77 And Who Are You? (1/2)
The new week has begun, and along with it the tournament proper.
Apparently Nee-san has to go into the arena first. So I am alone in looking for the special seating, ticket in hand.
This fancy and gold-leafed ticket truly does shout 'special seat.' Upon following the directions on its back, I find myself in front of an extremely extravagant door. Unlike normal seats, this place alone is mysteriously isolated.
I'm thinking 'nah it's probably not here, right?' while showing the ticket to the staff standing before the door, but turns out it really is here.
I am guided into the room with extreme courtesy. But the instant I step inside, I want to leave.
This place is no 'special' seating. This is the VVIP seating.
It's filled with some ridiculously high ranked nobles and their families. Almost the entirety of the Academy's top caste are gathered. Over there is the daughter of the current leader of the Magic Swordsman Knight Order, and that ikemen over there is the second son of a Duke's family. Oh wow, I actually recognize a few of them from Royal Capital Bushin Style Group 1's class.
After taking the seat that I am guided to, I realize that I am right next to royalty.
”Ara, who might you be?”
Red eyes and hair the color of flames. She is none other than Alexia's older sister, Princess Iris Midgar.
”I am Sid Kagenou. It appears that there's been some mistake with the seating arrangements. Please pardon me.”
I clinch an elegant about face and attempt an escape.
”Ara, so you are Claire-san's younger brother. Which would mean that Claire-san had given you the ticket.”
”... You know of my sister?”
My escape attempt has fallen flat. There's no way I can pretend to not hear when a member of royalty talks to me. With the sole exception of Alexia, of course.
”Indeed. The incident where my younger sister was kidnapped was what triggered our relationship. Claire-san plans to join the Crimson Order after her graduation. Please, take your seat.”
”Umm...”
”There's no mistake with the seating arrangement. Kindly take your seat.”
”... By your leave.”
How can I refuse Princess Iris' honest smile? If it was Alexia's pure evil smile then I could have easily just flicked my middle finger and turned right around though.
”I've heard much about Sid-san from Claire-san. I'm quite envious at how close the two of you are.”
”Uh, I don't think we're actually that close, really.”
”Speaking of which, Sid-san has been getting along well with Alexia too, haven't you?”
”Rather than 'getting along well,' we're... our relationship is more like one picking up the gold coins that the other throws, I guess.”
”Throwing gold coins?”
”Like throwing a bone for a dog to retrieve.”
”Oh, so you two have been playing together with a dog? Thank you for playing together with Alexia.”
”Eh, not really 'with' a dog, I'm the dog... ah never mind. Oh, right, the gold coins originate from the royal family, so I'm the one who's actually been taken care of.”
Princess Iris appears to be smiling from the bottom of her heart while listening to me.
”Alexia and Sid-kun truly are getting along well, I'm so glad.”
”No, no, that's not really true, at all.”
”Alexia was originally supposed to come today also, but she suddenly said that she had something else to do...”
”Haha, is that so.”
”I'll apologize on her behalf, is that alright?”
”No, no, no, please pay it no mind. Really.”
And that's pretty much how our conversation is going as I continue sipping on the complimentary drinks.
”Which participants are Iris-sama paying attention to this year?”
So asks the daughter of the current leader of the Magic Swordsman Knight Order.
”Ah, I wish to know too.”
The ducal family's second son ikemen joins in.
Apparently they got to know Princess Iris personally through Royal Capital Bushin Style.
”I'm looking at all the participants who made their way to the tournament proper, but if I really have to mention one...”
Princess Iris places a hand on her cheek while choosing her words.
”The former member of the 'Seven Swords of Begalta' Annerose-san, I suppose. I am familiar with many of the faces participating in this year's tournament, but it's her first time in this one. I saw her final match in the prelims, and she truly is strong. Once she wins her first round, she'll be facing off against me, so I'm looking forward to it quite a bit...”