"Ha ha, it's fine. You don't need to hide from me like this."
Gawain smiled and beckoned Shirahoshi over.
"Come sit down, have some tea and breakfast, and tell me why you came here while you're at it."
As his words fell, Gawain ushered Jinbe and Shirahoshi over to a sofa nearby.
Shirahoshi curled her tail up as she leaned into the corner of her enormous sofa. She did not dare speak much, so she merely fluttered her lashes and looked at Gawain anxiously.
As for Jinbe—
After sitting down, Jinbe accepted the teacup Gion handed him and said softly,
"Forgive the disturbance, Saint Gawain. I had already accepted the task of protecting you, so naturally, I should remain by your side as much as possible.
"As for Princess Shirahoshi, after returning to Hard-Shell Tower last night, she was unable to sleep all night.
"For that reason, King Neptune hoped she could embrace freedom from this moment onward, so I specifically went to bring Shirahoshi here this morning."
At that, Gion nodded from the side.
"Indeed, my lord. Mister Jinbe stood guard outside the estate all night and only left suddenly at dawn."
As she spoke, Gion helplessly rubbed the corner of her eye.
"Brother Jinbe, there are plenty of rooms in this estate. You really didn't need to keep wandering around outside.
"Last night, I kept checking whether that presence was really yours.
"It was quite tir—"
"Uh..."
Jinbe nodded awkwardly, while Shirahoshi beside him burst into laughter.
Faced with the princess's laughter, Jinbe fell silent for a long while before finally continuing with a flushed face.
"Saint Gawain, ahem, regarding why I brought Princess Shirahoshi here...
"I would like to ask that you permit Shirahoshi to remain near you, and near Gion and myself as well.
"After all,