Alma POV 5/17
I looked at the window of my room. Now that Elred was here I wondered if the guards would let us go out with the pretext, I was going on a date outside with him. I don't know if they would eat that pretext, but maybe Rose who has moved almost to tears as she saw these two little elven children playing to be a future married couple could help us. If she could, she would easily be able to convince the guards.
She had a lot of authority despite being a maid, mostly because she was the Head Maid and also the one that served the Princess directly, the princess' favorite maid had her authority over other lesser servants after all.
After having enough tea and cookies, I decided it was time to have our small "date" only an invention of mine so we could go out of this cursed castle, the place I've been confined to for YEARS since I was born. I can't believe I landed into an Isekai, but I've not been able to get out of my freaking house not even once… this really frustrated me, so today that was definitely changing.
I was thankful that my brainwashed parents were not around for the moment, so I decided to get moving and start my "exploration" plan with Elred as my ticket outside (I hope).
"Come, let's go out, I am bored of being here," I said.
"Huh? A-Alright!"
Elred quickly followed me over, he was already a very obedient boy, good.
I held his hand for extra corny points, so he got even redder, and we walked towards the gate that led outside the castle, into the gardens that I had never visited but I wished I could visit.
The two guards greeted us with Rose behind us.
"We are going on a date, so move over," I said.
"Eh? P-Princess-sama?"
"Is that…?"
"You dare not know the name of my beloved future husband?! Do you want your heads rolling in the ground?" I asked angrily.
"Gyeh! S-Sorry!"
"We sincerely apologize… Erm…"
Rose whispered to the two that the boy's name was Elred Flowerbed, and they quickly realized that all the fuss in the morning over a rich boy coming here was because of him and that he was in fact the princess's future arranged husband!
"B-But even then… P-Princess… we cannot possibly let you go out, we would be violating the King's orders!" said the guard.
"Indeed… W-We can't really do this. Can't you have your date in the castle? It is a very pretty castle and very wide, you could go to the internal garden, the sun hits from there-"
"I don't wanna! I want to go out! Do you dare defy me after I am already 7 years old? I have the same authority as my parents, move over!" I roared.
"I-It would be better if you let us move outside," said Elred. He was growing a bit angry too, and would defend my will with all he had. It seems I had trained him well in this little.
"But...!"
"He's the representative of the Flowerbed Nation, if you dare offend him, the entire Nation could see it as an offense to his heir… Do you want to offend the Nation of Flowerbed?" I asked with a sharp and cheeky smile.
"Just let them pass, I will watch over the Princess, don't worry." Said Rose.
"…"
"…"
The two guards looked at each other and sighed.
"O-Okay, but please come back before the night comes, princess-sama…!"
"Y-You too, young Elred-sama…"
"Very well, we shall be going then," I said, as I marched forward.
Finally, finally, I was finally greeted by the goddamn outside world!
"YES!"
I raised my arms in the air triumphantly, I was finally able to see the damn blue sky atop my head, and the beautiful city of my country also greeted my sight, with all the splendorous buildings spread everywhere, there were also beautiful and gigantic trees where most of the buildings were located over their massive branches.
People carved the trees and lived inside of them too, and I saw hundreds if not thousands of Elves walking all around in the streets below. I even noticed a large lake connected to many rivers that led outside, in a smaller forest that covered all the city's surroundings as if it were an ocean of greenery. The castle was positioned atop the biggest tree, and I could see everything down below as if I were in the sky.
"You seem to be very happy for being here… I am glad." Said Elred.
"You don't know how long I've been enclosed in that accursed room, Elred… I… I've always wanted to come out… You've finally given me the opportunity to do so… I can finally… see how everything is outside…" I sighed. I was so moved by the beautiful scenario that even little tears began to flow out of my eyes. I feel embarrassed with myself, this wasn't the real me, why was I crying like a little girl?
Oh well, I guess I was already a little girl, so asking myself this was completely pointless. I've even begun to act like a soft girl already, crying desperately just because I was happy and at the same time engulfed by the sorrow of having lived a life caged inside my room all this time.
The fresh air felt so nice to my lungs that I felt like running as far as I wanted...
"Alma… I see… It must have been hard… D-Don't worry… I… I will do everything I can so you can also explore the outside world with me! I won't let them… have you caged forever!" said Elred, as he grabbed both my hands and looked into my eyes with a strong conviction and resolve. His eyes were blazing with such intensity that I felt like they pierced my soul.
I suddenly grew redder out of nowhere, growing embarrassed of having him so close and acting so gallantly with me, I gently pushed him aside, as I averted my gaze.
"T-Thanks…"
