Chapter 280 - To the One I Was Waiting For
A tea party—in other words, she wanted to have a proper 'chat.' I'd made some preparations even before I knew who I was meeting.
Still, the timing was what it was.
Serving cake or coffee this close to midnight felt a bit much… and the resulting lineup was hardly something you'd offer to the renowned Princess.
I doubt many people have ever entertained the world-famous Alicia White with hot barley tea. I could be wrong, though.
"Delicious."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that…"
However, the person in question seemed completely engrossed in the homemade cheese cookies I'd served. They only had a hint of cheese flavor—I didn't use any actual cheese—and were ridiculously low-calorie, a standard late-night snack for me. I never imagined the day would come when I'd be serving them to a global celebrity.
I owe a debt of gratitude to Chef Nishikino, a forty-one-year-old father of two from the restaurant where I used to work. He's the one who taught me all sorts of cheap, healthy recipes back in my part-timer days.
I wonder how his twins are doing.
"…So? I assume you're going to explain this whole situation in detail, right?"
"Yes, I'll explain everything."
Iris—or rather, Alicia—nodded obediently at my question. Her aura was completely different here in the real world compared to the virtual one.
I suppose it's only natural, given the stark contrast between a casual real-life setting and a battle in Arcadia… but her straightforward replies to everything I said made her seem more innocent than her appearance suggested.
—And speaking of her appearance…
Back when I'd just started Arcadia, I saw her on TV and just assumed her looks were artificial. To think her real appearance was just a different color scheme… Honestly, even this high-end room provided by Yotsuya doesn't do her justice.
From silver-blue hair and garnet eyes to black and black.
Even though she had the default Japanese hair and eye color—a stark contrast to her name, White—no fellow countryman would ever think she was just like them.
It would be more believable if she were wearing a dress and tiara and introduced as a princess from some foreign land. It wasn't just that she was beautiful; the very air around her was different—
"—Haru?"
"It's nothing."
If I were to confess the truth, I'd have to admit I was captivated. Not as a man, necessarily, but more like a human being admiring a work of art.
"So… first of all, why is Iris here?"
As I asked, I started to feel a bit self-conscious about my own casual tone. It's impossible to guess her age from her looks, but more importantly, her standing in the world is leagues above a newcomer like me…
It might be too late, but maybe I should switch to more formal language.
"The same reason as you. I also received an offer from Yotsuya Development."
Ignoring the chaotic thoughts swirling in my head, Iris answered succinctly in the same sweet, cool voice she used in the virtual world.
Her initial awkwardness was gone, replaced by a confident composure.
…This is a minor point, but I really wish she'd stop staring at me so intently. I don't think anyone, man or woman, could remain unfazed under that gaze.
"The way you say that, it sounds like you received it at the same time…"
"Yes, just like you."
So that's… another mystery to add to the pile, is it?
Yotsuya reached out to me to protect me, an otherwise ordinary person in the real world. By doing so, he ensured that I, as a rising top player, wouldn't get bogged down by real-life troubles that could hinder my progress in the game.
So why approach Iris now?
She's in a position far more prominent and burdensome than mine, yet she's managed for three years without Yotsuya's help. Why now, of all times?
Or had he approached her before? Did she just happen to accept the offer at the same time I did?
If so, why did she refuse or postpone it until now?
And why did she suddenly decide to accept the offer?
…If I asked, she'd probably answer everything. But to be perfectly honest, right now my true feelings are—
"Hmm… I see."
Honestly, right now, I don't have the energy to dig into the nitty-gritty details.
Since she's here to see me, it must have something to do with me. I'm not saying I have no interest or curiosity, but do I need to know every single detail? …Probably not.
Besides, we're not close enough for me to be grilling her for personal information.
"Well then, I guess we're… colleagues? No, that's not right. Just because we're contracted with the same people doesn't mean we'll be working as a team or anything."
"That's… true. I have my own clan to lead."
"Right. So for now, I guess it's best to think of ourselves as comrades with the same goal."
