The Martial Arts Tournament was the next day, and I had an unexpected visitor while I was enjoying a game of chess with Akane.
Akane can’t touch things, so I’m moving the pieces for both of us, alternating turns based on Akane’s instructions.
“Big brother, Queen to G4!”
“Alright. …Huh? Wait a minute, don’t I hear a knock?”
The knock was quite modest.
If Akane hadn’t been so lively, I might have missed it.
I stand up and open the door, checking to see who it is.
“Yes, yes, who is i…!?”
“Big brother, who is it?”
“The real Queen… no, she’s still a Princess, I guess. Your Highness, what brings you here?”
It was none other than the Princess.
She’s standing in front of the door with her usual expressionless face.
I don’t see Kyoka, her guard, anywhere, though…?
“…Kati, take a walk… with me…”
After meeting a few times, the Princess started calling me by my nickname.
The same way Grandpa and Rosa do.
But, a walk?
“What’s the reason?”
“…Every day, consultations with Grandfather and the intelligence department… My legs and lower back, are stiff…”
So, basically, her legs hurt from sitting so much.
That’s fine, but…
“Um, where’s Kyoka-san?”
“…Kyoka, is noisy… Don’t go there, this is no good… I can’t relax at all… I shook her off…”
…Kyoka-san is a worrywart, or maybe overly sensitive, or something.
It certainly feels like she and the Princess aren’t really on the same wavelength.
I’m sure Kyoka is desperately trying to fulfill her duties as a guard, but she’s slightly off the mark.
“Well then, shall we go? What about you, Akane?”
“I’ll go with you!”
“…Mm… Akane too… The three of us, let’s go.”
Well, our range of movement is limited to the castle.
Since the Martial Arts Tournament isn’t over yet, I haven’t been given permission to go outside the castle.
But it’s plenty big enough for a walk, so there shouldn’t be any problem staying inside.
We walk leisurely, centering on the courtyard.
The garden is meticulously landscaped and quite impressive.
Unlike a Japanese garden, the flowers are planted in neatly arranged flower beds, divided into blocks.
Seasonal flowers are also blooming, but… I can only recognize lavender.
(I don’t know much about flowers, but they’re pretty!)
Akane, who is referencing my knowledge, naturally has similar impressions.
…Yeah, I’m sorry…
If you’re interested, maybe I’ll buy a plant encyclopedia later.
By the way, it’s summer now.
My impression is that there are many brightly colored flowers, matching the season.
The sunlight is strong, so the Princess is using a parasol.
“Ah… Brother…”
Following the Princess’s murmur, I see a young man carrying a sword, along with a person who appears to be his attendant, walking towards us.
He has the same silver hair and beautiful looks as the Princess, but unlike the dazed Princess, he seems to have a somewhat stern expression.
He’s the First Prince, the Princess’s brother.
I believe his name is Edgar Garcia.
He’s four years older than the Princess, twenty years old, I think.
He’s her political rival, so to speak, vying for the throne.
He sees us, but doesn’t avoid us, and approaches calmly.
“Lily. Is that the rumored magic swordsman?”
“…”
Lily, the Princess, doesn’t answer his somewhat haughty tone.
They’re siblings, but also enemies, so it’s not surprising that they’re not close.
She lowers her face and trembles.
I sense something unusual from the Princess.
(What’s wrong, Lily-chan?)
Akane is also concerned.
Edgar speaks again.
“If you stay silent… how am I supposed to understand?!”
“Princess!”
Edgar draws the sword he was carrying and slashes at the Princess.
Clang!, an inappropriate sound echoes in the peaceful courtyard.
In the nick of time, I blocked Edgar’s slash with the main-gauche I was wearing.
“What do you think you’re doing!”
“Shut up, stay out of this! Lily, why is it always you…!”
“You mustn’t, Edgar-sama! Causing a disturbance here—”
The brown-haired attendant tries to stop him.
Edgar’s eyes were bloodshot, and his shoulders were heaving, but he eventually sheathed his sword.
“…Let’s go, Reed.”
He turns his back and leaves.
The boy called Reed, the attendant, bows deeply, apologizing for his master’s rudeness, and then follows after him.
…What on earth was that?
“Princess, are you alright?”
The Princess’s trembling had stopped.
But, instead of her usual blank, vague expression, her face was like a Noh mask—.
I feel a painfulness, as if she’s forcibly suppressing her emotions.
“…Kati… I’m going back…”
The Princess turns her back.
There’s no strength in her steps.
(Big brother.)
(Yeah, I know.)
I can’t let her go back like this.
It’s best not to leave her alone.
“Princess! Please wait!”
“…”
The Princess doesn’t turn around.
She tries to leave the courtyard.
“Princess!”
I grab her shoulder and forcibly turn her to face me.
The Princess raises her eyebrows slightly.
“…What?”
“Princess, please wait in the room I’m borrowing! If you run away…”
“…If I run away…?”
“…I’ll curse you. I’ll resent you. And then I’ll bring you a mountain of green peppers, which you hate.”
“…U-understood… I just have to wait in the room, right…?”
“Yes! …Someone, who could escort the Princess—Ah!”
I see a familiar large man walking down the hallway.
He must be returning from training. In any case, it’s perfect timing.
“Lyall-san! Lyall-san!”
“Hm? What is it, Katia? If you’re free, how about a mock battle with me—”
“I’m not free! Um, could you escort the Princess to the room I’m borrowing?”
“Huh? I don’t mind, but—Hey, wait!”
After something like that.
No matter how safe the castle is, I need someone to stay by her side. I left Lyall-san and moved quickly down the corridor.
(Big brother, what are you going to do?)
(I’m going with the Fina-san theory.)
(What’s that?)
(She says that when you’re tired or depressed, sweets are good. It simply relaxes you, and then maybe the Princess will talk to me, right?)
(I see. What are you going to make?)
(I haven’t decided yet. For now, I’ll just jump into the kitchen and figure it out.)
Ah, there’s a guard with a spear. It is a good time to ask.
“Um, where was the kitchen again?”
“Ah, Katia-san. The kitchen is at the end of this corridor, turn right at the corner, and then left at the end. There’s a sign.”
“Thank you!”
After the training, the attitude of the soldiers in the castle softened considerably.
They answer simple questions immediately, and they even greet me first.
Now, I honestly think it was a good thing to do.
…I’ve arrived at the kitchen.
“Huh? What do you want—Hey, it’s Katia-san. What’s wrong?”
“Sue-san, can I borrow the kitchen for a bit?”
The kitchen is run by a female dwarf.
Her name is Sue-san, and since we’re already acquainted, it should be fine if I explain the situation.
The reason I didn’t know where the kitchen was is because Spike-san introduced Sue-san to us during dinner on the first day.
“I don’t mind, but what happened?”
“Actually—”
I didn’t mention Edgar, but explained that I wanted to make something for the Princess, who was feeling down.
Sue-san nods along.
“Food is the source of energy. You’re not wrong! Use it as you like.”
“Thank you!”
Now, I’ve been given permission, so what should I make?
I have ice made with water magic, so I could make ice cream…
“If you want to soothe her feelings, I think something warm would be better.”
Sue-san gave me some advice when she saw the ice.
Hmm, I guess you’re right.
Besides, I can’t keep the busy Princess waiting too long, so something sweet that can be made quickly…
I’ll go with that.