Ch. 1: An Unusual Prince
As the stars began to twinkle in the night sky…-.
I arrived at a certain party.
(This place is beautiful…)
Within the gorgeous building were people wearing fantastical outfits, one after another.
Each person wore the butterfly decoration somewhere on their person, which served as proof of their invitation.
(It almost looks like there are hundreds of butterflies flying around…)
I looked at the butterfly decoration around my wrist and recalled when I had received it along with the invitation.
[I have created a special Butterfly Tiara. Who will be the best flower that our butterfly will land on…?]
The invitation said as much, having been written by the crown crafters of Corona, who had made the crowns for the King of Dreams through the ages.
Lady 1: “Isn’t this the first time they’ve made a tiara to give to someone other than the Traumere Royal Family…?”
Nobleman 1: “It is said that glory will be bestowed upon the person who receives a crown or tiara made by the Corona Royal Family.”
Lady 2: “Since I’ve dressed so elegantly, I’m sure this is my chance…”
I could hear various people talking and gossiping around me.
(I bet it’ll be a beautiful tiara.)
The expectation filled my heart, and when I arrived at the entrance…-.
Guard: “Sir, if you do not possess the butterfly decoration as proof of invitation, you will not be allowed entrance.”
A guard had stopped a man at the entrance.
??: “Invitation? I don’t need something like that. Because there is no party that would turn away someone like me.”
Smiling with ease, the man continued to nonchalantly walk towards the entrance.
In a rush, the guard seized his arm.
??: “Ah…-.”
The man who had been grabbed suddenly looked over his shoulder and…-.
(…? What is that sound…?)
I looked around as a sudden noise started to echo around me, and I saw a white mass approaching at great speed.
OO: “Eh…! Sheep…!?”
A flock of bleating sheep rushed by me.
??: “Everyone! I told you not to follow me… geez, what am I going to do with you.”
The man turned towards the sheep and smiled happily.
??: “Prince Azalee, over here.”
A man who appeared to be a retainer suddenly appeared out of nowhere and rolled out a red carpet.
(He just called that other man ‘Prince Azalee’ but… that man is a prince?)
Azalee: “Calim. I don’t need such a grandiose gesture. We’re already at the party, and now my cover is blown.”
Even as he complained, Prince Azalee strolled down the red carpet.
(That surprised me…)
The sound of bleating sheep munching on the grass filled the surrounding area.
More and more started to appear, and the guard frantically went after them.
Ch. 2: Signs of Trouble
The sheep surrounding the party hall were kicking up a cloud of dust…-.
As I was preoccupied with the spectacle, I didn’t notice myself getting swept up by the mass of sheep.
(Wh-what should I do…!?)
I tried to force myself to stop.
As I was doing that, someone reached out and pulled me up and out into their strong arms.
Azalee: “Miss! That was dangerous.”
I was being held by the man from before… Prince Azalee, and he was smiling.
OO: “Th-thank you.”
Azalee: “Think nothing of it. As a man, it was the natural thing to do.”
Still held up in his arms, Azalee walked down the red carpet and into the hall.
Calim: “Prince Azalee. It was your beloved sheep that so rudely swept up the poor lady in the first place.”
Calim came up from behind and stealthily whispered to Azalee.
Azalee: “Hm, I see. In that case, the sheep carried you to me.”
Azalee continued to smile, unconcerned as he spoke at a normal volume, and set me down on the carpet.
Azlaee: “Miss, tell me your name.”
OO: “Ah, um… it’s OO.”
Azalee: “OO. A good name. As recompense for the discourtesy of my sheep, I will allow you to serve as my partner this evening.”
Azalee said it so easily, and strangely, his inflection implying I should be honored.
OO: “Um…”
OO: “By partner, you mean…?”
Azalee: “That’s right. You’re the one I have chosen OO!”
(Th-that didn’t really seem like an answer…)
I smiled vaguely, without any real feeling behind it.
(What does he mean by ‘partner’…?)
The question whirled around in my head, and I tilted my head in confusion
Azalee: “Hm? What a strange expression… ah, I know! How careless of me. I haven’t even given you my own name yet. I am Azalee. I come from… well, that’s a bit inelegant of me.”
(I swear I heard he was a prince just a minute ago…)
Azalee: “Well that’s that. Let’s not worry about the details. I am the legitimate heir to the throne of Salusha, Land of Golden Sands.”
