Vol 9 Chapter 21: Moving Preparations

The next morning, in the inner garden of the royal palace.

After finishing breakfast, I’m captured by the young ladies.

The crimson-haired princess sitting in the center chair tells me with sharp eyes.

On her lap is the little girl Ria, by the way. Cute.

“Now then, shall we begin? Last night’s continuation.”

“…Continuation of what? I stuck it out until the very end yesterday, didn’t I? I think you should be concerned about being perfectly fine after drinking that much, you know?”

“Y-You drank too! L-Lily drank the most!!”

“Yesterday’s wine~ was delicious~ ☆ Felicia-sama, could you handle it at your trading company~?”

“That’s a western product that doesn’t circulate much on the market. Western goods are still—…Allen-san ★”

“…Felicia, making that face is pointless, you know? I won’t negotiate with Lady Leticia. Lidia, Cheryl’s trying to escape, you know?”

I mercilessly sell out Her Highness the Princess, who’s trying to sacrifice me and make her own escape.

Cheryl’s eyes widen as she shouts.

“A-A-Allen!? You’re selling me out—me, who understands you best in the world and will be your superior from now on!?”

“Hahaha. You jest, Your Highness Princess Cheryl Wayne Wright. Look, if you’re not paying attention, things will get a bit rough for you, you know?”

“!?”

Stella, Karen, and Tina and Liene—the four of them move to capture Cheryl.

In response, Her Highness the Princess begins a full-speed escape while successively activating light magic spells.

At my feet, Chiffon, who’s serving as Atra’s pillow, tilts her head with a ‘Should I participate too?’ so I pat her head and tell her, “It’s okay. They’re just playing.”

“A-Allen!! Th-Th-These girls are a-a bit abnormal!?”

“Karen!” “Stella! Increase your speed! Tina, Liene!!”

“Yes!” “Here we go!”

The Royal Academy student council president and vice president corner Cheryl with excellent coordination, while from behind, countless ice bullets and flame bullets activated by Tina and Liene assault her.

My classmate, who should be a rear guard, continues to fend off the barrage-like rapid-fire magic from Tina and Liene while engaging in close combat unarmed against those two.

…Wow, that’s incredible.

While amazed, I return my gaze to Lidia and Felicia.

“So? What’s the main topic?”

“I’m sure you understand, but—your position has changed. Even if you don’t have a peerage.”

“Accordingly, I think it will be difficult for you to continue living in your lodgings in the lower town of the Royal Capital. So ★”

“It’s moving season~ ♪”

With an evil smile, Lily-san projects a map of the Royal Capital onto the table.

Several areas are colored.

I glance over it—and rest my elbow on the table, propping my cheek.

“…No, my current lodgings are fine.”

“No.” “No, they’re not.” “Allen-sama has no say in this~”

“…What are the candidates?”

“First candidate. The Linstar family estate.”

Lidia speaks up first.

I shake my head.

“No good. Even if it’s common knowledge, the connection between the Linstar Ducal Family and me isn’t ‘official.’ I don’t think we should show that kind of opening.”

“Just make it ‘official’! S-Specifically—…th-that is… I-If you and I got enga—”

“Yes, yes~. I think it would be resolved if Allen-sama got engaged to me~ ♪”

“…Lily, it seems you want to have a serious training session with me for the first time in a while?”

“Ah, yes yes. Lidia, calm down. Lily-san, don’t tease too much. I won’t stop her next time, okay? Hm? Or have you given up on becoming a maid?”

“! I-I haven’t given up!!”

“Then… bringing up your family name is somewhat questionable… The maid outfit is on hold for the time being.”

“Uguuu~! A-Allen-sama is so mean~”

While patting Lidia, I ignore Lily-san flailing in her chair and use my eyes to urge Felicia to continue.

Shrugging her shoulders, the glasses-wearing girl reaches for the map.

In the back, Cheryl is still going “Kyaa! Kyaaa!! W-Wait, A-Allen, help me—” She seems energetic. She’ll probably be fine for a while.

Felicia touches the candidates matter-of-factly.

“For the same reason, the Howard Ducal Family can be excluded. We’ve also received an offer from the Orgren Ducal Family to provide an estate, but… making contact with the side that caused a rebellion would be rather noisy, I think.”

