The Crimson General Desires no Prince! (GL)
Chapter 24 - 22: Their First Date (II).

Chapter 24: Chapter 22: Their First Date (II).

Chapter 22: Their First Date (II).

On the other side of the hall.

It was the heroine and her best friend.

"Hey, I got the flowers you requested. I don’t understand why you have to get her flowers this early and random. It’s not even a holiday worth celebrating." (Jonathan) yawns, giving the bouquet of assorted flowers to Rowan.

"Thank you, Jonathan."

"Yeah, yeah don’t mention it." He didn’t take the news too well after Rowan told her that the princess will be coming with them to the village.

He thought she’ll keep staying in the palace until they’re wedded.

Because let’s be honest, what royal girl could handle living without her lavish gowns, food, jewelry and servants. Rosewood Village is one that’s very close to the border, it’s well protected but also very high at risk of demon attacks.

"She gave me my favorite flower and I want to return the favor." (Rowan) mentions the hibiscus flower that she loved.

Jonathan never knew their general’s favorite flower. Guess she’ll only reveal a few private things to the person she likes huh. "This princess must have very exquisite taste because of the delivery order that you put- you had one of each flower."

"She told me... that she had no favorite flower. I thought if I picked one each of every flower available she would be happy." (Rowan) really thought things through which made Jonathan widened his eyes in surprise. "And before we leave I want to take the princess on um... a date."

"Gasp! A date~?!"

"Mm."

The polished marble floor gleamed under the golden light spilling from the tall windows, casting long shadows down the empty palace hallway. Princess Camille rounded the corner in a rush, her hands still balled into a fist wanting to punch something.

They came from the opposite direction, the General and Lieutenant.

"Hey Rowan look out-" (Jonathan) was the first to notice.

"Huh?" (Princess Camille) froze, her breath catching, and she stopped just as suddenly, their eyes locking for a fleeting moment. "Omph!"

"Your highness!" (Rowan) was quick to move, holding the princess’ back while her other hand was holding something else. Her face was full of worry, "Are you alright?"

The silence lingered, heavy with unspoken apologies and something else something electric.

Before she could fall, her hands found her waist, steady and firm, catching her with ease.

...

"I..."

Princess Camille stiffened, her heart racing, but her gaze wasn’t on her face. It had dropped to Rowan’s strong arm, where her sleeves revealed the defined muscles earned through years of labor and training.

’Oh my gosh she’s really toned.’ She was praying for the lord to take her now or else she’s going to get caught simping. She knew that the heroine of the visual novel was hot but oh my god.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

[Notification: Heroine is happy that princess is not hurt].

[Happiness: +10].

The notification the system made woke her up.

"G-General Rowan! I was looking everywhere for you. Don’t worry, I’m fine!" (Princess Camille) moves away from her half embrace by the waist and fixes her hair- making sure nothing is out of place. She notices the other party holding a bouquet. "And are those flowers?"

Rowan smiles seeing that the princess was alright, she presents the bouquet that she prepared for the princess. "Yes, I... had my friend prepare them so that I can give them to you this morning."

Jonathan smirks, lowering his head and offering a salute. "Good morning, your highness. It’s finally nice to meet you. My name is Lieutenant Jonathan Smithers from the Crimson Rose Battalion. I work with your fiance you see and she mentions you to me a lot~"

Rowan nudged his arms before he could say anything else embarrassing.

"Ow!" He yelps.

The bouquet was a burst of color and life. Deep red roses and soft pink peonies nestled together, while bright yellow sunflowers added a cheerful glow. White baby’s breath filled the spaces like tiny stars, and purple irises stood tall with elegance.

Wild daisies peeked through with their simple charm, and green ivy trailed gracefully from the edges, tied together with a simple green ribbon that matches the princess’ eyes.

"You said when it comes to flowers, you have no favorites. So I got you one each of everything to be put in a bouquet- I requested the florist and they understood my intention." (Rowan) offered her the bouquet, making Princess Camille feel happy that the heroine remembered that she had no favorite flower.

She loves them all equally.

"You shouldn’t have- oh... I love them." (Princess Camille) held the bouquet with both of her hands, it was a little heavy but she managed.

Ding!

[Notification: Heroine is happy, bouquet has been accepted].

[Notification: Heroine is happy, she heard the princess’ pretty laugh].

"I um... I wanted to make your morning today, Princess Camille, that’s all." (Rowan) eyes the princess from head to toe and almost smacks herself for forgetting to compliment the most beautiful person she’s ever seen. "You look beautiful, your highness."

