A Glimpse of the Imperial Princess’ Hobby

It was now the second day of me spending my time telling stories of my

misadventures to Princess Luciada. Because I've nearly run out of topics, I

ended up blurting out some of the details of my meeting with Chris. It's not

like I revealed all the particulars though. I just told her we somehow got

caught up in House Dareinwald's mess, met the earl's granddaughter

Christina-san and lived with her for a short while. I then showed her some

of the souvenir holo-pics and holo-videos we took on Sierra III.

But it looks like the story really stoked Princess Luciada's curiosity, and on

the following day, she actually invited Chris herself to the palace for a tea

party.

And then–

"Hics. Uguuuuuu, Chris-chaaaaan!"

"Nn–!?"

After hearing Chris's life story from her own mouth, Princess Luciada

ended tearing up and gave Chris a smothering hug. Uh, it's fine if you

wanna hug her Your Highness, but Chris is already having trouble breathing

cuz her head's buried into your chest, so can you please let her off already–

Hm?

"It feels like I'm having a deja vu."

"Yeah."

"U-Um, Your Highness, Chris looks like she's having a hard time, so–"

"Aaaaaah, Chris-chaaaaan!"

Mimi kept trying to pull Princess Luciada away from Chris. By the way,

Princess Luciada was calling Chris 'Chis-chan' due to Mimi's influence.

"You won't be suffering if you just said no, Chris."

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

Chris, who had a bright red face due to being suffocated by the princess'

chest, shook her head in denial. Well, I guess it does seem bad for a noble to

spurn the actions of the imperial princess.

"But I was really surprised to get a personal invitation from Her Highness."

"Sorry about this."

"Fufu, you don't really have to apologize. I got to meet Hiro-sama, Mimisan, Elma-san, and Mei-san in person because of this after all. And I feel

very honored to be introduced to Her Imperial Highness, Princess Luciada

as well."

"I'm gonna make it up to you. I promise."

"Is that so? Alright then. I shall be looking forward to it."

A smile bloomed on Chris's lips. Well, what do you know? She really

seems to have grown. Her height's increased a little, and both her facial

expressions and atmosphere have become much more mature compared to

before.

"What are you two playing at by ignoring Her Highness and locking eyes

with each other like that…?"

"Mumu… I won't lose, Chris-chan."

"Waaah…"

Why are your eyes shining like that, princess? I don't exactly know what

you're expecting here, but it probably won't happen, okay. It won't, right?

Uh, am I actually close to being screwed here? Will I get stabbed or

something? It's probably fine. Yeah. Probably.

"Ah– Ehem, ehem. Is it really okay to talk to Princess Luciada about what

happened on the Sierra system, Chris?"

"Yes. It's not like we can really hide the details of the matter anyway, and

we've already made a report to the imperial authorities. I've also gotten

permission from Grandfather."

"I see. Alright then. I'll start talking about the events on the Sierra system

in earnest."

And so, we told Princess Luciada the entirety of what happened.

However…

"You're horrible. It seems I've misjudged you!"

"Eh–…"

"Why did you leave Chris-chan behind!? As Chris-chan's knight,

something like that is…!"

It looks like Princess Luciada homed in on the fact that I basically turned

Chris down back then. I glanced over to Chris and our eyes met.

"Hiro-sama is a very bad man. He mercilessly left a helpless and innocent

maiden like me alone after all."

I can't really retort to that.

"Fufu, I was merely joking. Your Highness, Hiro-sama has his own world,

and it seems I cannot be together with him on it. And on the other hand, the

world I'm living in will not allow Hiro-sama to continue being Hiro-sama. I

and Hiro-sama cannot live in the same world. If I force him, I will only end

up making Hiro-sama stop being himself. This was something I haven't

realized yet at that time."

"Muu… But aren't things hopeless if that were truly the case?"

After saying so, Princess Luciada gave me a scathing side-eye. I feel she's

implying everything would be resolved and everyone will get their happily

ever after if I just gave in and brought Mimi and the others to live with

Chris. Well, I admit that's one option though.

"Your Highness, birds can't live underwater. Fish, too, can't fly in the sky.

However, it is certainly possible for them to touch the other. Like this."

Chris snuggled up to me and peered at my face with passionate eyes. The

heat coming from her gaze was certainly real. Wait, wait! Hold up! What

the heck is all this about, man? I did mercilessly turn this girl down without

any hesitation back then, didn't I? It looks like Chris was unexpectedly the

type who's bad at giving up.

"I only heard from some rumors, but it seems your reward if you win this

tournament and prove your strength to His Majesty is being granted Firstclass imperial citizenship, Hiro-sama."

"Y-Yeah."

"If so, you'd want to set up a base on a planet somewhere, right? Then how

about setting up a mansion on Dareinburg in the Dexer system? We'll be

able to accommodate you quite well over there and grant you some very

flexible terms."

"Come to think of it, that's true."

