Chapter 39 - Volume 2 (2/2)

「This is my bedroom. Incidentally, you are in my bed.」

「—!?」

When one says that a person froze, this must be what they are talking about. The blood flowed from my head, and my body became dangerously cold, if I do say so myself. I couldn’t bring myself to say 「Ah, I see. That’s why this room is so extravagant. I understand now.」 Wait a second. This is the princess’s room? I’m in the princess’s bed?

「I’m terribly sorry! Please excuse my terrible behavior…」

No matter how friendly we were, something like sleeping in the princess’s bed was unforgivable. It was both a problem of social status, as well as an issue of the princess’s popularity.

This situation, men and women of all ages of this world would be envious. More than envy, maybe even resentment. Anyhow, that Princess Clementine’s bed. Soft, and fluffy, and sweet-smelling, I didn’t know it at the time, but I had enjoyed quite the privilege.

Saying this much makes me seem like a pervert, but that is the extent to which the princess is popular among the people. I, too, was a fan from the start, but as I learned more and more about her, I became more and more infatuated. That man would ask me 「What’s good about her? What exactly?」, staring at me as if I had bad eyes, but that’s my line. Even though he went on a trip together with her, how could he possibly not understand her appeal? Well, when I think of him noticing and understanding her appeal, and then, as if in an RPG, falling in love with the princess, that brings out some extremely complicated feelings in me. But this isn’t the time for daydreaming.

Panicking, I leaned forward to get out of the bed, but the princess gently stopped me with her hand.

「There is no need for you to worry. More importantly, you should rest. I personally gave permission for you to use this room, and if there is someone to blame, it is your husband.」

「Edi?」

I blinked at the unexpected turn of events. I don’t understand. Why is it Edi’s fault? My thoughts must have been clear on my face. The princess shrugged, as if to say that she was confused also.

「Yes. He suddenly teleported in front of me, holding your unconscious body.」

「Depending on the circumstances, I wouldn’t have been satisfied that easily」, she said extremely carefreely, giggling without a hint of anger. But I, hearing this, reacted completely differently. No, no no no, suddenly teleporting right in front of the kingdom’s princess, that must be unheard of. He didn’t seriously do that, did he? I looked at the princess, but she didn’t say any more, just kept her smile. That reaction meant that she was telling the truth.

「I am extraordinarily sorry. In place of my husband, let me apologize from the bottom of my heart.」

My apology was so-so, and from my position on the bed I couldn’t express my gratitude, but even so I apologized as much as I could. That idiot husband, I thought. I wouldn’t forget to scold him.

There was no helping it. He was as idiot after all. He was supposed to be extremely smart, but what in the world was he doing. If not for the extreme generosity of the princess, it wouldn’t be strange if he had gotten fired. My husband, and before that my childhood friend, I had spent so much time with him, but trying to understand what he was thinking, and why he acted so recklessly, just made my head hurt.

Appearing to understand my struggles, the princess suddenly stopped smiling, and looked at me seriously. Her clear amber eyes, looking golden, reflected my puzzled face.

「Even if I tell you not to worry about it, you probably won’t accept that. But really, there is no need for you to apologize. Particularly, the ”you” right now.」

「What exactly do you mean?」

「You yourself probably haven’t realized. But, hm. That is a story for the culprit “you”. The magicians of Black Lotus Court haven’t even realized.」

I couldn’t even understand half of what the princess was saying. Tilting my neck, I waited for her to continue speaking. She sighed, once. A heavy sigh.

「Even if I say that, that’s an issue with the Black Lotus Court magicians. Geez, coming this far without realizing it. How long does that man intend to enjoy his newlywed life?」

「…?」

What exactly was the princess talking about? I could only tilt my neck more and more. At that time, I heard a noisy voices. Outside the door, some kind of argument was taking place. Within it, I thought I heard an extremely familiar voice. It wasn’t my imagination.

「Oh my, it looks like he’s here.」

At that unsuitable, and somewhat cheerful reaction to the ruckus outside, the door slammed opened with an enormous thud. I had reflexively cowered, but at the location of my gaze was, as expected, him.

「Filmina!」

「E, Edi.」

Those sunrise-colored eyes quickly found me, and my husband walked towards me with brisk, long strides. At his intensity, I couldn’t help but feel anxious at the thought that he might grab me. Hm, but why though? Up until now I’ve made him angry, but he’d never looked this intense.

My inner heart raised a scream. Stepping in front of that man with his overly-disturbing air, as if to protect me, was none other than the princess, who had silently risen from her chair. At that gallant, overflowing with composure, figure’s coolness, I once again became charmed.

Compared to that, his figure was, how should I say- his originally fair skin looked ghastly pale, his glossy hair was disheveled, compared to the princess, he lacked all sense of composure.

I peeked at that appearance from behind the princess’s back. He, as if to say, 「Get out of the way」, glared at the princess. The extent of his intensity was already past being able to describe, but even under that gaze, the princess didn’t tremble a bit. Far from that, she even let out a small chuckle. I couldn’t help but be awed.

「Entering a lady’s room without knocking, what exactly are you planning?」

At the princess’s teasing tone, he narrowed his eyes and stared at her. I could sense invisible sparks going off in the space between them. Should I stop this? Ah, but I don’t have the courage to step between these two right now. In the end all I could do was be silent, looking back and forth between the princess’s back and Edi’s grim face.