episode_0013

I left the guest room for a moment because Louis seemed about to have a seizure.

After enough time had passed, I headed back to the reception room.

Holding two keys in hand.

‘Hehehe… If I suggest living together now, you’ll probably accept it without fighting back, right?’

While I was away, I wonder how much their relationship has improved.

My heart swelled with anticipation.

He held the key tightly to his flat chest and opened the door with his other hand.

-Squeak.

“Louis~ Irene~ Have you been waiting long?”

‘Louis, this is a gift from your sister to you~!’

A dark appearance, with the door swinging open forcefully.

Both of their eyes were focused on me.

I also quickly looked at the two.

In this spacious reception room, for some reason, two people are standing and facing each other.

The perfect height difference stood out, and I couldn’t help but think, ‘What? What? What are these two?’

Even Louis has a cool expression on his face, as if he had confessed.

My eyes widened. I wondered if he had done it on the first day.

But that was only for a moment.

The two people looking at me simultaneously frowned.

Just like someone who eats a tangerine after brushing their teeth.

“Hey, Estee. Why are you wearing those clothes…?”

“… Princess. You came after changing your clothes… ?”

“Huh?”

Two people pointing out the clothes I just changed into.

… I saw that Louis was about to have a seizure, so I quickly changed into pants. Why is he like that?

My head tilted.

“… Isn’t that your usual attire? Why?”

“No, that. Just before, definitely, the dress… .”

“That’s right, Princess. You decided to wear matching clothes with me… .”

‘Oh, that’s what happened?’

But soon, I nodded my head, thinking that it could be possible.

Because the kid who just changed his clothes came back changed his clothes again.

It’s understandable to worry that you might have spilled some juice while secretly drinking it.

Irene and I decided to wear matching outfits together.

To clear up their doubts, I smiled bashfully again.

“Ah. That’s… Hehe. I guess dresses aren’t for someone like me. Louis, your expression didn’t look good either?”

“What, what… … .”

‘… It’s not getting better again. Why is it like that?’

What returned my laughter was Louis’ face turning pale again.

Even Irene opened her eyes wide and looked down at Louis.

As if he were reproaching me for something.

She bent down slightly and whispered in Louis’ ear.

-Whispering.

“Prince Louis, please tell me I’m the most beautiful in the world. Right now. Hurry up.”

“… …!!!! Oh, no!!! Your dress suits you so well!! You’re the prettiest in the world!!!”

Louis heaped belated praise on her, not knowing what he had heard.

About the dress I was wearing earlier.

… No, why are you praising me when you have your girlfriend right next to you?

I sighed and shook my head.

With the promise that he would introduce the woman to her personally later.

‘Oh my. You’re complimenting another woman in front of your girlfriend? You don’t know anything about women. I’ll have to teach you later.’

“… Okay. The dress suits a girl like Irene much better than someone like me. ”

“Ah, ahh… … .”

Louis’ face turned ashen.

A face that was ten times more distorted than Abamama’s when he heard, “I hate rubbing my face because my beard stings.”

It was clear that he realized his mistake too late.

-Mumble mumble.

“Whew… This is going to be tough.”

‘Sorry, Irene! Our Louis is a good kid, but he’s really clueless when it comes to this. You, who are as kind as an angel, please understand!!’

“Ehhh… .”

Below, the sighs of two women echoed.

* * *

After a brief commotion over my attire.

I handed the keys to Louis.

“The mansion is big, so let’s live together. It’ll be better than a single room in a dormitory, right?”

“That’s right, Prince Louis. Wouldn’t it be unsettling if it were just me and the princess in this large mansion? If someone as reliable as you were to live with us and protect us, we would be truly secure.”

‘… Oh?! What, what, what’s going on with you two!!? What happened that Irene is actively supporting you!!?’

I suggested to Louis that he and Irene live under the same roof.

Irene, who provides support on such days.

Louis nodded at our combined attack.

“Well, if there are only two women, they might be suspected… .”

“Louis?”

