Moist emerald eyes, drops of sweat running down the valley, white belly exposed to defenselessness.
Fascinated by everything Isabella sees, I reach out to pull her in lightly.
"Wow~, beautiful sea~"
「!?」
Just as I was about to touch her soft breasts, I looked up as if I had been played by the voice of an intruder who could be heard faintly on the wind.
When I looked around, I saw a group of people who had appeared on the beach where there was no one else and were heading towards us.
They don't seem to be aware of our existence because of the distance, but it's only a matter of time.
"Ainss"
Anyway, it tastes bad as it is.
Immediately switching my consciousness, I detached myself from Miss Isabella and summoned Einsto assess the situation.
Wasn't this place only usable by some people in the first place?
"I'm sorry Crow, but a group led by Prince Albert is currently heading towards us."
"What!?"
And when I heard Eins' report that appeared in response to the call, I was involuntarily dizzy.
It is true that this beach can only be used by a very small number of high-ranking nobles, and conversely, anyone who is part of it can use it.
For example, royalty is just that.
(More than that, why did the young Ojou come...)
Maybe it's a coincidence, but the timing is so bad that I don't like it.
If I had known in advance, I might have been able to deal with it, but yesterday there were various problems, so I didn't have time to gather information on how to deal with them.
Originally, this trip was decided so suddenly that only a few subordinates were brought with them, and I can't blame Eins and the others.
But I don't think the harmful effects will come out in such a place.
"Ojou"
Anyway, I can't let a Ojou-sama in such a state stand out to the public.
I put my hand on the cheek of the Ojou-sama, who still has a dumbfounded expression, and call out.
"Hmm..., Crow? Don't you touch it?"
"Mmmm...!"
(Oh, oh..., cute konchikusho!) ）
Koten tilts his head and is shocked as if he was hit on the head by a Ojou-sama who asks in a sweet voice as if expecting, but he grits his teeth and manages to use his reason.
I shed tears of blood in my heart when I was entrusted with the feast in front of me, but now I have to do what I have to do first.
"Sorry, this is not the case now, Prince Albert and others are currently on this beach."
"What, haa Why are Your Highnesses in such a place!"
She stared at me curiously for a while, but after a while, the Ojou-sama seemed to have caught up with her understanding, and the light of reason returned to her eyes.
The Ojou-sama immediately tried to jump out of the beach chair, but at the beat of that, her swimsuit almost fell off, and she hurriedly sat down with her hands on her chest.
"Ask him about that, anyway, I can't go in front of His Highness dressed like that. I'll take care of them to buy you time, so in the meantime, the Ojou-sama should get dressed."
"Oh, I see..."
With her chest suppressed, the Ojou-sama looked down at her disheveled figure and nodded slightly, her cheeks turning red as if she understood her condition again.
"This is Prince Albert, it's a coincidence that we would meet in a place like this."
Anyway, we have to make sure that the princes don't notice the Ojou-sama.
I swiftly made my way to the princes and stood in front of them to block their path.
"You were Isabella's butler, what is it for?"
A group of men, including the prince, are alarmed by my sudden appearance and try to protect Maria, who was with me.
Even if I don't do that, it doesn't make sense because I'm not interested in anything other than the Ojou-sama.
However, they won't listen to me if I tell them to reassure me.
"I'll check first, but are you sure that your highness and others have come to visit this beach?"
"I guess so."
We are trying to respond politely in order not to make things rough, but the prince has an intimidating attitude towards us.
"I'm sorry, but the Ojou-sama is using it from here on, so your highness and others should use another place."
"Why should we ask that?"
"That's what I'm asking you to bend."
As he lowers his head, he realizes that his face contorts at the prince's demeanor.
That's why I don't want to deal with guys with status.
In most cases, they are made to listen to what they say with their status and money, but they can't help but be uselessly troublesome.
"Hey, what are you talking about... Oh, Mr. Crow!"
As I desperately endured my anger, an even more nasty woman interrupted the conversation.
"Maria, go down."
"Why? I'm not just talking."
"That's..."
The prince also wonders if he can't come out strongly against Miss Maria, but accepts what he says quietly and withdraws.
