The sky, blue like it always has been, and the leaves and grasses, verdant like an emerald under the blissful sunlight. Colors of pink, white, yellow, and many more danced by the wind's soft blows, an orchestra of colors and fragrances drifting freely.
The beautiful scenery was not alone. From left and right, bees and butterflies buzzed and danced, their wings shimmering like stained glass, the flapping of their wings ringing like a soft melody. The early afternoon is once again full of tranquility.
"Hmm... It sure is nice to have great weather, doesn't it, Grey, Yuna?" ［Ernes］
"A-Ah... Yeah, it's wonderful..." ［Grey］
Yet despite the beautiful and peaceful scenery, there was only tension looming above the garden table. The King drank his tea in silence, Grey was smiling wryly, and Yuna couldn't even answer. An awkward silence was drifting about.
Well, there weren't only the three of them. Around the garden table, there was the ever so youthful Queen, the mischievous Crown Prince, the lovely Crown Princess, the quiet Princess Royal, and the very adorable Little Princess. Only Julius was missing.
How did the situation come about, one might ask? To answer such a question, one needs to look back to several minutes ago when the sun had just started to descend. Everything started just when Grey and Yuna were playing with the Little Princess.
"Waah～! Our Little Princess really is smart! Your memory is even much better now! Big Sis is impressed!" ［Yuna］
"Nalia, good?" ［Natalia］
"Un! Our Little Princess is very, very good!" ［Yuna］
It was a normal afternoon. After playing yet another game of Memory, Yuna is once again praising the Little Princess like doting older sister. She patted her head gently, the latter giving off a big smile in response like a little puppy.
And after Yuna, the Little Princess' eyes shifted towards Grey's direction, staring at him intently in a manner which could only be called adorable. She hasn't even said a word yet Grey already knew what she wanted.
"Yeah, Princess Natalia is the best of them all. Good job." ［Grey］
"Hehehe." ［Natalia］
As adorable as she is, the Little Princess only wanted a head pat from Grey as well, wanting to be spoiled rotten. Just like before, She once again beamed a bright smile, giggling softly as she closed her eyes. Noe, she was like a purring little kitten.
"Then, should we play another game?" ［Yuna］
"Um! Nalia wansh shesh!" ［Natalia］
"Hmm? Chess...? You want to play chess?" ［Yuna］
"Um! Shesh!" ［Natalia］
With a bright smile on her face, there was no way two softies like Grey and Yuna could deny her request. Though they know the Little Princess most likely doesn't have any idea about what she's talking about, all was fine. What mattered was that she was happy.
Quickly, Grey opened up his "Inventory" and took out a chess board. The moment he placed it atop the table, a soft clack could be heard, followed by a series of more as he placed down the pieces. The Little Princess' eyes were shining all the while.
"Princess, do you know how to play chess?" ［Grey］
Grey asked, but there was no immediate answer. Instead, the Little Princess only nodded her head fervently, eyes still sparkling like a lake basked in the sun's gentle sunlight as her cheeks turned rosy from excitement.
"Fufufu! Then let's play together, okay? Big Sis and Big Bro will reach you along the way. Just watch carefully." ［Yuna］
"Um! Nalia watsh!" ［Natalia］
"Fufufu! That's a good girl!" ［Yuna］
There was no time to waste. As soon as all the pieces were placed, Grey headed to the other side, taking the black pieces for himself, and in turn, Yuna took the white ones. Soon, a series of clacks echoed as the pieces started moving.
The game was slow and steady, Grey and Yuna taking slow turns so that the Little Princess could see what's happening. Though she couldn't completely grasp what's going on, she was very excited as the pieces moved about.
"Then, Little Princess, where should we place this?" ［Yuna］
"Umm... Here!" ［Natalia］
Of course, the Little Princess also played along with them. Though many of the moves she made were illegal, Grey and Yuna just let her be, letting her enjoy herself to the fullest. A warm atmosphere enveloped the room.
The fun continued and the hands' clocked ticked with every passing second. Natalia sitting back and forth from Grey and Yuna's laps with each game, excitement was all over the place. Shasha also turned up from time to time, checking their situation. And soon, the clock finally struck past two.
『Yuna... It's time to go.』 ［Grey］
『Oh, already?』 ［Yuna］
『Yeah, it's about time, after all.』 ［Grey］
『Mmn... That's too bad...』 ［Yuna］
It was finally time for Grey and Yuna to go. Though they wanted to play with the Little Princess more, there was nothing they could do about it. It was almost time for the Crown Princess to check up on the Little Princess. It would be troublesome if they get caught, after all.
