Chapter 6
“—Ugh, I never thought I’d be walking home alone again…”
The day after playing with Mi-chan, after school, Luna and Aira-chan went off somewhere together. According to Aira-chan, it seems a woman with glasses—the tutor from Arcadia—was visiting, and it was better if I wasn’t around. I’m not great with those types, so I didn’t insist on tagging along, but… it felt strange not having the girl who’s always by my side. For now, with nothing else to do, I figured I’d head home, play some games, and wait for Luna and Aira-chan to return.
As I was thinking this while walking home—
“—Darling, I found you♪”
Just as I was nearing my apartment building, a stunning foreign woman with a shimmering silver ponytail and a curvaceous figure suddenly latched onto my right arm. My brain couldn’t process the suddenness of it.
“…!? …!? …!?”
“Haha! Come on, I can’t understand what you’re saying! Speak properly!” The woman, who looked about five years younger than me, pressed her chest against my arm with a beaming smile, making my heart feel like it was about to explode.
“W-W-Who are you!?” I stammered.
“Eh? You forgot about me? That’s so sad…” She made a teary expression. Wait, have I actually met her before…? No way, right? There’s no way I’d forget someone like this—a gorgeous foreign woman. Even if we met when I was younger, I’d remember.
“You’ve got the wrong person…!” I insisted.
“No way! You’re Kiriyama Seito-kun, right?” she said.
She got my name right…! Seriously, have I met her before? Where!?
“You really forgot about me…?” She intertwined her fingers with mine, holding my hand like a lover, squeezing it gently. There’s no way I’d forget someone this forward…! I thought to myself, but if I had forgotten, I’d feel terrible, so I couldn’t be sure.
“S-Sorry…” I mumbled.
“Wow, that’s such a shock… But it has been a long time, so maybe it’s understandable. Hey, why don’t we go to your place and catch up? It might jog your memory,” she suggested, bringing her smiling face closer. I shook my head, pulling back.
“No, that’d be a problem…!” Bringing a woman to my place would devastate Luna. It could cause a misunderstanding and make her reject me. Even if I had met this woman before, I couldn’t agree to that. Also, I’ve been trying to free my hand, but she won’t let go—her grip is insanely strong! It’s like my arm’s locked in place!
“Don’t say that~ Besides…” She leaned in, her breath warm against my ear. “If you take me to your place, I’ll make it worth your while.”
Her words—blatantly seductive—made my heart pound. Not with excitement, but with fear. This woman’s from Arcadia…! Everything about her is just too suspicious!
“No thanks…! Let go of my hand…!” I said firmly.
“Oh, dear…” As soon as I showed clear rejection, she released my hand effortlessly, despite her earlier iron grip. I didn’t know her intentions, but I bolted, putting distance between us. I had no idea what was happening, but I needed to contact Luna or Aira-chan fast, or I was in trouble.
[“Hmph, not falling for your charms? He’s sharper than expected.”]
[“As if I’d fall for such a cheap trick. Really, how shallow.”]
[“…Did you say something?”]
[“No, just that Lily-sama is as lovely and beautiful as ever. More importantly, shouldn’t we capture him before he makes contact?”]
[“…What are you doing? Catch him now.”]
[“As you command.”]
An ominous vibe came from behind—things were definitely bad.
◆
“—Haa… haa… I should be safe here, right…?” If she’s from Arcadia, my apartment’s location is probably known, so I avoided going home and took a winding route instead. No one seemed to be following me—I must’ve lost her. Now, I just needed to contact Luna or Aira-chan—
“Hehe, thinking you escaped with that? How cute,” a familiar voice said from ahead.
I looked up, and there she was—the woman from earlier, standing in front of me with a smile. I forgot… If she’s from Arcadia, she could be on Aira-chan’s level, not just some regular goon in black.
“What’s going on!? Did I do something!?” I demanded.
“Trying to stall for time? That won’t work,” she replied. I’d tried to call Luna while questioning her, but she grabbed my arm and snatched my phone in a blur of motion too fast to follow. She’s definitely on Aira-chan’s level. And her vibe is completely different now—what is she!?
“So, what now? Another game of tag?” she teased, clearly relaxed after taking my phone. She was toying with me, treating me like a kid. There might’ve been a chance to escape her overconfidence, but my instincts screamed it was impossible to outrun her.
Right, even without Luna, I should have bodyguards from a distance. If I can’t beat her, they could contact— “Of course, I took care of that first. They’re probably taking a nice nap right now, aren’t they?” she said.
