I Became the Maid of the Lout Prince-Chapter 399: Oceanographic research (4)

With Ethan and Thomas slightly crossing the line to chase away the guys bothering Natalie and me, and with Antonio stepping in to keep things civil, we finally resolved the situation. Now, the three of them had the chance to take a good look at our swimsuits, each one standing awkwardly in front of us.

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“...Lilith.”

“Yes, Master Ethan.”

“...The swimsuit suits you well.”

“...Thank you, Master Ethan.”

“You... really look great. It’s beautiful and suits you perfectly.”

Ethan’s compliment was simple yet direct, exactly what I’d hoped for when I spent hours picking out this swimsuit. Hearing it directly from him, though, made me feel a bit shy.

“Na-na, Na-natalie... Wh-what’s with that swimsuit?”

“This? Lady Lilith personally picked it out for me. She insisted I couldn’t just wear anything and spent two hours choosing this one. What do you think, Thomas?”

“Th-that... It’s really pr-pretty... Or, I mean, it’s... attractive...”

“Huh? So you think it looks good?”

-Nod, nod, nod!-

It seemed things were going well with Natalie and Thomas, too. He nodded fervently, looking quite pleased with the swimsuit I’d chosen for her. I was reassured that my choice had been the right one.

Meanwhile, on the Agnes and Antonio front...

“Lady Agnes! You look absolutely stunning! You’re always beautiful, but today you’re even more radiant!”

“...What are you going on about all of a sudden? Just leave me alone.”

“Did you pick out that swimsuit yourself? Was there someone in particular you wanted to show it to? Don’t tell me it was for another man...”

“Shut up, it wasn’t like that.”

“Ah! Then, could it be that you wore it for me?! I’m truly honored....”

“It’s not like that! I just wore what my friend chose for me. Stop jumping to weird conclusions—it’s annoying!”

“I-I see... but, surely, your friend wasn’t a man, right? Not that I’m saying it’s my place to interfere, but going swimsuit shopping with a guy might be a bit inappropriate...”

“I went with my girlfriends! Why are you making such a big deal out of buying a swimsuit?”

...They were certainly falling into their usual rhythm.

Antonio’s overeager declarations in front of Agnes weren’t new, but her reaction was a bit softer than usual. In the past, she would have looked at him with outright disdain, but now she seemed to be at that initial tsundere stage. It was clear that Antonio’s approach was different from the original hero’s, and with any luck, he might just win her over.

“Sorry for being late....”

The rest of the hero party arrived a bit later, with the saintess, Celesta, apologizing as she hurried over, and Seraphina and Sillena bickering as they walked up.

“We’re late because of Sillena! Why were you so insistent on wearing that swimsuit...?”

“Hey, it’s not my fault. You’re the one who kept making me try on different ones.”

“You’re not in some elven grove where modesty doesn’t exist! What you were wearing was more of a cover than a swimsuit!”

“Whatever. You humans and your weird hang-ups.”

“I don’t doubt you grew up without a sense of shame, Sillena, but—”

“Ah, Princess Seraphina! Miss Sillena! Please don’t fight...!”

Just listening to them was enough to understand. Sillena had likely insisted on wearing something barely covering anything, and Seraphina had tried to rein her in. Elves like Sillena had much looser boundaries regarding modesty, often wearing things that might as well be three band-aids. It seemed this time, though, Seraphina and Celesta had managed to prevent that catastrophe.

‘Well, they might squabble, but it’s nice to see they’re getting along.’

Despite the bickering, they’d clearly made an effort to ensure everyone was properly dressed, suggesting a level of camaraderie. Seraphina likely wouldn’t have cared much about Sillena’s attire, and Celesta would have hesitated to intervene if they weren’t on good terms.

“So, what’s the plan now?”

“Hmm?”

“You must have something planned, right? Are we off to find some desert sun temple again or tackle a dungeon that needs eight people?”

“What do you mean, Agnes? Didn’t the professor say we’re here to enjoy the beach and keep watch? That’s all there is to it.”

“...That’s it?”

“Yup, that’s it.”

Agnes frowned, clearly unimpressed with Geitma’s casual reply. As a competitor for the Elizabeth family’s successor role, she likely found it hard to accept the idea of spending her time on a beach vacation rather than making significant accomplishments.

“I knew I should’ve chosen the Forestry Exploration class for my last course.”

“Oh, come on, Lady Agnes. People can’t just run full-speed all the time. You work so hard every day; it’s good to relax once in a while.”

“...If I were to relax, I’d rather read a magic book in the library than waste time here.”

Seeing her sulking, Antonio seized the opportunity to step in.

“Lady Agnes, I have a shaded mat set up over there. If the sun’s too much, would you like to rest with me?”

“...Shade?”

“I even brought a few magic books from the royal archives that I thought you might enjoy.”

“...Royal magic books? I can read them?”

“Yes, though I can’t lend them out due to the laws, I can let you read them under my supervision.”

“Wait, Antonio! Did you get permission from the King for that...?”

“I only brought copies, Seraphina. Don’t worry.”

“I’ll read them. Where is it?”

“There’s a shaded area over there, prepared by my attendants...”

For once, Antonio had bait that Agnes couldn’t resist. He wasn’t officially a student, so he used his status to lure Agnes successfully.

“So, what’s the worst that could happen if the King finds out...?”

“Still, thanks to Prince Antonio, Agnes is finally calming down. Let’s enjoy ourselves since we’re at the beach.”

“...Fine, if Geitma insists.”

“Let’s set up our own tent nearby. Prince Antonio and Lady Agnes won’t be far, so we can still join the others for a barbecue later. By the way, Lord Ethan, want to join us for dinner? We were planning to have a barbecue, and you and Lady Rosewood are welcome...”

The arrival of the main party certainly made this feel like a Luminar Academy summer holiday. Though Ethan and I weren’t technically part of the hero’s party, we were naturally blending into the atmosphere.