Chapter 99
“Ahem, ahem. Memories sealed within the relic, release yourself this instant!”
Despite my cheerful shout, the room remained terrifyingly silent.
A sudden wave of embarrassment washed over me, and I hastily lowered the holy sword I had raised to the sky.
Ha… as expected, it’s no use.
I let out a deep sigh, feeling disappointment press down on me like the ground itself.
To obtain the second divine beast’s relic, I absolutely had to unlock the fragment of history sealed within the holy sword.
Only by perfectly completing the quest could I get a hint about the next divine beast’s habitat.
But… how exactly am I supposed to unlock it?!
If I drew the holy sword, shouldn’t the historical fragment automatically unlock itself or something?
I’d tried every method I could think of since yesterday, but every attempt ended in failure.
Feeling glum, I thought maybe I should go see the pandas…
Amid my mounting stress, a memory of what Pin and Ciel had told me came to mind.
They said the village of Sioran, where the panda forest was, sold all kinds of panda goods, right?
Last time, I couldn’t really enjoy it because of Gaius, so this time I was determined to properly explore!
Yes, when you’re feeling down, nothing beats showing off some animal merchandise.
With a bright expression, I began getting ready to go out.
“I’m thinking of going to Sioran Village for a bit.”
“Okay, I’ll come with you.”
“What…? You’re not busy?”
“Not at all. And of course, wherever my master goes, I have to follow.”
“Prince…”
From behind Leon, the expression of Head Butler Raymond, holding a towering pile of documents, visibly darkened.
Poor Mr. Raymond…
Looking at Leon’s face, which looked as though he would never bend his will, I let out another deep sigh.
Ever since the tea party hosted by Princess Rosalyn, Leon had been noticeably overprotective of me.
Thanks to that, I was spared from annoying parties and events, but wherever I went, Leon followed like a shadow.
And since he had declared me as his fiancée at the tea party, I had been pestered with questions from the king and queen about when we would officially formalize the engagement and how grand the ceremony would be.
Even those working at Leon’s palace treated me with the utmost care, as if I were his fiancée, and gifts and party invitations from the young ladies present at the tea party kept arriving almost daily.
Ugh, that tiger really doesn’t help my life at all!
And why is he so overprotective, when I’m not some fragile child?
I had told him a hundred times that even a minor burn could be quickly healed with a handkerchief of healing, but he ignored me.
The healing mage summoned to the palace could finally use their magic only after being drained to exhaustion and escaping Leon’s constant threats about cutting off their head if they didn’t heal me immediately.
Seeing the mage carried away, cheeks hollow like a skull, I felt so sorry…
Thanks to that, my condition was more than perfect—I had the skin of a queen—but…
I still couldn’t understand why Leon would make such a fuss over something so trivial.
Really… in this, he’s just like Ruan.
Of course, I never said that aloud.
Just the mere mention of Ruan’s name would send Leon into a furious rage.
Still… even though he often crossed paths with Ruan at balls and events, why were they on such bad terms?
I wondered if Ruan had arrived safely…
I regretted that we hadn’t had a proper farewell, since the situation forced us to part abruptly.
…Who was that voice I heard through the communicator, anyway?
Well, if you’re sending me letters, you could at least talk about our friends too.
I’d written in detail about what crops were planted in our little garden…
Thinking back to how I had acted prickly toward Ruan out of a sense of disappointment, regret washed over me.
I opened the small accessory box by my bedside.
Inside, the butterfly necklace Ruan had given me sparkled.
Carefully, I reached for it and ran my fingers over the butterfly with its purple gem.
A pair of butterflies, one with purple stones and one with blue…
Somehow, it felt symbolic of Ruan and me.
I handed the necklace to my maid, Pin, and spoke softly.
“Can you put this around my neck?”
“Oh my, what a pretty necklace! Please sit here, I’ll put it on for you.”
“Thank you, Pin.”
“…That was given by the young master, wasn’t it?”
At that moment, Leon, having sent Raymond away, looked at the back of my neck and asked.
“Huh? Ah… um, it’s said to be an expensive artifact… I asked for it because it’s pretty.”
Even though he didn’t ask, I found myself rambling excuses like someone caught cheating.
It’s all because Leon gets so sensitive whenever Ruan’s name comes up.
Then, Leon’s expression changed subtly as he looked at me.
“Let’s go on our date, Master.”
Hmm, what a fantastic shopping trip.
I sipped plum blossom tea with a satisfied face, holding a heap of panda goods in my arms.
Sioran Village, with its rich oriental atmosphere, truly lived up to being called Panda Village.
Panda plushes, panda-shaped desserts, clothes with panda prints…
Ah, I even bought a new panda apron here.
Hee hee hee, I’ll give this to Mr. Golem as a gift~
This village is perfect for spending money!
“Master, do you really like pandas that much?”
Jealous Leon asked with a pouty face.
One eyebrow was cocked like he was showing displeasure.
“Need I say? Pandas are the cutest creatures in the world.”
“Zoe. Didn’t you say I’m the cutest? Kyuu!”
“Of course, our Ruby is cute too!”
I petted Ruby, who had plumped up nicely under the maid’s careful care.
Ah, our Ruby… being spoiled properly here.
“Hmph, if we’re talking cuteness, wouldn’t a tiger be cuter?”
Bang—
“See? Cute, right?”
“Eek…! You transformed like this in public again…!”
“Master prefers me like this.”
I couldn’t argue.
Before I knew it, I was petting Leon’s head, now in tiger form.
“See? I only pet you when you’re a tiger.”
“Of course, you silly tiger. Kyuu! Our Zoe only finds animals cute, thoroughly! Kyuu!”
Ruby…
Well, it’s true, but… honestly, how could I not pet him seeing him so adorable?!
“The panda special dessert you ordered… Ah, isn’t that the Second Prince?!”
“Oh, indeed! That shining golden fur and those brave claws…! It really is the Second Prince!”
The waiter’s overexcited exclamation drew everyone’s eyes to our table.
I felt my newly vanquished fear of being stared at threatening to return.
All the effort of wrapping myself in robes meant nothing, this stupid tiger!
Sigh… it looks like quiet sightseeing is impossible.
I whispered hurriedly to Leon.
“Leon, let’s head back to the palace. Quickly, change back to human form!”
“Get on my back.”
“What?! Fine. Let’s go before more people gather!”
Stubborn again!
I ignored him and climbed onto his lowered back, exasperated.
Truly, child-rearing difficulty level: maximum… Your Highness Avalon…
I hurriedly climbed onto Leon’s back.
With souvenirs for friends purchased and sightseeing in Avalon successfully completed, I had no regrets.
Once the events the king asked us to attend were over, we could head straight home. The shops could wait.
“You silly tiger, go slowly! Kyuu!”
Well, as long as we make it back alive…
“Master, we’ve arrived. See, I got here faster than Ruby, right?”
“Th-thank you for letting us arrive alive…”
I clasped my hands toward the sky and silently prayed.
At this speed, being alive was an achievement in itself.
“Ugh, I feel sick… this stupid tiger… Kyuu…”
“Ruby… let’s go inside, take a warm bath, and eat.”
“Mm-hm—Kyuu!”
My hair was a mess, and the cold wind chilled me to the bone.
Just moments ago, it felt like my HP had been dropping by the second.
As I trudged toward the room, exhausted, Leon came toward me, holding something in his mouth.
“Master, take this.”
