Karina-sama~, where are you~?"
I heard someone searching for Lady Karina beyond the crowd, and there was Erina, the combat maid of Muno Earldom, when I looked there.
"Erina, she's here."
"Ah! Chevalier-sama!"
There is a figure of female soldier behind her I've seen for the first time. I feel like I've seen her somewhere before, but I can't remember. There wasn't someone like her among the baron's maids and the territorial army's soldiers---
--I remember now.
It was the girl who was ran over by the carriage rode by Toruma at Muno city.
Still, I didn't think she would work under Baron Muno after what she had been through.
The other party shouldn't know about me, so I greet her, "Nice to meet you."
"Did Pina not come here?"
"Yes, Pina has been promoted, so it's only me and newbie-chan this time. Taruna looked like she was wanting to go too, but she had been selected to guard the exchange students from the duchy capital."
Lady Karina seemed to have recovered when we were catching up, she opened her eyes.
"How are you feeling?"
"Sa, Satou, I'm, fine, desuwa."
Even though I've especially looked after her on my lap, lady Karina awkwardly gets up and takes some distance away from me.
Pochi apologizes, "I'm sorry, nanodesu" while looking dejected.
Then, a new intruder appeared.
◇
"Chevalier-sama! Congratulations for your achieve...ment?"
"Thank you, Merian."
Merian, the daughter of Baronet Dyukeli, appeared and congratulated me from the crowd, but it was changed into a question halfway through.
Her eyes shifted to Lady Karina, or rather she focused on her breasts.
After Merian, Princess Mitia and her exclusive maid-san came together. She's also together with a bodyguard-san with scary face of course.
"Satou-dono! Congratulation for your exploit noja!"
"I am honored, your highness Mitia."
Princess Mitia talked to me innocently like usual.
Lady Karina muttered, "Your highness?", beside me.
Erina is whispering, "It's a formidable rival!", to the newbie's ear, but the true formidable one exists at the world tree.
Lady Karina pulled my sleeve from behind like some shy girl, and whispered, "Introduce me."
This is quite rare for this haughty girl. I've always intended to do just that from the beginning of course.
"Your highness, she is the daughter of my master, Karina Muno-sama."
"Oh! To raise Satou-dono as their retainer, your parent must be a very noble-minded statesman! You are also truly beautiful noja! ....Perchance, are you not the fiancee of Satou-dono?"
"N, no--"
"That is not so, your highness."
Since Lady Karina clogged her words, I told Princess Mitia that she was not my fiancee in her stead.
Lady Karina seems discontent about me talking ahead of her, she sends some reproachful glance toward me.
Please don't look at me with such eyes. It is contrary to the fact, so I cannot exactly affirm it right?
"Karina-sama, she is Princess Mitia of Norooku Kingdom--the western leader of the kingdoms union."
"Satou, don't tell me, you!"
I can guess what she wants to say, but please be relieved since I won't make a move to the loli-faced princess Mitia.
Therefore, I corrected it, "That imagination is a misunderstanding", close to her ear.
However, the peanut gallery are being noisy since a while ago.
『Not only he has the Shield Princess, and Jenna, he also hid such a beauty?!』
『Damnit, he wouldn't make Noja princess his mistress right? Right?』
『You, she's still at that age....』
Like always, someone who has almost done lese majeste is mixed among them. No, it would have been out for him if he were heard huh.
Now then, leaving that aside, the favorite is arriving soon.