A Friend's Request
Fortunately, after a long sleep, Cacciola had regained her senses.
"I'm sorry. You had to see me in such a pathetic state."
Her swollen eyes and dejected apology were almost pitiable, but I decided to tease her with a sly grin instead.
"Tell me about it. It was downright filthy and pathetic."
"Eeeek...!"
Her face twisted in a clash of mortification and fury. Gritting her teeth, she threw both arms around me and pulled me into a suffocating hug. The sensation of soft, supple, yet toned flesh pressing against my chest—and everywhere else, really—felt distinctly awkward.
"...You do realize you're completely naked, right?"
"Huh? Of course I know."
"......"
Evidently, she had not entirely regained her senses.
I reached down and gave her rear and chest a thorough squeeze to gauge her reaction. She merely blinked at me with a vacant, blank expression and parted her thighs wider.
"What? Are you in the mood?"
Yup. Clear as day.
She was going to need some serious rest and recuperation for a while.
"...Put some clothes on first."
"Why bother now? I want to sleep a little more..."
"You've slept more than enough. It's already night."
"Oh, are you embarrassed?"
I sighed at her mischievous, half-dazed smile.
"Cacciola. I'm telling you this for your own good."
"Hmm? What are you... ack!"
Turning her head, Cacciola froze solid. Muriel and Rebecca were standing there, staring straight at her.
"...Lady Cacciola. Now that you are awake, I suggest you put on some clothes," Muriel said, her voice devoid of emotion—which only made it far more terrifying.
"Why did she get to you before me... like a thieving stray cat..." Rebecca muttered, openly radiating jealousy and indignation.
Trapped beneath the combined glare, Cacciola scrambled to her feet and hastily threw her clothes on. Once dressed, however, an unsettled expression crossed her features, and she scurried right back over to wrap her arms tightly around me.
"What are you doing now?"
"Ah, sorry... Um... Can I just stay like this for a little bit? Please..."
Pressed against her, I could distinctly feel her trembling. She clearly needed something to anchor herself to. Knowing that, I wasn't callous enough to shove her away, so I simply sighed and nodded.
"Suit yourself."
"Th-thank you..."
Muriel and Rebecca's glares sharpened instantly, but I gave them a dismissive wave to let it slide and sank into the sofa.
"...Though honestly, isn't it a bit absurd for you two to be keeping other women in check? It's not like you and I are in that kind of relationship yet."
"I have no idea what you mean, My Lord. Our marriage has already been discussed with your mother."
"I-I also..."
"Who said you could call her 'Mother'? I have to hand it to you, you've got thick skin."
I uncorked a bottle of liquor and slumped back. Still clinging to me, Cacciola burrowed deeper into my chest, dumping her full weight onto me.
"...You're heavy."
"Just endure it. What kind of man is this frail?"
"Well, aren't we feisty for someone whose mental state just got shattered?"
Smack!
Feeling a bit piqued, I gave her backside a sharp swat. She shot me a venomous glare, yet she said nothing and only tightened her embrace.
"......"
She smelled nice, so I made a conscious effort to look away.
"Cacciola. Did you give up on the trial?"
"...No. I doubt I'll ever give it up. Not until I overcome it."
"Yeah, figured as much. So I won't tell you never to challenge it again. But for the time being, you're banned. Until your body and mind fully recover."
"......"
Though she pouted with displeasure, she eventually gave a small, grudging nod. Looking at her, I doubted that patience would last very long... I'd have to keep a sharp eye on her for a while. It would be a disaster if she tried to steal the Invitation of the Forgotten and run off on her own.
"I've come to visit... Oh, I'm first today..."
Just then, Third Princess Arpe poked her head into the room without even bothering to knock. It was far earlier than her usual visits.
"...Hm?"
Her condition looked pretty dreadful. Puffy lids, bloodshot eyes, a pale and haggard complexion, and a swaying, unsteady gait. She looked just as rough as Cacciola.
"Pardon the intrusion."
Behind her came Nazareth Nemeth, stepping quietly into the room after having stayed out of sight for quite some time.
"...So you didn't throw her away?"
It was an intentionally loaded question. Arpe could have discarded Nemeth, but equally, Nemeth could have abandoned Arpe. Naturally, Arpe didn't read it that way and scowled fiercely.
"What are you saying?! Of course not! Why would I ever throw Nemeth away?! She's the most precious piece in my entire collection!"
While Arpe snapped in indignation, Nemeth—who understood the true weight behind my words—simply gave a calm, measured nod.
"That is correct. I have decided to remain at Her Highness's side and serve her to the very end."
"Hmm..."
Well, I had anticipated as much. Nemeth might have been the field leader of Greenjack, but she was never the type to cling to titles or organizations. She simply chose to follow Arpe because she was drawn to the princess as a person.
"Haaah... I feel as though I've lost the entire world. The operatives of Greenjack were treasures I painstakingly gathered with so much effort..."
"Stop exaggerating."
When I snorted, Arpe took a seat on the opposite sofa and glared daggers at me.
"...I only accepted it because I lost. If I hadn't, I never would have let them go so pointlessly."
"Naturally. You're an Imperial Princess, after all."
"Ugh... truly insolent and disrespectful. There is no one quite like you anywhere in the world."
Right as Arpe let out an exasperated sigh, Muriel tactfully placed a fruit plate onto the table. Arpe stared at it for a moment, reached out to nibble a slice, and then subtly glanced around the room.
She clearly had business with me. Which made sense, considering how early she had shown up.
"...Say, Sir Alzen."
"What?"
"Since things have ended up like this, why don't we have an open and honest chat? There are a great many things I'm curious about."
"Such as?"
"Well..."
She pondered for a brief second before her gaze dropped toward Cacciola, who was still glued to my side.
