Chapter 80

The news that the princess would visit the school festival spread throughout the school in an instant. It also became known that I and Magilka would be her escorts.

(Dangerous. If I had done it alone, I would have stood out completely.)

"Miss, here's your schedule for today."

"Oh, okay, okay."

In the carriage heading to the school, I straightened my posture at Tütte's words.

"At lunchtime, you have two consultations for Areyos' performance. After classes, you will observe the security training of the Solos group and have a consultation with Iencho. After that, the Areyos group wants to discuss communication magic. Once that's done, you'll adjust the security budget with Safina, then head to the training ground for tag practice, and finally, you'll meet with Magilka regarding the princess..."

"Wh-what, wait a minute, aren't my plans getting more and more every day? How much running around will I have to do in one day?"

"Even this has been adjusted and reduced. Everyone is doing this for the first time, so they come to you for your solid image."

I closed my eyes and pressed my forehead at Tütte's words.

(I don't have a solid image either. But, I guess someone with a little knowledge seems more solid than someone who knows nothing. Plus, being relied on is something I never experienced in my previous life, so I'm kind of happy. But, if I get more work, I'll stand out, won't I?)

Feeling a bit uneasy, my packed schedule started for the day.

"By the way, Miss Mary, do you have any plans for your next day off?"

"Next day off?"

While moving after class, Magilka asked, so I checked my mental schedule.

"I don't think I have any plans."

I confirmed with Tütte, who nodded in agreement.

"No, you don't have any plans."

"That's good. There's an event I want you to attend on your next day off."

"Really? Sure, what kind of event?"

We continued our conversation while walking.

"It's a tea party hosted by the princess."

At Magilka's casual statement, I stopped in my tracks with a forced smile.

"Huh? What did you say?"

"It's a tea party hosted by the princess."

I asked again with a strained smile, and Magilka stopped, answering with a smile.

"No way, Magilka, stop joking. Hehe♪"

"Hehe♪ No, Miss Mary, you should know I don't joke like that."

From the outside, it might look like we were having a graceful conversation, but inside, I had no such composure. I forced a smile, and a silence fell between us.

"I have something to do."

"You just confirmed you don't."

The moment I tried to make an excuse, Magilka cut me off. Another silence followed.

"Why do I have to attend such a grand event?"

My smile turned to a crying face as I complained and grabbed Magilka's shoulder.

"Apparently, the princess wants to meet you since you're serving as her escort. So, she's suddenly hosting a tea party on your next day off."

"But, but, the invitation hasn't arrived, so it's invalid, right?"

"It will probably arrive today or tomorrow. I was also asked to confirm it."

(Grrrr, this event that makes my stomach churn is happening on my day off during this busy time.)

"O-of course, Magilka will attend with me, right? Since you're also an escort."

"I've met the princess before, so I don't need to meet her again, but..."

"Please, Magilka! Attend with me!"

I shook her shoulder, and her head shook along with it.

"Stop, stop! I feel sick!"

"Please, please!"

Lately, I've been resorting to any means necessary, but I had no intention of stopping. I couldn't go to the princess alone; I was confident I'd mess something up.

(Actually, I messed up when I first met the prince too.)

"Alright, alright, stop shaking me!"

Magilka, who was turning pale, gave in again, and I stopped shaking her, relieved. She still looked unsteady and pale.

"Sorry, Magilka. I asked too much."

"Hehe... It's fine... I intended to attend with you anyway."

"Thank you, Magilka."

Grateful for such a wonderful friend, I smiled at her, and she shyly looked away, mumbling something I couldn't hear.

Before I knew it, the tea party that made my stomach churn arrived. I was now heading to the palace in a carriage.

(Come to think of it, I once went to the palace and was sent back due to Magilka's interference. At that time, I only stayed in the waiting room, so is this my first real visit to the palace? Can I turn back like last time... No, that's impossible.)

