Chapter 179
"A-a Loli Elf is coming to the Empire?!"
"It's an elf."
I was so exasperated that I was getting a headache.
Standing before me was the most eccentric member of the imperial family, Fourth Prince Traugott.
After hearing me out, Brother Traugott became so excited that he started drawing pictures of a young elf.
"Loli Elf! Ah! Loli Elf!! Why are you a Loli Elf?!"
I didn't like how good he was at drawing, but to explain how this conversation came about, I need to go back a few hours.
■■■
"A VIP from the elven village?"
"Yes. I sent an envoy on the off chance and received a reply saying they would be delighted to attend."
I was in the throne room when Father told me about it.
The elven village was located within the great forest stretching across the western part of the continent. A powerful barrier surrounded it, and it generally did not interact with the outside world.
So that must have been why Father sent an envoy on the off chance, but I never expected such a favorable reply.
"That's unexpected."
"The elder's granddaughter is apparently interested in human society. That is probably why."
"The granddaughter of an elven elder? Does that mean an elven princess is coming?"
"That's right."
The elder of a hidden elven village was its leader. As the elder's blood relative, she would have to be treated as royalty.
"Why tell me?"
"If we're entertaining elves, we'd prefer a member of the imperial family who is unlikely to stir things up. In that respect, aren't you perfect?"
"Well, I do hate trouble. But it's rare for someone important from the elven village to visit. Is it really all right for me to do it?"
"The others have too many quirks. We cannot risk any discourtesy. However... there is one problem."
"What is it? I want no part of trouble."
"Prince Arnold. There is already someone who has specifically requested you..."
Someone important enough to nominate me as their host.
It was obviously her.
"I can guess without asking, but... who is it?"
"The Fairy Princess insists that you be the one."
"Sigh... Then what do we do?"
"I'm sorry, but... would it be possible for you to handle both?"
"Are you telling me to work myself to death from stress?"
"That is what you would say, isn't it?"
Franz glanced at Father with an expression that seemed to say, See? I told you so.
Father frowned when he saw that.
Orihime alone was hard enough to deal with. There was no way I could handle an elven princess on top of her.
"Then who else would be suitable in your place?"
"If we exclude the three people at the center of the struggle for the throne, what about Brother Traugott?"
"Traugott? He's the most eccentric member of the imperial family."
"Wouldn't an elf be all right? His tastes are pretty narrow."
Cute girls were justice to him.
That was Brother Traugott's philosophy. Basically, he liked girls up to about their mid-teens, and anyone older fell outside his field of interest.
Beautiful girls in their early teens fascinated him most. He liked them enough to start talking about them as humanity's treasure.
So it was fair to say he would be fine as long as no girls around that age were brought near him.
"Brother Traugott can handle most things if he takes them seriously, and he's the Empress's son. In terms of rank, he is certainly qualified to receive an important elven guest."
"But do you really think that fellow judges people by their age?"
"Well, he almost certainly judges them by their appearance."
Age mattered too, but he liked small, cute girls, so he probably would not care if their apparent age and actual age differed somewhat. He was surprisingly broad-minded in that respect.
"We don't know the elder's granddaughter's age. If she looks young, he could be the worst possible choice."
"Yes... I can't deny that."
"However, it isn't realistic to ask Prince Arnold to do the work of two people."
"I suppose you're right. Arnold, tell Traugott about this for now. We'll decide based on his reaction."
"Understood."
■■■
That was how it came about, and so I told Brother Traugott about it.
"Ah! God! What incredible luck! You have granted me the honor of entertaining a Loli Elf!!"
This was an accident waiting to happen.
Brother Traugott was even more fond of Loli Elves—in other words, young elves—than I had imagined.
If a grown elf came, there would be no problem. But if a young elf happened to come, it would be a major disaster. We would have to change the host on the spot, and Brother Traugott would undoubtedly resist.
This choice was clearly out of the question.
"Brother Traugott. This is only a possibility, all right? It hasn't been decided that you'll be doing it."
