Priscilla didn't see any hint of mockery in Hayashi Maki's eyes; his gaze was still gentle.
That made her a bit less resentful toward this shameless, indecent man, and she didn't find him quite as unpleasant to look at anymore.
"Alright, the capital marketplace is huge, and our time is limited. Let's go and have a proper look around."
Hayashi Maki smiled and made the suggestion, then took the lead.
Priscilla lifted her chin proudly, holding Beatrice's small hand while quietly surveying their surroundings.
From time to time, she would cast an appraising look at Hayashi Maki and Aqua.
Beatrice, for her part, was very unhappy about being led around by another woman, but for Hayashi Maki's sake she endured it.
Anyway, he would have to make it up to her properly later.
Naturally, Hayashi Maki noticed Priscilla's probing glances, but he pretended not to.
Playing the role of a guide familiar with the royal capital, he led the three girls around as they strolled.
They occasionally drew stares from passersby.
Mostly because Priscilla was far too eye-catching.
That luxurious red dress was attention-grabbing enough on its own, and the proud swell of her chest beneath it, along with a peerlessly beautiful face, made her impossible to ignore.
Hayashi Maki wore a simple black adventurer's outfit. He was handsome as well, and with three pretty girls around him, the group gave off an unmistakable air of wealth and status.
To onlookers, he looked more like Priscilla's knightly attendant.
Beatrice was also very striking—her adorable loli appearance was unforgettable at a glance.
Her star-patterned eyes glittered in a way that clearly marked her as no ordinary child, drawing even more attention.
All along the way, Priscilla kept teasing Beatrice whenever she had the chance. Their bickering was oddly cute.
It sounded like arguing, but everything they said about each other was really backhanded praise for the other's looks and good points.
When they reached the front of a conspicuous inn, a one-armed man in casual clothes with a helmet hiding his face rushed over.
"Princess, I finally found you. Honestly, I told you to wait at the door, and the moment I turn around you disappear."
The helmeted man sounded a bit aggrieved.
Clearly, he was fed up with his mistress always wandering off on her own.
"Silence, Al!"
Priscilla snapped at the chatterbox, clearly annoyed.
She thrust out her chest and said haughtily, "The world revolves around this lady. If you cannot find this lady, you should be reflecting on your own incompetence."
"And furthermore, the fact that you only found this lady now is the height of negligence. Prepare yourself to face harsher treatment from this lady from now on."
"Eh?"
The helmeted man was stunned by her proclamation.
He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "Princess, is that really my fault…?"
"What else would it be? Or do you imagine it's this lady's fault?"
Priscilla fixed him with a dangerously amused stare.
Aldebaran shuddered and immediately bowed his head. "O-of course it's my fault. Your Highness's rebuke is just. But, uh… is this young man and these two beautiful ladies your new retainers, Princess?"
With the topic neatly shifted, Priscilla let her irritation drop and smugly declared:
"Indeed. This man is a commoner who presented this lady with fine ringo. While you were absent, he did your work for you, so this lady has decided to employ him."
"Uh, is that so? You're not going to kick me to the curb, are you, Princess? I'm nowhere near as good-looking as this guy."
Priscilla shot him a look of pure disdain.
"Shut up, Aldebaran. If you dare utter any more tactless nonsense and slight this lady's benefactor, that's a beheading offence."
"…Don't call me by that name… seriously…"
The helmeted man muttered, clearly unhappy.
Priscilla ignored him and turned instead to Hayashi Maki, hugging Beatrice tighter so the little spirit couldn't escape as she asked in a clear voice:
"Well then, are you interested in coming to serve this lady? The treatment would certainly be better than what that ugly oaf gets."
Aldebaran grimaced. Even though he knew it was true, hearing it said so bluntly still stung.
Hayashi Maki, however, shook his head.
"Sorry, Priscilla-sama. I already serve as a knight at another young lady's side, so I can only turn down your offer."
Priscilla froze for a moment, then her chest began to heave in anger, the movement pressing her ample bosom down over Beatrice's head, making the little spirit deeply exasperated.
"Move your wicked things away, you're squashing Betty!"
Priscilla didn't have time to stay angry. She hugged Beatrice even tighter and smiled.
"This is this lady's grace. There are plenty who wish for this and do not get it."
"Who wants that kind of favor? How boring. So they're big—so what? It's nothing to brag about! Betty doesn't care at all!"
Beatrice's lips were practically pout-welded in place; from her tangled expression it was obvious she cared a lot.
Priscilla's mouth curved upward slightly, then she turned her sharp gaze back to Hayashi Maki.
"So who is it you serve, exactly? Will you tell this lady?"
Hayashi Maki nodded with a gentle expression.
"Of course. Her name is Emilia. She's a kind, gentle, beautiful half-elf. The moment I first laid eyes on her, I'd already decided—I wanted to be her knight and protect her."
At that, Priscilla's chest nearly exploded with fury.
Emilia?
That half-devil everyone called a monster?
So he hadn't been toying with her at all—he really was that woman's man?
"Hmph. So you belong to that woman's camp. In that case, this lady has nothing more to say to you."
"This lady will remember you."
With a toss of her hair, Priscilla reluctantly released the adorable Beatrice, turned on her heel, and strode off.
"Aldebaran, what are you standing there for? We're returning."
"I told you not to call me that! But… Princess, what's going on? That guy and those—"
"Silence! One more word and you'll never open that mouth again."
"…Got it, coming, coming!"
Aldebaran shot Hayashi Maki an apologetic look and scratched his head before hurrying after her. The last thing he wanted was to spend another hour scouring the capital because she'd wandered off; she always looked down on everything and still managed to get lost.
Watching Priscilla's departing back, Hayashi Maki's lips curled faintly.
"She seems pretty angry—and she says she'll remember me."
"What did you expect?"
Beatrice rolled her eyes, then slipped her small hand into his and clung to it like a spoiled cat.
"You're clearly on Emilia's side. That woman must think you were deliberately toying with her."
Aqua nodded in agreement. "Exactly! Hayashi Maki, you're awful!"
Hayashi Maki pinched Aqua's cheek and replied solemnly, "Awful I may be, but I'm still your great high priest. Besides, having her remember me is a good thing."
When it came to flirting, the most important step was carving yourself into the other person's memory.
And this time, the impression he left on Priscilla Barielle should be more than deep enough.