Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 5 Episode 3 (section)

===Part 10===

A few minutes later. Lux slipped out of the crowd, received permission from the security guard of the castle gate, and entered inside the castle.

Inside the private room he was allowed to enter, Lisha in a dress appearance was sitting.

「I’m sorry to make you wait, Lisha-sama.」

「Yo, you’re slow, geez. To make a princess wait, your awareness as my knight is lacking.」

「I’m sorry……wait, eh? What’s the matter?」

Lisha usually would puff out her chest self-assuredly, but seeing her vaguely looking discomposed made Lux tilt his head in puzzlement.

When he looked really carefully, her hands and knees were trembling slightly.

「Wha, what? I’m feeling nervous, so this can’t be helped.」

「No, I too understand Lisha-sama’s feeling.」

When Lux smiled wryly, Lisha slightly looked down while making a self-mocking smile.

「That…… even I understand it already. I should just act like myself without getting too worked up. I know that much. But──」

From the circumstance where she was once abandoned by her real father, the great man Count Atismata, Lisha thought that she had no qualifications as princess.

Even so Lisha did her best every day, trying to become the princess of the New Kingdom that could be recognized by everyone.

That was why Lux gently took the hand of that girl who he respected and loved.

「Ah……」

「It’ll be fine. Because I know, more than anyone, that Lisha-sama is worthy as the princess of the New Kingdom──」

「……I see. If you say that, then that must be true.」

Seeing Lux smile, Lisha nodded a little with a dazed expression.

Her cheeks were dyed slightly red.

「Then──for now, can you hold my hand just for a bit?」

「Yes. By your will.」

A quiet time with just the two of them flowed for only ten-odd seconds.

Right after that, the speech time arrived.

 

At the same time when the spirit statue entered inside the castle, Lisha showed her face from the second floor balcony inside the castle.

「Everyone. You did well to gather here on this night! With gratitude that the country founding anniversary has been carried out safely this time, allow this me who is the princess of the New Kingdom to speak the concluding speech.」

Perhaps because of the quiet night, Lisha’s voice transmitted well through the grounds inside the castle.

「I hate a long talk so I’ll get to the point. That the New Kingdom could reach until this far is thanks to the cooperation of you, the people. My gratitude for that. ──And then, regarding the future, allow me to speak about my thoughts for a bit.」

The people who was energized by the lingering heat of the festival listened carefully with serious expressions.

「Today, I choose my exclusive knight. He will become my right-hand man, who will accompany me from here on through my various duties as my guard and aide. That man is──this guy.」

The moment Lisha pointed her hand, Lux walked to her side, illuminated by the torch fire behind.

And then, the people who saw that stiffened with shock on their faces. Commotion ensued.

「O, oi. That person, could that be the Chore Prince?」

「Recently he wasn’t in the capital but, so this is why……?」

「The Old Empire’s──criminal」

Unrest spread through the people like a ripple, but Lisha didn’t pay it any mind and declared.

「Just as everyone is aware of, he is the former prince of the old Arcadia Empire. Lux Arcadia.」

Right after that, an even bigger ripple spread through the gathered people.

That was only natural.

The evil source that governed tyrannically for a long time and created the custom of chauvinism.

And now the princess of the New Kingdom Atismata that destroyed all that under the name of justice was choosing the former prince who should be an enemy as her aide.

「The reason why I chose this guy is because he is a survivor of the family that once corrupted this country and this is to make him redeem his sin as a criminal──that isn’t the reason at all. It’s because I met this man, spent time together in the same place, and thought that he is a man worthy of trust whether it’s his ability or his heart!」

But, Lisha wasn’t perturbed even against such reactions from the people and raised her voice resolutely.

「Since the Old Empire perished, not enough time has passed yet to make us forget about the conventions of the past. I also understand about the confusion of everyone. I’m also prepared to be criticized. Currently the people of the palace are objecting this decision of mine desperately. But──」

Lisha took a breath before she directed a straightforward gaze to the people below once more.

Those were self-assured crimson eyes that were like a pointed sword, the same eyes when she first met Lux.

「The way of the country that I’m aiming from here on is a country that isn’t imprisoned by the ties of the past or convention! I will accept failure and mistake, and focus at the very best future above it. That I chose this man as my right hand man, my knight, is the proof of that. That’s why──」

She paused her words temporarily, looked around below as though to observe the people’s reaction, before continuing.

「I won’t ask you to understand immediately. But, watch over us for a while. Look for yourself, whether the things that I believe in is really the correct thing or not──that is a request from this still inexperienced princess!」

Lisha finished saying that before bowing. Then small applause arose.

Even after Lisha’s speech was over, applause that was unhurried but definitely loud was spreading in that place.

 

「Haa, I was nervous……」

After returning inside the castle from the audience balcony, Lisha tiredly let out a long sigh.

Queen Raffi and Prime Minister Nulph.

After lightly greeting them and other nobles who were gathering inside the castle, Lux and Lisha headed towards the Drag-Ride atelier.

「Thanks for your hard work Lisha-sama. It was splendid.」

There was the All-Dragon Battle tomorrow, so they had a toast not with wine but with tea.

After draining the cup in one breath, Lisha turned a dubious gaze to Lux.

「Say, it’s fine if you talk more casually like usual you know? That excessively courteous tone makes me feel itchy when hearing it……」

「I guess. Honestly I too prefer it like that.」

Lisha was acting with decorum in her speech just now, but as expected she was still the same as usual.

「But, I’m happy. In your speech, Lisha-sam recognized me──」

「-……!? I, I was just saying what I thought. Praising someone with flattery isn’t my style after all.」

After speaking feverishly with a bright red face, Lisha coughed to clear her throat and started walking.

「Ra, rather than that, I finished that thing you requested, but what do you think?」

After chasing after Lisha and entering inside, the Drag-Ride that Lux requested was put there.

「……Thank you very much. It’s perfect.」

He received the Sword Device from Lisha and lightly checked its feel.

With this, the minimum countermeasure against the matter that Lux was concerned about was in order.

It would be great if he could manage somehow with just this Drag-Ride but──.

「Then, let’s go back. To our inn──」

「Yeah.」

Lux returned to the inn that was the base of the selection members along with Lisha who was nodding in satisfaction.

After making small talk with the girls who were waiting for their return, they retired to bed in preparation for tomorrow.