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On the west side of Itogami Island was a Western-style café famous for its unbeatable breakfast.
Sayaka Kirasaka took a deep breath, her violin case slung over her back, and pushed open the glass door as the waiter greeted her.
"Welcome. How many in your party?"
"My friend got here first," Sayaka answered casually, then scanned the room. At a four-seat table with skewers laid out, she spotted the person she was looking for.
Relief washed over her. She hurried over, stopped in front of the young man eating a breakfast sandwich, and bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty."
Ryo glanced up at her, then smiled and motioned downward, "Sit."
Sayaka set her violin case on the floor and took the seat across from him.
"Where's Yukina?" Ryo asked, still eating, his tone idle.
"She's staying with Lady Touka, keeping watch over her."
Sayaka spoke, but there was an inexplicable hint of jealousy in her voice.
"When I had a fever before, she never cared this much."
Ryo paused, then looked at her with a strange expression before replying casually. "Then next time you get a fever, I'll take care of you."
"Eh?" Sayaka froze. Her face flushed bright red. "W-What are you saying? I…"
She hesitated for a long moment, then muttered softly, her face burning.
"Yukina taking care of me is enough…"
"Oh? Looks like I've been dumped," Ryo said, picking up a napkin and wiping his mouth.
"Ah—"
Sayaka's face turned even redder. She lowered her head and didn't dare say another word.
Seeing that, Ryo laughed. "Alright, alright. I'm just teasing you."
Then, as if it were an afterthought, he asked, "What's the Lion King's response?"
"They told Yukina and me to remain on standby. The instructor plans to come personally to check on Lady Touka's condition." Sayaka answered immediately.
After all, even if Ryo was the one who did it, the Lion King Organization still couldn't believe that Touka Fujisaka, one of the Three Saints who had ascended as an angel, had returned.
"Oh?" Ryo raised an eyebrow, amused. "They told you to stay on standby, yet you still listened to me and came here to act as my guard?"
Sayaka's face reddened, speaking awkwardly. "I personally don't think there's a conflict. After all, the Lion King Organization's highest priority is protecting your safety."
"Oooh."
Ryo didn't bother mentioning that he didn't need protection at all. He simply smiled meaningfully, then said with a hint of emotion, "As expected, Sayaka, you're much cuter than Yukina."
"N-No! Yukina is the cutest!" Sayaka shook her head vigorously in denial.
A second later, she realized what he had said, "…Cute?"
"You're really something," Ryo chuckled, then continued, "The Onrai Island residents that Shizuri brought over, no problems there, right?"
Relieved that he'd finally stopped teasing her and moved on to business, Sayaka let out a breath.
"Princess Yuuma is handling their transfer procedures."
"Princess Yuuma?" Ryo paused, giving her a subtle look.
"Is something wrong?" Sayaka asked, confused by his reaction.
According to Lion King intelligence, although she rarely appeared, Aya Tokoyogi was suspected to be one of the Dawn Empire's consorts.
And her clone, Yuuma Tokoyogi, whom Ryo was raising as his daughter, being called "Princess"… that wasn't strange, was it?
"Nothing," Ryo said calmly, taking a sip of juice. He casually picked up another sandwich. "I just don't like calling her 'Princess.'"
"Then what do you call her?" Sayaka asked, stunned. Was he seriously bothered by that?
"Sweet daughter. Yuuma-chan. My baby girl."
"Oh…"
Sayaka relaxed.
Wait.
What did he say?
Sayaka stared at Ryo, her eyes widening, her mouth slowly falling open.
At that moment, Ryo glanced at the sandwich in his hand, more than half eaten, and said in mock surprise, "You want some? You should've said so earlier."
Without waiting for an answer, he stuffed the sandwich into Sayaka's mouth.
"Mmph!"
She stared at him in disbelief, mumbled incoherently for a moment, then quietly started chewing.
'Sorry, Yukina… I'm no longer pure… From now on, please live a happy life…'
Half joyful, half distressed, the girl chewed while spiraling internally.
"Not enough?" Ryo grinned. "Then have another."
By the time they finished breakfast, Ryo looked at Sayaka, whose ears were now bright red.
"Full?"
She nodded furiously, like a pecking chick.
"Then it's about time to start your protection duty."
Ryo smiled as he said it.
"Huh?" Sayaka froze.
At that moment, a waiter's voice came from behind him, "Welcome! How many in your party?"
Sayaka turned her head and saw a girl standing in the dining hall.
She had brilliant, sunlike blonde hair and iridescent eyes that shimmered with unnatural hues. Her very presence radiated otherworldliness.
Avrora Florestina?
Sayaka recognized her instantly. She was a high-priority target marked by the Lion King Organization, the 12th Kaleid Blood.
Acting on instinct, she reached for Lustrous Scale, ready to protect Ryo, even as she wondered why she would need to guard him from one of his own people.
At that moment, Avrora turned toward them and slowly curled her lips into a smile.
"It's been a year and a half, my long-lost master."
The girl who had been standing at the entrance suddenly appeared beside Sayaka, as if she had slipped through space itself.
"Using that appearance to come see me. You really thought this through, Giada," Ryo said with a laugh.
"Can't be helped," the girl replied lightly. "Our contact would frighten those ignorant fools."
The Third Primogenitor, Giada Kukulcan, disguised as Avrora, laughed loudly.
"I'd love to move around in my true form and scare those little brats half to death. But considering the Little Garden, and future fun, I suppose I'll restrain myself for now."
"That must be tough on you," Ryo said, smiling. He waved to the waiter. "Two more glasses of juice."
As the waiter responded, Sayaka glanced at Ryo and asked quietly, "Your Majesty… who is this?"
"Oh? There's an outsider here," Giada said. She raised a hand and brushed her face.
In an instant, her appearance shifted into that of a petite girl with light green hair and crimson eyes.
"Allow me to introduce myself."
"I'm Giada Kukulcan, a temporary member of Arcadia."
Giada Kukulcan? Sayaka frowned inwardly. She'd never heard that name before. And Arcadia… what kind of organization was that?
Just as she was puzzling over it, Giada continued with a meaningful smile.
"Though in this world, you may also call me the 'Chaos Bride.'"
Oh. The Chaos Bride.
That one she knew.
The ruler of the Chaos Zone in Central America
For exactly one second, Sayaka felt happy that she finally understood what Giada meant.
The next second, her expression twisted. Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she jumped up and screamed,
"The Chaos Bride?!"
.
.
.