"Estelle...", Joshua uttered, shaking his head in disappointment. "Do you realize who it is you are currently hugging? I am really sorry for my sister's behavior.", Joshua said, scratching his head.
"Teehee, oh I don't mind it at all. I'm quite used to it at this point. And any friends of Naoto are friends of mine. I welcome you all regardless.", Princess Alfin said, smiling at us.
"It is nice to see you again, Your Highnesses.", Kloe said, and approached me with a polite look in her eyes. "I hope you enjoyed the banquet we hosted earlier."
"Kloe?", Estelle asked, confused as she parted ways from Princess Alfin.
"Oh it was fantastic~", Princess Alfin happily responded. "Wasn't it, Big Brother?"
"It certainly was. Give my compliments to the chef~", Prince Olivert also said, keeping a grin on his face. But his eyes landed on Scherazard, and his pace paused for a moment. "And pray tell, who might you be? My beautiful newcomer."
Right...
This is Prince Olivert's and Scherazard's first meeting, now that I think about it.
Huh.
Will this lead anywhere? In the original story, these two do wed later on. It caught a lot of people by surprise. Me included.
"Flattery will get you nowhere. But if you must know, you may call me Scherazard Harvey.", Scherazard introduced herself. She too remained polite. She was quick to realize who it was she was speaking with, unlike Estelle.
"Ahh, so you are the Silver Streak. A pleasure. I go by many names. But here inside the Embassy, I am Crown Prince Olivert. My family rules over all of Erebonia. But do not let that come as a shock to you. We've been good friends with Naoto here far much longer than you all have. Isn't that right?", Prince Olivert asked.
"Uh-huh!", Princess Alfin also said in agreement.
"You two...", I said, shaking my head with embarrassment. But they weren't wrong. I've known these two just about as long as I've known Emma. Prince Olivert also spotted her in our group and smiled.
"And it is nice to see you again my dear Emma. As short a visit this might be, it is good to see you in good health.", Prince Olivert continued, greeting her.
"Likewise.", Emma smiled. She seemed more normal now after regaining some of her energy.
"You all really have met before, I take it. This is Crown Prince Olivert and Princess Alfin, Estelle. They're just like Naoto here.", Joshua said, keeping Estelle beside him. It was then it clicked for Estelle.
"You...are a princess!?", Estelle exclaimed in shock.
"You really are slow on the uptake sometimes, aren't you, Estelle? As your senior, I fear for you when you start studying to become a Bracer...", Scherazard said, sighing.
"What's that supposed to mean?", Estelle retorted back at her.
Hearing that, we all laughed, which lifted the awkward atmosphere around us. As for Princess Alfin, she turned around to look at Prince Olivert with a sad look in her eyes.
"Anyway, we still have the day ahead of us. Thank you for inviting me, Naoto. But are you sure you can't make it, Big Brother?", Princess Alfin asked Prince Olivert.
"Alas. I have a mountain of paperwork that I must attend to. My vacation unfortunately ended already. You are free to explore to your heart's content Alfin my dear.", Prince Olivert said with the most overexaggerated defeated look in his eyes. I shrugged my shoulders hearing him say that. "But I say that, I might have my friend of mine come join you all depending on how you fare later~"
"Oh my. I wonder who that ever could be~", Princess Alfin teased back. Obviously, he was referring to Mueller.
"You're such a weirdo.", Estelle blurted out. I mean, she isn't wrong. Prince Olivert sure is a charismatic fellow, haha! He likes to attract attention like none other.
"That's one way to put it, Estelle.", I said, bursting out in laughter.
"I swear. You and your bluntness, Estelle...", Joshua said, sighing again.
"So you two must be the children of the famous Divine Blade.", Prince Olivert said, and proceeded to size up Estelle and Joshua.
"You know dad?", Estelle asked, surprised.
"Of course I do. Your old man saved quite a lot of people. Rest assured I did not play a single role in that war. It was out of our grasp.", Prince Olivert said, smiling at Estelle.
"Hehe, that's good to hear. Dad is super-duper strong you know! He trains me constantly when he's around. Oh, and Joshua too.", Estelle said.
"Haha, not as much as he does to you, Estelle. But I won't lie in saying I've received a pointer or two from dad.", Joshua said. "But it isn't just dad who is out there, Estelle. Zemuria is a wide, wide place. There are plenty of strong people out there."
"Well said, Joshua.", I said, nodding my head in agreement.
"And as for you...", Prince Olivert began to say, looking at Kloe this time. Kloe simply smiled back.
"I am merely Kloe for right now, Your Highness.", Kloe said, smiling at him.
"Right. Right. Kloe it shall be. Please send your significant other my regard.", Prince Olivert said, keeping his tone mysterious. Kloe wanted it to be like that, so I'm just letting her do whatever she wants.
"I'll miss you ever so, Big Brother. But we should be off, my friends. I am very much looking forward to this tour of Grancel City, Naoto. Lead the way!", Princess Alfin happily said to us while looking at me.
"Haha. We'll have several places to stop by. I also have a special order that's being prepared right now. That will be the last stop for today's activities. Grandmother said she is hosting a martial arts tournament today. The junior division has already begun, we might be able to catch the finals.", I said to everyone. Everyone became interested.
"A martial arts tournament huh? The Grand Arena is in use right now, so it makes sense. I don't see a reason not to pay a visit. Tickets are pretty cheap too. I hear they make it available for all visitors alike.", Kloe said, nodding her head.
