Do You Like Higashino Makoto?

The capital of the Holy King Kingdom, afternoon.

Higashino Makoto walked among the crowds at the market, his long, silvery-white hair swaying gently in the breeze, his dark robe gleaming with a somber sheen in the sunlight.

Calca walked beside him, wearing a simple white dress, her long golden hair cascading over her shoulders. She wore no Crown or formal attire, looking like an ordinary noblewoman.

If we ignore the elegance and composure that she seems to possess innate.

Alice Kuonji followed behind them in a ladylike manner, her black maid outfit impeccable, her hands placed on her lower abdomen, her face expressionless, her black pupils sweeping over the stalls on both sides.

"Higashino Makoto, do you know what level Neia is at now?"

Calca looked at the figure weaving through the crowd in the distance, wearing the badge of a gold-level adventurer, and Neia was among them.

She used that longbow to accomplish many tasks: repelling bandits, slaying monsters, and protecting villages.

"She's not that little girl trembling on the city wall anymore. Don't you feel proud?"

Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.

Sorry, the level difference is too large to really tell.

"... a little."

Calca's lips curled up slightly.

Higashino Makoto glanced at her but didn't say anything.

In the distance, Neia seemed to sense something and turned her head. Her "fierce" eyes lingered on Higashino Makoto for a moment before quickly looking away, her ears turning slightly red.

She was talking to several adventurers—people wearing leather armor and with weapons at their waists, who appeared to be members of her party.

"Neia, what's wrong?"

"N-nothing..."

"You're blushing."

Don't talk nonsense!

The adventurers exchanged glances, then laughed simultaneously.

Higashino Makoto withdrew his gaze.

Let's go.

Calca glanced at him.

"Aren't you going to talk to her?"

"Unnecessary."

"Really? I remember you liked her quite a bit."

"Hmm, quite an interesting little girl."

The two continued walking forward, with Alice Kuonji following behind.

Then they encountered Kelart. She was standing in front of a spice shop, carrying a basket containing several packets of spices.

Her long, wavy, brown hair shimmered softly in the sunlight, and her grey-green eyes looked at Higashino Makoto with a mixture of wariness, dissatisfaction, and a complex emotion that was hard to define.

Your Highness.

"Kelart."

Calca's voice was calm.

"You're here to buy something too?"

"The temple has run out of incense; I've come to buy some."

Kelart shifted his gaze from Calca to Higashino Makoto.

"Mr. Higashino Makoto, are you accompanying His Highness shopping?"

"Um."

"You seem to have a lot of free time."

"Not bad, more free than some people."

Kelart's lips twitched slightly.

"... What do you mean?"

"It doesn't mean anything; it's just stating the facts."

Calca sighed softly.

"Kelart."

Your Highness.

"Don't make a sound."

"I didn't make a sound."

Kelart took a deep breath.

I was just talking to him.

Higashino Makoto looked at her.

Your hair looks better today than yesterday.

Kelart was taken aback for a moment.

"... What?"

"I said, your hair is nice, it looks great in the sunlight."

Kelart's face flushed slightly.

"What... what are you saying?"

"It should be obvious; I'm complimenting you."

I don't need your praise!

"Well, I still complimented her. What do you want from me?"

Kelart took a deep breath, then another.

"Your Highness, I must return now. There are matters at the temple that require my attention."

"Good."

Kelart turned around, took a few steps, stopped, and didn't look back.

"Higashino Makoto, I'll be sleeping with His Highness tonight. Don't even think about it."

Without waiting for Higashino Makoto's reply, she continued walking forward, her footsteps gradually fading into the distance.

Calca watched her retreating figure.

"She's angry again. Are you doing this on purpose?"

"Um."

"Why?"

"Because she looks good and is funny when she's angry."

Calca remained silent for a moment.

"... You really are quite annoying."

"I know."

Calca shook his head. The two continued walking.

Alice Kuonji followed behind.

"Higashino."

"Um."

"That priestess Castordio, she probably likes you."

Higashino Makoto glanced at her.

Why do you say that?

The way she looks at you is different from how she looks at others.

Alice Kuonji's tone was calm.

"She cares about you, that's why she's angry."

Calca's fingers tightened slightly.

"Alice Kuonji Kelart, that's not what she meant."

"Yeah."

Alice Kuonji's expression remained unchanged.

"I might be seeing things."

Calca lowered his head, Higashino Makoto remained silent.

"Higashino Makoto, have you heard that rumor?"

What rumor?

"About me, Kelart, and Remedios."

I've heard a little about it.

Calca gave a wry smile.

"My relationship with those sisters is too good. So good that some people say it's not just a simple ruler-subject relationship, so good that some people say Captain Remedios doesn't get married because of me, so good that some people say Priestess Kelart doesn't fall in love because of me."

"Yeah."

"Um."

Calca's voice was very soft.

"They've never dated a man, not even once, so the rumors just keep getting more and more believable."

Higashino Makoto looked at her.

"And you, have you ever had one?"

Calca quickly provided the answer.

"No, because I haven't met the right person."

Higashino Makoto didn't speak. The two walked in silence for a while.

"Higashino Makoto, do you think those rumors are true?"

Higashino Makoto thought for a moment.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because the way they look at you is different from how they look at their lover."

Calca looked at him.

"Do you look at me the same way you look at other people?"

Higashino Makoto stopped and turned around to look at her.

There was no emotion in the golden eyes, but Calca could feel them looking at her.

It's not about seeing the Holy Queen, it's not about seeing a woman, it's about seeing Calca.

"... no the same."

Calca's lips curled up slightly.

"That's good."

That evening, in Calca's bedchamber.

Kelart sat on the edge of the bed, her long, brown curly hair cascading over her shoulders, wearing a white nightgown.

His grey-green eyes stared at the doorway, his fingers gently stroking the bed sheet.

"Your Highness, I'll be sleeping here tonight."

"Good."

Aren't you going to ask me why?

"No need to ask, I know."

Calca sat in front of the dressing table, combing her long golden hair.

"You're guarding against Higashino Makoto."

"Right!"

Kelart raised his voice slightly.

"He... he'll definitely come tonight, I can't let him succeed."

Calca looked at the high priest in the mirror.

What will you do if he comes?

"I--I just--"

"Just what?"

"Just yell at him!"

Calca chuckled softly.

"He won't be driven away by being scolded."

"Then I'll hit him!"

You can't beat him.

Kelart bit her lip.

"Then... then I'll... I'll stay here! He can't do anything while I'm here, can he?"

Calca looked at her, her eyes reflecting the candlelight.

Would Higashino Makoto really care about this?

If he comes tonight, he's more likely to try and get her to come with him.

After a moment, she put down the comb, stood up, and walked to the bedside.

"Kelart, do you like Higashino Makoto?"

Kelart's body stiffened.

"... What?"

"I'm asking you, do you like Higashino Makoto?"

"I--I didn't--!"

"Then why do you care about him so much?"

"I care about you! Not him!"

Calca looked at her.

"Real?"

"Real!"

Calca remained silent for a moment.

"Okay, go to sleep."