Ch.7575. Private Audience (1)

After the incident with Eunice Kallia.

Fortunately, the days that followed were very smooth and peaceful.

Gone was the Sione who previously schemed to pat my hair somehow.

Now I spent my time dealing with a shy Sione who asked to be patted, and occasionally exchanged brief conversations with Ainel.

I hadn’t particularly run into that damned elf, Friel Arielt, since that day.

As for Aria Allenar and that terrible male knight enthusiast Eunice Kallia, I only crossed paths with them a few times while wandering outside with Sione.

There were no further entanglements beyond that.

Now many nobles were starting to return to their territories.

‘…Let’s just keep things as they are now.’

If everything continues quietly like this, I can say goodbye to the stress of getting entangled with them.

I thought this while sitting in a plush leather chair, watching Sione rolling around on the bed.

‘What remains—’

Under Ainel’s guidance, Sione met with nobles from various families.

Hard to believe, but…

My master over there somehow managed to create better-than-expected results with the title of “knight who protected the princess from the closest position on her coming-of-age ceremony day.”

Skipping over the details about her reputation.

I’ve already relayed Siabel Sianella’s message to Aria.

While the title of “Sianella’s male knight” remains, the rumors about my mana are gradually withering away.

‘Only Adelheid remains.’

Now there’s only one thing to worry about.

All that’s left is the private audience with the kingdom’s First Princess, Adelheid Aisilia.

‘Judging by the atmosphere, it will be soon.’

The heightened tension within the royal palace has also entered a lull.

I suspect I’ll be summoned for a private audience with Adelheid in the near future.

Since it seems she’s had separate discussions about my swordsmanship, mana, and even talked about Ainel and me, she’ll probably ask all sorts of questions. I should prepare some excuses.

“Sigh…”

After Aria, the elf, and the pervert, now I’m having a private audience with the princess of a nation.

Why does a mere male slave with such a naive master keep getting involved in these absurd situations?

As I was calming my agitated feelings with a deep breath.

‘…What’s she doing now?’

My master, who had been rolling around on the bed wasting time.

I noticed Sione subtly starting to watch me.

She would secretly glance at my face while pretending not to.

Roll.

When I turned my head to look at her, she would avert her eyes to avoid my gaze.

If she has something to say, she should just say it straightforwardly.

Why is she being so cautious around her own servant?

“Do you have something you wish to say?”

As if she had been waiting for this question, Sione’s eyes lit up.

While trying to act as nonchalantly as possible, she nodded.

“Um… about that bet we had before… do you remember?”

“Bet…?”

“The bet we made before entering the banquet hall the night before the coming-of-age ceremony.”

“Ah.”

Before entering the banquet hall, Sione had been making a rotten face, clearly showing she didn’t want to attend.

She seems to be referring to the bet I made up to persuade her.

“If I had good conversations with heirs from other families and built friendships, you said you’d grant me one wish…”

“…That’s right.”

“Although it was difficult at the banquet… now I’ve managed to end conversations with people from other families on good terms, haven’t I?”

Recently, after talking with various families while holding Ainel’s hand.

I never thought Sione would bring this up.

“So… can I claim my reward from the bet…?”

I immediately shook my head.

Trying to sneakily get the sweet part only.

“At that time, I clearly stated that the bet was only valid until Lady Ainel Sianella arrived at the banquet hall.”

“But… I want to be rewarded for my recent efforts…”

Why is she trying to get rewards from me?

Given our relationship, I would be willing to grant simple errand-level wishes.

Recently, not satisfied with just getting her head patted, she occasionally asks for hugs. She even sometimes asks me to speak informally to her.

Although I’ve been refusing appropriately, the problem is that I can see her becoming more insidious day by day.

If I were to agree to her words now, I don’t know what request I might hear, so I immediately expressed my refusal.

“No.”

“Really…?”

“Of course. It’s different from the promise we made then.”

“Ugh… people should be flexible sometimes, aren’t you being too rigid?”

When I firmly refused, Sione started throwing a tantrum.

I don’t know what she wants from me so badly that a grown adult is acting like a child.

Finally, unable to bear her whining any longer, I asked what she wanted so badly.

“…What is it that you want?”

At my question, Sione’s eyes began to sparkle.

“Well…”

She fidgeted with her fingers, hesitating while her cheeks flushed.

As Sione, who had pushed aside the blanket she’d been wrapped in, was about to speak her mind.

“While being hugged tightly…!”

Knock knock.

Someone knocked on the door.

In the momentary silence, Sione opened her mouth again to finish her sentence, but.

Knock knock knock.

