Chapter 19: Twins

“Eheheh…”

“Hehehe…”

“Excuse me, just a moment! What in the world is this…”

“Now, now, there’s no time, so let’s start right away! Eheheh…”

“Sir Logan, please don’t resist! We’ll make you look absolutely splendid! Hehehe…”

The twins’ handiwork was so skillful and uninhibited that Logan thought he would be more at ease subjugating high-risk demonic beasts or undertaking a special-grade request.

Their names were Lulu and Lala.

Calling them together might make one think of the cheerful sound “Lululala,” a fittingly bright and cute name.

However, they were strictly members of a noble family and said to be Anastasia’s competent handmaidens.

“If Her Highness hadn’t bestowed her grace upon us back then…”

“What might have become of us… I really don’t even want to imagine!”

Even while primping him, the two didn’t stop talking for a moment, sharing all sorts of stories, including their self-introductions.

It seemed Anastasia had helped their family greatly when it was on the verge of collapse.

Thus, having pledged their utmost loyalty, they had been waiting in this room today under Anastasia’s orders.

Hearing this, Logan was somewhat bewildered.

Initially, in a case like today, he hadn’t even considered attending a victory banquet.

Not only was he born a commoner, but he was also Logan, who had never even been near a banquet hall because he worked day in and day out for Irene.

Therefore, such a place was uncomfortable for him.

So, he had naturally planned not to attend.

But Anastasia had apparently kept his attendance in mind from the beginning and had given her handmaidens a heads-up.

‘What if I hadn’t attended…’

From Anastasia’s perspective, she might have prepared because there was even a slight chance Logan would attend, but from his standpoint, he couldn’t help but feel sorry that she might have gone to unnecessary trouble.

In any case, thanks to her meticulous consideration.

‘Wow… Is this really me…?’

When he came to his senses, Logan couldn’t help but marvel at his reflection in the mirror.

The process had been truly chaotic and noisy, but the result was so excellent that he couldn’t help but be surprised.

He didn’t want to sound too narcissistic, but he had always thought his looks weren’t too bad, but now that he was all dressed up like this…

“You look truly amazing, Sir Logan! I’d believe you if you said you were a prince!”

“Indeed, you do~ Kyaa~ If it weren’t for Her Highness, I’d snatch you up! Eheheh…”

He had transformed into such a refined and handsome figure that he could understand why Lulu and Lala were making such a fuss.
Neatly styled hair, a perfectly fitting blue tailcoat, and subtle, gleaming accessories.

It was a look so splendid, completely different from his usual plain and practical adventurer attire, that one would believe him to be a young nobleman.

“Now, now! We must go and escort Her Highness the Crown Princess!”

“That’s right! If only we get to see Sir Logan looking this handsome, Her Highness will scold us later!”

Saying so, Lulu and Lala pushed Logan’s back, hurrying him out of the room.

“W-Wait a moment..!”

Before Logan could even properly utter a word, he was pushed out into the hallway.

And as he inevitably turned his head to look straight ahead.

“!!!”

He couldn’t help but gasp.

Before his eyes, Anastasia, dressed up like him to attend the banquet, was standing and waiting.

A woman so beautiful that any thoughts about his own changed appearance vanished like dust.

She was not wearing the commander’s uniform she had worn during the subjugation journey, but a dazzlingly beautiful banquet dress.

The pale violet silk dress, as if imbued with a gentle moonlight, further enhanced her white skin and platinum blonde hair, while delicate lace and jewel embellishments further emphasized her nobility.

He had always thought her beautiful, but her current appearance was dreamlike and surreally beautiful, like the advent of a goddess one might only see in dreams.

---

“!!!”

Meanwhile, Anastasia was equally captivated by Logan’s appearance as he emerged from the door.

He had taken even longer to prepare than she, a woman, had.

Could Lulu and Lala have possibly made Logan feel burdened or awkward?

If they had, she thought she would have to scold them severely, so she waited at the entrance.

However, Logan’s appearance surpassed all her expectations.

His black hair glistened as if it held the starlight of the night sky, and his deep lake-blue eyes shone clearer and more intensely than ever before.

Even when she first saw him as a child, his looks had already struck her fancy.

And when they met again five years later, his splendidly grown appearance had made her heart race.

But now, going even further, his appearance, all dressed up in a tailcoat, exuded an enormous destructive power, enough to break down one wall, no, all walls, and strike her heart.

‘How can you become even more handsome, Logan!?’

After parting with Logan in the past, even while engaging in daily political struggles upon returning to the Imperial Palace, Anastasia had never forgotten him, not even for a single day.

