I spent several days in a dark and smelly place; it was the academy's prison. I wanted to ask how they have something like that, but they wouldn't answer me anyway, so I won't inquire further.
The guards asked me annoying questions about whether I was from a hostile faction or an enemy of the crown. Of course, I calmly told them no. Before they got more aggressive, Ixion released a tranquilizing gas, and things went so slowly they even gave me my own room. Ixion made it comfortable since it was a pigsty. After several days there, a messenger came to tell me that someone was calling for me.
That's where I am now. An enormous, no, gigantic place you could say. The walls were so high that a fire truck ladder would fall short. The place was so elegant it hurt my eyes because of how white it was.
There were statues and even a fountain the size of an Olympic pool in the reception area.
I was inside one of those rooms; it was the study of the head of the house, a man I never imagined meeting. He was Alicelotte's father, Siegwald von Bismarck, a tall and burly man wearing a minister's uniform. Like his daughter, his hair was golden blonde, but graying. He had red rabbit-like eyes, and his face was like a wrinkled stone.
At his side was a handsome, very tall man in armor with the house's crest engraved on his chest. He had the same hair and eye color; he was his son and Alicelotte's older brother, Vayne von Bismarck.
Both looked at me as if watching a mouse eating freshly made food.
I felt the same sensation when I was called to the manager's office and he shouted at me for doing my job poorly. I could feel the pain and helplessness towards someone superior to me. But this time I won't allow it. I will only speak if asked and in a way that shows I'm not an insect. Even my introduction and my posture were made as respectable as possible thanks to Ixion's instructions, who is invisible beside me.
The owner of this house spoke to me with a great authoritative voice.
"First of all, Baron Bradford, isn't that right? I want to thank you for being my daughter's squire. As a father, I thank you for what you did, but as a minister and duke, I am annoyed both with you and my daughter."
(Waah– I imagined it would be like this, but reality surpasses fiction.)
Without showing a single expression, my head spun from his words.
"My daughter is certainly both guilty and responsible for what happened. I'm not saying what the Kingsfort heir did is inexcusable, but she is a woman of the aristocracy, so she should know about these things."
Once again, I imagined it would be like this. I didn't show a single expression while staring straight ahead.
"She knew how important this engagement with the duke's house was, but that foolish girl ruined it. Then the crown prince came and said very annoying things. Currently, the king is so angry that he disinherited him as punishment, and he is only a prince now."
My face couldn't help but make an expression of surprise at his words. He noticed and laughed.
"It certainly is a surprise for anyone. You were locked inside, so you didn't know naturally. Now let me hear your story; that's why I called you here, being such a busy man."
I remained silent for a brief moment. They looked at me, waiting for my response. Ixion knew in advance what they would tell me and prepared a countermeasure, that includes the prince's situation. But now it's different hearing it from the mouth of the man who says he is the father of my benefactress.
"Forgive my discourtesy, Duke-sama, but I would like to speak honestly."
He made an expression of astonishment at my request.
"Hoo– is that so? Very well, boy. Tell me what you really think about this."
"To begin with, I defended Alicelotte-sama under my own judgment. I certainly was a meddler in the private life of two people of a status far superior to mine."
His expression nor his son's changed. I kept talking.
"But I don't regret it. I saw firsthand the rumors about the Duke Kingsfort's son. That is not the attitude of someone who will inherit a duchy. In my eyes, he was not a noble but a ruffian."
They continued looking at me without blinking.
"That's why I decided, without any kind of compensation, to help a lady in distress. I don't regret it, even if it brings me consequences."
This time he spoke.
"I understand. But what about those two?"
A knot formed in my mouth, but I didn't hesitate.
"Certainly, my conduct was not appropriate against my opponents, but all of them had an excess of confidence and pride. If they were on the battlefield, they would already be dead."
"And what about Klein?"
"The same applies to him. His armed unit was of very poor quality. Even if I also wanted to teach him a lesson about humility, his pride prevented him from seeing beyond his nose."
"..."
"What about the prince?"
"Exactly the same. The only difference was that His Highness was someone who let himself be influenced by bad tongues. He didn't listen to anyone who wasn't close to him. That could bring misfortunes upon his future."
"I felt bad for what I did, but I know it was the right thing for the future of those young men."
