The Princess and the Hotelier
Princess Artemisia Pretius found the man sitting before her truly fascinating. He was close with her younger brother—the one who had quietly declared he would renounce his claim to the throne, avoiding the power struggle that usually made anyone of royal blood lose their minds. He was the youngest son of Count Everglow, who had long ago entrusted his territory to his eldest son and now lived in a mansion in the capital with his wife and two other sons.
He was a rising star, famous from childhood for his brilliant mind, who had proven his capabilities by starting his own business and finding success. It was no exaggeration to say that half the talk of the capital was generated by the ventures this man touched. He was a noble so young he could almost be called a child. That was the man sitting before her: Julian Everglow.
"Indeed. I am the Danju."
He didn't just have a keen business sense; he seemed to have an exceptional ability to read people. The dress armor Artemisia was currently wearing was based on the standard issue of the Dark Moon Order. It was a disguise she had created because, even if she wanted to move quietly, she couldn't do so as a princess. It was a delicate tightrope walk—maintaining the dignity she had to project as someone of noble blood while not making it the focal point of her identity. That was the persona Artemisia was using right now.
Even if the bloodline had thinned through the generations, they were still royalty. The Dark Moon Order served as the knights who protected the legitimate heirs of the imperial bloodline, as they couldn't simply be left to wander about unprotected. Though the actual master was her father, the Emperor, she, as a princess, held the rights of legitimate lineage, so it wasn't entirely wrong to call her the 'master' they served.
She knew he was aware she was a princess, yet he seemed to have no intention of exposing it, so she decided to play along. If she dared to say so, she had been shown 'consideration.'
"Then, shall you try to guess? Why I have personally graced this place with my presence?"
However, she didn't feel offended. On the contrary, she only felt more curious about the man before her.
"If I happen to guess wrong, must I offer up my head?"
"Of course not. It is mere amusement. I assure you, nothing of the sort will happen even if you fail. However."
She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees and propping her chin in her hands.
"Wouldn't it be boring if you just guessed it?"
Watching him quietly lift his glass and drink as if he were listening, she cast her bait. The Julian she knew was a merchant. Didn't the merchant breed only move with enthusiasm when there was something to gain?
"I shall bestow a small reward. Wouldn't that give you a bit more motivation?"
He twitched an eyebrow as if he had heard something unexpected, then replied.
"Haha... if you put it that way, I suppose I must put in some effort."
Her brother, who was always holed up in his room and only occasionally went for walks with their mother—was it because he got along well with such a brother? Julian responded to her differently than he did to her brother, who was so annoyed by the complex court laws and etiquette that he practically hated them. Yet, he didn't show the servile behavior of someone unable to hold their head up, crushed by her status as a princess. He observed the necessary etiquette while simultaneously showing he was prepared to secure his own interests as much as possible. It was natural, perhaps, but because there were so many who couldn't do it, it was called 'ability.' And Artemisia liked those who were both confident and capable.
He held up one finger and said.
"Seeing the knights of the Dark Moon Order, who protect the Imperial family, arrive, perhaps you felt the need to verify the 'security team' we recently formed at our hotel?"
"...!"
Look at that. He puffed out his chest and boldly asked, 'Were you suspicious that I might be plotting a rebellion by bringing in knights?' Even Lairis, right next to him, was restless, shifting her gaze here and there. She was breaking into a cold sweat, wondering if she had offended the princess.
"Unfortunately, that is not it. You haven't even donned your armor or equipped your swords, after all."
He must have been certain it wasn't for that reason, which was why he could say something so daring. As if to confirm Artemisia's thoughts, he grinned and opened his mouth.
"That is a relief. Then, did you come to see the toy your brother cherishes with your own eyes?"
"It would be a lie to say I wasn't interested. However, it is not enough to warrant a personal visit. Next."
"Hmm, in that case..."
He stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth. Then he lifted his glass, drained it in one go, and set it down.
"Ahem, my apologies. My throat suddenly went dry. Here, one more of the same!"
"My, my. Was that question too difficult for you?"
It was clear he had shut his mouth because the answer was about to cross the line, but she was in a good mood, so she decided to pretend she hadn't noticed. Originally, it was the duty of a host to generously overlook a slip of the tongue at a drinking party, wasn't it?
"It is fine. I have thought of one more thing."