"Yes, I suppose so."
"Okay. I get the picture, for now."
For Yotsuya, conquering Arcadia is like a lifelong dream. I still don't know the full story, but if that's the case, it makes sense he'd reach out to the strongest player.
So, for reasons I don't know, a contract that had been on hold finally moved forward after a few things happened. Yep, makes sense, makes sense.
There's just one little problem…
—The Princess before me looks completely unconvinced and is radiating a strange pressure in my direction.
"…Is that all?"
"Well, 'all'… I'm not even sure what else I should be asking, to be honest."
I was certainly surprised by Iris's sudden appearance. In fact, I was so surprised that I've looped back around to being calm. The whole situation—the [Sword Queen] relaxing in my room with barley tea and cookies—is just too surreal.
I can tell she's here for a reason, that she wants something from me.
But our relationship isn't deep enough for me to know whether I should be the one to ask about it… so I can't bring myself to do it.
I really hope this isn't some kind of payback from the girl I managed to get the better of, despite being a total newcomer. As I tried to deflect my own genuine nervousness with a joke—
"I see—I understand perfectly now."
The girl's entire aura changed distinctly.
It shifted from that somewhat relaxed, gentle demeanor to—
"H-Huh?"
—a presence so intense it made me unconsciously scoot my chair back a step… a mysterious force that put her in a true battle-ready stance.
While I recoiled from the unknown pressure, Iris quietly stood up, walked around the table, and approached me.
The distance between us was only a few steps.
It was the closest we'd been since we crossed swords the other day.
Unlike my virtual [Acrobat] persona, I had no way to dodge or escape. The girl leaned over me, planting her hands on the back of my chair and trapping me.
"Hey, wait, what are you—!?"
"You're not interested in me. Are you."
That was a misunderstanding, I mean, I am a little, I guess it's close, but—
"But more than that, you're completely oblivious to the interest others have in you."
"Wh-What are you talking about…"
"To be precise, you don't believe in your own worth."
"—… …………"
A sudden approach, followed by an out-of-the-blue analysis.
In the end, I was the one left speechless.
"But… that's fine—it doesn't matter."
Why did she just expose my innermost thoughts, then? I was about to complain when I realized.
—…She's lonely, isn't she?
—This is boring.
—There's no challenge.
—I'll make you smile.
—Enjoy this with everything you've got, Iris.
…What an idiot I am. How could I complain? I was the one who pried into her heart first.
We were two people who had clashed, baring our souls to one another.
Whether it was an illusion or reality, we had connected through our swords.
How much of my inner self could she see now—
"Haru."
"Y-Yes."
"I'll return your words to you. I don't give a damn about the details of your situation."
That was, in fact, one of the arrogant things I'd said to Iris two nights ago.
"So… since you won't ask, I'll just tell you. The reason I came here, the reason I accepted Yotsuya's invitation—it was all so I could meet you like this."
"…………"
"You don't have to ask why. Just as you threw everything at me… I'll throw everything at you, whether you want me to or not."
"H-Hey, wait… you're, you're too close—"
Her beauty was so overwhelming that I felt it would be a sin to even touch her to push her away. Trapped in my chair, my only option was to try and fend her off with words.
All the while knowing that the heat in her eyes wouldn't be deterred by something so trivial.
"Even if you're not interested in me, I'm interested in you."
"Interested…?"
I parroted her words in my confusion and immediately regretted it.
Why? Because I'd managed to draw an unprecedentedly gentle smile from a girl whose smiles were supposed to be awkward.
"When a woman tells a man she's 'interested' in him—usually, there's only one reason."
Wait a minute, I thought. But the words wouldn't come out. To be honest, it was because—
This time, as a man, I was completely captivated by her smile.
"—Hey, my prince."
At this point, there was no escape for me.
"I think… this is 'love'—what do you think?"
My very first, face-to-face love confession—
Came from a princess in a distant virtual world.
Thanks for waiting.
She was wearing a crown on her head, too, you know. Even though it's split in two now.