The wind was soft, cold, and gentle, whispering ever so subtly as it carried the birds high in the sky. The clouds drifted ever so slowly, like gentle waves sailing a sea of gold and garnet as the sun set over the faraway horizon.
As the sky slowly faded into the darkness, a platinum figure streaked across it like a bolt of lightning, fast as one can be as it parted the clouds before her. She spread her wings proudly, gazing at the scenery under her as she reigned atop the clouds.
"Waah～! So beautiful..." ［Iris］
Of course, such a splendid platinum figure was none other than Sirius and on her back were Grey, Yuna, and Iris. They are now heading towards Erdea, the princess' eyes sparkling brightly as she gazed upon the scenery unfolding before her.
Though Iris had ridden on one of the familiars before, they were on the sea back then and all she could see was the sea and a couple islands here and there, with ships dotted around from time to time. It was beautiful.
But now that they are on land, it is a completely different experience. From winding rivers to high mountains and expansive forests, there were a lot of wonderful sights to behold, each one unique to their own and just as fantastic.
"Iris, would you like some candy?" ［Yuna］
"C-Can I?" ［Iris］
"Of course you can, you silly girl. But, ah! Don't eat too much, okay? We'll be having dinner soon after we land." ［Yuna］
"Yes!" ［Iris］
Yun extended her hands out and as soon as she opened it, a colorful combination was unveiled. There were candies of all fruity flavors, all sweet and tasty. Iris then picked out a couple few, eating one soon after.
But it was just as Yuna said. It has only been a couple hours since they flew yet they are already about to land and retire for the day. It is all because of a couple people, who shall not be named, that their flight has been delayed.
Thankfully, they weren't in a hurry or anything of the sort. They are only heading there early to experience new things and explore new territories. Getting late by a single day or two wouldn't really matter in the grand scheme of things.
"Looks like this is how far we'll go..." ［Grey］
It was regretful, but with the stars finally showing themselves in the sky one after another, they could only come to a halt and retire for the day. Sirius slowly had her descent, landing gracefully and softly like a feather.
One after another, everyone hopped off of Sirius' back, a crisp crunch resounding in the air as a couple dried leaves were crunched. It was like the usual, landing in a forest when the moon is out, eyes swimming left and right.
"Thanks for the ride, Sirius." ［Grey］
"It was my pleasure, Master." ［Sirius］
But unlike usual, rather than sending Sirius back to the shadows and rest. Rather, she only changed back to her wolf pup form, hard and beautiful scales transforming into fluffy and glossy fur, warm and cuddly as one can be.
Just in time, the sun had finally set and darkness had encroached the world once more. The forest, though calm and peaceful, was still a scary place to be, the subtle hooting of owls adding a touch of eeriness in the air.
"Then... Elder Brother Grey, Elder Sister Yuna, are we camping here?" ［Iris］
Yet despite such circumstances, the Princess Royal stayed calm and collected like usual, her head turning left and right and eyes swimming in all directions as she searched for a suitable place to camp.
From a tent, a sleeping bag, and some bug repellant, she was prepared and ready to stay for the night. Though she had experienced camping before, she always slept in the carriage. It was precisely because of that that she was a little excited... There was just itsy-bitsy little bit of a problem....
"Hm? Didn't we tell you? We're not camping." ［Grey］
"Eh?" ［Iris］
"Huh?" ［Grey］
... Neither Grey and Yuna were actually planning to camp out in the woods. Rather, the thought of it never crossed their minds at all. They only looked each other in the eye, a trace of bewilderment brewing within.
Iris' questions were soon answered. With a simple flick of Grey's finger, something similar to a gate appeared before everyone, and as soon as they entered, yet another absurd yet beautiful sight greeted them. Iris was frozen in shock.
A river cruising through the lands, expansive fields as far as the eyes can see, and beautiful stars reigning above them. But perhaps what was most intriguing was the lone house standing in the middle of nowhere. It was massive and beautiful, unfit for the scenery surrounding it.
Of course, the said house was none other than Grey and Yuna's "Sanctuary House" which took them a great deal of effort and time to complete. Their very own camping house that they use whenever they are on a journey.
"Iris～! Come inside! You're going to get cold if you just stand there and stay outside for too long. Hurry～!" ［Yuna］
"A-Ah, yes!" ［Iris］
Iris quickly snapped back to reality as Yuna called her, and soon, she headed inside the house, only to be surprised some more. The outside was already beautiful but even more so was the inside.
