“Hey, Ray.”
“Yes?”
“Why aren't you sleeping with me~?”
“It would be problematic for a man and woman of our age to share a single bed.”
“……”
“Is something the matter?”
“I'm shocked that such a sensible remark came out of your mouth, Ray!”
“……I do possess at least a minimum level of common sense.”
“Heh~. You’ve really grown up, haven't you~?”
That was a lie.
In truth, until just a few days ago, I hadn’t thought anything of a young man and woman sharing a bed. I had slept with Stella many times, and over the summer vacation, I had even shared a bed with Clarice.
I didn't think there was anything wrong with sleeping side by side. After all, there was no difference between men and women in that regard.
That had been my perception until now, but when I visited Master’s house a few hours ago, I had been sternly cautioned by the two of them——.
“Ray. What is your relationship with that princess?”
“Princess Olivia?”
“Precisely.”
“She wants me to reply to her letters sooner.”
“Hoh……”
“That is due to my own negligence.”
“Ray.”
“Yes. What is it?”
“Princess Olivia is cunning.”
“Well, that is true. I believe she is a very intelligent person.”
“In other words, beware of ‘established facts.’”
“Established facts?”
“Yes.”
It wasn’t just Master. Carla, standing behind her, was also nodding along in agreement.
Furthermore, Master’s gaze had become incredibly sharp. It had been a long time since I’d seen her with such a serious expression, radiating this much tension.
“Listen well. The weapon of a cunning woman is the established fact.”
“I see……”
“In other words, you must never allow her access to your body.”
“I understand.”
“If you end up in a physical relationship, Ray, you will find yourself happily married to the Second Princess.”
“No, no, surely not. There’s no way……”
Even if I am the Ice Sword Sorcerer, one of the Seven Grand Sorcerers, she is the princess of this Kingdom. She wouldn't do something like that to an Ordinary like me.
However, Master’s expression remained dead serious.
“……Wait, are you being serious?”
“There’s no doubt about it. Right, Carla?”
“Yes. I am of the same opinion. Ray-sama, you must not let your guard down. Women can sometimes show a cold-blooded side. Never, ever forget that……”
“……I see. That is a valuable lesson.”
“Ray. Regarding that matter, stop sleeping with women carelessly from now on. Of course, I assume you aren't doing that anymore, though.”
“Eh.”
““Eh?””
Their voices overlapped.
Master spoke as if it were a given that I was no longer sleeping with anyone…… but the reality was different.
I decided to speak honestly about the matter.
“When I went back home, I took a bath and slept in the same bed as Stella. Also, I slept in the same tent as Clarice, but…… was there some kind of problem?”
““……””
——After that, I was subjected to an endless lecture from Master and Carla. They told me that even if we were close and trusted each other, such things must never happen.
Well, I’m used to being lectured by Master, but for some reason, Carla was quite talkative this time as well. Or rather, she was legitimately angry. She told me, “Ray-sama, you seem to understand a woman's heart, but you actually don’t. You have the worst nature of all.”
I was slightly shocked by that, so I took their advice to heart, which is why I’m facing Princess Olivia like this now.
If it weren't for their advice, I probably would have thought, Well, I guess it’s fine to sleep together……
But humans are creatures that grow.
I, too, am steadily acquiring general common sense.
“Well then, Princess Olivia. Sweet dreams.”
“Yes, yes~. Goodnight~”
I turned off the light.
In the end, I decided to sleep on the sofa, and Princess Olivia would sleep in my bed. She threw a bit of a tantrum about wanting to sleep together, but she settled down immediately when I said she could sleep in my bed. She dove into the bed, muttering, “Ehehe…… It smells like Ray~”
It’s a bit of a complicated feeling having someone sniff my scent like that, but I had to make a sacrifice for the greater good.
And so, having strictly followed the advice of Master and Carla, I fell asleep while immersed in a sense of satisfaction.
◇
I was awakened by the sound of three knocks on the door. Checking the current time, it was five-thirty in the morning.
I wondered if Evi had come back.
Thinking that, I stretched lightly and headed toward the door.