“How do you read my mind!?” First Aira-chan, now her—does Arcadia produce psychics or something? This isn’t normal!
“By the way, Kiriyama-sama, you took down Aira-san’s subordinates once, right? Want to try your luck with me?” She invited me playfully, clearly a sadist like Aira-chan. She knows I don’t stand a chance…
“I can’t fight a woman…” I said.
“Hehe, how kind. Well then, goodnight.” A dull pain hit my neck, and everything went black.
◆
“—Ngh…? Where am I…?” I groaned, waking up.
“Finally awake, huh?” a young girl’s voice responded. I looked up to see a loli—er, a beautiful girl with golden hair tied in twin tails, just like Luna’s, staring at me. Probably Luna’s sister.
“Hmph, you look kind of dumb…” she said, glaring at me with clear displeasure. I don’t think I’ve done anything to earn her resentment, but she seems to really dislike me. So, not the pure personality Luna described. Behind her stood the woman from earlier, watching silently with an unreadable expression.
“I’m Lily. The one behind me is Victoria,” she introduced. The woman—Victoria—bowed slightly. So, Luna’s sister is Lily-chan, and her apparent retainer is Victoria-san. Kidnapping me and then casually introducing herself? She’s pretty laid-back… Also, I’m tied to a chair and can’t move. The room looks like my apartment building’s layout… No way I’m being held in the same building, right? If so, Aira-chan would find me quickly…
“What are you doing? I introduced myself, so you should too,” Lily-chan snapped, sounding annoyed as I scanned the room. She values manners, I guess?
“Oh, I’m Kiriyama Seito…” I said, feeling oddly relaxed despite being kidnapped. She nodded, satisfied.
“Now, Kiriyama Seito-san, do you know why we brought you here?” she asked.
“No, I don’t,” I replied. I can’t possibly understand the mind of a kid who kidnaps people. I didn’t say that, though.
“How dense… You’re not worthy of Onee-sama,” she said, sliding her thumb across her throat like a guillotine. Guilty, apparently.
A sigh came from a distance. “Lily-sama, that’s a bit quick to judge,” Victoria-san said, sounding exasperated. So she’s a retainer, but her attitude suggests she’s not too fond of Lily-chan?
“Muu…” Lily-chan pouted like a child, making the situation feel oddly tension-free. Does she even realize she’s kidnapping me?
“Then, Kiriyama Seito-san, guess my full name,” she demanded.
I see… “Lily Sweet Christina Hart Arcadia-chan…?” Normally, I wouldn’t know someone’s full name on first meeting, but assuming she’s Luna’s sister, her introduction made it easy to deduce.
“Hm, you know Onee-sama’s full name. That’s expected. But calling a princess like me ‘-chan’? That’s beyond rude!” She slid her thumb across her throat again. How badly does she want me gone…?
“Kiriyama-sama is Luna-sama’s fiancé, making him your brother-in-law-to-be, so calling Lily-sama ‘-chan’ shouldn’t be an issue, right?” Victoria-san interjected. Lily-chan shot her a cold glare, unbecoming of her cute face. Their dynamic is clearly different from Luna and Aira-chan’s. So, Lily-chan opposes my engagement to Luna… Aira-chan hinted at that before. That explains why she kidnapped me.
“Are you defying Luna-sama?” Victoria-san’s lazy demeanor shifted to seriousness. Her change in tone showed she took defying Luna seriously. Defying an older sister might be an issue in a royal family, but it felt like there was more to it.
“…That’s why I’m handling this discreetly,” Lily-chan said, awkwardly looking away. She clearly can’t stand up to Luna, just as Aira-chan said.
[“Discreetly… pfft.”] Victoria-san, moving out of Lily-chan’s sight, scoffed mockingly. Their relationship doesn’t seem great. As Lily-chan’s only companion in this kidnapping, Victoria-san should be her most trusted ally, but… what’s going on? And with someone like Aira-chan, there’s no way Luna and her wouldn’t notice this. Victoria-san, being superhuman like Aira-chan, should know that…
“…” Lily-chan, oblivious to Victoria-san’s reaction, stared at me, deep in thought. Finally, she spoke slowly.
[“Do you understand English?”]
[“No, I don’t.”] Her question was simple enough for me to answer in English. She frowned, displeased.
“You do understand…” she muttered.
“No, Lily-sama. It’s just basic middle school English, so he could respond,” Victoria-san explained with a dazzling smile. Lily-chan’s face flushed red, likely embarrassed.