From left to right, the house was fully furnished with all sorts of furniture. There were sofas, tables, lamps, rugs, and many more. And not just furniture, the house comes with all kinds of rooms as well, and a whole second floor to boot!
"Is something wrong, Iris?" ［Grey］
"A-Ah, no... I think I'm just a little tired..." ［Iris］
"That's not good. You shouldn't push yourself too much. Why don't you sit on the sofa for now and rest a little." ［Grey］
"Okay... Thank you, Elder Brother Grey..." ［Iris］
"Anytime." ［Grey］
Yet despite how absurd it was, the owners were acting very casually, acting as if there was nothing out of the ordinary. Grey and Yuna simply headed to the kitchen and started taking out ingredients one after another without a single care in the world.
Then again, they are people who'd easily beat the lights out of S-rank monsters and casually dive down to the deepest floors of dungeons and labyrinths just for the sake of training. It was only to be expected, to be fair.
"Iris～! We'll be cooking dinner now. Is there anything you'd like to eat?" ［Yuna］
"A-Ah! I-I'm fine with anything!" ［Iris］
"Are you sure?" ［Yuna］
"Yes, no problem at all! Elder Brother Grey and Elder Sister Yuna's cooking is always delicious, after all!" ［Iris］
"Fufufu! That makes us glad to hear that." ［Yuna］
There was no time to waste. With a light and merry atmosphere in the air, Grey and Yuna then grabbed their knives and started cooking. Though they would love it if Iris could also join them like before, they let her rest for now. Traveling is tough, after all.
The sizzling oil, the gushing water, and the scorching flames. Yet another symphony was played in the kitchen as the spatulas clacked and clanged. Soon enough, the appetizing aromas of freshly cooked dishes danced in the air.
"Ah, right. Everyone, you can come out now." ［Grey］
Of course, they didn't just leave Iris unattended. Though Sirius was with her, she is also resting from the flight, only cuddling herー or "was" cuddling. That's because after Grey's call, a number of furballs popped up from their shadows.
There wasn't just one, two, or three, but a whole eight of them. Even the usually timid Capella and the clumsy crybaby, Archernar, were full of energy, running around the place and jumping towards Iris.
"E-Eh?! N-Nine?! Did the puppies increase again?!" ［Iris］
"Well, a lot of things happened, and now, we've gained three new familiars." ［Grey］
"Waah... New puppies..." ［Iris］
She may act mature in front of others, but what Grey and Yuna saw in front of them was a young girl, eyes sparkling brightly as she looked at the mass of fluff cuddling with her. Her expressions looked exactly like the Little Princess'. They really are aunt and niece.
Not too long after, the new familiars then introduced themselves to Iris, and in kind, the latter also did the same. Before long, they started playing with one another, the young girl's fatigue slowly melting away.
"Yuna, have you already finished seasoning this?" ［Grey］
"Ah, not yet. It still needs a little bit of pepper." ［Yuna］
"Alright, then I leave it to you. I'll just finish the steak real quick." ［Grey］
Iris played with the pups, and Grey and Yuna continued to cook with their lightning, dishing dish after dish. Soon enough, a wonderful meal was served atop the dining table, sparkling brightly like the stars above.
"""Thank you for the meal!"""
With a wonderful meal served before them, there was no need for hesitation. As soon as everyone finished their prayers, they then dug in on their meals, bright smiles then blooming in their faces as flavors exploded in their mouths.
"Mmn～! This is really delicious!" ［Iris］
"Fufufu! I'm glad you liked it. Here, have some more." ［Yuna］
"Th-Thank you." ［Iris］
A light atmosphere was brewing in the air as everyone enjoyed their dinner together. They laughed and smiled as they chatted about some trivial things, simply talking about the daily happenings in their lives like they usually do.
They even reached the topic about the recent shenanigans back at the Royal Castle. It has been several hours already yet they could still remember how scary the Prime Minister's smile was, one even monsters would fear.
From one topic to another, they jumped and jumped some more. As time went by, a sudden question popped up in Grey's mind. It was one he has been wondering for quite some time now, only remembering it right now.
"Right, Iris, what about your education? You would be away for quite some time. Wouldn't there be any problems?" ［Grey］
It was a valid concern. Though many nobles and royals are taught by tutors during early education, there is still a curriculum they follow and a set number of assignments per subject. Missing out even a single month would be troublesome.
