Al felt his heartbeat suddenly quicken.
This was the first time he had seen someone dare to talk to Priscilla like that.
Knowing Priscilla's personality, if anyone displeased her, she would attack without hesitation, even if it was in the royal palace.
Hearing Satou Kazuma's words, Priscilla only slightly narrowed her eyes, hiding her face behind her fan, and looked at him with interest:
"I am not interested in the low tastes of you ordinary people. This boring trick of trying to provoke me has no effect on me. However, since your master can still bring me some insignificant amusement, I will reluctantly play with you. Be grateful and enjoy your defeat in front of me."
"Heh heh, saying such arrogant words, don't go back on your word when you lose later!"
Satou Kazuma smiled and prepared to play rock-paper-scissors with Priscilla.
"Three, two... Hey, hey, what are you doing?"
Satou Kazuma had just counted to two when Priscilla stretched out her hand. But her gesture wasn't scissors, rock, or paper. Instead, she extended her index and middle fingers.
"What is that?"
"This is a sword."
"There's no sword in rock-paper-scissors..."
"If I say there is, then there should be a sword."
"Don't you even know the rules?"
Satou Kazuma sighed helplessly and explained the rules of the game to her.
Beside her, Al's gaze, peeking out from the small slit in his helmet, fell on Satou Kazuma.
"I see. What a boring game. I'll just treat it as a way to pass the time. I have already gained enough amusement today."
Priscilla withdrew her hand and prepared to start the game with Satou Kazuma.
For her, it didn't matter what the rules of the game were.
The world revolved around her. As long as it was daytime, everything she did would go smoothly.
Whether it was the royal selection or anything else, she would be the one to win in the end.
She was someone loved by the world.
Failure was a word that couldn't exist in Priscilla's dictionary.
"Three, two, one!"
The two acted at the same time. Priscilla made a fist with her right hand, playing rock—
And Satou Kazuma opened his right hand.
Paper.
"Hahahaha, you said such harsh words just now, but in the end, you couldn't do it? Let me tell you, I've never lost at rock-paper-scissors since I was a kid!"
Satou Kazuma immediately showed a cunning face and gestured at Priscilla.
"It's me who won. It's only natural for rock to break scissors, right?"
Priscilla simply replied.
"Hey, hey, there's no such thing as rock breaking scissors!"
"Because it's my rock, it can break scissors."
"Are you cheating?"
Satou Kazuma looked at Priscilla, his face twisted in displeasure.
"Um... Princess, according to the normal rules, paper does win against rock."
Al said softly, scratching his helmet gently. The metal parts collided, making a creaking sound.
"Is that so?"
Priscilla seemed unable to believe the result and lowered her head to look at her hand.
She lost?
Impossible.
That could never happen.
Interesting.
"If you lose, you lose. Don't try to weasel out of it! Otherwise, I'll tell everyone that one of the candidates cheats even at rock-paper-scissors!"
Satou Kazuma said relentlessly.
"Princess..."
"I am not like you commoners. Seeing as you are quite amusing, I will reluctantly grant you what you think is the result as a reward."
Priscilla said with a smile.
She looked at Satou Kazuma, her eyes showing some interest in him.
"It's like you let me win on purpose... But whatever! The loser has to take off an article of clothing! That punishment is a must!"
Satou Kazuma said loudly to Priscilla.
Although he was drunk, his mind was unusually clear on this point.
In the distance, Roswaal watched Satou Kazuma without any expression.
He had investigated the other candidates. Priscilla could be said to be the most dangerous of them.
Her actions were too self-willed, disregarding nobles and acting solely according to her own will.
Even Roswaal hadn't been able to figure out Priscilla's true identity. There seemed to be some mystery surrounding her.
But even so, Satou Kazuma took the initiative to talk to her, and even said some unbelievable things.
Priscilla didn't even get angry.
Had Satou Kazuma seen through Priscilla's heart?
What was his purpose in taking the initiative to talk to her?
Countless questions arose in Roswaal's mind. He was convinced that Satou Kazuma had his own reasons for doing so.
Little did he know that Satou Kazuma's reason was incredibly simple.
Pure perversion.
At this moment, Satou Kazuma looked at Priscilla with great anticipation, swallowing hard.
The latter took off the black lace gloves that covered her arms and handed them to Al:
"Al, give this to him as a reward."
"Princess doesn't usually give things away."
Al handed the gloves to Satou Kazuma, patting him on the shoulder.
"Tch..."
Satou Kazuma looked at the gloves with disappointment.
They still had Priscilla's warmth and a faint fragrance.
But the rules said to take off an article of clothing, so it wasn't really against the rules.
"Tonight's party was quite interesting. I hope you can bring me more amusement next time. Let's go, Al."
After saying that, Priscilla turned around and left with Al.
"Hey! Are you running away after losing once!"
Satou Kazuma shouted at Priscilla's back.
But Priscilla didn't stop. She just lowered her head and looked at her hand.
"Rock-paper-scissors is a boring game, but it's surprisingly good for passing the time, Al. Try playing with me."
"Spare me, Princess. How could I possibly win against you?"
Al scratched his helmet again.
This wasn't flattery from a subordinate.
