“Huaah.”
Pastel walked weakly.
She looked like a tired office worker heading home after finishing a late-night shift during a peaceful night with the moon shining brightly. There wasn’t much difference since she was wearing a suit she wasn’t used to.
“It was so hard.”
She had just finished a property presentation and was about to disperse into her room after a brief discussion.
After the official event was over, her friends returned to their private relationship and walked together.
Melissa chuckled softly.
“Banquets are always exhausting. Especially if it’s your first time. Strategically skipping the banquet to focus on the presentation was a wise choice.”
It was really a battle of wits, though.
Pastel waved her arms weakly.
“I didn’t expect there to be another banquet after the presentation.”
Dealing with approaching nobles had drained her completely.
Even though she liked chatting, the quiet competitive atmosphere made it hard to enjoy herself.
Were they all older than her? Just being in the same space was nerve-wracking.
Boo hoo.
The downside of being popular. Usually, people approached her a lot and it was fun, but when it came to work, it became troublesome.
Even if they were friends privately, seeing them in a formal setting made them just clients.
“That’s more like a simple time to unwind instead of a banquet. There’s no official name for it, but it’s a schedule everyone has tacitly in mind.”
“Bleh.”
Pastel pouted, lips like a duck’s.
“Isn’t it a bit too long for a simple time?”
As she walked towards the window in the hallway and looked up at the sky, the moon was still there. The gentle moonlight veiled her pink hair.
“Huaah.”
It was really past midnight.
Melissa smiled. Being a true noble who had experienced many banquets since childhood, she didn’t show any signs of fatigue.
“The main character showed up late. The people who wanted to talk to you, Pastel, are finally approaching.”
“If the purpose of those conversations is exploration, I can’t enjoy it.”
“That’s true, but you handled it well. Everyone was really impressed with the first impression of Craft’s head. Even if you didn’t do a debutante presentation, you can boast that you’ve made a splendid debut in the social circle. That first impression will spread, so next time it won’t take this long.”
“Ah~! The first impression in a suit?”
Pastel walked a little faster, increasing her distance. Then she turned around to look at Melissa, Elshire, and Elly.
A bright smile appeared.
“Friends! Now you can sense our special relationship, right? Only those who reach the friend ranking get to experience Pastel’s true heart!”
“Are you formalizing that? I think putting a ranking on our friendship is not a good idea, even if it’s said lightly.”
“Ding! Ding! Ding! When the top-ranking says that, it’s deception!”
Especially someone like Leonard, who’d get furious every time she casually mentioned rankings while lamenting why he was always in the mid-tier.
“Anyway! Our friends who didn’t start as the suit-wearing acting tone Pastel deserve to feel proud of this genuine relationship!”
Isn’t this relationship that can only exist during school days a true friendship?
Clap! Clap!
“Yay~!”
Pastel clapped by herself.
“Our non-acting, genuine relationship!”
Seeing the poor Pastel, who had to work hard playing the villain role completely opposite to her nature at the banquet, didn’t it resonate immediately?
Strange glances came her way.
Oh ho.
Melissa mildly embarrassed, raised a hand.
“Even if you have a bad reputation, since we’ve spent time together, I’m not suspicious, but you act quite well.”
Isn’t the lengthy disclaimer too much to say you aren’t suspicious?
“I believe.”
Pastel, who was about to sulk, widened her eyes at Elshire’s comment.
That’s our Elshire!
Sometimes she outshines Melissa!
I didn’t expect it at all, but thank you!
Elshire added.
“Your acting skills.”
Uwaa!
“Why do you believe that…!”
Pastel clutched her head.
“This is all because of the suit! If I had worn my usual flowy white outfit, you would’ve felt my true heart with its pinkish white touch!”
Melissa watched her with a somewhat doubtful gaze.
“That remark is very Craft-like. Do you usually pay attention to that? I’m not suspicious of you as a friend, but how about objectively realizing that you have a mindset that invites suspicion?”
“It’s not that I have a mindset that invites suspicion, it’s just one that’s cheap enough to be suspected.”
“That’s unfair!”
Pastel pouted.
Wearing the suit was a mistake!
With her pink hair, the suit could only remind anyone of a demon!
The noble and great Pastel should have avoided being recognized as a demon!
“Miss.”
A maid approached Melissa and spoke. Melissa glanced out the window at the moon.
“It’s late. I’ll be heading back now.”
Her blue eyes gazed gently.
“Pastel, you should get some sleep too. I know I mentioned this, but don’t be too worried about it. Everyone has their individuality, you know? I don’t doubt our relationship because of individuality.”