“Nothing. Anyway, I understand. I will be your shield and protector. ”

“Ohhh…!!!!”

‘Louis, you know how to say cool things!? Irene’s shield and protector. What are you two already!!?’

Louis takes the key from me with a stern face.

After that, he gave Irene a passionate gaze.

I was so embarrassed that I screamed inside.

-Mumble mumble.

“… I’m just an idiot who causes trouble even if I interfere. I’ll just watch over you without saying anything. Please take good care of Estee, Irene.”

‘You keep talking to yourself? Why are you like that?’

I don’t know what he’s muttering to himself.

It probably won’t be a big deal.

Anyway, after handing the key over to Irene.

We sat down again on the lounge sofa.

Irene and Louis are on separate sofas so they can face each other.

Irene would hate it if I were next to Louis, so I’d stay next to her.

That is, we sat across from each other, Irene and I facing Louis.

‘It’s best if those two sit together, but… No. Let’s not rush. At first, I like this kind of exciting distance.’

“Excuse me, wouldn’t it be better for the princess to sit next to Prince Louis?”

‘… Irene still seems to be burdened by our status.’

“No. Louis wouldn’t want to sit with me.”

“… … .”

“Sigh… .”

It may not be the best for everyone, but it’s a seating arrangement that avoids the worst.

No one seemed to have any major complaints.

I just opened the door to conversation.

“Anyway, the three of us ended up living together under the same mansion… Irene and I are both applying to the Faculty of Magic? And you, Louis?”

The first thing I asked was which department Louis applied to.

I thought it would be the journalism department, so I never asked about it until now…

An unexpected answer came back.

“… I also applied to the School of Magic.”

“… … Huh? Not the College of Journalism? ”

“I could win even if I fought with the professors there, so why go to the College of Knights? It would be better to broaden your horizons at the College of Magic. … I heard you went there too.”

“Ah.”

… Now that I think about it, Louis. He was a skilled man acknowledged by our Knight Commander.

My eyes, which had rounded for a moment, soon turned to Irene.

‘A chance to float!!’

“Heung~ How is it? Our Louis, isn’t he awesome?”

Irene’s favorability rating went down because of the compliment she gave on my dress earlier.

With a little bit of a kick to get it back.

Irene nodded happily, wondering if it had worked.

“… Yes. As expected, you are Confucius.”

“Right~? Louis is amazing!”

-Thud. Bubibubi.

Delighted by that honest display of affection, I linked arms with Irene and rubbed my cheek against her forearm.

Our Irene, you’ve been through so many hardships. But you opened your heart to Louis like this in just one day.

I thought, “This is exactly the kind of couple I chose.”

-slap.

“… Ahem. The weather is nice.”

I don’t know why Louis naturally looks away, but…

It’s not that important, is it?

I smiled brightly, feeling happy.

“Anyway, so from now on we’ll be taking classes together!”

“That’s right, Your Highness.”

“Yeah.”

“Then… I have a question for my friend who will be happily together at the Academy from now on!”

“… Huh?”

And then, just smiling.

———I hit the nail on the head.

“Why did Irene come to the Academy?”

‘I know the answer, you know.’

What I asked was why Irene came to the Academy.

As a fan of the original, I already knew the answer, but I still wanted to hear it myself.

Of course, you can’t tell her that she’s a witch yet.

But, my ability to be liked by everyone.

I was sure that if it had this, it would at least tell me the purpose.

My conviction became reality.

-Tiring!

[Irene’s favorability rating is readjusted.]

[Current Favorability: 50 (+5)]

[As a result of the favorability effect, the probability of winning the other person’s favor is ‘moderately’ increased.]

“… Because I want to live.”

‘As expected. It’s exactly the same as the original.’

Irene. The last witch who can destroy the world if she breaks the seal.

Her only wish as the worst, most evil witch is…

I was just living an ordinary life.

The reason I started cheering for Irene was because that small wish was so desperate.

I rubbed my cheek against her forearm even more as if cheering her on.

-Soft and fluffy.

“Yeah! That’s a good reason!”

