25: The Doll Princess, The Three Idiots, and Royalty (2/2)
“I… No! We will definitely win!!!”
A smile at that voice, the two walked off. Chased behind by their classmates… and even further back, they could hear the laughing voices of Rudel and his class.
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The day of the tournament. In the assembly hall, the King of Courtois, Albach Courtois, his Queen, Ciel Courtois, and the First Princess, Aileen Courtois took their places in the noble visitor room, looking down over the hall that was to be the stage of this tournament.
Protected by high knights, the three of them quietly looked over the hall. To their side, the headmaster made himself scarce. And to that room, the Second Princes Fina made her entrance. Right, the one who invited her family was Fina.
“You look well, Fina. Though it’s only been a month since we last met.”
Her father, the king, said and laughed.
“You still can’t show expression? I thought you would get better if you attended the academy, but…”
Her mother, the queen, spat some cynicism. After the king soothed her some, the queen,
“Fina, how’s school? I never attended, so I’m quite interested… you wouldn’t say anything about it during the break, could you tell me about how things are going?”
“It’s been quite a while, father, mother… and sister.”
As she gave a perfect curtsy, Fina’s expressionless face showed no signs of change. The emotions she held towards her family,
(Our royal family really is a hopeless one… Aileen’s especially dangerous! If she ever found out about my little kitten Mii… that girl would definitely come to kill her! I say it with conviction! Mother’s, well, she’s the same as always, and father is… I guess he’s decent?)
She held a subdued impression of her family.
Fina took her seat in the noble visitor room, looking over the assembly hall… in the hall filled to the brim with students, there were various banners and flags hoisted up in support of their own classes. The zeal of the hall was only heightened by the presence of royalty.
(How sweltering… when I can endure the heat of Mii’s fluffiness, how should I put it… if it’s for the fluff, then I…!!!)
As she expressionlessly thought over such things, her father posed her a question.
“So how is it? According to you, the Arses house’s eldest son is a proficient one, and I’ve heard something similar from both a high knight and dragoon… how should I put it, with all these reports coming in from the left field, I’m troubled to respond. Cattleya seems to hate him considerably, you know? And from the documents, it’s hard to say that he’s skilled. Though I will say he’s interesting.”
“The Arses House is a disgraced one. At present, they’re included among the Three Lords in name alone… the moment I heard you had interest in such a house’s eldest son, to be honest, I felt doubtful, Fina.”
Her mother who couldn’t even speak if she didn’t mix in some sarcasm. As she naturally ignored it, her sister Aileen,
“He’s a battle lover, right? Such savage folk, they’re no different from the demi-humans. I hate those sorts! If it’s about holding power, then the Hardie House’s Aleist-dono Cattleya spoke so highly of is most ideal. Don’t you think so, Fina?”
“… Perhaps?”
Fina gave a vague reply. But inside…
(Eh? That homo’s your type? So that’s the sort of thing you’re into… I don’t think I’ll ever get you, sis. Nothing greater than fluff exists in this world! Ah! But master is separate! That man is a national treasure of Courtois! A treasure!!! Even so, it seems she hates fluffi… I mean demi-humans as much as ever.)
As they carried on such a conversation, the competitors offered a bow to the royal family. The family waved their hands in response, but…
“Good grief… to waste my time on something like this…”
“There are demi-humans among them. Why are they sending out demi-humans? They should just cut down their numbers and send some humans out…”
“Hah, calm down a bit, both of you. Try learning from Fina.”
While the conversation was shifted to Fina,
(Oy, oy!!! Look at all the demi-fluffies… hah, hah… forgive me, Mii! I might end up cheating on you!!!)
… she was the worst off of the bunch.