124. The seductive Crown Princess
124. The seductive Crown Princess
After Hilda and Ryu-o thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Hilda, lying next to Ryu-o, stroked his cheek and nodded.
「Me too. I want to hear your story.」
Ryu-o naturally unraveled his past.
「...After finishing that request. That's when I ran into Hilda exactly. And after that, I became an Honorary Knight of the Duchy like this.」
Hilda's eyes grew wider and wider as she listened to Ryu-o's story.
「......No wonder he seemed unusual. A completely different world...」
「Haha... You believe me?」
Hilda furrowed her eyebrows, then pressed hard on Ryu-o's cheek.
「Of course? Who do you think I heard it from? Before, I thought you were an apostle sent by the gods. Or maybe someone from the east who trained so much they were cut off from the world... um, like a sage in eastern terms? Yeah, something like that.」
「Th-that so?」
「Your actions were impossible not to believe from the start.」
Hilda finally felt like all the pieces fit perfectly.
If she plugged in the assumption of 'a person from another world,' Ryu-o's background up until now clicked right into place.
That level of looks and talent. Two things impossible to hide in Labyrinth City.
The social savvy felt during conversations was at the level of nobility with proper etiquette training.
No raw, wild vibe like someone who only lived in the mountains.
She'd just believed it and waited until he spoke.
Now that the mystery was solved, the two grew even closer.
A feeling like they could understand each other with just a glance, without words.
Looking at his eyes now... he wants to go again?
If she backed out here, she wouldn't be a woman. Hilda stealthily climbed on top of Ryu-o.
「......♥」
「......」
Just as they were about to reignite, Hilda spotted a blinking Wired Communication Device.
That red light was the direct line to the Crown Princess's residence.
Hilda's mind, full of Ryu-o, surged with irritation as the Crown Princess intruded.
Whining all day about wanting to see Ryu-o... what impeccable timing.
Ryu-o, gripping her hips, tilted his head.
「Hilda? What's wrong?」
Hilda's anger melted away, and a smile formed.
「It's nothing. Just had another thought for a moment...」
The moment she said that, the communication device flashed purple.
Purple light signaling an emergency around the Crown Princess.
Hilda's eyes sharpened, and she got up to grab the device immediately.
-Click!
「The eyes of the rightful successor heed your call...」
-Ahh~ Hilda! Skip it!! Has Jang Ryu-o arrived? Can you send him over today?
「..................」
Hilda itched for treason.
If she brought that bitch's head right now and tossed it in front of the Second Princess, her position would be...
-It's, it's an emergency~
「......」
-I miss Jang Ryu-o so much, I'm dying~
「I'll kill you.」
-Hic! Can't you take a joke? Anyway, we agreed to send him today, ah~ ah, were you in the middle of having fun?
Hilda's treason gauge hit the top of her head.
Then Ryu-o approached with an intrigued face and hugged Hilda from behind.
-Squeeze~
You okay?
Hilda's anger cooled a bit again.
「You can just tell her directly.」
「Really? I thought something happened... Anyway, this is...」
「It's the Magic Tower's Wired Communication Network. You can communicate freely with the handset within the internal network.」
「Ah, I know. Where I lived...」
-Jang Ryu-o!!! It's Jang Ryu-o!!! Hi~
Hearing the Crown Princess's voice, Ryu-o greeted brightly.
「Ah, you were talking to your cousin. Nice to meet you, Hilde-ssi.」
-Listen! I'm bored to death, and Hilda's like...
Hilda sighed and hung up the handset.
-Click!
「Phew... Hilde misses you a lot.」
Hilda was reluctant, but with the mood completely killed, she decided to send Ryu-o off.
A necessary step to send Ryu-o higher up.
「...Will you keep her company? I have official duties again...」
Then. Ryu-o lifted one of Hilda's legs and grinned.
-Snap!
「Can I go a bit later?」
Hilda's lingering anger melted away completely at Ryu-o's perfectly pleasing action.
「Of course. If you want, you don't even have to go... Haaah! Ahh!! W-wait...♥♥ Hyaaang!!!♥」
The two gleefully enjoyed themselves with the blinking communication device as backdrop.
Elaine was sulky.
She didn't know why exactly, but seeing Ryu-o with a flushed neck and an awkward smile made her pout vanish.