Though it would have been fine if it was in normal circumstances, Grey and Yuna just snuck in with "Gate" this time. Not only did they trespass, the King also had something to settle with them. They can't get caught at all costs.
"Little Princess, it seems like that's all the time we have for today. Let's play again some time later, okay?" ［Yuna］
"Big Sish, Big Bwo, go?" ［Natalia］
"Un, sadly... But don't worry, we'll make sureー" ［Yuna］
"No! Dun go! Shtay wif Nalia!" ［Natalia］
Yuna couldn't even finish her words when she was suddenly cut off by the Little Princess, a tight embrace accompanying her little outburst. To top it all off, tears also started trickling down her small face. A tactic which only served to make Grey and Yuna's face pale.
"Umm... Little Princess... Don't be sad. Big Sis and Big Bro promise to visit you every now again? We'll play lots next time!" ［Yuna］
"No! Shtay!" ［Natalia］
"Uhh... Little Princess... Princess Natalia... Let's let go of Big Sis for now, alright? Look here, Big Bro's got a surprise for you." ［Grey］
"No! Hic... Shtay... Hic... Shtay..." ［Natalia］
It was over. Doom was upon them. Though Grey and Yuna already expected her to have some sort of reaction from them leaving, they never imagined it would be to such a frightening degree.
To make matters worse, Grey could already see the Crown Princess heading to the Little Princess' room. Not only her, the King and the other members of the Royal Family were also with. A combination which only spelt trouble.
"Pr-Princessー" ［Grey］
"No!" ［Natalia］
Yup, it was finally over. Though they could just make the Little Princess fall asleep, the next time they visit, things would get much worse for them. A clack and creak reverberated in the room as the two accepted their fate.
The door opened and a couple of interesting faces to be seen. There was the crying face of the Little Princess, the awkwardly smiling faces of Grey and Yuna, and ones full of surprise from the Royal Family. The King was especially dumbfounded.
"Haah... I did hear you were here, but to that it really is true... Haah... It's been some time, hasn't it, Grey, Yuna?" ［Ernes］
"Y-Yeah... It's been some time, Your Majesty..." ［Grey］
Still smiling awkwardly, Grey couldn't help but greet everyone. Yuna followed soon after with a silent nod. Awkward silence was looming about the Little Princess' room as everyone entered one after another.
Thankfully, because of the Queen and Crown Princess, the Little Princess finally calmed down. Unfortunately, Grey and Yuna were caught. And so, that's how our main characters got themselves to such a suffocating situation.
"Little Princess, why don't we sit with Missus Natasha for now? Your mother would be sad if you always stay with Big Sis, you know?" ［Yuna］
"No..." ［Natalia］
Well, even if she has stopped crying, the Little Princess still stuck close to the two, sitting whilst sulking on Yuna's lap. Thankfully, no one minded itー rather, everyone simply looked at her with warm gazes.
Clack
The King put down his tea cup and a single clack echoed in the air, turning everything silent. Though he is usually mischievous and annoying, he was very dignified right now. Even Grey and Yuna couldn't help but feel intimidated.
"You two... You do know what you did was trespassing, don't you?" ［Ernes］
And there it was, the topic Grey and Yuna wanted to avoid the most. The moment the King mentioned such words, their eyes quickly went swimming. There wasn't any sort of aura released yet they felt intense pressure in the air, weighing down heavily on their shoulders.
"I know that the kingdom is greatly indebted to you two, but such behavior is still unacceptable. You could have gotten punished if it was any other Royal Family, or noble household for that matter.
You two are extremely powerful, there's no denying that. I'm sure you could easily crush the kingdom if you wanted to, especially with the powerful abilities you possess. But just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
You might think you're still normal, but you should be aware of your identities by now. There are people who would gladly follow your examples. And there isn't just one or two, there are hundreds, maybe even thousands.
You should be aware of your influence and responsibilities. Especially you Grey, now that you've reached Calamity-Class, you should think your actions more thoroughly. This could be considered an act of terrorism in other countries, you know. In addition to that..." ［Ernes］
Everyone was shocked by the bomb the King dropped, about Grey's rank, but he didn't mind their reactions and simply continued talking. Though Grey and Yuna wanted to retort, they could only keep quiet.
The King's lecture continued for several more minutes, pointing out many aspects without regards to Grey and Yuna's feelings. His words were harsh and sharp like a deadly sword. He had become a totally different person.