As we approached the palace, I alternated between hoping to escape and feeling disappointed, my fragile mental state.

(Sigh, I thought I had calmed down recently, but it was just that I had gotten used to it. When something new comes up, I'm overwhelmed. Oh, what if I make a mistake in front of the princess?)

I imagined scenarios that hadn't happened and fueled my own anxiety.

"What should I do, Tütte? My hands are shaking from nervousness."

Looking at Tütte, who was sitting across from me, I found her as stiff as I was.

"W-what should we do, Miss? I'm shaking too."

(For a commoner like Tütte, meeting the princess is like meeting a celestial being. It's no wonder she's more nervous than me.)

We held each other's trembling hands, and I felt a bit less tense. We stayed like that for a while.

Then, the carriage stopped with a jolt, and my heart skipped a beat.

"We've arrived, Miss."

Tütte let go of my hand and got out to prepare. Soon, I followed and was greeted by waiting maids, who led me to the waiting room again.

Inside, Magilka was already there, sitting on a sofa. She stood up and greeted me.

"Good afternoon, Miss Mary."

"G-good, good afternoon, Magilka."

"Hehe, you don't need to be so nervous. Today's tea party is a personal event with only the princess. Besides, the princess is very kind. You'll be fine unless you do something really bad."

(I'm the one who might do something really bad, which is scary.)

I internally commented on Magilka's reassuring words. Meeting Magilka seemed to ease my tension a bit.

After a while, a palace maid led us to the prepared area. I walked stiffly to the open courtyard in the palace.

Two women were seated at a luxurious table in the quiet space.

One was an adult woman around my mother's age, and the other looked to be around my age.

(Huh? Wasn't this supposed to be a personal event with only the princess? Could there be two princesses?)

Confused, I watched as the maid announced us to the princess and quickly left. Tütte also followed suit.

"Thank you for inviting us, Your Highness."

Magilka bowed respectfully, and I hurriedly followed suit.

"T-thank you for inviting me."

(I stuttered and even stumbled over my words!)

My face turned red as I bowed, trembling with embarrassment.

"Oh, how cute. You must be Mary."

A very kind voice reached my ears, and I replied, "Yes," while raising my head. The adult woman sitting in the chair was looking at me with a smile. She had the same beautiful golden hair as the prince, styled up, and her blue eyes met my golden ones, making my heart race.

"Hmph, silver hair... Bwah!"

A soft, dry sound echoed in the courtyard as the woman next to her, a girl around my age, clutched her head. The princess, who had been smiling, had probably hit her with a closed fan.

However, I was more focused on the girl who had been hit. Her hair was a deep orange, with wavy locks that reached her waist, gradually turning pink at the ends. Her unusual hair color was striking, but what surprised me more were the horns on her head.

Yes, horns.

The girl had two beautiful horns on her head.

"It hurts! What are you doing?!"

She rubbed the back of her head, tears in her eyes, and glared at the princess. Her eyes were a deep red, and her fangs were visible.

I recognized this appearance. I had only been taught about it, but these were the people known as the "demon race" in this world.

(Ah! Demons, demons! They're real! Someone, get a camera!)

The same excitement I felt when I met the dwarf Deodora overwhelmed my nervousness.

"Oh, I'm sorry for surprising you. This girl suddenly decided to visit, so I let her join."

Thinking I was staring at the girl, the princess (likely the adult woman, given the demon) explained.

"N-no, it's fine."

I hurriedly bowed.

"Hehe, this is..."

"My name is 'Emilia Relirex.' From the dark island, the Kingdom of Relirex, bwah!"

Interrupting the princess, the girl stood up, hands on her hips, and introduced herself loudly. Midway through, she was hit again with a dry sound by the princess's fan.

"That's not ladylike, Emilia."

(Where's the kindness in the princess? She's scary even with a smile. And, does Emilia not learn?)

All my previous tension vanished, and I watched the unfortunate beauty with a warm gaze.