As the end of the year approached, Lunamaria was walking leisurely through the bustling royal capital. Her physical growth period was over, and she was now tall enough to be considered an adult, and she was now a bit of a celebrity in the kingdom as a top-level adventurer.
　She currently had a bit of spare time on her hands.

''..........Mother is at Fear Big Sister's, no requests to hold on to at the moment, there's nothing to do.''

　There was no particular purpose, and I had no other plans other than to go pick up Noah in the evening. As she was walking along while moving her gaze to see what was going on, Lunamaria suddenly found a single sign.

It looks just right for killing time.''

　The martial arts tournament that was written on the sign that Lunamaria saw was organized by the kingdom's knights at the end of every year, and it was a tournament that you could participate in even if you didn't belong to the knights.
It's a gathering of skillful people from all over the kingdom, and it can be said to be quite a popular event.
　Lunamaria looked at the sign and thought for a moment, then approached a stall selling admission tickets and opened her mouth.

''Can I have one, standing room only?''
Oh?　You've seen it before... isn't it 'Lunamaria the Black Lily'?
Oh, that's some street names.
Do you want me to observe instead of participate?　I'm sure you'd go as far as to do well against a knight...

　Black Lily is Lunamaria's street name as a top-level adventurer, like Noah's Fresh Blood Princess. She professes to respect the Dark Lord Chromium Eina, and always wears a long black coat when she works as an adventurer, perhaps in imitation of her, hence the two names.
　Currently, Lunamaria doesn't wear a long coat since she is in civilian clothes, but she is a celebrity in her own right. The older woman at the martial arts competition's reception desk noticed that she was the highest-ranking adventurer.

''Umm.......what is the prize for the winner this time?''
The Dagger of the Wind Waves.
''Ah~ It was a dagger with the magic of the Aerocutter in it, wasn't it? Hmm, it's rare and valuable, but........I can make it on my own if it's an aerocutter, and it's a hassle to fight it off all the time.
Oh, yeah?　

　Hearing the words of the woman who muttered regretfully, Lunamaria's eyebrows twitched.

''........Heh, so there's a 'white rose' and a 'red camellia', right?
Yeah, this is the first time for both of them.
That's something I've always wanted to see, so it was perfect timing.
They're both incredibly strong... you know, standing room only, 3R.
Thank you.

　In the Kingdom of Symphonia, there are beings with the street names of flowers, called the Three Flowers. Lilianne Leah Symphonia, the White Rose Warrior Princess, Sieglinde, the Red Camellia Knight, and Lunamaria, the Black Lily Adventurer....
　Delighted to see the battle of those lined up in unexpected places, Lunamaria received her admission ticket and entered the arena.







　The hall was now filled with enthusiasm. Because of the incident where Lilianne, who was called a rare genius, crushed her opponent's sword with her bare hands to win....
　Looking at the scene, Lunamaria drinks the drink she bought at the concession stand.

''........''

　Her eyes were sharp as she stared at Lilianne, who was waving her hand in response to the cheering.
　Lunamaria had been enjoying herself to a certain extent when she had just started, but now she had a very boring..........expression on her face.
　 And that didn't mean that the participants' abilities were................

''.....You're a boring-looking person who laughs. How can I say, you look like a well-made doll............It makes me angry.

　The mumbled words were drowned out by the cheers and didn't reach anyone's ears.








　Lilianne, who had finished second in the martial arts tournament, was walking down the aisle of the arena after responding to the accolades being showered on her.
　It was supposed to be a corridor for participants, and there was supposed to be no one there who wasn't participating in the match. However, ahead of Lilianne's walk.......a woman with hair the shade of blue sky was standing there.

''.........You are?　How did you get here?
'There are many tricks to it. Well, let's leave it at that.......may I ask you one thing, Your Highness?
...What is it?
Did you have a good time?
What?

　Hearing Lunamaria's words, Lilianne tilted her head as if to say she didn't understand the meaning.

''You only care about the voices around you, you put too much pressure on your shoulders and forget how to relax.......you just respond with a pasted-on smile.......you're not very popular, Your Highness.
What are you doing?
I don't like it. If you're a strutting, overstretched little pumpkin like you don't know how to relax, you'll break down sooner or later.
....

　At Lunamaria's words, which were told somewhat quarrelsomely, Lilianne also gave a somewhat sharp look.
　Their gazes crossed in silence as if they were probing each other, and a little later, Lunamaria let out a sigh.

''........Well, no matter what I say right now, you won't be able to reach me, right? To the extent, right now........
I don't know. I don't know what you're talking about.
'My name is Luna Maria. Remember I'll make sure to 'save you' the next time you're here.
I don't remember asking you to help me and I don't see why I should.
Yes, I'm not being asked to do that. "'I want to help you because I want to help you' is all I'm saying. Well, I'll see you soon, Your Highness.

　After telling her that, Lunamaria turned her back to Lilianne and walked away with a light wave of her hand.

''........My name is Lilianne.
I wouldn't call you by your name at this point Your Highness, you're so boring.
What?

　Lilianne stared at Lunamaria's back as she told her that and disappeared without looking back, feeling inexplicably irritated.
　And this was the first meeting of the two who would later become great friends...........