“Um... Pardon me...”
After we rang the bell to her hotel room, the Tyrant Princess herself opened the door, glaring at me in discontent.
“I say...” she began.
“Uh-huh?”
“Why are you here?”
“I’ve been wondering that myself.”
It’s not like I wanted to be doing this. I was the one who’d actually pressed the doorbell. I was actually the one standing at the door... All while the person the princess actually wanted to see was hiding behind me.
“You really are useless. Don’t bring along third parties to our business.”
“I got scolded because of you,” Sofie muttered to me.
What part of this is my fault? This is all your doing.
“Well, whatever,” the princess acquiesced. “Nothing to be done about it now that you’re here. Come in, I guess.”
At least she didn’t send me away. Sofie and I thus entered her room.
“Ah...”
I immediately made eye contact with Miya, who immediately looked away. She didn’t say a word either. It was a little disheartening to get the cold shoulder like that, but we’d promised not to see each other until one of us cleared the dungeon. Our early reunion on floor 21 must have been awkward for her.
It was just the four of us present. No one else from the Legion was there. Leyfa elegantly took her seat, and a heavy silence hung over the room.
Sofie whispered into my ear, “Note, ask Her Highness what she wanted to discuss.”
“Why me? You can ask that much yourself.”
“You really think I can do that when I’m this nervous?”
“Well, you sure had no problem ordering me around...”
Despite my exasperation, I turned to Leyfa. In order to settle this as soon as possible, someone had to take the initiative.
“What did you want to discuss, Princess Leyfa?” I asked.
“Why are you the one asking?”
“I wish I knew.”
I couldn’t even put up an argument. It was a damn good question.
Sofie then leaned in again and whispered, “Don’t do anything to anger Princess Leyfa.”
“I don’t really feel like I’m the one at fault here...”
I had plenty of gripes to register with the girl behind me who kept ordering me around. Namely that I could’ve avoided all this if she’d just stepped up to do it herself...
“May I get to the point now?” Leyfa asked, leaning on her elbow with a tired sigh.
Sofie nodded nervously.
“I intended to ask you this without Note Athlon present...” Leyfa started. “But first, let me say that I’m grateful you came to save me. I forgive all our past grievances, so there’s no need to be so nervous.”
“Yes, Your Highness!” Sofie responded in a high-pitched voice.
Leyfa continued with a strained smile, “Now, may I get to the heart of the matter?”
“As you wish, Your Highness!”
Leyfa then made a shocking proposal: “Sofie, would you come back to me?”
My eyes went wide. So did Sofie’s.
“When you say ‘come back,’ Your Highness...”
“I mean exactly that. If not for you, I’d be dead right now. So, to honor your actions, I’m offering you a chance to return to my service.” Leyfa paused there, shaking her head. “No, that’s not right. Let me rephrase—I’m asking you to return to me. Please come back.”
“You want me back...?”
“That’s right. It seems I need you around. You may be completely useless as a subordinate, but your value as a supporter of mine is irreplaceable. That’s what this incident has shown me.”
A palpable change had come over Leyfa. Who’d have thought that the Tyrant Princess herself would ever say such a thing?
“You don’t have to be an obedient knight. You don’t even have to be an attendant. Just stay by my side and support me.” This heartfelt request was out of character for Leyfa, but when I looked into her eyes, I could see that it was entirely genuine. “Depending on the circumstances, I may even allow you to rejoin the Princess’s Legion.”
“Rejoin the Legion? But...”
“Of course, that would mean the half-elf over there has to go. Just to balance the numbers.”
“Why me?!” Miya yelped, suddenly caught in the crossfire.
But Leyfa ignored her comedic squealing and continued, “It’s not a bad deal for you. When I ascend the throne, I’ll grant all your wishes...so return to me.”
Sofie quietly gasped. Those words were undoubtedly what she’d been longing to hear. This was like a dream come true for her. The master she’d been loyal to all this time was finally offering to take her back. I’d be sorry to see Sofie quit the Arrivers, but there’d be no stopping her from leaving now. She was at long last being rewarded for all she’d done. She was finally getting her happy ending, and in service of that, I was willing to let her go.
Or so I was thinking, when...
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I can’t do that.”
“Huh?!” I gasped. It took me a long moment to process those words as a rejection.
In contrast to my surprise, however, Leyfa spoke calmly. “May I ask why?”
“Of course, Your Highness. I am honored by your offer. Overwhelmed, even. I could leap for joy right now.”
“Then all you have to do is say yes.”
“Even so, life with the Arrivers is really fun. Part of me doesn’t want that to end.”
I hadn’t realized Sofie thought so highly of us. Since when had the Arrivers become comparable to Leyfa in her mind?
“I don’t want to abandon my current life. That’s why I can’t accept your proposal.”
“I see...”
“But once we’ve cleared the dungeon... When that time comes, Your Highness, please! May I work under you again then?!”
Leyfa offered no reply.
“And, please, forgive me for making such a selfish request!”
“Hahh...” Leyfa sighed. While her tone made it sound like she was completely fed up, the look on her face told me otherwise. “Of course. I’m the one asking the favor here. You’re allowed that much selfishness.”
Leyfa was smiling. Seeing that must have filled Sofie with relief, for she fell to her knees sobbing.
“R-Really?!” she cried through the tears.
“Really. I wouldn’t lie about something so trivial.”
“Your Highness... Hic...”
“What now...?”
“Princess Leyfaaa!” She was bawling her eyes out. “Waaaaah!”