When there was no response from inside the room, the knocking sound came again. At this, instead of filling the room with her voice, Sione tightly closed her mouth.

As if to say “it was going so well,” in the cooled atmosphere.

Sione simply puffed up her cheeks, indicating her displeasure.

Leaving Sione glaring at the door with a sullen expression behind me.

I headed toward the visitor who was quietly waiting for our response outside the room.

Creak.

Carefully opening the door to see who had come to Sione’s room.

A maid with a stern impression, who appeared to be a palace servant, bowed slightly upon seeing me.

“Might you be Ray?”

“Yes, I am Ray… may I ask why you’re looking for me?”

The woman who appeared to be a maid raised her head straight up and focused her clear, intelligent-looking eyes on me.

After briefly exchanging glances, she stated her business in a crisp manner.

“The First Princess is looking for you.”

I gently nodded at the maid’s words.

It seems my private audience with Adelheid will be today.

* * *

Although Sione puffed up her cheeks to show she was upset.

When the princess summons you, you can’t refuse.

After briefly comforting Sione, I followed the maid.

Quietly following her, I arrived at a room in the First Princess’s palace.

“Please enter this room.”

When I silently nodded in response, the servant quietly withdrew.

After taking a moment to breathe deeply, I entered the room where Adelheid was waiting.

“…Excuse me.”

As I gently opened the door and entered, I could see a woman.

Unlike at the banquet hall and the garden where the coming-of-age ceremony was held, instead of an elaborate dress, she wore a neat but dignified uniform. Her purple hair, which had previously fallen to her chest, was now neatly tied in a ponytail.

She sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, elegantly sipping tea.

After taking a sip and savoring the aroma of the tea, Adelheid placed the teacup back on the saucer and looked at me.

Previously wearing a bored expression as if she were a sage who had transcended the world, Adelheid.

Now, as she slowly examined me, she broke the deep boredom etched on her face and slightly raised the corners of her mouth.

“I greet the Princess.”

“…You’ve finally arrived.”

Though her response to my greeting was brief and plain, she showed no signs of displeasure.

“Sit across from me.”

Following Adelheid’s instruction, I sat on the sofa opposite her.

On the table in front of me were refreshments and tea prepared not just for her but for me as well.

The sweet aroma of the refreshments and the fragrant tea tickled my nose. Though I wanted to take a sip of tea with the beautifully arranged snacks, I neatly organized my thoughts.

After all, the princess herself was staring at me. In this situation, I couldn’t just grab a cookie and eat it, let alone have a conversation with her.

With such an intense gaze, I probably wouldn’t even be able to tell if the cookie was going into my mouth or my nose.

I was content to simply enjoy the rising aroma of the tea while focusing on Adelheid.

“Hmm—”

With a hum, Adelheid’s pupils changed.

A feature I’ve become somewhat familiar with by now.

She tried to see through me with her dragon eyes, but.

“Even checking again after a long time, I still can’t see anything.”

Naturally, Adelheid couldn’t discern anything about me.

“Well, that’s fine too.”

Despite her dragon eyes not working on me, Adelheid deepened the smile at the corners of her mouth.

“I saw with my own dragon eyes, right in front of me, that you are proficient in mana and swordsmanship. And I heard from the head of House Sianella that you are also skilled with a bow.”

She picked up a cookie from in front of her and brought it to her pale pink lips.

Crunch.

After taking a bite of the cookie with her small mouth, she continued.

“Given that I can’t see you with my eyes, it seems you’re hiding more than just one or two talents. I wonder what else you’re concealing.”

After finishing the cookie, she wiped her lips with a handkerchief. All the while, her gaze remained fixed on me. Her dragon eyes scattered blue mana light, trying somehow to see through me.

“Have some tea.”

Slide.

She pushed the teacup in front of me closer to me.

“Our conversation will be lengthy, so it would be good to wet your throat.”

Following Adelheid’s suggestion, I picked up the tea. A sweet first taste followed by a bitter aftertaste.

Experiencing the mysterious flavor of the tea, I placed the cup back on the saucer.

Seeing this, Adelheid brushed her bangs to the side and said.

“Now, since you’ve wet your throat—”

[A quest has been formed.]

“Private Audience with the Princess”

“The kingdom’s First Princess, Adelheid Aisilia, is deeply interested in your hidden identity and abilities. From mana and swordsmanship to archery, and even the spirit magic she hasn’t yet noticed. Use all methods to increase your value and win her favor.”

“Reward/Failure: Depends on Adelheid’s satisfaction level”

“Now let’s begin our conversation.”