Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 328

"Ah! Cough… cough cough."
"Hendrik!"

Smoothly asked something outrageous, I choked.
Freed sitting next to me hurriedly patted my back and scowled at Prince Hendrik.

"What are you asking Lidi!?"
"What… I think it's a natural question as the sender. Based on your consort's response, I'm going to decide how much to manufacture. I don't want to lose money selling them."

Hearing the word sell, I raised my face. Prince Hendrik explained to Freed with a serious face.

"Especially the beastification bracelet. I absolutely expect it to make a profit. I just want to know if it's not disliked by women and how much they reject it. As for the maid outfit… The quality of materials make it difficult to mass-produce, so I'll lower the quality a little if I sell it…"
"What are you doing…"

As Freed tiredly said so, Prince Hendrik answered with a smile.

"Eh? I think it's perfectly natural as a prince of a merchant country. And? What did you like the best? Did you try everything?"
"Er… Err…"

I'm sorry since he's the sender, but it's incredibly hard to answer.
After all, I used all that Prince Hendrik gave us during sex with Freed. Certainly, it was fun and Freed was pleased, so I didn't feel particularly bad, but sure enough, it's impossible to comment on them.
It was hard when Freed got excited by the maid play until morning. I enjoyed cat ears and tail, and Freed too appeared very pleased with them. Excited, I wore the maid outfit together with them. Since then, Freed has occasionally requested it. The fact that he gets carried away pleased by me meowing is something that I absolutely cannot say.
… I'm aware it's a slightly unusual play. But Freed seems to have fun. That's what matters to me.
When my gaze wandered about as I wondered how to answer, Freed stuck up for me.

"I wrote about that in my replies. Don't ask Lidi, a woman, questions she can't answer."
"Eeh, didn't you not go into detail in writing?"
"Naturally."

I wanted to completely agree with Freed's words. However, Prince Hendrik tilted his head, unconvinced.

"I asked for impressions in the letters, right? Your replies weren't what I was asking for. You wouldn't return a concrete answer that would satisfy me after using them, so I was troubled, or rather… give me something more detailed…"
"Spare me…"

I saw quite an unusual sight of Freed pressing his fingers to his temple.
As I was unable to hide my surprise over Freed doing Brother's usual pose when he's in the castle, Prince Hendrik chuckled.

"Sorry, sorry. Naturally, I'm joking. I just wanted to tease you a little. Because, you had been a really dull man. I'm happy from the bottom of my heart that I can talk with you like this. We couldn't talk properly at that place, so let me tell you again. I'm glad you could marry your beloved woman. Congratulations."
"… Yeah. Thanks."

Despite making acomplicated expression, Freed thanked him and then broached the subject.

"And, Hendrik. Why did you expressly use a transfer gate to come to Wilhelm? You said you had a request for us――"
"Aah, that. Yup, I have a few reasons, but first―― Ilya."

When Prince Hendrik called her name, Princess Ilya sitting next to him raised her face. Since sitting down, she'd been hanging her head and not talking.
I heard she has strong fear of strangers, but isn't diplomacy difficult like that?
If I recall correctly, she only gave light greetings during the wedding banquet. At that time, people kept coming and it was hectic so I didn't pay attention, but perhaps that was her best.
However I thought.
Princess Ilya looks like a lovely small girl.
While looking at her, I couldn't help but feel the same affection as in front of the cat beastman girl, Rena.

―― Uuuu. Cute. She somehow looks like a small animal. Incredibly cute.

It doesn't matter whether she's afraid of strangers or what. Even without being asked to, this is the cuteness I want to get along with by all means.
As I watched Princess Ilya intently, she noticed my gaze and bashfully hung her head. To tell her it's alright, Prince Hendrik stroked her head.
I could tell from their atmosphere that they were close as a married couple.
After making sure Princess Ilya calmed down, Prince Hendrik said.

"She can talk normally when it's just the two of us. It seems this child is poor at dealing with others. Even though since she became the Crown Princess, she has to do her best in various ways…"
"I-I'm sorry… I-I know I must mustn't be like this…"

When Princess Ilya said that in a very thin voice, Prince Hendrik gently said.

