It was a ridiculous situation, almost like watching a Japanese anime.
Anyway, a ball.
[Thinking about the ball brings back memories. I had several wonderful encounters with beautiful ladies back then…]
The Black Prince casually brings up his own escapades with women, unsolicited.
Before I was reincarnated, I had no connection to such fancy balls, being an ordinary person.
Even Kim Deok-Sung’s memories indicate he never attended a proper ball like this.
But do I really have to go?
Can I skip it?
As I was seriously contemplating not attending, I heard Olivia’s voice.
“Do you have formal attire to wear to the ball?”
“No, I don’t, and I wasn’t planning to go…”
“Well, it can’t be helped. As your personal maid, it’s my duty to escort you, and that means we have to go shopping for your formal attire in Paris so you won’t be embarrassed at the ball.”
Olivia cuts me off and looks directly at me.
“You’re going, right? Shopping.”
Her piercing gaze felt like a slam dunk.
“…Uh, yeah. I guess I’ve got to go.”
Overwhelmed by Olivia’s strange assertiveness, I couldn’t help but nod.
Damn it.
So now, I find myself going formal attire shopping in Paris.
What a cursed ball.
Catfight (physical)
Paris, France.
Champs-Élysées.
This bustling area, known as the symbol of Paris—hell, of France—and considered one of the most beautiful streets in the world, was filled with European-style buildings that are commonly thought of when one thinks of Europe, unlike the modern landscapes of Tokyo or Seoul.
In the distance, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, Paris’ landmark, can be seen.
The square where the Arc is located is actually called Napoleon Square, unlike the rest of the world’s France.
Being the most bustling area of Paris, the Champs-Élysées should’ve been teeming with people, but now it was empty except for me and Olivia.
This was due to the French guards and heroes, including Bella, keeping a tight watch so not even an ant could sneak in.
“Here we are. Follow me.”
Excited, Olivia grabs my wrist and leads me.
After waking up, she quickly finished some tests and was discharged right away.
Then she dragged me here to the Champs-Élysées, insisting we had to fit my formal attire for the ball.
Being pulled into a flashy building that clearly claims to be a luxury suit store.
“Welcome, Your Highness. Cadet Kim. We’ve been expecting you.”
A neatly dressed clerk greets us with a courteous demeanor.
I could tell he was quite tense.
“We’re here to fit a suit for this fool for the upcoming royal ball. Can we see some samples first?”
“Are you referring to formal attire? Understood. Sir, please come this way.”
Like a calf being led to a slaughterhouse, I’m dragged away by the clerk to change into a suit.
The black suit made of obviously expensive fabric was presented.
I check myself out in a full-length mirror provided in the changing room.
[Oh, partner. The outfit looks pretty good on you, doesn’t it? Must be the body. The face could use some work, but hey, with this fashion, I can totally pull it off. After all, as long as you have a good hanger, everything is fine.]
“Well, the lack of plausibility in my face is something I’m already aware of.
But hey, it’s not like I’m some kind of weirdo.
It just means I’m average-looking, which is basically what they mean by ‘not bad’ in Japanese anime.
The ‘Kim Deok-Sung’ I’ve possessed is exactly that level.
I might look like a punk, and when compared to the undeniably handsome protagonist Yuji, I’m a bit lacking, but maybe because I’m used to it, I don’t look too bad after all.
Or not? Maybe I just got attached to it since I keep seeing it?
Anyway, the body is looking amazing, so that’s a win.
“I’m all dressed.”
As I step out of the changing room, Olivia is lounging in a plush, high-end chair.
It’s more of a scene you’d see in a Korean drama than in a light novel.
Usually, it involves a chaebol male lead taking a poor female lead shopping for upscale brand clothes, shoes, and bags, and experiencing that in real life feels surreal.
She examines me with a sharp gaze and shakes her head.
“Hm… I don’t like it. Manager, please get me a different outfit.”
“Understood.”
She doesn’t like it?
Why not?
With just one word from Olivia, I’m suddenly dragged back into the changing room to take off the outfit I was wearing and put on another one she picked out.
It’s the same black suit.
The design is slightly different, but honestly, to my eyes, it looks almost the same as the one I just wore.
“This one doesn’t do it for me either. Any other options?”
Olivia strikes again with another rejection.
After that, Olivia was never satisfied with the suit.
After trying on a third, fourth, and fifth suit, I was starting to feel a bit exhausted.
Shopping with girls is just not something I can keep up with.
“Hey, Black Prince. Does it look weird even to your eyes?”
[······.]
