As I closed the door, the princess suddenly came out of nowhere and grabbed my arm pulling me down the hall.
I can't exactly refuse this "invitation" as she is a royal princes and I'm supposed to be her butler now.
Naoki was saying something as we left. But alas I couldn't hear him.
We kept running down the hallway until we reached a door. It was the only door in the long hallway which was weird.
The princess slammed the door shut immediately after we entered. The room was dark with no light source. But my eyes were unusually sharp so I was able to make out that the room was empty, except for a lever and two swords.
"Isn't this kind of fast princess? We only just met."
"If that's what you're thinking, then forget it. I'm not that type of girl you know?"
"You never know princess, you never do."
"Whatever."
Suddenly the room was bright as the light from the ceiling activated.
'There was no switch or anthing. So how did she?'
I didn't have much time to think as the princess picked up one of the swords and tossed me the other.
"You know my father talked a lot about you. So I wanted to test your abilities myself."
"... sure, I guess?"
She suddenly leapt at me with her sword pointed at the ground. An upward slash, fast and precise was about to strike me.
Of course before this happened I pulled my gun out and pointed at her head.
The princess suddenly stopped out of shock and disbelief as she saw my gun right between her eyes.
"Never bring a sword to a gun fight miss princess."
"It's Sophia. Also I tossed you that sword for a reason."
" a gun is better than a sword."
The princess scoffed at my response before she calmly backed away to her starting point.
"I'm testing your physical ability right now so pick up the sword."
"Why of course, miss princess."
Tossing my gun aside, I picked up the sword on the ground and took a fighting stance.
I grabbed the sword with a high stance, the tip pointing at the ground. Then I waited for the princess to strike.
The princess took a different stance than before. Raising her sword up high pointing at my head. Her shoulders were steady and calm.
Finally the strike came. An overhead strike faster than the last one.
I blocked it and counter attacked. Switching my stance and doing a sideward slash.
The princess backed away, dodging the sword by a hair's breath. Then she immediately dashed towards me again.
Our strikes continued for a few more minutes. The sound of metal crashing against metal echoed in the room. Until the princess made a mistake. Raising her sword up while I was still close.
I didn't miss the chance and kicked her abdomen. Pushing her a few meters back.
And I guess the princess hates losing since she saw my gun I dropped earlier and immediately grabbed it.
She pointed the gun at me not a hint of shame on her emerald eyes.
"Sophia enough."
The king's shout resounded from my back. I turned around ignoring the gun pointed at me, and saw the king with Mr. Watanabe and Naoki outside.
***
"Please accept my apologies for my daughter's behaviour."
"No your majesty. It was completely fine. I'm not hurt at all."
Just as I said those words, I heard the princess clicking her tounge behind my back.
Then I heard her whisper "this Isn't over."
Well I'll ignore that for now. So apparently Naoki was searching for us all over the place. Then when he couldn't find us, he told the king of what happened.
"Sophia you apologise to Saitou as well."
The princess calmly walked over to me like she didn't do anything wrong, while holding my gun.
"I'm sorry. Maybe I went a little too far."
"Yes, maybe pointing my own gun at me is a little too far. And also I won our little fight right? So where's my reward?"
"...That doesn't count."
"Oh it absolutely does."
"Well I never said anything about a price."
"Really? After everything you put me through? You won't even take responsibility."
"Fine, fine. I'll tell you you're reward later."
I grabbed my gun from her hands and was preparing to leave. But it looks like Mr. Watanabe had more to say.
"Looks like my apprentice and your daughter has... gotten to know each other."
"Hahaha. Well that's only right, your apprentice will be working with us starting tomorrow after all."
"What?"
The princess looked shocked. So she didn't know about the butler thing.
"Well yes, both Saitou and Naoki will be employed as our butlers. So it's the best choice to get to know them."
***
The next day.
Naoki and I sat at a round table. A different one from before probably because rich people have many different tables.
Mr. Watanabe, the king , the princess, and nine generals were sitting with us in what seems to be an important meeting.
Once everyone sat down, the king didn't waste any time and immediately started speaking.
