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Whoosh~
The evening wind from the sea swept over the forest, rustling the island's trees.
Moonlight reflected off the rippling lake surface as the three people by the shore maintained their bizarre "woman-sword-man-woman" formation.
Finally, Sayaka Kirasaka broke the silence first.
"Y-you just said you found Princess La Folia. Where is she?"
"Right in front. Look for yourself."
Bokue Keikain suddenly felt the urge to facepalm.
War Dancers were supposedly renowned within the Lion King Organization for their assassination techniques, which should mean excellent counter-surveillance awareness. Yet at this distance, she hadn't even noticed. Clearly, she'd just grabbed her sword and charged over without thinking.
"You mean... in front?"
Sayaka shifted, seemingly wanting to peek around the youth in front of her to investigate the lakeshore ahead. But the moment she moved, she stopped, instead pressing her great sword's tip threateningly against the youth's back again.
"Let me be clear—if you dare turn around and look, I'll absolutely stab you to death. Stab you to death! Got it??"
"Yeah, yeah~"
Bokue cooperatively raised his hands.
Seeing the youth's compliance, Sayaka finally relaxed slightly. Still keeping her legs pressed together with one hand covering her chest, she carefully shuffled her feet, making absolutely sure she wouldn't appear in his peripheral vision as she peeked out slightly.
Then promptly let out a gasp.
"Princess La Folia??"
"Oh? That voice..."
At the same time, the silver-haired girl standing waist-deep in the lake water also froze slightly.
"Could you be Miss Sayaka Kirasaka?"
"Y-yes, it's me."
Sayaka answered reflexively.
Perhaps this was serendipity at work. Who'd have thought the person they'd searched for all day would suddenly appear in a place like this?
The two bathing girls gazed at each other over Bokue's shoulder.
However—
Looking again at Princess La Folia currently standing face-to-face with the youth in the lake water, Sayaka took a deep breath and closed her eyes, the sharp blade tip beginning to tremble.
"So Bokue Keikain, how much longer do you plan to keep looking?? That's the First Princess of the Aldegyr Kingdom. You just staring at Her Highness like this is really..."
"Oh?"
Bokue's gaze shifted slightly backward.
"Then should I turn around?"
"No!"
Sayaka blurted out reflexively.
"Uh..."
"See, you don't want that either."
Bokue shrugged.
"You won't let me turn around, but I can't move to the side either—that would mean seeing both of you..."
As he spoke, he slightly shifted his shoulders. This borderline transgression immediately made the War Dancer girl bristle again.
"Stop stop stop! Y-y-you stand still and don't move! If you dare turn around and look, I'll kill you! I'll really kill you!!"
"So what do you suggest?"
"Ugh..."
Sayaka was speechless again.
After about two or three seconds, she took another deep breath, as if reaching some major decision.
"Princess La Folia, please get dressed quickly after we leave."
"Eh?"
Without waiting for La Folia's response, Sayaka dropped her great sword, grabbed the youth's wrist, and dragged him toward the other side of the forest.
"Close your eyes and come with me!"
"What now..."
Bokue's complaints hadn't finished before he'd already vanished into the forest.
After about half a minute, at another lake in the island's forest, the two who'd been jogging finally stopped.
"Alright, this is the place."
Finally returning to where she'd been bathing earlier, Sayaka couldn't help but relax slightly.
The entire way, she'd been watching someone's eyes closely to prevent him from secretly opening them. Fortunately, he seemed relatively gentlemanly, actually keeping his eyes closed the whole way as promised.
"Done?"
Bokue's voice rose slightly.
"Meaning I can open my eyes now?"
"No!"
Sayaka immediately shouted him down.
"Wait until I'm dressed, then you can open them. Otherwise I-I-I'll..."
"Got it, got it. Stabby-stabby, right?"
Bokue felt he'd become quite familiar with this War Dancer girl's logic.
Don't ask—just fast-forward to stabby-stabby.
"G-good that you know."
Realizing her reaction had been a bit excessive, Sayaka's already flushed cheeks darkened further under night's cover.
After confirming the youth wouldn't peek, she quickly picked up her clothes from the grass and dressed.
Though Bokue couldn't see what she was doing with his eyes closed, the rustling of fabric gave him a general idea.
"Why not just shower in the house anyway? Running out to the wilderness like this—cold water baths feel good when you're young, but watch out for rheumatism when you're older..."
"You're the one who'll get rheumatism."
Sayaka pouted as she fastened her skirt buttons, then pulled out the stockings stuffed in her shoes and put them on.
She'd walked quite a bit and sweated considerably today. As the stockings unfurled from their bunched state, a subtle, delicate scent permeated the air.
Sayaka smelled it too, but to avoid Bokue noticing, she could only talk to ease the awkwardness.
"After all, you created that house. How would I know if you installed cameras in the bathroom or bedroom..."
"How could there be something like that... Where does this inexplicable wariness even come from?"
Bokue was speechless.
"Did you already forget about Dimitrie Vatler? I could easily turn that snake guy who supposedly rivaled True Ancestors into a ball to play with. If I really wanted to do something to you, do you think you could escape?"
"O-of course I know that!"
Realizing after some deconstruction that this was indeed true, Sayaka responded with a red face, though her tone inevitably carried hints of guilt.
"But... anyway, thank you for coming out to find me this late at night..."
Her voice grew smaller and more muffled toward the end, basically becoming inaudible after "anyway."
Bokue formed a small question mark.
"Anyway what?"
"...Nothing!"
As she spoke, Sayaka had finished dressing. She actively grabbed Bokue's hand, pulling him toward the previous lake.
"Let's go, time to meet up with Princess La Folia!"
"Mm~"
The evening wind lifted the hair at the girl's temples, twilight hiding the blush on her cheeks.
Indeed... she didn't feel repulsed at all.
Feeling the warmth transmitted through her palm, the War Dancer girl couldn't help but think.
And it even felt somewhat reassuring.
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