"..."
I let out what was in my heart, but his gaze still seemed dissatisfied.
Then I decided to play my trump card, something I learned in my other life.
"Probably His Majesty the King, Duke Kingsfort, and other officials are annoyed with me."
"You are right." He said in a sarcastic tone.
"There are many people angry with you to the point of demanding your execution and that of your family."
That did scare me, but I won't give up.
That's why I prepared an apology gift in advance.
"If you look in the corner of your desk, you will find a box."
"I saw it before entering, but I didn't open it. Is it yours?"
"Yes, it's a gift for you and your family. I will also prepare another for the palace later."
Then, very cautiously, he opened the box that I had Ixion place there. Upon opening it, his eyes widened. His son's eyes also widened upon seeing his father agape.
"This is!!"
"How can someone like you obtain something like this?!"
"It's a secret, but let me say it's totally legal and obtained from my own territory."
He put his hand in and took out several white gold coins from there.
"The total size is five hundred thousand zest in white gold coins. You can count them if you wish."
(One white gold coin is worth the same as thirty yellow gold coins. So how many do you think are inside to achieve that total?)
His gaze suddenly turned towards me with a terrifying face.
"You, why are you giving me this considerable amount? It means something personal, doesn't it?"
He's right, but I won't tell him that.
In my world, this is what you call a bribe, but that word sounds very perverse, so I opted for the honest solution of calling it "hiring a lawyer."
"I simply wish to prevent His Majesty the King, the duke, and other officials from being annoyed with me, so I prepared an appropriate gift for them and you."
After a cold silence, he spoke.
"I understand... but you forget that you are not my son, nor part of my faction, much less a vassal of my daughter. Why should I listen to you and not take the money for myself and not bother with you?"
That sounded like something an adult would do, but I was also one, deep down.
"That's not possible since you are a man who instilled his values in his daughter. It's impossible for something like that to happen. And even in the worst case if it happens, I would simply write a letter renouncing my title and territory to save my neck and that of my family."
It's true what I said. I'm not interested in nobility, and even if I lose my territory, I would go with Ixion to another country to find a place to live. There's no problem with that.
Again there was an awkward silence, but it collapsed in seconds when a great bear-like laugh was heard. Even his son was perplexed.
"Father, are you—"
"Did you hear that, Vayne? How many madmen can you find like that? Tell him about that boy's situation."
His son proceeded to tell me something I didn't know after hearing his father.
"After the duel, Ali— Alicelotte spoke with Klein, and he exploded in anger. He told her such horrible things that he only brought shame to his house. The duke himself punished him with house arrest in his room."
"He sent a letter of apology and requested to cancel the marriage engagement due to his son's barbaric conduct."
For some reason, he sounds annoyed saying the last part.
But I'm glad it's that way.
Siegwald, the head of the family, addressed me.
"My daughter, after that, returned home devastated. She didn't want to eat, much less shower. As a father, I am extremely furious about what happened..."
His gaze looked like a snake looking at prey.
"Currently, we are dealing with many traitors in our faction. Not only did they abandon my daughter, but they were also part of those who booed her. There are many vultures to eliminate, it seems."
"If it weren't for a commoner named Irisdina, who was by her side accompanying her home from the first day, who knows what would have happened."
His son also spoke in a surprised manner.
"It's just as it sounds. I never expected to see that. That girl consoled and helped take care of my sister. She deserves a reward."
This time, Siegwald addressed me.
"That's why, Baron, I have a favor to ask you. You have a territory that is still expanding, isn't that right? I want you to take my daughter and that commoner to relax in the countryside away from all problems. Of course, I will send company to take care of them. You don't mind, right?"
"O-Of course not!!"
(Why did he sound annoyed emphasizing the last part?)
"Fine, you may withdraw. I will let you know the news through a messenger when I'm finished."
"T-Thank you. With your permission, I'll take my leave."
Then I quickly left from there.
◇
After politely closing the door, I ran out. The hallway was so big it seemed like a street.
I murmured quietly.
"Now I must leave it in his hands. I hope the worst doesn't happen, or it will be my end!!"
Each step echoed in the place.
I have no problem with them going to my island to relax, but in itself, it would be very painful for me since I will stop seeing Irisdina from the next semester as I won't be there.
