Yurika didn't calm down until a while after she had gotten the bag with cup noodles in it from Koutarou. She was now facing a wall, closely hugging the bag of cup noodles and mumbling about something.
“What's up with her...?”
“Just leave her be for a while, Satomi-kun”
Koutarou was perplexed by Yurika's actions while Shizuka cheerfully watched the two.
Shizuka knew of Yurika's feelings and wanted to continue listening to their carefree and warm conversation. But at the same time, she would feel bad if she let Yurika get cornered any further, so she decided to stop Koutarou.
“You should study up on a woman's emotions some more”
“I am aware of that”
Koutarou obediently returned to the tea table. He had heard what Shizuka said from his best friend, Kenji, several times in the past, so he was able to accept that he had made some kind of mistake.
“Hm?”
Having returned to the table, Koutarou picked up his cup to sip on some tea, but it was empty. So Koutarou called out to Ruth so he could get seconds.
“Ruth-san, can I have some more tea?”
Since Ruth was getting more tea for Theia, he figured he could have her get some for him as well.
“...”
However, Ruth didn't respond. The room was small and she was right in front of him, so she should have heard him, yet she remained silent. She silently continued to pour tea without turning to look at Koutarou. She was quite clearly ignoring him. Shizuka, who had noticed the same thing, snickered and poked Koutarou with her elbow.
“Satomi-kun, isn't it that thing again?”
“Haa... again?”
Once Shizuka pointed that out, Koutarou understood and reluctantly called out to Ruth again.
“... Lord Ruthkania Nye Pardomshiha, vice captain of the Satomi band of knights, pour me another cup of tea”
“Yes, as you wish, Master! I will prepare it right away!”
As he did, Ruth who had been ignoring him just a moment ago cheerfully complied with his request. Her eyes were sparkling as she joyfully prepared more tea. She even brought snacks despite not having been told to do so.
“Things sure have gotten confusing...”
Koutarou felt a headache coming on and held his head.
Ever since the band of knights had been formed, Ruth would want Koutarou to call her by her official position from time to time. She also tried to get him to give her orders. In other words, she was happy that she had been made the vice captain of the band of knights.
“Oh, you came back at a good time, Koutarou”
That was when Theia approached Koutarou. After sitting down next to him, she presented him with a small paper bag.
“Here, it's today's salary. You may gratefully receive it”
Inside the bag was money, and a pretty sum at that. This act of Theia's was equally as headache inducing as Ruth's behavior.
“Theia, I don't need a salary”
Just like Ruth wanted a clear order from Koutarou, Theia wanted to pay Koutarou as his princess. But Koutarou would be on Theia's side even if there was no money involved. In fact, he didn't want money to get in the way of their relationship. That's why he was reluctant to accept the bag filled with his salary.
“I won't take orders from you! When I pay you your salary, I am very princess-like! Let me act like a princess every once in awhile!”
Theia normally built a relationship with Koutarou as a normal girl. But from time to time, she wanted to feel like a princess and pay Koutarou his salary. The act of paying his salary was more important to her than the money itself.
“Hey now...”
“Besides, there is no inconvenience if you hold onto my money”
Theia thought of herself, Koutarou, and Ruth as one in mind and flesh. So she didn't find it inconvenient if money moved between them. She simply enjoyed the act of paying a salary.
“Ah, then that aside... why not do it at the end of each month instead? It must be a pain doing this daily for you too”
Theia wanted to play 'knight and princess'. Once that was made clear to Koutarou, he gave up on objecting. It was the truth that they were in a master and servant relationship after all. The only remaining problem was the pain of receiving his salary every day.