"There's no need to worry about that, Elder Brother Grey. I have already taken care of my studies beforehand and my tutors have also given me some leeway." ［Iris］
"Oh? That's good then. That means we can enjoy the festival to the fullest." ［Grey］
"Yes. I'm looking forward to it!" ［Iris］
Fortunately, it was Iris we are talking about. If it's just her studies, she is many years ahead compared to others and is now even learning studies that even scholars would usually undertake in their twenties. She is a prodigy.
In fact, so much so that one would wonder how such a bright child came from such a mischievous and troublemaker of a King. No matter how one would look at it, save the physical appearances they are totally opposite of one another. It was a mystery.
'It must be because of Her Majesty's genes...' ［Grey］
Such was the conclusion Grey could reach after thinking not so thoroughly about it. It would have been great if the King had even a shred of dignity and brilliance like his daughter, then the Prime Minister wouldn't be stressed out anymore.
"Iris, you won't grow quickly if you only eat that much." ［Yuna］
"E-Elder Sister Yuna, I can't eat that much!" ［Iris］
"No. We're not done here until you finish your plate, Young Lady." ［Yuna］
Yuna acting a bit like a mother, dinner continued and one after another, plates and utensils piled up on the sink. The familiars were also enjoying their meals together, acting much more behaved now that they are eating.
And with Yuna's encouragement, Iris managed to finish her plate with a satisfied expression on her face. Though unbeknownst to her, Yuna actually decreased her food from time to time. She shouldn't force her if she's full, after all.
Of course, what came after a hearty meal was washing the dishesー well, in Grey and Yuna's style, of course. With the use of magic, they easily cleaned the dishes one after another, not a single stain left behind.
"Amazing... So you can use magic like that too..." ［Iris］
"Hahaha. Would you like to try then, Iris?" ［Grey］
"Mmn... I would love to, but... I don't know much about magic..." ［Iris］
"It's alright, it's alright. We'll be helping you, after all." ［Grey］
Eyes brimming with excitement and enthusiasm, Iris then joined Grey and Yuna in washing dishes, and as absurd as it may be seeing a princess wash dishes, there was only a light and merry mood in the air.
What usually takes only a couple minutes to wash turned into a whole hour of lecture about magic. Fortunately, Iris already had the basics down from all the books she read. Teaching her was not that difficult.
And though she was not as brilliant as Eliza when it came to magic, she still tried her best and persisted. In the end, she was able to wash a single spoon with it. It may not look much to others, but she was proud of herself, eyes sparkling happily.
As for the other dishes, Grey and Yuna easily took care of them with a flick of their fingers, even drying and placing them back on the racks and cabinets. Before long, everyone headed to the living room and relaxed for the rest of the day.
"Alright, Iris, your turn." ［Grey］
"Uuu... Then... I'll move this here..." ［Iris］
"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. That's a bad move, you know?" ［Grey］
"Waah! My Lion got captured! E-Elder Sister Yuna!" ［Iris］
"Calm down, Iris. It's not the end of the world, yet." ［Yuna］
And by relaxation, they played board games with one another. It was a game of "Perfect 12", a chess variant played on a 12 by 12 board, consisting of 12 pieces. Grey was on the black side while Iris on the white.
Though Iris had played chess before, it was her first time playing perfect 12, and with all the new pieces, she was having a difficult time. That's why, to balance things out, Yuna was on her side to help and guide her though the game.
"Uuu... I lost..." ［Iris］
"Don't be too sad, Iris. You did good." ［Grey］
But as one would expect, no matter how good her guide was, it was still too much for
a first-timer to beat an experienced "veteran". Grey had only played the game a few times, but with his "Perfect Memory", that was already more than enough to cook up some advanced strategies.
Seeing Iris lose, Yuna was reminded of her first time playing board games with Grey. She was once again reminded how merciless Grey is when he's playing seriously. It doesn't matter who they were, he would crush them without a single thought.
"Grey, this is bullying. It was her first time playing, you know?" ［Yuna］
"Haha... I might have gotten a little bit carried away..." ［Grey］
"Well, that doesn't really matter anymore. A loss is a loss. But now that Iris is defeated, you have to play with me next!" ［Yuna］
Tension rose in the air, and Grey and Yuna soon took their positions. They each took their turns with eyes as serious as one can be, moving pieces one after another and capturing the enemies' piece as strategically as they could.
