“Coincidences like that really happen, huh?”
“No, the hero Robert brought us together,” Myra said enthusiastically. If it hadn’t been for Robert cooperating with the princess’s family, they never would have had the idea to form a contract with the Skeleton Sword Saint, so she technically wasn’t wrong. Though from the perspective of someone who wasn’t privy to the details, her statement would have sounded like a maiden talking about fate.
“S-Sure. I didn’t realize you had such a passionate side.” Serrulata was clearly at a loss for words. I couldn’t blame her—the coolheaded Myra I had first met was nowhere to be seen. That said, maybe she still kept a cool head when it came to things that didn’t involve me.
“Anyway, what are you doing here, Serrulata? Should you be leaving Lady Euryops on her own?”
Serrulata scratched her head in response to Myra’s question. “Well, same as you, I guess. I wanted to congratulate Albert on getting first.”
“But you two just met three days ago. You barely know each other.”
“Sh-Shut it! What’s the harm?!” Serrulata’s tanned skin flushed slightly red with embarrassment.
Softly taking her hand, I smiled at her. “Thanks, Serrulata. I see you two also took down more than two hundred.”
“My hand— Uh, yeah I guess!”
“I’ve heard a lot about your raging twin swords. Wish I could’ve seen them in action.”
“I-I’ll show you next time. I wanna see your sword skills too. Hey! You’re up to my upper arm now?!”
Still gripping her hand with my right hand, I felt her arm with my left hand, gradually moving upward. Serrulata was surprised, but she didn’t push me away. “You’ve done a lot of training. These are the arms of a beautiful swordswoman.” Though her hands were calloused and her arms were muscular, I truly believed that made her even more beautiful. Beauty came in many forms.
“The way you’re movin’ your hand is kinda dirty, don’t ya think?”
“Not at all. I’m appreciating your beauty from a purely artistic perspective—”
“I hope you’re prepared to take responsibility for your actions if you go any further.” A silver-haired, red-eyed girl with dark skin was staring right at me, her eyes narrowed from sleepiness. She was Bronze’s holy woman, a foreign princess who wielded a sword herself—Euryops.
“P-Princess?!” Not comfortable being seen like that, Serrulata quickly pulled away from me.
“It’s a pleasure, Princess Euryops. I am Lady Astrantia’s holy knight—”
“Albert, yes? You may forgo the formalities and speak to me freely.” When someone of high status told you to speak freely, you weren’t actually all that free, but when I looked over at Serrulata, she nodded, her face still red.
“Then Euryops it is.”
“That’s fine.”
“So, you mentioned taking responsibility for my actions.”
“I meant exactly what I said. I won’t tolerate anyone toying with my Serrulata.” Although her tone was dispassionate, it was clear from her words how deeply she cared about her partner.
“I wouldn’t tolerate a villain toying with her either.”
“Good. Then let us pray that such a person doesn’t appear.”
“Wh-What’s with you two?! Besides, I ain’t some frail maiden!” Serrulata protested.
“Indeed. You could tear them apart yourself,” said Euryops.
“You got that right!” The conversation seemed to have calmed down now.
“By the way, when do you wanna have that mock battle, Serrulata?” I asked.
“Oh, good question.” Serrulata put her hand on her chin and pondered.
As she did, I felt someone tug on my arm and found Cuphea looking at me while wearing an unhappy expression. “You haven’t forgotten about our promise to go out together, have you?” It looked like she clearly remembered the promise we’d made at the party.
“Of course not.”
“What’s this about a promise, Albert?” Serrulata asked.
“Albert promised to go somewhere with me. That’s all,” Cuphea answered before I even had a chance.
Serrulata narrowed her eyes. “Oh? Well, what’s the harm? Women gather around strong men anywhere ya go. So, about that mock battle.”
“R-Right.”
“Let’s do it the day after we get back to town,” Serrulata proposed, looking at Cuphea. Sensing her intention, Cuphea took a determined step forward and locked eyes with her.
“Albert? Let’s go on that outing together the day after we return to the city.”
“Hold it, girlie. He’s got plans. Didn’t ya hear?”
“Plans? He hasn’t even agreed to them yet.” The two glared at each other, their ample busts pressing together. Neither backed down, sparks flying between them.
“Let me remind you, I won’t allow anyone to toy with my Serrulata.”
Why are you bringing that up now, Euryops? No, I knew why. She was telling me not to take her holy knight lightly.
“Me, Mama, and our whole family w-won’t forgive anyone who makes Cuphea cry,” Linum added, seemingly forcing herself. She was trying to support her childhood friend in her own way. Squaring off against a foreign princess to back up her childhood friend took guts—I had to give her that.
The question now was how should I handle the situation? Even with no right answer, abstaining wasn’t really an option.
“What’s it gonna be, Albert?” Cuphea and Serrulata asked in unison.
Making a decision here was far more difficult than killing nearly three hundred curions. Faced with a question that would be problematic no matter whom I prioritized, my answer was simple—I would prioritize the one who asked first. That meant the mock battle with Serrulata.
The key was that I had subtly shifted the content of the question. Cuphea and Serrulata were asking “Who do you choose, me or her?” However, I shifted the question to “Do I prioritize the person who asked first or the person who asked later?” She was still unhappy about it, but in the end, Cuphea accepted it. It wasn’t in her nature to tell me to ignore prior commitments and put her first.
I had successfully navigated a perilous situation. That said, I knew that Cuphea was aware I had simply dodged the question and had allowed it to slide. I would have to do my best to get her back in a good mood when we went out together.