“Koutarou, is that true?”
Theia's eyes opened wide and she looked up at Koutarou's face.
“U-Uhm...”
Koutarou stumbled for an answer. It was just like Ruth said, but it was difficult admitting that in this situation. So instead of answering the question he purposefully started drinking the contents of the bottle.
“Ahhh~, that's the taste I want”
The chilled cola moistened his throat while the carbonic acid stimulated it. While he had only drunk it to get out of his predicament, the cola was very welcome after having setup the parasols and blankets.
“Your Highness”
“Yes... fufufu”
“Hihi”
Looking at Koutarou, Theia and Ruth began giggling, and having gotten embarrassed, Koutarou took another sip of cola.
“Koutarou give some to me too”
Theia shoved her open hands towards Koutarou. She had been in a bad mood just a moment ago, but now she was in high spirits as she looked up at Koutarou with a refreshing smile.
“...Did you buy this because you wanted to drink it yourself?”
“That's not true. It was out of pure goodwill. But... a true relationship between master and servant is one where you can share everything”
“...You only become a princess when it really suits you”
“Of course. I'm your princess after all”
When Theia said that she seemed very happy and proud.
What she's saying hasn't actually changed all that much since we first met, but...
In the past Koutarou probably would have objected at Theia's words. However, now those words moved him for some reason. While they were the same words, the feelings within were completely different.
“Okay, okay”
Having given up, Koutarou handed the bottle over to Theia. There, Theia then passed it along to Ruth.
“Here, you drink too”
“Your Highness?”
“Koutarou is not my only vassal”
“...”
Ruth hesitated a moment after hearing Theia's words and looked at Koutarou's face.
“Then I'll have some”
Waiting for Koutarou to nod, she put her lips on the bottle and started drinking. The cola in the bottle gradually decreased as she sipped on it. It was a far more elegant way of drinking than compared to Koutarou.
“Thank you very much, Your Highness, Master”
After quenching her thirst a little, Ruth returned the bottle to Theia. Not only was the way she drank elegant, but so was the amount.
“Indeed, then it's my turn”
Unlike Ruth, Theia didn't hesitate to put her lips on the bottle. Her way of drinking was also more dynamic than Ruth's.
However, the childish way she gulped the cola down gave off an impression of a baby drinking milk from its bottle.
“Don't drink all of it”
“...Haah. I know. Here”
After drinking some of the cola, Theia returned the bottle to Koutarou. There was still enough left for him to drink. What Theia had said about sharing hadn't been a lie.
“I don't know of any princesses that hands over half drunk drinks though”
“Fufu, but of course”
“Hmm?”
“You and I aren't just simple master and servant after all”
Theia placed her hands above her chest and smiled at Koutarou as she slightly tilted her head. Her smile and eyes were filled with confidence and trust, and just behind Theia was Ruth with the same expression. It was clear that Theia's words were also Ruth's words.
“...You really are unfair”
Koutarou showed a bitter smile as he drank the cola again. The cool cola felt great as it passed through his dry throat. However, since Koutarou was distracted by the smiles of these two girls that sensation didn't remain within him for long.
As Sanae noticed Theia and Ruth, she invited them over to exercise together with her. Sanae, who wanted to jump into the water as quickly as possible, and Theia, who loved moving her body, soon came to an agreement. Of course, Ruth didn't have any objections and the three of them lined up to exercise.
“Make sure you stretch properly”
“I know, I know. Right, Theia?”
“We aren't children, you may trust in us”
“Well, with Ruth-san with you, you'll probably be fine”
“Please leave it to me, Master”
Koutarou glanced at the three girls in the corner of his eyes as he unloaded their luggage under the shadow of the parasols. Apart from Koutarou, the other 15 had left their luggage on the beach to go change. Luggage for 16 people was quite an amount, and Koutarou had to run back and forth between the luggage and parasols several times.
“Let me help you”
That was when the fourth girl appeared and offered to help Koutarou. It was Kiriha, wearing a large t-shirt above her swimsuit. Since the t-shirt belonged to Koutarou, it concealed her curvy lines beneath it.
“That'll help... hey”
“Hm?”
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing special. I just wanted to try showing an expression of my love before helping”