Chapter 138 – The Princess Who Wants a Friend
Yellowish cream drips from the fallen Taiyaki.
Benelia closed and opened her eyes as if she had seen nothing, and suddenly she smiled dejectedly.
She said, “You don’t sound like you’re just showing up in an alley.”
That was what I wanted to say
It’s a bit absurd, but since the other person is the princess of the Esteban Empire, you should be polite.
The moment I leaned over for court etiquette, Benelia waved her hand in annoyance.
“It happened. Where are you going to use the etiquette in the alley? No one is watching, so omit the unnecessary ostentation.”
“But, Her Highness her the Princess.”
She said, “Didn’t I say yes. More than that, my memory is fuzzy, but what opening did you show when I played chess with you before?”
Why is the story of chess appearing all of a sudden? It’s good to recall memories, but it wasn’t an appropriate conversation in the current situation.
“Your Highness, Princess. Leave the chess story aside-“
“Answer me.”
Benelia’s eyes narrowed coldly as she cut off my words. Her eyes, set in gold, were shining brightly in the twilight alley.
She had the illusion that she was facing a huge lion. Benelia let out her signature intimidation and she pursed her lips again.
“I was asked to answer,” She said. Viscount Theorard.”
Born of her ruler’s lineage, Benelia’s command her was not one to be easily handed over. This time, too, she feels a sense of uneasiness that if she doesn’t answer, something big might happen.
I, who had been hardened in the cold atmosphere, opened the door with difficulty.
“I showed off the Karokhan Defense opening. After a close battle, Her Highness suggested a draw.”
“Well….”
Benelia looked around and looked at me again. A fresh smile hangs on her loosely relaxed face on her.
“Looks like the Viscount Theorard I know is right. Sorry for doubting I thought you were fake. What is it?”
“Fake……You mean?”
“Okay. There was a possibility that it was a disguise or a doppelganger, and there was also a possibility that I had been seduced by illusion magic without my knowledge. There are many people who want to dig something out of me.”
Benelia’s attitude towards her when she said that seemed very calm. Benelia, shrugging her shoulders as if it were common, walked towards me.
The gait imbued with dignity makes the opponent shrink. As I watched in a cold sweat, Benelia stopped her steps a step away.
The golden eyes flickered with curiosity.
“By the way, what are you doing here?”
“Ah. I was invited to give a lecture at the Magic Tower…….”
“Did you ask because you didn’t know that? I mean, I’m asking why you’re walking alone down the streets of Rioveda.”
Who will say….
I wanted to ask a question like a chimney, but it was not polite to answer a question with a question.
“…… I was looking for the souvenir shop indicated in the booklet.”
“Souvenir shop?”
“Yes. I’ve heard that the constellation-shaped accessories sold at the store have magical powers. It is said to protect one’s health just by wearing it, so we decided that it would be suitable as a souvenir.”
“Is it. It’s a constellation-shaped ornament…….”
Benelia, who frowned and pondered, nodded her head as if she knew where she was.
“Maybe the store’s name is ‘Old Moon that grows on its own’.”
“You’re right. But how did Her Highness her the Princess…….”
“What a stupid thing to say. I was born and raised in the islands.”
At Benelia’s scolding, I drank honey and became a mute. Come to think of it, there was no way that Benelia wouldn’t know if it was a famous store that I, who came from out of town, knew about.
Benelia looked at me like that, and she smiled.
“Looking at it now, there are blind corners. Or are you acting?”
“I apologize. How can I … In front of Her Highness her, the princess? ….”
“It is embarrassing to tell you that you are sorry. Stop talking about the eunuchs and follow me. I will guide you to the store.”
“It’s okay. We cannot allow Her Highness to do such an rude thing.”
“What if I don’t make a mistake? Are you going to wander the streets of Rioveda for the rest of your life? It’s good to have the guts to be lost here, on the opposite side of the old moon that grows naturally.”
On the other side? I took a deep breath and opened the booklet. Sure, there was a map, but it was drawn so simplistically that I couldn’t quite figure out where I was.
But it didn’t seem like a big deal. As I was sweating profusely, Venelia snatched the booklet.
“Where are you arrogantly turning your eyes? It doesn’t sound like I’m guiding you.”
“No, that’s not it. I was just worried that a scandal would spread if others saw Her Highness walking around alone with a man who had an affair with the princess.”
“Let’s sell our worries. It would be enough if we catch the guys who spread the scandal and kill them all.”
Unknowingly, my mouth opens. It was because I was appalled at the sight of Benelia casually spitting out her horrible words.
When she was nervous about whether she was serious, she burst into laughter as if Benelia couldn’t hold it in any longer. Her cheerful laugh continues for a while and then slowly fades away.
“It is farm. I’m not crazy.”
Benellia, wiping away her stinging tears, passed her pat on my shoulder.
“It is not a joke to say that I will guide you to the store. Don’t worry, just follow me.”
Having said that, it was impossible to refuse again and again. Moreover, the booklet Alina gave me was now in Benelia’s hands her, so I had no choice.
