Chapter 35
“Tia!”
“Tia!”
Hey, I called first.
You, just back off.
Killian and Adel glared at each other and muttered something under their breaths…? They definitely did…!
Then Adel shoved Killian aside and came running to me in a rush.
“Adel!”
“I missed you, Tia!”
“I’m so happy to see you!”
The moment she saw me, Adel wiped away the fierce look she’d been wearing and beamed brightly.
“Have you been well?”
Adel came close and held out her hand in front of me. The skin between her palm and fingers was red, scraped and raw in several places.
“Look, Tia! I’ve been practicing swordsmanship a lot lately, so I got blisters on my hands.”
“Oh dear… Our Adel shouldn’t get calluses on her pretty hands.”
“It’s fine. Even if I do, I’ll become a knight strong enough to protect you, Tia.”
I’ll never let that guy take your side from me.
There was something chilling about the way Adel muttered this, and it sent shivers down my spine.
“Hm? What did you say?”
“Nothing. Hehe.”
Adel smiled, her cheeks flushing pink. Stunning beauty. Adel’s too pretty. That dazzling blonde hair, those warm purple eyes—seriously, is Adel a warm tone? A cool tone? Or just one ton of cuteness dropped straight into my life?
I was grinning like an idiot, my jaw practically hanging, when Killian cleared his throat with a sharp ahem.
Oh shoot! My ultimate favorite. My joy. My vitamin is right here!
“Killian!”
“Tia.”
“Did you miss me?”
It was just a half-joking, half-serious question filled with all my dreams and hopes and wishes, but maybe I got too greedy.
Killian pursed his lips, then twitched them, then pouted, then pressed them together, even bit them, before finally answering with a stiff expression.
“W-well… yeah, something like that.”
Maybe I shouldn’t have asked. After all, I’m just a childhood friend.
I mean, I’ve been running east, west, north, and south to lay a flower path for you, and you can’t even say you missed me? I almost felt sulky…!
But as someone who passionately supports the love line between my favorite and second favorite, I decided that lukewarm answer was understandable!
Exorcism of Sulky Ghost: successful!
“I see. Thanks, Killian. I missed you so much!!!”
“Y-yeah. Tia.”
I flashed Killian a bright smile before heading toward the princess’s palace. Adel skipped up and hooked her arm through mine, and Killian, who had been lost in thought, only came running after I shouted, “Killian! What are you doing! Hurry up!”
“Phew. Why’d you have to ask something that makes my heart race like that…”
Muttering to himself with a flushed face, Killian’s words were drowned out by Adel (who was undeniably the Marquess of Lwendif’s daughter) chattering away nonstop beside me.
“Ugh, it’s hot.”
“Seriously… huuuh… so hot…”
“Drink more water, guys. Hydration is important in this weather!”
I plopped some precious ice cubes into Adel and Killian’s cups.
The day was unbearably hot, so swordsmanship lessons had been canceled. Can’t risk heatstroke or sunstroke. In the end, we were stuck indoors!
“I want to go to DeArc. Playing at the beach would be so refreshing.”
Killian nodded at my words.
“Yeah. That was really fun back then.”
“And the strawberries were so big and sweet.”
This time Adel crunched into an ice cube before chiming in.
“Yeah! And the sand was so soft. And the time… time…?”
“Time capsule!”
“Right! That! I wonder if it’s still there.”
“We buried it super deep, so of course it’s fine. It doesn’t even have legs.”
Like it could’ve run away.
Killian scolded with a grumble, and Adel’s eyes rolled again.
Oh gosh, here we go again!!! But honestly, thank you. Childhood-friend-rivalry flavor, delicious!
I never realized kids squabbling could be this adorable. Back when I ran a taekwondo studio, I barely got to see any bickering thanks to all the parents hovering.
Well, I did see a lot of “tee” in Taekwondo. Hmph.
Anyway! Talking about DeArc gave me a brilliant idea.
“Liz!!!”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Can we go play in the grand bathhouse?”
“Huh? The grand bathhouse?”
“Yeah. It’s so hot. Wouldn’t it be fun to splash around there?”
“Oh! Water play…! Just a moment! I’ll check with the chief attendant and get permission from the aide too. Please wait a bit.”
