The Storm Was About to Break

"You're the most beautiful Piast girl I've ever seen."

"There are stars in your eyes."

"My father is a nobleman of the Kingdom of Gaul."

"Could you teach me Piast?"

"Gaulish women are greedy and like to lie. I hate liars."

"I trust you completely. Don't you believe me?"

The visiting young woman held the repaired model airplane in her hands, absently fiddling with its propeller. Her face was as red as a ripe cherry, and her eyes had gone hazy.

Although Bellberk and Frederick had been bickering for years, most of it had been nothing more than stubborn words. She had never before wanted to strangle Frederick as badly as she did now and rid the world of a menace.

After dinner, Frederick walked the young woman home and then returned. He found the servants who worked their way through school gathered in the lounge off the foyer, whispering among themselves, so he went over and asked, "What's the latest gossip?"

One by one, the servants covered their mouths and giggled.

Someone said, "The lady knight is angry. She won't calm down unless you give her a proper apology."

Another said, "If you can't make it up to her, her bedroom door will be locked tonight."

Frederick said solemnly, "That's fine. Just make sure your doors aren't locked."

After everyone had laughed and joked around, Frederick went to Bellberk's room.

Whether the door was locked or not made no difference, so it wasn't locked.

Bellberk sat at her vanity in her nightclothes, brushing her hair. She had been brushing her shoulder-length hair for a long time, and her lips were growing more and more pouty.

Frederick pulled up a chair and sat beside her, watching her with a smile without saying a word.

After fifteen minutes, Bellberk couldn't