Bonus Short Stories
Side: Theiamillis
To Theia, Koutarou was every bit as important a vassal as Ruth, but he was also much more than that. He was the man she had feelings for. As such, she wanted him to dote on her and look her way softly from time to time. But because of her stubborn personality, she couldn’t honestly admit that... which was the cause of her latest worries. Troubled, she turned to her childhood friend.
“Ruth, you were walking arm in arm with Koutarou the other day, weren’t you?”
“You saw, Your Highness?”
“Yes. I happened to spot you on my way back from buying an old game.”
“I’m sorry. I thought I was taking care not to attract any attention...”
Ruth bashfully shrunk back upon hearing Theia’s remark. She loved having her special moments with Koutarou, but was careful never to do anything that might be awkward for him or upset anyone else.
“That’s not the problem. What I want to know is how you manage to do it...”
Theia wanted to know how Ruth got Koutarou to walk arm in arm with her. It seemed so easy for her, but so impossible for Theia. That’s why she wanted Ruth’s secret.
“If you wish to do the same, Your Highness, all you have to do is ask Master yourself...”
“I’m asking you for advice precisely because I can’t do that. So please, Ruth, please tell me what to do.”
“Your Highness...”
Ruth cocked her head in puzzlement at Theia’s request. After pondering it for a moment, she realized there was at least one piece of advice she could give her princess.
“Your relationship with Master is normally more intense than mine, Your Highness.”
“Hmm... I can’t argue there.”
“So I think it would naturally be harder to set the mood for walking arm in arm together.”
“That’s a good point. As reliable as you are, he always takes you seriously... but it would only sound like I joke coming from me.”
“With that in mind, I think you should set your sights on discussing serious topics with him.”
“Serious topics, you say?”
“Yes, after discussing something serious, I believe Master would understand it’s no joke.”
“That very well may be true. Thinking back on it, it feels like it’s always been moments like those when the two of us have really bonded.”
“I think that you should try linking arms with Master without saying a word the next time he’s troubled or you thank him for something.”
“Okay, I’ll wait for my chance, then. Thank you, Ruth.”
Theia’s typical bright smile finally came back to her face. Seeing it, Ruth began smiling as well. She was quite satisfied to have offered an answer that helped her princess. But thinking about it, she realized she had a question for Theia too.
“Your Highness, may I ask you something as well?”
“What?”
“How might I get into a fistfight with Master?”
“...Are you serious?”
“Yes, of course.”
Ruth was worried that her relationship with Koutarou was too calm. She wanted to get physical with him, fight or try out wrestling moves with him like he did with Theia from time to time. She believed that Koutarou’s intensity with Theia was one of the ways he expressed his affection, and she wanted to experience it for herself.
“Your Highness, please teach me your ways.”
“You sure are an odd one... But the answer is simple. All you have to do is punch Koutarou for something.”
“I’m asking you for advice precisely because I can’t do that.”
“Fine. I suppose... How about we start with complaining about him?”
“Complaining about Master? But he has so few flaws...”
“Just give up here, Ruth. This is fundamentally impossible for you.”
“Please, Your Highness!”
If Ruth used the same stubbornness she was against Theia right now with Koutarou instead, he would eventually fight back. But innocent Ruth would never be able to do that. As such, Theia’s lesson really and truly was lost on her.
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