The Banquet

After arriving at the inn and dropping off their belongings, Arthur and the others headed to the church for the banquet with the Saintess. They were led to a waiting room and told to rest until preparations were complete.

Among them, one person was visibly fidgety—and surprisingly, it wasn’t Arthur.

“Lord Arthur… Isn’t it strange for someone like me to be present at such an event?”

It was, of course, Kei. At Arthur’s request—more of an insistence—she was accompanying him to the banquet with the Saintess and was now flustered.

And her concern wasn’t unfounded. The Saintess was one of the most important figures in the church, equal in status to Arthur, a prince. For a commoner, even a personal maid, to attend such a banquet was practically unthinkable.

Yet Arthur replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“What are you talking about…? You’re my personal maid, Kei. Besides, I’m not good at these kinds of events. I’m not forcing you, but… would you help me out? I feel much more at ease when you’re around.”

“Lord Arthur… You value me that much? Understood! Your personal maid (and big sister) will do her best!!”

Kei was touched by Arthur’s words. But in truth, Arthur had been nervously worried she might say no—so he was incredibly relieved.

He remembered how the last banquet went. Back then, he was accompanied by the noble Greed. All the conversation had been handled by him, and Arthur only chimed in occasionally. That’s right—he was socially awkward.

Previously, he wouldn’t have cared if the banquet failed. But now, recalling the entries in his Good Deed Notebook—and how Morgan had looked strangely thrilled when he departed—he had second thoughts.

‘I don’t know why she was so hyped up, but if I mess this up, she’ll definitely rain sarcasm down on me!!’

Based on his past life experience, he was sure he’d fail alone—so he turned to Kei for help.

So while Kei was deeply moved thinking Arthur genuinely valued her as a commoner, Arthur was just terrified of failing due to his social ineptitude.

A knock echoed through the waiting room shared by the anxious two.

“Lord Arthur, thank you for waiting. Everything is ready.”

“Ah, understood.”

Arthur and Kei stood as they responded to the priestess who’d come to fetch them. When they met her eyes, she smiled encouragingly.

“By the way… what kind of person is the Saintess? I’ve heard she’s very virtuous…”

“Let’s see… She’s an elf. A quiet woman. And the most skilled healer in this country.”

Arthur answered Kei’s question, clearly emphasizing in this country—meaning I’m better if we count Britannia.

Arthur was always looking for ways to boast.

“Oh! You know our Saintess is an elf? As expected of a fellow healer—you must’ve taken an interest.”

“Ah, something like that.”

Arthur answered the surprised priestess as if it were natural. The real reason, of course, was that he had met her in his previous life—but he wasn’t about to say that.

“We’ve arrived. I hope this banquet reignites her passion…”

“What do you mean by that…?”

Before he could ask what the priestess meant, the door opened. There stood an elf in immaculate white robes, wearing a gentle smile. Even through the robe, her ample curves were hard to ignore—Arthur almost looked but caught himself just in time.

‘I came here to show her who’s boss. I can’t show any weakness. No way I’m getting entranced!’

His competitive spirit was blazing. Meanwhile, the Saintess looked at Arthur and Kei, widened her eyes slightly, and then smiled as if finding something amusing.

“Nice to meet you, Lord Arthur. And you as well, personal maid Kei. Thank you both for accepting today’s banquet.”

“I’m grateful for the invitation. And I appreciate you allowing Kei to accompany me.”

As Arthur expressed his thanks, Kei followed suit with a bow she had learned from Marianne. Then, as Arthur took his seat, a thought struck him.

‘I haven’t even introduced myself… So how does she know Kei’s name?’