"The Grand Arena? Isn't that the place where people come to display the prowess of one's skills and techniques? We don't have many places like that back in Heimdallr besides our couple of dojos.", Princess Alfin asked.
"That's right. It's quite different. It's an open arena that accepts just about any challenger. Most come here seeking direct combat experience. Fighting monsters can only get you so far.", I said, explaining the Grand Arena.
"Dad used to fight a lot inside it as well! I'd participate myself but we're always so far from Grancel City. Dad rarely has time to take us into the Grand Arena. There is a tournament happening already? Then what are we waiting for?", Estelle asked, looking at me.
"There is. If we're quick enough, we should be able to see some matches.", I answered.
"Then let's go!", Estelle suddenly exclaimed. I saw her glance down at my hand again.
"Not again...", I said, leaving it up to my fate. Estelle grabbed a hold of it, and yanked me away, speeding off into the Embassy below.
"Oh my.", Princess Alfin said, giggling. "I guess this is where we will part ways for now, Big Brother."
"Indeed. I leave my dear Alfin in your guys' care. Ta-ta.", Prince Olivert said, waving goodbye.
"Don't worry, Your Highness. Her Highness is safe with us.", Scherazard said, assuring Princess Alfin's safety. The group bid Prince Olivert farewell. Seeing many figures quickly departing from his room, Prince Olivert went into his thoughts.
'I wonder. Where will this lead to?', Prince Olivert mused, wondering where all of this will lead to.
We were too quick for even Ambassador Crainagh to berate us for running in the halls. As the others tried to catch up, Emma spoke out.
"Where does Estelle get all of this energy from?", Emma decided to ask.
"Honestly, I have no clue. I blame dad.", Joshua said while running.
"Hehe. I'm more surprised that Naoto can keep up with her.", Kloe said, giggling.
Eventually, the group managed to catch up to us back on the outside where Estelle and I came to a halt. As we left the Embassy, Princess Alfin was quick to act.
"Sir Ambassador, please look after Big Brother while we're out.", Princess Alfin quickly said.
"O-Of course, Your Highness...", Ambassador Crainagh said, before he saw the rest of the group vanish from sight.
Just like that, our group increased by one. Princess Alfin was now added into the mix!
Once we were back on the outside, the couple of guards closed the gate, and remained polite. After all, Princess Alfin and I were in their presence still, so they knew how to act accordingly. Once we all regrouped, I looked at Princess Alfin. She was still in her St. Astraia uniform.
"Are you sure you're fine dressed like that, Alfin?", I decided to ask.
"Oh please. It's not like I'm wearing my formal dress. People will just think I'm a schoolgirl while dressed like this. Easy-peasy!", Princess Alfin happily responded.
"Haha. If only it were that easy. Hopefully no trouble gets sent our way.", I happily replied.
Seeing Princess Alfin not backing down from my question, we could only press onward. Thankfully, the Grand Arena wasn't far off. Just down the main road and to the left. It doesn't even take a half hour to reach the place. Just a few minutes of walking. In the games, it'd only take a few seconds. But this is real life. Grancel City is much bigger, visiting it in person!
I do wish there was some form of fast travel and while I do have access to magic, that's still being developed. Until then, I have to do what other people do. Walk. I'd rather not use those "Wings" of mine out in public like this.
As we moved along, Princess Alfin looked at Joshua with a look of curiosity, and decided to ask a question.
"You seem quite familiar, Joshua. I can't help but notice that you seem to be from Erebonia like Big Brother and I.", Princess Alfin decided to say.
"You'd be right on that, Your Highness. You have a good pair of eyes.", Joshua said, not denying Princess Alfin's claim. Estelle raised her eyes hearing that.
"Really? You're from Erebonia, Joshua?", Estelle asked, still doubtful.
"I am. You simply haven't asked where I came from.", Joshua said, smiling at her.
"Well that's because I didn't want to press into your matters, Joshua. Erebonia, huh? That's pretty cool.", Estelle said.
"I'm from Erebonia too. Nice to meet a fellow person from it.", Emma said, also smiling at us.
"Is that right? Well, our two countries are neighbors. Even if we were at war a while back, no doubt that we would get many visitors from Erebonia. Calvard too.", Joshua said, nodding his head in agreement.
As we continued to have small chatter like that, twenty or so minutes passed by. Before we knew it, we arrived in front of the Grand Arena. Many people were shuffling out and about, going in and out of the building. In the near distance, we heard a roaring crowd with sounds of clashing metal. Sure enough, battling was already underway!
However, before we could buy our tickets to enter, we heard a whistle from a rather familiar-sounding voice. I know this voice...
"Phew~ We sure raked in a lot of Mira on that bet, didn't we? I'm surprised that such a little kiddo like her packs such a punch. She blasted that guy right out of the ring in one shot.", The man said. After he said that, I heard a second voice that also sounded familiar.
"Indeed. It isn't often you get to see practitioners of the same school in one area. Moreover, it is Taito. To think The Immovable wound up recruiting a disciple to call his own. That alone is a feat.", The deeper voice said. It belonged to quite the hulky man. The first voice belonged to a man too, but wasn't as gigantic. The second man towered over the first man.
"Yeah. And that Neigong user is no slouch either. Her movements were very agile. Even I don't think I have that sort of speed. She attacks very quickly with those talismans.", The first man said. He seemed to have a casual look in his eyes.
And yet, the moment I heard these two men speak, I could immediately recognize them. I just blinked my eyes once the two came into view from inside the Grand Arena.
"Xeno. Leo. Is that you?", I asked, calling out to the two.