“That’s reasonable. How about just using a room in the building the Allen Trading Company uses?”

“I-I support that plan! That way, Emma-san and the others would be there… and we could work together early in the morning…”

“While wearing beast-eared maid outfits?”

“A-Allen-san would wear a butler outfit!”

“—…May I bring us back on topic?”

“! Y-Yes…”

Lidia intimidates Felicia with a scary smile. How immature.

I sigh while continuing to pat my longtime friend’s head.

Weight on my head and right shoulder. Before I knew it, Ria and Atra in young beast form had climbed on. They seem to be looking at the map with interest.

“…Linstar, Howard, Orgren-related estates, and the trading company building are all no good. Do you have something in mind?”

“…Yes.” “There was conflict in the grand bathhouse, but everyone’s agreed. Except for Princess Cheryl.”

Lidia and Felicia nodded.

Lily-san stands up, changes the scale of the map—and focuses on the western side of the Royal Capital.

A section near the light blue roof we often use is dyed in pale crimson. …It’s very large. I give the glasses-wearing girl a flat stare.

“…Felicia.”

“Kufufu ♪ Considering how much the trading company has grown, I secured the property some time ago. From here, it’s close to the Royal Academy, the university, and the trading company building, and I think it will be easy to coordinate with the Headmaster and the Professor.”

“N-No, but… there’s no way I can maintain—”

“I already bought it. In my name.”

“…I-I can’t pay the rent—”

“It’s free.”

Lidia tells me as if it’s nothing.

In her eyes is sadism.

…I have a bad feeling about this.

I check the battle situation in the back.

Stella and Karen are pointing a sword and thunder spear at Cheryl.

“Princess Cheryl, getting ahead of everyone is a grave sin.”

“Brother cares about you in a different way from Lidia-san. …It’s dangerous!”

Behind the two seniors, Tina and Liene are preparing ‘Ice-Snow Wolf’ and ‘Fire Phoenix.’

“I know! People like Cheryl-sama last night are called sneaky cats!”

“Tina, you mean thieving cat. …Either way, there’s no difference in crushing her here.”

“Tch! A-Allen! I-I’m thinking it’s about time you help me… I-If you help me, I’ll let you live in the royal palace, you know?”

“Everyone, go ahead.”

‘Yes!’ “A-Allen!?”

While listening to my classmate’s scream, I press my own forehead.

…Why are the only girls around me like this!

While holding Ria, who stood up on my head and is reaching for the map, I confirm with Lidia.

“So? What are you going to make me do for the free rent?”

“Huh? Th-That kind of thing—…I-I-I can’t say it in a place like this!!”

“That’s right~. Ah, but it’s okay~. When that time comes, I’ll be there too~?”

“Wha!? L-Lily! I-I never heard anything about that!?”

“Reeally~? Didn’t I tell you~?”

“You didn’t!!!”

Lidia snaps at her cousin.

…

I feel like Lily-san just lobbed in a super explosive magic spell, but I’ll lose if I worry about it, yeah.

I turn my gaze to the glasses-wearing girl.

“This matter… it’s already decided regardless of my wishes, right?”

“Yes ♪ There are so many rooms, so there’s no problem.”

“? You don’t need to worry about the number of rooms—…Felicia, I’ll dare, dare to ask, but who are you assuming will live in this moving destination?”

“Kufufu… It’s okay. Just Allen-san and Atra-chan. Basically.”

“…’Basically,’ you say. I see.”

“Yes, ‘basically.'”

The chief clerk of the Allen Trading Company has her glasses glinting ominously.

I sigh for the umpteenth time today and raise both hands.

“…I understand. As instructed. For the time being, I’ll have Felicia work in a maid outfit with beast ears and a tail, yes!”

“!? A-A-Allen-san!?”

“This is a final decision. I won’t accept objections. …Lidia, Lily-san too. Be prepared when you come to stay over!”

“! …Y-Yes…”

The two Linstar ladies, opposite from the flustered Felicia, blush for some reason and look down bashfully. This throws me off.

In front of me, Cheryl is making her last stand. The battle situation is severely disadvantageous.

Well… if it’s just playing around, it’ll be a bit tough. That princess is too kind.

Still—if it were a real battle, my classmate would still win overwhelmingly.