kscans

Chapter 245 - A Gathering Two Days in a Row

Using Arc's teleportation, we returned to my home and resumed our tea party. However, the tea party ended in five minutes, and Arc and Lydia-chan started playing the friendship-destroying game.

"I told you not to..."

"Lydia said she wanted to play."

Huh...

"Lydia-chan, you should probably stop."

"No, I was watching the four of you play yesterday from the side, and you all seemed to get along so well."

Really?

"Weren't insults flying back and forth?"

I looked at Kaede-chan sitting next to me.

"They were. It was a parade of insults."

Well, with Arc, Nanapon, and Yoshino-san, there wasn't a decent person in the bunch.

"I believe that is also a form of affection. It shows a relationship of trust where your bond won't break no matter what you say to each other."

I don't think that's it. Everyone's just insensitive.

"Huh? So, does this mean Lydia is going to start hurling insults at me from now on?"

It seems that way.

"Why don't you dish some back?"

"To Lydia? Like what?"

"Just say what you're thinking."

"For example?"

Why are you asking me?

"Get the light back in your eyes, you sadist."

"Hey! You, is that what you've been thinking!"

Why are you the one getting angry?

"You're the one who asked."

"Lydia, say something back to that damn witch."

Arc shook Lydia-chan's shoulder.

"You cross-dressing lolicon bastard."

An instant reply.

"Um... why am I a lolicon?"

"You said you liked children."

No, not in that way.

"Arc, really, stop it. Play a happier game."

"I will... Lydia, let's play this puzzle game instead."

"A puzzle? That sounds interesting."

Yes, yes. Do that.

"Ah, my heart hurts. People with unique skills really are nothing but trouble."

Since the two kids had started a different game, I shifted my gaze and took a sip of the tea Mia had poured for me.

"I suppose so..."

Kaede-chan also seemed a bit taken aback.

"I'm not a lolicon, you know?"

"Yes, I know."

Well, we are married, after all.

"Um, what is that?"

Mia, sitting primly on the sofa, asked while looking at the television.

"It's hard to explain, but it's a game."

"I, I see... This is my first time in Feire, but everything is so amazing."

Arc and Lydia-chan adapted right away, but it seems like it will take some time for a normal person like Mia.

"Well, that's just how this world is. You'd better get used to it soon."

"I don't think I can... Hmm? What's that sound?"

Just as Mia gave a wry smile, the doorbell rang.

"Oh, is that Nanaka-chan and Yoshino-san?"

"I think so."

I had called those two as soon as I got home. Yoshino-san had then gone to pick up Nanapon.

"I'll get it."

Kaede-chan headed for the entryway and soon returned with Nanapon and Yoshino-san.

"I never thought I'd be called back again right after leaving before noon."

"Tell me about it."

The two of them sat on the sofa, muttering under their breath.

"Well, it's fine, isn't it? You were bored anyway."

"I guess so... Here, Arc, Lydia. I brought the cake."

Yoshino-san placed the cake I had asked for on the table.

"Yay!"

"Thank you very much."

Arc and Lydia-chan stopped their game and came over.

"Um, who is that maid over there?"

Nanapon tilted her head as she looked at Mia. Right, Nanapon hasn't been to Frontier, so she doesn't know Mia.

"Now that you mention it, Mia is here... I was told to buy six pieces of cake, so I bought six, but that's not enough, is it?"

Going to buy the cake was a pain, so I had asked Yoshino-san to do it.

"I don't need any. Nanaka-san, this is Mia. She's Arc's personal maid."

"Huh... A maid, huh?"

"That's right. Arc, Lydia-chan, you can choose whichever you like."

As I said that, Arc opened the box.

"This one."

"Huh?"

When Arc pointed at a tart, a pitch-black aura erupted from Lydia-chan.

"I mean this one..."

Arc quickly switched to a Mont Blanc.

"...Try to get along."

Is this couple going to be okay? Their future makes me very anxious.

"Kaede-chan, Mia, if you would."

"Okay."

"As you wish."

I asked the two of them, and Kaede-chan divided the cake while Mia poured tea, allowing us to take a break.

"So, why did you call us? Weren't you guys having a tea party over there?"

Yoshino-san asked while sipping her coffee.

"About that, you know how the King said he had something to talk about?"

"He did. Did something happen?"

"It did. First of all, these two are officially getting married."

I pointed at Arc and Lydia-chan.

"Huh... Isn't that a bit early?"

"Aren't they still thirteen?"

Yoshino-san and Nanapon look a little put off.

"Apparently, that's normal for royalty. Well, it's not like these two have a concept of dating or anything, so it was bound to happen sooner or later."

In fact, it feels like they're already dating.

"Well, I hear things were like that in Japan in the old days too... Anyway, congratulations."

"Oh, congratulations."

The two of them offered their blessings. I, on the other hand, received no such blessings from them. They both just asked Kaede-chan, "Are you sure?"

"Thanks."

"Thank you very much."

Arc and Lydia-chan also said their thanks.

"So, they're apparently having a party to announce that Arc will be the next king and to report on their marriage."

"That's great news."

"It is. And the King wants to borrow Nanaka-san's Clairvoyance for it."

"Huh? Me?"

Nanapon pointed at her own face.

"Yes, you. You know how you, Arc, and Lydia-chan kicked out the violators at the Emeraldus Mountains briefing? He wants you to do something like that at the party."

"Oh, that. But is it really okay for me to go?"

Her Clairvoyance, that is.

"He said it's fine. Arc's safety is more important. If this kid dies, Frontier is finished."

"I see... I don't mind, but will I be alone?"

So Nanapon is in.

"Yoshino-san and I will also be there as Arc and Lydia-chan's bodyguards. You just need to drink an invisibility potion, stay hidden, and tell us if anyone has concealed weapons."

"If that's all, it's a piece of cake."

Good, good.

"So, Yoshino-san, I'm counting on you too."

"Yeah. I don't mind either. I'm used to that kind of work."

As expected from an experienced A-rank.

"Arc, tell the King we're in."

"Got it. Thanks, all three of you."

For once, Arc thanked us sincerely.

"It's fine. We're bored anyway."

"We've got nothing else to do, after all."

"We've already made an absurd amount of money. This is a good way to kill time."

So true, so true.

"...Why are they all like this?"

That's a question we could all ask each other.