“You can’t even speak English properly? You’re definitely not worthy of Onee-sama…! I bet you don’t even know the meaning of Onee-sama’s or my middle names!” she huffed, arms crossed, trying to act tough. She’s kind of endearing, despite the situation. My initial fear has completely vanished. But she’s right—I don’t know the meaning of their middle names, and she doesn’t seem likely to tell me if I ask.
“Are we proceeding as planned?” Victoria-san asked.
“Of course,” Lily-chan nodded instantly.
“This is your last chance to turn back…” Victoria-san warned, her expression serious again.
“It’s for Onee-sama’s happiness. It’s been decided from the start,” Lily-chan said, her young face set with determination. She must have a strong reason for resorting to such drastic measures. Her words and actions make her intentions clear. I could brush this off and let Luna handle it later, but seeing a girl barely out of elementary school so resolute, I decided to respond sincerely, even if her methods were reckless.
“Kiriyama-san, I have a proposal. Or rather, as a princess of Arcadia, I’m making a request,” she said, still sounding haughty. I listened quietly. “To be blunt, break up with Onee-sama. If you end it, she’ll move on and return to her original fiancé. In exchange, I’ll ensure you and your family can live comfortably for life.”
She made her request, unaware of the small shadow that appeared behind her.
“…Why are you so desperate to break Luna and me up?” I asked, briefly glancing at the shadow before focusing back on Lily-chan.
“Isn’t it obvious? You’re not worthy of Onee-sama. She’s a supreme being, and her partner must be near that level,” she said. She loves Luna so much she can’t think straight, leading her to make irreversible mistakes.
“Is being ‘worthy’ more important than Luna’s feelings?” I asked, understanding the situation and what I needed to do.
“I don’t want Onee-sama to struggle or be unhappy…” Her earlier bravado gave way to a heavy, strained expression. She’s not oblivious to what she’s doing. She knows Luna wouldn’t want this but believes it’s for her sake, acting on what she thinks is right. Then, she glared at me like I was her sworn enemy. “And yet—you, inferior in status, wealth, looks, and ability, I can’t accept you. You’ll definitely make Onee-sama unhappy.”
“…” I closed my eyes silently. I understood her perspective—it was like looking at my past self. That’s why I had to face her properly.
“Ignoring Luna’s feelings is what would make her unhappiest, don’t you think?” I said gently, smiling to avoid provoking her. But her face flushed red—not from embarrassment, but anger.
“A mere Japanese student dares to lecture me, an Arcadian princess!? And to say it for your own self-preservation? Shameless!” Her outburst likely meant I hit a nerve. She knows what Luna’s true happiness is but can’t accept it due to her own ideals, masking it with anger. It felt sad, seeing a young girl’s heart so conflicted.
“What’s with that pitying look…!? You’re just using Onee-sama…!” she accused.
“Using…?” Her words caught me off guard, and I echoed them.
“Isn’t that right…!? You love someone else, but since you were rejected, you’re using Onee-sama to forget her! And since she’s Arcadian royalty, you’re after her wealth—!” Before she could finish, the shadow behind her moved.
“—Aira-chan, wait…!” I called out, and Aira-chan stopped her hand chop just short of Lily-chan’s neck. Lily-chan’s eyes widened in shock.
“Aira, why are you…!?” she gasped.
“Why? Because you kidnapped Seito-sama, Lily-sama,” Aira-chan said coldly, her eyes dark and lifeless. Her gaze sent chills through me, freezing my blood and making my legs tremble. Lily-chan, directly facing it, was shaking visibly. But, with a princess’s pride, she gritted her teeth and glared back.
“You dare look at me, a princess, like that…!? No, you tried to raise a hand against me…!? This is a serious issue…!” Logically, it was. A subordinate shouldn’t raise a hand against a princess. But Victoria-san, likely Lily-chan’s escort, didn’t intervene despite noticing Aira-chan. That said it all.
“You, Lily-sama, eighth in line to the throne, abducted and confined Kiriyama Seito-sama, fiancé of Luna-sama, second in line. We consider this an act of rebellion against Luna-sama and will detain you immediately,” Aira-chan declared. I understood why she looked at Lily-chan so coldly—she saw her not as a princess but as a criminal. Some punishment was likely already decided, or would be soon. The atmosphere wasn’t one for a peaceful resolution.