“Yes. Who is it?”
When I opened the door, Amelia and Elisa were standing there.
Both of them had bloodshot eyes; they had likely stayed up all night. Since today was a holiday, that was fine, but I wondered why they had come to see me right after pulling an all-nighter.
Then, my eyes fell on the clothes Amelia was holding.
“Ray…… it’s finally done!”
“Ray-kun! We did it!!”
The two of them pressed toward me with proud voices.
I tentatively accepted the garment and spread it out…… and it was.
“Oh! It’s finally finished?!”
“Yes. After repeated trial and error and careful adjustments with Elisa, it’s complete! Fufu…… of course, the skirt is perfect too!”
“Incredible…… to finish it in such a short period…… it’s truly admirable. I think you both are amazing.”
“Ehehe……”
“Hmph! What do you think of that?!”
The two of them were in high spirits for so early in the morning.
But it couldn't be helped. They had created something of this caliber. It was only natural for their feelings to be heightened.
The decorations, like the frills, had increased, and the skirt length was considerably shorter than a standard maid uniform. It was based on black and white, but small decorations had been added throughout to make the contrast stand out clearly.
I wondered how much hardship they had endured to make this.
Thinking about that, I felt a sensation as if my chest were growing hot.
I see. This is what it means to work on a Cultural Festival together with everyone……
And in the midst of the three of us celebrating this great achievement, I had completely forgotten.
That Princess Olivia was staying in my room last night.
“Ray~? What’s wrong…… making such a racket so early in the morning~. I woke up, you know…… haah…… so sleepy, so sleepy……”
“……”
“……”
“Ah……”
Amelia and Elisa fell silent.
I unintentionally let out a weak “Ah……”
I had completely messed up. The fact that Princess Olivia was here was something that should have been kept a secret. I knew that better than anyone. It would look bad in many ways for a member of the royalty to be staying incognito at the Magic Academy’s dormitory—especially the Boys' Dormitory.
However, there was a silver lining.
If it was Amelia and Elisa, they would surely understand. Thinking that, I attempted to make an excuse.
“Amelia. Elisa. This is——”
“This is?”
Amelia cut me off before I could finish my sentence, speaking with eerie composure. On the surface, she seemed the same as usual.
For some reason, a beaming smile was on her face. And yet, her cold eyes were piercing right through me. Those eyes were absolutely not laughing.
Furthermore, Elisa was also staring at me, as if all emotion had drained away from her.
I trembled.
Could this be what they call fear?
I have made it through numerous scenes of carnage until now. I have fought through battlefields where one wanders the border between life and death. And yet, what is this pressure?
My instincts were ringing alarm bells.
——If I say the wrong thing here, death awaits.
“Heh…… Ray-kun, while we were working hard, I see…… you brought a girl in…… and a very cute one at that.”
“No, wait, Elisa. This is—”
“Fufufu…… that’s right! Ray brought me in!”
“Wait!? Princess Olivia! Please stop with the teasing!”
“Eh~? Even though it was such a wild night yesterday?”
“No. We slept separately, so there shouldn't have been anything wild about it…… right?”
Princess Olivia snuggled up close to my arm. Seeing that, Amelia continued the conversation with a trembling voice.
“Fufu. Fufufu…… I trust Ray, and I have faith in him. Yes, I know Ray isn't capable of being that resourceful. In other words, Princess Olivia forced her way in, didn't she?”
“Oh! Amelia, that's exactly…… wait? Eh?”
Amelia suddenly shifted the target of her freezing gaze from me to Princess Olivia.
It was as if two mortal enemies were facing off. Elisa was also staring at Princess Olivia for some reason.
It was as if I didn't even exist to them anymore.
“Princess Olivia. We have a few things to discuss today.”
“Hmph? That’s fine. I don’t really care what you have to say, Amelia~”
“Ah…… wait, just a second.”
The three of them went into the room, and I was locked out as the door was bolted from the inside.
W-Wait…… this is my room, isn't it?
After that, the discussion lasted for several hours. Of course, I had no way of knowing what was discussed in there.