Just by seeing her dark blue hair, reminiscent of the night sky, I knew it was her. One of my companions, the Empire’s Fifth Imperial Princess, Shi-en.
Rarely, another woman accompanied the princess instead of Lady Airen.
It was a familiar face to me, so I waved enthusiastically.
“Your Highness, Emma!”
Emma merely waved back with her usual awkward smile.
It was necessary for her to hide our relationship due to our status difference. In contrast, the princess approached with a brisk stride, eagerly expressing her delight.
“Finally, I get to see you, Sir Ian! Have you been well? I heard you’ve been active in the Holy Kingdom. Indeed, Sir Ian… You are the only one who could be my knight!”
The sight of the princess, with her sparkling eyes and hands clasped together, was akin to that of a girl meeting her admired actor.
It left me with a perplexed smile.
After all, to think I was the only one who could become her knight.
If Lady Airen ever heard this, she would surely be in tears.
However, not wanting to ruin the princess’s joyful mood after so long, I warmly asked after her well-being.
“Have you been well, Your Highness?”
“Thanks to you, Sir Ian! And also…”
At that moment, the princess’s gaze subtly shifted behind her.
There stood Emma, maintaining a polite posture. From the cold sweat trickling down, it seemed she still felt awkward around the princess.
After all, it was a relationship between royalty and commoner.
If Emma was at ease, that would have been more surprising.
“Emma-senpai has helped me a lot too!”
“Is that Emma?”
I could only respond in a bewildered tone.
Emma had always kept her distance from nobility. The thought of her having associated with the princess was not easy to picture.
The mystery was resolved by Emma.
Stepping closer to me, she finally spoke.
“The princess has taken good care of me.”
Only then did I let out a soft exclamation of realization.
It seemed that even during my absence, the princess had looked out for Emma. I had worried that Emma might suffer from unnecessary jealousy, and I was grateful that the princess had intervened.
Because Emma was one of the precious women in my life.
Feeling unnecessarily guilty, I bowed my head in gratitude to the princess.
“Thank you, Your Highness. I was worried since Emma tends to skip meals…”
“W-Who said that?! Seriously, you’re saying weird things.”
Emma fanned herself, chiding me, while the princess nodded in agreement.
It seemed the princess had witnessed Emma’s mushroom-centric diet.
Still, Emma was unable to shake off her expression of grievance.
“It’s, it’s really fine… mushrooms…”
Of course, no one here would listen to the murmurs of a commoner’s lament.
Everyone agreed that Emma’s diet needed improvement.
Instead, I fell into another worry.
How should I repay this kindness?
Emma’s favor was akin to a favor bestowed upon me. Naturally, I should respond with gratitude.
It was around this time that the princess asked.
“By the way, Sir Ian! Have you found a partner to dance with at the Martial Arts Festival?”
She cast quick glances at me, her question hanging in the air.
I looked at the princess with confused eyes. It seemed she needed to elaborate, but she couldn’t maintain my gaze, perhaps too nervous.
She merely swallowed and stared at the ground shyly.
It was then that Emma stepped in to mediate.
“To explain, Your Highness is also looking for a partner to dance with at the Martial Arts Festival.”
“…Really?”
Still, the expression of confusion on my face didn’t fade.
The princess was searching for a partner for the festival?
It wouldn’t be strange for various noblemen to line up for that chance. What man would refuse the honor of accompanying a princess, distinguished not only by her status but also by her beauty?
Of course, Emma wasn’t ignorant of this fact either.
With gentle words, she provided further explanation.
“It’s that age where rumors about romantic liaisons matter, right? Also, to partner at the festival, it helps if the ranks match… That’s why I’m hoping you could match her with someone relatively free from rumors.”
Only then did I nod in understanding.
It made sense.
At that moment, the rumors about the princess and me were shaking the entire continent. Even if we were to dance at the renowned ‘Martial Arts Festival,’ there would be little doubt about our relationship.
At most, the gossip would be about the Empire’s royal family targeting me.
That was a risk I was willing to take.
After all, neither the Virgin Saint nor Senior Elsi could partner with me.
I was about to readily accept the princess’s proposal.
If not for the cold feel of a hand grabbing mine.
It was Ceria’s hand.
“…Senpai?”
The junior wore a smiling face, but I knew.
This was a subtle warning.
Ceria had come with orders from her family to claim me “by any means necessary.” I feared she might even touch a princess.
But who knew?
After all, it was Ceria.
If Ceria provoked the princess, disaster was guaranteed.
Not just with Ceria, but also with the princess and Senior Delphine caught up in a major incident.
