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Chapter 81: The Tomboy’s Transformation

Ten days later.

We arrived at Quinpella, the royal capital of the Argeas Kingdom.

At the palace, we were received by Crown Prince Alex… but for some reason, he looked totally worn out.

Jessica, Rosso, and I were invited to a room overlooking the palace courtyard, where we sat at a table with Prince Alex.

Jessica had been invited as my wife, Rosso as my second-in-command, but since Rosso didn’t understand the language, he was simply devouring the fruit on the table.

「Man, Argeas fruit is delicious! Thanks for the meal!」

Rosso was over the moon.

I translated Rosso’s thanks for Alex.

「I see… I’m glad he’s enjoying it… I’ll have more brought in…」

His voice had no energy at all.

That once-vigorous man, what on earth happened to him?

I started to worry about Alex.

We’d once clashed swords on the battlefield, and at other times fought side by side.

To me, Alex was the kind of person you’d describe as 「a comrade-in-arms, footnoted with rival.」

I furrowed my brow and asked him:

「Alex. What’s wrong? Are you ill?」

「No, it’s not that.」

「Then is something troubling you?」

When I pressed gently, Alex let out a deep sigh.

「It’s about my sister, Sophia…」

Princess Sophia!?

When I last saw her, she had left her room and begun to eat better.

Her complexion had improved, and she was slowly returning to a healthier life.

Did something happen!?

I asked him tensely:

「What happened to Princess Sophia!? Is she unwell!? Is she bedridden!?」

Alex shook his head vigorously.

「The opposite! It’s the exact opposite! She’s full of energy now! Too much energy, in fact—」

「Ooooh, big broooother!」

Alex was about to explain, when suddenly a loud, cheery voice interrupted him, accompanied by the sound of trotting hooves.

Looking out the window, we saw Princess Sophia galloping across the courtyard on a silvery horse.

She wore a beaming smile, reins in her right hand, waving at us grandly with her left.

Her horse had a moon-colored coat, a light cream that glimmered gold in the sun.

「「What!?」」

Jessica and I both gasped, eyes round with shock.

The last time we saw her, she’d been a frail girl lying in a dark room.

And now she was riding a horse with wild abandon.

The difference was night and day.

With skillful reins, Sophia raced across the courtyard on horseback.

Alex sprang up and leaned out the window.

「Sophia! That’s dangerous! Stop that horse at once!」

「No waaay!」

Behind her, a group of maids and palace guards chased after her, drenched in sweat.

「Princess! Please wait!」

「Princess! It’s dangerous!」

「Princess!」

「Princess!」

Watching Sophia’s antics, Jessica, Rosso, and I burst out laughing.

「Ahahaha! Princess Sophia’s really bounced back, huh!」

「Incredible! You go, Sophia-chan!」

「Now that’s a transformation! What a tomboy!」

As we laughed, Alex turned pale.

「Gaia! This is no laughing matter! Sophia’s always running around, driving everyone mad! She rides horses, jumps into rivers, climbs trees to pick oranges!」

「That just means she’s healthy. Congratulations, Alex.」

「No, it’s too much! At this rate, she’ll never marry! You have to do something!」

「What could I do!?」

While Alex and I went back and forth, Princess Sophia noticed us and rode her horse over to the window.

「Ah! Barbar! You’ve come! Welcome to the Argeas Kingdom! Did you bring the jam?」

Jessica, Rosso, and I melted at the sight of her cheerful greeting.

I replied in Argean:

「Hey, Princess Sophia! We brought lots of jam! Wild strawberry, blueberry, even a little apple jam. All of it’s delicious!」

「Really!? That makes me so happy! The maids said we were almost out! Big brother! Please buy lots of jam!」

「Y-yes! I’ll buy plenty!」

Alex lit up when Sophia asked him for jam.

He tried to keep a straight face, but his eyes crinkled and his nose stretched in a goofy smile.

He clearly adored his little sister.

On the battlefield, he was a fearsome demon, but in front of her, he turned into a puddle.

I grinned sideways at him.

Sensing my gaze, Alex tried to pull himself together.

