I Will Protect You This Time

Episode 55

(Trigger)

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Madeleine: "Princess, What snack do you like?"

Kayleigh: "What about Cake?"

Sarah: "Try this strawberry cake. It's a delicacy in our Yasuji Clan."

Druella: "Don't listen to her. Drink this Wuyi Rock Tea. It mitigates weariness. You must be tired from all the recent events."

Sarah: "Are you looking down on me?"

Druella: "How can I look down on a fox?!"

Sarah: "What? You d*mn bird-"

I can see a spark in their gazes.

Druella: "Hah! What did you just say? You want to fight?"

Sarah: "Huh? Sure~ Come at me!"

"Ladies! Compose yourself! You are embarrassing yourselves!"

Azleza said gritting her teeth. Although she was smiling, it was such a stiff smile that one can say easily tell she was having a hard time controlling her anger.

'D*mn it! The Princess is here. What about us being delicate flowers!'

Azleza thought to herself.

Druella: "Don't put your nose in the middle of our fight!"

Sarah: "Yeah! Shut up!"

Both Druella and Sarah looked at her Azleza and said at the same time. 

'The h*ck! Are they serious? What about us being friendly towards the Princess! They'll scare her off!'

Madeleine and Kayleigh thought while having a cold sweat. 

Azleza: "You-"

Azleza was going to get up from her chair and join their fight but that time-

Pfft*

Hahaha~

Being surprised by Isabella's sudden laughter, the ladies flinched. They looked at Isabella with wide eyes without uttering a single word. Her laughing figure was truly mesmerising.

"Ah. I apologize. It was rude of me to laugh like that."

As if a spell just broke, the ladies come back to their senses. 

Madeleine: "Ah- No way."

Kayleigh: "Yeah. It's alright."

Azleza: "It was our fault to argue like that, to begin with."

Sarah: "Yes. We showed our bad side. It was rude of us to do that in front of you."

Druella: "Forgive us!"

"What? No. It was nice to see people getting along. All of you must be really good friends."

Isabella said while twiddling her index fingers. 

"To be honest, I wish to befriend you…"

Isabella mumbled while looking down. She was too shy to look at their faces. 

'S-So cute~'

The girls thought to themselves.

Isabella never had a friend. She was always afraid of the Aristocrats Ladies of Loire. 

And why wouldn't she be?! The Ladies fight with their tongue and lips. 

They always utter something but it means the exact opposite. Isabella was afraid whenever she was in front of them. 

Afraid of what they were going to say... Of what she would have to reply… Afraid of saying something offending… the Emperor might beat her. As he was always waiting for an excuse to beat her. 

But here, the ladies were nothing like that. At least not them. They are such kind and caring people to think about someone like her. She could also feel their close friendship by that fight. As when she saw them at a banquet before, they looked and behaved so composed and elegant. Isabella was grateful that they opened up to her. She really wanted to be friends with them…

"Umm… It's definitely okay if you don't want to! I-I would respect your deci-"

"Wh-What?! No way! O-Of course we also-"

Sarah jumped up from her chair and was going to say something but then-

"Sister! You are here! I was looking for you everywhere!"

Rubena came out of nowhere and interrupted their conversation.

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I really want to befriend them. But… Will they hate it? I mean, how can anyone want to be friends with someone like me?

"Umm… It's definitely okay if you don't want to! I-I would respect your deci-"

"Wh-What?! No way! O-Of course we also-"

Interrupting, Sarah jumped up from her chair and was going to say something. But then Someone else's voice cut off Sarah's words.

A creepily bright voice…

"Sister! You are here! I was looking for you everywhere!"

Rubena…

I flinched hearing her voice. Why is she here?

"Oh my! Sorry for my interruption! May I join you, Ladies?"

Rubena gasped looking at the others and said with an innocent smile.

'No! You can't! The heck! Did she just come here unwelcomed and interrupted our conversation! D*mn it! I want to kick her out.'

Sarah cursed Rubena inwardly. 

"And who might you be?"

Azleza asked coldly.

I can see Rubena's expression stiffened up a little. She must be angry with the sudden question. Well, she is the social butterfly of the Loire. 

But then she looked at me with a broad smile as if asking me to introduce her to the others. I don't want to.

"She is the Second Princess of the Loire Empire, Rubena Estelle Von Loire."

I introduced her even unwillingly. It seems like I am still afraid of her.

"Oh."

The ladies replied with a dull expression.

There was a cold silence for some time.

"Anyways, Princess. We would be delighted if you join us from now on."

Azleza said elegantly, ignoring Rubena.

"Yes! We would be happy if you join our group."

Sarah said with an elegant smile, unlike the cheerful smile. 

