I Will Do Everything In My Power To Bring Happiness To The Enchanting Beauty Who Can No Longer Smile. - Chapter 53: The Invitation.

The Invitation.

“I see… That kind of thing wouldn’t be surprising given the circumstances, but still… talk about bad timing.”

“Seriously! Couldn’t agree more!”

After reuniting with Shirao and the others at the exit, Tsubame shared what had just happened. There was a possibility that similar individuals might approach again, even while they were with friends.

And unsurprisingly, Se-chan was fuming. Shirao, too, wore a visibly displeased expression.

“Not only do they approach during her time off, but they also interrupt a private moment between the two of them! Unbelievable! In another era, they’d be paraded through the streets before being executed!”

“Okay, okay, Se-chan. How about calming down with a flower-shaped cookie?”

“Delicious!!!”

Shirao shoved a cookie into her mouth with practiced ease. He really knew how to handle her.

Seeing that, Tsubame let out a small laugh. The light that had vanished from her eyes earlier had now returned.

“Thank you for getting angry on my behalf. That means a lot to me.”

“O-Of course! I-It’s natural to get angry when a friend’s important time gets interrupted!”

“A friend… Yes, you’re right.”

Tsubame nodded, as though carefully savoring the word. Se-chan, munching on another cookie fed by Shirao, nodded along with a warm smile.

“If my friends ever had to deal with something like this, I think I’d get angry too. I’d want to support them. So if anything ever happens, talk to me, okay? Se-chan.”

“…TSUBAME-CHAN I LOVE YOUUUUUU!!!”

“Wah!”

Se-chan’s eyes sparkled like stars as she hugged Tsubame tightly without hesitation.

I blinked in surprise. I’d never seen Se-chan hug another girl like that.

Shirao looked just as shocked. Our eyes met, and we shared a knowing smile.

It showed just how much Tsubame and Se-chan had grown close and trusted one another.

For a little while, we simply watched that heartwarming scene.

Eventually, Se-chan released her embrace, looking satisfied.

“Well, shall we head out? It’s getting late.”

“Yeah. Should be just about time to catch a good train.”

We had stayed quite a while. The return trip would coincide with the sunset.

And so, we began walking toward the station.

***

“…Feels a bit lonely knowing it’s over.”

“It went by so fast. But it was such a wonderful day!”

When we arrived at the station—the same one we had met at—Shirao stretched and spoke wistfully. Se-chan smiled at his words, though a tinge of sadness lingered in her expression.

“Um, can I ask something?”

“Your voice is so cute—ah, I mean, what’s up?”

“If you’re okay with it… would you two like to come over to my house?”

Tsubame’s sudden offer made Se-chan’s eyes go wide. Shirao seemed equally stunned.

“Eh? B-But… I mean…”

“Don’t want to?”

“Of course not! I mean—I’d love to, but…”

“Then I’d really like you to come. I want to introduce you to my mom… and Haiguchi-kun too—as my friends.”

Their darting eyes eventually landed on me, likely remembering the conversation we’d had previously.

Of course, I never felt they’d be intruding. And since I was already planning to stay at Tsubame’s tonight, there was no time constraint either. I could talk to her later about that important conversation we never got to finish.

“I’m in favor of it too. I think your mom would be really happy to meet them.”

“…Are you sure?”

“Yes. More than anything, I want you to come. I’d feel a little lonely saying goodbye here.”

“TSUBAME-CHAN YOU’RE THE BEST!!! IT’S AN HONOR, SO I’M GONNA HUG YOU AGAIN!!!”

“Wah!”

Se-chan hugged Tsubame again—her second embrace of the day.

I didn’t know Se-chan that well, but even I could tell she’d really opened her heart to Tsubame. Compared to how she was back in middle school, it was a huge change.

Even Shirao, who knew her far better than I did, looked genuinely surprised. So I figured I wasn’t wrong in thinking this was significant.

“Hehe. Alright, let’s go. I’ll just contact my mom…”

Tsubame smiled while wrapped in Se-chan’s arms and took out her phone—but her expression froze when she saw the screen.

“Tsubame?”

“…No reply. I thought I’d have heard back by now. Maybe she’s just really busy.”

She was probably referring to the message she’d sent earlier, about the man who had appeared.

Judging by her tone, she hadn’t heard back from Usui-san either.

And with that, the unease I’d been trying to forget started creeping back.

“For now, let’s go and figure it out when we get there.”

“Yeah… you’re right. I’ll send another message just in case.”

As I nodded at her words, thoughts began to race. Why wasn’t anyone responding?

It hadn’t been that long since the incident. A short delay could mean nothing—but with today’s timing, it only fed my growing anxiety.

