Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: The Princess's Secret
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"Achoo..."
Livian was sneezing as she scribbled away with her pen.
She was the First Princess of the Justina Kingdom and second in line to the throne, but she harbored one secret she couldn't share with anyone.
[Countess in My Heart.]
[The Young Madam Wants a Second Love.]
[Dangerous Encounter that Started at the Academy.]
She was the author of these novels that had rocked the literary world of the Justina Kingdom in all sorts of ways.
One might call them pure sensationalism—utterly devoid of themes or morals, packed solely with entertainment value—which was why countless critics dismissed her books as kindling.
Yet it was an undeniable fact that she was a star author whose works sold a million copies each year across the kingdom.
Not only that, but a renowned theater troupe had even adapted one of her novels into a stage play.
"Kuhng, sniff."
She gazed at the letter.
『To Author Tia.』
『All the kingdom's citizens await your next masterpiece. We would be most grateful if you could send word to The Advisor once the manuscript is complete.』
The Advisor was a corporation that doubled as both a media outlet and a publisher.
It produced the famous Justina Monthly and Weekly magazines.
Two years ago, it had brazenly covered the scandal involving Count Kimmongsto, making it—aside from the state-backed Magic Tower—the most influential and powerful enterprise in the kingdom.
All of Livian's novels had been published through The Advisor.
Unable to reveal her identity as a princess, she wrote under the pen name Tia.
The Advisor knew Tia's true identity but maintained a trusting relationship where neither side acknowledged it outright.
Anyway.
"Achoo..."
Livian sniffed and set down her pen.
She was currently preparing a new work.
The story went like this.
The protagonist, heir to a prestigious noble house, is suddenly framed by his estranged brother, exiled from the family, and thrown into mortal danger.
Escaping death by the skin of his teeth, he uncovers the truth and vows to kill the brother who took his place as family head—a tale of vengeance.
She had the plot mostly outlined.
But she still hadn't decided on the protagonist's vibe, and with her body feeling achy and chilled, it wasn't the best condition for writing.
"Ugh, preparing a new book is so tough..."
She flopped onto her bed.
She might have caught a cold from wandering the lands with her free-spirited brother lately. Knowing this, she should have just stayed in the palace.
There hadn't been any dramatic changes anyway, and the content was still a blank slate.
"Ugh, I'll lie down and rest a bit, then get back to writing..."
The door burst open.
Only three people in the world could open the princess's door so boldly.
One was Bimark, her father and the man she respected most in the world. Another was Brandia, the mother she loved most.
The last was.
"Livian!"
Her lively, sociable big brother, Trowill.
Unlike some dysfunctional household somewhere in the east, Livian and Trowill got along splendidly.
Normally, she would have cheekily returned his energetic greeting.
"Good afternoon..."
But all she could do was wave limply from her bed.
Seeing his sister's state, Trowill said worriedly.
"Still not feeling well?"
"Achoo, my body's not recovering at all. Seems like it's pretty bad."
"What does the royal physician say?"
"He gave me some medicine for now and said to monitor it..."
Trowill stroked Livian's forehead.
"You've got a slight fever. Stay in bed and rest up for a while."
Livian smiled faintly.
"Yes, but what brings you here, Brother?"
"Oh, a very important guest has arrived at the palace. I thought you'd like to come see him with me."
"An important guest..."
Livian snapped her fingers as if it had just clicked.
"Ester Tristy."
She couldn't not know the name.
Not long ago, her brother had been raving about wanting to meet this guy who wielded incredible martial prowess, and he was the hottest topic in the Justina Kingdom.
Even though he was a year younger than Livian, who had only just come of age.
Right after solving the Millennium Problem, he had racked up achievement after achievement in a mere few months.
It was hard to believe he was only fifteen—a genius unlike any other.
Unlike her brother, Livian didn't attend the academy and was homeschooled. The hero-tier Flame School mage who taught her magic had this to say about Ester.
-There's no one to compare him to. Even the first Red Magic Tower Lord, hailed as the greatest mage, was twenty-five when he served at the king's side as a youth, subjugated the demon race, and laid the kingdom's foundations.
-At fifteen, he solved riddles that had stumped scholars for centuries, dispelled ancient incantations, observed anomalies, developed new weapons that shifted the tide of battle, and even eliminated the monstrous Dargishkal. The word "genius" feels commonplace.
Livian rose from her bed.
'Genius.'
The concept for her protagonist suddenly sprang to mind.
"You sure you can get up?"
"I want to see Lord Ester too, but summoning him here would be rude to a guest, so I should go myself."
By rank, Livian outranked Ester, of course.
But the name Ester carried an aura that transcended status.
Genuses were usually one-of-a-kind oddballs, after all.
She thought it better to go to him than call him over.
"Where is he?"
"I hear he's resting in the garden for now."
They set off to meet Ester.
***
"A solid hit to the collarbone can cause excruciating pain and paralysis."
"Impressive..."
With the king stepping away briefly, I was explaining kickboxing techniques to Oscar while resting in the garden.
In truth, what forced Ian to surrender back in Daebo Village was a heel hook combo with the Immari Roll, but explaining ground game would take forever, so I was keeping it simple and sticking to what I could convey easily.
"Um, there's something I'd like to ask you, my lord..."
"Yes."
"Would it be all right if I shared this manual with the Steel Lion Knights?"
I nodded slowly.
I wondered if knights who cleaved enemies with aura-infused swords really needed these techniques... but hey, they probably had their reasons.
"But asking you to instruct them directly might be too much. We can pay, of course..."
"That might be difficult. I'm quite busy."
My easy life was precious.
Oscar sighed.
His expression was so crestfallen that I softened a bit.
"If I visit the knight order sometime, I could take a quick look then."
"Really!?"
I'd only said it politely, but he beamed like a child.
"I won't forget this favor. Thank you so much."
I doubted I'd have business there anytime soon, but honestly, I was curious what would happen if aura users picked up modern MMA. I nodded agreeably.
"Oh, there you are."
Just then, two people approached through the garden.
Faces no one in the Justina Kingdom could fail to recognize.
Crown Prince Trowill Justina and First Princess Livian Justina.
The highest-ranking people after the king and the dukes.
As the heirs to the throne appeared, I tensed up instinctively.
Of course, Nob AI was controlling my expression, so it wouldn't show.
"You must be Lord Ester Tristy. I've heard all about your genius. I'm Prince Trowill Justina. I prefer mingling casually without all the formalities, so if it's not too unfamiliar, feel free to call me just Trowill."
"It's an honor. I'd be grateful if you treated me casually as well, Lord Trowill."
Trowill's first impression was that of a good-natured, easygoing guy.
To put it rudely, he was tall, well-built, with blond hair—if he just got a tan, he'd be the kind of guy who makes pure-romance fans curse in envy.
"Refreshing attitude—I like it."
My brother Zephyr was strikingly handsome too, but in a different way from the men of our house.
He extended his hand.
We shook appropriately, and Trowill laughed heartily.
"Hahaha!"
He seemed like a bold, formality-hating type.
-Hahaha!!
Erfs popped into my head naturally.
I'd half-expected something like "Trahaha!" or "Wangahaha!", so the normal laugh was a letdown.
Guess those weird laughs were exclusive to Magic Tower Lords.
Anyway.
"I'm First Princess Livian Justina. It's an honor to meet the kingdom's rising star."
"The honor is mine."
The princess, who had been staring at me intently, also offered her hand.
I took it gladly.
But.
Even after thirty seconds had passed since grasping it.
For some reason, Her Highness wouldn't let go of my hand.