Tea Time with the Princess

–Click!

The door lock of the bedroom clicked. As Roy walked out of the bedroom, two young girls standing in the corridor heedlessly entered in his view. As soon as the door opened, their body straighten subconsciously.

These two girls are none other that Yuri Mariya and Ena Seishuuin, his captives. Upon seeing Roy, fear and disgust promptly surfaced into Yuri's eyes as she hastily lowered her head. Ena who was present beside Yuri met Roy's eyes fearfully.

"Your body's condition better?"

Roy glanced at Ena's slightly rickety body. Her body suffered serious internal injuries in their prior confrontation.

Ena complexion turned stiff, she no longer had the spirited look she had when when Roy faced her the first time in Tokyo. She lowered her head and responded cautiously:

"I-I have already received emergency treatment and nothing is too much of a hindrance, King..."

"Mhm, that's fine. Have a good rest these days, I don't want to you to have physical problems during the ceremony."

Roy gave a light nod and turned his attention towards Yuri Mariya.

"The Commission for the History Compilation Committee of Japan has found some witches. They will soon send them to Jerusalem, if they are chosen. By the way, there was one girl named Hikari Mariya in the list. By any chance, is she your acquaintance?"

As soon as he mentioned 'Hikari', Yuri Mariya's expression change drastically. The maiden, who had been keeping her head down and trying to conceal her disgust, raised her head fiercely, almost shouting with an anxious look on her face.

"H, hi-ikari?! King, sh-he is only te-ten years old. S-she is just a trainee witch, king. P-please don't hurt her, hic... please let her go, n-no matter what you want me to do, I will do, I-l beg you, King!"

As if her dam of emotions had burst open, tears welled up the corners of her eyes, she wanted to catch Roy's hand to convince him, but fortunately, at the crucial moment Ena held onto Yuri Mariya from releasing her outburst on Roy.

"It seems that she is indeed your acquaintance. She is your sister, or something. Whether the ten year-old girl is safe or not depends on you, Yuri Mariya, your role in the ceremony. As long as you obediently do your part, I think, such a small witch, there is no need for her. Am I not right?"

Roy had a mild temperament while comforting her in a soothing tone, just like a empathetic big brother, but in the eyes of Yuri, he was simply a demon who should be damned in hell.

"K-king, I will work har-rd, I will , hick, definitely not make a mista-ke, a-as long as, king doesn't chooses her, h-hick, even if I-I had to d-die, I will do it with no resistance. Please, p-please..."

In fact, Roy already has more experienced witches to choose, so why would he even choose a trainee Hime-Miko, his goal is Yuri Mariya's obedience, as one of the main maidens presiding over the ceremony, if she purposely tampers between the ceremony with the mentality to take revenge, the summoning artifact will get destroyed, which she would most probably do with the amount of hate she has for a Campione.

At that time, all of his work will be for naught, so keeping a 'leash' around this girl was for the best.

Roy nodded putting up his thoughts together.

"If so I agree with your request, if you do your part properly... Let's go, we have already arrived."

Roy stepped forward. Walking past Yuri Mariya who was sorting out her emotions he turned his gaze towards Ena who was comforting her, his steps halted for a moment and said softly:

"Ena, I know that your family has cut off relations with you. You don't have to be too sad. Life is such an impermanence. As a child of such a family, you should have expected this kind of thing."

"A family that doesn't love you is nothing but shackles on your path. Huh, family... most are, huh... I'm speaking on the basis of my personal experience. So, don't let something stop you, that never belonged to you."

"Hhm, and don't worry, every witch and Hime-Miko are my personal asset. Letting such rare human resources die for a single ceremony is what a senile man does."

After leaving his part of mind, he left without looking back.

Ena stayed in a daze, is this- is King's gentle comfort?

She didn't understand.

...

The top floor of the Jerusalem's King Grand Hotel was closed for the outside world for an indefinite period of time, much to the quibbles of it's patrons.

After all, the most high class place for lodging in all of Jerusalem was without doubt this place. The favorite place to hold all the events for the richer class of the society.

Under the warm afternoon glow, on the balcony of the hotel, Princess Alice was wearing a Victorian dress and a khaki bohemian shawl over her shoulders, sitting at a small wicker, elegantly drinking her tea.

From time to time, she closed her beautiful eyes, smelling the tea fragrance, leisurely bending her emotions into the aftertaste.

Since her body can move, she can finally enjoy the stimulations of her taste buds. At the first instance, she took out the precious tea collection she crossed upon during on of her trips to Assam.