That was why, when she happened to pass by a tailor’s shop while touring the imperial capital, she had spotted the blue tailcoat that reminded her of his eye color.

Thinking it would suit him, she had purchased it with the intention of gifting it to him if they ever met again, never imagining it would be so fantastically, perfectly fitting.

As if it were an outfit made for this very moment, Logan himself seemed like a perfect work of art.

‘Ah, Logan, you’re so handsome! Beautiful! Perfect! I love it so much! What am I going to do!?’

Anastasia, lost in ecstasy admiring his appearance, simultaneously felt a slight pang of regret.

Logan was too perfect.

At this rate, it was obvious that the gazes of all the noble young ladies in the banquet hall would be focused on him.

Therefore, a sense of jealousy, along with anxiety, couldn’t help but overwhelm her.

‘No. Surely, if I, the Crown Princess, am entering with him, no madwoman would dare covet Logan!’

Yes, there wouldn’t be.

Except for one person, Irene.

However, in that woman’s case… she had long since lost any such right.

‘Hmph, what a foolish woman..’

To be so easily smitten by the superficial appearance of a wretch like the hero, prioritizing looks so much.

Yet, she couldn’t even properly recognize the dazzlingly beautiful appearance of the person who had dedicated himself most closely to her.

Truly a very pathetic and foolish woman.

How much would she beat the ground and regret it when she saw Logan looking this handsome?

And even without being dressed up like this…

‘Logan is a hundred times, a thousand times, no, incomparably more handsome than that moronic hero!’

How could she turn away from such a wonderful man, who dedicated not only his looks but everything he had, and cast her eyes on another?

Anastasia simply couldn’t understand Irene.

Well, thanks to that, hadn’t an opportunity like this finally come her way?

Therefore, Anastasia resolved that instead of that foolish woman, she herself would definitely make Logan much happier.

---

Meanwhile, Renate, standing behind Anastasia, and Lulu and Lala, who had somehow reappeared behind Logan, all shook their heads simultaneously as they watched the two, frozen and lost in admiration of each other’s changed appearance.

‘Oh dear.. Her Highness, really…’

‘Wow.. Her Highness looks like a girl who fell in love at first sight!’

‘What are you saying, sister! Her Highness’s first love is ongoing! But seeing Sir Logan looking this handsome, it’s only natural she’d fall in love all over again, kyaa~’

The three found the sight of the couple, unsure what to do as they looked at each other, amusing and wanted to leave them be and watch, but it was almost time for the banquet to begin.

So, Renate deliberately coughed, “Ahem! Ahem!”, while Lulu and Lala loudly exclaimed, “Moya moya!” (What’s this! What’s this!), deliberately making a fuss.

At the sound, Anastasia and Logan simultaneously snapped back to their senses.

“Ah…”

“…!”

Logan had never properly learned noble etiquette, but he awkwardly offered his arm to Anastasia, assuming an escorting posture.

“Uh… Anya…”

“Fufufu…”

Anastasia let out a chuckle, finding Logan’s demeanor somehow cute.

At this, Logan’s face reddened slightly, wondering if his actions had been ridiculous.

Anastasia quickly apologized to him and gently took his arm.

“Fufufu, I’m sorry. Your nervous look was so cute, I couldn’t help myself… Ah! Please, don’t misunderstand. Logan, you look truly handsome and splendid right now!”

At her praise, Logan felt his face grow even hotter and stammered in reply.

“Ah, Anya too… you’re truly beautiful and lovely…”

“Whaat!? Ah, th-thank you, Logan.”

Anastasia also mumbled, her face turning as red as an apple.

Beautiful, lovely… countless people had said so to her, but this was the first time it sounded so sweet and melodious.

Therefore, Anastasia looked at Logan with an ecstatic, dreamlike expression.

“But Logan is more handsome and wonderful…”

“No. Anya is much more pretty and beautiful!”

“Ah, no! Logan is much more..!”

The two exchanged compliments as if determined not to lose to each other, all the while blushing in embarrassment.

‘Her Highness… haah…’

‘Oh my, oh my, both of you are really…’

‘Exactly… It’s like we’re invisible to them…’

Anyone seeing these two right now.

Would never think they were the hero party member who contributed most to defeating the Demon Lord and the commander of the subjugation forces.

They would only appear as a foolish couple, completely smitten with each other and not knowing what to do.

“Anya is more…”

“Logan is more…”

If left like this, forget attending the banquet; their exchange of compliments about each other seemed like it would never end here.

The exasperated attendants had no choice but to intervene between the two once more.