"If we exclude the three people involved in the struggle for the throne, I am clearly the highest-ranking candidate! Dufufu. It's as good as mine!"
"..."
He was oddly perceptive.
He was not stupid; he was merely fooling around. After taking in the entire situation, he had calculated that he had the highest chance of winning.
"Father will make the decision. You might end up being the Fairy Princess's host instead."
"That would be fine too. To think I could gaze at those animal ears all day... Dufufu."
"...Tch."
That was out of the question too.
Brother Traugott was no use.
After reaching that conclusion while watching Brother Traugott remain excited, I sighed and left the room.
Still, this was a problem.
If I couldn't entrust either the elf or Orihime to Brother Traugott, I could end up genuinely busy.
I had to avoid that somehow.
With that thought in mind, I returned to my room.
"Welcome home. Oh? Is something troubling you?"
Fine, Sebas, and Sieg were in the room.
Judging by how exhausted he looked, Sieg had probably just been used as a toy by Christa and Rita.
"Yeah, it's a huge problem."
"What kind of trouble is it?"
After thanking Fine for pouring the tea, I briefly explained the situation.
"An important elven guest will be attending the ceremony. If I can't find someone suitable, I may be forced to entertain both Orihime and that elven guest."
"An Ero Elf?!"
"An elf..."
Why were there so many people around me who were hard of hearing?
Though Sieg had been looking exhausted, he suddenly perked up and enthusiastically joined the conversation.
"A buxom, curvy Ero Elf is coming?!"
"I said elf! How would I know her figure? We don't even know her age!"
"But aren't all elves beautiful? I wonder what kind of gorgeous Ero Elf is coming."
Watching Sieg imagine it and let out a filthy giggle, I clutched my head.
Why were there so many idiots around me?
"What should we do...? If a truly beautiful elf-san comes, we'll have to send Sieg-san outside the castle..."
"Fine-jou?! That's called exile, you know?! No! I'm not leaving this place!!"
Sieg wrapped his arms around his chair and declared that he absolutely would not move.
Then I heard someone knock on the door.
"Hey, Brother, actually—"
"It's an elf."
"Huh? Ah, right. I was actually going to talk about that, but..."
I beat Leo to the punch by announcing that it was an elf, and he looked bewildered.
Thank goodness. My little brother was normal after all.
"Sorry. I underestimated you."
"Um, I don't quite follow, but... anyway. An important person from the elven village is coming, right? And you're looking for someone to host them?"
"Yes. If I don't find someone suitable, I'll be the one to suffer."
"Right, but couldn't Christa do it?"
"Christa? Well, there wouldn't be any problem, but Father isn't planning to use Christa or our youngest brother, is he?"
Imperial family members under fifteen were treated as children.
That meant Christa and our youngest brother were not even in Father's considerations.
Having a child serve as the host might be taken as disrespectful, and it would be troublesome if there were any discourtesy.
"That's what I mean. Wouldn't it work if she went with Fine-san? Fine-san holds the title of Azure Gull Princess and is His Majesty the Emperor's favorite. Everyone knows that, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she is treated as a member of the imperial family. So I think we should ask Fine-san to support Christa."
"Leo... you're a genius."
That had been a blind spot.
I had been looking only among the imperial family, which was why I couldn't find a suitable candidate. But as long as the guest was not treated discourteously, anyone would do.
Christa as the host, with Fine supporting her. The elves would not complain if the Emperor's favored girls received them.
It was perfect. Best of all, they were both women.
"Let's do that."
"Nooo! I want to stay by the Ero Elf!"
"If you keep yelling, I'll dump you outside the castle."
"Don't talk about me like I'm a pet!!"
Sieg clung to my leg in protest, so I pried him off and tossed him onto the sofa.
After that, Leo's proposal was accepted, and Christa and Fine were chosen to host the elven VIP.
After the decision was announced, Brother Traugott pounded the floor, tears streaming down his face, but it couldn't be helped.
Excessive love was dangerous, after all.
At any rate, one problem had been resolved.