episode_0013

Like Estelle, Iris was able to feel comfortable with Theo because of his attitude towards them.

It was clear that the presence of the Crown Princess, the second highest ranking person in the empire, must have been an extremely uncomfortable situation.

Because of this, even though others say that the Crown Princess is the same age as them, they cannot be comfortable in front of her. Instead, they continue to suggest things to her and speak to her in an overly high tone, expressing their inevitable discomfort.

Of course, Iris didn’t think that was a bad thing.

It was only natural that they would express such unavoidable discomfort.

But even so, Iris, who had just turned twenty, needed at least one friend who could understand her.

‘It’s just an ordinary farmer’s house.’

Those insignificant, unremarkable words shook Iris.

It was the way he spoke to her, as if he was talking to a female friend he had just met in the neighborhood, rather than to the Crown Princess, the second most powerful person in the empire, that made her feel so comfortable.

‘… So, without realizing it, I ended up talking about my mother.’

The fact that the first empress, the Crown Princess’ biological mother, had passed away due to poor health was something that everyone in the empire knew, but there was another weight to saying that with one’s own mouth.

Moreover, even though we were talking about such heavy things, Theo did not seem uncomfortable with it.

Even the consideration to naturally change the topic of conversation without responding in any way when you change the subject.

‘If this grows up, won’t we be able to become friends?’

Iris, who had never had any friends before, began to develop feelings for Theo, believing that she and Theo could definitely become good friends.

Moreover, the fact that he was learning swordsmanship and magic to prepare for the Academy’s civilian entrance exam was even more welcome news.

Isn’t that so?

Even if they were friends, it was not easy for Theo, the son of an ordinary farmer, and the Crown Princess, the second most powerful woman in the empire, to meet each other unless they went to the academy together.

But you’re preparing for the academy!

The fact that she was also preparing for next year, when she and her saint Estelle would be entering high school, made Iris think that perhaps this was fate, and so she ended up saying some rash things like, “Let’s talk it out,” or “Let’s take it easy.”

Anyway, Iris, who had become friends with Theo for that reason, was so happy that she even forgot the original purpose of coming to see the saint, but Estelle showed up, as if to show her that dreams are fleeting.

“Saint, it’s been a while. How have you been?”

“… Ah, the Imperial Moon… Hello. Yes, I’ve been doing really well, but I feel like I’ve been having a hard time lately. ”

“Any problem?”

“What is your relationship with Mr. Theo, Your Majesty?”

“… Are you two close enough that I have to explain what their relationship is?”

When Estelle suddenly came out and asked with a stern expression what the relationship between the two was, Iris also answered with a frown.

Looking back, it was strange.

Even if Estelle had suddenly entered the Empire illegally and taught Theo at Duncan’s request, it would have been possible for her to use teleportation magic to return to the Holy Empire.

However, from the sight of Estelle tied up at Theo’s house and asking what the relationship between her and Theo was, there was nothing that could be guessed other than that the two had some kind of intimate relationship.

“Of course! Theo and I are so close! We ate together yesterday and even slept together in the same house?!”

Iris felt as if the world had turned white as she heard those words shouted out with anxiety.

And Theo felt the same way.

***

No, seriously, what is that crazy lady saying?

Yes, of course we ate together (with family) yesterday and slept together (in different rooms) in the same house!

You’re leaving out all the important stuff and talking as if I and Jirang have some kind of relationship…!

Look at that princess’s face, it’s so pale.

How surprised would you be?

From his perspective, it must have felt like he just found out about the relationship between the person who just asked to be friends with him today!

We’ve never had any kind of relationship or anything like that!

This is so unfair! If only you had really done it, it wouldn’t be so unfair…! No, that’s not it, damn it…!

“No, Estelle. That sounds a bit strange. Of course, it’s true that you stayed at my house because you had nowhere else to go, and we ate together, but we didn’t share a room or anything like that, right? If you don’t explain it properly, it’s easy to get misunderstood. ”

And it is true that such misunderstandings usually deal a greater blow to a royal lady like you than to a commoner like me.

“Ah, we shared a room… right?”

Only then did Iris come to her senses and return to the real world, shaking her head and asking with relief.

But why are you saying it’s so fortunate?

I could be in a relationship with a woman, you know?

“Well, yes. That’s right.”

Estelle looks very dissatisfied for some reason.

If you look at the expression on his face, with his lips sticking out, he’s complaining.

“Anyway, you said you came to see the saint, right? I’ll leave the seat, so you two can talk… ”

“No, it’s okay.”

“Oh, I don’t like it!”

No, you two came here to talk.

It’s just that Estelle is staying at our house, so this is where we talk, you guys!

“I don’t think I’ll be of much help.”

“We decided to talk freely, Theo.”

“Oh, I told Estelle.”

“What, why are only two people talking? I want to call you Theo too and talk too…!”

“Oh, yes. Do as you wish, Estelle. ”

Estelle, who was upset that she was the only one not speaking, nodded her head as if to say, “Do whatever you want.”

“Then you can talk to me comfortably too, Theo?!”

“Ha, no. That can’t be possible, Saintess. We can do that because we are strengthening the friendship between the people of the empire, but isn’t the Saintess a high-ranking official of the Holy Empire? In the first place, it’s impossible to speak to someone like that and call her by her name.”

Uh…? Now that I hear it, it sounds like you’re right?

“No, what kind of nonsense is that? The Holy Empire and the Empire will be friendly anyway! That’s why the Crown Princess and I entered the Academy, so doesn’t it make sense that the Empire’s citizens and I can’t be friendly? That’s a fake peace treaty and a friendly get-together.”

… I think that’s not wrong either.

“That is a treaty that will be enforced only after you enter the academy. In the first place, the fact that the saintess entered the country illegally without saying anything could be a problem for the empire… ”

“Uh, uh… Wait! Wait! Iris, wait! ”

No, that won’t work.

This won’t work.

No matter how you look at it, if you leave the fight here any longer, it will be a ruined ending.

“Oh, Theo. I’m sorry, we talked too much in front of you.”

Iris’ frozen expression immediately loosens at my call.

I don’t know why he’s suddenly being so nice to me, but anyway, right now, whether I let him go or not, the issue of friendship between countries is being brought up this and that.

“I like Iris and I like Estelle too. I want to be close with them both, but if they don’t get along like this, I don’t know what to do.”

First of all, since both of them want to become close with me no matter what, I express my opinion that I want to become close with both of them as much as possible.

“Don’t worry about whether you’re from the Empire or the Holy Empire. How about we see each other’s true nature and be friends?”

“Look at the essence… ”

“Want to be friends…?”

When the two people tilted their heads, he forced a smile and continued his explanation.

“Iris is not the moon of the empire, but Iris itself. Estelle is not a saint, but Estelle itself. I am also a friend as Theora herself. There is no empire, no holy empire, nothing between us. Why would we need such things between friends in the first place?”

Of course, this is a very modern way of making friends.

Even though this place is very modern, it would have been impossible if there was a concept of status, but Iris and Estelle were the ones who first tried to get rid of that and live comfortably.

It was clear that there was no way to refute what I was saying.

“What do you think? If you don’t like it, then I have no choice but to treat you two not as friends, but as Her Highness Iris and Saint Estelle, the moon of the empire.”

Although he was my friend first, these two eventually became friends and even lovers.

It seems like we still only have negative feelings for each other, so we decided to try to control and neutralize them as much as possible and aim to become friends.