The Six Kings' Executives were individuals who held the highest possible standing within the vast Demon Realm. No matter how noble one might be, they were not people one could interact with easily.
In fact, simply having a connection with any of the Executives was a status symbol in its own right. Elis's father, Marquis Hamilton, had some ties with Fafnir—one of the Four Great Magic Dragons serving the Dragon King. Even though Fafnir only attended the Marquis’s parties once or twice a year, that minor association was enough to make other nobles view the Marquis with deep respect.
Elis herself had exchanged nothing more than simple greetings with Fafnir a few times; her contact with the Six Kings' Executives truly went no further than that. Yet, five of the Seven Princesses had suddenly appeared right before her eyes. Encountering such a situation so abruptly made Elis's heart momentarily stop, but she managed to keep her consciousness from fading through sheer grit and willpower.
(...I-I-I’m okay... I-I am a strong daughter of a Marquis. A lady must never lose her composure, no matter how unforeseen the crisis. N-Now is the time to use that method Father taught me...)
Though her Ironclad Smile was admittedly twitching, Elis desperately tried to hold on by recalling the advice her father had once given her.
"Listen, Elis. We are not the Omniscient God; unforeseen circumstances are an inevitability. Realize that a noble’s true worth is tested by how they handle the unexpected. Above all, you must never act while in a state of confusion. Actions born of panic never lead to good results. Your first priority must always be to calm your mind."
"Yes, Father. But specifically, how should I go about that?"
"This is merely my own method, but I strongly visualize a calm and composed version of myself within my mind. I vividly imagine this 'other self' standing with unshakeable serenity, even in the middle of an emergency. And then, I ask that calm self: what is the best course of action?"
Remembering that exchange, Elis immediately put it into practice. She focused her mind on the image of herself as a calm, dignified, and perfect lady. She built that powerful mental image and asked her "perfect self" how she should proceed.
But the "Ideal Elis" she had summoned with such effort... simply shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.
Impossible. This is beyond me.
Feeling as though she had actually heard those words, Elis looked up at the sky with far-off eyes.
(So it’s impossible... I suppose so. I never even imagined a situation where I’d encounter five Executives at the same time... It’s over. There’s nothing left to do but let the current take me. Father, Mother... I-I will do my best to ensure they don't develop a bad impression of the Hamilton Marquis House.)
Accepting that the situation was beyond her control, Elis decided to resign herself to the flow of events. Her lady’s mask was in tatters, but she managed to maintain at least a semblance of a smile while watching Kaito and the others talk.
"What a coincidence. What brings you all here?"
"Til and the others were all on our way to the Nifty cafe!"
"It’s thanks to Rosmiel—which is to say, Rosmiel has a Priority Reservation Right, and the rest of us are benefiting from it. Prompt action—which is to say, we all happened to be free today, so even though we only decided yesterday, we came. I was surprised we could get a reservation so quickly."
Indeed, the five members of the Seven Princesses had been gathered for tea the previous day to discuss work when they learned that Rosmiel held a Priority Reservation Right. At Rosmiel's suggestion, those who wanted to go decided to visit Nifty.
As it happened, all five were free the following day as well, so they had made their way to the cafe as a group, only to run directly into Kaito.
(...A-As expected of Kaito-sama, to be on such friendly terms with the Seven Princesses... B-B-By the way... is it just my imagination? For some reason, it feels like Rosmiel-sama is glaring at me... N-No, it’s definitely not my imagination. She is staring right at me... D-Did I do something rude...?)
A sharp gaze—or rather, the frozen expression of a girl paralyzed by a stranger's presence. Rosmiel remained fixed on Elis for a moment before leaning in toward Kaito’s ear and whispering in a low voice that Elis couldn't catch.
"...U-Um, Kaito-kun? Who is that girl? S-She looks like she’s really nervous..."
"Oh, she’s Elis-san. We met a little while ago..."
"!!?!?!"
Elis couldn't hear Rosmiel's voice, which only made her more terrified. She straightened her posture as Kaito spoke, her mind racing.
(Wait... Kaito-sama?! Is he about to introduce me?! I’m not even the Head of House, just a daughter of a Marquis! I’m in no position to casually chat with the Six Kings' Executives! Oh, no, no... but in this situation, not offering a greeting would be lèse-majesté!)
As the conversation shifted toward Kaito introducing her, Elis turned pale at the prospect of having to present herself to five of the Seven Princesses. She unconsciously clutched her stomach—perhaps as a final, desperate act of self-defense.