kscans

Chapter 499 - Unyielding Priority

"—Alright, that's fine. I'll get everything ready, so feel free to use it as you like. The chef… you won't be needing one, as usual, right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thank you."

"No problem. Anything for my cute, adorable little sister."

"…I appreciate it, but I'm not a child anymore."

"Oh? No matter how old you get, you'll always be our baby sister. Little Ashe."

"I'm not little. I'm 160cm tall, which is slightly above the average for women here in Japan."

"Hehe… you haven't changed a bit, whether you're pouting or falling in love."

"…………"

"I'm looking forward to the day you introduce me to your boyfriend. I can't wait that patiently, so please set it up by the end of the year, okay?"

"…He's not my boyfriend yet. And I don't even know if I can be his girlfriend."

"—………… You sound so timid, Ashe. It's a fresh and unbearably adorable side of you, but I don't think you have anything to worry about."

"…………"

"Our White family's princess who has charmed the entire world. There's no way any boy could resist falling for you when you show him your love. Right?"

"…………Good night, Emery. I'll call you again."

"Good night, Ashe. Sweet dreams."

◇◆◇◆◇

"—So, that's the situation. We're leaving on Monday of next week."

"…………Um… you mean, like, the week after next?"

"No, next week."

"What day is it today?"

"Friday."

"So Monday of next week is?"

"Three days from now."

"………………………Sigh… Okay."

Isn't it too sudden to go from 'the plan is set' to 'get ready'? Or isn't it a bit inconsiderate to just declare a decision instead of discussing it?

I was starting to understand Ashe's personality, so I swallowed those thoughts.

This princess, whether out of habit or something else, has a tendency to just throw the 'conclusion' at you first. And it seems she does it based on who she's talking to.

In other words, the reason she throws these fastball statements that are short on words and leave you dumbfounded is because she trusts that you'll 'interpret them correctly.'

If I think of it as a form of pouting she shows to those she's close to, it makes me want to try and understand and go along with it.

Which means—if I translate the words she rattled off the moment I opened the door in response to the doorbell that rang after dinner, it would be something like this:

—Preparations are complete, so I'd like to leave in three days if it's not inconvenient for you.

Wait, is that any different from what she actually said???

"Ahem, um………… What about Goldow and the others? Is it okay for it to be so sudden?"

"No problem. They said they could handle it even if it were tomorrow, as long as it's this month."

"I see…"

Everyone's so quick on their feet… Goldow-san did say at yesterday's meeting to 'take it easy for a while since there's not much to do this month,' but still.

Even if the rest of us rankers don't have anything, Goldow the General Commander must have some work to do—but then again, the same could be said for the Sword Queen standing before me.

Come to think of it, Helena-san, who is truly acting as the 'Queen' in the south… Wait, could this also be a way for the leaders, who are about to get busy, to take a breather?

No, it's a break in preparation for work, so 'recharging' would be the more accurate term.

"Haru."

"Oh, yeah. Sorry, I was spacing out."

When she called my name, I snapped back to reality. Her black eyes, staring intently at me, seemed emotionless as always—but I imagined that beneath the surface, a torrent of thoughts and emotions, far faster and more numerous than any normal person's, was swirling.

"My words. I'm aware that I've been nothing but selfish regarding this trip."

"You can be as selfish as you want, you know."

It wasn't that I was annoyed or thought it was a pain. It's just that I'm always so surprised that I can't keep up and end up spacing out.

And so,

"Alright, roger. Monday it is. I'll get ready."

Once the surprise and confusion had passed, I had no hesitation in my reply. It wasn't an immediate agreement, but when I gave my consent, Ashe's eyes widened slightly, and then,

"…Thank you."

If I wasn't mistaken, she offered a smile that seemed relieved.

…It's because the overall impact of things like that is just too powerful that all her unreasonable demands get converted into something charming. She is an incredibly unfair princess.

"By the way, besides 'ocean,' 'villa,' 'one week,' and 'temporary tutor,' I haven't received any additional information. Can you fill me in on the details of the plan?"

"Don't worry. Although, it really is just 'relaxing at a seaside villa for a week while acting as your temporary tutor.'"

