*
Honestly, I didn’t expect to see such a sight.
Pina Grancia in a pure white dress.
With frills and a short hem, it felt very different from a wedding gown.
“…Licht, are you nervous?”
That radiant purity was right in front of my eyes.
Wearing a headdress made of mana roses lovingly, she was about to attend the social club.
“A little jittery.”
She’s not a bride yet. I need to keep myself together.
‘It hasn’t officially reported that I’ve filled the affection level to 100 percent or seen an event CG.’
Inside the gently rattling carriage, it felt similar to when I first came to the academy, but slightly different.
“Hoho, even Licht is feeling nervous.”
The coachman, no, Dijur, who was driving the carriage personally, and I were sitting close together.
A familiar scene. Wanting to ease the awkward atmosphere, I spoke to Pina.
“Pina, does my outfit look weird?”
“Uh… you look handsome!”
Not my face, I meant the suit I’m wearing, Pina.
“…I see it’s okay.”
Dressed in pure white from head to toe, finished with a golden tie.
Right now, I’m moving with my face uncovered.
I have to show my face at the social club, or so they say. It wasn’t like that in the game I played.
Tap, her elbow brushed against my arm.
Just a light touch, but it felt like electricity flowing through me. It’s bad for my heart.
“I’ll put on some burn cream for you.”
Pina stuck to my side. So this is how Kainel felt.
“…isn’t it cold?”
“It feels nice and cool.”
With her tiny hand, Pina delicately applied cold cream to my face.
“…Haha, it feels like makeup.”
With her interesting golden wolf eyes and slightly reclined pure white ears, she looked so pleased.
But that black choker that Pina kept flaunting caught my eye every time she moved.
[Lee Soo-hyun♡Pina Grancia 14% ‘NEW!!’]
While trying to figure out what that accessory meant, a status window popped up in front of me.
[How unique of you to put a collar on the Saintess, Lee Soo-hyun~! Σ(°Д°]
Shut up, it’s not a collar, it’s a choker. It can be an accessory, you know?
This status window is consistently annoying. Always using emojis and mocking me. If only it had given me hints about her sooner.
“Licht, what’s wrong?”
If it weren’t for my Pina, I wouldn’t have gotten sucked into this game.
“….”
I took a deep breath as the air seemed to choke me.
Looking outside the carriage, memories of my sleepless gaming nights flashed by.
The time I spent trying to ensure her happy ending rushed by.
Me, struggling to grasp the Magic Hat strategy, scribbling with pen and notes.
Except for the times I closed my eyes to sleep, I had never stopped thinking about Pina.
Yeah, it’s better than dying dozens of times to the Magic Hat. I’ll work harder.
“…I’m just worried if Kainel and Ariel are keeping up.”
First, I needed to confirm if I was moving with the hero couple. They said they prepared two carriages.
“Yeah, ours is right behind….”
“But why did you make us ride separate carriages? Pina.”
She flinched, her eyes slightly shaking. She seemed a bit anxious.
“D-Don’t get me wrong…”
“Of course not. Pina.”
What is she trying to say? Ah, I forgot to use formal speech.
“I want to keep you all to myself…”
How should I react to that? Pina, saying something so embarrassing so casually.
“Pina, please don’t keep saying that. You surprised me.”
I couldn’t help but pat this cute wolf’s head.
“L-Licht…”
“Please don’t think of monopolizing me. It could lead to bad things.”
Because it would be a big problem if the princess abuses her power.
“Ew… I don’t want to…”
Unlike when we first met the hero couple, Pina and I were sharing warm closeness.
“Licht noticed before I did… that you didn’t like others touching you…”
Was that so? After all, my reputation has changed since defeating the Demon King of All Knowledge.
“…You’re my knight.”
While she received my gentle head pats as if enjoying it, she was also whining.
At this rate, I might end up in a yandere scenario. No good.
“If that’s the case… Pina, would you like some candy?”
I pulled out a secret weapon from my pocket.
A sweet clump made from a mix of sugar and honey.
A spoonful of the lie that divine power would decrease is added to the candy.
“….”
Rustle, like a wolf hunting prey, Pina quickly snatched the candy from my hand.
“Umm, it’s so… sweet…”
She must not have expected this level of sweetness; she made a tiny noise. With a happy expression, she cupped her cheeks.
“Licht, where did you buy this?”
“At the Grancia Empire’s confectionery.”