“Okay!”
Seeing the sparkle of excitement in my eyes, Liz hurried out of the palace.
“Grand bathhouse? Where’s that?”
Adel asked. I refilled her cup before answering.
“It’s on the top floor of my dad’s palace. Super mega ultra wide. If we fill it with water and swim, it’ll be amazing, right?”
“Wow! Swimming? That sounds so fun!”
“Right? Smart idea, huh? Hehe.”
“Totally! Tia, you’re so clever!”
Adel clapped like a seal. My shoulders rose with pride. Hehe. But then I noticed Killian wasn’t reacting at all, which was strange.
“Killian?”
“Yes, Tia.”
“Are you okay? Are you scared of water? Or can’t you swim?”
“No, nothing like that. If you like it, then I like it too, water.”
Right, the original story never said Killian feared water. If it did, I would know. Then why does he look so gloomy?
Still, Killian just gave me a faint smile without another word.
Not long after, Liz returned, looking cheerful—permission granted.
“We can?”
“Yes, of course, Your Highness.”
“Oh, yes!!!”
“Yay!!! That’s great!!!”
“They said it’ll take some time to fill with water, so in the meantime, Your Highness, Young Lord, and Lady should change into proper clothes first.”
“Okay!”
“Yes!”
Liz chuckled.
“You all already look so excited.”
“Of course! It’s boiling hot and we were bored.”
“True. I’ll go fetch suitable outfits for swimming.”
“Got it. Thanks, Liz.”
Adel and I clapped our hands together and squealed with glee.
Was Killian’s lukewarm attitude just my imagination? I was curious, but sorry, my seven-year-old body got way too hyped for water play.
Liz returned with outfits that looked suspiciously like swimsuits. Bright and colorful—not really my taste. Worst of all was a swim cap covered in flowers.
Is this [Moonflower] author’s taste? Or a setup?
As far as I remember, there wasn’t a water play episode. So why are there swimsuits in this world, huh, author?
Author! If you’re watching, give me an answer!
I was grumbling when—oh my gosh!!! I almost fainted!!!
Adel came out first, dressed in a bright yellow swimsuit, and struck my overheated heart like lightning.
Come here, my cute little yellow chick.
“Kyaaa! Adel!!! Aren’t you too cute?!”
“Heheh. Am I cute, Tia?”
“Totally!”
So this is Tia’s taste. I’ll remember that. Hmhm.
Adel mumbled something strange, but it went in one ear and out the other.
Wow… can I change my favorite? No, get a grip, Tia! You haven’t seen Killian yet!
I swallowed hard, imagining him in a swimsuit.
Even just the thought—praise-worthy.
Really unfair. Amazing.
A war will break out in the Empire today.
Cute-war, pretty-war, lovely-war!
While I was fangirling, the door opened and Killian walked in, led by Liz.
“Haaa…”
Who needs inner beauty? That’s worthless!
Outer beauty is king!
The most dazzling perfection, a god-given absolute beauty, had descended before me!
They say God made Killian?
No, Killian is God.
Seeing this for free—where did you sell your conscience, Celestia Mond?
Killian, in a swimsuit with a blue checkered pattern on a white base, was pure fantasy.
Out of this world…
Oh no… my nose stings…
“Oh my! Your Highness! A nosebleed!!!”
And just like that, Liz hauled me away.
“Wow!!! So refreshing!”
“Look, guys, I can hold my breath! Blubblubblub.”
“Tia! Are you okay? Tia!”
The three of us splashed happily in the pleasantly warm water of the grand bathhouse.
We lost track of time, kicking up water, swimming, then eating the snacks Liz brought when we got hungry.
For hours, we played until we were soaked like wet cotton.
“Liz?”
“Your Highness, you’re awake?”
“Did we fall asleep? When?”
“On the way back to the palace.”
Apparently, as if on cue, we each collapsed one after another, and the knights carried us to bed.
“I see. Hehe. We must’ve played too hard. Where are Killian and Adel now? Still napping?”
“Yes. In the guest rooms. But, Your Highness… there’s something I must tell you.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“I thought you should know…”
And then, when the words finally left Liz’s lips, I could only stare in shock and burst into tears.
