Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Rabbit Princess
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There was a slang term from my previous life that gamers used widely: "rabbit princess."
Gamers who burned through content in a flash inevitably pulled the "so what now?" card, and that was exactly my situation.
I'd forgotten for a moment.
This world, unlike my previous one, had no time-sucking machines like smartphones or computers.
After escaping the kingdom, I thought my life ahead would be all sunshine and happiness.
But after a year and a half of indulging in every available pleasure, I'd ended up no different from a rabbit princess.
Justina Kingdom didn't have much in the way of entertainment to begin with.
Take my favorite hobby, for example: reading.
The novels on the market weren't nearly as plentiful as the web novels flooding out back in my previous life.
Excluding a few recent ones by popular authors, they were pretty far removed from the sensibilities modern people enjoyed.
Even so, despite gobbling them up without complaint, the unread books left were things like ancient philosophy tomes or novels that just didn't appeal—basically, no more books worth reading.
And who could spend all day every day just reading novels? You need games, webtoons, music, and all that too.
The so-called noble hobbies in this world boiled down to hunting, admiring luxuries, attending parties, writing poetry, horseback riding, and listening to classical music. Nothing else even sparked the will to try.
-Rumor has it there are underground fighting gambling dens, or places where you can spend nights with lovely courtesans.
Beyond that, everything else was shady hobbies tied deep to crime, so the fun element—the biggest part of my easy life—was missing.
Yes.
I was dopamine deficient.
I desperately realized my overstimulation-addicted brain needed a lot more ways to get its fix.
That's why I ended up brooding over my future life in the study.
Knock knock—
Someone knocked on the door.
"Come in."
The hinges creaked as Dalpi entered the study.
The moment she saw me, her eyes widened like she'd spotted something utterly bizarre.
When I asked what was up,
"It's just... your eyes, young master. They were dying like in a plague-ridden village, but now they've got that spark back. Shocked me."
"You little... "
"Did you find some profound lesson in a book?"
Hm. A lesson.
"I did realize one thing: there's pathetically few books for me to read."
Dalpi scolded that even ten times more books than now wouldn't be enough for someone who devours them like a madman, and told me to go outside for some fresh air.
What, are you my mom?
"Miss Haniel's been worried about you holing up in here too. Get moving."
"Fine... "
Despite her nagging, I didn't budge from my chair.
It was just petty laziness, but she didn't push further.
The study wasn't stocked with novels alone.
There were philosophy books, technical tomes, all sorts of fields crammed in—a smokescreen of my own making.
Like a student pretending to watch lectures while gaming, the disguise was because even with all the money in the world, lounging like a total slacker all day drew side-eyes from people.
They wouldn't say anything, but it still felt awkward.
So everyone living with me now thought I was studying various subjects.
Of course, Dalpi, who knew a bit about Nob AI's true nature, probably saw through it.
"Where's sis?"
"She said she had a meeting at the kingdom medical society today. Ian went as her guard. Something about discussing blood transfusions."
My sister had developed a huge interest in medicine lately.
Ever since moving into this modern-style house, she'd been peppering me with questions whenever she had a chance.
Mostly about diseases, treatments, surgical procedures—medical stuff.
Maybe from her childhood struggles with illness.
Despite her exceptional magic talent, looks, and character, she seemed set on pursuing a doctor's dream over joining a mage faction or becoming someone's wife.
Oh, and there was one major change with sis.
She no longer took mana suppressants.
Because her illness was fully cured.
To explain briefly:
While laying low, I'd been visiting the Red Tower regularly.
To get my mana circuit procedure, as you might guess.
I couldn't use magic because, like most ordinary people, I lacked circuits.
Erfps, unlike other mages, had medical knowledge too, so he could fix my issue.
During the procedure, though, he messed up the artificial circuit's placement.
He barely salvaged it by burning it away with acrobatic-level fine mana control.
I endured horrific pain for two whole days, but we got a huge breakthrough.
Nob AI learned from Erfps's mistake and turned it positive.
Haniel's issue was unexplained mana leakage.
Nob AI theorized that mana leaking from her circuits was mutating and damaging her internal organs, causing inflammation.
They'd originally used suppressants to halt mana production altogether, but Nob AI said even without knowing exactly where the leak was, the circuits themselves were likely faulty.
So, removing the old ones and replacing with artificial circuits would eliminate the need for suppressants. It proposed a circuit reconstruction procedure.
With Haniel's full consent, we succeeded at the mansion.
Thus, sis was freed from her chronic illness.
It was pretty painful, though.
But I'd prepped narcotic painkillers and anesthetics, so she didn't suffer too much.
If I had to pick the happiest moment of the past year and a half, it'd be that one.
We even threw a coming-of-age party just among us and had a blast. I remember laughing a ton.
Anyway.
As I grinned thinking of my diligently living sister, Dalpi calmly handed me a letter.
I gave her a puzzled look.
"I told you to burn any mail addressed to me."
"I was going to, but the name on the front's an exception, right?"
I glanced at the letter.
『Livian Justina.』
Whoa, it's been ages since I last saw that name.
Unlike other nobles, Bimark hadn't sent me a single letter since my coming-of-age year, post-party.
So naturally, Trowill and Livian, whom I'd seen often at the palace, drifted away too.
Probably no chats since that brief party exchange.
She really loved Tia the author's novels.
First person to share my hobby, plus her superior figure and all—tons of appealing traits for the princess.
"Hm. Wonder why she's suddenly writing me."
"No idea. What does it say?"
"Let's see... "
I read the letter through.
True to a royal heir, it started with ornate greetings.
Then came the princess's business, packed densely over about five pages—not super long, not super short.
I summed it up.
"Says come see a play if I have time... "
"...A play?"
It'd sound random to Dalpi.
Princess and play didn't connect.
I would've thought the same without seeing it.
『I'm truly sorry for revealing my identity via letter now, Ester.』
『I'm actually an author using the pen name Tia. My new novel's coming out soon, and we're collaborating with a theater troupe to stage it as a play for the public afterward.』
『The reason I'm writing you is that I drew a lot of inspiration from you when designing the novel's protagonist. If you have time... 』
The princess was my favorite author.
I fiddled with the four tickets enclosed.
***
Dalpi stifled a yawn.
She was at the theater with the four who'd lived together since Tristy Mansion.
They were at Belliscare Grand Theater, the biggest in the capital Logness.
Because Princess Livian had invited Ester and his acquaintances as guests.
'The script for this play is based on the princess's novel, right... '
-Brother! I'm innocent. I didn't kill Father!
-No. You're the only one who could have! Banish that wretch from the mansion right now!
Sorry to the passionate actors, but.
Honestly, Dalpi found the play boring.
It was the classic good-triumphs-over-evil tale: genius protagonist wrongly accused and exiled from his family, later uncovers his siblings' plot, and exacts revenge.
Having witnessed worse firsthand at Tristy Mansion, it felt meh to her eyes.
It did have unique flair compared to other plays.
Maybe they hired dark faction mages.
Illusion magic decked out the stage, pleasing to the eyes—but that's it.
Dalpi glanced away from the stage at her companions.
"That guy's totally the bad guy."
Haniel seemed thrilled just to be out having fun with everyone.
"Sniff... "
Ian was red-eyed, immersed in the story.
Dalpi eyed her employer.
'Young master... '
Ester's gaze was different from usual.
Not immersed like Ian.
Nor bored.
It brimmed with the lively spark of an inventor mid-epiphany.
"This is it... "
Hearing Ester's quiet mutter, she smiled softly.
He's about to pull something off again, she thought.