"How we relax is the important part. I don't know the scale of this villa, or if Goldow and Helena-san will be with us the whole time, or what we'll do for meals and other arrangements. There's a lot I want to know."

"Uni will cook for us."

"I see, so you've hired a chef. Then I don't have to worry about meals, which is great—wait, hold on, who's cooking wha—"

"Calm down. …………If we're going to talk, may I come in?"

Pushing past me as I reeled in confusion from the new information that came out of left field, Ashe entered the room without waiting for an answer to her question.

With the door having been left wide open, the situation now looked as if I, still holding the doorknob, was trapping her with my outstretched arm.

That was not good for my mental health, so I quickly backed away. The princess, the probable culprit, let out a soft chuckle, her deadpan expression betraying a faint, smug smile that was hard to read.

"—Ah… I see. Right, that makes sense."

After hearing all the details about the trip, I corrected my fundamental misunderstanding—or rather, my own assumptions—and nodded deeply in understanding over and over.

"So basically, this was originally a kind of retreat for the Southern Faction rankers…"

"That's how it started, yes. But few people could participate, so it ended up as a small gathering."

Just as Goldow had mentioned 'a trip around this time,' this event was apparently held regularly. It had all started when the Lady-in-Waiting… not Ashe, had proposed it as a way to create a space for relaxation and socializing.

As for why there were few participants—

"The atmosphere is different from the East, but we in the Southern Faction get along well enough. Everyone said they 'wanted to go,' and they also said they 'wanted to meet me.' But meeting in the real world presents no small number of obstacles."

"Yeah, I get that."

In fact, even now, meeting Iris in the real world gives me an indescribable sense of unreality. The same goes for Nia and Sora.

Meeting someone in the real world whom you met elsewhere presents hurdles of varying sizes, depending on the person. There are all sorts of issues, from personal stances and boundaries to physical distance.

I ended up having a series of avalanche-like encounters with the three of them due to a combination of suddenness, circumstance, and momentum, but that was a one-hundred-percent fantasy scenario.

"Hmm… how do I put this—"

As I listened to her explanation, a slight sense of incongruity came to mind, leading to a flash of insight, a 'what if.' I hesitated for a moment on whether to voice it…

"…?"

"Nah, it's nothing."

Seeing Ashe tilt her head, I swallowed the words.

That wasn't something I needed to bring up here.

"Anyway, I get it all now. It's not that I was the reason for this trip; I was just invited as a newcomer to a regular event that was already happening."

"…That way of putting it is a little…"

"A little? —Whoa, whoa, wait, wait, I didn't mean anything by it. I was just saying I understood, literally."

For some reason, my reaction seemed to displease her. Ashe stood up from the sofa and quickly closed the distance between us.

The makeshift safety zone I had constructed by sitting in a chair behind the sofa, using its back as a shield, was trampled in an instant…

"S-So…! You're always so clo—"

"Don't talk as if you're an afterthought. If I didn't have to hold back, I'd whisk you away across the sea, just the two of us."

Trapped between the back of the chair and her arms, just like that other time, I could do nothing but freeze, overwhelmed by her stunning beauty so close to me.

"Right now, you are the 'origin' of everything for me, Haru. It's not that I invited you to something that existed; I just used something that already existed in order to be with you."

"…………"

"There is no possibility that you would ever be an 'afterthought' to me. I want you to understand, without mistake, just how much I only have eyes for you."

"…………"

"…If you're going to stay silent, I'll kiss you right here. Answer me."

"—I-I get it! I get it! I understand I chose my words poorly, so please just forgive me this time! I'll reflect on it, I'll reflect deeply, so…!"

This was far beyond just being overwhelmed.

Though her words were delivered dispassionately, every sound she uttered was filled with a sweet heat she made no attempt to hide. As if that wasn't overpowering enough, whether intentional or not, she had also unleashed her expressions. I stood no chance of resisting.

She must have been truly incensed that I had so carelessly mistaken her 'priorities.' Ashe, her cheeks faintly flushed with anger as she glared at me with half-lidded eyes, was—

Ashe was, how should I put it… well, given that I'd angered her, I'll refrain from saying it out loud, but,

"Good. Reflect."

"Yes, ma'am, I'll be more careful…"

For various reasons, I was in danger, so I decided I should try to live a little more cautiously when she was around.