resemblance, convinced itās my mind playing tricks on me.
But looking at him like this, I canāt think of him as another person.
Even the voice is the same as in my memories.
A slightly low, calm voice thatās easy to listen to.
I remember that voice.
After all, itās him, huh.
Heās slightly older than when I knew him, but itās still him.
Sionā¦
Nanaoogi Shion⦠senpai.
My first love who I had been going out with in my previous life. Senpai at the same university.
The person I had spent a year and a half with.
The person who hadnāt said he loves me even once despite that.
The person who hadnāt loved me until the end.
Unable to stand it I broke up with him, however I have no doubt⦠At that time, he was the person I loved the most.
Authorās note
Thank you very much.
I came up with the plot in November, unable to endure I released a short story in March (in my mind I called it Lidiās Past Arc). Then after half a year of efforts, he finally appeared.
I believe those who read it have long realized, but Sion is the same person as Shion who appeared in āFirst Love Ć First Loveā. [TN: translated ]
Ah, just in case. There wonāt be a love triangle in this story.
Thereās nobody who can force their way between those love birds this lateā¦
The color illustration corresponding to this chapter.