The yard was still silent after that declaration.
"...Noko's husband?" I repeated, my voice trembling.
Noko gave a little jump of joy, hugging her father's arm.
"Ren-sama passed the test-nya! I knew you'd accept him, Dad!"
Maya shot to her feet, hand on the hilt of her sword, her face turning red with outrage.
"What nonsense is that?! Since when do you decide who she's going to marry?"
Zara also stood, fixing an icy stare on Noko's father.
"You have no right to impose something like that."
I raised my hands, trying to calm everyone down in the middle of this disaster.
"Hey, I didn't… agree to any of that either!"
Noko's father let out a booming laugh, his deep voice rumbling through the air.
"Hahaha! Don't you get it? My name is Ragan, and I am King of the Felisluna clan. Which means my dear Noko isn't just any daughter—she is the crown princess."
The words hit me like a brick to the head.
"P-Princess?"
Maya blinked, her rage mixing with confusion.
"Noko… is a princess?"
Zara narrowed her eyes, as if the puzzle pieces were finally falling into place.
"That explains the receptionist's reaction at the guild when she heard Noko's surname. So that was the reason."
Noko laughed nervously, lowering her ears.
"Hehe… maybe I forgot to mention that little detail-nya."
"Little detail?!" I exclaimed in disbelief.
Noko looked at me with the most innocent smile in the world.
"Well… what does it matter if I'm a princess? I like adventures and being with you all!"
Maya clenched her fists.
"But just because you're royalty, your father thinks he can hand you over to Ren?" Her face was burning red again.
Zara joined the protest.
"Princess or not, no one has the right to decide who Ren will be with."
I looked at all of them, feeling like my head was about to explode.
"And what about my opinion? Wouldn't it be fair to ask if I agree with this?"
Noko clung to my arm, smiling as if she didn't understand the tension in the air.
"Aww, Ren-sama… you worry too much."
"How could I not?!" I shot back, while Maya clicked her tongue and Zara averted her gaze, both clearly upset.
Ragan's roaring laughter cut us off. He walked over to me and slapped my shoulder so hard I nearly hit the wall.
"You see the truth now, boy. My daughter left the palace to follow her own path… but she travels with you. That's why I formally invite you to the kingdom."
"Is that an invitation… or an order?" I asked, pale.
"Both, hahaha!" he said, flashing a dangerous, fanged smile.
Maya stepped forward.
"Then I'm going too! I won't sit back and do nothing about this."
Zara glanced at her, then nodded firmly.
"I'm going as well. If it concerns Noko and involves Ren, I won't just stand by."
I swallowed hard, surrounded by an intimidating king, a feline princess, and two furious girls.
"...Guess I don't have a choice, do I?"
Ragan gave me another slap on the back that nearly broke my spine.
"Excellent, then let's all go! We leave tomorrow!"