I, Reincarnate as the Leader of the Villainous Knight Order - Chapter 174: Female Friend

Chapter 174: Female Friend

“Isn’t that Aria?”

Apparently, Felix knew Aria.

“Oh my, Prince Felix, are you acquainted with her?”

“Yes. Though we’re in different years, she’s also from the Magic Tower and attends the same academy. Once things settle down, you’ll be attending that academy too, Clarisse. So it’d be good for you to remember her. She’s the former Tower Master’s apprentice and is very skilled in magic—quite reliable.”

“My! That sounds wonderful! You said your name is Aria? I am Clarisse, the third princess of the Kingdom of Rafios. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Ah… uh… th-thank you, likewise…”

She quickly stood up and curtsied. She was clearly flustered. Is Aria’s polite speech as bad as Simon’s?

If Felix hadn’t remembered her, her suspicious behavior alone might’ve landed her in jail.

Come to think of it, even when she found out I was a foreign guest, she didn’t speak politely.

“By the way… why were you in the garden, Aria?”

“Ah, well, yesterday I met this person—no, um, this knight commander… On the way to the library, I saw him and wondered why he was here. So I was watching from a distance…”

After lowering her head and explaining, Aria glared up at me with a resentful expression. But I was just doing my job. Don’t go blaming me.

I avoided her gaze—no, I faced forward, waiting for Felix’s judgment.

“I see. Is that true, Sir Vandière?”

“Yes. At the banquet, Lord Frederic, the Magic Tower Master, promised to introduce someone to guide us to the magic item store. On the way back, I happened to meet Miss Aria.”

Maybe because I said “Miss Aria” or acted like a proper noble, Aria widened her eyes at me.

This is royalty, after all. It’s only natural to be polite.

“What a lovely coincidence! Aria, would you be so kind as to be my friend as well?”

“Hyah…!? Y-yes, gladly!”

You sound like a waiter at a bar.

Aria was visibly flustered by Clarisse’s smile.

Clarisse had no trouble speaking to my subordinates either. She’s a princess of great character who treats everyone equally, regardless of social status.

“Ufufu. That means I’ve made a new girl friend! Since we’re here, how about we have tea together? That is, if you have the time…”

“I do!”

Clarisse stood up from her seat and gently held Aria’s hands in hers. Aria nodded so many times her hat nearly flew off.

She looked so happy and excited… could it be she doesn’t have any female friends at the academy?

Felix watched the two with a warm smile.

Thanks to Clarisse’s kindness, Aria gradually relaxed and became more talkative.

Her polite speech was better than expected. So what was with her attitude yesterday?

She had already switched from calling Clarisse “Princess” to “Clarisse-sama”.

At first, they were talking about the Magic Tower and the academy. But somehow, the topic then shifted to their first impressions of me.

My subordinates didn’t even try to hide their curiosity.

If she told the whole story, they’d find out about her selfish behavior at the food stall.

But Aria completely skipped over that part.

“On our way back from an errand for the Tower Master, I was with a mage named Karl when the Knight Commander passed by and bought me a meat skewer. But he wouldn’t let go of the skewer until I thanked him. So I couldn’t tell if he was being mean or nice.”

“Ah, so that was the meat skewer place the Commander mentioned.”

Simon muttered under his breath in response to Aria’s story.

Hey, don’t talk during duty!

“Oh my, did Commander Vandière mention Aria to you?”

“No, he didn’t mention her specifically. But he *did* promise to treat us to some delicious skewers!”

Clarisse keenly picked up on Simon’s murmur and asked him.

Simon beamed as he answered.

Hold up. I said I’d take you there, but I never promised to treat you!

Well… it’s just skewers, so I don’t really mind…

“That sounds like fun.”

“Indeed.”

“………………”

Clarisse and Felix looked at me with smiles. Their eyes were fixed.

I’m not inviting you. No way. Not even by accident.

“Geez, Commander, you’re so dense. They wanna go with you too, obviously.”

Alright then. Tonight, Simon’s going through some intense sword training.

“Simon, that’s disrespectful. I apologize, Your Highnesses.”

“No need. Simon’s right. You’d like to go too, wouldn’t you, Clarisse?”

“Yes, absolutely. I haven’t had a chance to explore the capital yet. Aria, you’d like to come too, wouldn’t you?”

“Yes! The skewers there are so delicious!”

Even Aria looked at me with hopeful eyes.

You totally expect me to treat you again, don’t you?

I realized it was useless to resist any further. I sighed inwardly in defeat.

“Understood… In that case, I’ll have His Excellency Ernest coordinate with the prince’s guards and check everyone’s schedules.”

If we’re going, it’ll have to be discreet.

Discreet means a small group. Which means….. more work for me…………….

Once the outing was settled, the tea party ended. And I spent the rest of the evening on guard duty in Clarisse’s room.

The next morning, Simon was found collapsed in the training grounds by the First Knights. He’d been left there all night.