"So... Do you understand what I'm getting at?" ［Ernes］
""Yes..."" ［Grey and Yuna］
"And what should you say?" ［Ernes］
""Sorry..."" ［Grey and Yuna］
"It's alright. As long as you two understand." ［Ernes］
They were like children getting scolded by their father, only able to keep their heads down and apologize. It was a truly interesting situation unlike any other. The King simply drank another sip of tea soon after, acting as if everything was normal.
Well, the situation wasn't over yet. Though Grey and Yuna's situation was finally settled, there was still another pressing matter. Many members of the Royal Family were still in shock about the King's nonchalant revelation.
"Well... Now that that is over... Do you have some new treats with you? I'd love something sweet if possible. You have someー" ［Ernes］
"Wait, Father, it's not time to think about sweets! What is this about Grey reaching Calamity-Class?! This is the first time I've heard of it." ［Galleus］
"That's right, Dear. I also didn't know about this." ［Talia］
Everyone had the same thoughts around the table. Though it has been about a month since the King knew of Grey and Yuna's rank, only a handful of people knew of such information, something like confidential information.
It was very surprising. Though his usual personality was thoughtless and overactive, he only told a couple people about it, namely the Prime Minister and the General. It was only natural that everyone was surprised.
"Hm? I didn't tell you about it?" ［Ernes］
"No, you didn't, Father. Not that I'm aware of." ［Galleus］
"Well, you already know so it's fine, isn't it? Right, Grey, Yuna, about the sweets... you have come on you, right?" ［Ernes］
"Father..." ［Galleus］
"Dear..." ［Talia］
It was hopeless. Though they were all greatly surprised, the one on the receiving end of their questions remained relatively calm, seemingly more interested in sweets than the state secrets. Both the Queen and Crown Prince couldn't help but sigh.
And with the King's request, Grey and Yuna had no other choice but to take out a few sweets from the "Inventory". There was also the tiramisu from when they visited Eliza, something new and delicious which everyone welcomed warmly.
"So, Grey, what are you going to do with your status? If you want, we can have it updated right now." ［Galleus］
"Galleus, that's no use. You should know that that's the reason they suddenly escaped last time." ［Ernes］
"Yeah... His Majesty's right. It's too troublesome to deal with things like that. I just want to live a normal life with Yuna." ［Grey］
"Normal" he says... Such was what everybody's eyes were trying to say. Though they wanted to retort against Grey's words about his standards, they just let him be for a moment. It's not like they don't understand him, after all.
Be it today, tomorrow, or the days following after it, Grey has no intention in updating his privilege card unless the need arises. He didn't rank up his guild card, after all, so why would he bother doing such for the privilege card. It was just too bothersome.
"Well, it's understandable... It's quite troublesome to deal with letters and invitations, after all. I understand why Grey would refuse." ［Talia］
"Come to think of it, I still have to attend a tea party next week. Would you like to join me, Mother?" ［Natasha］
"I'm afraid I can't... I still have some work piled up. Maybe next time," ［Talia］
Just like that, the conversation and atmosphere has finally returned to normalcy. Even the Little Princess has stopped sulking, simply enjoying the sweets Yuna was feeding her, just like a little hamster.
"Oh, right, speaking of which... You two, you've been ignoring all the invitation letters, haven't you?" ［Ernes］
"Yeah... Is there something wrong with it?" ［Grey］
"No, there isn't... But you should at least give a response to some of them. There are many petty people among them. It would be best to pay them some attention from time to time." ［Ernes］
The King couldn't be any more correct with his words. Though they couldn't really do much against Grey and Yuna with their authority and connections, simple things like that could affect their reputation, both in good and bad ways.
Of course, if they responded to some and accepted their invitation, it would be a good boost to their reputation. And if things go well, they could acquire more connections and gain a more solid foundation. Such will only bring good fortune.
Ironically, though it is troublesome to deal with such invitations, it could make their life much easier in the long run. There was nothing to lose in trying it, only something to gain. It was something worth considering.
"Hmm... Maybe we'll think of it some other time." ［Grey］
"Haha, that's good to hear... And, oh! Make sure it isn't the Aldridge, Landevar, or the Geldoria households. People already know how close you are. It won't help if you only visit them." ［Ernes］
"O-Of course... We'll keep that in mind..." ［Grey］
And there goes the plan of visiting the households they are acquainted with. Though the King didn't mention the Filastra or Helsberg households, they were more than certain that they very much fall in the same category. Things only got harder.
'Hm? Would't that work?' ［Grey］
Thankfully, there was still a household which met the requirements. Grey was just thinking of going to their territory after his previous talk with Fritz, so it was the perfect opportunity to accept their invitation. It was killing two birds with one stone.