I felt a cold bead of sweat trickle down my back.
What should I do?
While I was in a daze.
“Yuridina-senpai?”
At her quiet call, Ceria’s blue eyes slowly turned.
Her look at the princess was icily cold. If I continued to meddle, she would strike without hesitation.
Yet, the princess showed no signs of backing down.
Instead, she smiled as if expecting this reaction.
Finally, something in the princess’s hand was revealed as she rummaged through her belongings.
“…Ta-da!”
It was a doll modeled after me.
To me, it seemed an unremarkable object. More importantly, if it were a doll resembling me, Ceria must already have dozens of them.
Was I going to have to step in after all?
Letting out a sigh, I turned my gaze, only to witness a surprising scene.
“Ah, ahh…!”
Ceria’s eyes widened in shock.
She was so surprised that she covered her mouth with both hands. The trembling gaze betrayed her incredulity.
What in the world was happening?
But no one was there to resolve my confusion.
The princess merely wore a smug grin.
“Of course, Yuridina-senpai… You recognize this rare limited edition at first glance!”
“H-How much is it?!”
Ceria asked, her voice frantic.
Her trembling hands fished around in her pocket, reminiscent of a drug addict who had just discovered a rare find.
She was more than ready to pay whatever it would cost.
“Oh, to think there’s still one left… This is a piece made to commemorate the initial success of the Return Festival! I heard that only three exist because it was a pilot item…”
“Hehe, that’s right. This item is indeed one of the three limited editions.”
With the princess’s subtle coaxing, Ceria became more restless.
Just when she could no longer bear it, and was about to pull out her whole pouch of gold coins.
“…Are you planning to pair with Sir Ian at the Martial Arts Festival?”
Ceria froze, her movements halting.
Like a malfunctioning automaton.
“If it’s about gold coins, I have more than enough. There is one condition I’d like to impose… Uh, never mind.”
“Ah, um… uh…”
With each word from the princess, sweat began to bead on Ceria’s forehead.
It was a sight I had never seen, even before the retinue of the Neutral God.
“Ceria-senpai is probably aiming for that ‘superstition,’ right? They say that couples paired at the Martial Arts Festival end up progressing their relationship afterward… Hehe, although it’s just a superstition. This doll is not just a physical item but eternal.”
“Ugh, ah, ughhh…!”
By now, Ceria’s pupils spun in circles, unable to find focus.
It signaled that her brain had overheated. I could only chuckle in disbelief.
What was the value of that doll?
But to Ceria, a doll resembling me seemed to hold unimaginable worth.
“…please.”
“What?”
Feigning ignorance, the princess tilted her head.
Ceria’s body trembled. Despite her embarrassed expression, the moment had passed.
Ultimately, Ceria had to raise her voice, filled with unshed tears.
“Please! I-I’ll give my spot at the Martial Arts Festival!”
After that, everything moved swiftly.
The princess handed over the doll with a satisfied smile, and Ceria finally hugged the doll to her chest as if relieved.
“What a relief… I was just one short.”
She looked so delighted that tears welled in the corners of her eyes.
I shook my head and turned my gaze to Emma. This was about the limit of someone who could empathize with my feelings.
Emma had already moved closer to the princess and was whispering.
“U-Um, Your Highness? Is there any more of those dolls left?”
Ah, I see.
I decided to give up on my thoughts at this point.
Then came the night of the Martial Arts Festival.
The princess, arriving at the banquet hall with an excited expression, soon faced an unexpected turn of events.
A girl with black hair and golden eyes caught her attention.
The moment she saw the girl, the princess’s complexion turned pale. After the girl whispered a few words in her ear, the princess visibly deflated, shoulders slumping in dismay.
I didn’t know what had happened but felt a surge of pity.
However, my attention was hardly on the princess.
Instead, all my focus was on the girl gliding toward me gracefully. As she approached, she gracefully held her skirt with both hands and curtsied.
“Then, shall we dance? My magnificent knight.”
I remained silent for a moment.
What should I say? After a long pause, I gripped the hilt of my sword at my waist.
“Are you out of your mind? Where do you think you are, daring to…!”
Responding with a rough threat, the girl merely chuckled.
No one else noticed.
But I knew the truth. I knew this girl’s true identity.
“Don’t be like that, big brother…”
Her golden eyes burned bright like a solitary flame in the void.
It was an intense gaze that seemed to absorb all the light in the world.
“Today is the day when loving couples pair up, isn’t it?”
An uninvited guest had arrived on this sacred night.
Her name was ‘Greed.’
