I can’t even imagine it? What are you talking about? In his imagination, have Ihe already had me kneeling before him, begging?
“But why did you bring me out here?” Turning his words, he glanced over the window and asked.
Is it because half of the face is covered by the mask? It must have been a very long time. Redian’s eyes were indifferent as he looked at things passing by.
“Do you really want to let me see the festival?”
“Ah…”
That’s when I thought of it. I need to tell Redian about the monster hunting competition. But before I made that offer, I had something to give first.
“Like I said, you may come out occasionally in the future. As my escort knight.”
“…”
“Instead, you also have duties to fulfill as my escort knight.”
“A mission to do?”
“Yes.”
I spoke slyly. “I’m doing what I want for myself. When I need you, you help and protect me.”
“…It’s different from what you promised.”
Upon this, Redian raised one of his eyebrows.
“You said you would do everything for me, but now it sounds like I should do everything for you, right?”
“What?”
“You always said it. That you would protect me and do anything I wanted.”
It wasn’t wrong. Rather, in terms of logic alone, Redian’s argument was more correct. Still, how sincerely I have treated him so well… I can’t believe he gave such a heartless answer. However, I couldn’t show it off because it was something I did first.
“So.”
Now, there’s only one way.
“You don’t like it?”
“…”
“You don’t want to be my escort knight?”
Redian, who was staring at me quietly, opened his mouth. “No. I like it.”
It was a clear and calm answer. Even if he said he didn’t want to, I would have tried to make him do it anyway. But… I was a bit surprised by this.
“But.” Then Redian spoke again. “Then can I also become Princess’s master?”
“What?”
It was a very innocent question, as if asking if I gave you work, shouldn’t you give me work too? It was a possible question because he grew up in a world of power, not status.
What about master? Soon, I’ll bow my head before him and call him Your Majesty.
“No. That can’t be.” I answered more firmly on purpose. “I’m your master, no matter what.”
“…”
I should enjoy this moment, even if it’s just for a short time. Of course, it still feels like I’m just a master in name only.
“It looks like we’ve arrived.”
Redian chewed my answer harshly and stood up.
“I’ll get off first.”
Just as the carriage stopped completely.
“…Master.”
Redian, who was moving out of my way, said like a passing word. He said master with that expression.
You rascal. You were smiling.
What about the master? He’s playing around with it.
* * *
Okay. Here it is. The carriage stopped a few steps ahead of a large building. The closer we got, the more magnificent and colorful the building became.
“…Why are we here?” said Redian, standing next to me, looking up at the building. He was asking why I brought him to a place like this.
If you follow me, you’ll know.
Those sparkling sapphires, pearls, and colorful rubies hanging from the mannequin’s ears and hands… This was the largest jewelry store in the capital.
“I told you. I only give you the best.”
“I don’t need this.”
“Do you know what this is?”
“…”
Did he think I came this far just to give him some rare gems? Huh.
“Wear your robe properly.” I covered his face a little deeper. We have to be more careful here.
I opened the door only after checking that Redian was completely hidden. I felt him forcefully follow me in.
“I’m sorry, Customer. Only people who already have a registered loyalty card can enter our salon.”
At that moment, the man who seemed to be the manager stood in my way. It was understandable because I wore a robe deeply without any reservation. Still, I was uncomfortable with those dismissive eyes looking me up and down.
“Please leave for a smooth shopping experience for our customers—”
“It’s been a while, Manager.” I flicked off my robe.
“…Who?”
My hidden golden hair flowed down.
“G-gasp, Princess!” Only then did the manager, who recognized my face, cover his mouth.
“Why haven’t you contacted me? No! Why did you come to see us now, Princess?” His eyes soon moved to tears.
“That’s what happened.”
“I can only see Princess’s dazzling and elegant beauty by looking at your photos in popular magazines. It’s too much!”
Why is he acting like that when we’re not that close?