Peep, with a confused tilt of her head, Pina asked.
“Was it always this… sweet?”
Munch munch. Pina savored the candy while speaking. It was from that confectionery, right?
Why does she seem so perplexed?
Looking at her flapping wolf tail and her ears drooping as if they had completely collapsed, it doesn’t seem like she hates it…
That was when. Clunk, the carriage jolted suddenly.
“We have arrived at the social club, everyone.”
In front of the grinning Dijur, a large white building appeared.
*
A grand chandelier illuminated the center, and elegantly dressed noble youths gathered in groups to talk and dance.
“…Being a commoner feels so daunting.”
“Kai, we were invited by the princess! Don’t say that!”
Kainel, dressed in a red suit, and Ariel, in a gold dress with delicate makeup, spoke up.
Yeah, it is certainly glamorous.
‘This is the place where Nex and Schartines first met.’
Experiencing a place I had only heard about was refreshing.
Servants resembling maids were serving meat and wine.
“How have you been, Lady Margerita?”
“Oh my, hello there.”
An alien sight with noble ladies holding fans greeting each other.
With Pina excluded, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we commoners shouldn’t be here.
“…First, with this wolf brooch, nobody will look down on you.”
Thud, Pina started handing out brooches while looking around the social club.
A wolf depicted with the sun and the moon. It was so obvious what it represented.
“It’s a sign that you were invited under my protection.”
After distributing one to the hero couple, Pina directly attached the golden wolf accessory to my chest.
“… Now it’s done, my knight.”
She seemed satisfied, with a smile tugging at her lips. Why is mine different from theirs?
Holding my hand tightly, Pina blended into the crowd of the social club.
“Juniors!! You all came too!”
“Oh my, Licht junior is at the social club…?”
The delighted voices in the vicinity belonged to Nex and Schartines.
Dressed in a black tailcoat, Nex looked different from usual, while Schartines held a purple rosary in her hands.
‘Fortunately, these two are here too.’
It could be thanks to Pina’s influence. She knows what I said to Asha up north.
“Nice to see you, seniors.”
“Long time no see, bro, sis.”
I offered a bow to them. Pina waved her palm gently as well.
“Hey, Nex, can I try this?”
“Ariel, you really love eating…”
Ariel gulped as she eyed a steak platter on the table.
“Why! I starved all day because I heard we were coming here… Ah.”
Ariel regretted her slip as she was about to scold as usual.
“Really? My girlfriend must eat well then.”
“Kai… don’t tease me…”
Kainel, happily ordering more food from the waiters around, had a bright smile.
I wonder if it’s from spending time with me. He’s become so playful.
“Could it be that you juniors are dating?”
“Yes! We just started going out a few days ago…!”
Ariel scratched her cheeks, red as her hair, a bashful expression on her face.
Now she doesn’t look shy anymore. The tsundere elf melted behind love.
It would be great if I could meet Asha Aureus and get her permission to marry.
“…Got it.”
At that moment, Pina’s entourage appeared and whispered something before leaving.
What’s going on? Is something happening?
“Licht. Just for a moment. Let’s go together.”
She grabbed my hand and started moving to the front of the social club. Pina crossing through the people seemed more confident than ever.
“Tonight, I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone in attendance.”
We climbed the stairs and arrived at a spot on the second floor, giving us a prime view over everyone on the first floor.
“As some may know, I am Pina Grancia. I am the princess of the empire that my father governs.”
What? Pina, wait a minute. Is it alright to just reveal your identity like this?
“The night is beautiful like the moonlight tonight.”
In this rapidly changing situation, I felt my hands start to tremble slightly.
I didn’t understand why she, who usually dislikes coming forward, was acting like this.
“I have come to this social club as a partner alongside my Black Knight.”
Pina flashed a smile at me.
If that’s the case, then the reason she attached the golden brooch to me…
“….”
I couldn’t lift my face. All eyes were now focused on Pina and me.
“I hope this social gathering will be enjoyable for everyone.”
Next to me, a wine glass was offered, and Pina lifted her glass signaling me to hurry and toast.
In the end, Ching—. The glass clinked, producing a cheerful sound like a xylophone,
“Glory to the Grancia Empire.”
Announcing the start of the social gathering in a grand manner.
I found it hard to face Pina and ended up looking away.
‘..Asha Aureus?’
In the distance, I spotted a golden-haired woman watching her son Nex from the corner of a pillar.
