Chapter 170
Chapter 170
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Bear and Leopard (2)
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Burke Trading Company’s reception room.
Two women and one man sat facing each other across a luxurious table.
The Leon Empire’s 3rd Imperial Princess, Lydia.
The Bakal Kingdom’s princess, Christina.
And me, a mere baronet knight...
‘Haa...’
Why was Christina the one in charge of mithril exports?
And why was Lydia the one providing the warehouse?
I’d ended up neatly sandwiched between the two rulers.
“For now, let me bring out some tea.”
I pushed down my troubled feelings and stood from my seat.
That left only the two noble women behind.
“...”
As befitting the empire’s top trading company, a lively piano played in one corner of the reception room.
But perhaps because the two women stared coldly at each other.
The room felt as frigid as Bakal’s glaciers.
As barren as the Samad Desert, the atmosphere remained tense and hostile.
“I’m sorry this happened. I had no idea you’d be the princess.”
The white-haired princess opened with mature eyes.
She sat with her legs crossed in a dress that clung tightly to her body, exuding leisure.
Her sensually voluptuous figure rivaled Leah’s, stretching her skirt taut.
“No, we’ve only met once at a diplomatic summit, so it’s understandable.”
Lydia crossed her arms alone and sent a merciful gaze befitting a wise ruler.
She too wore a cheongsam that revealed her figure perfectly.
She sat with her legs crossed as well, but the side-slit outfit exposed her pale thighs completely.
Princess Tina smirked as she eyed them.
“I never imagined the empire’s princess would wander the streets in such a ‘free-spirited’ outfit.”
A gaze that seemed to look down on her own petite stature.
Lydia, who’d often received such looks from other nobles, caught on immediately.
“Is that so...?”
But she didn’t yield.
With the dignity of a regional lord, she countered firmly.
“I almost didn’t recognize you either, so we’re even.”
Lydia lifted her chin arrogantly.
She tilted her head slightly, appraising Tina as she spoke.
“It’d be hard not to recognize me. There aren’t many with white hair like this.”
The white-haired princess smirked as she replied, but Lydia cut her off.
No, not the hair—the figure. Do Bakal royals all wear such ‘revealing’ outfits these days?
Tina froze for a moment at Lydia’s bold demeanor, so unlike her small frame.
Then she smirked, as if she’d grasped her temperament.
“Hehe... In Bakal, we don’t hide our people’s superiority.”
The princess elegantly swept her white verikal fur to the side.
She tilted her head toward the empire’s princess and declared proudly.
“We flaunt whatever we have with confidence.”
As she leaned forward, the intimidating flesh of the northern people came into Lydia’s view.
The 3rd Princess bit her lip with an uncomfortable expression.
Like a sleek black leopard growling before a massive polar bear.
“...”
Tina paused at that.
Even though they were allied, had she teased the empire’s princess too much? She cleared her throat.
“Hmm... Still, to our people who love to show off, Your Highness’s outfit is truly beautiful.”
“Really?”
Lydia’s lips curved up at the sudden praise.
She shot a look that dared her to keep talking.
“Yes, especially this ornate dragon embroidery and the fabric—it’s all so beautiful.”
Tina’s gaze trailed up from her surprisingly ample hips for her build.
But it soon stopped at Lydia’s somewhat flat upper body.
“But it seems a bit loose-fitting?”
The chest, which should have been taut like the hips, hung slack.
“What did you say...?”
Lydia’s red eyes lost focus.
She stared blankly at the foreign princess who’d touched her reverse scale.
“Isn’t it? Or is that the style?”
I flinched at the palpable killing intent even from afar.
Before they could wreck the reception room, I hurried back with the teacups.
“T-Tea’s here... Jasmine’s perfect for calming the mind.”
“Oh, thank you, Veil.
“...”
Unlike Tina, who happily took her cup, Lydia remained sulky.
I sat down with an inward sigh.
‘At this rate, we won’t get a contract—we’ll start a war first...’
I glanced at the pianist who’d stopped playing due to Lydia’s aura.
I urged him to resume.
