Volume 5 Chapter 1.1 (2/2)

For a short while we walk down the long and spacious corridor, going further and further away from the hustle and bustle of the noises coming from outside. Eventually we arrived at the waiting room meant for the stars of today’s show. From the moment we entered, the splendor of this room was something that almost left me speechless. And it was only partially because of the luxurious furniture that the room was filled with. The bigger part were the people waiting here.

「…… It’s been a while, everyone.」

It was a polite and official greeting, to which four bright smiles responded with no hesitation.

「Oh, if it isn’t Filmina. I’m so glad that you came.」

It was the Princess Clementine, dressed in a light robes, pure-white in color, looking more like a shrine maiden’s dress rather than the Princess’s formal attire. She let her long light hair loose and placed some seasonal flowers in them. Her smile was as gentle and dazzling like those flowers, looking exceptionally beautiful.

Being able to be seated right next to the Princess just like that was a true honor, one that someone of my status would never be able to experience. Right next to her was a table with served tea and some sweets, and across that table there was sitting the Commander of the Knights with his long red hair. Wearing the official knight uniform with a lion’s emblem on a blue background and embroidered with silver thread, he was the object of adoration for many young women across the kingdom. Seeing me, the Commander waved his hand at me and pointed towards the tea and sweets while smiling brightly.

「Ohh, it’s certainly been a while, Filmina! I can see that you’ve grown to be quite a beauty!」

Another trait of his was that he was able to blurt such lines so fast and without any hesitation. It was such a powerful ability that even the most reserved and rule-obsessed noblewomen couldn’t stop blushing in front of him. In response to his words I bow politely while raising the hem of my dress, pretending not to notice the look of irritation on that man’s face.

「Thank you very much. And I see you are as good when it comes to compliments as ever, Alhelm-sama.」

「You know me, I hate being stiff. But the look on your husband’s face scares me more than anything else. Right, Juli?」

「Yeah, umm, that’s right. It might be rude of me to say this, but I do believe that dealing with hordes of demons was less scary than that look on his face right now.」

The Knights Commander says it was like that, pointing towards a man that approached the Princess and greeted her with a brilliant and dazzling smile on his lips. A little bit too dazzling if you asked me. That man was the most important person in today’s celebration. The Brave Hero himself.

A young man by the name of Julifaretto Lila Strenwihain, a noble youth with gorgeous blonde hair and dazzling green eyes. He came here today all the way from the province in disguise, and only recently changed his clothes to that of the nobleman, which looked really good on him. He saw us and flashed a smile, to which we all answered with the same gesture.

「Juli-sama, it looks like you’re in good health.」

「Ever since the festival earlier this year we’ve been exchanging letters, but I’m glad that we’ve met in person like that.」

「Yes, I’m glad as well.」

Anyway, together with me, he was a member of a little thing we were calling Agedilus’s Watchers Alliance”. Although we were exchanging status reports in the letters there was only so much that could be said that way, so I was truly pleased that I could finally meet him like that in person. And his smile was as dazzling as ever, making me want to look away just so that I wouldn’t be blinded by it.

Even though my husband is very handsome himself, and even though I was told that there are different kinds of beauty in this world, I don’t think I will ever get used to this man’s handsomeness. It was so unique that it was almost feeling unusual. With that all said and done, Juli went towards the window to observe the people outside.

「Good day to you, Filmina-san.」

Then I was approached by a young man with grey-silver hair and bright eyes which seemed to be reflecting the depth of the sky itself. Just like myself, that young man looked as though he felt totally out of place being here. I bowed my head slightly and returned the greeting.

「Widnicol-sama, it’s certainly been a while since we’ve last met. I hope that you’re in good health?」

「T, thank you so much!」