This Hand Is to Keep Me from Getting Lost!

Bright and sunny today. Taking the hand he offered, I stepped down from the carriage and was immediately swept up in the bustle of the city.

"...Wow...!"

Cute buildings with triangular roofs lined the streets, and people were everywhere. There were retro streetlamps, cobblestones echoing with footsteps, and even a fountain. It was just like a town from a story.

A delicious smell drifted through the air, as if there were food stalls somewhere nearby.

"So this is the royal capital...! It's amazing...! Amazing!!"

"Come on, Riko."

As I gazed at scenery straight out of an anime I'd seen once, the hand I'd been letting wander in the air, as if reflecting my excitement, was suddenly squeezed tight. When I looked up, Julius-san was smiling gently at me.

Instead of his usual aristocratic attire, he wore a simple shirt like a commoner might wear, stylishly paired with a vest and a loop tie.

His golden-brown hair, usually worn loose to his shoulders, was casually tied back.

"Shall we go on a date?"

"...Yes!!"

That's right, today was our incognito outing in the royal capital.

In other words...

(A walk with the pet, right!!!)

The other day, the head butler told me I looked a little like the cat Julius-san used to have, and I realized he'd been doting on me as a "pet."

That would explain all of Julius-san's behavior so far.

I've never had a cat myself, but cat lovers in novels naturally pet their cats, cuddle them, nuzzle them, and even kiss them... Ki—

(Kiiiiss...!!!!)

As I writhed inwardly, feeling like my ears were heating up, I thought I felt Julius-san's hand tighten for just a moment.

I turned to see if he'd noticed anything strange, but for some reason, he smiled at me with an even sweeter expression than before and said, "It's nothing."

"...Well, I was thinking of doing a little shopping today, then having a light lunch. Which would you prefer, Riko: a cafe or a food stall?"

"Then I'd like to try a food stall!"

A nice cafe might be more appropriate when going out with a noble like Julius-san, but I couldn't stop thinking about the sweet smell of what seemed like baby castella and the savory aroma of meat grilling.

When I told him eagerly, leaning forward a little, Julius-san gave a mature, amused chuckle and changed the way he held my hand, lacing our fingers together.

"Of course, my lady.

It's especially crowded today, so stay close and don't get separated."

(There's no need to feel embarrassed...! This hand is to keep me from getting lost! In other words, it's a leash attached to my collar...!!)

"If we do get separated, call for me in your heart."

"In my heart? Is that some kind of spell?"

I tilted my head, wondering why he'd say something so strange. Julius-san replied mischievously, "Something like that," then led me by the hand toward the plaza where the food stalls were gathered.

◇

After enjoying the otherworldly street food at the stalls, we walked through an area lined with all sorts of shops.

"I heard there's a good general goods store around here. Apparently, there's a picture of an ink bottle on its sign, but..."

"...Oh, is that it? Julius-sa—Huh!?"

I spotted a sign with an ink bottle painted on it a few shops away and turned around excitedly, only to find Julius-san surrounded by a crowd of young women.

(While I let go of his hand for just a moment!?)

I had no idea where they had all come from. The feverish excitement of a dozen or more blushing young women made me take a step back.

Julius-san looked troubled, but I had absolutely no confidence that I could help him out of there.

As I fidgeted beside the circle of women fawning over Julius-san, some with especially gleaming eyes approached me.

"Hey, you. You're his maid, right? What's his name?"

"He's definitely a noble, isn't he? That air of elegance can't be hidden just by changing his clothes."

"Aww, I want to get to know him! Don't you know what kind of women he likes?"

"Huh? Huh!? ...I-I can't tell you. That's personal information..."

Somehow managing to squeeze out an answer despite my confusion, I watched Townswomen A, B, and C click their tongues and return to the crowd.

Those intense girls are scary.

And Julius-san is amazing for fending them off with a smile.

It's a classic heroine move to see the hero surrounded by girls like this, think, "Maybe he'd have more fun talking to someone else..." and quietly slip away.

And then, of course, she gets lost or caught up in some trouble, only to be rescued by the hero when he comes dashing to her aid.

(But I'm a mob...!)

NOT THE HEROINE.

Okay, I'll just stay right here and behave.

I moved over to the wall a little farther away and decided to quietly watch how things played out.

(But Julius-san really is popular... He's that handsome, after all.

He's gentle and kind, mature and self-assured, and has so much sex appeal...)

As I imagined that someone standing beside him would surely suit him better if she were a voluptuous beauty like those women—with ample breasts and hips, and cleavage on full display—I glanced down at the lavender dress hugging my own flat, straight-up-and-down figure. If it had a sound effect, it'd be "plunk."

Yeah. Reality is harsh.

(I want some sex appeal...!!!)

As I wished for it from the bottom of my heart, Julius-san, surrounded by the crowd of young women, suddenly started coughing for some reason. Had something gone down the wrong way?

I was watching him with concern when I heard a scraping sound behind me, followed a beat later by a child crying.

"Waaahhhh!!!"

It seemed a child had fallen. He was a little boy around four or five, and since no one rushed over to him, it seemed there were no parents nearby.

(W-what!? What should I do? What am I supposed to do!?)

A heroine would rush over right away and encourage him with a kind smile.

But I...

(I have a scary look in my eyes, and kids don't really like me...

And I don't have the charm to cheer people up with a smile, either...)

Julius-san could surely make the child smile with his gentle expression and warm hands.

Toko-san could surely cheer him up, pulling him along with that spirited but caring personality of hers.

The child kept crying, as if calling for help.

The young women surrounding Julius-san noticed, too, and glanced over, but quickly turned their attention back as if they weren't interested.

(I...)