--Christ side --


    I think we''re getting where we want to start.


    But you can''t get out yet.


    Right now, the soldiers are checking outside to make sure that there are no suspicious characters.


    Normally we wouldn''t be this careful, but this time is different.


    But this time is different, because we have information that someone is coming after us here.


    The information is highly credible because it comes from Eric and his team who entered the country as spies earlier.


    The soldiers are doing their best to deal with the situation because they know that their lives are being threatened.


    We in the carriage, of course, are also nervous........


    ''''Irene, let''s play rock-paper-scissors.


    ''Yes, Alisa!　First goo, then rock-paper-scissors, then pom-poms!


    ''Oh, I win. So, do you want to do something to punish me?


    Well, punishment?　Oh no, I didn''t hear that...!


    Sorry about that, soldiers.


    The two girls looked like they were having fun playing rock-paper-scissors right in front of me.


    I didn''t expect my maid, Alisa, to get along so well with Princess Irene of the Harzion Kingdom....


    I''m sure you''ll be pleased to know that Alisa has been calling Princess Irene out, and Princess Irene has been calling her by her title.


    I''m sure it''s a sign that they''ve gotten to know each other a lot better since Princess Irene called her "Arisa-sama" at first.


    It''s a good thing that you''re older than Arisa, because she''s older than you, but the position she''s in....


    Well, it''s not for me to say.


    I''m just a soldier and I''m a good friend of Eric''s.


    Princess Irene seems very happy.


    And so is Alisa.


    I''ve heard that Princess Irene, like me, was lonely without her friends of the same s*x.


    Alisa didn''t have any friends of the same s*x that were close in age, so I guess it was good for both of us.


    As I was doing that, Anne''s bosom, sitting next to me, began to shake slightly.


    A small but audible sound was made as well.


    ''Excuse me,''


    Anne said a few words and then took out something that was in her pocket.


    There was a clicking sound of something being pressed, and the tool...probably a magic tool, stopped vibrating.


    ''''Yes, this is Anne.


    Anne brought that magic tool close to her mouth and said that.


    Is that a magic tool that can communicate?


    There are only a few people Anne can contact right now.


    In other words, the person she''s talking to about that grimoire........


    It''s Eric Aulin.


    What...?


    The one who reacted the most to the words that came from the magic tool was Princess Irene.


    Princess Irene immediately said, "Ah........" and put her hands over her mouth, her face turning bright red.


    The way she stained her cheeks in embarrassment was smiling and cute.


    ''''.........Commander Anne?　Please respond.


    Oh, yes, we''re fine.


    It seems that Anne was also momentarily distracted by Princess Irene and was slow to reply.


    However, the person to contact is still Eric.


    I''m sure the only person who can contact you at this time is Eric, who has been infiltrating and protecting us from the shadows.


    I''m sure you''ll be able to find and capture a person who appears to be an assassin a short while ago.


    ''Roger, good job. There may be others out there, so keep up the good work.


    I understand. I''d like to focus on the areas that your soldiers can''t handle.


    It seems that Eric is very good at what he does, and he''s already caught the killer.


    That''s my best friend.


    It looks like this is going to be a clerical matter, so I talk to Anne.


    "Anne, give it to me. I want to talk to Eric too.


    "...Prince Christopher, this is for business purposes. I would appreciate it if you would refrain from using it for personal use.


    Come on, a little bit.


    Anne sighs dumbly and then reluctantly hands me the magic tool.


    ''Eric, it''s me. It''s Christo.


    "What?　Christo?


    Yeah, good to see you. How have you been?


    ''Oh, yeah, I''m fine. I mean, why is Christo?


    I asked Anne to do it for me.


    "You''re forcing me to do that...


    How do you know it''s forced?


    .........Well, there''s no way Anne would give it to me myself, so I guess it''s normal to know.


    I was going to have a bit of a chat and immediately return it to Anne.......but I heard Alisa say something outrageous in front of me.


    ''''Oh, yes. Irene, why don''t you have a word with Eric-sama?


    What?


    At Alisa''s suggestion, Princess Irene raised her voice while her face turned bright red.


    ''''Oh no, it''s too sudden, I''m not prepared for it...!


    It''s time for your punishment. Christo my prince. Could you hand me that grimoire?


    Alisa ignored Princess Irene, smiled at me and held out her palm as if to say, "Give it to me.


    But Eric is also curious about Princess Irene, he seems to like her rather well.......okay.


    "Eric, I''ll give it to you.


    "Hmm?　''Yeah, okay,''


    You probably think that Eric is going to be replaced by Commander Anne.


    But it''s Alisa who I''m going to give the grimoire to, and it''s Princess Irene who I''m going to give it to.


    ''''Look, Irene.''''


    Oh, my God, really?


    Alisa placed the magic tool in the palm of Princess Irene''s hand, forcing her to hand it to her.


    Princess Irene''s face turned bright red as she fearfully held the magic tool to her mouth.


    ''Yes ... hmm?　Isn''t that Commander Anne...?''''


    No, it''s Irene Harzion.


    ''What?　Irene!


    ...Me and Alisa were struggling to hold our mouths to keep from laughing.