It could not be helped that everyone in the room froze up . The younger maids had basically been caught slacking off . And Maki and Chiharu had already met Chouze as Saintesses . Of course, they had tried to keep a distance from her as they were annoyed . So they did not have that strong of an impression of her .
“Oh, so you’re the one they were talking about . ”
There was no tradition of kneeling before royalty in this world, so Maki just bowed politely .
“My, what unusual hair and eyes . The thin jaw and long eyelashes . You’re just as the maids described!”
The maids looked away uncomfortably . They had not intended for their gossip to be heard by their master .
Hmm . While it was true that Maki made a pretty boy, Chiharu had the same eyes, thin jaw, and long lashes . They even had the same wig color . So it was odd that Maki was the only one to get so much attention . Such were the thoughts in Chiharu’s head .
Maki seemed a little disturbed by the excitement on Chouze’s face . However, this was taken favorably, as it was apparently the natural reaction of a boy that age . After all, she had not noticed that they were Saintesses .
“Um, I think it’s time I take my sister and leave . Thank you for everything . ”
Maki quickly thanked her and then signaled to Chiharu . Chiharu picked up the orange that was left after feeding Norfe, and rushed towards Maki .
“Oh, you’re the child that my brother was carrying earlier . ”
Chouze said as she looked at the orange .
Maki was known as the youth with a beautiful face, but Chiharu was just the orange girl . That didn’t seem very fair at all!
“It’s good that you’re feeling better now . Oh, I know . I’ll let you see the merman before my brother finishes getting changed . ”
“Princess Chouze!”
One of the maids practically screamed .
“I just want someone beautiful to meet someone beautiful . What could be wrong with that?”
“The merman being here is supposed to be a secret . ”
“It’s not a secret, though? After all, he is here by his own free will . ”
“However, such a fish…”
Apparently, the maids were scared of the merman and did not want Maki to meet him .
“Oh, surely you do want to meet him?”
Chouze asked Maki innocently . This was a great opportunity . However, it might affect their plans tonight . Maki hesitated .
“The merfolk are legendary . So I would like to meet one . But I’m not important enough . ”
She said with a shake of her head .
“Oh, how modest of you . Well, Amia can refuse if he wants . And you . Orange girl . He might just like oranges, so you can come too . ”
Chiharu, now known as ‘orange girl,’ looked at Maki . What should we do? We have no choice but to go . And so they decided to take her up on the offer .
“As for the rest of you, stop slacking off and go back to work . ”
Chouze did not forget to rebuke the maids as she took Maki and Chiharu to the room that was four rooms down the hall .
The guards looked displeased when they saw Maki and Chiharu, but they could not go against Chouze . She knocked on the door and then entered without waiting for a reply . Maki and Chiharu stepped inside hesitantly .
“Prince Amia . I brought something very unusual today . ”
Chouze said in an excited voice .
“That is unusual . ”
Came the lazy voice . There, on the sofa, was sprawled a large merman with glimmering, milky white scales . Chiharu couldn’t help but mutter to herself .
“It’s a big tuna…”
“Shh . That’s even worse than me calling someone ‘Rasche . ’”
Maki said frantically .
“Oh, Prince Amia is interested . ”
“Are those Soluna oranges?”
Chouze looked at Chiharu with shining eyes . To be precise, she was looking at the orange that Chiharu was holding . See? Didn’t I say so? That’s what it looked like she was saying . Chiharu had no choice but to nod as if she was impressed .
“Let me eat that . ”
Amia said . And so Chiharu tried to pass the orange to Chouze .
“You . I want you to peel it for me . ”
He said . Chouze nodded gracefully . It was only natural, since this was the kind of work that maids would do .
And so Chiharu was forced to approach Amia . He told her where to stand with his eyes, as he did not want Chouze to see him as he ate . Chiharu moved hesitantly as if she was afraid .
“Why are you here, beloved child?”
Amia whispered . Chiharu peeled the orange and separated the pieces as she answered .
“I should be asking you that, Amia . Saia is worried . ”
“I knew it . This is bad . ”
Amia muttered with a troubled expression . His tail slapped the sofa weakly .
“Ah, Princess Chouze . Merfolk really are as beautiful as they say . ”
Maki coughed and then addressed her . Now was the time .
“We’ll come to rescue you tonight, on the lakeside . It’s time for you to return . ”
“I don’t need help . But I suppose I have no choice . I really am tired now . ”
Amia said as he opened his mouth .
“Huh?”
“Orange . ”
“You’re really going to eat it?”
“It’s my favorite . ”
Chiharu sighed and started tossing them into his mouth .
“Delicious . ”
Amia said loudly . Then he opened his mouth again . Chiharu threw more orange pieces inside .
“Well, it was a good thing I brought the orange girl with us . ”
Yes, yes . The orange girl who fed the prince and the merfolk chief . That’s me . Chiharu couldn’t help but be a little sulky . Once the oranges were gone, Amia said,
“Mm . ”
“Huh?”
“Mm . ”
What did he mean by leaning forward like that? Chiharu rummaged in her pockets for a handkerchief and then wiped his mouth .
“Mm . ”
She supposed that was a satisfied grunt . Just then, someone knocked on the door and then entered without waiting for a reply .
“Excuse me . ”
The person who came in was Norfe . Both of them came in without waiting . They were very rude siblings .
“Norfe!”
Chouze brightened up at the sight of him . Norfe glanced at her before turning to Amia . Then his eyes widened . Chiharu was used to seeing them, but she supposed that it was different for most people .
“Merman and orange girl . ”
Enough with the ‘orange girl’! Chiharu’s shoulders dropped . Then Maki interrupted them .
“Well, we best be going now . Princess Chouze, thank you for letting us see such a beautiful person . ”
Chouze then gave them permission to leave, though she seemed very reluctant to do so .
“Yes, I suppose you must . You may leave . ”
Chiharu rushed to where Maki was standing . Then they both bowed and hurried out of the room . The guards glared at them as they ran down the hallway and to the door . When Maki was sure that no one was watching, she whispered to Chiharu .
“I don’t think Edwy and Aaron will come, since they would be recognized . We have to leave town . Or the whole plan will be ruined . ”
“Yes . ”
“Also, you’re going to get lectured later, Chiharu!”
“What? But it was out of my control!”
She groaned . And so they ran from the villa, got made fun of in the market square, reunited with Edwy, and then left the town . Not returning immediately would have invited suspicion .
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