"First of all... who is that woman?"
"Kids don't need to know."
"Excuse me?!"
She glared as if dumbfounded, shook her head in disbelief, and then lowered her tone with genuine concern.
"Her complexion looks terrible... Shouldn't she receive some holy healing magic?"
"...Don't suddenly act like a good person. It's creeping me out."
"Look at you, complaining when someone worries about you! And I am a good person, thank you very much! My reputation inside and outside the Imperial Palace is stellar!"
She huffed, then frowned at Cacciola once again.
"So, who is she really? Your lover?"
"I told you, kids don't need to know."
"Guh...!"
Fuming, she started to rise from her seat, but Nemeth swiftly pressed a firm hand onto her shoulder. After taking several deep breaths, Arpe settled back down.
"Phew... Fine. In any case, is it really fine to leave her like that?"
"Yeah. Probably."
"And I don't need to worry about our conversation leaking?"
"Nope."
"Hmm, fine then. Moving on... The two standing behind you, we've met before, haven't we? I watched you fight back then. You were magnificent. Wouldn't you like to become mine?"
I had no idea why the crosshairs had suddenly swung toward Muriel and Rebecca. She wouldn't be the Third Princess if she didn't covet every new Sword Master she laid eyes on, but this was still ridiculously out of nowhere. I grimaced in distaste as her eyes sparkled with greed.
"I must decline. I have already resolved to remain by Lord Alzen's side for the rest of my days."
"I share the same sentiment. Please withdraw the offer."
"Oh, come now~ don't be like that! I can treat you so much better. Please?"
"Your Highness."
"Yeeep?!"
As Arpe began her aggressive recruitment pitch in earnest, Nemeth clamped down on her shoulder with a devastating massage grip, drawing a bizarre shriek from the princess.
"Ow, that hurts! Nemeth!"
"Your shoulders are quite tense, Your Highness."
"Aah, ouch, ahhh~! It hurts, but it feels so good...!"
"What on earth are you two doing?"
I watched the spectacle in utter disbelief and took a sip of liquor.
"Give me some too..."
"Hm? Ah, sure. Drink up."
I tipped a sip of liquor into Cacciola's mouth, then resumed watching the farce unfolding between Arpe and Nemeth.
"Haaah... That's refreshing. Tch, to have such incredible talent right before my eyes and be unable to make a move... what a waste."
"If you know it's a shameless pass, why don't you stop?"
"I cannot! Every remarkable talent that catches my interest belongs in my possession! But still, it makes me somewhat happy to know Sir Alzen shares the same taste. It's a curious feeling."
"......"
Her delusions were truly self-centered to an impressive degree. I had no idea how the Third Princess had turned out this way, but it wasn't something that was going to be fixed anytime soon. Assuming it could even be fixed at all.
"Anyway, here is my question, Sir Alzen. You mentioned that your goal is to slay the Demon God. How exactly do you intend to do that?"
"I don't have any concrete plans yet."
...To be entirely honest, I had no plan from start to finish. I had a vague outline about supporting the protagonist, but even that wasn't set in stone.
"What? But you said you were serious about hunting the Demon God!"
"I am serious. More than anyone."
"Hmm...? Your words and actions don't align at all. You truly are peculiar."
I waved a hand dismissively at the curiosity dancing in her gaze.
"...Well, fine. But Sir Alzen, we are friends, aren't we?"
She probed with a sly, deliberate lilt in her voice. I narrowed my eyes at her.
"Putting it like that really makes me want to deny it..."
"Denying it won't do you any good. You're the one who asked to be friends first, aren't you? Therefore, we are friends!"
Her platinum eyes gleamed with a faintly chilling intensity as she stared right through me.
"Without my permission, you can never, ever stop. And of course, I have no intention of ever granting it. So we will remain friends, on and on. Shackling one another... Ah, now I think I finally understand what you meant back then. It's certainly fainter and more elusive than outright 'ownership,' but it feels undeniably as though I possess a part of you. Heheh, hehehehe...!"
"......"
Did the Third Princess always have a yandere streak...? I was pretty sure that was never in her character profile.
"So, why did you bring that up?"
"Oh, right."
Snapping back to reality, she cleared her throat, sheepishly gauging my reaction.
"Ahem. There is a favor I would like to ask... If you grant it, I will help you hunt the Demon God. How does that sound?"
"What, a trade?"
"You could call it that."
"Hmm..."
I studied her for a moment, swallowed a mouthful of liquor, and then poured some into Cacciola's waiting mouth, which had opened like a baby bird begging for food.
"Fine. If I do you one favor, you owe me one in return."
"I appreciate how easy you are to talk to. Well then, before we get to the main point... do you happen to know Nemeth's true identity?"
Dropping a bombshell with zero warning, as usual. Between this and how casually she revealed her ties to Greenjack last time, did this girl have no awareness of what came out of her mouth?
"Who knows..."
Should I answer or play dumb? I knew, of course, but the sudden motive behind her question was suspicious.
"You don't know? Or is it that even though we are friends, you lack the trust to speak openly?"
"...Good grief. Fine, I'll tell you. Happy now? Yes, I know exactly what you're thinking. She's an elf. A dark elf."
I lit a cigarette, watching Nazareth Nemeth's reaction.
"People call them a corrupted breed, elves turned into monsters... but in truth, they're nothing like that. Just elves with a different skin color. And Nazareth Nemeth happens to be the chieftain of one of those dark elf tribes. The... Sunken Leaves tribe, wasn't it?"
I exhaled a thick stream of smoke.
"...Astonishing."
Through the drifting haze of white smoke, Nazareth Nemeth, having already shed her disguise to reveal her true form, stared back at me with eyes wide in genuine shock.