第５２８堀：本当に忙しい半日 深夜之部 (Part2)
The other two prisoners in the adjacent cells were trembling in terror. It would make them highly cooperative.
"Understood."
"Leave it to us. I shall unravel their connection to the Kingdom of Lira without fail," George declared.
"On a separate note," Taiki grinned mischieviously, "are you secretly hoping the princess fails to change in time and shows up naked?"
"She has a great figure, sure, but that would just be a massive headache. She’d probably use the lack of clothes as a distraction to dodge all my questions."
"Ah, you don't think she'd do it on purpose, do you?"
"I certainly pray not."
Dammit. I should have just demanded answers down in the cells. If she actually turned up stark naked, it would be exactly the kind of troublesome situation I predicted. Was that her angle? No, I chose to place my trust in the fierce, dignified princess I had just witnessed.
Fortunately, Ria and Deryu would be present, which would prevent any irreversible misunderstandings. I suppose I could always pull Duke Kamishiro into the room as well; witnesses were always valuable.
As I stood there preparing myself for any number of absurd scenarios...
Princess Carey marched into the drawing room impeccably attired in a sharp nightgown, having moved so swiftly it was impossible to tell if even a fraction of a candle had melted.
"Forgive the delay."
Princess Carey executed a flawless bow as she entered, flanked by her maid, Cuno.
That much was fine. The problem was Kagura, who trailed in last, wearing nothing but her underwear. To make matters worse, she was only wearing the bottom half, desperately covering her bare chest with both hands like a participant in some bizarre, late-night adult entertainment show.
Under normal circumstances, a hot-blooded male might consider it a feast for the eyes. In reality, it was a display of public indecency so profound it left everyone utterly dumbfounded. Such scenarios only ever worked in manga, light novels, or wild fantasies. In the real world, someone would have already dialed the authorities.
"Kagura?! Why on earth are you dressed like that?!"
The one who panicked loudest was Duke Kamishiro, whom I had asked to sit in. Naturally, a father would lose his mind seeing his daughter walk into a formal meeting practically naked.
"Duke Kamishiro, Kagura failed to ready herself within the allotted time," Princess Carey explained, her voice cutting through the panic like a blade. "Consequently, I dragged her out of her chambers while she was still dithering over her choice of undergarments. To think that during a critical discussion involving a foreign dignitary, she would waste precious time hesitating over a dress—let alone her intimate wear—makes me question the nature of the upbringing you provided."
"T-That may be... but to expose a young maiden in such a fashion..."
The Duke stammered, completely overwhelmed by the princess's sharp verbal assault. Princess Carey, however, did not even twitch an eyebrow as she countered.
"Before she is a young maiden, she is a member of a distinguished house that bears the weight of this nation. Lord Yuki, whom we have kept waiting, has been enduring a grueling schedule with precious little rest. Anyone can see he is pushing his limits for our sake tonight. Despite this, you suggest we should have indulged her in taking a prolonged period to dress? If Lord Yuki were to collapse from exhaustion, it would spell our ruin. Consider the gravity of our situation. Granted, this may be a blow to her modesty as a young woman, but the one beholding her skin is Lord Yuki. It should be considered an honor, not a disgrace."
*Yeah, your logic is completely warped.*
Jokes aside, her reasoning wasn't entirely off the mark. It was a form of appeasement—a human sacrifice. The princess had raised her hand against Taiki, fully aware he was my retainer. Presenting Kagura's exposed form was her way of offering a distraction to smooth things over.
If Kagura hadn't been there, the princess probably would have shown up naked herself. I shuddered to think of the headache that would have caused.
Regardless, the Duke seemed to grasp the princess's underlying intent. Though clearly harboring complaints, he forced himself to endure the humiliation. Kagura, meanwhile, looked as though she was on the verge of tears.
We couldn't hold a proper conversation like this. I suppose it fell on me to grant her a reprieve.
*Sigh.* This princess was far more calculating than I gave her credit for.
"Unbelievable... Kagura, put this on. We can't move the discussion forward like this, and there's no point if you aren't in a state to listen. Are we clear, Princess?"
I reached into my Item Box and pulled out my personal oversized hoodie, tossing it over to her. It was baggy even on me, so it would more than suffice to cover Kagura's frame.
"If that is your command, Lord Yuki, I shall not object. You are fortunate, Kagura," the princess said, casting a razor-sharp glare at the shivering girl.
"Th-Thank you, Yuki..." Kagura murmured, hurriedly burying herself in the fabric of the hoodie.
...Wait a second. Did I just inadvertently trigger some kind of romantic flag?
The unsettling thought crossed my mind, but the princess began to speak, forcing me to banish it to the back of my mind and focus entirely on the matter at hand.
"Now then, as to why I took it upon myself to act tonight: it was born of a personal vendetta, as well as a necessity for the state. And of course..." Her voice shifted instantly, adopting the airy, vacant tone from before. "'Oh my, what a lovely moon we have tonight,' was all part of the performance."
The sheer whiplash of her transition from a fierce, commanding ruler back to a doting airhead left everyone in the room—save for myself—utterly stunned.
"So, when you say personal vendetta, does this have to do with what happened regarding the Kingdom of Lira?"
At my words, a look of genuine astonishment finally cracked Princess Carey’s composed facade.
*Perfect. Consider that payback for the little stunt with Kagura.*
Though our conversation was only just beginning, it was abundantly clear that my all-nighter was officially locked in...
*There is no flag. There absolutely isn't! My judgment is just clouded from lack of sleep. —By Yuki*