## Chapter 1122 – Royal Palace

“Understood. If the Princess says so, then it must be true. From now on, when I stand before you, I will think of myself as a hero.”

I am the hero Kim Kat.

I always thought of myself as a hero, but I didn’t bother to show it off in front of the Princess. But from this moment on, there’s no need to hold back.

“You accept it quickly. What did you think you were until now?”
“I thought I was a paladin of the Brass Celestial Knights coming to receive an award.”
“How should I put it… your answer is amusing. Heh heh.”

The Princess said that and laughed out loud again.

What’s so funny?

The way her eyes curved was so natural, she was definitely trying to make me fall for her so she could ask me for something difficult. And I bet it has something to do with the elves.

“Anyway. This is the second time I’m asking, but won’t you be my friend?”

Is she trying to make me a special acquaintance to use me more easily?

But this Princess probably has friends by the truckload, not just one or two.

“A friend, huh…”

Just a friend in name is no good.

But I was surprised that she was being so blatant.
Whatever. I don’t care if we’re friends or not.

“Don’t tell me you dislike the idea?”

For a moment, the Princess looked very sad.
I can’t help but think she’s very skilled.

“Of course not. I’d be honored.”

I accepted this offer of friendship in name only.

I don’t know what she’s thinking, but if the kingdom’s princess makes such an offer, it’s best to just nod.

“Ah, how delightful. A hero like the Paladin becoming my friend.”

The Princess brought her clasped hands to her chest and smiled brightly.
She expresses her emotions so openly.

“Then from now on… since we’re friends, can I speak casually?”
“Pardon?”

What did she just say?

—Swish.

The Princess, who had uttered an incomprehensible remark, raised her hand above her head and took off the tiara she was wearing, placing it on the desk. She seemed to be in a very good mood, but… what did she just say?

“I don’t need this anymore. There’s no need to wear it.”

The Princess, having removed her tiara, rested her chin on her hand and looked at me.

Her languid eyes suited her decadent impression very well, making her seem like she had a fierce personality, but she was coming across so approachable and friendly.

“No, is it okay for you to be like this, Princess?”
“Even if I’m a princess, is there a problem if I’m alone with a friend? Or did you just say you accepted my offer of friendship as a formality?”

I… don’t know why she’s doing this.

But if the Princess is acting like this, I guess I can just speak casually too.

“It’s not that. It’s just that it’s my first time suddenly becoming friends with royalty, so I was a bit puzzled.”
“It’s probably the first time for most people, Paladin? Why don’t you speak casually too?”
“If that’s the case… what should I call you?”
“In private, you can call me Einpel.”

Good.

“Then I will.”
“Hmm?”

When I answered casually as she instructed, she tilted her head.

“By the way, Einpel. As I said, it’s my first time becoming friends with royalty, so… what am I supposed to do from now on?”
“You’re quite bold.”
“It’s natural between friends.”
“Is it? I’ll ask the opposite first. What are you supposed to do when you become friends?”
“Hold hands and spin around or scream.”
“What?”
“That’s what everyone does.”
“What on earth is that…”

I didn’t bother to jump up and scream while spinning around. There’s a Sword Master beyond that door, after all. There’s no reason to do such a thing.

“Anyway, Einpel. I came here today to receive an award, but I didn’t expect it to turn out like this. Is there a reason why you’re being so open?”
“…Because you’re a top-tier talent working within the kingdom.”

Top-tier talent?

She’s mistaken me.

“Talent, huh.”

I’m not just a top-tier talent, I’m a goddamn super-duper top-tier talent.

“I was also personally interested. Since you’ll be active anyway, I thought it would be nice to be on friendly terms. That’s why I did it. Isn’t this more comfortable than seeing each other only for work?”
“It’s more comfortable from the perspective of the person being treated that way.”

Actually, it’s really uncomfortable right now.

“Was this your intention from the start?”
“Yes.”

Einpel nodded slightly at my words.

“There are things you can find out this way. Anyway, to have such skills and still… work for the public good. Truly heroic. Your way of thinking is also righteous. That’s why you’re more than qualified to be this princess’s friend. I’m honored.”

I don’t know if I’m honored.
I stared at her intently.

“…Of course, I don’t do this to just anyone.”

As if she thought of it as a kind of question, Einpel said that while sipping her tea.

“There are only a few people within the kingdom who can have such a special relationship with me.”

So there are a few more.

But seeing her emphasize the special relationship, it means she still has an ulterior motive. But as far as I know, the princess’s rank is like the second-in-command of the kingdom. Is there another reason?

“Well, there’s nothing I can do about that. Aren’t you like the second-in-command in the royal family, Einpel? A person like that wouldn’t have many opportunities to make friends.”
“Second-in-command?”
“Hmm?”

Her reaction?

“Hmm… I can’t say anything to a friend about that. Don’t ask about that topic.”
“Okay.”

If royalty tells you not to ask, you shouldn’t ask.

But seeing her reaction to the word “second-in-command” seemed a bit skeptical, I wondered if there was something going on, but it’s not really my business in the first place.

“Then let’s move on from that story… how about it?”
“How about what?”
“Let’s compare the Brass Celestial Knights’ Saintess Kadia and me.”

Einpel’s expression was playful as she said that.

“What is this all of a sudden.”

Why is she suddenly talking about this?

“Who do you think is more beautiful?”

Of course, it’s Kadia.