No, try a little harder.
Don't let me deal with this woman.
"It's been a while, Crow! I wonder if it's a swimsuit I bought in the city, does it look good?"
In vain, Miss Maria comes out in front of me and turns on the spot to show off her swimsuit.
When I look at it, I honestly don't care about it, and more to the point, I don't find it appealing at all.
I felt that way because I had seen the Ojou-sama in a wonderful swimsuit just before, and I even felt pain at being shown such a thing.
"Long time no see, Maria-sama.
"Ehehe, good-"
"Giri...!"
However, to be honest with her, I can see that the Knight who is staring at me behind her is noisy.
If you praise them unavoidably, they will be glared at by men, and they will tell you what to do.
"Yes, Crow will play with you!"
"Maria!"
As I was thinking about such things and looking away, Miss Maria suddenly made a ridiculous proposal.
Albert hurriedly stops this.
I don't want to do that, because I'm so sad that I have to be with these guys until I cut down on my time with the Ojou-sama.
"No, it's probably more fun to play together."
"Ugh..."
"No, Maria, I——"
"Will you please not recruit my servants without permission?"
Prince Albert fell so easily, and out of a sense of crisis, I tried to refuse Maria's invitation, but my words were stopped by a familiar voice from behind.
"Ojou!"
"Isabella! How are you?!"
Prince Albert tries to bite the Ojou-sama who appears from behind, but his words are interrupted and he freezes.
"What is your Highness?"
"What are you dressed in!"
The Ojou-sama tilted her head curiously, and the prince was clearly upset with his face bright red.
If you look at it, not only the prince but also the men who have become Maria's entourage are all blushing at the appearance of the Ojou-sama to varying degrees.
Since the country basically prohibits impure sexual intercourse, it is not uncommon for men of the average aristocracy to have no experience with women until they marry.
The princes in front of me are probably too.
For such a virgin, the sight of a Ojou-sama generously exposing her beautiful limbs that are usually hidden under her clothes must be too stimulating.
"After all, it's the sea, so it's natural to wear a swimsuit, right?"
"Oh, I know that!"
The prince is so stunned that he can't even refute where his usual power has gone to the Ojou-sama, who doesn't even try to hide her body with pride.
Only this time, the Ojou-sama will have the upper hand.
(I don't like it)
However, when I was shown such a scene, I felt like sticky sludge.
It was a feeling for the Ojou-sama who was generously showing me in a swimsuit that had been only for me before, and it was also a feeling for the guys who were looking at it without hesitation.
It's ugly possessiveness.
I know that very well.
The Ojou-sama is not mine by nature, and I am not qualified to think about it.
More to the point, it is a natural right for the prince to see the skin of his fiancée, the Ojou-sama.
But still...
"Ojou-sama, leave this to me."
"Huh? Oh, yes..."
In frustration, he forcibly grabs the Ojou-sama's arm and hides it behind him so as to escape the gaze of both men.
Then, he turned to Miss Maria, who was the only one staring at the Ojou-sama here.
"I'm sorry Maria, but I will refuse the invitation because I have to take care of the Ojou-sama."
I'm tired of working all the time!"
Perhaps realizing the difference in class when she saw the Ojou-sama in a swimsuit, Maria looked very impatient and tried to recruit me.
I couldn't contain my irritation from earlier at that reaction, and I almost clicked my tongue.
"Apparently you don't understand, so I'll tell you clearly, it's annoying."
"Whoa!"
"I am obeying the Ojou-sama as I want, and serving her is my greatest pleasure. Please don't disturb it with your own assumptions?"
"It's so terrible...!"
I never thought I would be rejected so strongly, but Maria was terribly upset by my words, and even tears welled up in her eyes.
I should have done this from the beginning.
That would have saved me extra time, but I wasted a lot of time.
"You! Maria is inviting you, but what the hell is that saying!"
Maria's tears may have restored her original tone, but this time Prince Albert approached us with a rough voice.
Troublesome again....
You have to know if you want me and Miss Maria closer or apart.
"Your Highness, may I have a moment?"
"What...?"
"Okay, listen a little."
"Ugh...!"