“What—!? Me, rebelling against Onee-sama!? I’d never do something so absurd…!” Lily-chan, believing her actions were for Luna’s sake, couldn’t fathom being seen as a rebel. But reality sometimes judges actions differently, regardless of intent. That’s why Aira-chan acted despite hearing Lily-chan’s motives.
“Whatever your reasons, that’s what you’ve done. The royal family has judged it as such,” Aira-chan said. In Arcadia, succession rank seems to matter more than birth order. Normally, it might not, but Lily-chan kidnapped the fiancé of the second-in-line Luna, which could be seen as an attempt to undermine her. The royal family—whether the queen or other princesses—likely interpreted it that way.
“That’s ridiculous…! Victoria, say something!” Lily-chan, knowing she couldn’t win against Aira-chan in strength or words, turned to Victoria-san for help. But Victoria-san tilted her head with a smile.
“Didn’t I tell you? This was your last chance to turn back.” That made it clear. Lily-chan’s eyes widened, staring at Victoria-san in disbelief.
“You’re in on it with Aira…!? You’re my escort knight…!” she cried.
Escort knight…? First time hearing that—maybe a literal translation for a bodyguard?
“Have you forgotten? I became your escort knight at Luna-sama’s request,” Victoria-san said calmly. Lily-chan gasped. Apparently, Luna, worried for her sister, asked Victoria-san to look after her. Given Lily-chan’s personality, few might’ve wanted the role, but Luna, loving her sister, entrusted her to someone reliable.
“Of course, I’d protect you with my life and stand by you even against other princesses,” Victoria-san said, closing her eyes and placing a hand on her chest with a gentle smile. Despite her earlier exasperation, she intended to fulfill her duty, even knowing Lily-chan’s actions were wrong.
“But—” Her eyes opened, the warmth gone, replaced by a chilling aura. “It’s different when you oppose Luna-sama. Four years ago, when she asked me to take this role, I made that clear, didn’t I?”
“…” Lily-chan looked down, realizing she’d been warned. Over four years, she grew overconfident, believing Victoria-san would always be on her side, not imagining conflict with Luna. But Aira-chan, surprisingly, showed dissatisfaction.
“If that’s so, why didn’t you share her location or the kidnapping?” Apparently, Victoria-san hadn’t cooperated with Aira-chan’s side. Wait, that’s odd…
“I am her escort knight, after all. I can’t blatantly betray her. Besides, you and Luna-sama would notice unless I hid everything perfectly. We’re in the same apartment building, after all,” Victoria-san explained.
“Ugh… Too soft as always… You just wanted to give her a chance, didn’t you?” Aira-chan sighed. Despite appearances, Victoria-san cared enough to give Lily-chan an out. She seemed cold but had a kind side. As I observed, Aira-chan continued, still annoyed.
“I get what you’re saying… If my subordinates lost contact, we’d notice something was up. And with Lily-sama traveling to Japan but not contacting Luna-sama, it was obvious. But thanks to you… we wasted effort…” So, Victoria-san didn’t share info but also didn’t help hide Lily-chan’s tracks, making it easy for Aira-chan to find me. As an escort knight, pride likely kept her from leaking info, but she ensured we’d be found.
“By the way, where’s Luna-sama? I thought she’d barge in first,” Victoria-san asked.
“…” Lily-chan flinched at Luna’s name, clearly scared to face her.
“She’s on her way with the subordinates you knocked out. She’ll be here soon—and angrier than I’ve ever seen,” Aira-chan said. So Luna’s coming. I can’t imagine her angry, but she must be furious over the danger I was in. Aira-chan likely told her I’m safe, but… I noticed a shadow moving quietly in my peripheral vision.
“…” Lily-chan was trying to sneak away silently, probably terrified of facing an unprecedentedly angry Luna. But—she picked the wrong opponent.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Aira-chan said.
“Lily-sama, please stay put until Luna-sama arrives~,” Victoria-san added. In an instant, they blocked her escape, their expressions polar opposites. The power gap was almost pitiful.
“Lily-chan, I’ll talk to Luna for you, so just sit for now, okay?” I called out from behind. All three turned to me—Aira-chan sighed reluctantly, Victoria-san looked surprised, and Lily-chan stared in disbelief. Their varied reactions made me a bit uncomfortable.
“Does this man not feel anger?” Victoria-san asked.
“He’s kind. Plus, her plan was so sloppy he probably doesn’t feel threatened,” Aira-chan replied.
“Hehe, interesting. He looks timid but has a strong core and adaptability. No wonder Luna-sama chose him,” Victoria-san said. They whispered in Japanese, but I could barely hear—probably on purpose. As I pondered this, Lily-chan approached me, fuming.