“For the record, I’m asking this to commemorate becoming friends.”
“Is that important?”
“It’s not important, just small talk.”
“Hehehe… what do you think I’m going to answer?”
“That’s why I’m asking.”

I never compromise on such matters.

“Saintess Kadia.”

When I answered that.

“…You’re honest.”

Einpel, narrowing her eyes, said.
You were the one who wanted to be friends first.

“You’re not going to do anything weird because you’re upset, are you?”
“Of course not. I wouldn’t do anything so petty… what if I had asked before we became friends?”
“The answer wouldn’t change.”
“You’re bold.”
“Heroic.”
“Heh… heheh. Heheheh.”

Einpel shrugged her shoulders and laughed, wondering what was so funny. I can’t keep up with this person’s tension at all. Why am I even here?

“Haa… Ah, I should talk about this now. The royal family has prepared this to commend you for your work. This is the reward list.”

The princess took out a piece of paper from the drawer and handed it to me.

“Oh.”

It was a well-organized list of the rewards I would receive. There were a lot of cash, jewels, and equipment. This is a pretty good reward. Since there was quite a bit, it seemed like they would deliver it to the Order instead of handing it to me directly.

“Hehehe, this is quite satisfactory.”
“I didn’t know you were so fond of wealth?”
“Didn’t know? What did you think of me?”
“Hmm… I don’t know.”

Einpel looked at me with a happy face and continued.

“When you think about it, I think becoming friends with me is a bigger reward than those rewards.”
“Like connections?”
“You’re becoming friends with the princess of the Karga Kingdom. Is there a better reward than this?”
“I guess so.”

I don’t know what’s so good about it since we’ll hardly ever meet.

“Anyway. Now that we’ve taken care of the urgent business, let’s move on to the next thing.”
“…”
“I think you’ve already heard. An envoy has come from the Elven Forest.”

As expected.

“Don’t tell me you wanted to be friends just to talk about that?”
“That’s just one of the reasons. I told you, I have a personal interest. I want to know more about you. I want to get closer if you don’t mind… that’s the bigger reason.”

Certainly, any normal woman would have no choice but to be interested in me. Of course, they would want to know more about me.

It’s no different even if she’s a princess.

“Hehehe, you saying that makes my back a little hot.”
“Did you think of something when you heard me say I wanted to get closer?”
“Not really.”
“Something?”
“…”

Einpel still seemed happy.

“Heh, just kidding. Of course, it’s also true that I personally want to get closer. I’m also curious about what kind of man you are. But more than that, right now.”
“The Elven Forest.”
“That’s right. The elves have proposed an alliance. They designated you as the envoy.”
“My value is very high.”
“Very high.”

That time I saved the elves from that bastard Otherworld Lord, the snowball has rolled this far. Wow, but when I think about it, my value is really high.

I have fame.
The elves designated me as the envoy.
And I’m damn strong.

It’s no wonder even a princess would be interested. Just thinking about it, I realized that the princess might be acting this way not because she’s skilled, but simply because I’m me.

“So I’m asking you a favor, would you go as the envoy?”

This was the princess’s purpose.

Being friendly and all that was just a build-up for this moment.

“This is another difficult request.”
“Please. I want you to go as the envoy.”

Einpel said that with a soft smile. She rested her arms, crossed on the desk, and leaned towards me. It was an undeniably blatant attitude.

“I know it’s a difficult request, but this alliance negotiation is a very important matter. Don’t you know that too? The elves aren’t a trustworthy bunch, but compared to the invaders from another world, they’re just a slightly annoying neighbor.”

I agree that there’s no harm in humans and elves forming an alliance.

“I don’t think a hero who has walked the path of justice all this time would refuse this.”

Of course, I have no intention of refusing outright.

Just as I thought.

“What’s the reward?”

If there’s a reward that I can accept, I’m willing to accept it.

“If things go well, we might even give you land. Of course, we’ll have to give you a reasonable reward.”
“Ooh, land!”
“Do you want to become a lord?”
“Everyone thinks about that.”
“But you don’t look very excited.”

Land alone is a little lacking.

“Of course, there’s something better than such material things.”
“What is it?”
“The right to get closer to this Princess Einpel.”

She spoke very confidently about the right to get closer to her. It’s something that ordinary people would be too embarrassed to say, but when a princess says it, the weight is different.

“The right to get closer, huh.”

She knows what she’s doing.

“Beyond our friendship becoming stronger, you can also gain my trust.”

Is the princess’s trust useful to me?

First of all, I know that the Karga Kingdom is a country with a strong monarchy.

And I think Princess Einpel is a person with considerable power within the royal family. Her attitude when I said she was the second-in-command was a bit strange, but she’s not powerless.

There are hardly any rumors about the princes.

I don’t think Princess Einpel is just a figurehead.

“And… if you want, a private meeting with me.”
“What?”
“Would be possible.”

A private meeting?

“What would I do if I met the princess privately?”
“Well? That depends on you. There’s such an opportunity. A very glorious opportunity.”

Einpel said that, picked up the tiara she had placed on the desk, and began to stroke the jewels with her slender fingers.

“That seems like it would be very glorious.”

Judging by my experienced intuition, it seemed like she was telling me to join her line. In other words, if I fulfilled the princess’s request, she would put me on her line. It was a very political intention.

“I don’t know if the Saintess would like that.”
“She would. It’s an opportunity for the royal family and the Order to get closer.”