After being locked in the academy's prison, I was notified of an indefinite prolonged suspension; in nicer words, it's forced graduation.
I say that because they are not kicking me out but avoiding me.
I should take advantage of the little time I have left to store her angelic smile in my brain. But even so, that girl is incredible. I was afraid of her at first, but now she is her moral support. Friendship between girls is undoubtedly one of the purest things.
I kept walking and walking in this endless long hallway.
◇◇◇
After Rudel left, Siegwald spoke to his son.
"Don't you think he's a curious boy?"
"Father?"
"Originally, I planned to argue for him to avoid him being executed for helping my daughter. But then he spoke those words that left me impressed."
"..."
"Vayne, how many men do you know who are willing to defend a woman, and one of high status, being someone of lower rank?"
"None, Father." His son responded instantly.
"Also, he spoke the truth. Lately, the prince has been behaving like a clown. The King himself asked me to thank the baron for giving him a reality lesson. At least with him, I don't think this boy will have problems."
"But..."
Siegwald got up from his chair while putting his hands behind his back and walked in front of the window of his study.
"That bastard Kingsfort, canceling the engagement..."
Siegwald bit his lip in anger.
"Could he have discovered that the engagement was only a facade to corner him and make him fall for all his crimes against the country?"
He bit his lip harder thinking about it.
"I didn't want to use my own daughter as bait to tie that bastard down, but he used his stupid son as an excuse to break the engagement. Damn cunning old man."
Blood came from his lower lip.
"What's worse, that stupid son said something about a principality despite having a duchy!! How dare an exiled person speak glory about his traitorous and extortionist family!!"
Due to the pain, he stopped biting his lip. His son gave him a healing potion to close the wound.
"Father, what will we do with Baron Bradford?"
Siegwald looked out the window once more. He observed Rudel approaching the edge of a shipyard, and from the sky, an enormous ship made of pure metal descended. The door opened in parts, touching the ground. Rudel climbed the stairs, and inside he observed a robot; it was a Lost Object in his eyes. It gave him a glass of juice and a sandwich.
The door closed, and the ship continued on its way, rising into the sky. Siegwald still couldn't believe that. But his eyes showed a flame of ambition.
"I would like to have him under our tutelage. After all, it's rare to find a true knight in our times. And who knows, maybe Alisa can win his heart and have him join our faction?"
"I see. In that case, should I prepare concubines from our still allied houses for him?"
"It would be good to have insurance, but at this moment, we don't know if we have more allies than enemies."
He approached his desk and grabbed his coat.
"Vayne, I will return to the palace to solve these problems. Who knows what these old foxes are planning behind the scenes. I must also convince the King to make that boy stay in our country."
"Understood, Father."
Upon hearing that, Siegwald left, closing the door.
◇
Several days have passed since I went to Duke Bismarck's territory. It's because I returned to my territory, where I was under house arrest. My family hit my head several times, crying, saying we were going to die... I can't tell them it won't be like that, and I hope nothing happens. For something, I gave that old man a lot of money.
I was observing the landscape from my ship, Brunhilde. A huge aircraft four hundred meters long, it was totally made of steel. I asked Ixion to remove the cannons and machine guns from the sides; anyone would think I came to conquer them.
I was returning from going to the duke's mansion in the capital to pick up the girls and their maids.
Of course, they were amazed to see this. Under my mother's advice, I decorated the rooms and other rooms to be suitable for several girls to live there for days. We took quite a while since I didn't want to scare them with its rapid speed.
Ixion notified me while I was resting.
"Master, don't you wish to go see those two?"
I looked at him without any interest.
"No~ I'm sure they'll be fine. At this moment, the help of a friend is needed, not that of a simpleton like me."
That's what I thought. Also, when I saw Alicelotte from afar, she was pale. Her skin was white, but now it seemed transparent. Her hair was disheveled, her lips were showing cracks and a blue color. Even her elegant clothes were wrinkled.
I asked Ixion to prepare something for her to help after boarding.
The maids told me to let them help, but I told them that as host and squire, it was my obligation to help her. They looked at each other and left me after that.
Irisdina was helping her eat at this moment, according to Ixion.