"Pffft- aren’t you spoiling me a bit too much, General?" (Princess Camille) can’t lie, she loves the attention.

"..."

Rowan melts just seeing that smile, oh the great demon lord slayer is very soft hearted when it comes to that girl. How she enjoys seeing her happy.

"Sniff." (Jonathan) who was watching all of this wanted to just be a plant like the background character that he is.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

The system has been going crazy with happiness points- it’s breaking her ear.

"Your highness if it’s alright with you, may I have your time today?"

"Of course, why?"

"I wanted to explore the capital city a bit before going back home to my village. Since you’re going to leave with me soon..." She turns to Jonathan feeling nervous.

Her buddy Jonathan assured her that she should go for it and to not be afraid, "You can do it, General Rowan!"

Rowan takes a deep breath before asking the princess out, "Your highness, Princess Camille Nyle Kastil. C-Can I take you out on a date today?"

She couldn’t look.

What is her reaction? Is she pleased? Or is she disappointed? Maybe uncomfortable?

"A-A date?" She almost dropped the bouquet into the ground. The heroine is asking her to an official date that’s not in the visual novel story! A whole new route of adventure to explore...!

Ding!

[Notification: New Task Acquired! Go on a date with the heroine]!

In her whole life of living, the reincarnated girl will now experience what we call an understandable panic mode because she said yes to the heroine. She closes the window, ignoring the system’s orders because she... will do it anyways without being told to go.

"I would love to go on a date with you, General Rowan."

They’re going on a date.

Ding!

[Notification: Five Meters Full. Warning, sudden surge of points added simultaneously].

[Love Meter Full].

[Happiness Meter Full].

[Confidence Meter Full].

[Sanity Meter Full].

[Resolve Meter Full].

[Health: +5].

"..."

There were a lot of notifications.

===

Capital City of Polestin: Porma City

15 minutes away from the palace.

===

"Open the gates! The Crimson General Rowan Bonheur is going to the city with the princess!"

"Yes sir!"

The gates opened, the guards saluting as the carriage of the princess could be seen rolling off with a few knights in tow for protection. They’ve gotten permission from the King that Rowan was allowed to take the princess for a little trip together in the capital city.

It was one of the rare instances where a princess was allowed to leave the palace.

And it was for a date.

’A date... a date... a date!’ (Princess Camille) bites her lip as she rides onto her private carriage alone.

The heroine was outside looking nervous as she did, Rowan was riding her prized horse- black beauty to escort the eldest princess to their surprise date.

"I can’t believe I’m going on a date." The princess blushes, when she reincarnated she never really got a chance to experience going out with someone because of her busy life with clubs and her online games.

She has been a target for confession before but...

"...?"

The crimson general was dressed in her military tunic, the silver clasps at her collar gleaming in the sunlight. Despite the armor and the scars that marked her journey, Rowan moved with the fluidity of a predator- confident, unyielding. She had never been anything less.

And Princess Camille, from the safety of her carriage, had admired her for it.

Rowan could feel Princess Camille staring at her figure, she couldn’t help but glance and waved at her in the window keeping a wide smile.

"Oh-!"

Princess Camille waves back.

Ding!

[Notification: Heroine is happy, princess waved back].

[Love Meter Full].

[Happiness Meter Full].

"..." Even just one wave of her hand was enough to make this girl happy.

"That girl really is something." She brought the bouquet into the carriage, she picked one flower and admired the pretty petals it had. "I couldn’t pick one so you really brought them all."

Princess Camille ponders her father’s peculiar words, to never let this one go. She was one of the very few people that is able to make her father laugh genuinely, her heart is true and she’s a woman who gives it her all.

The world outside seemed to blur in a haze of golden light, the sun low on the horizon casting long shadows across the road. She hardly noticed the fading landscape- her attention was fixed solely on her.

Rowan’s silhouette was framed against the pale sky, her tall figure commanding the Cavalry Black horse with effortless grace.

Princess Camille watched, entranced, as the general spurred the horse into a gallop, her long, red hair streaming behind her a beautiful ribbon. The powerful rhythm of hooves beating against the earth was almost hypnotic, each strike in perfect time with the pulse that quickened in Princess Camille’s chest.

"..." She takes one last glance at the crimson general before staring outside of the carriage windows, seeing the sea of buildings that seemed to never end.

Perhaps her father’s words are right.

She’s glad the heroine chose her instead one of her brothers.