SWDnovel #292 - This time there is really an affair!
#292 - This time there is really an affair!
"Alright, let's go. Listen up, all of you. I'll handle Princess Iris, so just focus on eating and nodding. I'll explain everything. Got it? Remember? Say something!"
"Didn't you say we shouldn't talk?"
"You better not say anything!"
Darkness said sternly.
Yunyun pouted.
Even though the letter said she wanted to meet her, she's taking charge like this.
Oh well, it's because she's a noble.
She pushed open the door.
Behind the door was a spacious banquet hall with a moderately high-class atmosphere, but not too extravagant. The candles inside were lit, maintaining a good level of brightness. And several servants were standing around the table, silently waiting.
In this room, carpeted in a large red carpet, was a large dining table filled with all sorts of luxurious dishes.
And at the other end of the table.
Sat a girl wearing a pure white dress, just like Darkness, Aqua, and Kazuma Sato.
The girl's appearance was the epitome of a princess.
Golden, medium-length hair, clear blue eyes.
She exuded a noble air, yet gave off a delicate impression. Without a doubt, she was a beautiful girl of the classic type.
Her lively blue eyes lit up noticeably when she saw Yunyun, and she subconsciously wanted to get up but stopped herself. However, the girl kept staring at Yunyun, as if trying to get her attention.
However, Yunyun remained silent.
Eyes looking at her nose, nose looking at her heart.
Her actions were like that of a stranger, causing the girl's bright eyes to become dim, resembling a small, abandoned animal, making one feel sorry for her.
I'm sorry, Iris.
Indeed, at this moment, I should jump up and point at her, shouting, "Ah, you're that person from this morning!" like in some comedy anime, creating a memorable scene.
Yunyun also knew that Iris was looking forward to that kind of reunion, or even just a simple look of surprise, but the current situation was not very appropriate.
Because—
Standing on either side of Iris… no, to be precise, on her right side, was a beautiful blonde woman in a knight's uniform, scrutinizing them with a judging gaze. If there was anything out of the ordinary, they might be arrested on the spot for treason.
As for the beautiful woman on the left, she was wearing a black dress and didn't stand out much.
Darkness led the way.
The group slowly walked up to the three of them.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Princess Iris. These are my friends and fellow adventurers, Yunyun and her group. Alright, you three, this is Princess Iris, the First Princess of the nation. Greet Her Highness, and don't be rude."
Saying that, she stepped aside.
Aqua took a step forward first. She gently lifted her skirt and bowed with perfect etiquette and movement. Seeing her like this, not only Kazuma Sato, but even Darkness was stunned.
Could it be that yesterday's special training was effective?
"I am Aqua, a member serving as an Archpriest. I look forward to working with you in the future… Now, please allow me to perform a talent as a greeting."
"Wait a minute!"
Darkness grabbed Aqua's hand, who was about to perform, and forcefully pulled her aside.
"E-Excuse me, Princess Iris. I have something to discuss with my companions…"
"Don't get in my way, Darkness!"
Aqua stubbornly tugged at her braid.
Megumin also took the opportunity to pull a cloak out from under her skirt, and then forced Yunyun to do a unique self-introduction with her. The two's abrupt and funny actions made people couldn't help but smile.
Then she was grabbed by the head and taken away by Darkness, who had recovered.
Yunyun sighed and rubbed her forehead.
It's not always a good thing when your companions are too energetic.
So, under the anxious gazes of Kazuma Sato and Darkness, Yunyun also bowed with extremely elegant movements, causing the two to be slightly surprised.
"Nice to meet you, Princess Iris…"
"Iris! It's Princess Iris!"
Yunyun's greeting was interrupted. The blonde beauty's eyes showed disgust, and she gripped her sword, looking somewhat angry.
"To actually mispronounce the Princess's name…"
"I-I'm sorry! My companion accidentally had a slip of the tongue!"
Darkness covered Yunyun's mouth.
Good!
A complete and utter failure!
Even Yunyun, who they had placed their hopes on, had failed. Kazuma Sato had completely lost hope, but just as he was about to salvage the situation with a self-introduction—
The Princess leaned close to the blonde beauty's ear and spoke quietly.
Huh?
For some reason, the Princess had a smile on her face, and she seemed to be in a good mood?
Kazuma Sato subconsciously looked at Yunyun, only to find his companion winking at the Princess above, looking like she was sending flirtatious glances.
"—There's something going on!"
He blurted out involuntarily, then quickly covered his mouth.
He seemed to have discovered something terrible.
He couldn't make a fuss, in case he was killed by the royal family for "knowing too much"… At the same time, he looked back at Megumin and Yunyun, only to feel that the two of them were wearing green hats.
