A Snail's Wisdom 19 A Forced Friendship

Kenja stepped into the tent and was met with a pleasant fragrance. Several young attendants stood behind a fluffy and feathered chair which sat in front of a large a.s.sortment of soft and expensive cus.h.i.+ons and pillows. A separate attendant who carried a more mature air about her approached the princess.

"Hanabi-hime, why did you jump out of the tent like that?" She scolded with firm anger and a deep concern. She was wearing a formal yellow yukata with the image of a dragon encircling her body. The other attendants were wearing the same yellow yukata, but theirs had no dragon. This design suggested that the one scolding the princess was the lead attendant.

The princess looked at the attendant with confused eyes and tilted her head.

"You're the one who said that it was improper for a princess to stick her head out," she said with a matter-of-fact tone.

An indignant expression appeared on the attendant as she placed two fingers in between her forehead. The other attendants displayed faces of pity towards her. Seeing no response to her statement, the princess turned away from her and walked to her chair. Before Kenja could walk to a pillow and sit down, the attendant spoke up again.

"And who is this? It's improper for just anyone off the street to scuttle into the Ryuga princess' private tent and bask in her company," she directed the words more towards Kenja than to the princess.

"She is my invited guest. Don't mind it, Noriko."

She waved her hand as if to dismiss the attendant's worries, but she did not relent.

"Hanabi-hime, you can't invite random people you don't know off the street into your private tent. It is unbefitting of a princess!" Noriko declared.

The princess stared blankly at Noriko and tilted her head in confusion.

"I did not invite a random person I don't know. I invited Hirai-san to keep me company during the examination."

She looked to Kenja for confirmation who smiled and nodded.

'Invited is putting it lightly, but I don't think I can refute what you're saying at this point.'

"Please, himesama. Address me as Hikaru if you wish," Kenja politely replied to her. He did this to help Noriko and the attendants relax in his presence.

The princess' eyes s.h.i.+mmered in delight. "Then Hikaru must address me as Hanabi."

The carpet had already continued on its way, but it abruptly shook and slowed down when Hanabi finished speaking. Noriko and the attendants were stupefied, and Kenja broke out in a cold sweat.

"Teacher is impressed. Disciple is truly outstanding to achieve a first-name basis with a princess in less than a tea time," Snail commended Kenja.

'I should have held my tongue.'

A coughing that sounded like someone choking could be heard from outside the tent.

"Princess, your father would not be happy if he found out a no-name is calling you by your given name," the old man's voice echoed in the tent.

Hanabi's eyes frowned in displeasure. "My friend's name is Hikaru. If my father has a problem with how I have my friends address me, then you can deal with him Souji-sensei."

The old man responded with greater coughing than before.

'Staying near this girl won't be good for my health. She does what she wants and lets others deal with the repercussions.'

"Himesama...," Kenja started speaking but was met with a pair of fierce eyes that would strike him down if he didn't correct himself, "...Hanabi...," the princess' eyes relaxed once more, "...perhaps I should address you as such privately. Otherwise, our friends.h.i.+p may incur the ire of the Emperor as well as the jealousy of undesirables," Kenja tried to compromise while sounding as reasonable as possible.

The princess tilted her head at Kenja as she considered his words. After a moment, she nodded.

"Un. That makes sense. Very well then."

The attendants heaved a sigh of relief, and Noriko wore a gentle smile on her face.

"Princess did, indeed, find a good friend," Souji complimented.

Hanabi emitted an aura of pride as if boasting, 'Of course! I would only find good friends!'

"Now, Hikaru, take a seat and tell me how these spirit lumps are made. You, fetch Hikaru some tea, and you, fan Hikaru so she won't feel uncomfortable," she started throwing orders out left and right, jubilant with being on a first-name basis with someone outside her family. It was clear that she wanted to leave a good impression on her new 'friend.'

...

"Hahahahahahaha! He made the sect's vice elder so angry that the elder broke his own Spirit Stone into pieces and threw it at him? Hahahahaha..."

Kenja nodded in response to the question. The princess was laughing hysterically, and even the attendants giggled at the hilarity of the truth. Souji wasn't exempt as he chuckled merrily from outside the tent.

While the attendants weren't cultivators, their upbringing as royal attendants gave them enough knowledge concerning the true strength of cultivators and the folly of angering a cultivator of such a status while only being a mortal.

"What an interesting fellow! I must bring him to meet brother and sister at the palace when I have the chance."

Kenja wore an awkward smile on his face.

'Perhaps I need to make a third persona once I'm done with this one...' Kenja lamented at the potential risk of going back to his original ident.i.ty.

The carpet slowed down to a halt as Kenja finished sipping his tea.

"Princess, we have arrived," Souji announced.