Meanwhile, inside the castle...
“So basically, all we need to do is make it so the sword doesn’t clash with the dress, correct?”
“Well, yeah... but that guy made it sound like dresses and swords can’t go together at all. That’s why I was thinking maybe I should wear something with pants, or...”
“Non, non! Heh heh heh... I would advise you not to underestimate the Great Sorceress!”
Laplace jauntily snapped her fingers, and the Not-Excalibur floated up into the air.
“Oh!”
Then, as the Great Sorceress raised her hands, it began to change form, almost as though she were sculpting it herself. The giant sword shrank and shrank until it disappeared into Laplace’s closed fist.
“Now then, give me your hand.”
“My hand...?” Despite her confusion, Tanya did as she asked.
“Here you are, Tanya. I have crafted you the ultimate accessory.”
Laplace bent down on one knee, her skirt pooling onto the floor, and gently took Tanya’s hand in hers. Then she slipped a golden ring onto her finger.
“Wh-What the?! Wait... Laplace... Is this...?!”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Hee hee hee! What do you think? Do you like it?” Laplace grinned. “If not, I can turn it into a bracelet, a tiara, whatever you desire.”
“But—”
“Not to worry, not to worry! Admittedly this sort of craftwork is just a hobby of mine, but rest assured, I can guarantee its quality. This ring will transform back into a sword by reading your mana circuits. Not that it really matters if the sword ‘clashes’ with your dress, but... well, I just thought a ring would look nice on you, that’s all.”
“No one’s ever given me a ring before...”
“Well then, you’re quite the lucky girl to get a custom Laplace ring as your first! Actually... no, maybe you’ve earned it. Either way, I hope you’ll accept it as a token of my affection.”
Laplace shot her a playful wink, and all at once, her chest filled with emotion. This was a sincerely touching gift.
“D-Does it look good on me, though?”
“Oui, oui. C’est magnifique!”
With a small smile, Laplace donned a stylish masquerade mask to conceal her face. At last, the two women were ready to join the soirée.
Hand in hand, they strolled through the castle. And as they drew the attention of all those nearby, they were referred to in hushed whispers as “the Red Rose and the Black Rose.”
One hour later...
“Owwww...” Tanya plunked herself down on the balcony floor.
“Are you alright, Tanya?”
“These stilettos... I don’t think human beings were meant to wear these... They’re not shoes, they’re some kind of torture device! I’m gonna kill whoever invented these!”
“Is it really that bad?!”
“YES!”
“Oh, you poor thing... I know you were just trying to be a good security guard, but you didn’t have to patrol the entire castle!”
“Nnnn... I’m gonna have a fat blister, I just know it...”
The cool night air felt good against her skin. She was having fun wearing a fancy dress for a change, and she didn’t exactly hate the idea of high heels, but... they simply weren’t ideal footwear for a security guard in the least. And why do these guests all love to stand around talking for hours and hours?!
Thus, she and Laplace had slipped outside for a breather.
“Heh heh heh! The Great Sorceress always knows how to make the best out of any given situation!”
As they were leaving the Great Hall, Laplace had swung by the buffet table to grab some juicy roast beef, sweet and airy chiffon cake, and a bunch of different appetizers—not to mention a bottle of pricey red wine. She laid it all out on the balcony like a midnight picnic, and they shared a toast under the moonlight. The dull ache of her feet was easily outmatched by the splendor of the feast before them.
Just then, as she was resting with her shoes off... a small figure appeared behind them.
“...What?! Lady Stone Cold Stunner?!”
“Mmffgghh?!” Tanya started to choke on her wine. Someone had just called Laplace by her infamously jokey alias... She turned in the direction of the voice—
“Oh my! And Lady Tanya?!”
“Huh?!” The intruder had named her as well. Tanya blinked. Who IS that?
“Is this real life...? Oh my goodness! Can I get your autographs?!”
Standing there was a young girl with silver hair, violet eyes, and a long dress that trailed along behind her.
Crap!
Tanya hadn’t anticipated that anyone else would step out onto the balcony with them, since the door was concealed with curtains and carefully arranged furniture. Oh god, they’re gonna yell at us... She was desperate to resolve the situation without causing a scene.
“Shhh! Keep your voice down, little girl!”
“Huh? Oh... Okay...” She clapped both hands to her mouth and nodded fervently, eyes wide.
Fortunately, no one seemed to have heard them. It didn’t sound like anyone was coming to investigate, anyway. Tanya breathed a sigh of relief.
Then Laplace’s gaze drifted over the girl’s dress. It was clearly made with only the highest-quality silk... and there was a familiar flower emblem expertly embroidered onto it.
“It can’t be...”
“Huh?”
“This little girl is the Emperor’s daughter. In other words... she’s the Crown Princess.”
“What?!”
The color drained from Tanya’s face. This girl was a member of the esteemed Aweigkorrt royal family—the rulers of Pajan? Admittedly the quality of her clothes did suggest she was someone of importance...
“...Yes, that’s right. I am Arianora Aweigkorrt, Crown Princess.”
“I thought so. See, you’ve got the imperial flower crest stitched onto your dress there. Only a member of the royal family can put it right on their clothes.”
“But the commoners aren’t supposed to know about our family insignia... Lady Stone Cold Stunner, you never cease to amaze me!”
“Heh heh! The Great Sorceress sees it alllll,” Laplace replied in a singsong voice.
Meanwhile, in sharp contrast to her levity, Tanya was as white as a sheet. “Are you serious...?”
She put a hand over her mouth. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine she’d encounter the princess of all people.
Here they were, talking to a member of the royal family, and Laplace hadn’t batted a lash. Evidently the confidence of a 300-year-old Sorceress was not to be taken lightly.
Then Tanya noticed something.
“Wait, but... Forgive me, um... Your Highness?”
“Yes?” Princess Arianora asked, tilting her head elegantly.
“If I may ask... how do you know of us?”
Admittedly, it was a rather blunt question.
“Look out, world! Tanya’s famous now!” Laplace joked.
“Stop! This isn’t funny, okay?! I’m terribly sorry, Your Highness!”
“Listen, um... please, call me Arianora. You all performed so wonderfully at the Sparring Tournament this year... It was the most fun I’ve ever had attending an event in an official capacity!”
Her expression was so dreamy, she was practically swooning, and Tanya couldn’t help but smile. Princess or not, at the end of the day, Arianora was still a young girl. And that was precisely the demographic Tanya had hoped to reach.
“So tell me, um, do you have any funny stories from the Sparring Tournament? Or... Or your other adventures?!” Arianora asked excitedly. “Meeting the members of Lilium is simply a dream come true!”
Her eyes sparkled with the energy of a girl who dreamed of adventure. But just then—she fell into a coughing fit.
“Whoa, whoa, you okay?!” Tanya dashed over in spite of her aching feet. “Oh no, you’re really pale... We need to call for a Healer!”
“No, Lady Tanya! I, um... I’m okay. It’s just... My corset is rather tight around the midsection. That’s why I came out here in the first place... I just need to rest and get some air, and then I’ll be fine.”
“You sure don’t look fine!”
Her luxurious dress was visibly squeezing her like a vise, and Tanya couldn’t stand to see it.
“Please, don’t call for anyone,” Arianora wheezed in a tiny voice.
So instead, Tanya did everything she could to loosen her little dress.
The princess heaved a sigh of relief.