While Kazuma Sato was having a mental breakdown, the blonde beauty also finished listening to the Princess's whispers.
She looked at the crowd and said arrogantly; "That's why I said adventurers are low-class beings… You bold commoner, to actually mispronounce the royal family's name, you should be executed according to common sense, but considering that this is your first offense, I won't punish you. Hurry up and finish your greetings and start telling your adventure stories… Her Highness said so."
Kazuma Sato took a deep breath and raised his right hand.
"Switch people."
"Princess Iris, I apologize for asking you to wait a moment! It seems that my companion is a little too excited because she is too nervous, I will communicate with him a little!"
Darkness dragged him into a corner to scold him.
Kazuma Sato's fantasy of the princess should be that of a little girl who wants to go out and play, but those words just now shattered it, right?
But in reality, Iris is not the kind of princess who looks down on people, but someone is hindering her actions and words.
"What, that look."
"It's nothing."
The person Yunyun was looking at was the blonde beauty, it was all the other party's fault for protecting Iris too well, so that the shy princess didn't have a chance to express her feelings, and didn't even dare to say her own demands.
"That's right!"
She clapped her hands.
"As a first meeting gift for Iris… cough cough, Princess Iris, please accept this."
Yunyun took out a book from her arms.
"Shock! The Demon King's army invades, the Crimson Demons are in crisis, and the only genius in a thousand years uses unparalleled power to save his homeland and gain a harem!"
"You bastard…!"
The blonde beauty's expression changed drastically after seeing the name of the book, and she couldn't help but draw her sword.
"How dare you give such messy books to the Princess, what are your intentions!"
"It's just that the name is very powerful, but the content is very ordinary hero tale."
"What?"
"Just like a typical cliched light novel, you can guess the general content just by looking at the name of the book, and there is nothing worth reading. But… the content of this book is about my experience, I think the Princess should be very interested."
"The Princess would not be interested in a commoner like you—"
"Claire."
The blonde beauty… no, the princess's guard named Claire, was stopped by a somewhat soft but very firm voice.
It was the Princess.
"Bring the book over."
"Princess… I understand."
Claire reluctantly took the book and handed it to Iris.
How surprising, I thought she would stop it.
I didn't expect her to listen obediently.
And Kazuma Sato and the others were even more surprised, after all, in his opinion, the Princess disdained direct communication with the lower-level people, and didn't even want people to hear her voice, so she would hand it over to the guard named Claire to convey it. But this was the first time they had heard the Princess's voice, and it was indeed very soft.
The scum's expression gradually became disgusting, and Darkness almost crushed his head in anger.
Iris, who received the hero tale, had a happy smile on her face, she hugged it cherishly, and didn't let go even when Claire said she would help her put it away.
Yunyun took the opportunity to show a provocative smile of winning, which made Claire clench her fists angrily.
On the other side, Aqua also made a sand painting and gave it to Iris as a greeting gift, and received a gem as a reward.
Afterwards, Darkness, who was lowering her head and seemed very embarrassed, sat down in the seat on the right side of the Princess with a flushed face; next to her were Kazuma Sato and Aqua.
And Iris beckoned to Yunyun, signaling him to sit in the seat on her left. The impatient look made Claire very jealous.
At first, Yunyun thought she liked girls, but now it seems that she only likes Iris, and Iris just happens to be a girl.
Without hesitation.
He strode to the left side of the table and sat down.
Megumin and Yunyun, who were also very jealous, also sat down, not wanting to be outdone, sitting next to Yunyun.
Iris wanted to open her mouth, but she opened her mouth as if she had thought of something, and whispered in Claire's ear, but her eyes kept falling on Yunyun without leaving.
"Ugh—"
Megumin gritted her teeth.
The female guard Claire also gritted her teeth, hummed unwillingly, and said: "You are the person that the Magic Sword Hero Mitsurugi once mentioned, right? Let me hear your story. Her Highness said so… And even Mitsurugi-sama respects you, I would also like to hear your story."
She changed her displeasure and was somewhat expectant.
Kyouya Mitsurugi?
It's been a long time since I heard rumors about him.
That guy disappeared after buying expensive skill point potions on credit from me a long time ago. However, the money for the skill point potions was all paid back in the second month, and he would buy a bottle of skill point potions almost every month.
Presumably his strength is already different from the past, right?
While thinking, Yunyun also sorted out his thoughts, and under the expectant gaze of Iris and Claire, he began to tell their experiences.
Mainly the battles with Elsa and the White Whale in the other world— 《Re:Zero》.
Because Iris doesn't like to hear about annihilating monsters in a gorgeous and invincible way, she likes tense, exciting, and chilling stories.
After all—
She took care of me a lot in the underground city under the royal capital back then.