"Nice little garden!"

Ed whispered a smuffy whisper in Naria's ear, making Naria want nothing more than to slap him against the wall.

But she couldn't—not when Behring nervously apologized to them all the way, his face full of guilt as if he had done something unforgivably wrong.

It's just a matter of meeting a few imps!Narya?Kavo isn't even afraid of the undead, so of course she can handle this!

She had a smile on her face, and her men pinched Ed desperately, and the smile grew brighter as he grinned but didn't dare to scream.

"Prince Sercio loves his sisters very much, and I can't say no......"

In front of them, Behring, who was walking side by side with Allen, was explaining for the thousandth time and seemed ready to apologize for the thousandth time. He was the chief of the guard of Celsio, the crown prince of Anktan, and when he was on his way to take leave of the prince, he met the two little princesses who were also there, and the older princess seemed to like Belin very much, and refused to let him go anyway, in desperation, Sercio asked his chief of guard, "Can you bring your friends to sit with us?" I would also like to hear some stories from the South. ”

This is indeed a difficult request to refuse, not to mention the fact that it comes from a "prince highness" who has been described by Behring as intelligent and humble, approachable and well-informed.

In any case, the interior of the Black Castle is not as serious and old-fashioned as it seems from the outside, with black and white corridors connecting the dots, breaking the suffocating dullness. And after passing through a few corridors, the small garden in front of them is indeed "beautiful". However, in such a warm and cold early spring, the flowers in the flower beds seem to be too fresh, and it is likely that the gardeners carefully transplanted them from the greenhouse early in the morning.

Behring led them into a warm and delicate little room. On one side facing the garden were large floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing the room to enjoy the beauty of the garden without allowing the wind and sun to damage the delicate skin of the princes and princesses—and Nalya couldn't help but sneer, realizing that she instinctively couldn't like any prince and princess. It must have been Alan's fault, and in the stories he told her, the princes and princesses seemed to be screaming and crying forever and waiting for the poor-born heroes to come to their rescue.

This is prejudice!—Naria admonished herself solemnly. People also say that dragons are evil, and as the sister of a dragon, she should not be prejudiced.

As Behring humbly introduced his "friends from the South" to the little imps sitting in front of the window. She managed to keep the smile on her face.

Prince Sercio does seem to be a good boy. He was only about eleven or twelve years old, but his expression was much older than his age. The curly blonde hair parted in the middle, revealing a face that was upright and pale, somewhat lacking in vitality.

But his smile was sincere, and he even noticed that Alan had trouble walking. Thoughtfully and softly, he instructed the attendant to move the chair to Alan's side.

"Why don't they get down on their knees?"

A shrill little girl's voice made Naria's otherwise gentle smile freeze on her face.

It was Macaderin, a little princess of about eight years old, with blonde hair like Sercio, tied into two beautiful pigtails that hung long down her chest. Naria admits that she is extremely cute, and her plump cheeks look much more energetic than her brother's, but her face is full of arrogance, and when she looks at Naria, there is even a clear hostility in her blue-green eyes.

This is inexplicable and unreasonable!

Naria's eyebrows began to wrinkle. Ed tugged at her arm just in time, but it was probably Behring's face that made Narya take a deep breath and silently say in her heart that she was patient.

"They're friends with Behring. And he's not an Ankhtan, so there's no need to kneel and salute. Sergio patiently explained.

"But this is Anktan, and I'm the princess!"

Macadeline lifted her chin proudly.

"Of course, Your Royal Highness the Princess. Before Alan could sit down, Alan bowed slightly, and Naria never knew that he could speak in such a humble tone: "But alas, the demon took my leg, and I can't make the wood bend for you." ”

Naria vaguely felt that there was irony in this sentence. But the little princess's attention was quickly taken away by that terrible word.

"Demon!" her eyes widened, not knowing whether she was more excited or scared. Lian has been lying on the table and working on coloring the silver plate with jam. Vera, the other little princess, who had not even looked up at them, also raised her head at this moment, happily slapped the table with her hands, and screamed, "Demon!

The high-pitched and loud voice of a two- or three-year-old girl would definitely make even the real demons shy away.

Madame de Brey, who was in charge of taking care of the little princess, began to wipe Vera's hands with a nonchalant expression, probably accustomed to such a scene.

"Tell me!" Makadeline commanded, "what does that demon look like? Does it have long crooked horns and a forked tongue? Why didn't it eat you? Oh, I know, it must be because he tasted your legs and thought you were too unpalatable!"

Narya stared at the ground so that she wouldn't really rush over and pick up Her Royal Highness and throw her into the pigsty - then again, there was no pigsty in the palace.