‘As brightly as possible! Something like a waltz!’
――――――.
Bright, lively melody.
And the fragrant aroma of tea.
Only after taking a sip did Lydia’s expression soften.
As a regional lord, she quickly composed herself.
“Thanks for brewing the tea, Veil.”
“No trouble at all.”
With the upbeat music lending strength, I cautiously suggested.
“Would you like to step out for some fresh air?”
Like kneading the tense back of a black leopard.
“The caravan master is fetching wagons to transport the mithril anyway, so you’ll have to wait. In the meantime, I can show you around Cornell.”
As I smiled and proposed, Lydia soon cleared her throat too.
“Hmm, shall we...? This place feels stuffy anyway.”
Lydia stood first.
She led the way to the entrance.
“Phew...”
I watched her back with relief.
The beautiful curve of her wingbones in the skin-tight cheongsam.
My eyes followed the petite, soft line down.
‘Has she been walking around like that all this time?’
I approached her swaying hips, which moved seductively with each step.
And then...
“It’s a bit chilly outside, Your Highness.”
I draped my jacket over her shoulders like a cloak.
“Wear this.”
As I smiled, Lydia’s expression brightened.
She glanced back at Princess Tina and smirked.
“Thank you, Veil.”
Sensing something off, Christina eyed the cloak draped over Lydia’s chair.
It had been deliberately left folded in the corner, unused.
She realized it was meant for Veil to put his jacket on her instead.
‘What do you think?’
Lydia smirked arrogantly at Tina.
The northern princess let out a hollow laugh.
‘Ha, not bad. Childish.’
Tina watched Lydia shoot me a flirtatious glance.
Then she joined us for the city stroll.
“Let’s go. I’ve always wanted to tour Leon without escorts.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
We descended from the Burke Trading Company building together.
Then we strolled the quiet Cornell streets.
Fortunately, it was working hours, so the market was sparse.
Plus, my uniform jacket hid Lydia’s flashy Eastern-style cheongsam, avoiding most stares.
“The outskirts of the capital really have such charming buildings.”
Tina said leisurely, hands behind her back.
Lydia replied proudly.
“In about a year, it’ll be bustling. Development’s in full swing.”
As Lydia looked around curiously, she stopped in front of an especially upscale general store.
「Royal Market.」
One of the few luxury shops in Cornell.
The ornate sign must have caught her eye.
“Do you need something?”
“No, I just realized I haven’t bought a souvenir since coming to Cornell.”
Nobles usually picked up symbolic items from places they inspected or visited as mementos.
Lydia probably planned the same.
“In that case, let me pick one for you.”
“Really?”
The empire’s 3rd Imperial Princess’s eyes sparkled at my offer to buy her something personally.
She glanced at Tina beside her and...
“It’s rare for you to offer a gift first.”
“First time since the necktie pin.”
“Life’s full of surprises.”
The princess giggled behind my jacket over her lips.
At least her mood had improved, so that was good.
“Then wait here a moment. I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll trust your eye, Mikhail.”
I entered the store.
And pondered what to get her.
‘Even with my jacket, that cheongsam still stands out...’
“Do you have any items with perception-lowering magic?”
“For that spell, check the accessories corner.”
A bespectacled middle-aged man kindly directed me.
He mostly showed necklaces embedded with artifacts.
“These with black crystals sell the best.”
His top recommendation was a choker more like a collar than a necklace.
“Unique design.”
“The effect’s reliable. Black crystals are popular with assassins for masking presence perfectly.”
It did sound plausible.
Cornell was developing, but still a dangerous city.
Wandering alone in that outfit could spell trouble for Lydia.
“I’ll take this one.”
“Excellent choice. The recipient will love it.”
‘Recipient...?’
I tilted my head as I placed the necklace in the jewel case.
Then I calmly exited to face the two waiting women.
“So, what’d you buy?”
Lydia asked with a bright smile.
“A necklace with perception-lowering magic.”
“Perception-lowering? Don’t you like me standing out?”
Lydia sounded disappointed.
I grinned and replied.