"Are you sure you don't want to visit them?"
"How persistent you are. There's nothing I can do anyway."
I said that, but my eyes looked worriedly towards the place that was Alicelotte's room.
◇◇◇
Inside an elegant room worthy of a high-society girl, there were two girls. One was in bed eating a special soup given by the other who was beside her.
"Alicelotte-san, open your mouth. This dish was prepared by Rudel-san to help you recover faster."
Upon hearing that, the quiet Alicelotte moved her lips slowly.
"I see... he is undoubtedly a good man... not only did he defend me, but now he prepares something to help me improve..."
Tears began to spill onto her cheeks.
"...Despite how hard he tried, I couldn't do anything for him. He was taken to jail and then interrogated, according to my father."
"As his benefactress, I couldn't do anything for him. And then I went to Klein to try to fix things, and then he hated me with insults."
More tears spilled, falling onto her dress.
"I am the worst kind of woman that has lived. Not only does my fiancé hate me, I couldn't even protect my squire, and now his life is in danger because of me..."
Alicelotte writhed little by little.
(She should have rejected him as a squire.)
Irisdina spoke to her to stop criticizing herself more.
"Don't say that!!"
She threw the soup on the floor, grabbing her arms and making her look at her face.
"Rudel-san is not someone who would have allowed something like that in the first place!!"
Staring at each other, she continued speaking.
"Rudel-san is a great person. He helped you because he saw the injustices that happened to you!! Rudel-san is that kind of person who helps others whether they ask for help or not. Even now, he still continues to help others!!"
"Eh??" Exclaimed Alicelotte at Irisdina's words.
"I heard from the maids that Rudel-san sent a large amount of money so they wouldn't punish your ex-fiancé for speaking badly of you!! He even offered his title and territory!!"
Alicelotte's eyes opened, showing their red color from crying.
"Even after that, he wants to help Klein... I truly am a terrible woman for not doing anything for him..."
Alicelotte cried again, and Irisdina hugged her to console her.
◇◇◇
I was near the room when I heard some terrifying screams.
My face made a strange gesture at the panic.
"U-U-Uh... Aren't these girls misunderstanding things?!"
"It's certainly true a part, but the rest is totally false!!"
I quickly moved away from there so no one would notice my presence.
What Irisdina says is a mistake. I'm not a great person as she thinks.
"It was really a good idea to leave them alone. Girls get along better, and I would be a hindrance."
A part of me felt strange after saying that, but I didn't care. I wasn't going to see those girls next semester. So it was better to cut ties now before it hurts more.
I'm sure Alicelotte will improve thanks to Irisdina from now on. I stopped in front of a corridor.
"I am just a guy who woke up in this strange fantasy world. It's better for me to avoid unnecessary relationships."
That's what I thought and wanted to become reality.
◇
And once again, life tells me, "No!"
Several days had passed since we arrived at my parents' house for Alicelotte to recover. I immediately went to my island to verify that everything was going well. I left Brunhilde at home in case they needed it. Ixion was annoyed, but I ignored him.
After finishing my preparations, my ship arrived without any problem.
I had different activities made so the girls could enjoy without any problem... but there was one I didn't expect.
"I have no problem with you accompanying me, but I think you'll have more fun if you go explore on your own. I just do reviews every day, and it wouldn't be fun for two girls..."
At my sides were Irisdina and Alicelotte in commoner attire. The latter's color had improved, and the shine had returned to her eyes. It was all due to Irisdina's encouragement.
They should be exploring the island and not wanting to see me review documents about cultivation and house construction.
I was going to turn this place into a resort to earn profits.
A smiling Irisdina spoke to me with her cheeks red from excitement.
"I don't think it's boring at all. I think it's rather entertaining and fabulous all this. Ahh, Rudel-san, look at this potato as big as a melon!!"
Irisdina looked at the fields like a child on a candy excursion.
Alicelotte was next to speak, looking at me this time.
"I think it's more interesting to watch your territory alongside you, its discoverer. Also, what did you call these things, robots? I've never been in the countryside, but it's incredible that this whole place is managed by these strange beings. They don't consume prana either, right? That makes them more mysterious and wonderful."
Her tone still sounded like a high-class girl, but her way of expressing herself was simple like Irisdina's.
