kscans

Chapter 183 - Episode 3: Middle Part, The Ultimate in Empty Ritual

"The Crystal Chamber is smaller than I expected, isn't it?"

I looked around the hexagonal space I had stepped into. The walls had no decorations whatsoever. Against the wall, there was a desk and... oh, a bed too. Well, never mind, today's target is the magic tool enshrined on the circular altar in the center.

"Is this the Crystal of Prophecy?"

"Yes,"

Alfina and I stood before the transparent sphere. Its size was about that of a crystal ball used for fortune-telling. No, looking closely, it was not merely a sphere but had a layered structure of concentric circles. Three-dimensional patterns floated at the boundary of each transparent layer.

"How was this processed, I wonder?"

"I don't know either. It is said to have been handed down since before the kingdom's establishment."

Alfina said this to me, who had mumbled without thinking. So, it's from the Ancient Great Nation, the provisional predecessor of the Kingdom and the Empire, then?

"In other words, over four hundred years ago... and whoa,"

I panicked at how close Alfina's face was to mine. It was close enough for our shoulders to nearly touch. Only now did I realize that we were alone in a small room.

"O-oh, come to think of it, where is Claudia-dono...?"

I asked about Claudia, who was supposed to be with us.

"Clau is in the guard's room in front of the door leading to this place. When the crystal shows a sign, it's a rule that only I can enter. Of course, this particular occasion is an exception, but... did you prefer Clau to be with us, Ricardo-kun?"

Alfina asked. Huh, did her voice just sharpen a little...?

"No, it's not like that... Ah, yes, I'll prepare for the measurement, then."

I quickly returned to the room I had been in and began assembling Iris Unit 1. I connected the optical bench and set up the lenses and prisms. They were carefully marked with angles and heights. The magic-sensing plates were stored in a green box of magic inhibitors, so I wouldn't take them out yet.

Once that was done, I carried Iris Unit 1, table and all, into the Crystal Chamber and pointed it towards the crystal. With this, preparations were complete. In this experiment, the crystal was the light source, and Alfina's role was to draw out its magic. My role was merely to replace the magic-sensing plates. I couldn't do anything else, though.

When the work was finished, we were once again alone in the small room.

"H-how does the crystal's signal manifest, I wonder?"

I averted my gaze from the small bed in the Crystal Chamber. I asked the question to concentrate on the experiment.

"It's still in the preliminary stage, but before it starts to glow, I feel something like a pulsation. So, it's alright if you wait next to me."

"Let's do that. That room is more spacious, and I'm sure I'll be able to calm down there."

We returned to the waiting room. As I had confirmed earlier, there were no chairs. The table had also been moved into the Crystal Chamber. My gaze naturally drifted towards the bed. Alfina slowly approached the bed and sat down.

"Ricardo-kun, please sit down too."

Then, she gestured for me, standing stiffly, to sit beside her. My heart went doki doki for a moment. I glanced at Alfina, but her face was cast down, so I couldn't tell her expression. Well, given her personality, she couldn't very well let me stand alone, could she?

I carefully sat on the bed, leaving enough space for one person between us.

"..."

"..."

Silence fell upon the bed. No, it's not a bed, this is a large chair. I'll think of it that way.

"O-oh, come to think of it, this room doesn't feel like it's used very often, does it?"

I said, my restless gaze darting from side to side. Only the sheets underneath looked strangely brand new.

"I have never used it!"

Alfina lifted her head and spoke with emphasis. Is that so... There was certainly a bed in the other room too, though.

"B-but more importantly, it's been a while since we've been alone together, hasn't it?"

Alfina looked up at me from under her lashes. The situation was not entirely unlike that time in the library, but this time there was no research work to do. No, there was a more important task, the crystal's measurement, but there was nothing to do until the signal began to appear.

In truth, it would be best if that signal never appeared at all.

"If Princess Maytyl were to see us in a situation like this, what would she say? Haha..."

When I answered jokingly, Alfina puffed out her cheeks.

"Princess Maytyl doesn't understand. At the mansion, Ricardo-kun is always with Mia. And at the research facility, Princess Maytyl is always finding some excuse to be with Ricardo-kun... Time alone with you is so precious to me..."

"W-well, that's, regarding Mia, it's about the futures market..."

Even after returning to the Royal Capital, because I had been completely absorbed in magic research and Princess Maytyl's dietary issues, I continued to rely entirely on Mia for matters related to the company and other commercial affairs. Even so, there were many things, such as the futures market, that I had to decide myself. At the mansion, I was mostly working with Mia.