To be honest, I was already full of desire to end this conversation, so I forcibly put my arms around Prince Albert's neck and decided to negotiate a secret conversation.
"Is it correct to recognize that His Highness has a fondness for Maria-sama?"
"Why would you do that...!?"
Why did he take such a bold approach that he didn't think the people around him would notice?
No, it's more than that now.
"That's fine now, you just like Maria-sama, don't you?"
"Oh, uh..."
"I have a lot to say about the fact that I have a fiancé called a Ojou-sama and that I am lying to other women, but let's leave that aside, are you sure you want me to be close to her?"
"What do you mean?"
If you're serious, you're a laughing stock.
This is the future king of this country, and I'm really worried about the future.
"As far as I can see, Maria-sama seems to be quite a transitional person, so what would happen if I brought my new opposite sex close to her?"
"That's..."
Maria herself seems to be enjoying the reverse harem, but this situation cannot continue indefinitely.
Right now, they're rivals competing with each other to get Maria at the end.
It would be undesirable for the prince to have more new rivals.
"If I were by Maria's side and she became interested in me, your Highness wouldn't like it either, would you? Besides, I just want her to feel at home. Can't we make this a form of non-interference for each other's sake?"
"Oh, yes... If that's the case, it can't be helped."
"Well, I'm glad you understood."
When the negotiations are successfully completed, he releases the prince with a smile.
When I saw that the prince had just begun to comfort Maria, I turned to the Ojou-sama.
"The story is over, Ojou-sama, shall we go?"
"Uh, hey..."
I grabbed the confused Ojou-sama's hand and left the princes behind and went back to the beach where they had been.
"Hmm..."
After safely negotiating with the princes, it would be nice to return to the original place, but the Ojou-sama who had been in a good mood until earlier completely bent her navel because of the appearance of Miss Maria.
The Ojou-sama is still kneeling on the beach chair she has prepared, staring at Maria and the others who are frolicking in the distance.
"Please fix your mood, Ojou-sama."
"No, I'm as usual."
"Uh..."
I think it's impossible to leave a sullen aura wafting from the whole body.
However, it is not good to leave it like this indefinitely.
Is there anything I can do to change my mood?
"Yes, I've come to the sea, and why don't you swim too? If you move your body, you will feel better."
"I hate it."
"Immediate answer!?"
I thought it would be perfect to exercise for a change of pace, but the Ojou-sama immediately rejected it.
Isn't it worth a thought!?
"Why do I have to do that, it's tiring, it's dirty, it's absolutely disgusting!"
"Oh, Ojou-sama...?"
It was a Ojou-sama who spoke quickly as it was, but I felt a slight discomfort in her appearance.
It's usual for young ladies to say selfishness, but not this time.
I feel like I'm trying to hide something.
Something you want to hide...
Judging by the Ojou-sama's personality, the current conversation, and this situation...
"Can't you swim, Ojou-sama?"
"!?!?--
There was no confirmation, but when I mentioned the possibility that I had come up with, the Ojou-sama hardened in an easy-to-understand manner.
"Oh..."
Apparently, he arrived at the correct answer in one shot.
Come to think of it, even if I remember it, I have never seen a Ojou-sama swimming.
He said it had been a long time since he had been to this city, and since he doesn't have the opportunity to swim anywhere else, it's kind of natural.
Of course you can swim, you have to swim!"
I don't think you have to worry about it, but as a Ojou-sama who strives for perfection, she will never admit that she can't swim.
Especially since I've seen Maria swimming over there.
「... What, those eyes?"
"No, it's nothing."
He glares at me with half an eye, but I don't make a fool of her.
In other words, I only think that a Ojou-sama who can't swim but is forced to be strong is cute.
"You think I can't swim, okay? There's nothing I can't do! If you say that, I'll prove it here and now!"
"Whaa
Needless to say, the Ojou-sama threw the pareo at us and charged into the sea at explosive speed while rolling up the sand on the surrounding beach.
Moreover, the view was obstructed by the rolled up dust, making it completely impossible to see the surroundings.
That's all I can do! Do you understand?"
When the dust subsided and my vision opened, I saw my beloved Ojou-sama swimming in a strange way that made the dog paddle even worse.
