NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2032: At the New Stores ⑨
Eris Dia Hamilton…… She is the heir of the Hamilton Marquisdom, one of the four great noble families in Archlesia Empire, with royal blood in her lineage. She is a noble lady who has endured strict etiquette education since childhood.
Perhaps that's why…… With the discipline ingrained in her through years of education and her pride as the heir of a great noble family…… She was somehow barely controlling her emotions.
Kaito possesses the ability "Sympathy Magic", allowing him to perceive the general emotions of others. Eris was currently quite flustered due to the unexpected encounter with Kaito. She was in a state that could be described as panicked. However, her steel-like resolve prevented her from losing her composure even in her confusion…… Even when Kaito sensed her emotions, all he could detect was a hint of tension and awe, as she was suppressing her agitation.
(It's alright, it's alright. I am the young lady of the esteemed Hamilton Marquisdom…… Even though this encounter was unplanned, I can finish this conversation without causing any discomfort to Kaito-sama. I've been trained enough to handle this. It was just a chance encounter where Kaito-sama happened to remember my face, leading to an introduction. He usually doesn’t engage much with nobles…… so this conversation should end quickly.)
Kaito rarely attended noble tea parties or events and had almost no interactions with nobles other than the royalty and Albert Duchy…… In fact, Eris knew that he intentionally avoided them.
There were even rumors that Kaito disliked nobles, so she expected this conversation to end quickly. However, that assumption was a big misunderstanding.
The reason Kaito declined invitations from nobles was largely because he wanted to avoid the calculated motives behind networking and the formal, rigid nature of noble events, including social gatherings. It wasn’t that he was avoiding interaction with nobles or disliked them personally.
If Kaito found someone to be likable, he would naturally want to be friendly and engage in conversation…… and Eris, from their previous interaction during shopping and their introduction, had been recognized as a likable individual by him.
[Eris-san, did you come to Symphonia’s capital for a specific reason?]
[Yes, I was lucky enough to win in the purchase lottery at Nifty's store, so I’m heading there now.]Responding with a gentle smile, Eris tried to keep her composure, but internally, her confusion was deepening.
(A- Arehh? H- He's somehow treating me more positively than I expected…… I'm a noble, you know? I'm a Marquis' daughter!)
Eris had expected Kaito to quickly wrap up the conversation, so she was perplexed. She had experience in social gatherings, where people often probed each other's intentions, and although she didn't possess any special abilities, she could generally read a person's feelings from their expressions and tone of voice.
Kaito, however, was responding in a noticeably friendly manner, giving off the impression of enjoying a conversation with a newly made friend.
[Ah, really? Actually, I was on my way to Nifty’s store too.]
[Is that so? You must be visiting as the owner to check on the store then?]
[Ah, no, I'm just curious to see how things are going. I also have a small task for the person I left in charge…… Ah, let's not stand around here chatting. Since we're heading to the same place, if Eris-san doesn't mind, would you like to walk together?]
[Eh? Ah, y- yes. I'd be happy to.]
Kaito's smile conveyed nothing but positive feelings, leaving Eris with a multitude of question marks floating in her mind. Despite her confusion, she maintained her composure and agreed with a steadfast smile befitting a noble lady.
As she walked alongside Kaito toward Nifty while engaging in conversation, she desperately tried to suppress her chaotic thoughts.
(W- W- Why am I in this situation!? It feels like I’m truly getting close to Kaito-sama…… N- No, this is quite the honor, but why? How on earth did I capture Kaito-sama's interest?)
Since Kaito had little opportunity to interact with nobles in the first place, Eris never even dreamed that he might find her, someone who has the atmosphere as to be expected of a noble lady, refreshing. Instead, it just made her bewildered, thinking in circles about why Kaito viewed her favorably.
Well, of course, considering Eris's position, being close to Kaito is advantageous. However, she feels overwhelmed and her mind is unable to keep up with the situation.
(W- While I don’t understand what’s happening, it’s undoubtedly a good thing for both me and our Hamilton Marquisdom. If possible, I’d love to keep things going like this and build a friendly relationship……)
However, thanks to her rigorous noble education, or perhaps it was just her innate poise, Eris was beginning to regain her composure in her thoughts…… but that calmness would soon shatter in an unexpected moment.
[Ahh~~!? It's Kaitokun-san!]
[Eh? Ah, Tir-san…… Everyone's here too…… What a coincidence.]
As Eris and Kaito turned to the direction of the sudden voice, there they saw five figures…… Fairy Princess Tirtania, Sky Flower Princess Ariel, Rose Princess Rosemary, Grass Flower Princess Camellia, and Great Tree Princess Jutia. The moment Eris recognized them, her complexion went from pale to completely white.
(Abababababa, w- w- why are the Seven Princesses heeeeeere!?
<Afterword>
Serious-senpai : [After a sudden body blow of an unexpected encounter, a follow-up body blow of an invitation to go to the store together that's almost like he's some pickup artist, and just when she was desperately trying to regain her composure, she was hit with a body blow of such devastating power that it felt like it could pierce through her stomach————- specifically, a set of five Six King Executives…… Hmmm, this is truly the world of the Body Blow Master, the one with the conviction to destroy people's stomachs at all costs.]