"Ilya, you're doing your best. I don't mean to rush you, so don't worry about it."

Then he once again turned to us.

"For Ilya, attending your wedding was her first involvement in diplomacy. She's a slightly timid child, so looking at her, it would be harsh if I chose too difficult from the beginning. So, I thought about various things and judged it would be alright to take Ilya to your wedding, Freed. I thought the child you chose wouldn't be a strange child, and that it would be nice if they could become friends."

Freed strongly nodded to those words.

"Of course. Lidi said before she'd be happy to increase the number of her friends as well."
"Is that so? I'm happy about that. Princess Lidiana, Ilya is a slightly introverted child, but please take care of her."
"Y-Yes. Please take care of me too."

Princess Ilya glanced at me and bowed her head slightly. Seeing that, Freed asked Prince Hendrik.

"Hendrik. Princess Ilya… If I remember correctly, she's an adult? She looks quite young though…"

I agreed with Freed's question. She looks just like a child to me.
I didn't have time to worry about that when we met at the wedding, since it was so hectic.
Prince Hendrick loudly laughed.

"Ahaha, after all you think that. But you know, Ilya is twenty. She's the same age as me."
"Twenty years old?"
"Yup. Everybody from Ilya's family has a childlike face. Right?"
"Yes…"

Princess Ilya nodded in a whisper.
However, what a surprise. I was sure she was younger than me, and yet she's unexpectedly older.
The age of adulthood in Irvine is sixteen, so I imagined that she was sixteen years old.
While I was surprised, Prince Hendrik said, "And――" to Freed.

"Self-introductions or probing each other, we are closer than that, right? How about we get straight to the point?"
"Yeah."

Prince Hendrik's tone changed. Freed's expression also tensed.
After reconfirming with his gaze that nobody but us was there, Prince Hendrik addressed Ilya.

"Ilya. Please."

When her name was called, her body shook with a start. Then she nervously looked up at her husband.

"… Your Highness. Is it really okay?"
"We've talked about this many times, right? We expressly came here using a transfer gate for that reason today. If it's them, it'll be alright. So please."
"Yes――"

I had no idea what they were talking about. When I inquisitively looked at Freed, I saw him also make a mystified face. Apparently, Freed had no idea either.
While we were confused, Princess Ilya motionlessly pondered for a moment and then made a determined face.
Under our gazes, she stood up and tightly closed her eyes.
The next moment――

"Ah… Eh?"
"Well, that's how it is."

Prince Hendrik lightly said so. However, I and Freed could only stare in wonder.
The reason is, there should be nothing on her head. Yet, as if it was natural, lovely triangular cat ears were shaking there as if to assert themselves.

"Eh… Eh…!?"

I couldn't hide my surprise in front of the shaking cat ears. While I was astonished, Prince Hendrik said.

"Hmm. After all, it's surprising…"

I could only nod to that. Still staring at the cat ears, I spoke.

"Yes, I'm surprised. So cat ears can be taken in and out. I had no idea."

I wonder if our resident beastman, Rena, can do it too. While I was having such thoughts, Prince Hendrik said, looking astonishment.

"It's that!?"
"Huh?"

I wonder if I said something strange.
When I tilted my head, Freed next to me laughed so much his shoulders shook.

"Fufu… Really, Lidi…"

As Freed was laughing happily, Prince Hendrik said while blinking his eyes.

"Hey? Is your consort a natural airhead? That answer was beyond my expectations!"

As he pointed his finger at me, I puffed out my cheeks sullenly.
As I did that, Freed gently stroked my head.

"It's simply what Lidi is most curious about. We have a beastman court lady, so she didn't see something particularly rare."
"Is that so?"

Having his eyes turn to me, I nodded.
Princess Ilya stared at me in surprise.

"Beastman? In Wilhelm? Umm… She doesn't keep her ears hidden? Really?"
"Yes, she's the same cat beastman as Lady Ilya. She has bent ears and is incredibly cute! She's so fluffy it's a sheer pleasure to touch her! When I stroke her back, her tail stands up. It's unbelievably cute!"

When I strongly insisted, Freed began laughing while still stroking my hair.