“Yes, I don’t want to share your beautiful figure with others, Lady Lydia.”
“...”
The 3rd Princess, who’d meant to tease me, blinked.
Then she cleared her throat and held out her palm.
“W-Well... Let’s see what it looks like.”
I handed her the jewel case confidently.
“Here, let’s see...”
Lydia opened the box with expectant eyes.
The moment she saw the gift.
Her round red eyes widened.
“W-What is this...?”
It looked like a dog collar.
“H-How dare you give me something so vulgar to wear around my neck?!”
Her face flushed red.
She stammered at me.
“Your tastes are so frivolous!”
“Pardon? Is the design vulgar?”
I answered uncertainly.
I’d never been good with women’s accessories.
“Sorry, I’m clueless about these things...”
I reached to take the gift back.
“I’ll return it and get a refund...”
Lydia stared blankly at my retrieving hand.
Then, as if struck by an idea, she refused.
“Ah, no. How could I refuse a gift already given?”
She turned her head sharply, as if pleased.
Smirking to herself, she said.
“I’ll specially treasure it for your sincerity, Mikhail.”
Lydia slipped the necklace into the jacket I’d given her.
Tina watched with displeasure.
“T-That thing looks impure at first glance...”
Ignoring the satisfied Lydia, I turned to the princess.
She quickly composed herself and smiled at me.
“Veil, could you pick a souvenir for me too? I want one.”
Lydia stared at me upon hearing that.
But oblivious, I replied calmly.
“Of course. To avoid another mistake, shall we go together?”
“Let’s.”
Tina smiled and offered her hand’s back.
I politely took it and started up the general store steps with her.
“Your Highness. We’ll be right back.”
“Yeah...”
Lydia stared as I ascended the steps with the princess.
Worried I might give her something equally symbolic.
“...”
Once we entered.
She slyly pulled out the choker from her pocket.
Truth be told, Lydia knew what it was for.
A necklace for the fiercest beasts cherished by high nobility.
Though sometimes worn by humans.
With perception-lowering as its power, men often gifted them to mistresses.
Rumors said they even enabled special play.
Of course, gifting one to a virgin bordered on sexual harassment.
Yet Lydia couldn’t refuse due to an inexplicable thrill.
“Phew...”
The princess swallowed hard.
Then, half-closing her eyes seductively...
“Ngh...”
She secretly tried it on her neck.
Like a cat claiming its own collar.
“I-It really constricts.”
Wearing it choked her breath.
But it masked her presence from others.
“To think Veil had tastes like this...”
Only the one man who gave her the choker could sense her now.
“Well, the design itself isn’t bad. And the effect’s solid.”
Lydia rubbed the choker tightening her neck with her fingers.
Then she quietly waited in front of the general store for Tina and me.
But.
“...”
Even after over ten minutes, Tina and I didn’t emerge.
The choker around Lydia’s neck began to itch more.
“What’s this...? Why are they taking so long?”
The princess grew increasingly anxious.
She stared blankly at the store door with unfocused eyes.
“No way... Is he buying her something even more risqué than mine?”
Visions swirled in the 3rd Princess’s mind.
She swallowed hard and waited blankly for us.
――――――.
How much time passed.
Soon, Christina and I emerged from the store.
Lydia’s head snapped up to check the princess’s neck.
To see if she wore a matching choker.
But.
Christina’s neck bore no necklace.
“Do you like the gift?”
“Yeah, it’s so soft and comfy.”
I’d just bought her plain ugg boots.
“Bought them for comfort on your return to Bakal.”
“To think that far ahead—thank you, Veil.”
Tina proudly stretched out her foot, showing off my thoughtful gift.
Then she looked at Lydia.
‘What do you think?’
This time, she provoked.
But Lydia stared blankly at the utterly ordinary shoes before.
“Pfft.”
She laughed at Tina, all her worries vanished.
With a mischievous, devilish glint.
“Such a pretty gift, Princess.”
Lydia still wore the constricting choker.
Yet she toyed with it, seemingly enjoying the restraint.
As if savoring the tightness.