It was a clear day two days after my return home.
　I was visiting a city in Lamprog territory.

"Dear Seika. What's that over there?
It's the local cathedral.
Well, it's quite small. Then what's that over there?
Cartwright's.

　Yes, to my surprise, Fiona was with us.
　Incidentally, Amu and Glai are also behind us.

　Yesterday, Fiona suddenly said she wanted to go to see the city in the territory.
　It was fine, but she insisted on leaving all of her guards behind because she wouldn't be able to enjoy it if her soldiers were there.
　She was stopped by the maidservant she brought with her, who looked uncanny, but Fiona was also stubborn and eventually pushed through.
　After naming me, Glei, and Amu as the guide and bouncer.

''........''
....

　An awkward air is flowing between Gurai and Amu.
　Amu, who lost his own fight, and Glai, who is only aware that he was tangled up with someone he doesn't understand, seem to have nothing to say, though it's only natural, and the silence has been going on for a long time.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with your friends and family.

"Huh...

　I let out a small sigh so as not to be found out.

　It had been a long time since I'd been here, and this city seemed to have changed a bit.
　I had only visited it a handful of times before I went to the academy, but compared to that time, there were more buildings and it seemed to be somewhat more crowded.

''Brother Gurai. Was this place like this?
'Oh...?　Nope. It's been two years, it can change.

　Glei, who looked around, replied curtly.
　Maybe it means that Edith's management is doing well.

　As you walk towards the center of the city, the number of people on the street increases accordingly.

'Oh. You're in luck, the city is standing.

　Glei said as they came to a certain wide street.
　Both sides of the street were lined with various stalls and crowded with people.
　There were cloths and sundries, dried and salted preserves, livestock, monster ingredients and other miscellaneous goods, but there was also a delicious smell in the air from some places.

　It wasn't always like this, of course, so it seemed that Glei was right about the luck.

'Well,'

　Fiona says in a voice that I'm not sure if she's surprised or not.

'It's a huge crowd. We're going to get separated.'
No, not really.
Let's hold hands.

　Fiona ignores me cleanly and takes my hand in hers.
　She walked down the street in the middle of the city, looking like she was in a good mood.

I'm in a good mood. It's like a meeting like this, isn't it?
''Wait ... Your Highness is a man of position, so please don't say anything too seldom.
I don't mind. But for now there is no one to blame.

　Whispering that, the princess smiles at him.

　Hmm........why is she so excited, this person.
　It's hard to tell because his words and actions are not normal, but I feel like he's unnaturally excited.

　The actual Princess of Wales is looking around at the surrounding shops as she scurries around.
　I don't know if it's interesting to see a market in such a small town.
　The gaze is also somewhat clerical.

''........Are you having fun?　Your Highness.
Of course. Of course, you don't get to see the lives of ordinary people in this way very often. In exchange for my position, I have no freedom.
I know, but I have heard that in the Imperial City, you often came down to the streets and spoke with the residents of the city.
....
Besides, it was His Highness who started the tour of the region, wasn't it? Didn't you have plenty of opportunities to see larger cities than this one?
....
...Uh, Your Highness?
Uh-huh.....

　Fiona, who had a hollow smile on her face, suddenly turned to one of the stalls and said

'I'd love to have that one, Glei. Go get some.

　It smelled good, apparently, like a spit-roasting stall.

　Glai, who had been ordered to buy them, went to buy them with a look of disapproval.
　Shortly after, he returns with four skewers in his hand, and hands one of them to Fiona, who then offers it to me.

　Then he offers it to me.

...Huh?
Yeah, I'm not. Just take it.

　I said bluntly.
　As I accepted the skewer, I was a little impressed.


I don't think you're going to take this on... you know, you're going to take it on.

　And then he offered Amu a skewer as well.
　She took it with a gesture.

''Ah, thanks...''
That's pretty good.

　Fiona, who had apparently already finished eating, said as she handed the trashed skewer back to Grye.
　Glai responds to it with half an eye.

''I'll charge you for it when we return to the mansion.
Well, little man.

　With Fiona's encouragement in the background, I also took a bite of the skewered meat.
　It's not bad, but it tastes a little too salty.

"It's delicious, Lady Seika.

