CHAPTER 4 - III -

 

Maddie didn’t hide her displeasure at what happened at the dining table.  But, out of respect for the crown prince and other nobles present, she refrained from lashing out.

 

Which is quite admirable of her, in fact.

 

However, it’s a different story when we returned to the Red Diamond Palace.  Because she’s pissed-off already, Lily decided to cut the talk with the crown prince and retreat to the guest residence to let Her Holiness cool down.

 

“I don’t like that guy!” Her Holiness couldn’t help but scream her frustration, “He thinks he could go around and impose his will whenever he pleases!”

 

“Can’t help it, Maddie.” Lily gave her a cup of mint tea, “At least we now know the true problem.  It’s not about the finances, but more on the imposing personality of the crown prince.”

 

“Indeed…” Maddie was massaging her head.  I’m getting worried about her; she might get stressed-out like before at the Holy Congress.

 

I remained silent for the entire time.  I’m the one who caused this, and so I guess I’d avoid giving problems to Maddie for a while.

 

“So, Kuro…” Maddie then turned to me, “…what do you think?”

 

“H-Hah?”

 

“Don’t ‘hah’ me.  I’m talking about the offer of the crown prince.” Her Holiness explained, “He’s basically telling you to become a part of his court, by essentially marrying you into his royal house.”

 

“Well, honestly, I don’t think I would accept that.  You can read into my mind; those suggestions I told them are just normal systems from the world I came from.  It’d leave a bad taste if I claimed it as my own.”

 

“What if those ideas came from you and not someone else’s?”

 

There was a weird, anxious atmosphere that suddenly sprang up when Maddie asked that question.  She and her maid were both staring at me, as if worried about my answer.

 

“Your Holiness—”

 

“It’s Maddie.”

 

I was surprised by her stingy tone, “M-Maddie, once again, try peering into my thoughts.  Never in my mind did I consider going to someone else’s court.”

 

Maddie blushed terribly, “O-Of course.  You’re mine, and mine alone.”

 

“Ahem.” Lily did that as if purposefully telling us never to leave her out.

 

“Well, of course, you’re Lily’s as well.”

 

I think we’re going off-topic, “I’m sure the kitchen head maid doesn’t like the idea either.  I mean, just look at her dejected expression earlier!  I don’t think it would work for both of us.”

 

“Riiiiiiiggggghhhhttttt…” Maddie’s tone was unsure, “She may be, for now.  However, there’s no way of telling it in the future!”

 

Come on, Your Holiness, do you see every girl around as your rival?  I’m not even a dashing prince on a pure white horse!

 

“Of course!  There’s no telling it when those girls would see your charms!  It’s not a matter of ‘if’, it’s a matter of ‘when’!”

 

“Please be assured, Your Holiness, I’ll always be faithful to you, and to Lily.” I also brought the head maid into the statement so that she won’t feel left out.  But we really have to sort out our relationships after this.

 

“Great!” there’s a big change of mood in Maddie after I said that.

 

“S-Shall we sleep then, Kuro?” Lily asked.

 

“Ah, right!  See you later then, Lily, Maddie!”

 

“Hold it!  Where are you going?”

 

“Uh…sleeping?”

 

“W-W-Who t-t-t-t-told yo-you to sleep s-s-s-so-someplace else?”

 

“You mean I’ll be sleeping with you guys?”

 

“I-I-I-It’s just s-s-s-s-sleeping!  N-N-Nothing else!”

 

“Well, your stammering tells me you guys have something planned.” I quickly made my way out of the room, “Anyway, Your Highness Princess Lilyhaven, Your Holiness Duchess Madelaine, I decided to do a training session with the Marquise of Monfort!  With that, I’ll take my leave for now!”

 

I hurried off once I closed the door.

 

 

***Back inside the room with Maddie and Lily…***

 

“Ah!  He escaped again, Maddie.”

 

“True, Lily.  So true.”

 

“I wonder if Kuro’s going to make a move on us.  Does he even see us as women?”

 

“Fufufufufu…Well, he’s still desperately clinging on to his morals and values from his world.” there was a nasty smirk forming on Maddie’s face, “But I could tell in Kuro’s heart that he’s about a third of distance away from falling to our charms.”

 

“Spoken like a seductress!  You know, you sound like a demon lord with your words.”

 

“Well, I can be a demoness if it means I’ll get what—or who, I want.”

 

“Please bring me along as well.”

 

“Of course.  But I’ll always be Kuro’s first.”

 

“Are you sure about that?  Looks like we got a few more rivals in the game.”

 

“Who?  Princess von Albert?”

 

“Well, yes.  But aside from her…”

 

“Ruro?”

 

“That too.  How about the Marquise of Monfort?”

 

Maddie sighed, “I guess we really need to be more aggressive, eh?”

 

“True.  Nerfes’ women never back down from the challenge before them.” Lily concurred, “And Kuro’s heart is a real battleground for us.”

 

“In that case, that otherworlder would finally taste the might of the women of Nerfes!” Maddie then brought out a pair of drinking glasses, “Lily, out with the celebratory wine!”

 

“Of course, Your Holiness!  Fufufufufu!!!”

 

At that very moment, Kuro did not know why he suddenly felt an extreme chill while he’s training with the Marquise of Monfort.