“What, are you pitying me…!? If it weren’t for you, this wouldn’t have happened…!” She redirected her frustration at me. Well, sure, but… if she hadn’t done this, we wouldn’t be here. I didn’t say that—she’s just out of elementary school, after all.
“Lily-sama, as a princess, shirking responsibility and blaming others is a disgrace to the royal family,” Aira-chan said.
“The more you hurt the one Luna-sama cherishes, even with words, the angrier she’ll get,” Victoria-san added. Lily-chan gasped, tears welling up and spilling over as she began to cry.
[“Think crying will fix this? Big mistake.”] Both spoke in unison, piling on. Are they demons? She’s pitiful—give her a break… But her actions could’ve sparked an international incident, so maybe it’s warranted. Luckily, it didn’t escalate.
By the way, when are they untying me…? As I wondered, the front door burst open.
“Seito-sama, are you safe!?” Luna rushed in, teary and sweaty.
“Luna… yeah, I’m fine,” I said, smiling at my adorable fiancée’s desperate search for me.
“But you’re tied up…!” She gasped, shocked at my state. As if on cue, Aira-chan untied me. She did that on purpose…
“Are you hurt anywhere…!?” Luna frantically checked me from head to toe as I stood.
“I’m fine, don’t worry,” I said, smiling to ease her fears, though my neck ached a bit—I didn’t mention it to avoid worrying her. She threw herself into my chest.
“I was so worried…” she said.
“Sorry,” I replied, hugging her tightly and stroking her head gently. It wasn’t entirely my fault, but I could’ve escaped better and spared her worry.
“No… It’s not for you to apologize for…” Luna said tearfully, nuzzling into my chest. Aira-chan said she was furious, but she didn’t seem that way. Maybe it was a scare tactic for Lily-chan. For a moment, I thought so, but—
“U-Um, Onee-sama…?” Lily-chan spoke hesitantly.
“—!” A dark aura seemed to emanate from Luna—or so it felt. Yeah, Aira-chan wasn’t exaggerating…
“Lily,” Luna said, pulling away from me and slowly turning to her sister.
“Eek…!” Lily-chan trembled violently. I couldn’t see Luna’s face, but what kind of expression was she making?
“It seems I failed in how I raised you,” Luna said, her voice as calm as ever.
However, Lily-chan was sweating profusely, trembling with fear. I glanced at Aira-chan, and our eyes met—she was already looking at me. For some reason, she glanced at Luna, then flashed me a smile. …Why is she smiling? Puzzled, I watched as Aira-chan looked at Luna again, then back at me, smiling once more. Could it be… Luna’s smiling right now? As I thought this, Aira-chan nodded slightly. Seems I was right. Also—she’s definitely reading my mind again…
“I-I’m sorry, Onee-sama…!” Unable to withstand the pressure of Luna’s smile, Lily-chan bowed deeply. Despite her earlier arrogance, she apologized so easily to her real sister. No wonder Luna called her an obedient girl. But Luna wasn’t letting her off.
“If apologies could fix everything, we wouldn’t need police or laws,” Luna said, her words like those a teacher might use to scold a child in elementary school. To Luna, Lily-chan must still seem like a young child.
“Tch, that’s… I was thinking of Onee-sama—!” Lily-chan tried to explain, desperate to avoid Luna’s wrath. But Luna cut her off.
“You abducted and confined Seito-sama, who is more precious to me than my own life. That alone is unforgivable, yet you told him to break up with me, didn’t you?”
“Eek…!?” Lily-chan shrank back again. Luna shouldn’t have heard our conversation, but Aira-chan might’ve connected her to Luna via phone. As I pondered this, Luna continued.
“And worse, you hurt Seito-sama, digging into his emotional wounds. Can you imagine how angry I am with you right now?” Her voice wasn’t raised in anger—it was calm, gentle, as always. But that made it scarier. Lily-chan’s going to be mentally shattered… I thought, moving to stop Luna, but Aira-chan held up a hand to stop me.
“Aira-chan…” I said her name, but she shook her head, her expression saying, [She needs to be punished.] …Well, she’s Luna’s sister, so I should leave it to her. I decided to keep watching for now.
“I-I didn’t mean to hurt him…!” Lily-chan, desperate to avoid Luna’s scolding, refused to admit fault. She’s still a child, even as a princess.