The Black Prince maintains his silence.
Right. That’s because she’s your precious little sister.
I guess it’s my fault for asking.
I step out wearing the sixth suit, dragging my feet.
“Hm…”
Olivia squints her eyes.
“Princess, do you like it?”
Says the manager standing beside her.
My free will is completely ignored in this scenario.
A sigh escapes me.
“Well, this is… not bad. I’ll barely give it a passing grade. Manager.”
Olivia says this with a pouty expression.
Who would have thought she’d phrase her approval in such a tsundere way?
“I’m honored, Princess!”
The manager is practically in tears.
According to Olivia’s profile in the setting book, due to her heritage from the Bonaparte royal family and being France’s top asset, she’s treated like a national idol and hero in France.
However, since the original work barely mentions France, it’s almost a pointless backstory.
But seeing the manager acting so overly humble, even considering Olivia’s royal status, makes me suddenly recall that backstory.
[My lovely sister Olivia surely gets treated like a princess wherever she goes. Is she really a princess though?]
The Black Prince is mumbling useless thoughts in my head.
If France is like this, what would it be like if I went to Korea, which is currently overflowing with national pride?
Suddenly, I feel chills all over.
Yeah, it’s probably best if I don’t go to Korea until graduation.
“I’ll take this one.”
“Understood.”
When Olivia speaks with elegance, the store manager bends over at a ninety-degree angle.
I used to think of her as a goofball tsundere, but seeing her like this really reminds me that she is indeed the Princess of France.
A princess character from France who retains a monarchy even in modern times.
It’s ridiculous how the author pulled a cheap trick to introduce a French princess-knight character, but still.
Our eyes meet.
Her face turns red.
Hmph.
She turns her head and pouts.
“Well, I guess this will at least prevent you from looking like a beggar at the ball. Be grateful to me, okay? Got it? You?”
Feigning indifference.”
She points at me with her finger and says,
“Well, how much is this?”
She tugs at her designer suit shirt with her hand.
Since she said it was formal wear, I thought it would be uncomfortable, but it seems that the high-end brand lives up to its name; it’s quite comfortable.
At my words, Olivia’s eyes widen.
She looks down at the ground and mutters in a quiet voice,
“Uh… I already paid for it.”
She already paid? For this?
I pull up the internet to look up the prices of suits in this store.
What’s the cheapest one? How many zeros are there?!
As someone whose sense of money is still that of a commoner, I’m left speechless at the amount.
Did I just burn this much money on a single suit?
“Don’t misunderstand! I didn’t buy this because I like you or anything! This is just pocket change for someone like me, a princess of France! It’s just a pity purchase because I felt sorry for you! I have no ulterior motives! Got it?!”
Olivia blushes and starts rambling her tsundere lines.
I know she doesn’t mean what she’s saying, but I wonder if it tires her out to deliver such lines.
Anyway, I’m grateful, so I respond,
“Thanks. I’ll use it well.”
“Hmph. Fool. Idiot. Don’t thank me for something that’s obvious. It doesn’t make me happy at all! Hmph!”
Olivia puffs up her cheeks with her arms crossed.
Then, she suddenly grabs my wrist and pulls me along.
“Now let’s go buy a watch and shoes too, right? Why are you standing there? Hurry up!”
With that, I found myself dragged through the shopping hell, buying a full set of watch and shoes from another store before finally escaping.
Once out on the Champs-Élysées, Olivia and I made our way to the Place de Mars.
It was the very place where you could see the Eiffel Tower, the symbol of France and a Paris landmark.
Usually bustling with tourists at this famous photo spot, the Place de Mars was, ironically, as deserted as the Champs-Élysées, with not a single rat in sight.
‘I heard there were tons of people here when I looked it up online.’
An extraordinarily peaceful, surreal scene that could only exist in a movie unfolded before my eyes.
[This is the result of my lovely younger sibling working hard for me. Be grateful.]
I hear the Black Prince’s foolish line ringing in my head.
Doesn’t he feel embarrassed saying things like that?
Well, if he didn’t, he wouldn’t be a fool.
“Over here! Come take a picture with me! If you’ve come to France, you must take a picture in front of our country’s pride, the Eiffel Tower! Hmph, not that I want to take a picture with you or anything, so don’t get the wrong idea!!”
With that, Olivia goes full tsundere mode, blushing furiously.
Guided by her, I stand at a photo spot with a good view of the Eiffel Tower.
Olivia pulls out a selfie stick, attaches her smartphone, and strikes a V pose.
“The photo isn’t shooting! You need to move a bit closer, okay?!”