Then she opened her mouth with a big, "Oh."
Upon seeing some robots move a large stone pillar as a base for a house.
I didn't understand why they were here with me, but the maids also came and were in the main house, that is, mine. Preparing the rooms and dinner while they played around.
Irisdina grabbed my shirt like a puppy, and I turned to look at her.
"Is something wrong?" I asked curiously at her lost gaze.
"Rudel-san, for a while now, it smells something hot."
Alicelotte joined her in her affirmation.
"Certainly, it seems so. Isn't something burning?"
Then I remembered what they were referring to.
With a smile, I asked them.
"Would you like to go to a good place?"
They looked at each other at my question and then mutually agreed.
◇
Inside the island, there was a large lake. Ixion worked very hard to divert the lake towards the residences using pipes. Among the designated places, a special site was opened. In Rudel's past life, it was a place he wanted to try sometime because it was for relaxing; it was called hot springs.
That's where the girls were.
Thanks to his science or weird magic, Ixion managed to heat the water in the place to a suitable temperature for anyone. He even added medicinal herbs and other relaxing ingredients.
"Alicelotte-san, your hair needs good care. Since it's long, you should take care of it more."
"Tha- I leave it to you, Irisdina."
"Yes. Leave it to me."
A naked Irisdina used a lotion that Rudel called shampoo and applied it to Alicelotte's hair.
Both their bodies were soapy and wet from the showers that opened automatically when passing through.
Irisdina used little lotion on Alicelotte's head, and many bubbles began to manifest, forming a hat on her head.
Both laughed upon seeing it.
Alicelotte turned to tell Irisdina that she also wanted to do the same, and she gladly accepted.
Clumsily and very poorly, Alicelotte tried to make a hat on Irisdina's head, but nothing came out.
Irisdina laughed and spoke to her.
"Hehehe, I always wanted to have a sister or a friend to do something like this!"
"You didn't have one?" Asked Alicelotte, still struggling to form a hat.
Moving her head from side to side, she denied it.
"No, I'm an only child. In my village, there were few children, and girls were even fewer. I practiced with a dog that lived near my house."
Alicelotte stopped at Irisdina's silence.
Irisdina, to encourage Alicelotte, told her her secret, and she understood a bit of its meaning just now.
"But!"
She gave a cry of joy after a while, startling Alicelotte.
"I met Rudel-san after entering the academy for a while, and since then my days became more fun. Some were sad because Rudel-san ended up crying or hurt. Others were bad because he would talk to me about his failed attempts to get a fiancée."
The chat continued to the point that Alicelotte gave up on making the hat and rinsed Irisdina's hair to enter the hot springs.
After entering first, Irisdina took an unintentional glance at Alicelotte's body.
From head to toe, it was no exaggeration to call her a work of art. Her golden blonde hair was so long it reached her back. Her rabbit-like ruby eyes were radiant even with little light. Her face, unlike hers, seemed sculpted by artisans, even her fleshy red lips. Her arms and legs were long but slender. Her waist was so thin it seemed like a chalice. Her breasts were two great mountains overlapping each other.
Upon entering the waters, Alicelotte noticed that Irisdina was looking at her.
"Is something wrong?" She asked curiously.
Irisdina, startled, responded stammering.
"N-No, not at all!! It's just that I was astonished at your slender figure unlike mine!! Even your hair is softer and silkier than mine, and...!!"
Irisdina's stammering continued and continued, making Alicelotte laugh.
"You shouldn't envy me anything. I am a terrible woman who drove her ex-fiancé to extremes to the point of making him fed up with her."
Deep down, Alicelotte had a small part that thought it was her fault what happened with Klein.
"Rather, it is I who should envy you."
"Excuse me??"
With a strange gesture, Irisdina asked Alicelotte.
She responded with a sad look towards her.
"You are Bradford's girlfriend, aren't you? The way you talk, look at each other, and you trust him shows how close you are. I truly feel envy towards you. I wish you the best for the fut—"
"You're wrong!!"
Irisdina abruptly interrupted Alicelotte so she wouldn't finish.
Moving her head from side to side, Irisdina denied it.
"I... am nothing to Rudel-san. We get along, but the difference between us is gigantic."
