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Charalia Kingdom, Chairal Royal Capital. The Royal Castle—
The door to a guest room burst open, allowing the fresh morning air to fill the room.
“Alright, another day to feast to our heart’s content!”
Rafinha exclaimed, stretching her limbs with energy.
“You’re absolutely right. Days like these are rare, so let’s indulge while we can.”
Inglis replied, her smile matching Rafinha’s enthusiasm.
Every day, a celebration of the victory over the defeated Prisma in Arlman was held at the royal castle. The revival of the Prisma posed a significant national crisis. Therefore, its complete defeat was a triumph that would be recorded in history.
Members of the royal family and nobility from all corners of the country gathered in the royal capital for the celebration, and Inglis and Rafinha, being the key figures in the victory, were constantly dragged to banquets. They had been staying in a guest room at the royal castle for the past few days since they had no time to return to their dormitory rooms. While repeating the same lines and entertaining well-wishers became monotonous, the extravagant feasts at the banquets made up for it.
Now, should they begin their conquest of the meat dishes or venture into the realm of delectable fish cuisine? What a delightful problem to have indeed.
“Good morning. It seems like another day filled with good spirits,” Eris, standing just outside the guest room, greeted them with a soft smile, a departure from her usual demeanor. She had been waiting for Inglis and Rafinha to come out.
“Good morning,” Inglis and Rafinha responded with smiles. Rafinha, however, looked puzzled.
“Miss Eris, this is the third day you’ve visited us in a row… You must be really worried about Glis!” Rafinha exclaimed.
“I-I am… She was gravely injured, and I’m still concerned about any possible consequences from wielding me and Ripple,” Eris replied, her worry evident in her voice.
“Thank you for worrying about me, Miss Eris. But as you can see, I am fine, and there are no lingering effects. Please don’t worry,” Inglis reassured her.
“I understand that, but… Well, I can’t help it, you know. I’m sorry for imposing,” Eris said, her concern evident.
“That’s not—” Inglis began, but Rafinha interrupted.
“That’s not true! I’m happy to see your face every day, Miss Eris!” Rafinha exclaimed.
“A-are you now?” Eris responded, taken aback by Rafinha’s words.
Rafinha stepped forward, her momentum pushing Eris further.
“I am! You’re so beautiful, Miss Eris, and you seem much happier these days. Just seeing you brings me joy,” Rafinha expressed sincerely.
Rafinha’s carefree smile radiated brighter than anything Inglis had ever seen. She had a knack for observing people without making them uncomfortable and effortlessly forming connections with them. Inglis couldn’t have asked for a granddaughter she could be prouder of.
“I share the same opinion, Miss Eris,” Inglis affirmed.
“R-really? Thank you,” Eris responded, pleasantly surprised.
Indeed, Inglis had also noticed that Eris had been wearing a smile more often than before.
“Alright then, let’s meet up with Leone and the others!” Rafinha suggested.
“Yeah, let’s go,” Inglis agreed.
Leone and the rest of their friends were staying in the dormitory, and they had plans to attend the banquet that day.
After the battle in Alucard, Leon informed them that the town of Arlman was on the verge of becoming a battlefield. They rushed there immediately, but by the time they arrived, Inglis had already defeated the Prisma. However, they did arrive just in time to help clean up the remaining horde of Magic Stone Beasts, and they performed exceptionally well. Their battle merits were duly recognized.
Raphael had also regained consciousness during the battle, and he single-handedly destroyed the most Magic Stone Beasts.
The credit for defeating the Prisma was attributed to Inglis, the two Hyrule Menaces, Eris and Ripple, and Rafinha, who commanded them. Raphael, as the Holy Knight, received credit for destroying the most Magic Stone Beasts.
The credit was distributed fairly, and it did not jeopardize Raphael’s, Eris’, or Ripple’s positions. Inglis had initially wanted to defeat the Prisma alone, so it was unexpected for her to resort to wielding the Hyrule Menaces. However, in hindsight, it seemed like the best outcome had been achieved.
Furthermore, Leone, Liselotte, Lahti, and Pullum, despite being students of the Knight Academy, were also recognized for their exceptional achievements. The same applied to other key individuals such as Miliera, Silva, and Yua.
