「Well then, I’m counting on you today.」
Noctarl-san finished confirming the schedule and smiled happily.
「Yes. I’m not used to this, but I’ll do my best.」
With that, Noctarl-san left the room, looking busy.
——Knock, knock.
「Yes, come in.」
Slipping in with the knock were the long ears I’d been seeing quite often lately.
「Holy Knight-sama～」
「What’s the matter, Lopple-san?」
「I brought the bridal proof for the princesseS～」
「Thank you. Sorry it came down to the wire.」
「No, no～ This is something I’ve dreamed of making!」
Saying that, she presented the tiaras. Each one was breathtakingly beautiful.
「But in the end, you never did make me your bride, did you～」
「Well, you’re not genuinely in love with me, are you?」
As I said that, a drop of cold sweat ran down Lopple-san’s face.
「Ugh… Was it that obvious? Haa, I guess romance is just impossible for me after all～」
Lopple-san said, sounding bored. As she herself stated, she had been making advances at every opportunity, but none of them were ever sincere.
「Well, it doesn’t seem like you’re compatible with people from this world. Why not try looking in mine?」
「Uuu… A high-paying, skilled craftsperson, fairly tall, good-looking, who’ll let me do my own craft work, serious, kind, rich, and if they’re good-looking, anyone will do, really～」
「Wow, that’s a lot of wants…」
「What’s wrong with that～ A person’s ideal is their ideal, you know!?」
Hmm, an ideal is an ideal, but still…
「How about compromising a little?」
「I won’t! My goal is to marry a rich man!!」
「Is that so…」
I was a little exasperated by her smug expression as I cut off the conversation.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
Some time later, the bells of the royal castle rang, and there was a knock at the door.
「Is it about time? Yes, come in.」
The door opened and Shia entered.
「Master, preparations are complete.」
「Thank you, Shia. And could you come here for a moment?」
「Yes, what is it?」
「Since you won’t be able to attend the ceremony like the others, I wanted to give this to you beforehand.」
I took out the tiara I had just received from my Dimensional Storage.
「M-Master!?」
「Back then, I sort of brushed you off casually, and I know this feels like it’s happening by default, which isn’t really fair. But… Shia, would you spend your life by my side? Even if it’s only for about a hundred years of your life.」
As I said that, Shia’s face turned visibly crimson, and tears began to spill from her eyes.
「Is it really okay? For someone like me…」
「Yeah.」
「I’ve killed so many people, you know?」
「Well, I’ve killed people too, even if not as many.」
「I’m a dark elf.」
「So what? I’m not from this world.」
「But…」
This wasn’t like the usual Shia. Sure, she had been acting spoiled lately, but there had always been a line she wouldn’t cross. That was probably her way of drawing a boundary.
「Shia, do you not want to be with me?」
「It’s not that I don’t want to! But at my age, having children is…」
「That… I’m sure we can figure something out, right?」
As I said that, Shia lifted her head. She still seemed uncertain.
「Besides, if we keep this up, this tiara is going to get too heavy and I might drop it…」
I pretended to struggle, shaking my hand meaninglessly as if it were at its limit, then started to lower it.
「Don’t!!」
With that shout, Shia lunged forward, catching it with her head. This naturally resulted in her embracing me.
「You caught it. Well then, I look forward to being with you from now on.」
I bent my knee and said that while hugging her back. Shia’s tears finally broke loose.
「Yeeeeeees!! I look forward to being with youuuu!!」
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
Then, just as another maid came to check on the situation, Shia finally stopped crying.
The maid seemed to understand what had happened after seeing the tiara on Shia’s head. She gave me a thumbs-up and then disappeared somewhere. Well, that was fine.
「I’m so sorry…」
「Ah, it’s alright. More importantly, we’re going to be late for the ceremony. Shia, you can rest here or in my private room.」
「Eh, that means…」
Shia’s face flushed red. I realized I might have just thrown her a rather reckless pass…
「N-no! I mean, Amilia and the others’ rooms will likely have a lot of people coming and going today! And I don’t really need to change or anything!」
As I hurriedly tried to cover up my words, Shia flashed a mischievous smile, lightly pressed her lips to mine, and stood up.
「I know that～ Oh, and Liliana-sama and the others said,『We won’t be letting you sleep tonight, so prepare yourself.』」
「Huh? Wait, what!?」
「I intend to do the same, so please be ready!」
Smiling innocently, Shia quickly left the room.
「Well then… I suppose I should go…」
I opened the door and headed towards the venue for the announcement.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
「Demon King-sama, we have been waiting for you.」
「I’m sorry for being late.」
「If that is the case, I have already explained the situation to everyone.」
「Ehh?」
I turned around to find Liliana and the others, including Noctarl-san, grinning at me.
「Ah, ahaha… Right…」
I resigned myself and walked over to them. Liliana looked satisfied as she spoke.
「So you finally acknowledged Shia.」
「Honestly… It’s your fault, Yuuki, that Shia has been so anxious all this time.」
「That’s right! Poor Shia-san!」
「Ugh… I’m sorry…」
「Well, it’s probably for the best. A dark elf like her is said to bring good fortune, after all.」
「Is that so?」
「Yes. Among the elf races, dark elves are as few in number as high elves. I doubt there are even five hundred of them in total.」
「I see. But what do you mean by ‘bring good fortune’?」
Shia had made it sound rather different earlier…
「Ah, well, that is…『Cough, cough』… It is about time we began the ceremony…」
Just as Noctarl-san was about to explain, a maid hurried us along. We were running late, so it couldn’t be helped.
「Well then, everyone, onto the balcony.」
「Yuuki, let’s go.」
「Yuuki-sama, come now.」
「Yuuki-san!」
And so, I stepped out into the overflowing light.
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