Chapter 213: Chatting

Giliath demands your Power Stones! It's a new week so let's try for over 500!

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People were reaching for the dishes on the table to fill their bellies as we began to make idle chatter. Since I was still sitting next to Princess Alfin, she looked my way while she cut into her current dish with her utensils.

"By the way, Big Brother Naoto, you aren't just here for tonight's event, are you?", Princess Alfin asked with interest. "When our two groups met up earlier you weren't alone. Even Big Brother Olivert found it a surprise you came here with Sir Mueller.", Princess Alfin asked.

"Indeed. The RMP escorted us here after we received an invitation, but there is a reason why we came in with the Vanders. You may even like it, Alfin. This isn't a short term visit. My friends and I will be here for the next three months.", I said, thinking for a moment on how to address Princess Alfin after she had requested to address her by first name now. The moment I said that, I felt a piercing gaze from Musse, but disregarded her since my gaze was fixed on Princess Alfin, whose eyes lit up with sparkles the moment she heard that.

"So that means you'll be with us until February or early March?", Princess Alfin happily asked.

"I was curious seeing Your Highness arrive with Mueller...So that's what was going on. Any particular reason why?", Prince Olivert also asked me.

"Yes. I've been retraining my foundations in the way of the sword lately. I've already passed the trial given to me at the Vander Dojo back in Parm, on top of passing a trial given to me at the Arseid Dojo in Arseid. That was three months ago and now here I am, finding myself in the next part of my adventure here in Heimdallr. I didn't think we'd get a chance to get invited to the palace, but it seems I was proven wrong otherwise.", I said, describing the situation as to why I came to Heimdallr in the first place.

"Relearning the way of the sword...That is no easy feat, Your Highness. We nobles take up some form of protection regardless of what it may be, even Cedric here has been getting taught sword arts lately.", Prince Olivert said as he looked at his younger brother, who nodded his head.

"It is true, but I currently see the sword more of a form of art, rather than it being used in a practical manner. I do understand the sword's weight on a person's life though, since it can also offer a means of protection. Perhaps we should have a small duel later to check the progress I've had, Your Highness.", Prince Cedric said, drawing everyone's interest.

"That would definitely be something nice to see, dear Brother. A duel can also help strengthen the bond between two people too. I'd love to see this chance for you to get to know Big Brother Naoto better.", Princess Alfin happily said.

"A duel, hmm? I am not particularly against it. I have not seen many match our son lately, so perhaps it would serve as a good guiding light. You said you'd be in Heimdallr for the next three months, right Prince Naoto?", Emperor Eugent asked as he looked my way.

"That's the plan for now. I do not see a rush on it, so whenever you feel comfortable in doing the duel Prince Cedric, we can do it then.", I said with a smile.

"I can agree to that. Some things can't be rushed. After all, it would be quite cruel of me to injure my dearest Sister's first dance partner before the big event tonight.", Prince Cedric said, revealing a playful grin. Hearing him say that caused my eyes to glance his way. Now that's the snarky attitude I remember Prince Cedric having...He hasn't been controlled by the Duke yet. Perhaps that was just a part of him regardless. Still a round of laughter was had after Prince Cedric said that.

"Aside from that though, seeing as you came here directly Mueller, I take it everything has been settled for Prince Naoto already?", Emperor Eugent asked Mueller.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Everything has already been settled. As His Highness has stated, he will be under our care for the next three months. Most of the itinerary is set in place, but we haven't picked out lodging yet.", Mueller said, wondering where I would be staying these next three months. Sir Victor had me stay at the Arseid Family, but now we were here in Heimdallr, and the place was much wider. Hearing Mueller say that, Musse revealed a playful grin.

"Teehee, since His Highness Naoto is already calling Her Highness by first name already, why doesn't he just move into the palace?", Musse retorted with a playful grin.

"Musse...", Elise began to say, seeing the playful look in Musse's eyes. She could only shake her head. She's been friends with Musse for a couple years now, and learned she loved prying into other people's love affairs. That was one of her defining characteristics in the cold steel saga, apart from pestering Rean to no end. Still, it's not like Musse is bad at heart. She does this a lot to hide who she truly is, a freakish monster of a genius. She can literally play five-dimensional chess inside her head while trying to think of solutions.

It's not like Musse was wrong on this point though. I was interested in seeing where I found myself in Heimdallr for the next three months, but it would appear Musse jumped the gun. I could already see the excitement in Princess Alfin's eyes as Musse said that as she looked toward Emperor Eugent.

"You aren't against Big Brother Naoto from staying here in Valflame Palace for the next three months, are you, Father?", Princess Alfin asked.

"Haha, with how things are now by this point, how could I turn such a thing now? You are more than welcome to stay here, Prince Naoto. I am sure Olivert would appreciate the company too.", Emperor Eugent answered with a laugh.

"Oh blissful day it is. It is as though two long lost brothers treading the path of romance have been reunited at last. How about I take you to my private quarters later, Your Highness?", Prince Olivert said with a grin of his own. His cheeks were now a big rosy, likely from the wine he has been gushing down his throat.

"Uhh, that would be a hard pass for me.", I retorted, causing Prince Olivert to laugh.

"Well, we have a lot of vacant rooms available further inside the palace, Big Brother Naoto. I can take you one that's closer to my room.", Princess Alfin responded with a smile.

"As much as I would like to talk about these details of where His Highness should arrive at later, we still have a dance tonight, do we not, Your Majesty?", Chancellor Osborne's voice said, reaching our ears with his deep voice, which seemed to douse the current conversation going on.

"Yes. This banquet was quite fulfilling. Since most things have been worked out now, we should make our way to the Esmelas Garden. Most if not all of the nobles should have arrived by now. There might even be one or two you may know yourself, Prince Naoto. Oh and your friends are more than welcome to join us. We've prepared some garments for tonight's festivity.", Emperor Eugent declared, drawing all of our interests.

The moment Emperor Eugent declared that, Fie frowned.

"Are you saying that I have to wear a dress...?", Fie retorted with a small frown over her lips. Emma chuckled hearing Fie say that.

"Hehe, oh come on now, Fie. We don't get chances like these a lot, I'll help you fit into a dress.", Emma responded with a smile.

"If you say so...", Fie said, letting out a defeated sigh.

"This is gonna be fun.", Renne also said, revealing a smile seeing what had just been said. The Emperor even sent the invitation out to the group that came along with Princess Alfin, so that also meant Renne and Sherryl would join in.

"Yeah...", Sherryl simply answered. A hint of red constantly appeared on her cheeks mostly throughout the event tonight and stayed mostly quiet. I could see Sherryl take glances my way every so often though, but it seemed she was still trying to remain oblivious to the matter.

Either way, we soon concluded our banquet with the Emperor and Empress being dismissed first to go greet the nobles they had invited. The Arnor siblings decided to take the rest of us to some fitting rooms in preparation for the dance tonight. Fie, Emma, Renne, Sherryl, Elise, and Musse went into a separate room with Princess Alfin, while Prince Olivert, Prince Cedric, Mueller, Kurt and I went into a room beside theirs to get changed.

The moment we all went into our respective fitting rooms, Fie suddenly clung onto my arm rather instinctively. Seeing this caused me to chuckle, but all of us only watched on as Emma began to drag Fie into the girls' fitting room...