Leone was delighted to have had the opportunity to fight for and protect the city of Arlman. However, Lahti’s involvement in the war turned out to be surprisingly important. Although there may have been opposition to someone of his status leaving Alucard to join the battle, it held significant political implications for him to earn credits within Charalia’s borders. Ultimately, his actions were seen as a gesture of goodwill from Alucard towards Charalia.
Discussions about the ongoing relationship between Alucard and Charalia were bound to take place. At the very least, those who desired to maintain the status quo could use Lahti’s actions and achievements as a basis for advocating peaceful reconciliation between the two nations. In the end, Alucard changed its stance and cooperated in the fight against Prisma, utilizing its military assets or similar contributions.
It remained a mystery whether Lahti had contemplated these implications when he decided to transport Leone and Liselotte. Nevertheless, all Inglis could say was that things had turned out well.
“Alright then, Miss Eris. See you at the banquet,” Rafinha said.
“Yeah, have a good time. Although, it does bother me how you manage to eat so much every single day,” Eris responded.
“Oh, that’s right! Miss Eris, I just came up with a great idea!” Rafinha’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
“What’s wrong, Rani?” Inglis asked.
“Miss Eris, you always show up in your uniform even at the banquet! How about wearing a dress like us every once in a while?!” Rafinha suggested.
As Rafinha pointed out, both she and Inglis were attending the banquet in dresses, while Eris remained in her usual attire. It wasn’t particularly strange since it symbolized her chivalry and she looked good in it. However, Inglis had no objections to Rafinha’s desire to see Eris in a different outfit from time to time.
“Eeh…?! I-I’m fine, and this is what a Hyrule Menace is,” Eris protested.
“But it’s important for a girl to be fashion-conscious! I want to see you in a dress, Miss Eris! I’m sure you’ll be as pretty as Glis… Yup, yup!” Rafinha’s excitement grew.
“Rani really enjoys dressing people up. It would be a favor to me if you played along, Miss Eris,” Inglis added.
“But… I don’t want to be a spectacle,” Eris hesitated.
“Miss Eris, you’ve misunderstood. Dressing up isn’t about showing off to others; it’s about enjoying it yourself! That’s why I love dressing up. Let’s have fun together, okay?” Rafinha explained.
Eris looked troubled and needed a little more encouragement. Inglis decided to step in.
“While you are indeed a Hyrule Menace, I think it’s okay to have a little fun. At least, as long as I’m still around…” Inglis said.
“…You’re right. Okay then, I’ll do as you say,” Eris agreed reluctantly.
Before she could react, Rafinha grabbed her hand and exclaimed, “All right! Well done, Glis! Let’s go meet up with Leone and the others to have your dress fitted!”
“W-Wait a minute…!” Eris tried to protest, but…
“Strike while the iron is hot!” Inglis joined in and grabbed her other hand. The three of them dashed down the corridor of the royal castle.
And so, just moments before the banquet, in the dressing room of the royal castle…
“T-This is… I can’t show this to Ripple,” Eris muttered, standing in front of a full-length mirror. She wore a pale light blue dress chosen by Rafinha, with her hair tied up and adorned with a flower ornament.
“Wah~♪ I knew you wouldn’t lose to Glis, Miss Eris♪ How can I put it… you have such elegance, like a princess from a distant kingdom!” Rafinha praised enthusiastically.
“You’re right, she does!”
“What a sight to behold…”
Leone and Liselotte joined in, admiring Eris’ appearance. As younger students, they found Eris’ mature charm captivating.
Witnessing this heartwarming scene, Inglis couldn’t help but smile. When she looked at herself in the mirror, the reflection of a beautiful girl with a radiant smile stared back at her, as always.
“T-Thank you… and you did an excellent job with my hair,” Eris replied gratefully.
“Yeah! I got plenty of practice with Glis, you know! It’s a shame that Miss Ripple isn’t here to see it!” Rafinha’s voice trailed off, a hint of disappointment in her tone.
“No, it’s fine… If possible, let’s keep this a secret from her! I don’t want her to tease me about it,” Eris replied, expressing her hesitation.
Ripple, who had yet to return to the royal castle from Arlman to handle the aftermath of the battle, suddenly appeared at the door to the dressing room.
“Hm? Ya~hoo? Did someone call me?” Ripple’s curious voice rang out as she peered into the room.
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