Now that I see, all of them seem so elegant now. 

Wow~

They changed their posture as soon as someone came! I truly admire them.

Meanwhile, Rubena was standing awkwardly on the corner. She couldn't sit until she got permission. And there wasn't any chair left for her to sit.

As we were sitting at a round table with six seats. Sarah and Azleza sat beside me. Then beside Sarah, Druella and beside Azleza sat Madeleine then Kayleigh. So there wasn't any seat left for her.

I can feel her glare stabbing a knife on me. She must be furious to be ignored like that.

"Ahem*"

Rubena coughed as if to get attention.

"Oh my! Apologies! We totally forgot about you for a moment there!"

Madeleine said with a tone that didn't sound apologetic at all.

"Oh! She was here!"

Sarah gasped and said with an innocent look.

"You can join us."

Azleza said in a cold tone.

"Thank you so much for inviting me!"

Rubena said with a smile controlling her anger.

"Biscuit."

Sarah beaconed her maid.

"Bring out another chair. It seems like we have an unexpected visitor."

Sarah ordered her maid with a smile.

"As you wish, My Lady."

Biscuit bowed and left the tent to bring out another chair.

After a while, Biscuit came in with a chair then placed it on one side. The others closed up their seats next to mine with the help of maids, isolating Rubena's seat.

"Umm… Can I sit next to my sister? It's been a long ti-"

"No!"

Sarah replied instantly.

"I apologize but I don't want to."

Azleza said, looking coldly at Rubena.

Rubena's expression stiffened by the unexpected answer.

"I-I see."

Rubena said with a forced smile then sat on her chair.

*Anyways Princess, did you give any Amulet to anyone?"

Kayleigh asked with twinkling eyes.

"That-"

"If not, give it to me! I will join the hunt tomorrow!"

Sarah said enthusiastically.

"No! Give it to me. I can definitely hunt more than her!"

Druella said, opposing Sarah.

Sarah: "What? You must be mistaken! Princess! I am stronger than her!"

Druella: "Don't believe her, Princess! I am stronger than her!"

"Ahem! You can give it to me! I assure you I am the strongest among them."

Azleza said with a confident voice.

"Amulet?"

Rubena asked while tilting her head.

'Ughh! Da*n it! She is so annoying!'

Druella cursed inwardly.

'The heck! Can't she tell we are ignoring her?'

Madeleine thought looking at Rubena with annoyance.

"Ladies, let's hear if the Princess has already given the Amulet to someone."

Madeleine said ignoring Rubena. I can tell she is burning right now.

"Ah- Yes. Princess, did you?"

Sarah asked impatiently.

"Ah. Yes. I gave it to the Crown Prince."

Kayleigh: "What? The Crown Prince?"

Sarah: "Aghh! He is going to join this year?!"

Druella: "Ughh! Why~?"

"Huh? Is there something wrong?"

Azleza: "No. Nothing like that. It's just he never participated in any occasion like that."

"Really?"

I didn't know. 

"Isn't he the Crown Prince? How come he didn't?"

Rubena asked with a curious look. She is trying her best to enter the conversation.

Azleza: "It's just because he is too strong, Crown Princess."

Druella: "Yeah. That da- I mean, the Crown Prince is stronger than the Emperor, himself."

Madeleine: "Mhmm. He defeated the Emperor and the other Beastmen the first time he joined the Hunting Competition."

Kayleigh: "It was also his last time."

And like that the ladies continued their chatter, ignoring Rubena.

"Excuse me. But it's time for My Lady to rest."

Ella said, coming out of nowhere.

"Oh my! It's already afternoon."

Sarah said looking outside.

Azleza: "Oh, yes. How time flies…"

"Then, My Lady. Shall we go?"

Ella asked eagerly.

"Ah. Yes. Please excuse us."

"Yes. We should return to our tent too."

Kayleigh said while getting up from her seat.

"It was so much fun chatting with the Crown Princess. Please join us next time too."

Sarah said with a smile.

"Yes! You have to."

Druella added.

"Then see you at the banquet, Crown Princess."

The ladies said with a bow

"Yes. It would be my pleasure."

The ladies kept talking, ignoring Rubena. And now she isn't even trying to enter the conversation. She was looking at everyone with a creepy smile.

"And the Princess of Loire. We will see you again."

"Yes. Surely. I have recognised all of your beautiful faces. We will surely meet again. Then please excuse me."

Rubena said with a smile, then excused herself.

"My Lady! Let's go. You have to eat too."

Ella rushed.

"Ah. Yes. Then please excuse us."

"Yes. We will meet again at the feast then!"

Kayleigh said with a smile.

"Yes."

After that, both Ella and I returned to our tent.