Since it was the Felicite family, the manager should have given just the right treatment, but… the manager acted as if he had glorified all the old memories.
“Ah, it’s not time for me to be like this. I’ll quickly take you to the VIP room, Princess.”
He guided me with hand gestures, almost like measuring with a protractor.
“What are you doing? Princess Felicite is here.”
Then, he raised his eyebrows and encouraged the servants around him.
“Quickly prepare tea and dessert for the princess to enjoy.”
“Who? Princess Felicite?”
“Siani Felicite? Oh my, now wonder. I guess she’s a regular at this store.”
As soon as my identity was revealed, the quiet interior shook. Ah, this damn popularity.
“We have a new precious opal. Princess doesn’t have to pay for it if you wear it—”
“No, Manager. That’s not what I came today for.”
“Yes?”
“Is there a designer here called ‘Beowulf Hrunting’?”
“…T-that’s.”
At that moment, the manager’s face hardened.
“How on earth is Princess?”
“Guide me there.”
Beowulf Hrunting. That was the code for a magic store.
“Ah, ah, that’s…”
“I think the rule is that you will be guided if you know the code.” I quietly whispered to the hesitant manager.
“I-I understand.”
Eventually, the manager beckoned me as if to lead me to the VIP parlor.
“The jewel you’re looking for is in the underground vault, so I will personally take you to the parlor, Princess.”
“Sure.”
I followed him to the depths of the hall.
“Here it is.”
How long did we walk like that? A dead end appeared when the manager turned his foot around the corner. It seemed like it was designed to hang a bunch of amulets over it, but…
This is the right place. I realized that there was a talisman that the summoner hoped would stay for a long time.
“We can’t get this far either.”
At that moment, the wall cracked with a bang.
“If Princess keeps walking, you’ll come out. If that person moved, we don’t know where he went either.”
“How could he move the location if the business was doing so well?”
“Well. Considering that Princess didn’t come to visit our store, he might have moved the location. Gasp.”
The hallway is long.
I ignored the manager, who looked hurt, and took a step forward. “Let’s go, Rere.”
“Please… come back safely, Princess.”
The manager, who was saying goodbye to me, glanced at Redian wearing a robe. He seemed to be asking himself, ‘Is his name really Rere?’
Even after wrapping him up in layers, the presence of Redian couldn’t be hidden. Rather, it only became more secretive.
It’s a good thing I named him Rere. It’s a trivial and cute name, so it’s perfect for avoiding suspicion.
Then the wall slammed shut.
It came out in the original story.
A narrow, dark passageway opened.
To a magic store that shells famous swords.
This was a very secret place, known only to those who knew it. It was the chosen spot of the owner of the magic store, also known as a ‘Summoner.’
Come to my building in the future.
“Where are we?” Redian asked as he looked around the narrow passage.
“Here’s the present for you.”
I was going to say, ‘This is a present for you because you will soon have to participate in a monster hunting competition’ after giving the sword. But first, I have to bribe him. It would be better if I won.
“…By the way.”
“Yes?”
“Has Princess been featured in popular magazines?”
Redian’s voice rang through the increasingly dark passage. He wasn’t asking what kind of present it was, but popular magazines all of a sudden?
Ah. It occurred to me at the same time. It’s because the manager made such a fuss. As soon as I took off my robe, all attention was on me.
“I guess so.”
“Does everyone know Princess’s face?”
“Of course, they know.”
“Princess must be very famous.”
“It’s a familiar thing.”
Because this is the life of a celebrity.
“I guess.”
Redian suddenly became quiet and opened his mouth for the first time in a while. “I don’t think I’m the one who should wear the mask.”
“I can’t because my face is also my asset. Half the capital’s population will probably carry my photo around.”
“…Is that a good thing?”
It was meant as a joke, but I didn’t expect him to be so serious.
“Everything here is an illusion.”
There was a subtle sparkle somewhere.
It’s the Summoner!
An elderly gentleman dressed in a neat banquet suit appeared.