“So you’re saying you don’t understand others’ pain?” Luna didn’t simply scold or deny her excuses—she affirmed Lily-chan’s words, cornering her further. It’s harsher than outright reprimanding, showing Luna’s not someone to anger. I now understood why Aira-chan trembled during the cake incident.
“…” Unable to respond, Lily-chan looked to us for help, tears streaming down her face—she was at her limit. But Aira-chan and Victoria-san stepped in front of me, blocking her tearful face, likely to prevent me from intervening out of pity.
“No matter what you say, the fact remains that you hurt Seito-sama, physically and emotionally,” Luna said.
“I didn’t touch him—Victoria did…!” Lily-chan protested, insisting she hadn’t laid a hand on me. Everyone but her knew that was a mistake.
“You gave the order, didn’t you?” Luna’s voice dropped slightly, clearly angrier now. “In Victoria’s position, she couldn’t defy you. A royal’s words carry immense weight. That’s why, as the one who gave the order, you bear responsibility for your retainer’s actions, no matter what they did.”
I thought Luna might be angry at Victoria-san for touching me, even as her ally. But she had no intention of blaming her—instead, she held Lily-chan accountable for giving the order.
“And one more thing I’m angry about. You kept saying, ‘As a princess,’ looking down on Seito-sama and Aira and the others, didn’t you? Haven’t I taught you since we were young? The royal family exists because of the people. We may hold a high position, but we live thanks to the people’s support. I told you never to forget that, didn’t I?”
I’d thought Luna, being so kind, might not have been strict with Lily-chan, leading to her spoiled behavior. But she’d clearly taught her properly. Lily-chan just hadn’t internalized it. She likely acted well-behaved in Luna’s presence, not wanting to disappoint her beloved sister. Since no one in the royal family would tattle on a princess, Luna couldn’t have known.
“You did say that…” Lily-chan admitted.
“Then why do you look down on Aira and the others? A king who disregards the people will lose their loyalty. If you, not I or our older sisters, became queen with your current behavior, a rebellion could destroy Arcadia. Realize how deplorable your actions are,” Luna said, unrelentingly harsh. As I listened, I whispered to Aira-chan.
“She’s being pretty tough…”
“She’s only stating the truth,” Aira-chan replied, looking at me as if it were obvious. Our perspectives clearly differ.
“Many who serve the royal family already resent Lily-sama, and this incident led them to judge her unfit as a royal. But thanks to Luna-sama’s kindness, she’s being spared this time,” Aira-chan explained. I thought they were just seeking punishment, but Luna was protecting her only sister. Aira-chan continued, “But there won’t be a next time, so she’s making sure Lily-sama understands that thoroughly.”
Given what Lily-chan did, it could’ve sparked an international incident or become a scandal. Being disliked by those who support the royal family, it wouldn’t be surprising if they wanted her removed. It might even be better than letting her cause more trouble as a royal. Luna’s scolding her harshly to prevent that.
Still—I thought scolding alone wouldn’t change her.
“Luna, can I say something?” I called out to Luna mid-lecture. Unlike before, Aira-chan didn’t stop me, perhaps sensing my change of heart.
“Yes, what is it?” Luna turned, giving me a radiant smile that showed no trace of her earlier sternness. The quick switch was a bit scary.
“I have a suggestion, if that’s okay,” I said. Lily-chan gave me a wary look, probably thinking I’d say something unnecessary, despite her earlier plea for help.
“Lily, if you’re rude to Seito-sama again, I won’t forgive you,” Luna said with a smile, somehow noticing Lily-chan’s expression despite facing away. That black aura was back. Lily-chan instantly straightened up. Is she actually well-disciplined… at least with Luna? She seems so obedient.
“It’s a good opportunity. From now on, Lily will call Seito-sama ‘Onii-sama,’” Luna declared.
“Eh…!?” Lily-chan gasped, shocked. She doesn’t acknowledge me as her sister’s fiancé, so being told to call me her brother must be hard to accept.
“What?” Luna asked, turning with a smile.
“N-Nothing…! I understand, I’ll call him Onii-sama…!” Lily-chan nodded frantically. Yup, super obedient.
“Good. That’s fine with you too, right, Seito-sama?” Luna smiled at me, satisfied. It was after-the-fact approval, but I couldn’t say no, so I nodded. I caught Aira-chan’s slightly displeased expression—she probably wasn’t happy with things wrapping up so casually after all the trouble Lily-chan caused.
“So, your suggestion?” Luna prompted.
