The Hero Sidekick Is The Demon King

Having a meal with the princess

“Don’t worry, I don’t misunderstand anything since I don’t even understand what is going on in the first place.”

Hearing that, Alicia seemed to be surprised and is looking at Matthias with a hateful look.

“Ahahaha, what a civilized man. I’m starting to like you. Later on, I believe we should hang around and talk a lot more. Anyway, where are you going for a meal? If it wasn’t somewhere special, how about I be the one who treats you instead?”

Before Alicia answered it, Lance replied to Matthias. “That is fine by me if princess Alicia is okay with it. after all, I’m here to accompany her.”

Alicia was about to be disappointed in Lance but after hearing that he is supporting whatever Alicia wanted to do, she becomes happy once again.

“Prince Matthias, it seemed that we will take your offer to treat us to a meal but it has to be done another day. Right now, I have something important that I want to talk about with mister Lance and it won’t be appropriate for an outsider to be present.”

Hearing what princess Alicia says not to mention the happy look on her face, Matthias can only fake his smile and accept his defeat for now.

“Is that so? I will make sure to find another day to treat the both of you then. Princess Alicia, I will take my leave then. As for mister Lance, this won’t be the last time you saw me. In fact, it is only the beginning. I hope we will have a good relationship in the future.”

Matthias then once again hopped onto his horse and walked away followed by a couple of his guards. After he disappears into the distance, princess Alicia then looked at Lance and say her apology.

“I’m sorry about that Lance, it seemed that I have made you involved in something troublesome.”

“Something troublesome, what are you saying princess?”

The princess smiled at Lance’s reaction. Either it was because he is playing dumb or he is truly dumb but it is enough to make the princess happy since if it was the former reason, that means that he is protecting her secretly and willing to take the bullet for her. If it was the latter, then it means that Lance is a simple person and won’t have any other design to take advantage of her in the future. Either way, princess Alicia already liked him and it won’t change.

“The person that we met just now, Prince Matthias IV. He is the crown prince of the Andalusia kingdom. There was a talk once that we will go through an alliance through marriage and ever since that day, he never stopped bugging me every once and then whenever he comes to visit our kingdom. Just now, he might misunderstand something and you might be implicated by it.”

“Oh, so he is one of your pursuers. After all, with your beauty, it is normal for you to have a lot of admirers and people chasing after you. However, I don’t see any way that it would implicate me. After all, I am just a nobody and have nothing. You don’t have to worry about me princess.”

How could Lance didn’t understand the underlying meaning behind it that the princess is using him as a shield? However, he is still acting as if nothing is wrong and it makes the princess slightly relieved and lets her out from an awkward situation. If Lance insisted on her to explain further, it might force the princess to confess her feelings for him but he decided that it wasn’t the time yet. He still plans to impress the princess in order for her to go head over heels for him.

“Anyway princess, you sure are loved by the people. All the way here, a lot of people are greeting you. It was as if you know everyone on the road.”

“It’s just because I frequently talk to the citizens. Anyway, let’s resume our walk since we haven’t arrived at the place that I want to take you.”

After that, Alicia and Lance resumed their travel. Finally, they arrived at their destination. Alicia actually brought Lance into a small tavern where they get a table. It seemed that Alicia is a frequent customer of this place as the tavern keeper doesn’t even need to ask before he prepares a table for Lance and her.

“Would you like the usual princess?”

“Yes, and prepare the same one for mister Lance too.”

After the waiter walks away, it is finally time for Lance and Alicia to talk with only two of them as the guards are all waiting outside the tavern.

“It seemed you come to this place often.”

“Not really that often, maybe once or twice a month.”

“Princess, I’m sorry if my question offends you. However, you don’t look like you’re someone who belonged to this place. It is more of my kind of place. For halflings like us.”

“That’s more of the reason why I should visit this kind of place more often. Here, I can talk to people and hear their aspirations. A good kingdom should be able to listen to the citizen's voices and address the issue that they have. Happy citizens will lead to a better kingdom. No matter they are human, or they come from other races, they deserve to be happy. That is also why I am trying to make the halflings become accepted by the human, as fellow citizens, not someone below them.”

At this point, Lance is clearly amazed by the wisdom that is shown by Alicia. He even suspected that Alicia is someone who has God’s blessings on her. To be loved by the citizens, a kind heart, and wisdom exceeding her peers. It is no wonder why the crown prince considered her as a threat. Like it or not, it was all the talent that Alicia has shown whether unconsciously or on purpose.

“Hearing that, you have my respect princess. As a halfling, you have my gratitude whether you succeed or not in your endeavor.”

With the praises from Lance, Alicia’s cheek blushed a bit but it also strengthens her resolve to achieve it one day.

Not long after, the food arrived and as they are eating, a couple of people come up to Alicia and told them about their unrest. Some complained about the harsh competition in the capital to earn money, some told her about rumors that are circulating in the market, Lance secretly nodded in approval with Alicia’s approach. However, if it was him, he has countless ways to do it more efficiently than her.

On the first note, she shouldn’t have come to this place by herself. If it was Lance, he will just hire some people to do the job for him. Maybe that’s the difference between him and the princess. While the princess is loved by the people, Lance is feared by his subordinate due to his absolute strength.