She puffed her cheeks while pulling me close.
Suddenly, I’m pressed against her.
Her body heat and scent envelop me.
Against my will, my face heats up.
“Alright, we’re taking the picture on three. Kimchi!”
Kimchi instead of cheese?
Where on earth did this French girl learn about kimchi?
“You! Why aren’t you saying kimchi?”
Olivia glances back, pouting her lips.
[What are you doing not following my younger sibling’s orders, partner?]
The Black Prince’s foolish voice urges from my mind as well.
With the atmosphere being what it is, refusing would be awkward.
I have no choice.
“Kimchi.”
I force an awkward smile.
Click.
The shutter sound rings out, and the picture of me and Olivia, sticking together against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, appears on the screen.
“Nice! Now…”
Just then, when Olivia was about to say something with a faint smile,
Boom!
A loud blast shakes the entire square.
“What the hell?”
My face stiffens.
“Is something happening? Or is it a terror attack?”
I ask Olivia, turning to her.
Peering at the scene, I ask myself.
William’s situation was wrapped up nicely, but it’s already drifted too far from the original canon.
I can’t guarantee there won’t be another surprise attack from the League.
Olivia, noticing my grim expression, flails her hands in a panic.
“Ah, no! It’s nothing! Nothing at all! You don’t need to, um, worry about it!”
She shakes her head vigorously, beads of cold sweat trickling down her face.
The Black Prince remains silent.
That just makes it even more suspicious.
What on earth is going on?
Boom!
Another loud explosion rings out.
*
In Paris, France.
At the Place de Mars.
Under Bella’s command, who has been given a special mission by Olivia, outsiders are strictly prohibited from entering as a fierce battle unfolds between the French Guard heroes and Shuo Hero Academy’s culinary students, who are tasked with guarding Olivia and Kim Deok-Sung and controlling the surrounding area.
“Stop them! This place must be defended at all costs! We can’t ruin the date between the princess and our master!”
Bella, with a serious expression, commands.
The Guard heroes, following Bella’s orders, activate their combat mode, unleashing their mana.
The casual sword in Bella’s hand dances through the air.
“It’s unfair that only the princess gets to date the master! Eri-chan too! Eri-chan will date him as well!”
With a swish, Nishizawa Eri switches to combat mode and throws her chain scythe to parry Bella’s casual sword.
Boom!
The clash of Bella’s sword and Eri’s scythe creates a deafening sound in the air.
Next to Eri, enveloped in green wind, Makoto draws her katana and charges forward.
“I’m going too! I’ll be by the master’s side!”
Clang!
Makoto’s katana, infused with the wind, strikes down the long sword of a Guard hero.
Standing quietly next to the determined Makoto, Rin appears with a katana in hand.
As she bites her lip, the area around her suddenly freezes into a dazzling white.
In the midst of summer in Paris, an unexpected winter descends.
“Kim Deok-Sung. This time, I will not lose!”
With resolve, Rin swings her katana, sending a chilling wind to freeze everything around her.
“Gyaaaaaah!”
As the Guard heroes scream under the slicing wind, a purple-haired beautiful girl dressed as a witch levitates in the air.
“A junior who only favors the princess… is a bad person. I can’t forgive you this time…”
Casting a spell as the Star Witch, Hoshino Kasumi unleashes a shower of purple mana bullets like a meteor storm.
“Starfall!”
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The meteor rain of mana bullets devastates the surroundings, and just as the encirclement formed by the Guard heroes breaks apart…
Zap!
A streak of silver lightning strikes down right in front of the commander, Bella.
Bella, jaw dropped in shock, mutters.
“…Silver Queen… why are you here…”
Before Bella stands the Silver Queen, Saionji Aris, wielding a spear and speaking in a cold voice.
“Illicit relationships are…”
Crackle!
Silver lightning crackles around her body.
Aris’s eyes shine with a silver glow, her hair standing on end from static electricity.
A massive orb of gathered lightning forms at the tip of her spear.
“I cannot allow this!”
Boom!
A silver flash strikes directly at Bella.
The ground shakes, and the shockwaves sweep through the area, obliterating everything.
Thunk.
Bella, struck by Aris’s attack, collapses to the ground.
“I’m sorry… Young lady… I have failed… my mission.”
Olivia.
It was the moment when all the barricades she had set up to block her rival’s approach were breached.
Since the battle was not meant to be lethal but rather to suppress, there were zero casualties, but thanks to the combined efforts of the five beautiful girls, the surrounding forces had already been rendered powerless.
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