"Do you have any households in mind? I could give you two recommendations if you want. There's some good places I know." ［Ernes］
"Me too. If you would like, I could also name a couple acquaintances. I could name some territories with fantastic treats as their specialties." ［Talia］
"Then I'll also recommend some. You could also go to our territory." ［Natasha］
"A-Ah, me too! I could help Elder Brother Grey and Elder Sister Yuna!" ［Iris］
They truly were good people. Though neither Grey nor Yuna asked for their help, they voluntarily reached out their hands. The latter couldn't help but feel warm and fluffy from their warm personalities.
"Then, we'll be accepting gracefully." ［Grey］
"Un! We'd be happy to!" ［Yuna］
"Nalia, happy too!" ［Natalia］
Of course, the Little Princess also joined in on the conversation when she could. Though it was almost certain that she didn't understand a word of what everyone was talking about, she still expressed her thoughts freely, a smile blooming on her face.
Just like that, the afternoon continued to pass, the cool and refreshing breeze drifting in the garden. Soon, the King, Queen, and Crown Prince headed back to their offices. Their breaks were finally over, and it was time to continue their duties.
The only ones left in the garden were none other than the three princesses, Grey, and Yuna. Though there were only a few left of them, it didn't make their time together any less fun. They still enjoyed the afternoon happily, playing and chatting merrily.
"Ah, right... Grey, before we forget, shouldn't we give those?" ［Yuna］
"Oh, you're right. Just a moment please." ［Grey］
The princesses puzzled by their words, Grey took out item after item from his "Inventory" and placed them atop the garden table. Of course, they were the presents they just bought this morning, fresh from the gift store.
"Oh, these are...?" ［Natasha］
"They're just some gifts we bought just this morning." ［Grey］
Or so he says, but in no way could it be described as "some". There were too many gifts that Grey had to use at the nearby garden table so that he could display the gifts. Even then, it was also filled to the brim. It was only then did the two realize that they really went ham and bought too much.
Apart from the flowers, the garden was now full of colors from the presents Grey and Yuna bought. Each one was wrapped in beautiful and high-quality wrapping papers, skillfully wrapped to look the most presentable they could.
"Here, Iris, this is for you." ［Grey］
"A-Ah, thank you!" ［Iris］
Flustered from surprise, Iris gracefully accepted the gift from Greyー or rather, gifts. There wasn't just one, there were a few gifts to be found. There were a few accessories, a couple boxes of sweets, some stuff toys, dresses, and many more.
But what caught the Princess Royal's attention the most was the hairpin she saw by the corner of her eyes. It was wrapped in transparent wrapping, showcasing its artistic beauty. Though it was not riddled with gems, it was very beautiful.
"Hm? Would you like to wear this now?" ［Grey］
"Can I...?" ［Iris］
"Of course. Here, I'll help you put it on." ［Grey］
"Mmn... Thank you..." ［Iris］
Iris acting shy and bashful, she sat still as Grey put on the hairpin on her golden hair. As soon as Grey put it on, Iris' innocent appeal was enhanced even more, her beauty glowing even brighter. She really was her mother's daughter.
"Hahaha, I knew it. Our little Iris really does look good with it. I'm glad we chose this hairpin." ［Grey］
"See? What did I tell you? I knew Iris would look cute with it!" ［Yuna］
"Th-Thank you..." ［Iris］
Now, after receiving compliments from both Grey and Yuna, Iris became even more bashful. Though she acts mature in front of other people, in front of Grey and Yuna, she was but a little child they treat as their little sister.
After showing it to Grey and Yuna, she then headed to where the Crown Princess and Little Princess was, asking for their opinions. An even brighter and more beautiful smile beaming soon after.
"Then, now that Princess Iris is done, it's time for Princess Natalia's gift!" ［Yuna］
"Nalia, too?" ［Natalia］
"Of course! Who would forget our Little Princess?" ［Yuna］
"Waah～!" ［Natalia］
Smiles and giggles were afloat the place as the Little Princess received Grey and Yuna's gift. Though her smile was different from Iris', it made Grey and Yuna very happy nonetheless. It was just as precious.
Time passed and the sun soon set, the moon and stars taking over. They all had a wonderful dinner with each other, chatting and laughing merrily. Of course, they also gave away the presents while they had the chance, smiles blooming on everyone's faces.
And before Grey and Yuna went away, they promised to visit the Little Princess every week, to the latter's delight. It was yet another day full of accomplishments. One they would surely remember. A day full of precious memories.
CHAPTER 210 END