"Touch her… Lidi. If you keep being so clingy with her, won't Rena be troubled?"
"… I-I properly got permission to touch Rena. B-Besides, I gives her confections as thanks for letting me touch her…"

When I give her confections, her eyes glitter. It's fun to look at that face, but… I have a feeling her master, Sion, is slowly getting astonished by me.
Her master is Sion, so she can't meet me often as I live in the royalty quarter, but even so, I decided to dote on her with all my power whenever we meet.

"I see. Your bribes are perfect."

Perhaps still amused, Freed continued laughing. Prince Hendrik blinked his eyes and said, somewhat impressed.

"I'm surprised. You gladly married that child, so I thought she wouldn't have any strange prejudices, but I never would have expected a beastman servant… Moreover, they seem to be getting along well."
"Lidi liked Rena from the start. There are no people prejudiced against beastmen here, and above all, everybody knows Lidi likes her. Nobody will lay their hands on her."
"Ooh. By the way, how did she come to be hired? Certainly, it's easy to live in Wilhelm even as a beastman, but it's still normal to hide your identity."
"A man who recently became my subordinate had brought her from Tarim. Originally, she had been a slave, but now there's no sign of that, and she's doing well."
"Slave…"

While listening to Freed, Princess Ilya clutched her chest.
Having noticed his wife's change, Prince Hendrik had her sit down and stroked her back to comfort her.

"Tarim has the institution of slavery, and beastmen are especially vulnerable to it. It's not so bad for those who can hide their identity, but she couldn't, right?"

I answered Prince Hendrik's question.

"She's still a fifteen-year-old girl. I heard from her master that she had been kidnapped from the island at the age of five. He released Rena from slavery. He wants Rena to return to her own country, but she's staying with him wanting to repay the favor."

When I reported what I'd heard from Sion, Princess Ilya nodded her head many times. Prince Hendrik made a face like he understood.

"Beastmen have strong sense of honor, so they don't forget favors they receive. But, a cat beastman, huh. Ilya, is she by chance from your clan?"
"Yes. The only cat family on Arcanum Island is Aura clan. But, if she was kidnapped at the age of five, she might not have been taught to hide her ears and tail. She probably doesn't know how."

Arcanum Island. That's the name of the island where beastmen live. Four clans live on the island, but over the last twenty years it's also been famous for many kidnappings of beastman by humans who treat them as a curiosity.
Kidnapping targets are mostly children and women. That's because adult male beastman are too much for humans to handle.
Regardless of gender, the kidnapped beastmen are made slaves and sold to rich people. There was a time when so many kidnappings happened that one clan severed contact with humans. If I recall correctly… it was the rabbit beastmen clan.
Anyway, having discovered that she's Rena's relative, I said impatiently.

"U-Umm. Then I'll invite Rena later, so please meet her. I think it's the first time she can meet a person from her home… Right, Freed?"
"Yeah. I'd also like to ask that. Please, Princess Ilya."

When I turned my eyes to Freed, he understood and also asked Princess Ilya. She happily nodded.

"Yes. Umm… It might be someone who I know, so I'd love to… Your Highness. Can I?"
"Of course. Isn't there no way I'd say that you can't? More importantly, Ilya. Before that…"
"Ah…"

Princess Ilya made a face like she'd completely forgotten. She said bashfully.

"U-Umm. I showed you this appearance… or rather, than I'm a beastman, because I have a request for you…?"
"Request?"

When I thought over that word, Princess Ilya nodded. At the same time, her cat ears shook… Cute. I want to shake them. My hands are twitching.
My eyes invariably turn to her small, triangular cat ears. Having noticed that, Prince Hendrik laughed and said.

"Of course, we won't ask for something unreasonable. You can decide after hearing her out. But, we are stuck regarding that. We'd be happy if you could cooperate."
"Hendrik. What the hell is the topic?"

Freed frowned, but Prince Hendrik didn't care.

"Don't worry. First listen―― Ilya."
"Yes."

Princess Ilya nodded, and still in her seat, she vigorously bowed her head to us.
Her lovely cat ears shook.

"Umm… I apologize for an impudent request, but… please, please… help me find my older sister."

Please. As she asked so, her husband, Hendrik, followed after her and said, "I'm asking you," to me and Freed.

Chapter end