“Shigure.”

I was startled by the sound of my name. Shirao was the one who called me.

“Don’t worry. No matter what happens, we’ll figure it out.”

“Yeah! We got through a lot back then too. And now we’ve got Tsubame-chan with us! We’ll be fine!”

“…Yeah. Thanks.”

Tsubame’s here. So are Shirao and Se-chan. I’m not alone. We’re in this together.

I let out a long breath and slowly opened my eyes.

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Yeah, let’s.”

Se-chan released Tsubame, who then reached out her hand toward me.

I took it, and we began walking.

***

We noticed something strange as we neared Tsubame’s home.

A white luxury car we’d never seen before was parked nearby.

We kept to the side of the road, avoiding it—until the moment we approached, and the car door opened.

“Welcome back, Lady Fairest of the Nation.”

A well-built, older man in a suit stepped out.

Shirao and I instinctively moved forward, but Tsubame stopped us with a hand gesture. Then she mouthed something quietly: He’s not dangerous.

“Shouldn’t you introduce yourself first?”

“Ah, my apologies. This is our first time meeting in person. Since this is not an official setting, I have no business cards on me, but—my name is Arisaki Enji, a diplomat serving this country. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

“A… diplomat?”

His words caught me off guard.

The man nodded slowly.

“Yes. To be more precise—though titles can be vague—I’m currently tasked with managing international diplomacy. If you’d like, you can look up my name later for a more concrete description of my position.”

“And what’s your purpose in coming here?”

He maintained a polite demeanor… so polite it actually felt suspicious.

Tsubame, for her part, remained composed but visibly tense.

“I’ve been entrusted with a letter for you, Lady Fairest of the Nation, from a certain individual.”

“So you tracked my location through social media and stole personal data just to deliver that?”

“Ah, quite harsh. It was necessary, you see. And yes, I did receive permission—from President Urushiyama.”

“You didn’t get permission from Usui-san either, did you? Or from my mother.”

“I did try, but they wouldn’t budge. So I approached from a different angle.”

“Thanks to that, your impression with me is irreparably damaged.”

“You’re very strict.”

Tsubame’s voice was growing colder, yet the man—Arisaki—offered no real apology or remorse.

“That said, there are valid reasons behind this.”

“Such as?”

“If you would read the letter inside, I believe you’ll understand.”

“…”

He produced an envelope and held it out.

Tsubame paused, sighed quietly, and took it.

“I assume if I don’t accept this, these interruptions will continue. And my mom and manager will keep getting overwhelmed.”

“Well… perhaps. I would imagine this would eventually affect your work too.”

“…I understand.”

“Tsubame—”

I called out before I realized it, unable to hold back my concern.

But Tsubame met my gaze with calm determination.

“It’s okay. I’m just accepting the letter.”

“Yes, yes. As a representative of this nation’s future, I assure you—I have no ill intentions.”

…Everything about him feels sketchy, but for now, maybe it’s fine.

Tsubame stepped forward and accepted the envelope.

Nothing dramatic happened.

“There is one letter inside, along with a Japanese translation. Please read it at your convenience. I ask that you not share it with your friends.”

“…No need for the translation. I can read it.”

Tsubame opened the envelope.

She had mentioned in a magazine interview once that she was fluent in English. That must be the language used.

Noticing my gaze, she turned to me.

“I’ve been learning foreign languages since middle school—not just English. I’ve gotten good enough to read and understand most things.”

“…You’ve worked hard.”

“I have. So… make sure you praise me later, okay?”

Her voice regained a little warmth—but as she read the letter, her expression froze.

“…So that’s what this is about.”

“Tsubame?”

“I’ll explain,” Arisaki cut in smoothly. “She’s not in a position to judge how much can be disclosed.”

Tsubame kept reading in silence.

“I’ve been entrusted to deliver an invitation from some very important figures of a certain country.”

“…Very important?”

“Yes. To put it simply—it’s an invitation to a prince’s birthday party.”

My eyes widened.

Ah, so that’s what this is.

“Yes. ‘Prince’ is a simplification. I suppose I can clarify a bit, to avoid suspicion…”

But what came next shocked me even more.

“The sender of the invitation… is none other than the first in line to the throne—next in succession to become king.”

“…What?”

“Moreover… this is not just any ordinary invitation.”

As Arisaki spoke, I heard the faint sound of paper crumpling.

Looking beside me, I saw Tsubame’s hands trembling as she clutched the letter.

The page had begun to bend from the pressure.

“His Majesty—the future king—has expressed a sincere wish to welcome her into the royal family.”

The man smiled with deep satisfaction as he spoke those final words.