Can’t believe there would come a day where I would do my best to convince a cute girl that marrying me is a bad idea, but here I am. It’s not that I don’t like Bea, but dealing with all the consequences that would come from marrying her is too much.

  I’d also feel bad for playing favorites.

  I’ve… never talked marriage with the others, but I think that’s off the table for us. Girls getting married might be okay in Three Records, but I don’t think polygamy is even being discussed yet. Having to pick only one of them for the position of legal wife would probably break my heart, so it’s never going to happen.

  In the end, I’m not happy about it, but I need Bea to drop this idea. I mean… Does she even like me? Or is this all just a whim from a princess?

  “Bea?” I was back at the hallway of the fancy hotel near the fast-travel station of Ebrilyon. “You there?” I couldn’t convince her with words, so I had to come up with a better idea. Something that would make her realize marriage between us wasn’t going to work. We talked yesterday and agreed to meet here early in the afternoon.

  “Greetings, Iroha. I’ve been waiting for you.”

  The girl who opened the door looked nothing like the Bea I’m used to. She had the same blonde hair and green eyes, but she was wearing a simple dress, and her hair was tied into a ponytail.

  “Oh… A disguise…” I stepped into the room and closed the door. “Trying to look like a peasant, huh? Almost what you looked like when we first met.”

  “Looks good, doesn’t it?” She spun in place. “As would be expected. A princess has to look good no matter what she wears.”

  “I could use some of your self-esteem sometimes, you know?” How can she say that with such a smug smile? No wonder Flanne always wants to keep an eye on her. This world might invent guillotines if they heard her speaking like this. Too bad she sent Flanne on a vacation, so now it’s up to me to stop her.

  “Where are we going? I took the liberty of wearing something that would blend in. I hope this works for what you have in mind. What do you think?” She extended her arms, letting me get a good look at her clothes.

  “Not good.”

  “…” Her perfect smile faltered. “Wh- what do you mean?” What was the problem? She wondered. Was I trying to make her back off by being mean?

  “Don’t look so shocked, okay? The problem is not you, it’s… your clothes. They stand out too much.” I was carrying a paper bag with clothes and placed it on the bed. “I want you to wear this instead.”

  Did she misread the situation? Bea was upset that her disguise idea failed, but at least the problem wasn’t with her personally. “A- are you being serious?” She peeked into the bag and then looked back at me. “How’s my disguise worse than these? These stand out way more!”

  Except she has no idea where I’m taking her yet. “Just trust me, okay?”

  It took a little more convincing, but she eventually changed. I stepped outside, and when I returned, she was waiting for me in her new outfit. One I picked with the help of Carol and Hecate.

  “Is this it?” She now had a thin shirt on with a side knot that exposed her belly and beige shorts. Her hair remained in a ponytail, but now it passed through the hole in the back of a blue baseball hat. The summer vibes were through the roof with this one. So stylish!

  “I’m way too exposed!” She bent forward, trying to cover her legs and belly. Her hat hid part of her rosy cheeks, only making her more irresistible. *Sigh…* Carol really knows what she’s doing when it comes to fashion.

  “You’re perfect… We can go now.”

  “I- Iroha…” The initial stiffness slowly left her body, but the confusion was still all there. “I still don’t get it… Just where am I going to blend in with these clothes?! Are you taking me to slut-landia?!”

  Wow… What an innocent princess she turned out to be… With how naughty she usually is, I didn’t expect her to react this much. “Come on… Ahahaha… There’s no way that’s a real place…”

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  She bit her lip. “The only place an outfit this exotic would blend in would be somewhere inappropriate. Look at me. I look like…” Like what? She wasn’t wearing normal clothes, but it was hard for her to define what her look was. “I look like you and your friends…”

  “You’re finally starting to get it.”

  …

  “Welcome to our world!” My master plan. Once she realizes we’re from different worlds, she’ll probably give up. After all, a princess can’t marry a nobody from a different world, right?

  “Wow… I didn’t fully believe you after we passed through the portal only to go into another forest. Like, why do we change worlds, yet everything looks the same? But you were actually telling the truth…” We were on a sidewalk not too far from the House, and Bea was having a moment after being faced with a brand-new world. The portals weren’t something she was unfamiliar with, but it was her first time seeing one.

  They’re not common knowledge, but the various leaders of their world are aware of them. If they could track them down reliably, they would investigate more, but it seems humanity there is not quite at that level just yet.

  “Woah! Wh- what was that shiny thing that just flew past us? Iroha!” She shook my shoulder while jumping.

  “That was a car… Kinda like a carriage but faster.” Her regal dignity is nowhere to be found. Even a princess like her goes through this phase when visiting our world for the first time.

  “Ehh… Really? What about that?” She pointed at something on the sidewalk a little ahead of us.

  “That’s a road sign. It tells the people in cars a variety of things.”

  “What about that?”

  “A billboard?”

  “And that? And the one next to it?”

  “A road and a... normal building.”

  “Ohh! Then that?” She raised her finger.

  “A balcony…” I- is she being serious? “Aren’t you just pointing at things that exist in your world? Maybe try calming down before asking more questions.”

  “Ahem…” She elegantly brought her wrist to her mouth. “You’re right. I accidentally got carried away.”