Rather than swimming, I think it's more accurate to force your limbs to flap and float somehow.
If you do it that way, you will quickly run out of energy.
"Ahh That's about it! Oh——"
"Oh, Ojou-sama!?"
Sure enough, the Ojou-sama who was struggling with Jijiba as she was worried suddenly raised a small voice and stiffened.
As it was, the Ojou-sama was swallowed up by the waves and disappeared, and I jumped into the sea screaming.
"Uh... Well... Are you alright, Ojou-sama?"
I managed to retrieve the drowned Ojou and returned to the shore, checking on the Ojou-sama who was lying next to me.
Since they were swimming near the shore, it is fortunate that rescue was made in time.
I let out the water I drank earlier, and my breathing is steady.
For the time being, it's a relief.
「... Wow."
"Ojou?"
I can't swim! Bad!? I can't help it, I've never done it! Okay, I can't swim! You can usually fly with magic, so why bother doing such an unproductive and useless act! I don't know what you mean! Isn't it Bakka!?"
Perhaps to disguise the embarrassment of exposing the stranger, the Ojou-sama suddenly began to scream like a spoiled child.
If you have the energy to make this much noise, you'll probably be fine.
"Oh, Ojou-sama, calm down, no one will blame her for that."
"What about Crow who says that!"
「... What!?"
As I appeased the Ojou-sama who was screaming, the brunt of her anger turned to me.
Look, I'll take a look, so swim!"
"Hey, I'm going! Don't push it, whoa!?"
By the time I thought it was unpleasant, it was too late, and a smiling Ojou-sama pushed me on my back and plunged headfirst into the cold sea.
"But what if I was told to swim..."
I cooled down a little after getting water over my head, but what should I do?
Of course, I've never swam...
No, no, I was crazy to help the Ojou-sama earlier, but how did I help her in the first place?
"Certainly, at that time..."
If you move your body by relying on the sensations that remain in your body, you will gradually remember various things about how to swim correctly.
Based on the knowledge in memory, the movement of the body that scrapes water is corrected, and the resistance of water is reduced more accurately and without waste.
(Oh..., for the first time, the knowledge of a previous life came in handy)
Come to think of it, I had almost forgotten about it, but I had experienced it once in my life.
To be honest, I thought it was a memory that I couldn't use, but I have memories of a world where civilization is developing in vain.
Long live compulsory education.
"Are you sure it's like this?"
After swimming and satisfied, I went up the sea and returned to the Ojou-sama.
I feel good after swimming for the first time in a long time.
I feel that the haze in my heart that remained until earlier has cleared.
"Hmph!"
"Gubo!?"
But what greeted me was a merciless body blow.
A sharp right hook that I could not imagine from a delicate arm accurately caught my abdomen, and I was in agony from the impact.
"Say that from the beginning if you can, are you making fun of me?"
"No... That's never going to happen..."
The Ojou-sama looks down coldly at me holding my stomach and kicking me, telling me to throw up.
I didn't mean to make a fool of myself, but considering the situation, it's understandable to think so.
"Oh, you're always making fun of me, it's annoying!"
Aa
If you can't, you can do it. I'll teach you, so let's work together."
Anyway, in order to reassure the Ojou-sama, I hold both hands and look straight into her eyes.
In fact, the Ojou-sama just doesn't know how to swim, and her motor nerves are not so bad.
If you teach them correctly, you will be able to swim well.
If you can't, I won't know."
"It's okay, I'm sure the Ojou-sama can do it."
"Hmph. Look, I'm going."
"Yes, Ojou-sama."
As if she was convinced, the Ojou-sama turned away and started walking with my hand.
Feeling the soft touch of their connected hands, I slowly followed.
Great Boundary
A barrier stretched over towns that are particularly heavily damaged by monsters, such as the city of Mare.
By using enormous magical power and catalysts, even large monsters are strong enough to penetrate inside.
However, from the viewpoint of maintaining the barrier, it is only prevented against powerful monsters, and weak monsters invade normally.
For this reason, the Knights regularly patrol and exterminate them.
However, in the rare case of a leak...