“Oh, aren’t you going to ask in detail? The circumstances or something… .”

“What more do you want? That’s enough reason. Yes!”

“… … .”

Along with something I really wanted to say while watching the original.

Then, Irene’s eyes widened for a moment.

As if he didn’t expect to hear something like that.

within,

-Tiring!

[Irene’s favorability is readjusted. Current favorability: 60 (+10)]

-Thump. Thump thump.

“… … The princess is a really warm person.”

Irene started stroking my head.

Affinity 60. At the same time, you can achieve a friend-level affinity.

I smiled bashfully and rubbed my cheek.

“Heh. You don’t do this for just anyone, right? My sisters keep telling me that my cheeks are hot and fluffy?”

“Phew. That’s not what I meant.”

The atmosphere became warm all at once.

Below, Irene’s gaze turned to Louis.

I had been turning my head away for a while now.

-Obviously.

“… Anyway, for that, I’ll try my best in the future.”

In her gaze as she looked at Louis’s profile, even a hint of determination was felt.

‘Oh, what, what. What are you two doing!!!’

“Yeah! I’ll totally cheer you on!!”

* * *

Louis was not asked specifically why he came to the Academy.

Like a hen following a chick, you followed me because I said I was going.

That’s why the last person their eyes turned to was me.

You’re the third princess, so why did you come to the academy?

Why did the youngest daughter of the royal family come to such a sweaty place?

To that question I answered like this.

Playfully.

——For world peace.

Of course, the two of them laughed and asked what nonsense they were talking about…

-Thump thump.

“I wasn’t joking.”

That night, I left the academy alone and belatedly muttered to myself.

I’m not joking. That was my true heart.

My sighs scattered whitely in the cold night air.

and…

I slowly released the spell.

A perception-obstructing spell that prevents anyone from recognizing me, cast in order to escape the Academy where going out is strictly prohibited.

It was soon apparent that the spell had been completely broken.

-dump.

“… Stië-nim♡”

A woman who had been watching the surroundings the whole time appeared in front of me and prostrated herself as soon as the magic wore off.

Soon she put her hands under my armpits and lifted me up.

I didn’t really resist.

If I, as a princess, had a royal family…

Because I had her as the mastermind.

Because she was my faithful servant and contractor.

-Dangling dangling.

“Crow. Long time no see.”

“Ah, it’s been so long… Ahem. Everyone is waiting for you, Stiie, so I’ll show you around quickly♡”

-Pfft!!!

After that, she flew away almost as if she was teleporting.

Into the Empire’s underworld, its deepest and darkest corner.

She let me go, after I reached the abandoned cathedral and the magnificent throne.

-Whirl. Slap.

“The drinks have been prepared in advance, so please take a seat♡”

“Yeah. Thank you.”

Crow, who made me sit on the throne as if I were a god.

I leisurely crossed my legs, sipping the drink that happened to be placed next to me.

That’s literally… like a dark curtain.

“I’ll take your shoes off for you♡”

-Whew.

“…? Why?”

“The road here is dirty so the soles will be covered in mud♡ I’ll clean them and return them to you♡”

“… … .”

‘No, then why the socks… Oh my. Are all Suin like that?’

For a moment, the contractor quickly took my shoes and socks and I was taken aback, but anyway.

After that, I looked down ahead.

A group of at least a thousand people were gathered there.

-Ahh, ahhh…!!

-Your Majesty, you are so cute and beautiful today too!!

-Mr. Crow, lethally alone!!

-Sigh.

‘I told you, you’re so consistent.’

As always, people are talking nonsense about saints and such.

The maximum power as my mastermind. The TS Brigade.

I couldn’t help but smile when I saw you after such a long time…

That too for a moment.

I took a sip of the milk tea to replenish my sugar intake, and then quickly raised my eyebrows.

“… … How do you guys do your work?”

“S, Stevie Nim…? Are you angry… .”

“Do you know how much our Irene suffered because of you guys?!”

After that, the downward spiral toward world peace began.