  “Pretty sure you were messing with me…” I could easily see her exaggerating her reaction to get a reaction out of me…

  “How could you suggest something like that?!” She retreated in shock. Now she’s messing with me. “You may forget, but I’m just a normal girl.” One step after the other, she made excuses. Does she know where she’s going. “Not just that, but quite a sheltered one too. As a princess, I’ve had less opportunities to see outside world than you, so if you show me a completely different world, of course I’m going to be excited.”

  “Cool story, but let me stop you right there.”

  “Kyahh!” I yanked her arm, and she tripped on the sidewalk. I caught her, and a car whizzed by where she was a moment ago. “What was that for?” She pouted from under her hat while clinging to me.

  “Roads are not places you casually wander into. Cars are dangerous, and I don’t want any wars getting started because I let Ebrilyon’s princess die under my watch.”

  “I see…” She straightened up and let go. “It’s so rare to see vehicles in Ebrilyon that I forgot roads can be dangerous. Good job saving me. The Ebrilyon army would have made the portals public knowledge and come here to avenge me if you didn’t.”

  “I guess I saved your country from being decimated.” Seeing medieval soldiers clash with modern militaries is fun in stories, but I don’t want to subject anyone to that if I can avoid it.

  “I- I wouldn’t be so sure… I’ve heard the demon cities are not that different from what I’m seeing. Our troops are hard workers, trained to withstand the fiercest of demons’ attacks. You wouldn’t defeat us that easily!” Why is she getting defensive?

  “Hard workers? Like Flanne?”

  “Mhmm… She may be a bit of an exception.”

  I was off to a good start, showing her a reality drastically different than her own. Does she see it? Marriage is not going to work between us.

  In the middle of our aimless walk, on the sidewalk we were on, with her back leaning against a pillar, there was a girl. Wearing a white tank top, black denim shorts, and a hat with the visor turned to the back. Her long silver hair flowed down her back as she looked at us from the corner of her eye.

  “Miyuki? Wh- what are you doing here?”

  I called out to her and both Bea and I slowly approached. “Someone you know?” Bea asked, peeking over my shoulder.

  Miyuki was looking, but when she finally turned her face… Pouting? Why is she pouting? That’s her reaction upon seeing me? “Wh- what’s wrong?” Can’t be my fault, right? I just got here.

  “You forgot about me.” She crossed her arms and turned her head away.

  Is she actually angry? I’ve never seen her like this… She’s always so friendly that it borders on pushy. Does she hate me now? Are we going to break up before we even start dating properly?

  “I didn’t forget about you… I don’t see how I could ever forget you, in fact.” She’s too much of a beauty for me to ever forget.

  “Oh really, Iroha? Then why haven’t you said anything since summer vacation started? Hmm?” She peered into my eyes, leaning forward with a spoiled frown. Where did this cute side come from?

  “I was just busy, okay? But that doesn’t mean anything. You don’t have any proof I forgot.” I said with a similarly whiny tone.

  “Pfft!” She cracked a smile. “That’s true, I guess. I’ll give you a chance to prove it then. Prove you didn’t abandon me.” Abandoned? She’s escalating things now. Miyuki loosened up, and the usual friendly expression returned to her face. Until she properly processed Bea’s presence and tilted her head. “Who’s that with you? A new girlfriend? I didn’t meet her at the beach.”

  “Shhh!” I covered her mouth. “Don’t talk about that in public!”

  “Iroha’s fiancé, actually.” Bea elegantly bowed. “We’re going to get married soon.”

  “No, we’re not!” I snapped back. “Don’t casually saddle me with that!”

  “Ehh…? She seems to mean it, Iroha. What don’t you like about her? Is she not pretty enough for you?” Miyuki paced around Bea with her hands behind her back, getting a good look at her.

  “She’s literally a princess from another world! I don’t think I’m crazy for thinking that we wouldn’t make for a great couple.”

  Bea gently grabbed my shoulder. “I think we would. I think you possess the qualities to make a great lifelong partner.”

  “Oh really…?” Why the fake smile, then? “Cause I think you just enjoy messing with me.”

  She giggled. “I assure you that’s just your opinion.”

  “But, Iroha… If you’re not dating her, why did you bring her to this world? Do you trust her that much?” That’s a good question… Do I trust her?

  “We- well… I thought she’d realize that a princess marrying a commoner from a different world is a bad idea if I showed her around… I may have been a bit too rash…” I didn’t think this through at all.

  “Whaaaat? That means you’re already on a date! You promised we’d hang out today. Just now.” Pretty sure I didn’t promise anything. “Now you’re choosing her over me? I knew it… You abandoned me.” Miyuki fake sobbed.

  This is dangerous…

  These two should never have met… They’re both masters at pushing me around.

  “This is not a date, okay? And I didn’t promise anything, so don’t decide that on your own!” I snapped back and forth between the two of them. I’m not falling for any more of your tricks. “We’re just on a walk, so if you really want to, you can come with us, Miyuki.” I’ll probably get teased to high hell, but if it makes her happy…

  “Thanks, Iroha!” She latched onto my arm. “You’re the best. I knew you wouldn’t abandon me!”