Isla Isvante was an introverted and timid girl. Because of her shy nature, she did not easily get along with others, and as a result, she maintained an attitude of stepping back from the princesses.
Moreover, since she was not the type to enjoy walking around outside, her taste was extremely static, and in the end, she had to dwell on the bitterness alone when she went to a banquet without making contact with any princess.
In truth, she also wanted to make friends, but her shyness and difficulty speaking in social situations only served to further isolate her.
But there was no problem. She didn't associate with others often, so she was out of public attention.
In the first place, she did not get involved with others, so she did not get involved in various incidents or accidents.
However, her somewhat peaceful but lonely situation changes.
That was, on the day Isla first set foot in the social world, a male aristocrat who had a crush on Isla appeared.
Isla was naive and timid, but at least she knew how to be considerate of others. The male aristocrat, who was attracted by that, was in a situation where, of course, he already had a fiancée.
What followed was obvious.
Isla didn't have much interest in the male aristocrat and rather rejected him out of fear, but the male aristocrat did not yield to her and continued to court Isla.
However, the fiancée of the male aristocrat, who was displeased with that, began to harass Isla, and eventually, the somewhat influential fiancée mobilized her close friends to vent her low feelings toward Isla.
Even if it seemed like no big deal to someone, it was a terrible day for Isla. To the point where she hated getting involved with people.
She didn't want to go to the banquet even more now, and she hated meeting with anyone. It made her afraid of people.
It was then that Isla met Adilun.
It was Adilun birthday banquet. Isvante, a minor noble in the north, had no choice but to attend her birthday banquet, and Isla met Adilun for the first time there.
Although others loathe and fear her scaly appearance, she had stood tall and behaved befitting a successor to Rodenov.
Isla was not afraid of Adilun's appearance and felt that her proud behavior was great.
Unfortunately for Isla, most of the northern nobles had already attended Afilun's birthday banquet, and of course, those who had been bothering her were also present.
Those who bullied Isla outside of everyone's eyes once again called her separately and harassed her. She couldn't even ask anyone for help, because she was a descendant of a powerless aristocratic family.
The aristocratic man who first wooed her turned his attention to another woman as if he had lost interest in her, but his fiancée still harassed Isla.
The bullying that started with anger as the driving force now had become a habit.
Just as she was serving as an outlet for the emotions of the princesses in the garden, Adilun appeared in front of her.
Adilun couldn't accept that someone would bully others at her birthday banquet.
She responded immediately. She hid Isla behind herself, kicked out the male aristocratic fiancée and the people who followed her and harassed Isla at the banquet, she also threatened them that if they touched Isla in the future, it would be regarded as touching Rodenov.
Only then was Isla freed from them, and she tried to say thank you to Adilun.
However, Isla, who was timid, ended up saying thank you and running away, so she missed the opportunity to make her first friend.
With that memory at that time, she decided that she shouldn't live like this, and tried to change herself little by little. Beginning with the practice of talking to the maids of the family first, a tearful effort was made over the years.
And finally, at this point, Isla, who had shed her timidity, attended this social gathering to thank Adilun for saving her and to ask if she could be a friend with her.
* * *
[Physis's POV]
It was a story that was sure to happen somewhere, but I nodded my head because Isla's attitude in telling the story was quite serious.
Indeed. I wondered how such a timid person could talk to me, but was there a steady effort?
"I guess that happened."
"Yes, yes. Princess Rodenov is a really nice person."
"But isn't it different now? What year did you say it was then?"
"It was three years ago."
"It is impossible to say that Adilun then and Adilun now are the same. Isn't it? Haven't you ever thought that as much as you have changed, Adilun must have changed too?"
"That, that… …"
Isla couldn't answer easily. And I kept pushing her.
"Perhaps now Adilun is not what you know. She suppressed me and even slapped me on the cheek, as you saw yesterday. Would such a person really remember Princess Isla?"
"… …"
Isla thought about it, then shook her head.
"No. She probably doesn't remember."
I said. I wanted to be honest, but I kept quiet because I had a duty to see Isla's reaction.
"But it doesn't matter. Because I came here to become friends with Princess Rodenov in the first place."
I could be sure by looking into her determined eyes.
That this girl really wanted to get to know Adilun.
So I nodded and said.
"Do as you please. Of course, don't think that I will change my mind about Adilun."
"… … Yes. Actually, I didn't think Sir Physis would change his mind. It's only natural because you were even slapped on the cheek by Princess Rodenov. But I just wanted to tell you that she is not such a bad person. Then I'll go see Princess Rodenov."
"Yes."
I nodded nonchalantly, but inside I was happy.
It was because I could tell without looking that Adilun would be happy in her room at night.
Come to think of it, I remember that Princess Lobelia also said that she would become Adilun's friend, but since National Foundation Day, we haven't had anything to meet… …It must be good for her just to have a friend who will be nearby right now.
Above all, Princess Lobelia was a little ambiguous to be a mere friend.
The relationship of being a pure friend without any intention was a law that gave people strength.
At this social gathering, I thought I would find a lot of people to weed out, but I never thought there would be such an unexpected harvest.
I looked at Isla as she walked towards Adilun. Isla looked at Adilun and was delighted to say thank you for helping her before, finally began able to say it.
Adilun treated her in a perplexed manner, perhaps unfamiliar with her friendly attitude, and then nodded happily when she cautiously asked if it was okay to be her friend.
By the time they were building friendships with each other, I was gradually grasping the inner thoughts of the nobles approaching me, and today's banquet was finally over.
.
.
.
.
At the end of the banquet, I talk to Adilun.
– Adilun.
-Yes?
– Yesterday, Adilun came to my room, so can I come over today? I felt like I had to tell you about a noble who figured out his intentions today.
-Uh, yes? Yes. Please. But how would you come?
-I'm good at hiding or infiltrating. I'll see if the time is right later and I'll find it through the window.
-If so… … okay.
As soon as Adilun gave permission, I went straight to my room, washed briefly, opened the window of my room, and started climbing the outer wall of the castle while changing into slightly simpler clothes.
Since most of the structure of the castle and rooms were already known, finding Adilun's room was not difficult. It wasn't even that far from my room in the first place.
Since it was already late at night, no one was looking at the castle, so I was able to reach Adilun's room smoothly.
Adilun had the window of the terrace wide open, probably expecting me to come. I jumped right into it.
"Adilun."
I called her name softly from the terrace.
However, when I didn't hear Adilun's answer, I went straight into her room, wondering if something serious had happened.
There was no one in the room.
'Did she didn't expect me to come this early?'
Just as I raised my voice and tried to find her, the door to the bathroom suddenly opened… … I saw Adilun wrapped in a towel.
"Uh?"
"Ah?"
We were frozen to each other, unable to say anything.