"Um."
Just as Shien was feeling somewhat overwhelmed, Merika spoke timidly.
"Does Mr. Shien really want to go to the Elven Village?"
Merika asked with her pretty face bright red, her voice softer than a mosquito's buzz. If not for Outer Perception of Heaven enhancing his six senses, Shien definitely would not have heard her.
Seeing Merika's shy yet nervous appearance, Shien sighed.
"I do want to go," Shien told Merika. "On one hand, I'm quite curious about the legendary Elven Village. On the other, I've been planning to take Roxie out for a trip lately. I didn't know where to go before, but now I do."
That was right. Shien wanted to take Roxie to the Elven Village and attend this so-called Festival of Peace.
After all, Shien had promised Roxie that he would take her out to have fun.
And what could be more fun than a festival?
That was why Shien had asked Merika.
But upon hearing Shien's words, Merika's flushed face instead turned pale.
"With Princess Roxie..."
Merika pouted again, enough to hang an oil flask from her lips.
Clearly, Merika was somewhat unwilling to bring Roxie along.
No, rather, Merika was unhappy that Shien was acting for Roxie's sake.
Vivian and Lumya, meanwhile, both looked slightly stunned by what Shien had said.
"Taking Princess Roxie out...?"
Lumya's expression became hesitant.
"Are you sure?" Vivian asked directly. "Princess Roxie isn't someone who can casually leave the royal capital."
"Is that so?" Shien could not help asking Vivian in return. "Why?"
"Why?" Vivian froze for a moment, then realized something.
Yes.
Why?
Why could Roxie not casually leave the royal capital?
She was already engaged to Shien and no longer needed to attend the customary public appearances. With Shien's current status, if he wanted to take Roxie