"What's that guy's name again?"
"Satou Kazuma."
Al replied, tilting his head slightly and glancing sideways at Satou Kazuma, deep in thought.
Meanwhile, although Priscilla and the others had left, the party continued.
Satou Kazuma held Priscilla's gloves and took a deep sniff—
He had to admit, they smelled really good.
She must be using incredibly expensive perfume.
Probably any piece of clothing on Priscilla was more expensive than the entire fortune of their group.
Hiss.
That meant these gloves must also be very expensive, right?
Satou Kazuma looked around and, after making sure no one was paying attention to him, quickly hid the gloves in his pocket.
"Mr. Kazuma."
Just then, a slightly familiar voice sounded behind Satou Kazuma. He turned around and saw the person he had met last night.
Rikert.
Rikert looked around, frowning. He hadn't expected the solemn royal selection meeting to turn into this.
"You are..."
"Yes, I'm the one from yesterday..."
"Who was it again?"
"..."
The veins on Rikert's forehead seemed to throb. He had a high status in Lugunica and was almost a household name.
But this guy didn't even remember his name.
"I was at the restaurant yesterday..."
"Oh, I remember now. You're the one who's not from the Council of Sages! You're called... Ricardo?"
"...Rikert!"
Rikert felt his blood pressure rising, and he was having trouble breathing.
Satou Kazuma stared intently at Rikert. His face looked rather lecherous:
"What did you come to me for? Don't tell me? You want that person's gloves? That's my trophy. I can't give it to you! But if you offer a lot of money, I might consider it!"
"What would I want that for?!"
Rikert's voice seemed to tremble. If it were any other time, he would have gone berserk.
But Rikert also knew that Aqua was someone that Miklotov and other prominent figures in Lugunica cared about very much, and so was Satou Kazuma.
Rikert had witnessed Aqua's miracle yesterday, and it had shaken him.
Moreover, he had other things to say.
Rikert took a deep breath, calmed himself, and said slowly:
"Mr. Kazuma, this morning, my disappointing son came back to me and had a heart-to-heart talk with me. Was it you who sent him?"
"Your son... Oh, Rachins!"
Satou Kazuma remembered talking to Rachins a lot last night.
But his purpose was simple—
They didn't have a single penny in their group right now.
Since Rachins' family was noble, they should take advantage of that!
"Rachins really doesn't understand things. He doesn't understand how hard it is to be a parent!"
Satou Kazuma's attitude changed instantly. He put his arm around Rikert's shoulder and told him a bunch of sayings about how parents have it hard and aren't understood by their children.
Rikert had originally thought Satou Kazuma was unreliable, but after hearing those words, he couldn't help but feel a sense of kinship.
As they talked, they sat down together and started drinking.
"...You're right! Sigh, these kids don't understand how hard it is for us parents! It's not easy to survive in the political world!"
After Rikert finished speaking, he poured out all of his grievances.
"That's right! Uncle, have some more to drink!"
Satou Kazuma nodded and refilled Rikert's glass.
"Sigh! I was so rude yesterday!"
After another sigh, Rikert said to Satou Kazuma very seriously,
"Thanks to Kazuma-sama for saying a few words to my son, he finally woke up! Although I cleared up a lot of things with him this morning, he seems determined to follow in your and Aqua-sama's footsteps. In that case, I can't say anything— our Hoffman family is willing to support Aqua-sama from now on. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask... What's this?"
Rikert looked at what was in front of him with confusion. Satou Kazuma had already asked Aqua for paper and a pen while he was talking.
"Write an agreement."
"Huh?"
"If you're saying you're going to support us, there should be some kind of proof!"
Satou Kazuma looked at Rikert very seriously,
"And to show your sincerity, why not give us some... campaign funds first?"
"Um..."
"Just write here that you're willing to provide Satou Kazuma with financial support free of charge."
"..."
A surprised expression appeared on Rikert's face, but under the influence of alcohol, he didn't think much about it. He nodded and signed his name on the paper.
"Lord Rikert!"
Seeing the black and white words on the paper, Satou Kazuma's face showed an extremely happy smile.
"What's wrong?"
"Lord Rikert, you should be a member of the Council of Sages!"
"...Can you please stop talking about that?"
"Kazuma-sama, do you have time to chat?"
Seeing Rikert and Satou Kazuma getting along so well, some noble officials came to his side, wanting to build a relationship with him.
As for Aqua—
"Crusch, not bad, not bad! Drink more! More!"
"Compared to Aqua-sama, I'm still lacking."
"Next time, we'll let you try the liquor of Kararagi!"
"Good... Good... I'm not drunk..."
.....
After what seemed like a long time, the party with the royal selection as its theme finally ended.
Many nobles were staggering drunk, and the other candidates left the royal palace escorted by their subordinates.
Satou Kazuma and Aqua also boarded a dragon-drawn carriage arranged by the Rikert family and set off on the road back to the mansion.
"Kazuma, my head is spinning..."
"That's what you get for drinking so much. Hey, hey, don't throw up on me! Throw up out the window!"
Satou Kazuma pushed Aqua to the window of the carriage, and she stuck her head out.
And she saw a lot of people gathered together, seemingly watching something interesting.
----
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