Chapter 189

Chapter 189

Translator: SFBaka

Editor: Thor's Stone

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, Mimi-san, 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 First-class 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!