How a Realist Hero Rebuilt The Kingdom

Book 17: Chapter SS

Extra Story: The Prickly Girl Wants to Be Spoiled Too

It was a little after Souma and his group returned from the Demon Lords Domain to the Kingdom.

Around this time, the two countries were sorting out how they were going to announce the complete liberation of the Demon Lords Domain as the result of a joint operation between the Kingdom of Friedonia and the Great Tiger Empire. Even with the calamity passed, there was the shadow of a new battle on the horizonbut the continent was at peace for the time being.

A group of five friends from their days at the Royal Academy gathered for the first time in a while...

Okay, Ichiha. Say Ahh.

A-Ahh.

Tomoe offered a spoonful of pudding to Ichiha, who hesitantly ate it. Tomoe was beaming, and Ichiha didnt seem to mind the gesture. It was Yuriga, Lucy, and Velza who looked like they were going to be sick at this sugary-sweet display of affection. They were at the parlor run by Lucys family enjoying a spot of tea. Their paths had parted ways after graduation, so it had been hard to get the whole gang back together since.

Look, Ichiha. This eclair is tasty too.

No, its clearly too big formmph!

Ichiha got his cheeks stuffed full of eclair.

Hey, cut it out, you two! Yuriga shouted, unable to take any more of this. Do that when youre on your own! Think how I feel, having to watch that lovey-dovey nonsense!

Aww. But were engaged, you know? Tomoe said with a chuckle, earning wry smiles from Lucy and Velza.

So youre one of those, Tomie. Youll act as sweet as ya think ya can get away with, is that it? Ya musta had a lotta stress built up durin the time it took you two to finally get together, huh?

It was a long, long courtship, after all. Ichiha, do try to accept all of her love.

Gulp... Ah ha ha... Okay.

Ichiha swallowed his eclair and then nodded with a troubled laugh. But Yuriga was having none of it.

That doesnt mean you can just do this stuff anywhere! Consider whos watching...

Oh, Ichiha. Theres a little cream on your cheek.

Hey, listen to me!

Tomoe put her hands on the table and leaned in, paying no mind whatsoever to Yurigas complaints. Then, putting one hand on the opposite cheek, she brought her face up close and...

Mmm. (Slurp!)

Whah?!

T-Tomoe?!

She stuck her little tongue out and licked the cream off his cheek. Lucy and Velza were both blushing.

Wow! Ya sure are forward, Tomie.

I think its lovely... Maybe Ill try it myself with Hal.

As for Yuriga, her brain seemed to pause for a moment, then she came to her senses and got really mad.

I told you to consider where you are! Look, youve got Ichiha freezing up!

Heh heh, you jealous, Yuriga?

No one said I was!

Well, if youre jealous, why dont you go flirt with Big Brother?

...!

When Tomoe said that, Yuriga imagined doing what she had just witnessed with Souma, and her face suddenly turned red.

Tomoe smirked. Hes your husband, after all. Why not let him spoil you?

Sh-Shut up! Youre such a little brat!

Little? Im about the same height as you now, actually.

Shut up! Shut! Up! Im going home!

Yuriga rose from her seat and indignantly stormed off back to the castle. Ichiha sighed when he saw the grin on Tomoes face as she watched her go.

Tomoe... Was that intentional?

Hey, if I didnt do something, they were never going to make any progress. Tomoe shrugged, not trying to deny it. Its a political marriage, and Yurigas in a delicate position. Both she and Big Brother tend to hold back a little too much. Theyre married, so dont you think having a relationship like thats a little...sad? Big Brother is supposed to be the closest person to her, and she ought to be able to let him spoil her.

Oh, so thats why you were getting her all fired up, Velza said, sounding impressed.

Thats why they made you their chamberlain, huh? Youre always thinkin about how to help the royals get along. Lucy agreed.

Tomoe chuckled to herself. Well, it was half because I wanted to show off how in love Ichiha and I are.

What a little devil!

The three of them shuddered at Tomoes hidden potential.

That night, I was in the governmental affairs office, working on some simple documents that were too minor to bother putting off until tomorrow, when there came a timid knock at the door.

Come in, I said.

Yuriga entered, and she was hanging her head and playing with her hands.

Whats up, Yuriga?

Nothing... Its no big deal, I dont really need anything, but...

For having no business here, she sure wasnt in any hurry to leave. She just stood there, fidgeting awkwardly. I thought it was strange, but when I turned back to my paperwork...

P-Pardon me.

Suddenly, Yuriga climbed up to sit on my lap. Yuriga might not have been as small as Naden, but she was still petite, so she fit there neatly. The wings growing out of her back brushed my arms and it really tickled. Huh? Whats going on here?

Um, Im still trying to get some work done.

Am I in the way...? Yuriga asked, turning her head to look at me with upturned eyes. It was kinda cute.

Nah... Youre light, so its not that hard to work around you.

Okay... Let me stay like this for a bit then. Youre my husband, so its fine, right?

Uhh, okay. Sure.

She was like a kitten, nibbling at you when it wanted something. Does she feel the need to be spoiled today?

I continued working at my desk with Yuriga on my lap for a while.