And surprisingly enough, though Yuna had also played the game only a few times, she had a surprisingly strong momentum at the start, taking down Grey's pieces just like a raging flood sweeping through the fields, merciless as one can be.
"And... That's half of them!" ［Yuna］
"Hmm... You really improved a lot, didn't you, Yuna?" ［Grey］
"Of course! I'm not going to stay the same forever, you know?" ［Yuna］
"Hahaha, that's right. Though... It seems you haven't noticed my trap yet." ［Grey］
"Eh?" ［Yuna］
Unfortunately for Yuna, she was simply playing right in the palm of Grey's hands. He was playing the patience game and now that the time was right, he swiftly moved his pieces, taking down Yuna's pieces time and time again, Iris watching them like she was enjoying a movie.
It was all too sudden. Yuna took out a few pieces again, but compared to the rate Grey was capturing his pieces, it was much more insignificant. Before long, the King was captured and the game was over. It was Grey's victory, once again.
"Uuu... This is unfair... Shouldn't you at least give me a chance? How can you be this cruel even to your own girlfriend?" ［Yuna］
"Yuna, It's exactly because I love you that I'm doing this. Loss begets growth, as they say. It's only for your own good." ［Grey］
"Uuu... Grey... You meanie..." ［Yuna］
Yuna had already expected the outcome, but she didn't think it would be so one-sided to the point Grey was practically toying with her. She already felt miserable, but with Grey's teasing, she felt even more defeated than before.
"It's okay, Elder Sister Yuna! I think you did amazing!" ［Iris］
"Iris... You're really the only one who understands me in this house... Unlike other people here who just bullies others..." ［Yuna］
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" ［Grey］
"Hmph! Ask yourself!" ［Yuna］
Feeling a little sour and bitter, Yuna started acting a bit petty towards Grey, hugging Iris as she tried to ignore the latter. She wasn't mad or angry at all, just wanting Grey to feel a bit guilty. Unfortunately for her, Grey knows her too well for that to work.
『Master! You shouldn't bully the Mistress!』 ［Procyon］
『Master... Bullying is bad...』 ［Achernar］
『Hey, cut it out, you two. You shouldn't fall for tricks so easily.』 ［Grey］
Well, it might not work on Grey, but it was super effective on the new familiars, with Procyon even pouncing on Grey and hitting her with her soft paws. It didn't even hurt. Rather, it was quite soothing and relaxing if anything.
As for the other familiars, they already knew Yuna full well. Though she is bright and innocent for the most part, there are also times she acts sly and petty for no apparent reasons, though Grey considers it one of her charms. She was especially cute when she tried her hardest.
"Then, let's play another game, shall we?" ［Grey］
"Uuu... But I'll be the one choosing what we'll play, okay?" ［Yuna］
"Sure. As long as you're happy." ［Grey］
"Yaay～!" ［Yuna］
It hasn't even been a minute, yet Yuna's mood has shifted from down in the dumps to high on cloud nine. There was only brightness in her face as she selected a game from the number of board and card games there is.
They played and they played and they played. The night went on and the cold breeze swept through the sanctuary, caressing the blades of grass and dancing throughout the fields. It was quiet and peaceful, the stars sparkling ever so brightly.
"Looks like she's fallen asleep already..." ［Grey］
"She must have been tired..." ［Yuna］
And with such a cold breeze wafting through the house, the Princess Royal had fallen asleep after the long day she went through. She was now sleeping soundly, using Yuna's lap as a pillow, a subtle snore in the air.
Now that they are alone together, a slightly rosy atmosphere befell upon them. Yuna suddenly leaned her head on Grey's shoulder and closed her eyes, her heart beating like in harmony, a subtle symphony adrift in the air.
"It seems like you're also tired, huh... Should I prepare the bed now?" ［Grey］
"No, I want to stay like this for a little while... Just a little longer..." ［Yuna］
"Alright... Just a little longer." ［Grey］
Along with the night growing colder and the hearts beating louder, a certain feeling had also started to deepen further and further. It was not just love, but also greed which tainted his heart. Greed of wanting to hold a certain someone a holder and tighter, never wanting to let go again.
The more he indulges, the greedier he becomes. Grey had tried his best to keep his desires under control, yet the harder he tries, the wilder it gets. Even now, he just wants to keep her to himself, barely holding himself back.
'Haah... How troublesome...' ［Grey］
The night only went deeper.
CHAPTER 260 END