Excessively Honest: A Surprisingly Gentle Night with Estelle, and Meeting Crown Princess Iris
I thought the night with Estelle—honest to a fault, probably uncomfortable at times—would be awkward, but it turned out surprisingly soft and enjoyable. And so it passed, leading to the moment I'd finally meet Heroine #1: Crown Princess Iris.
She arrived earlier than expected, right around dawn when the farmers were just stirring to start their work. "We greet the Empire's Moon, Your Highness."
Our family wasn't nobility or anything, so we didn't have fancy etiquette drilled into us, but everyone knew the basics of how to greet someone. After bowing, you wait until the higher-up says it's okay to raise your head—a simple rule that always felt off to me. Watching my much older parents bow like that to someone way younger than them... Ah, well. Of course, it wasn't like my previous life lacked this kind of thing. Status was visible there too; the only difference was whether it showed on the surface.
"Ah, that's fine. Everyone, raise your heads comfortably."
The crown princess's voice, heard for the first time, struck me as even more refined and gentle than I'd imagined. Naturally, that fit her character. She always hid her emotions well, coming off like an emotionless monster even in arguments—polished and controlled. In the game, the only ones who drew out those hidden feelings were the saintess or saint. That's why the two clashed constantly but grew fond of each other, eventually sparking love. That's how the story flowed.
"I noticed on the way here that your crops are growing beautifully. They look perfect. You all must be incredible farmers."
"Aw, no, ma'am. We just worked hard, that's all."
The crown princess—always concealing her feelings, always speaking in noble tones—never cut straight to the point. She started with light small talk, asking after our health, treating even us commoners with full courtesy. Watching her, I felt a strange sense of restrained beauty.
"We've prepared a meal. You're probably on your way to market—how about eating first?"
"Ah, thank you for the invitation. I'll gladly have some before I go. But first, I'd like to know where the saintess is."
She accepted the meal invite with a smile, no rejection, but only brought up the main topic after we'd been chatting for over thirty minutes since her arrival.
"Ah, Miss Estelle... no, the saintess seems to still be sleeping. Theo, go check on her."
"Huh? Oh, sure thing, Mom."
I'd been standing quietly behind Mom when the mission came down. Just as I turned to head to Estelle's room—
"No need. If she's still asleep, there's no reason to wake her. We'll eat and wait until the saintess rises."
"Ah, would that be okay? Then I'll bring out the food. Our living room's a mess, and I doubt it'll suit your tastes."
"Don't worry about that. You've welcomed me so warmly despite my sudden visit—I'm the one at a loss."
It could've come off as phony, but the crown princess—Iris—delivered it with such elegant poise that it didn't feel fake at all. If anything, she seemed genuinely apologetic.
"Then Theo, you keep Her Highness company. Mom'll set the table quick."
"Me? Wouldn't it be better if you did it and I helped serve?"
Suddenly tasked with entertaining the crown princess? Mom was handling it fine—why me? But all I got back was a solid whack on the back.
Smack!
"Ow!"
"You're the same age, you fool! Don't you think Her Highness would enjoy talking to someone her age more?"
"Agh, your hands are brutal, lady..."
Muttering complaints, I stepped up to Iris.
"Pfft... Sorry for laughing. Your family just seems so fun."
She glanced between Mom and me with a smile, then composed herself again. That grin just now? Probably her real, heartfelt laugh—not her usual polite one.
"We're just an ordinary farmer's home."
"Still fun. And warm. Nice."
Estelle liked it yesterday, and now Iris too? Made for a weird feeling. Sure, I knew our home was warm and comfortably ordinary—the ideal family I'd always dreamed of and craved. But these two, high up in their worlds, could eat whatever, do whatever. Why the envious looks?
"I lost my mother young, so I always feel jealous seeing peers spend time like this with theirs."
The empress who bore Iris died when she was little? Not in the game. Thinking about it, the story started after the two heroines met, so backstories like this weren't deeply explored. There were passing mentions of dark pasts, but even for a grim game, they stayed surface-level.
"The current empress treats me well, of course, but it's different from a birth mother."
Hearing this pre-academy from the real deal right in front of me made the "this is just a game" thought waver, stirring confusion.
"I've rambled to a stranger. Anyway, you're the saintess's disciple, right?"
"Ah, yes. Learning magic."
I shoved down the confusion, nodded, and answered.
"The saintess must be quite skilled with magic."
That tone—slightly mocking? Felt familiar. Like something Estelle would say.
"Uh, yeah... Seems like it."
"What do you aim for with it?"
"The commoner track for next year's academy entrance."
Because I have to stop you and Estelle from fighting and dooming the world.
"Oh ho, academy classmates then. The saintess and I are enrolling next year too."
Everyone knew that. I held my tongue. Classmates or not, they'd live in their noble bubble; I'd stick with the commoners.
"Sounds good. I'm lacking in a lot, but please take care of me, Your Highness."
"Haha, what 'take care of me' to me? I'm just a fellow student. Hm, how about we drop the formalities since we'll be academy peers?"
She'd been all refined noble-speak moments ago, the kind that screamed royalty.
"Pardon? But we haven't even confirmed enrollment yet."
"So what? Meeting like this is fate. I'd like us to get close."
Her tone suddenly casual. Was there a possessor buff or something? Estelle too, now Iris—why were the heroines pushing to get chummy with me?
"In that spirit, call me Iris when we're alone. Even at the academy later."
She figured calling her Iris openly pre-enrollment might be too much in public, but I'd bought some leeway. Whatever— we needed to get close anyway. No point dragging it out.
"Deal. Call me Theo, Iris. Let's be friends."
I dropped the formalities without hesitation and offered my hand.
"Yeah, Theo. Feels nice having a peer friend."
Iris shook it, looking genuinely pleased.
Thud!
Midway through Project: Befriend Iris, a crash echoed from Estelle's room. I whipped around.
"Ah, Estelle. You're up?"
There she was, door open, dressed neatly in magic-cleaned clothes. But her expression... why the "I saw something gross" face?
"Estelle? You okay?"
I stepped closer, but Iris suddenly grabbed my arm.
"She's startled seeing me. It's fine, Theo. I'll handle it."
"Ah, Estelle—no, with the saintess here, casual speech okay?"
"So what? We're all academy classmates next year."
I'm not enrolled yet—though I will be. Anyway, awkward since Estelle and I haven't dropped formalities.
"Saintess, long time no see. I hope you've been well?"
"...Ah, the Empire's Moon... greetings. Yes, extremely well—until just now."
"Some problem?"
"What exactly is your relationship with Mr. Theo, Your Highness?"
What's that mean? Did she wake up crazy or something?