"As you say, Your Highness. "But I shouldn't tell you those terrible stories, it's not at all suitable for a beautiful princess like you." ”

"I'm brave too, so I'm not afraid of any demons!" Makaderine straightened her back proudly.

"Of course, of course. Alan responded casually, casting an inquiring glance at Behring, who looked at Sercio hesitantly. Sercio nodded helplessly: "I think it must be a wonderful story." ”

The sun shone through the glass window on his face, but he looked very tired, and even pressed the corner of his forehead like a headache.

There are unlucky brothers in this world, but there are also unlucky brothers.

Naria thought about it, and was suddenly full of sympathy for His Royal Highness the Prince.

Allen's story is pure nonsense. But even Ed listened intently, and Naria just wanted to roll her eyes.

She had only recently learned how her father had lost a leg, or if it was because the iron ring in Is's hand couldn't hide it from her. And they also need to watch out for Lydia, which Eren had to tell her.

"An accident. ”

He'd always said it so lightly.

But Naria remembers her shock and sadness, and Alan's depression. She didn't like it at all when Alan covered it all up with a fake, ridiculous story, but she couldn't stop it, so she could only try to hide herself behind Ed, so as not to inexplicably anger the difficult little princess.

Behring looked at her frequently. His face was full of apologies, apparently noticing her displeasure. She could only barely smile back.

At the end of the story of "the lazy adventurer who loves to wake up the demon with a purr", another uninvited guest is welcomed into the small room.

"It's so lively. ”

The voice from behind Narya was smiling, but the slow tone was a little arrogant.

"The Queen Mother. Sercio cried softly and stood up respectfully. "Behring's friends are telling us stories. ”

Naria stood up, and before she could see the queen's face, she had to bow her head and bow casually with Alan, secretly hoping that the queen did not have the same penchant for making people kneel as her daughter.

Anktan's queen, Kezia Dejury, was a pure blonde beauty, and she looked very young, with long, slender blue-green eyes and plump lips, and a peacock-blue dress that changed color in the sunlight, showing off her snow-white skin.

Kazia glanced faintly at the stranger in front of her, but spoke to Ed first.

"You're a nobleman?" she asked.

Of the three, only Ed was decent when he saluted her.

Ed was stunned for a moment before replying, "My mother is ...... Walla of the House of Chrysus. ”

The queen nodded casually: "Ah, an old family. ”

Before Ed could speak. She was already smiling and turned to Behring, "This is the first time you've brought a friend into Blackcastle, and I told you that your friend is a friend of Sercio's. But you're always too restrained...... Or is there something special about these friends?"

Her gaze fell on Naria, "What's your name?"

It took a moment for Narya to realize that it was asking her.

"Naria. She replied, "Naria, Kavo." ”

She glanced at Behring, bowed her head, and reluctantly added, "Your Majesty, Honorable Queen."

"Cute girl...... You like her?" Kazia turned to Behring again.

The young man's face turned pale and he blurted out, "No......! We only met for the first time today. He seemed anxious to get rid of something, much to Naria's involuntary displeasure.

"Oh. It's a shame, I like this girl. Kazia sighed regretfully.

――I can't see it!

Naria thought angrily.

"So be it. Her Majesty smiled and took Naria's hand. "Six days from now it's Trine's Day, Naria Kavo......"

She looked at Alan.

"Alan Kavo, Naria's father, Your Majesty. Alan lowered his head, well hiding the expression on his face.

"Alan. Kazia nodded, "And you, the ...... of the Chrysus family"

"Ed. Ed smiled, not explaining that his surname was Singhal and not Chrisses, knowing full well that it meant nothing to Her Majesty the Queen.

"Ed. I invite you to come to Blackcastle in six days for the feast of Trinne's Day. ”

It sounded more like an order, and Alan knew that they couldn't refuse.

"It is our pleasure, Your Majesty. ”

He calmly maintained his manners.

"And, Behring, I really wish I could see my mother at the feast. Poor Selene, we are all grieving for Bane's death, but she can't keep herself locked up in the castle like this. ”

There seemed to be sympathy and thoughtfulness in Kezia's tone, and Behring could only reply in a low voice:

"Of course, Your Majesty. ”.

When they were sent out of Black Castle, Behring began his thousandth and first apology.

"You don't have to attend the banquet, I'll tell Her Majesty the Queen......"

"Oh no, of course we'll come. Naria said.

Behring looked at him with some blankness. He could tell that these people were not at all interested in any court banquets, especially Naria, and on several occasions he was worried that the black-haired girl would not be able to bear to turn around and leave.

"I've always wanted to know what they eat every day in the palace. Naria raised her head and smiled at him, "You can't let me pass up such a rare opportunity!"

Alan smiled and said nothing, he didn't find it strange at all.

(To be continued)