In the Nifty store located in the Capital of Archlesia Empire, Emperor Chris was present. Thanks to the thorough application of Recognition Inhibition Magic at each table, no commotion arose despite her being there.

Looking impressed at the high-level tea and sweets, Chris spoke to her real mother, Ristia, who was seated across from her.

[But Mother…… How did you manage to get a reservation? The lottery had quite steep odds, didn’t it?]

[Eh? Chris-chan, did you think I actually applied for the reservation lottery like everyone else?]

[It’s because I don’t that’s why I’m giving you this suspicious look. Whose reservation did you plunder this from……]

Nifty is quite unique; it is a brand belonging to the Singularity, Kaito, and does not belong to any of the three countries, nor does it fall under any of the country’s jurisdiction. Even though it is located in the Archlesia Empire, no imperial authority extends over the place.

Even for an Emperor such as Chris, it was impossible to secure a reservation using her authority. She had to overcome the fierce competition of the lottery.

Chris had also applied for a reservation as an individual but was, of course, unsuccessful on the first day, and her reservation was set for 28 days later. However, her mother, Ristia, suddenly visited and invited her to Nifty café, saying she had secured a reservation. So, now the two of them are here together.

[Saying I’m plundering it from someone, that makes me sound so bad. I didn’t do anything at all. I didn’t order anyone around or use any charm power. I just casually mentioned to a few acquaintances, “I’d love to go to Nifty’s café with my daughter”, and as it happens, someone who got a first-day reservation kindly offered me their spot…… See, I didn’t do anything, right?]

[………………………….]

Hearing Ristia’s nonchalant explanation, Chris had a complicated expression on her face. True, Ristia probably only mentioned it in passing, but there were many who had been completely captivated by her, the most powerful succubus. There were even those so devoted to her that they would risk their lives just to receive a simple “Thank you” from her.

That was the case for the women in the inner palace, as well as many nobles and wealthy individuals who worshiped Ristia. It was easy to imagine that once Ristia had casually voiced her desire, a considerable number of people had applied for the lottery on her behalf.

[I mean, Chris-chan, you often have to attend social gatherings as the Emperor, right? If you don’t keep up with the latest trends, people will look down on you. Trends are all about freshness, you know? Honestly, instead of me inviting you here, you should have had your subordinates apply for reservations more aggressively.]

[……Now that you say it, you’re absolutely right, but I still have a certain aversion to using strong charm powers to manipulate people at will.]

[Hmmm, you might be misunderstanding something here…… I almost never use the power of charm outside of missions, you know?]

[……Is that so?]

[To me, the power of charm is just a time-saving tool…… I don’t really need it to make someone fall for me. What one wants, what one needs to hear, it’s not that hard to read those, and by making use of such information, you could naturally get close to them. After that, I gradually make them dependent on me until they can’t live without me. During missions, I use my power of charm because it’s quicker, but in my private life, using it would just be boring. I am the type to savor my meals after all.]

Yes, Ristia indeed possesses the power of absolute charm that cannot be resisted by those weaker than her, allowing her to control anyone beneath her level of ability at will.

However, she doesn’t abuse this power in her daily life…… or rather, she finds it uninteresting to use it outside of missions. Instead, she captivates people using her natural conversational skills and grasp of human nature, making them fall for her without relying on her charm powers.

For her, making someone so dependent on her that they feel they can’t live without her is a simple task. Given that she views love as akin to a meal, captivating someone is, for her, like the act of cooking.

Well, even so, unlike in the past when she would slowly break someone’s heart after captivating them and turn them into a shell of their former self, there’s no mistaking she has mellowed out considerably now……

[Hmm, it’s really complicated. Since there are many aspects that can be useful as references, it’s difficult to outright deny it, which is troublesome.]

[Well, I’m not saying you need to be like me, but it wouldn’t hurt if Chris-chan could learn how to manipulate people’s hearts a bit more. Then, you’d have an easier time controlling those conservatives, right? Well, I’ll teach you some tricks eventually. Compared to my King, they’re all like children, so once you get the hang of it, they’ll be easy to manage.]

[The one you’re comparing them to is someone who’s at the top of the world though……]

[But still, when you compare them to Shalltear-sama, they’re no big deal, right? No matter the circumstances, there’s no way to outwit her, so you can just be more assertive with others instead.]

Seeing the wry smile Ristia had as she said this, Chris couldn’t help but smile back. Despite everything, their relationship had improved compared to the past, and Chris found joy in the fact that they could now have such light-hearted conversations……

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [Archlesia’s side has these two…… but who’s it gonna be in Hydra? Laguna…… has had personal talks with Canalis during their audience, so is it gonna be a different character? But there aren’t many characters living in the Hydra Kingdom, are there?]

? ? ? : [Kuro-san and Ein-san, who were at the shop in Symphonia Kingdom, don’t live in Symphonia either, so there’s also the possibility that they’re someone from the Demon Realm.]