After the tea party ended, Lellia was practically dragged by Rut to a quiet place.
It was a small walking path behind the Crystal House.
"What do you think, Sir? If I confess, do you think Princess Juriana would accept me?"
"...."
Rut asked with a flushed expression.
Lellia was exhausted both in body and mind.
Throughout the tea party, the young ladies kept throwing question after question the moment she answered, draining her completely.
"Answer me, Sir Raymond. How is it?"
Rut urged, and Lellia answered while slumped on the bench.
"From what I can see, Princess Juriana seems to like Sir Rut too. Very much so."
"...Really? But isn't that strange? Princess Juriana kept looking only at Sir Raymond and smiling at him... Last time it was that guy Calix, and this time..."
Rut glared at Lellia as if blaming her.
Lellia answered, now resigned to it.
"From what I can see, she seems to be doing it on purpose. To bring out your jealousy."
"...Jealousy?"
Rut seemed to find it unbelievable.
But Lellia was certain.
Princess Juriana, while smiling at her, kept checking Rut's reaction.
Rut was simply too oblivious to notice.
"...Ha. What should I do?"
Whatever the problem was now, Rut grabbed his head.
"What is there to worry about? Just confess."
Yes, just confess quickly and end the quest.
Lellia pleaded internally.
"But... even if Princess Juriana accepts my confession, what if His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress, and the Princes oppose it?"
"...."
Lellia turned her head away.
She suddenly missed her friends. She needed rest.
There were many things she wanted to say to Rut, but she couldn't. They contained profanity.
After pondering for a moment, Rut hesitated slightly, then scratched his cheek with his index finger and spoke.
"So, Sir. I have one more favor to ask."
"...What is it?"
Something felt unsettling.
Rut's lips twitched, then he quickly spat out his words.
"Please become a comparison for me so that His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress can trust me."
"...What did you say?"
"If you commit an offense against one of the ladies among Princess Juriana's attendants, I will challenge you to a duel. You surrender to me, then apologize to that lady again. How about it?"
"...?"
Lellia was so surprised her mouth fell open.
What kind of nonsense is that?
Seeing that reaction, Rut seemed to realize something and frowned.
"...Is it too difficult?"
Yet he didn't give up and asked again.
Lellia blinked with a sour feeling.
Does he think I'm a pushover because I keep granting requests?
Of course the quest was important, but she didn't want to become Rut's servant acting like a pushover.
"Of course it's difficult. It's a matter of my honor. Also, it would damage Prince Romeo's honor and dignity."
"...I see. My thinking was short. I'm sorry."
She thought he would stubbornly insist, but Rut surprisingly apologized for his mistake easily.
Then after pondering for a moment, he suddenly opened his eyes wide.
"Then how about this method!?"
"...."
It felt unsettling.
Despite Lellia's crumpled expression, Rut explained excitedly.
"This is a method that won't damage Sir Raymond's honor or Prince Romeo's dignity."
"What is it?"
"Sir Raymond, you become a playboy of high society!"
"...."
"Just go on a date once with each of Princess Juriana's attendants. You could have light tea time too! Then naturally a playboy image would form, wouldn't it?"
"Ah."
"Then I, being next to you, will naturally solidify into a serious image that inspires trust."
Rut must really like Princess Juriana.
Seeing that he came up with this kind of idea just to look good to her family.
But become a playboy? Is he telling me to become trash for his sake?
A playboy... absolutely impossible.
Lellia held back the urge to scream and spoke.
"...It might not completely ruin my honor, but there's a saying that you can know a person by looking at their friends—won't you also be suspected of being a playboy?"
"Hmm... If a rumor spreads that Sir Raymond is a playboy, I can just distance myself from you! Wouldn't that actually make me look even more serious and trustworthy?"
"Then what do I get?"
"...."
Hearing the question, Rut thought for a moment.
Of course, Lellia had something to gain. The quest reward.
But if she just went along with everything, it seemed like Rut would ask for even worse things.
Then, having finished thinking, Rut spoke with a confident expression.
"I will become your true friend."
"...What did you say?"
"You're on the smaller side, so if anyone tries to bully you, I'll challenge them to a duel on your behalf. I'm actually quite skilled in swordsmanship."
"...."
Lellia was speechless.
She had no desire to become true friends with Rut.
She already had four friends as precious as life itself.
And to call that a reward.
Lellia was dumbfounded by Rut's confident arrogance.
"That's fine. I may be small, but I don't go around getting beaten up."
"Then..."
"Instead... I'd like you to grant me one thing I want."
"What is it? Just say it! I'll grant everything!"
Rut's face brightened with color.
"I'll tell you that later."
"Alright! It won't be a loss for you either. If you hang out with the princess's attendants, your popularity will go up too!"
"...."
"Being surrounded by beautiful ladies is also a man's romance, isn't it? Of course, I'm not that kind of man... I only need Princess Juriana."
Then am I that kind of man?
Lellia couldn't adapt to Rut's way of speaking at all.
She was so exhausted she just wanted to rest quickly.
Lellia casually said goodbye to Rut and quickly returned to her quarters.
Suddenly she felt pathetic about her situation.
Because of that damn holy artifact, not only did she have to face unpleasant faces, but now she had to become a playboy too.
'But with that holy artifact, I might be able to fix Calix's eyes...'
It was when she arrived in front of her quarters.
One of the attendants from Prince Romeo's quarters approached her and said.
"Prince Romeo has asked for Sir Raymond. He said he would like to have dinner together."
Lellia nodded at those words and followed the attendant.