For a moment, Eldora looked like a defeated man.
　But soon enough, her face turned reddish-black with anger and willpower.

"Mind your own business, Ray!　You can't do that!

　He shouted at her as if he wasn't going to admit it.

''E, Lord Eldora........''
You talk too much, sir.

　Immediately, the young knights in the cronies chided the princess of the lord's lineage for her language.

　Berry, however, remained provocative.

Well, well, it doesn't matter what you say, does it?　My opinion of Lord Eldora has hit rock bottom, after all.
'Bae, Berry, we're getting there......... I don't think we should stir things up too much...
'Shut up, Ray!　I'm mad at you for making fun of me!

　You said earlier that you weren't going to ask me about tolerance!
　--" the tweak was swallowed by a sideways glare from Berry, who glanced sideways at him with a stare.

'Ha!　You're quite obsessed with that one again, Princess.

　Eldora snorted, still with a reddish-black face.

''But no one would admit that such a poppycock redneck is a 'Knight of Beatrixine', right?　There's no way I'm going to accept that!
I've been taken for a fool. Do you think I'm a boxed-up person who can't do politics like that?　As a warrior of light, Rey will defeat the Magic Bullet General. He will win the admiration of the whole country, unlike someone else who ran away from the path. Everyone will agree that he's worthy of being my knight.

　Eldora gritted her teeth with a gritty grin, as if she couldn't argue with him.

'E, Lord Eldora,'
Things are looking grim, that they are.
We need to step back and make a plan.

　His cronies interceded for Eldora with an uneasy look on their faces.
　But Eldora poked and prodded at those warnings.

We have a deal, Princess Beatrixine.
Oh, dear, it is very impolite to make a deal with a princess. But do you mind? Speak up.
I beg permission for Rey and I to have a duel before Your Highness and the other lords and ladies. If Ray is an accomplished fighter, I'm sure some of them will recognize him as a knight of the princess, not to mention the Magus General. I will be glad to make you a friend.
What if you win?
Make me a knight of the princess on the spot.

　Eldora shot a challenging look at Berry, who remained provocative.

'Very well!　I'll take that deal!
I didn't say it was okay, Berry!
"Ha ha ha, fine!　We are all here to witness this. You can't say you forgot your promise, can you?
'So don't ignore me and make your own decisions, Eldora!

　I protested as hard as I could towards them, but they completely ignored me and made their decision.

''That's ridiculous...''

　I was astonished, wondering why I had to duel with Eldora.

　　　　◇◆◇◆◇

　Eldora pulls her cronies along and leaves with a high smile on her face.
　He doesn't give me a second glance. It's a triumphant attitude.
　In fact, Eldora, who used to be a knight's apprentice, was exceedingly strong among us warriors of light.

'I hate you, Berry...'

　I couldn't help but say that.

'Why did you make such a promise?　I got talked into it, didn't I?
Oh, my, Ray doesn't know me yet either.

　I was jittery, and Berry put her hand on my chest, as if I were a bit disappointed.

I wasn't the one who talked you into it, you know.　I put Eldora on it.
...What?
I was gloating inwardly when Eldora brought up the deal in a good way, and that's exactly what I did. I struggled to keep it out of my face.
You're rather dark-skinned, aren't you?
That's what it means to live at the court, isn't it?

　Berry smiled lustily.
　It was a mature smile, not quite my age.

　I was mortified, by contrast.

Are you sure you want me to be a knight?　First of all, I haven't heard anything?
Because he said it out of the blue.

　Berry said without taking offense.

''Well what kind of a windbag is that?''
I thought Ray would be my knight in shining armor. I've finally found one.
...Which part?
To tell you the truth, I've always hated those who are called the Light Warrior.

　Berry says horrible things again without hesitation.

I don't know if you were chosen as a professional divine spirit or not, but I was secretly sticking my tongue out at the back of Ray and the others as they left the castle, pretending to be heroes, without much effort and suddenly gaining a strong power.　'Please let me fail, and I hope it's a terrible mess!'
Oh, my God.
Yeah, it's just awful. I apologize, Ray. Please forgive me.

　Berry bowed her head deeply as she suddenly became sullen.
　The princess!　A commoner's me!
　Berry looked up and continued with an apologetic look on his face.

'It wasn't long ago that I realized my uncertainty,' she said. When I heard that Ray had come back to the castle, I came to see if I could give you a smile," he said. But what I saw was you working out alone in your backyard. Your single-minded, intrepid profile that never falters even when the people around you give you a hard time.

　Berry said, reaching out and stroking my cheek to check its shape.

'I'm not the cheapest woman to fall in love with at first sight, but it seems I was a maiden to the extent that I fell in love with her at second sight.
'Eeeeeeeeeeeeee!'
'Well, it's awful to be surprised!　It was you, of all people, who told me that.

　Berry pinched my cheek lightly, as if sulking.

'That's the way it is. I hope you understand.
..........

　I couldn't answer her in a hurry.
　If I said yes, I'd be admitting that she liked me.
　Our relationship would be inextricably linked.

''Huh, well, that part's okay for now.
"Ho!
But you must win the duel!
Oh, that's right!

　I winced.
　But Berry doesn't relent at all, putting his hands on the sides of his hips and taunting me.

'You remember what that irreverent man said about being sloppy, don't you?　He even called Ray a 'friend' and said he'd be 'happy to oblige'!　Oh, so frustrating!　There's nothing more ridiculous than that!

　The princess is so emphatic that she can't even step on the ground right then and there.

''Then I'll have Eldora become a clown!　Okay, Ray?　I, as your highness, give you, the knight, my first command. I want you to win hands down and make that man bark!

　In the end, he sticks his finger at me with a shrewd demand.

　You can't refuse.....
　Even I know that much. I don't need to think about it.
　Oh, how could I have gotten myself into this mess?
　I can't help but scream.

"Don't tell me what to do!