Her words seemed to catch him by surprise.
This she noticed—seeing his sudden pause—but it only made her giggle.
For a time, he had seemed so mature, even while appearing so young.
But then, his little slip-up made him feel less like those oldies who never seemed to be wrong or ever make a mistake.
It was a quality that Eiffel found even more attractive about him.
"I’m sorry if that may have made you worried, Princess Eiffel," he said, but she waved it off.
"It didn’t, not at all."
"At least it feels good to know this is your first time, rather than being pretentious like one of those oldies," she said, to which he smiled.
"It’s a surprise. Most would be deeply unsettled to be watched over by someone seemingly incapable," he replied.
She nodded but explained, "I’m not afraid, because while Sir Leopold might be hatefully nagging sometimes, he is a very protective and capable butler."
"I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s sitting on top of the carriage, secretly tagging along, just to make sure I’m protected and safe."
"He organized this, so if he chose you, then I’m confident he must be very sure—even if this is your first mission," she said, and he gave a small nod of understanding.
’She’s right,’ Ryuk thought.
’Except that Sir Leopold’s confidence isn’t in me, but in the invisible protection tagging along with us.’
He knew he was just the figure presented to the world—a backstory character who only seemed like Eiffel’s sole security.
The true power was behind them: various hidden waves and senses constantly roaming around—even within the room—silently observing both his and the princess’s actions.
It didn’t take long after that when Ryuk’s hearing picked up the sounds of neighing and roaring from various bestial creatures.
The sounds of shoes clicking against what seemed to be a gem-encrusted floor also came through, and soon enough, he painted in his mind a large structure whose outside, lined with neatly parked carriages.
"It seems like we’re here, Princess," he said as Eiffel let out a small exhale.
Large gatherings like this, she did not like.
Heck, she never even wanted to be here in the first place, and her irritation had only dulled due to his presence.
But now, she was about to step into a place she detested.
She was pulled from her thoughts when she felt a light breeze whistle through the air. She raised her gaze, surprised to find Ryuk now sitting before her, closer to the entrance.
He had moved without her noticing a single thing.
She didn’t react outwardly to that, but her heartbeats grew louder upon the realization:
’He’s so close,’
The sound of the Pegasi’s neighing, along with a subtle shift in the air current, revealed to Ryuk that they were now flying downward from the sky.
Soon enough, they landed, and the carriage door was opened.
A hand stretched out from the side—one that belonged to Coachman Percival, who reached out to take the princess’s hand and help her down from the carriage.
It was a gesture considered acceptable for a coachman. But this time, his hand was raised in vain.
The hand he took was larger and firmer than the Princess’s, and his head raised in surprise, only to be faced with Ryuk’s mocking smirk.
Instantly, Coachman Percival yanked his hand back, but it was already too late—he had helped Ryuk down to the ground.
Then, he watched with eyes turning red and jealousy in his heart as Ryuk stretched out his hand to the Princess, who accepted it and was elegantly helped down from the carriage.
’That...that was supposed to be my job!’ he screamed in his head.
But his expression quickly turned into a soft smile when the Princess got down, her eyes softly grazing past him.
He bowed as she walked past, though not without shooting a hateful glare at Ryuk, who simply grinned back with mockery.
’That was my chance to finally hold the Princess’s soft hand after all these years. Tch. That bastard!’ Percival cursed under his breath.
Ryuk’s gaze had already shifted to their surroundings, calmly taking in the sights.
They now stood before what appeared to be a golden castle, and all around them was its outer court—a grand area where numerous carriages were parked and refined-looking Angels stepped out one by one.
He had thought the carriage belonging to the Eiffel Royal Family was the largest he’d ever seen, but looking around now, he realized theirs was more of a mid-sized design.
There were even gigantic carriages in the back, pulled along by shockingly powerful Ancestral-level beasts.
Among those extra-large carriages, Ryuk counted about three.
And stepping out of each one was a young Angelic lady or young man, each followed by another figure—a personal guard, just like Ryuk himself.
"Those are the heirs of the other Royal Houses," Princess Eiffel said to him, as if she had read his thoughts.
The various heirs alighted, and a few gazes turned toward their position. Most of those gazes paused longer than expected, something Eiffel didn’t understand but quickly came to realize—
They weren’t looking at her.
They paused more on Ryuk.
He was strikingly handsome in his simple Victorian dress, and she wasn’t the only one who noticed it.
’He is too striking... and looks more refined than I am.’
’Am I that ugly-looking?’
’Maybe I’m not worthy to stand beside him.’
’Or... maybe it would be better to create some distance from him.’
Her usual negative emotions quickly took the chance to creep in, and her gaze slowly drifted to her feet—but halfway through, she heard his crisp, confident voice:
"If I may, Princess?"
She turned her head and found him extending his arm.
A pink blush rose to her cheeks, but she didn’t deny him. She took it.
And together, they resumed walking—arms in arm—toward the entrance alongside the other heirs and nobles.
And now, she could feel the attention shift instantly back to her.
Especially from the girls.
Many of them looked at her with gazes that seemed... jealous.
Somehow—just somehow...
Eiffel was starting to enjoy coming to this event.