Had a blast, huh?
She could see him all day, so why couldn't she get even an hour?
Should she just reveal she's the Crown Princess?
But thinking about it, what good would that do... with Hilda glaring daggers.
The world... Am I the one in a needy position?
Elaine stared intently at Ryu-o...
Hmm. Worth it~
She was instantly convinced.
Elaine's mood lifted more and more.
Patting the spot next to her blanket, Elaine beckoned with her hand.
「Hi, Jang Ryu-o! Come sit here!!」
「Haha, nice to see you, Hilde-nim.」
「Hmm... Wanna use casual speech?」
At Elaine's sudden straight shot, Amber freaked out and covered her mouth.
「I-I... Mmph...」
「Casual speech all of a sudden...」
Elaine waved it off like it was no big deal.
「Psh, my house is casual, it's fine~」
Amber, at an enlightened level, felt her legs go a bit weak.
No way. The imperial family is casual?
Something only a Crown Princess could say... no, even a Crown Princess shouldn't say.
Amber wanted to scream right then...
「Jang Ryu-o. Call me Hilde! I'm really fine with it~」
Ryu-o chuckled and approached Elaine, sitting beside her.
「Got it. Hilde.」
「Heh heh... So straightforward!!」
She hadn't even said much yet, but Elaine was just happy.
Talking to the opposite sex was this fun?
Yup! Just having him next to me is great.
Elaine thought it would've been nice if Ryu-o were a work of art.
Then he couldn't go anywhere, right?
But Ryu-o was a person with two legs.
If interest waned, he could leave anytime.
So... she couldn't just enjoy it alone, could she?
Elaine immediately pulled out what Ryu-o wanted from her.
「Reading the opponent's expressions. Right?」
「How not to have your expressions read.」
How not to have expressions read... control your facial muscles enough to block even unconscious signals.
But saying that would be boring and pretentious, right?
Was there a more fun way...
「First, you gotta know how to read the opponent! Basics first, basics.」
「Ah. I see.」
Elaine smiled brightly and looked at Ryu-o.
「What expression is this?」
「...Joy?」
「Wrong! The answer is 'contempt'!」
「............???」
「Pfft!」
Elaine burst out laughing, giggling as she spoke.
「Hee hee hee... This one's 'pleasure'... Pfft... Ah, look at that face. Your expression just now was pure 100% 'confusion'... Hee hee hee...」
Ryu-o gaped in disbelief.
「Wait, so why was that 'contempt'...」
Elaine taught Ryu-o with all her enthusiasm.
And then...
「It's a skill that requires quite a bit of mastery, huh?」
Seeing Ryu-o looking dizzy, mischief bubbled up.
Elaine grabbed Ryu-o's hand next to her and placed it on her face.
Pushing back Amber who was about to slightly draw her dagger.
Toward Ryu-o, who wore a pure 100% 'flustered' expression, she said.
「Feel the subtle facial movements once. Using your hand, you'll get the hang of it quick?」
「Uh? Uh-huh...」
Elaine bit her lip hard as her heart pounded.
Damn... I'm falling for him. Good smell...
「'Anger'?」
「Hee hee hee... That was a mistake! Alright, let's start~」
As she posed questions, the two stared endlessly at each other.
Ryu-o's heart raced as he felt around Elaine's small face.
Elaine giggled as Ryu-o's calloused hands tickled, careful not to hurt her.
「'Irritation'?」
「No, look at the brows and eye whites properly. That was 'joy'.」
「Ah. This time... 'regret'!」
「Wrong! 'Joy'.」
「Ah... Um... This time 'sadness'.」
「'Joy'.」
「.........????」
Seeing the pure expression again, Elaine smiled brightly.
She buried her cheek deep into Ryu-o's palm, placed her hand on the back of his, and felt him.
Elaine didn't know why she did it. It was just too fun.
Ryu-o, startled and trying to pull away, was held by Elaine's weak hand.
He could pull away anytime... but Ryu-o couldn't.
Elaine rubbed her cheek against Ryu-o's tense hand.
As if saying it wouldn't hurt at this level.
「This time... what expression?」
「......... 'Joy'.」
Elaine's bright face sparkled.
「Correct! Hee hee hee. Congrats~?」