Umm, what is the correct answer?
When the smile I forcibly made started twitching, help came.
"Everyone, isn't it enough of bullying Lillina?"
Oh~~ Chris-sama~~, please help~~.
I don't know the correct answer~.
However, everyone began to argue with Chris-sama's words.
"Chris-oniisama~~, I'm not bullying Lillinsama."
"Chris, aren't you just trying to look cool in front of Lillinsan."
"So you're Chris's favorite~~, alright, call me elder brother."
The younger prince, who dropped the earlier bomb, a princess little older than me, an older prince resembling Chris-sama.
Altogether with other siblings, 8 people.
So many children!
Since there's no concubine, everyone is a child of the king and queen.
I wish one of them came to my country…
But this conversation is dangerous.
It seems it would be impossible to undo a careless remark.
How do I survive this place?
Still, Chris-sama and his siblings are messing around.
It's a fresh sight, I've never seen Chris-sama like this before.
Since it seems they're having fun, they shouldn't notice if I disappear…
Erasing my presence, I slowly moved towards my grandparents.
Squeeze!
Yup, it's not going smoothly.
Something is glued to my waist.
Looking down, a younger, round prince and a similar princess are embracing me.
"Lillinoneesama~, where are you going? Why don't we eat sweets together?"
Those upturned eyes, looking up at me, somehow resemble Chris-sama's.
Still… So cuuute~~.
I spontaneously started smiling, oops.
At any rate… Is it impossible to get out of this situation?
I can't refuse an invitation of such a cute princess.
The me who likes cute things can't shake off these hands…
Chris-sama and others are quarreling over something, and while I was thinking of how to get away, it seems somebody came into the room.
I looked over there to see Soul-san and Ryan-san.
Certainly, after opening the door those two had to wait outside…
Rather than Chris-sama, the two quickly approached the king.
Grandmother and grandfather are there.
The two relayed something to the king.
The king's complexion changed upon hearing it.
It became extraordinary pale.
And he kept glancing at grandfather.
It's immediately obvious something happened.
The king appears to have told grandfather something.
Speaking of grandfather who heard it… Huh? There's not much reaction?
But after lightly sighing, he turned to me and said.
"Lillina. Come here for a minute."
Huh? Is it related to me?
Gently smiling, I apologized to the princess attached to my waist "I am really sorry. I will be going to my grandfather for a while, so could you please let go of me?"
The princess looked slightly disappointed, but she obediently released me.
Afterwards when I confirmed the princess separated from me, I headed towards my grandfather.
"Grandfather… Did something happen?"
In response to my question, grandfather let out a brief "Ah…" and looked at the king.
It seems he'll let the king do the talking.
The king, understanding the gaze, suddenly broke into an apology.
"Miss Lillina, sorry!"
"Eh? U, umm, what in the world happened?"
Even if you apologize, I don't know the reason.
"That is… I also told Sword God-dono, but it seems that Miss Lillina's friends are missing. Of course, we're looking for them now."
"Missing… Is it? Why do you believe such is the case?"
Ryan-san answered my question.
"A message came from a maid in charge of the room where Lillinsama's friends stayed. Someone seems to have brought out your friends, we're investigating now. It seems the maid was told that it's a prince's request. The person who took them out appeared to be a maid as well, the maid in charge of them felt something was strange and came to us. Perhaps the aim was Miss Yuri whom you helped on your way here."
After all they didn't give up…
To even act inside the castle, the enemy must be genuinely cornered.
The problem is, if you're after Yuri-san, to have even a small probability of success, those four also had to come along.
The king asked curiously as I remained strangely calm.
"Miss Lillina, your friends are missing… Aren't you worried?"
"Worried… You are right, I am worried."
"Oh, obviously. I am honestly sorry, please wait just a little longer. We'll find them soon."
Yes?
Ah, I guess the king is worried about my friends.
Well, that's what you'd normally think~.
But what I'm worried about is…
"Yes, I am very worried. Usually I'd stop them, but this time it's possible they won't hold back. Please recognize whatever happens as self-defense."
Hearing that, the king made an amazed face.
Aah~~, is everyone okay?
I'm worried because stress should have accumulated on the way here.
Whoever brought you out, please stay safe, okay?