🦊 🦊 🦊
AFTER the tournament, Bragiogan VIPs and invited guests gathered in the castle for a banquet. While the banquet took place in the great hall, my friends and I enjoyed a smaller victory celebration in the opposite courtyard. A smorgasbord of hamburgers, sandwiches, and other hand foods had been set out for us.
The Bragiogan VIPs and foreign guests had tried to invite me to the actual banquet. However, Embert, Giusto, and the King of Bragioga had barred them from approaching me. Following today’s events, everyone realized the value of my position as a holy woman. Personally, I wanted nothing to do with their political schemes. Thus, Embert had blocked my participation by highlighting our engagement and my age, as I was still a minor.
“Let’s liven up this party,” Cita suggested. “Who cares if it’s just a small victory celebration?”
And so, everyone created magical spheres of light that floated in the night sky. As the colorful orbs wavered in the air, we ate and chatted beneath their phantasmal beauty. Once everyone had eaten a fair amount, the conversation shifted to the tournament.
“In the end, Em kept the holy sword,” I said.
From there, we discussed Embert’s impressive swordsmanship. I hadn’t known he was so skilled with a blade.
Lauris grinned boastfully. “He’s never had the chance to demonstrate his sword skills publicly with Janus at his side.”
Apparently, the brother-obsessed weirdo knew all along, I thought. Our nation sure is peaceful. Sipping tea, I watched Custode munching on a fruit-filled sandwich. All the while, Squishy valiantly brought him more and more food.
“Ally,” a honey-tinged voice called out to me.
I recognized Embert’s voice without even turning around. He and Janus had left the great hall to join us in the courtyard. The two men looked divine with the moon at their backs, eliciting a collective sigh from everyone present. In terms of handsomeness, they were in a league of their own.
“Hey, you two,” I said in the most cheerful tone possible, trying to ignore my racing heart. “Is the banquet over?”
“Indeed,” Embert replied. “Everyone is free to do as they please now, and it pleased me most to join you.”
I cocked my head. Wasn’t this the perfect opportunity to mingle with the other guests and improve relationships?
Embert poked my cheek, a shadow darkening his face. “I couldn’t stand the incessant buzzing of those wasps any longer. Whenever someone opened their mouths, they begged to meet the holy woman. It was growing quite tiresome.”
Oh, it’s my fault, huh? I thought with a twinge of guilt. Sorry about that.
Embert poked my cheek again. “Besides, I wanted to touch your face as soon as possible.”
My somewhat elevated heart rate quickened even more. Gorgeous, moonlit men were terrifying to behold.
In the blink of an eye, Embert created a chair from magic and sat next to me. After taking a sip of tea, he picked up a piece of chocolate in front of him.
“What did you think of my swordsmanship?” he asked.
“It was amazing,” I answered honestly. “You were so dashing out there.”
Embert tossed the chocolate into my open mouth. Then, while staring at me, he licked the melted chocolate from his fingertips.
Huh? What the heck was that? Is today the day he pulls out all the stops to seduce me?
“Mm, how sweet,” Embert said with a roguish grin.
Um, excuse me, but could you please restrain yourself? If you keep laying on the charm, my poor heart will explode. I might have to call Squishy for urgent support.
At that moment, another person arrived from the great hall.
“Thank goodness,” Giusto said. “I was afraid this party might have wrapped up already.”
I didn’t fail to notice Embert clucking his tongue.
“Hello there, Prince Giusto,” he said without leaving his seat. “Is it wise for the man of the hour to leave his own party?”
Giusto laughed. “At this point, everyone’s too drunk to notice if I’m there or not. As such, I’ve come to join all of you instead.”
While they appeared to be having an amicable conversation, charming smiles on their lips, I could see the sparks flying.
“Um, it’s starting to feel cramped here,” I said. “I’m gonna go over there.”
Shuddering, I moved to the picnic blanket next to the table. However, both Embert and Giusto joined me on the blanket. The others watched us with either grins or bated breath.
“Perhaps you should discard your one-sided feelings and choose a fiancée already,” Embert suggested. “After all, you’re the crown prince now.”
“What’s this?” Giusto asked. “You didn’t have a fiancée while studying abroad in Bragioga, Prince Embert, and you were older than I am now.”
Embert chuckled. “I hadn’t officially become the crown prince back then. Besides, I was still waiting for my beloved to notice me.”
On my left, Embert twirled a lock of my hair around his finger. On my right, Giusto stared at me with a dazzling smile. I couldn’t have been more uncomfortable.
What kind of game is this supposed to be?
As usual, Custode continued eating on my lap. “Must be difficult,” he said telepathically, smirking through a mouthful of egg tart.
Squishy was also eating a mountain of eclairs on my lap. He seemed to be enjoying them.
“Found you,” an unfamiliar voice said.
Turning towards the voice, we found Prince Fred Gibramil—the winner of the tournament—standing there. He strode over to us and stopped in front of me.
“I’ve been wanting to meet you, Your Holiness,” he said.
“Come again?” I asked.
Prince Fred was a strikingly handsome man with a healthy tan, chocolate-colored hair, and amber eyes.
Why does he want to meet me? Either way, I’m impressed he has the courage to speak to me in this situation.
“I watched you deliver a flying kick to that assassin,” Fred explained. “I fell for you at that moment. Would you please marry me and become—”
“Prince Fred,” Embert interrupted. “Did you forget I announced my engagement to Lady Alexandra during the banquet?”
Fred glared at Embert with an annoyed expression. “My feelings remain unchanged, regardless of whether she’s your fiancée. It’s hardly uncommon to break off engagements in this day and age. So long as I win Her Holiness’s heart—”
“Prince Fred,” Giusto interrupted this time. “From what I’ve heard, you have multiple fiancée candidates, do you not?”
Custode burst out laughing so hard that he rolled off my lap. Squishy continued eating his eclairs. He’d switched from chocolate to almond flavored.
When Fred wouldn’t let go of my hand, I looked up at the sky, unsure what to do. I caught sight of a fiery orb shooting upwards. Moments later, an explosion followed, and fireworks bloomed across the night sky.
“Wow,” I said. “How beautiful.”
After wresting my hand from Fred’s grip, Embert twined his fingers around mine. “The Founding Festival is finally coming to a close,” he said.
We would soon depart Bragioga, where we’d made so many fond memories.
“I had a wonderful time here,” I said.
Embert chuckled. “Me too.”
We continued watching the fireworks, which faded and bloomed over and over again.