"Speak."
He glanced sideways at his companion and said.
"The person by your side... your companion also appears to be a person of high standing."
"...And?"
"It is merely a hunch, but I felt certain this was correct."
Julian, meeting her eyes precisely, spoke with conviction.
"Is it not because your companion, a guest from a foreign land, wished to come here?"
* * *
"Ho..."
Upon hearing my answer, the princess's eyes widened. That was enough. Her reaction was the greatest proof that my hunch was correct.
"Accurate. How did you know?"
"A guest from a foreign land. And I thought it was someone of such status that even the Empr... no, the Danju herself would personally step forward to accompany them."
"Yes, those things are naturally knowable up to that point."
"Thanks to the policies implemented by His Majesty the Emperor, the Empire's exchanges with other nations are increasing, are they not?"
"That is so. Though it has given me more things to worry about."
"It is a development our hotel would welcome with open arms. At the last banquet, there were many guests not only from the Empire but from other countries as well."
"Ha... indeed, it would not have been your first time seeing such things."
"That is correct. Above all, if one considers tourist attractions or landmarks that a distinguished guest from abroad might want to visit, well... it was a natural conclusion."
"Land, mark? It is my first time hearing the word, but the tone is quite pleasant."
"Ah..."
The princess, saying 'that is not that important,' leaned back in her chair and looked at her companion. She was still wearing her robe pulled low, but she seemed to find the gaze directed at her a bit burdensome, as she tugged at the hood with her hand. Her hands were slender, her nails neatly trimmed, and they were even decorated with elegant patterns, so she didn't look like the daughter of just any ordinary noble family.
"She is wearing a robe and using a perception-inhibiting spell, so it should be difficult to see her properly... it was just unexpected that you recognized it."
Ah, was it because of that?
"I believe it is because I have a constitution that is naturally immune to mana."
"Was it not just that you couldn't operate mana, you?"
"...You knew even that?"
"I do know everything about the influential figures in the capital."
The princess, with a smirk, raised the corners of her mouth and said in a playful tone.
"I also know that you are in a relationship with the daughter of the Rosenheim barony."
"I see."
Well, that was something everyone who needed to know already knew, so I wasn't surprised. Arcelia had been by my side at my coming-of-age ceremony, so it would have been stranger if people didn't know.
"I also know that when the two of you go out together, you spend an enjoyable time without ever being apart for a single moment?"
I had been about to lift my newly refilled glass to drink, but I couldn't help but pause at the princess's words. What is this? Did she have someone tailing us? In a world without concepts like personal information protection, it wasn't particularly strange for someone of influence to gather information. Whether the Imperial family was paying attention to me, or if the princess before me was personally interested and had looked into it, it wasn't a bad thing. On the contrary, receiving no attention at all would be more dangerous. In my previous life, personal information collection was a daily occurrence, what with algorithms and all, so this much was nothing.
"You do not seem surprised?"
"We are seeing each other seriously, so it is only natural that we stick together. And well, it is not a bad feeling to know that I have become a 'person worth paying attention to'."
"Ha, hahaha!"
She burst into laughter as if she had heard something amusing, then wiped away a stray tear.
"Indeed. A man should have at least that much guts."
"...Thank you?"
"You have entertained me, so I must keep my promise."
"Ah, there is no need for you to go that far, really."
"What did you say?"
She, with an expression that seemed to ask if she had heard correctly, stiffened her face and said.
"...Are you intending to make me out to be a shameless person who does not keep her promises?"
"How could that be? As you said, it was a light amusement, so I simply meant there was no need for you to take it too seriously."
"Hmm... I shall accept your heart with gratitude. However, even if it was a verbal agreement, a promise is a promise."
Knowing I hadn't meant to offend her, she returned to a smiling face and flicked her finger. It was a relief that she didn't seem particularly angry from the start. She had landmines in strange places... I had originally thought it was polite to deflect by saying, 'Oh, thank you, I will just accept your heart, just your heart.'
"I will grant you a small favor. Speak freely."
Who would say they aren't family with our VIP? They resemble each other in the strangest ways.
"Then..."
I opened my mouth cautiously. Nothing too big, just a reasonably appropriate favor. I did have one thing in mind... would it be alright? In times like this, it's best to shout, 'Go for it even if you can't eat it!'
"Could you please promote our hotel?"