(Ah, huh? He ended up saying it anyway…?)
It was such a surprise that I forgot to even blink.
Calim: “Prince Azalee, your seat is ready for you.”
Azalee: “Very good! OO, look there.”
Unaware of how flustered I was, Azalee pointed to the center of the party hall.
OO: “This is…”
There was a pavilion, like one you might see in a desert, filled with fluffy cushions and, for some reason, the sheep from earlier…
The people around it were staring and murmuring.
(I-it’s awfully conspicuous… he should know that without me saying anything right…?)
Azalee: “Well, it was hastily put together, but it’ll do. This is the VIP section.”
Azalee smiled in satisfaction.
(I feel like this is going to be an interesting party…)
Unmindful of his surroundings…
Azalee’s eyes sparkled with enjoyment.
Ch. 3: A Cheerful Smile
The sound of bleating sheep echoed in the grand party hall…-.
Azalee and I were at the center of it all, in the hastily constructed “VIP seating.”
(I’m keenly aware of the eyes of the people around us…)
Azalee: “Hm? OO, why do you look so down?”
Azalee had his eyes trained on me, rather than the scene around us.
OO: “U-um, I guess I would say I’m just a little concerned about the people watching…”
I spoke quietly, choosing my words carefully, but Azalee didn’t answer.
OO: “I was thinking…can you really just set up your own seating in a place like this?”
I spoke, keeping my eyes down due to the awkwardness, but Azalee didn’t respond.
(Did I make him angry…?)
I waited, not wanting to startle the sheep…
Azalee: “Amazing! This is amazing too!”
OO: “Eh…!?”
Calim was feeding Azalee fruits.
(H-he didn’t hear me…!)
I just say there, blinking in shock.
Then…-.
Azalee: “Hm.”
Clearly misunderstanding, Azalee held out a piece of well-cooked meat to me.
OO: “Uh…?”
Azalee: “What? It’s a party after all, so what can you do other than eat and dance? Here, this meat is really good. Eat up; there’s plenty left.”
Saying as much, he forcibly put the other half of the meat into my hand and bit into his own piece.
Hall Manager: “Um, sir?”
The manager of the hall was nervously approaching us.
Hall Manager: “I apologize for disturbing you but, this place is for displaying the tiara and… eek!”
The sheep suddenly bleated, and the man jumped backwards.
Azalee: “Ah, yes, the floor is a little hard, but I don’t mind.”
Hall Manager: “No, that’s not what I meant, you see the tiara…-.”
At his words, Azalee tilted his head.
Azalee: “Tiara?”
(That’s right, he didn’t get an invitation, so he doesn’t know…)
OO: “This party is for Prince Carlyle of Corona to choose a lady to wear the tiara he made.”
I whispered into his ear, and Azalee’s eyes started to sparkle.
Azalee: “A Corona Tiara!? Where is it!?”
Hall Manager: “You see, that’s what I was…”
Looking around, Azalee turned and saw the glass display case behind his seat.
OO: “The tiara will go here…”
Azalee: “What!? Then hurry and bring it.”
Hall Manager: “But…”
Azalee was staring impatiently at the glass case.
(Wh-what should we do? This is really putting the hall manager in a pinch… I know!)
OO: “Um… Azalee. If you’d like, do you want to look around the party hall?”
Azalee: “The party hall?”
OO: “Yes. As we haven’t seen any of the rest of it.”
Azalee: “Hmm… that is true. That could be fun.”
OO: “Azalee, there’s something over there that looks delicious.”
Azalee: “Delicious… if you say it’s true, there’s no helping it.”
Azalee stood and Calim came from behind with the red carpet, prepared to set it out.
Azalee: “Calim, leave it this time. They just said you’ll be in the way. Just stay put.”
Saying as much, Azalee put his arm around my shoulder and started to walk.
Azalee: “By the way, about the tiara. What kind of woman will be chosen?”
OO: “Um… well, I don’t really know. Just that the invitation said “my butterfly will land on the best flower in the hall.” I think it might mean… that he will present the tiara to the best lady in the party hall.”
Azalee: “…”
Azalee was looking straight at me.
Azalee: “Then the one who will be chosen is you.”
OO: “Eh?”
Azalee: “Because you’re very beautiful.”
OO: “…”
Suddenly hearing him say that with a serious expression made my cheeks heat up.
Azalee: “Besides, you have the even greater honor of having become my partner!”