“Oh, right. You royals study at the palace instead of attending school, right?” I’d heard something like that before, hence the tutor.
“Yes, that’s right,” Luna nodded.
Then my plan should work. It’s also important that Lily-chan likely has no royal duties, which shouldn’t be an issue.
“You were planning to punish Lily-chan and send her back to Arcadia, right?” I asked.
“Yes, after a stern punishment, we decided to ban her from entering Japan to ensure she doesn’t harm Seito-sama again,” Luna confirmed. As I thought—she wants to keep the unpredictable Lily-chan away from me by sending her back and barring her from Japan. It’d also mentally punish Lily-chan by limiting her time with Luna. But I don’t think that’ll change her.
“My suggestion is, how about letting her live in Japan? Not as a royal, but experiencing life as a commoner,” I proposed. In Arcadia, she’d return to a royal lifestyle. Despite Luna’s teachings, her core hasn’t changed, likely because those serving the royal family must treat her as a princess, spoiling her. She needs to leave that environment and face some hardship. Not living with us, though—I had someone else in mind, perfect for educating her.
“With Onee-sama and the others…!?” Lily-chan, misinterpreting my words in her favor, lit up. Aira-chan and Victoria-san sighed, while Luna gave me a sulky look. Understandable—living with Lily-chan would cut into her time clinging to me. She’d probably barge in without reading the room and stick to Luna constantly.
“No, Lily-chan will live at my family’s house. If she stayed with us, it’d be a reward, not a punishment, right?” I said with a smile. Luna’s face brightened, while Lily-chan’s turned to shock. She’s kind of entertaining.
“Are you sure?” Aira-chan asked, surprised I’d send a troublesome princess to my family.
“Well, we can’t let her live with us, and she can’t live alone, right?” Luna struggled with basic tasks like bathing alone when we first lived together. This spoiled princess wouldn’t manage. Victoria-san would likely stay with her, but it’s still worrying. Plus, if they lived alone, they’d probably stay in this building, close enough to visit us constantly. For Luna’s sake, I wanted some distance.
“But won’t it burden your family…?” Luna asked.
“My parents made decisions behind my back, so it’s only fair to return the favor. As for Rion… she might be grumpy, but she’s good at looking after people. She’s kind to girls and will probably dote on Lily-chan,” I said, swallowing the fact that Rion might be strict depending on Lily-chan’s attitude. Aira-chan, still getting the cold shoulder from Rion for her initial antics, probably gets it. Rion’s only cold to her among girls, though she’s icy to guys.
“You’re deciding my life—!” Lily-chan started to protest, clearly unhappy about living with a stranger’s family, especially her disliked sister’s fiancé’s.
“Lily?” Luna called her name gently, and Lily-chan instantly quieted. Seriously, is this the same arrogant princess?
“Does Lily-chan listen to you the most?” I asked.
“Yes. She listens to family, but she’s especially obedient with Luna-sama,” Aira-chan confirmed. Then sending her back to Arcadia wouldn’t trouble the royals much, but it’d burden those serving them. Taking her in here is better. Plus, it might earn us favor with the royal family, helping Luna and me in the future.
“It’s too risky to send her to school, so she can study at home. Having her help with chores and experience commoner life would be good,” I suggested. She might say something reckless at school, so it’s safer to have a tutor at home. Helping Rion with chores would teach her life skills and appreciation for those who serve her. With my parents working late and Rion handling most chores, it’d be educational—assuming she doesn’t anger Rion.
“Is that okay with you, Victoria-san?” I asked. If Lily-chan stays, her escort knight would likely have to as well, leaving her homeland.
“Yes, staying near Luna-sama is my wish,” she replied. Luna’s popularity solved that easily. She’s truly loved by all—no wonder Lily-chan’s so attached. I need to be more aware of my role as her fiancé, I thought. For now, if Luna firmly tells Lily-chan not to defy Rion, things should work out.
◆
“—Since when did you get so bold…?” Back at my family’s house with Lily-chan, Rion gave me a resentful look after hearing the rough details. To her, it’s like her runaway brother suddenly dumped a problem on her, so her reaction’s understandable. My parents weren’t home from work yet.
“If we sent her back to Arcadia, it wouldn’t solve everything. And the only place I could rely on was home,” I explained. Luna wanted to ban Lily-chan from Japan to protect me, but that wouldn’t fully resolve things. If Lily-chan returned to Arcadia, those in the know might mock or scorn her, potentially making her resent me more. To avoid that, I wanted to keep her close and raise her safely. Hopefully, she’d eventually accept Luna and me… maybe.