　I'm surprised to see Fiona come up to me with a smile all of a sudden.

Well, no, you said it was all right...
It's delicious.
Huh, huh...
Uh-huh.

　He walked through the city as Fiona took him by the hand.
　So far, no problems have occurred.......but Fiona's appearance seemed to attract people's attention.

''....As I thought, she's standing out.

　As expected of her, she said it in a slightly concerned manner.
　But it's not unreasonable.

　Although she was a burglar, no matter how famous Fiona was, it was unlikely that anyone would know the face of an imperial princess in such a rural area.
　However, the problem was her appearance.......a girl with long, beautiful hair hanging down like Fiona's was a rarity in this area.
　The clothes seemed to have been worn by the common people, but they only came out as if they were halfway out of a samurai's office, so they were still intact from the head up.
　It's also the color of your hair that is so unusual, it can't help but catch people's attention.

The fact is, you can't help it now.

　Fiona muttered quietly as she looked at the town girl who had tied her hair up.
　Hmmm, I wish I could do something about it, but....

　I look around the city with that in mind, while Her Highness continues onward without a care in the world.
　When I reached the end of the street, she suddenly stopped and muttered to me, "A man and a woman are getting closer.

'How can a man and a woman become close to each other?
....
Come to think of it, I didn't know what to think.

　I start to say something again, out of the blue.
　I ask Fiona on behalf of everyone else who is having trouble reacting.

Are you having trouble with your fiancé?
Oh, there's no such thing. Not yet. Mm-hmm.
Then what are you...?
I'm talking to the public.

　The Princess muttered euphemistically.

''How close are the others...?''
It's just that we usually meet and talk about it a lot and...
Isn't there something that could bring us closer together in an instant?
....

　What was so convenient about that........
　She's in a position, there will be many situations where she will have to interact with important people. Maybe this topic is just that kind of sincere concern.

'In stories and such, we often save or save lives and become close to each other, but...
What? You're going to go that far...?
I think it's there.

　And for some reason, Amu suddenly bites into the subject.
　He explains to Fiona, who turns around and looks eager.

''You hear stories like that a lot among adventurers. The one where they beat up a thug or save him from a monster, and then they get into a love affair.''
'Well. Is that not an unusual occurrence?
Maybe all the time. It's not uncommon for friends to become lovers in the course of their adventures, and that's what happens to people when they are saved or rescued in a pinch. On the other hand, if you get into a dispute with someone, it can lead to a knife fight.
It's interesting.

　The two of them get excited, and I try to give them a subtle look.

"No, that's not...
I'm not going to...

　The timing of the conversation with Glai coincides, and we both keep our mouths shut.
　Amu glares at us quizzically.

What's up with you guys? Do you have something to say?
No....

　In fact, it's not often that you get into a romantic relationship with someone just because you saved them from a dangerous situation.
　It might be a good start, but if he's already with someone or not your favorite, he won't even be interested in you, he'll just thank you and that's it.

　I wanted to tell you about this lesson from my previous life, but it's a little difficult to explain, so I'll keep my mouth shut.
　Gurai also kept his mouth shut.

'....What's the matter with you brothers? I don't mean to sound crazy, but we didn't say anything crazy. We were the same way.
.......................Heh?

　I couldn't help but shout out in confusion.
　Amu, who was flabbergasted by everyone's gaze, blushed and made a panicked excuse.

''Nah, I didn't mean it in a weird way!　I mean, that underground dungeon is what got us talking!
Oh, yeah, that kind of...

　That was a surprise.

In my case, I've overcome obstacles on my own.

　Fiona says in a slightly more genuine tone.

'I've always wished someone could help me. That kind of thing makes me long for it, a little bit.
Right?　I understand.
In your case, I'd rather be the one to help.
It's annoying, but it's okay.　You've just been saying things you don't want to hear.

　Sorry..........
　I mean, Amu was a bit like Yifa too. I didn't expect it.

"Mm-hmm.

　Fiona, who had been smiling euphemistically, suddenly turned her attention toward the center of the city.

'Oh, I'd like to go over there,'

　As soon as he said it, he pulled my hand away and started walking.
　The topic of the mystery ended abruptly in this way.