「But still, Sophia, stop riding that horse. If you fall, you could be seriously hurt.」

「Oh, but horseback riding is good for one’s health! Besides, it’s a royal pastime. If I were ever surrounded by enemies on the battlefield, I’d mount my horse and swing my sword!」

「Absolutely not! You’re not going to war!」

Oh boy. She’s become quite the handful.

Most princesses don’t go near battlefields.

If they’re surrounded, they escape.

Sophia, on the other hand, is talking about fighting back with a sword.

She’s way too bold.

I placed a hand on Alex’s shoulder.

「Alex. Just give up.」

「Gaia! Don’t say things like that!」

「She’s your sister, isn’t she? No way she’s turning into some quiet, sheltered noble lady.」

「That’s right! That’s right! I’ll ride across the land on horseback! From one end of the continent to the other! Isn’t that grand?」

「Oh, Princess Sophia! That’s a beautiful dream!」

「No! Absolutely not!」

「Come on, Alex! Don’t be so uptight! Riding horses is proof she’s healthy!」

「Gaia! Stop saying whatever you like!」

「Ahahaha!」

I clapped my hands at Sophia’s wild imagination while Alex held his head in his hands.

As the two of us squabbled, Sophia opened her mouth wide and laughed joyfully.

Jessica leaned out the window and addressed her in Argean:

「Sophia-chan. You ride really well!」

「My, Lady Jessica! You’ve learned our language!」

「Yeah. As long as I go slowly, I’m fine.」

「You’re very good!」

「We brought jam and maple syrup. Sophia-chan, eat lots, okay?」

「Oh, thank you so much! Maple syrup? I’ve never heard of it before.」

A long explanation in Argean would be hard for Jessica, so she motioned for me to take over.

「Maple syrup is a sweet sauce. It’s lighter than jam and great on bread. It also works with meat dishes.」

「Oh my! Even with meat!? I’m not a big fan of meat, you see. But maybe with maple syrup, I’ll like it.」

「Yeah, heavy meat dishes can be tiring to eat. But maple syrup gives it a nice sweet-and-savory taste.」

「That sounds delightful!」

「We Barbar call it teriyaki.」

「Teriyaki… I’d love to try it!」

「Then we’ll prepare it for lunch.」

「I’m looking forward to it!」

Princess Sophia flashed a brilliant smile.

「Hey, Lady Jessica! Let’s ride down to the river before lunch!」

「Sure! Let’s go!」

From horseback, Sophia reached out her hand to Jessica.

Jessica leaned out the window, took her hand, and leapt lightly onto the horse.

Sophia held the reins, Jessica seated behind her.

Even I was startled by how wildly improper that was.

「Hey! Jessica!」

「Sorry! I’m going out to play with Sophia-chan!」

「Lady Jessica! Let’s ride!」

「Wait! Sophia!」

「Hey now! Jessica!」

With a flick of the reins, the moon-colored horse surged forward, carrying the two of them like the wind.

Sophia’s black hair streamed behind her, her laughter trailing through the courtyard.

Maids and guards ran frantically after them.

In the now quiet room, Alex stared at me, eyes narrowed in exasperation.

「Gaia…」

「Don’t look at me! It’s not my fault! And besides, this is better than her lying in bed, right?」

「Well… that’s true.」

With a resigned sigh, Alex dropped heavily into his chair.

Rosso, who’d been watching the whole scene, clasped his hands behind his head and spoke in Barbar:

「Isn’t it great that the princess is full of life now? Kids should be laughing and running around. You’re lucky, big bro!」

Alex didn’t understand the words, but the sentiment seemed to come through.

He gave a wry smile.

「Phew… Have lunch ready with that teriyaki or whatever. Sophia’s looking forward to it.」

「Yeah, leave it to me!」

Rosso was right.

Even if people called her a tomboy, Princess Sophia’s bright smile as she galloped off said everything.

From the direction they rode, we heard their voices:

「Sister! I’m going full speed!」

「Sophia-chan! Let’s gooo!」

Faint in the distance, yet clearly audible.

Voices full of joy, and happiness.