With a sad look at the hot water, Irisdina hurt herself even more.
"He looks for a girl of higher rank since he has been classified as his own head. If he were just another son without inheriting his house, maybe there would have been an opportunity. No... being a commoner, there would never be an opportunity between us, and..."
With an even sadder tone, she covered her face with her hands so Alicelotte wouldn't hear her.
"...I'm sure Rudel-san only sees me as a girl who is not even his friend but whom he treats well."
Alicelotte looked at her very sadly and retracted what she said.
"I-I'm sorry, it was my fault!! I didn't want to make you uncomfortable. It's just that your relationship is so close that it seemed like you two..."
Removing her hands from her face, Irisdina looked at her with a smile, her eyes still closed.
"It's no problem. I'm glad to have met Rudel-san and Alicelotte-san at the academy. They were short but very dear memories."
The atmosphere between the two seemed to relax, but then there was a strange tension.
◇
"Ufufu, this is a true spectacle!! Without a doubt, it's my best idea so far. With this, I will obtain various profits when I open my resort!!"
What I had in my hands was a great fortune presented to me, and thanks to the girls, I was testing it.
"With this, my income will become larger than expected."
Ixion looked at me worriedly.
"Master, is this correct for you?"
"Of course it is! With this, I won't need you to make more money with rocks!!"
That's right. What I had in my hands was something revolutionary, and it was...
"Admire, Ixion, the first sample of sin in this world!!"
A shaved ice.
I had made it based on frozen ice from the lake to not invade other islands and obtain it from there.
I didn't want anyone to find out yet, but thanks to the girls, they motivated me to advance it, and after several failures with the ingredients, I could finally make a perfect shaved ice.
After bathing it in cream, I put the spoon on the tip and brought it to my mouth.
"Delicious!!!" I shouted from the depths of my stomach and heart.
"With this, it doesn't matter if they are adults, children, or elders. No one will be able to resist this revolutionary invention!!"
I took another bite to my mouth and then another. It was very delicious.
"I need to get more fruits to try more flavor combinations."
I took the spoon to Ixion, but he just looked at me.
"Master, are you making fun of me?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry! I had forgotten you don't have a sense of taste, hahahahaha."
My heavy joke made Ixion's red eye blink, and from it, an electric attack hit me.
I made a "babababa" sound with my lips like harmonicas while the electric current ran through my body.
I fell after a few seconds of receiving the attack. Ixion approached me to tell me I was fine.
"I used a minimum voltage. You should be fine now."
(This piece of junk, I'll turn it into a floating trash basket without a doubt.)
"Master."
He spoke to me again while I was still on the ground.
"Are you sure you don't want to see the recordings of the girls in the hot springs?"
It was then that I reacted and got up.
"The girls not only said it was a wonderful place, but they also talked about you."
After shaking myself a bit, I turned towards Ixion and with a movement, I said.
"Idiooooot~"
I hit him hard with my fingers, and he flew out of my sight.
"I told you to stop doing weird things. Don't think about spying on them, much less on the daughter of a duke. He would kill me if I tried."
From the bar outside the baths, of what was a hot spring hotel, I noticed that both had finally come out and sat on one of the benches.
With a smile, I grabbed two glasses of freshly made shaved ice and brought them to them like a waiter.
"You two really had a good time."
Irisdina noticed me and called me; Alicelotte followed her too.
"Rudel-san, those baths are amazing!!"
"I can't believe a simple hot bath can work wonders with the skin. This place will be a success if you open it to the public."
After hearing their kind words, a smile showed on my face.
"Fufu. I appreciate your compliments, but your bath is still incomplete without trying this first..."
I stretched out my hand so they both would take it. With a doubtful face, they grabbed the spoon and with a small taste, they took it to their mouths.
Their faces made an expression of happiness, letting out a "Kyaah" in unison.
"Rudel-san, this is very delicious!!"
"Something like this, I had never tried it. I can't believe you made this."
Their words only made my ego grow more.
"It's a secret, but they are homemade products that can be produced anywhere."
Alicelotte looked at me and said, "Really?!" full of amazement.
I noticed that Irisdina was looking at me and asked her.
"Is something wrong, Irisdina?"
She then kept looking at the glass, then at the surroundings, and finally into my eyes.