"I know you're busy with work. It's just that I couldn't agree with what Princess Maytyl said."

Alfina said. Somehow, her rare sulky demeanor made her seem like an ordinary girl, and that in itself was refreshing... No, no, that's too dangerous a thought in this situation. This is the innermost part of a sacred sanctuary, after all.

However, Alfina also began to fidget strangely. Then, as if making up her mind, she looked at me.

"Ricardo-kun, I have a request."

The bed creaked. She leaned her body, closing the distance by about the width of a knee.

"W-what is it?"

"Like this... just when we're alone, I'd like you to call me Alfina."

Alfina said that, her cheeks blushing.

"Other people drop honorifics when addressing me. Only I..."

"P-princess Maytyl is also a princess, but..."

"Unlike Princess Maytyl, we are supposed to be partners."

"Y-you're right..."

"Just when we're alone is fine."

It's true that I couldn't help but feel it was a bit too formal. However, I'm bad at switching modes. I'm fatally bad at it, one might say, as a self-preservationist.

I imagined Alfina and I walking down the Royal Academy hallway. I'd gotten somewhat used to it recently, but because I often walked beside Alfina, we inevitably drew attention. Then, a foolish commoner who carelessly called out, "Alfina!" And Alfina replying, "Yes, Ricardo-kun."

Without a doubt, it would lead to an incredible disaster. I felt bad for Alfina, but this was a request I had to politely decline. Besides, what if strange rumors started about Alfina?

"Is it no, then...?"

Alfina smiled weakly, and leaned a little closer again. The subtle, sweet scent of her perfume tickled my nostrils. Her eyes seemed slightly moist, and her lovely voice reached my ears.

Even if it was a small request, it was incredibly difficult to refuse when made with such a lethal gesture.

"N-no, it's not that it's no, but..."

I involuntarily averted my eyes. The far end of the bed caught my eye. ...Why are there two pillows, I wonder?

"O-oh, come to think of it, what was this room used for?"

I asked to buy some time. It was such a clumsy change of topic that even I thought I was an idiot after asking it. However, for some reason, Alfina flinched.

"I commute from my aunt's mansion as a special arrangement because I attend the Royal Academy. However, those appointed as Oracle Princesses are originally supposed to live in the sanctuary."

"I-I see, so that's why..."

So Alfina, who commutes from the Grand Duke's residence, has never used this room. I understood, but Alfina continued, pressing her cheek.

"A-and so, you see... Um, recently, the role of the oracle isn't necessarily..."

Alfina's ears turned bright red, and she hesitated to speak. She must have meant that the role of the Oracle Princess had become a mere formality. I already knew that, even without her having to clarify. Before I got involved with Alfina, I myself had only thought of prophecies as being as trivial as fortune slips.

"So, um... Among previous Oracle Princesses... there were some who already had close male companions, or developed such relationships during their tenure, you see."

The meaning of Alfina's words slowly seeped into my brain.

"Th-then, this room is...?"

I remembered that this room was intentionally circumvented from the opposite direction of the Crystal Chamber. Alfina's ears were bright red as she nodded. Good heavens. Is this a room for the Oracle Princess to keep a lover? This is beyond mere formality, isn't it? At least do it outside.

The bed, which I had been trying to convince myself was a chair just moments ago, suddenly felt very much like a bed. No, it was a bed from the start, though.

I remembered the three female priestesses who had stopped me before I came here. I hadn't thought about it then, but what kind of look had they been giving me?

"T-then, if this room is used in such a way, Alfina-sama might get dishonorable rumors..."

This is bad. It must be because I insisted on measuring the crystal as quickly as possible, that things ended up like this, to bypass various rules.

"I-I don't think it's dishonorable!"

"No, it's true that this measurement is important, but."

Anyway, shouldn't Clau or Luiza be with her to prevent such rumors from starting? In the first place, no matter what I said, Noel should have been assigned. Why was this allowed? No, it's not even about rumors, but what if something happened to Alfina? ...Though the one who might do something is me.

Or rather, what did Luiza say earlier...?

"I-if, Ricardo-kun wishes for it, then I..."

Alfina's words didn't register in my ears. In my mind, Luiza's words from beyond the door echoed. The 'things that should happen' in this room...

"A-Alfina-sama. Um, the crystal..."

From my parched throat, I somehow managed to squeeze out the 'original' purpose. At that moment, Alfina's knee touched mine.

"I think it's still alright. Last time, it was around midnight, so..."

Alfina was looking at me from extremely close range. Her large eyes, looking up at me. The distance between us had diminished to the point where I could feel her warm breath.