270: Unknown Princess ※

Once again, this story is told from the perspective of Haruwato Tōte Shimeakēha.

In essence, it's a background character's viewpoint. Please keep that in mind.

"So much information... it's overwhelming..."

"It's amazing how calmly Tarco can negotiate, holding onto such crucial details..."

"That's just habit. I know Lady Vilijanianira isn't unreasonable."

I, Tarco, and also Kykirasuto, have returned to the dance hall.

I'm a bit worried about Tougotto, but since he was merely manipulated by Magatsuki and didn't commit any crimes even while under control, he should surely return once he regains consciousness.

Still, there's no guarantee the Marquess House of Shimeunanunkun will even still exist by then.

No, this matter might not be limited just to the Marquess Houses of Shimeunanunkun and Shimeukasu.

Even my own Marquess House of Shimeakehako might get drawn into this somehow—no one can say how.

Otherwise, if I don't carefully consider who to side with and how far to go, I won't be able to act when the time comes.

"«««————»»»

"What's going on? It's unusually noisy."

"I know. The matter with Tougotto has already been settled by Lady Vilijanira, so this must be something else..."

As we pondered such thoughts, we had made our way to a spot in the dance hall where we could see the commotion unfolding.

And there, what I saw made me gasp in surprise.

"……"

"Oh, fair one. Might I at least hear your name?"

"Ah, what exquisite beauty. This is truly the embodiment of beauty."

"Would you consider becoming my younger sister? I could introduce you to cosmetics made from under-layer flora..."

"Hah hah... Just who is this tribe's child? So cute... so cute..."

There was a young girl seated in a chair, countless men and women behaving suspiciously around her, and participants watching from a distance with detached, indifferent eyes.

The girl’s appearance… I didn’t recognize her at all.

Even from a glance—two horns sprouting from her head, a pair of bat-like wings extending from her waist, and two tentacle-like tails trailing behind—made it clear she wasn’t a typical human, but I couldn’t recall the name of any species matching these features.

But what was most astonishing was her attractiveness—so far surpassing that of the other elaborately adorned women around her that it bordered on mesmerizing, almost enchanting.

She possessed features no human had, draped in a finely tailored dress with minimal accessories and makeup, exuding a languid aura while deliberately avoiding conversation with those around her—yet still, she captivated everyone effortlessly, a girl unlike any other.

No doubt, the men and women behaving suspiciously around the girl had lost their minds, overcome by her mesmerizing beauty.

But just who exactly is she?

If she were a princess of a newly discovered species from a remote star system, as striking as Lady Viridiana herself, there would have been far more commotion the moment she arrived...

"~~~~~~~~"

"Torte. There's an issue over there too, but this one's more pressing. Tarko's about to laugh himself to death."

"Wha...? Uwaaah..."

Just as Kyukirast spoke, I looked over and indeed saw Tarko trembling, clutching his stomach in the shadow of a pillar.

Though she refrains from letting out a loud laugh—proper for a lady—her irises had turned into a beautiful rainbow hue, and she looked anything but presentable to anyone else.

"Pfft, hehehe, no, it's impossible not to laugh at this... seriously..."

"Um, is that girl a friend of Tarko's?"

"In a way, yes. Actually, we just met a moment ago... pfft, hehehe..."

"Just now?"

Tarko had, as a result of accumulated experiences over generations, some kind of mod constantly active in terms of vision.

That's why he can see things invisible to others... Could it be that it's precisely because of what he sees that he's noticed something?

Then again, we three just met a moment ago?

……

No way...

"Satā-sama?"

"Correct."

"Y-yes..."

Both Kukirasto and I were speechless.

Could that be... the girl from earlier... Satā-sama?

Now that you mention it, I do recall a faint resemblance... but could it really be her?

"But... why would she appear like that...?"

"Why? Well... probably a decoy, don't you think? If she's appearing like that, fools will come pouring out by the dozens."

"Coming out?"

I turn toward the girl who seems to be Satā-sama.

The girl lazily reaches for a nearby drink, takes a sip, then speaks to someone beside her—ah, a man has just been led away.

Did she mix some kind of drug into that drink?

"「……」"

Well, even if it weren't for that, seeing someone go wild over Satā-sama's appearance would cool even a hundred-year-old romance. It's practically a helpful tool for筛选ing partners, don't you think? In a way, it's almost like a gift from Lady Virijianira.

As Tarko speaks, some of the men and women around Satā-sama are one by one taken away.

Some of them are notorious for bad behavior... It seems like genuine selection is actually taking place.

"「「「!?」」」"

"Huh?"

"And it looks like the biggest fool of all has been caught."

Before he realizes it, Tarko is pointing his information terminal's camera toward the scene.

At the camera's focus, Satā-sama is gripping a man by the wrist.

In the man's hand is something resembling a metal ring.

I don't know what exactly it is, but an extremely unpleasant aura emanates from it.

"Ah, so you're the main target. Take him away, and be careful not to let anyone touch the ring."

As Satā-sama's pure, bell-like voice echoed, the man collapsed and was taken away.

The dance hall buzzed with murmurs, and by the time the commotion settled, Satā-sama had vanished from sight.

"Fufufu, my eyes didn't deceive me. I was right to bet on Lady Villigianira."

This matchmaking ball has been plagued by too many incidents.

Yet precisely because of that, there's one thing I can say for certain.

"Tarko, you handled negotiations so calmly... I'm impressed."

"Get used to it."

Of all my friends, only this one seems capable of surviving anything.

05/02 Correction of typo