Nowadays on every afternoon, she takes her own sweet time, drinking this particular species of Assamese tea which is strong, malty, rich, and great with milk, coupled with a rich earth and wood attribute mana blended together; as someone who specially likes milk tea, this is a highest level of delicacy for her.

–Buzzz!

There was a buzz from the electronic lock on the door. Princess Alice heard the sound of the door as it was pushed open. Even without using her brain, Alice knew who came.

"King Roy, to just walk into a lady's room without permission. Doesn't it seem too unruly. Isn't it an unpolite behavior on King's part?"

There is no one else who can walk into her room without any scruples except for the king of her 'harem'.

"Isn't it the role of this all access electric card, to openly go wherever I want?"

Roy's chuckle came from behind Princess Alice as he walked into the balcony, pulling out the chair opposite the princess and sat down, while teasingly flashing the black metal card in his hand.

"Eto~, I see, so this card allows king the access of all the rooms?"

"Positive. Of course, as a king, one must be able to unimpededly roam in his own territory."

Roy joked with a light chuckle, he never took this whole king thing seriously. But since others are openly giving him a title to exploit, who was he to refuse?

His motto is to live the life to it's fullest, to savour all the fun when life gives you the chance. In fact, it's one of his core true wills—live life, king size.

Picking up the teapot, he poured himself a cup of tea and brought it to his lips, but after taking a sip, he frowned and put it down vehemently.

"It's really strange of you Englishmen. How can you add cow's milk to the tea? Looks like even a magic tea is unpalatable to me."

Roy never liked tea, he hoped for a surprise since it was a magical breed of tea, but the drinking milk tea just repulsed his taste buds.

Pushing himself up, Roy walked into the room and brought out a coke with him. He once again leaned back on the chair, contently sipping the chilled soft drink, as the refreshing cooling sensation passed down his oesophagus.

"Huuu... Sure enough, drinking ice-cola in this warm afternoon gives the most comfortable sensation."

As his lips left the can, he commented with a relaxed squint.

"Drinking this kind of thing has no ladylike demeanor at all."

Princess Alice's slender fingers gracefully hooked the cup as she look a light sip, her posture graceful and elegant.

"You aristocrats are really troublesome, no wonder you all were be eliminated with time.

A true king follows his own will. Ah, that's right. When I was in Tokyo, I spotted the Black Prince."

Roy totally leaned back against the wicker, making his posture more comfortable, smiling at Princess Alice.

"King Roy found him? It seems that man is still not cautious enough, I can totally imagine him brainstorming like a lunatic on how he was found."

Princess Alice's eyelashes curled up in joy, a impish smile once again graced upon her rosy lips.

"Why did't you leave with him? If it's Alexandre Gascoigne, with his speed, even I can't get you back."

"If King want to hear the lie, I was afraid of King. King is so prideful and dominant that I dare not resist."

"What about the truth?"

Roy tilted his head and asked amusingly.

"The truth is that King Roy is more interesting than that guy Alexander. My instincts as a witch tells me that my life will be more magnificent and colorful by following you, my king. Many of my doubts in the past will also be solved. My 'white' will be radiant with many colors."

Princess Alice's smart eyes blinked cutely, like a mischievous little girl.

"Ha, you stayed with me in order to satisfy your curiosity? It's not impossible, as long as you can pay the price, Princess."

Roy's expression gradually became serious.

"Price? What price do I need to pay? I am already king's captive, king is also going to take me into his harem. What else I can pay?"

Alice put down her teacup as a frown appeared on her brows, her tone puzzled.

"I need your knowledge. This ritual of summoning the Heretic God is still short of the last link. But I lack this part of knowledge. Only you, the strongest witch, can give it to me."

Roy straightened his back and told his troubles.

Princess Alice responded with a sigh of relief:

"Phew~ I thought king desired something else, if it is just my knowledge, of course I am willing to give it to you, my King."

"Can you give me your body?"

Without giving her the chance to relax, he dropped another bomb. As the unscrupulous demon king, he didn't hesitate to ask the question. Though, he can force her to perform the magic spell, he will not, after all he has a 'legacy' to carry.

His eyes didn't dodge, he stared at the elegant and delicate face of the girl opposite to him, who stared back at him with her stunned eyes, a stiff expression exhibiting her face.

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Greed is one of the Seven Deadly Sins. However, it is also the motivating force for mankind.

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Special thanks to *Oluwatimileyin Olayemi*

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