Elma nodded with a serious expression on her face. It's certainly true that

we'll be able to get some flexible terms and better deals in the Dexer

system due to our connection with Earl Dareinwald. If Chris herself says so,

then it's probably the case. You could say the relationship between me and

House Dareinwald was pretty good, I guess. Chris is a given, of course. But

it looks like Earl Dareinwald himself has a favorable view of us as well.

"Even birds will get tired of flying someday. And when that happens, won't

they need somewhere safe to perch onto? If possible, I would like to be

your perch, Hiro-sama."

Chris declared boldly and locked eyes with me. I had a hard time giving an

answer, so I chose to clam up. It would be incredibly simple to just say yes.

It's actually possible for me and Mimi to settle on a planet after all this is

over since we were gonna get granted first-class imperial citizenship.

Elma's a noble's daughter, so she already was a first-class imperial citizen.

Mei's an independent AI, so I'm not sure how it is for her, but I think it

wouldn't be weird for a first-class imperial citizen to have a maidroid with

him anyway. As for the mechanic sisters… Well, I honestly can't say

anything about those two right now.

"Ah–… Let's just say I'll give it some serious thought."

"How half-hearted."

"Your Highness, this matter wouldn't only affect mine, but Mimi and

Elma's lives as well. I can't just reply without giving it some due

consideration. Or rather, can you give me a break already, princess?"

I admit I was already thinking about establishing a base somewhere after

gaining first-class imperial citizenship, and that Earl Dareinwald's place

was one of the options I was considering. But relying on Earl Dareinwald

would end up with me owing him big, and depending on how things go

from there, it's possible he'd even push me to marry Chris.

That's actually not a bad way to end a journey, but I still don't have any

intention of stopping flying around in space. I still want to earn more

money and have lots more stuff I want to try out. Mimi's space gourmet

journey is just starting out as well, and I haven't even managed to find my

ideal carbonated treat. And Elma hasn't paid me back even a single Enel as

well. Well, it's not like I care about Elma's debt at this point anyway.

"Muu… That's true as well. I'm sorry."

"Y-You really don't have to apologize for anything, Your Highness."

"It's alright, Your Highness. I don't mind. However, it looks like you've

really been touched by Hiro and Christina-sama's story, haven't you, Your

Highness?"

Mimi became flustered when Princess Luciada apologized, and Elma seems

curious about why the princess was being such a busybody.

"Well, you see, isn't it like a romantic holo-novel? Due to her uncle's vile

machinations, she ended up losing both her parents. She then drifted in

space all alone until she was caught by pirates. And then, a passing

mercenary suddenly swoops in and rescues her from their clutches. The

mercenary then took her in, protected her, and helped her get revenge, but

everything ends on a tragic note with their abrupt parting!"

"Your Highness, the story hasn't ended yet."

"Fufu, that's right, isn't it? In the sequel, the two star-crossed lovers reunite

in the imperial capital and got swept in a plot by other nobles. And then,

they finally get their happy ending!"

Princess Luciada had a goofy grin on her face as her imagination went on

overdrive. However, Mimi suddenly interjected.

"Muu… Your Highness, I also lost my parents and fell to dire straits when

Hiro-sama rescued me you know. I then got my happy ending."

"In addition, you actually have a special setting of being the mirror image

of an imperial princess."

Elma played along with Mimi. Yosh, this is a chance to change the subject.

I have no choice but to play along as well!

"If we're going with that, then you're not any different Elma. You're a

noble girl who adored holo-novels about Celestia-sama and her search for

freedom, and you ended up following the same path as her. It's definitely

holo-novel material."

"Yeah. But then I messed up and ended up boarding your ship though."

"That's the sequel huh."

"Mumumu… It certainly does seem that Mimi-san and Elma-san's stories

can each be turned into riveting holo-novels or holo-movies… And the

central character of those stories will be Hiro-sama."

"Hiro-sama… is special after all."

"He hit it off with Dr. Shouko back in the Alein system as well, didn't he?

Tina and Whisker seem to adore him too."

Four pairs of eyes– no, it would be five including Mei's, turned toward me

simultaneously.

"…He's a natural lady magnet, isn't he?"

For the record, I wasn't actively trying to pick up girls, okay. It wasn't that,

so stop staring at me with those judging eyes already.

"…It's Hiro-sama after all."

Oi, Mimi, don't just give up like that. Seriously, don't.

"…It's said he has a special ability to attract trouble you know."

Can you stop labeling a poor guy as a troublemaker, please? Even I'm

starting to believe that crap recently, so stop!

"…In other words, all our personal encounters with him are special!"

You're being too positive about all this, Chris! Well, I admit me finding the

escape pod with Chris in it in a virtually undamaged state did have an air of

a fateful encounter somehow, but still…

"Hookay then. I suddenly feel like working up a sweat. I'm going over to

the imperial guards for a bit, okay?"

"So you're aiming for Isolde this time!"

"Hiro-sama…"

"You'll really get stabbed from behind one of these days at this rate you

know."

"…Things won't be simple with an imperial knight as a partner after all."

That's not it, okay! I just wanna hurry up and escape from this place

already!