''Since you''ve asked for more information about me, of course Lady Irene will be able to answer me, won''t she?
Yes, of course...
It''s like my position is reversed from earlier, and Alisa-sama is drawing her face closer to mine, and I''m feeling a bit drawn out.......
But after all, Arisa-sama seems to like this kind of story as well, and she''s getting into it.
''''Have you met Eric-sama before, Irenae-sama?''''
Yes, just once.
About three weeks ago, when I received word that the Kingdom of Begonia was being raided, I sought out and found Prince Christo, who had come to the Kingdom of Harzion as a sneak attacker.
I met Eric Aulin-sama for the first time.
''You knew Eric-sama before we met, didn''t you, Irene-sama?
''Yes, sir. It is no exaggeration to say that Master Eric has saved our country.
The Kingdom of Harzion was built by your father and is almost the only country of the demon race that interacts with other countries in a friendly manner.
I like this country very much, and I respect your father very much for building such a country and protecting the people as a king.
But a man named Felix Gladio defeated your father.
The king of a demon kingdom has to be stronger than everyone else in that kingdom.
With Felix having defeated your father, the next king of the country immediately became Felix''s.
And that man chose to go to war with other countries instead of interacting with them.
I hated it, and I was engaged to be that man''s betrothed, and I hated it so much I wanted to run away.
When I heard that your father and the servants found out about it and were trying to help you escape in exchange for your life, I was very chilled....
So Eric-sama, who defeated or even killed Felix, is the one who saved our country, your father and my life.
I am very grateful to Eric-sama for killing Felix.
I am grateful, but...
"I''m Nina. I''m Felix Gladio''s sister.
........Felix had a family, too.
And a heart for the country.
''''........Irene-sama? Are you okay?
'' Ha, yes, I''m fine.
Alisa-sama spoke to me and I huffed.
She seemed a bit dazed as she remembered her past.
''So, Irenae-sama, how is it really?''
Yes? What is it?
Do you adore Master Eric?
What...?
I''m the one who is going to pay homage to Master Eric...!
''No, no, no! I''ve only met you once and I can''t believe I''m adoring you...!
It doesn''t matter how many times you''ve done it. And I heard that Eric-sama saved the Kingdom of Harzion and the lives of Irene and others. I don''t think there''s anything to be ashamed of in admiring such a person.
Yes, that''s true, but...!
Certainly without exaggeration at all, Eric-sama saved my life and...!
I really, truly appreciate it from the bottom of my heart!
But that''s not the same thing as this...! No, I mean, you know, it''s not that I can''t adore Master Eric!
I had no idea that the one stronger than Felix, who easily defeated your father, was the same age as me.
I had heard his age and name before we met, but I was really surprised when I heard his age.
Then I met Eric-sama....
I really only met him for a short time, but he has a very kind face and yet he has powerful eyes...!
"Irene, I''ll be back to you.
I can still vividly remember the look on his face and voice when he said those words to me...!
''''We''ve only met once, and we haven''t been able to talk to each other at all...!
''I''m sure we''ll have a chance to meet again in the future. So, from Irene''s point of view, Master Eric isn''t a ''pear'' at least?
What do you mean by ''pear''...?
In being in love, it''s not impossible.
No, that would never... It''s not a ''pear''!
"So if it''s not a ''pear'', then it''s an ''ant'' to be in love with Master Eric?
''Yes, sir! ''Ali''!
I still don''t know if I''m embarrassed enough to remember it later to get the fire out of my face.
''Huh. That''s good to hear.
Yo, is this the right thing...?
''Yes, because I am very grateful to Eric, as I am to Irene,''
Is that so?
Alisa-sama, Prince Christo''s personal maid, is grateful to Eric-sama...?
''It''s about Christo. Christo is really happy to be friends with Master Eric.
''You talked about it in the carriage at lunch. That Master Eric is your only friend, no, your best friend.
''Yes, he''s very happy to be treated as a normal person and not as a prince.
I have the same problem, so I kind of understand.
I''ve never once resented my position as a princess, but there have been many times when I''ve wished I had a friend I could talk to easily.
''When Christo talks to me, most of the topics of conversation are Eric-sama. Between you and me, I get a little jealous.
''Hmph, is that so.......Alisa-sama.
Yes? What is it?
Alisa-sama looks at me curiously as I call her name with a reformed air.
A little nervously, I suggest something.
''''Why don''t we also become, well........friends.......?
'' It''s...!
No, I mean, if you can''t, that''s okay! If I may say so myself, a princess from a different country and a maid from a different country would be friends...!
I thought about what I would do if he refused, so I didn''t hurt myself.......I said the excuse that I was in a different position.
Oh, I didn''t want to say this...!
I don''t know how to make friends, so how can I...!
Lady Irene.
Yes!
''As a maid, I work in the Kingdom of Begonia without a hitch, but I have a few things to complain about.
Why, aren''t you satisfied?
''I don''t get a chance to make friends because I''m always working. So I can''t make Christo feel the same way I do. The idea of having him listen to me all the time with someone he''s close with who is different from me.
'' So, then...!
Lady Alisa smiled very beautifully and said to me.
''I want to tell Christo a story about my friend. Will you help me, Lady Irene? As a friend.
''Yes, sir! We''ll take care of it! We''re friends!
And so we continued to talk until late.
For the first time in my life, I had a female friend my age!