He smiled with ease.
Seeing that smile, it felt as if the area around him grew a little brighter.
Ch. 4: The Meaning of Nobility
The sound of people laughing echoed in the beautiful party hall, filled with butterflies.
Azalee and I walked among them…-.
Man 1: “Hey, you got me dirty! You better pay for that!”
Man 2: “Huh? Whaa…!”
A finely dressed couple arrogantly pushed another couple.
The shoes the finely dressed man were wearing had the slightest trace of having been stepped on.
Man 2: “Wh-what are you doing…”
Man 1: “Silence you punk.”
Man 2: “Eh…?”
Man 1: “You may be dressed nicely, but I can tell from looking at your hands. They’re rough and covered in dirt, the hands of a common worker. Goodness… you’re not even a noble, just a punk off the streets. How did you even manage to slip in here!?”
Woman 1: “Ew, you don’t think they came here thinking they could get the Corona Tiara?”
Man 1: “Yeah. Punks like you could never receive the tiara. Don’t go thinking things above your station.”
Woman 2: “Th-that’s…”
(…!)
(How cruel…)
As I thought that, I found myself taking a step forward.
Then as I gathered my courage to speak out…-.
OO: “Please take back what you just said. That was…”
Man 1: “Hm? What, are you with these punks?”
OO: “…”
I reflexively took a step back under his threatening gaze.
Then in the next instant…-.
Azalee: “OO.”
OO: “Eh…?”
Azalee put his hand out in front of me, then stepped forward and knelt in front of the couple that had been pushed down, extending his hand.
Azalee: “Are you alright?”
Woman 2: “Ah… y-yes. Thank you.”
Azalee smiled at them as he helped up the woman, then the man.
Azalee: “…ah, what beautiful hands! These marks appear to be burns. Do you happen to do work with preparing food?”
Man 2: “Eh? Ah, yes. My wife and I run a bakery in town…”
Azalee: “As I thought! They truly are wonderful hands that can make such delicious things.”
Man 1: “Wonderful? Hey, what are you…”
Azalee: “And as for you!”
Azalee suddenly whirled on the other couple.
Azalee: “A moment ago, you were shouting about payment… do you deal with monetary circulation in your country?”
Man 1: “Wha…! Y-you, are you insulting me!?”
The man became filled with rage, but Azalee paid it no mind. Then Calim suddenly appeared carrying a bundle which he handed to Azalee.
Azalee: “Just to be sure, I’ll pay in pure gold.”
Woman 1: “What? What on earth are you talking about…!?”
Man 1: “!? Th-this is…!?”
Within the package was glittering golden sand held in an ornate glass bottle.
Azalee: “This is the golden sand that my kingdom of Salusha is proud of… you could live in luxury for a short time if you sell it. But let me be clear, this is not payment for your shoes. This is to fund your education so you can learn proper manners and grace.”
The couple smiled faintly as they received the golden sand.
Then they left, seemingly in a hurry to escape.
Azalee: “My oh my…”
As he watched the retreating couple, Azalee let out a great sigh.
Azalee: “…OO. You really are the appropriate person to receive the tiara.”
OO: “Eh?”
Azalee: “You spoke up for that couple, didn’t you? You have a beautiful heart. From my perspective, you’re the only choice.”
After saying that, Azalee smiled without a care in the world.
Then…
Man 2: “A-ah, excuse me, thank you so much.”
The couple who had been pushed down bowed their heads to Azalee.
Azalee: “No need to thank me. It was the natural thing to do.”
Man 2: “How can you be so kind? Please let us do something to thank you.”
Azalee: “Hm, really? In that case… oh, I know! How about inviting myself and OO to come see your bakery in the future?”
As Azalee placed his hand on my shoulder, he looked at the couple hopefully.
Woman 2: “Eh? That’s no problem of course, but…”
Azalee: “Then it’s settled! I look forward to it.”
Azalee’s entire face broke into a wide smile.
Then…
Azalee: “Aah, I’m hungry. I need to find something to eat or I might collapse from hunger. OO, let’s head back for a meal.”
OO: “Eh? A-already?”
Azalee: “That’s right. All this talk of food has made me hungry. Well then, please excuse us.”
Man 2: “Eh? Ah… yes. Thank you again!”
The coupled bowed again and Azalee once more wore his carefree smile.
Seeing him so composed in every situation made my heart flutter a little.