"Rudel-san... what am I to you?"
She asked a question that amazed me.
Alicelotte also kept looking at her.
But I didn't feel it was anything out of this world, and I answered simply and plainly...
"Obviously, I consider you a friend."
I said it with a smile. Both were left with their mouths open. Then I addressed Alicelotte.
"The same can be applied to you, Alicelotte. I consider you a friend even though you are my benefactress."
Alicelotte, upon hearing my words, looked at the glass and then at me and said...
"Really? You consider a terrible woman like me a friend??"
I made a, "Huh??" at her response and continued speaking.
"I don't understand what you mean, but yes, I consider you a friend from the moment you entered my territory. The same for you, Irisdina. You are also a very important friend to me."
I told them what I felt in my heart. At first, I didn't want anything to do with these girls, but then I realized it wasn't boring to be by their side. That's why I didn't want to get close to them here since it would hurt more to separate.
Irisdina said to me in a loud voice.
"That's fine... yes... We call each other in a special way among ourselves!!"
"I also consider Rudel-san my friend, and Alicelotte-san, I also consider her a great friend!!!"
She sounded very energetic saying that.
Alicelotte responded in the same way.
"Yes!! I also want to be your friend and to be called in a special way!!"
Having said that, the two looked at each other as if ready to box. Their gaze turned to me after that.
"For my part, you can call me Rudel. After all, it's my name."
Next was Irisdina. But it took her time to speak.
"...Call me... Airi, yes. Please, call me Airi from now on!!"
"Airi, huh?"
Without a doubt, it's a very pretty name if you shorten it.
Alicelotte looked excited and then with a rich girl's presentation said.
"Alisa. Just call me Alisa. That's what my family and servants call me."
Iris— no, Airi. She said her name over and over to Alisa. As for me, I remembered another conversation with one of my warehouse coworkers.
He was a nice guy with a weird hobby about the meaning of things. I remember he mentioned a name that had a special meaning in particular. And that was—
"Alisa in an ancient language translated as 'noble heart' and 'radiant happiness.' No matter how bad your life goes, you were born to be someone who emanates a magnificent aura that makes everyone happy, in addition to being someone born to be the happiest person in the world."
Without a doubt, it was a good name. Should I tell them?
Upon opening my eyes, I noticed that both were looking at me, red. One was redder than the other. Then Iris— Airi threw a little shaved ice at me, annoyed, and called me a traitor. (Why was that last part?!)
Alice— Alisa called me, laughing about the shaved ice on my clothes.
"Ahahaha, very well. Did you know that Rudel has a special meaning in this country? I felt very weird the first time I heard it on a person."
I looked at her perplexed at her declaration out of nowhere about my name. (Does this mean she can read minds?! Is there some magic that can do that?!)
"It's from the kingdom's ancient language. Rudel means..."
I looked at her with a worried face at what she was going to say. I thought it would be something bad, incredible, or pathetic.
"Rudel was what they called rugs in ancient times."
Yes, it was pathetic.
I let out a heart-wrenching scream at that and fell to the ground squatting.
"I was very surprised when I heard someone had the name of a rug, hahaha. Seriously, I would like to ask your parents what they were thinking at that moment, hahaha."
Her laugh was so annoying it hurt me. Airi also started laughing.
My fragile heart was breaking into pieces, and then both lifted me with their arms.
"Don't feel bad. It was just a prank."
"Rudel-san, it's very easy to make you cry."
I looked at them annoyed, and an idea occurred to me.
"Very well, you two. Would you like to play a game? The night is still young."
Both their voices rose as if to tell me they wouldn't lose to me.
"Don't think you can beat me, the daughter of a duke." Said Alisa, closing one of her eyes while adjusting the sleeves of her robe.
"I don't plan to lose to Rudel-san or Alisa!!" Exclaimed Airi while her eyes lit up in flames.
At first, I thought it didn't matter who I hung out with or if I were here with them, I would be a bad third wheel. But now it's different, since I think maybe three isn't a crowd, but a pyramid in which none of its sides can be removed.
"Very well, you two. The game will be—"
And that's how I spent part of my vacation with my two friends; a commoner, an ojou-sama, and me, a noble. What a strange comedic combination this turned out to be?