Don’t worry too much.
In other words, do think about it.
Uwaa!
“I’ll be leaving too.”
Melissa and Elshire departed.
Quietly, Elly also turned away to match the mood.
“Oh, Elly, wait a moment.”
Pastel伸 her hand. She caught Elly’s gaze.
“Don’t we have something to talk about?”
Am I unknowingly talking to a princess?
Elly bit her lip slightly.
“Demon Lord! Two cups of cocoa, please! It’s night, so cocoa! Cocoa that helps me sleep! Cocoa with lots of sugar!”
Pastel hummed.
The demon brought a glass. A white liquid sloshed inside.
“Drink sugar-free milk at night. If you keep eating sugar at midnight, your teeth will suffer.”
Oh no.
Instead of cocoa friend, it was milk friend.
Pastel despondently held the glass, steam rising warmly.
“Drinking milk while dressed in a suit.”
Challenge~.
Gulp.
White milk smeared at her lips. She licked her tongue to clean it off.
Warm milk feels even better for body and mind at night than cocoa?
The sprinkle of gem powder adds a nice sweetness.
“One more cup!”
“First take off your coat. If you keep wearing work clothes, you won’t relieve your mental fatigue.”
“Yes!”
Pastel swiftly removed it and handed it over. Now she wore just a white dress shirt.
“Wow! Now that I’ve taken off my coat, the colors match my usual fashion tone!”
At this point, it’s not full-on cherry blossom, but she changed her image from a demon to an office worker!
“Right, Elly?”
Elly fiddled with her glass awkwardly. The steam from the milk wafted up.
“It is somewhat like usual.”
“Huh? Are you saying that means I’m stiff all the time?”
Is that how you took it?
“Not exactly, just…”
She received a new glass of milk.
Taking advantage of the moment when the Demon Lord went to secure the room’s window, Pastel poured a generous amount of sugar into the milk.
Deliciousness multiplied by a million~.
The teaspoon stirred a whirlwind.
“What title do you prefer? Princess Ellyshita? Or just Princess? Or the Great Princess?”
“What’s the last one?”
Elly looked somewhat taken aback.
“Call me Pungso.”
“Okay!”
Elly, why did you deceive me?
Did you think you wouldn’t have to list your entire history when you job-hunt~?
Pastel hummed. The spoon that dissolved all the sugar stirred the milk without a reason.
Elly’s hand awkwardly rubbed the glass.
“I didn’t intend to deceive you.”
An awkward silence flowed.
“I used a sub-identity to enroll because of public duties I couldn’t speak about, so I’ve kept it up until now.”
“Okay! Got it!”
Pastel beamed.
“I wasn’t deceived either!”
Her sweet voice rang out.
“I’ve already done a background check on Elly!”
Elly might not know, but the reason a separate inspection bureau was established, not under the Student Council, was because of her!
There are many coincidences in this world, and while I often feel unfortunate…
Sometimes, it isn’t a coincidence!
“Oh?”
The demon girl stared blankly.
“After reviewing your identity, actions, and connections, there are suspicions of espionage but no evidence of terrorism. She is suspected to be a separate faction unrelated to the violent terrorists.”
The teaspoon was put down.
“The reason for the intrusion is likely to seek the Demon King’s successor in a space where talent of the specified age group gathers. An alarming number of records were found, including student rosters and activity logs.”
By the way, these record accesses differ from those meticulously altered by Elly.
Pastel, who usually just flew paper planes, actually didn’t play and checked every document’s access and import every day!
I don’t suspect the limbs but cross-checking and inspecting was an effective security measure. I had been doing it since the first semester!
Normally, it would be right to reveal security procedures to prevent bad intentions.
However, this is a dangerous world of swords and magic, so I made traps that only I know!
“The Great Pastel, at your service~.”
The girl in a dress shirt laughed heartily.
“But I really didn’t suspect you were a princess!”
The inspection bureau was a private intelligence organization created with Leonard and friends, so it hadn’t reached deep into the political sphere yet.
If they had proceeded with detention procedures over terrorism suspicions, it could have escalated into a diplomatic matter.
Even though student safety is a serious issue, it would have been troublesome to have a radical spy, but the princess’s identity must be treated cautiously.
In fact, even the moderate demon race must be vigilant as they would support the Demon King…
But I’m going to be that next Demon King!
Even if it doesn’t suit me, I’m the scheduled Demon King~!
Ahem.
“Huh?”
The demon girl looked blankly at her.
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