“Our house doesn’t have the facilities for a princess to live safely…,” Rion said.
“No worries. We’ll protect Lily-sama and Rion-sama as well,” Victoria-san answered, not Aira-chan. Apparently, her subordinates are in Japan too, guarding Lily-chan and Rion like Aira-chan guards Luna and me. Knowing Rion’s likely concerns, I’d arranged this beforehand.
“So, that’s Alford-san’s sister?” Rion, after eyeing the suspiciously smiling Victoria-san, shifted her gaze to Lily-chan, who was peeking out from behind Luna. Lily-chan flinched and hid completely. Why’s she acting so different from with me…?
“Yeah, that’s her…” I said.
“She doesn’t seem like the kind of kid you described…,” Rion said, skeptical.
“Lily-sama is an indoor tiger,” Aira-chan explained with a sigh, exasperated by our confusion over Lily-chan’s behavior.
I see… It’s not just within the palace, but likely only around those who serve the royal family that she acts high and mighty. In front of nobles or the public, she’s probably quite docile. Or rather, she might just be shy around strangers. Her attitude toward me was likely because she really didn’t want to acknowledge me as someone important.
“…♪”
I could tell at a glance. Rion probably took an instant liking to Lily-chan, who’s like a small, timid animal. With no trace of her earlier arrogance and her nervous demeanor being undeniably cute, it’s no wonder Rion would find her adorable.
“Um… don’t spoil her too much, okay?” Knowing Rion’s kindness and tendency to look after girls, if she’s taken a liking to Lily-chan, she might dote on her excessively. Thinking that wouldn’t be good for Lily-chan, I decided to set some boundaries.
“Of course, I understand. It’s like a life lesson, right? I’ll teach her properly,” Rion said, locking onto Lily-chan with her gaze again. Oh, I get it. She’ll definitely take care of her, but not by coddling her in daily life—Rion’s the type to get passionate about teaching. I don’t think she’d be too harsh with a princess, though…
“Good luck, Lily-chan,” I said, feeling a bit sympathetic.
“Don’t suddenly say ominous things like that!” she snapped back immediately. Her reactions and instincts are sharp.
“Rion-san, please be strict with her. If she acts spoiled, don’t hesitate to contact me,” Luna added, making a ruthless request. Her face and tone didn’t show it, but she’s probably still angry. Aira-chan and Victoria-san, meanwhile, were grinning, clearly enjoying the situation.
“O-Onee-sama…!” Shocked that Luna would say such a thing, Lily-chan looked up at her pleadingly. Luna responded with a radiant smile.
“I’m counting on you, Lily,” she said, her words an encouraging message from an older sister to her younger one. But to Lily-chan, it must’ve felt like her escape routes were completely blocked. Since she loves her sister so much, she can’t bear to betray her expectations.
“I-I’ll do my best…” Lily-chan nodded slightly. Seeing this side of her, she really seems like an obedient, good kid. How did she end up with such an arrogant personality?
“Don’t be fooled. She’s only like this when Luna-sama is around,” Aira-chan whispered sharply, as if sensing my thoughts. She must’ve been through a lot with Lily-chan in Arcadia. I felt a bit sorry for her.
“She’s acting like a borrowed cat now, so it should be fine, right?” I said. Hiding behind Luna like this, she doesn’t seem capable of being defiant toward Rion.
“Well… she knows her authority doesn’t work on certain people, so she can’t act tough, right?” Aira-chan explained.
“I see…” So, the reason Lily-chan is an “indoor tiger” is that she’s aware she’s powerless against those her status doesn’t intimidate. That’s why she becomes docile around anyone outside the royal household’s staff. Since Aira-chan and others knew she’s an indoor tiger, there must be nobles or others she can’t dominate. Makes sense. No matter how royal she is or how much others defer to her, if someone’s served Arcadia for generations, their influence might outshine hers. Even the queen might side with them, so she can’t act recklessly. Thinking about it, she’s surprisingly clever—except for overestimating her own authority.
As Luna said, if she became queen, a coup might indeed happen. People who change their attitude depending on the person are often disliked by those beneath them. But Rion will handle that. Lily-chan’s status doesn’t scare her, and with Luna’s request as a pretext, she’ll say what needs to be said.
Later, Aira-chan quietly told me that helping rehabilitate a princess would earn Rion a substantial reward if successful. But Rion seemed more excited about looking after Lily-chan than the money. She loves small animals, after all…
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