On the afternoon of a certain day, a special guest was sitting at the Onigawaras’ dining table.
“Wonderful! Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Lady Mother’s cooking is truly fantastic as always.” It was none other than Princess Lynfil.
After having become friends with Kana and Hina, every once in a while, she would come over to play like she was doing today.
The house was overflowing with things that piqued Lynfil’s curiosity. Devices such as the TV and tablets that provided access to entertainment were a given. However, even things widely available within Japan—like the dishwasher, washing machine, and refrigerator—also bewildered her.
But that aside...
After the meal was time set aside for relaxing and chatting in the living room. Silvia was hard at work on the household chores, and Emalia, although it had been a while, was planning on giving Kana a bit of tutoring. However, the conversation with Lynfil was so lively that she was in fear that her services would not be needed again.
As Emalia watched on from the dining table while sipping her cup of tea, Lynfil introduced a topic in a grave tone.
“Actually, the reason for my visit today is because there is a matter that I wish to seek counsel on.”
“Well all right, let’s hear it. Even if we can’t do anything about it, I’m sure Papa or Mama will be able to manage something.”
“That is truly reassuring to hear. Actually—” Lynfil paused dramatically, then pronounced with emphasis, “Ani-ue... has found himself a girlfriend!”
“Well, good for him.”
“His diet succeeded~?”
“Eh? Well, he has indeed grown a bit slimmer...... no wait, that’s not the point! Anyways, I hear that he has started going out with an incredibly beautiful princess.”
“Well hey, everybody has their preferences, I suppose.”
“Some people have funny taste~!”
“Hina my friend, aren’t you a bit too sharp with your tongue?!” At times, young children say the most hurtful things in their innocence.
“So then? Your beloved big brother is being stolen so you want to break them apart?”
“Hina-sama knows this~ It’s called ‘monster sister-in-law,’ right~?”
“That’s not it! Although it’s true I do feel a touch of loneliness and vexation, I intend to offer them my sincere blessings. Though of course, I will still need to determine whether this girl is worthy of my perfect Ani-ue or not.”
“So basically, a monster sister-in-law.”
“We say no to bullying~”
“As I said, that’s not it!” Despite having been driven to the edge of tears, Lynfil cleared her throat and tried to start again. “Ani-ue is steadily establishing himself with the future of the kingdom in mind. In contrast, I am only aimlessly studying martial arts and magic, politics and economics, agriculture and flood control, magic beast countermeasures, and how to lead people.”
Isn’t that already more than enough? thought Kana, but she chose to not say that out loud.
“When I look back on my own life, which has only been lived through habit and momentum, I feel the need to do something with my future in mind.”
“Lyn-sama talks about difficult things too often~”
“So in the end, what is it that you want to do?” Kana’s question prompted Lynfil to nod solemnly.
“I am thinking of looking for a spouse of my own.”
Emalia spat out a mouthful of tea.
“So then, what is a ‘spouse’? Emalia-sensei, do you know?”
“A bad insect~?”
“No, that’s a louse......” retorted Emalia. After that, she reluctantly explained, “To be direct, it means ‘marriage partner.’” Paying no attention to the two younger sisters nodding in comprehension, Emalia continued, “But Your Royal Highness, you are only 8 years old. Isn’t it still a bit too early for you?”
“What are you saying! As a member of royalty, having at least one or two fiancés by the age of 10 is all too normal.”
“Wouldn’t it be a problem to have more than one fiancé......?”
“In any case! I must also find a good man, and swear my future together with him! This is something that I have already set my mind on!”
Emalia held her mouth, finally understanding that nothing she said would be of any effect. This tea really is delicious.
“But is it really that easy to find one? What are your preferences, Lyn-chan?”
“Do you like princes~? Would you kompromize on the white horse~?”
Lynfil groaned with her arms crossed. “Normally, there would be heavy emphasis on bloodlines and lineages. However, I am not going to succeed the throne anyway, so I believe we can disregard all that.”
“What about the face then? Is handsomeness crucial?”
“Hmmm. There’s not much point being particular about the facial features that one is born with, right? In the first place, all faces other than Ani-ue’s look the same to me. I have no requirements there.”
“So the bar has suddenly dropped way down, I see. More like, doesn’t that mean just anyone would do?”
“What are you saying? Personality is important. I also wish to place emphasis on their amount of contribution to our kingdom.”
“Kindness is numbah one~”
“Well put. But that said, I won’t ask too much in terms of strength. All I ask is for someone who is more able than myself and is strong enough to protect me.”
The way Kana saw it, these were only the words of an 8 year old, and therefore the bar may have been raised by only 3 cm or so. (And there she’s gone and made this an absolutely impossible task.)
In contrast, Emalia could only manage a dry laugh, having heard all the stories of Lynfil’s genius talent.
Suddenly, a certain young man came to Kana’s mind. “Wasn’t the person who’s raising those whatchamacallit magic beasts recruiting for a wife?”
“Could you perhaps be referring to the Kerorigas? But isn’t that individual an old man of the goblin race?”
“Apparently that old man has an apprentice. I don’t know too much about it though.”
Lynfil considered the idea. “So he’s a man so able as to be involved with the breeding of highly difficult magic beasts. Then there is no doubt he is a cut above the average man. He is also greatly contributing to our kingdom even as we speak. Very well, he sounds worthy of a visit at least. Kana my friend, will you lead me to him?”
Kana’s casual “Sure!” met fierce resistance from Emalia, but eventually Lynfil managed to push through and obtain Silvia’s permission. And so off they went, riding on Puru’s back.