"Before we start, I would like to introduce you all to these two young men. Saitou Yamaguchi and Naoki Toriyama. Our nest generation contract killers."
The governors wore shocked expressions upon hearing king Thomas's words. Some even spit out their drink
"Are you sure about this Your Majesty?" One of the governors calmly said.
"This is outrageous Your Majesty! These are kids, we nobles shouldn't make kids kill for us." Another exclaimed.
Mr. Watanabe was left with no choice but to interfere. He was the one who brought us here after all.
"Sorry to interrupt but, who you are calling children are no longer one. I have trained these young men to the best of my abilities. I am sure that they will not falter in the face of an enemy."
"Not children? What exactly have you done to them that makes you say that?"
I heard a fist slamming in the wooden table. King Thomas had enough of this exchange.
"We will not get anywhere pointlessly arguing like this. So how about we give the young men some missions?"
"Your Majesty, this isn't wha-" The governor stopped mid-sentence as he saw the king glaring directly at him.
"Anyone else who has any brilliant suggestions?"
Suddenly the princess raised her hand. Like she was a student in the middle of class.
"Yes, Sophia."
"I have a mission for Saitou. At 122 west 4th street. There's a bakery I'm curious about. Coincidentally it's also on our watchlist for a while now. I'll send you more details later but I want you to investigate that bakery."
I contemplated for a few seconds. Summarising the contents of my new mission.
At first, it seems to be a pretty easy mission. Just a random bakery in the middle of a city. What could go wrong?
But that's what makes it so suspicious. It's on the middle of the city so it should be a priority target. But it's only on the watchlist.
"Alright, I accept Your Higness."
"Oh, what about me? What about me?" Naoki joined in on the conversation. Maybe he was feeling left out that he didn't get a mission.
"Hahaha." The king gave out a hearty and boisterous laugh. "Naoki alright. Originally I was going to give this mission to Saitou. But as you've heard my daughter already gave him one. But it's yours now congratulations."
"Alright, alright, what is it?"
"A church suddenly appeared in the middle of the outskirts. You know how it is these days. Religion isn't as popular as it was back then so a church suddenly materializing out of thin air is bound to be suspicious."
The king paused for a moment as if thinking of how to say the next parts.
"Kids from the outskirts have also been missing more rapidly since it appeared. We usually don't keep records of them but the guards have noticed a decrease of the beggars when they're patrolling."
Hte king looked as if he was disappointed in himself after saying those words. Well he is the king so talking about your own country's outskirts must be taxing on his mind.
"So I get a creepy church and Saitou gets a bakery. You know what yes, I accept Your Higness."
"Good then. I hope you do well Naoki."
The king then stood up from his seat making all of us do the same.
"Well then ladies and gentlemen. That about concludes our meeting for today. I give you permission to leave."
""Yes, Your Majesty.""
All of us said simultaneously.
***
As we were heading out the palace, the princess followed us on our way back. It seems like she wants to talk to me.
"Hey, sorry again for what happened."
"You mean about the fight? I already told you I'm fine. Didn't even get hurt you know?"
The princess chuckled a little. "So about your reward. How about we get dinner sometime? When you're free of course."
"I'm free this Saturday. 8pm souns good?"
The princess smiled, knowing that she won't owe me anything after this dinner.
"I would love to. You be ready ok."
"I'm more worried if you're gonna be ready."
The princess followed with a light chuckle. "All right see you, bye bye and make sure not to dissapoint me."
I tried to respond but it was already too late. The princess already ran back to the palace.
"Bye."
Naoki was starstrucked. His face filled with disbelief yet I see a hint of proudness in his eyes.
"Am I dreaming or did you actually just get a date with royalty? A beautiful princess at that. Also you're her butler now."
"You really doubt me huh."
Naoki rolled his eye. Making a ovious excuse to stop the conversation. "Let's just go."
Back inside the car kuromaku asked me with a confused expression.
"Why's he like that?"
"Like what?"
"Sulking."
"Jealousy man, Jealousy."
"I-I'm not jealous, you idiots."
Just like that, with Naoki still denying the fact that he's jealous. We went back home.