I let out a low sigh and turned around to catch up with Benelia.
After exiting the alley, a boulevard lined with many shops spread out. In the sky above the crowded street, crystal balls that act as light sources emitted a soft light.
Except for the Imperial Palace, Rioveda Street would be the only place that could remain as bright as daytime despite the end of the night.
Once again, I understand why Rioveda Street is called the tourist attraction of the islands.
I watched for a while as the vendors at the stalls were giving out novelties and screaming at her, then I turned her head to look at Benelia.
“Well. Yum.”
…… I was eagerly eating Taiyaki.
Watching her savor the taste of Taiyaki as the cream spreads on her lips of her, it makes me realize that Benelia is only 20 years old.
Although she is called the iron-blooded princess by some, she is basically a girl who likes sweets. It’s a bit like putting cream on her mouth her anyway.
Contemplating whether or not to point it out, I took a handkerchief from her bosom her and held it out to Benelia.
Benelia, having eaten half of her taiyaki, lowered her gaze, conscious of her handkerchief her.
“Something.”
“Wiping your mouth…….”
Being conscious of the surroundings, I deliberately spoke in a whisper.
I wondered what to do if I hated it or yelled at it, but Benelia readily accepted my favor.
Picking up her handkerchief, Benelia wipes her mouth and returns it. It seemed that there was no such thing as shame, but it was a calm and selfless look.
“Thank you.”
However, I did not forget to say thank you.
Looking at it like this, it seemed a little cute. It felt like the distance that seemed like it would never be narrowed down a little bit.
“By the way, Her Highness the Princess.”
I tucked the handkerchief into my bosom and said questioningly.
“May I ask why you were walking the streets of Rio Veda without an escort?”
“A cheeky question.”
Yum. At the end of her mumble her, Benelia, who had her last bite of her taiyaki tail stuck in her mouth, continued her words.
“There’s nothing I can’t answer. As a matter of fact, about three days ago, some nasty bugs dared to sneak into my guest room and steal classified documents.”
“…… Is that true?”
“Okay. Of course, all the classified documents they stole were fake. I was able to find out where their temporary base was because of the location tracking magic.”
Rustle. Benelia, putting her hand inside her bag of bread, took out her Taiyaki and handed it to me. She seemed to be listening while eating, so she was handed a taiyaki and took a bite.
“Today, I led an ambush with the elite to wipe them out all at once, but they all ran away because they were quick-witted. Still, there were no traces at all, so we dispersed our forces to catch even a few of them.”
Benelia’s eyes narrow in annoyance.
“After tracking, I found a guy, and he was hiding in the streets of Rio Veda. He’s a master of disguise, so I couldn’t really tell him apart.”
So when you first met, did you check whether it was fake or not? Understanding Benelia’s behavior of her, I pushed her taiyaki into her mouth of her.
It was food given by the imperial princess, so she thought it was right to eat it all and then answer. As I eagerly ate taiyaki, Benelia sighed and clicked her tongue.
“The conclusion is nonsense. There is no way to catch him right now, so I gave up and went back to buy some taiyaki, but I met you.”
Trash babies. Benelia, frowning and muttering, approaches very frighteningly. I was frozen for a moment, then I swallowed the taiyaki and opened my mouth.
“Sorry.”
Benelia looked back at me with her puzzled look on her face her.
“What.”
“If you bought taiyaki bread after a lot of hard work, didn’t I make Her Highness’s taiyaki fly away by suddenly popping out in an alleyway? In addition, I am ashamed of myself for making him a guide at the souvenir shop.”
Benelia, who has been dazed for a moment, shakes her head as her laughs her spills out. She was dumbfounded.
“I can assure you that you are the only one who sincerely apologizes for a taiyaki bread. Also, I volunteered to be the guide, so what is there to be sorry for?”
“One I…….”
“If you meant to make me laugh, it was successful enough, so do it. Also, it is not for you that I serve as a guide, so do not be mistaken. I also have something to look at on the new moon when I grow up myself.”
“Ah. Is that so. If so, I’m glad.”
Having said that, the pressure goes away a little bit.
I’m laughing awkwardly, so Benelia pulls out another taiyaki of hers and hands it to me. She took it as if to eat it, put it in her mouth her, and a carefree smile caught the corners of her Benelia’s mouth her.
“You eat cutely. Something like a skinny bear.”
It was like an owner distributing food to a pet with affection. I was so dumbfounded that I involuntarily frowned at her, and Benelia looked away from her and shrugged her shoulders.
“It is farm. I wonder if her boy is so narrow-minded.”
“It’s not that you’re narrow-minded…….”
“It happened. What does it taste like?”
If she hadn’t been the princess, she would have stuck a honey chestnut in her hand.
After a moment of embarrassment, I spoke frankly.
“No lie, really delicious.”
“Of course.”
Benelia smiled contentedly.
“Who bought it?”
It was quite natural to let go of prestige and authority implicitly.
It wasn’t like a princess, but she was, in fact, Benellia.
