Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Bear and Leopard (3)
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After wandering around Cornell's streets for quite some time like that.
I suddenly turned my head at the sound of hurried footsteps approaching us.
“Haah… Haah…”
A boy visible in the distance.
Dressed in a hunting cap and short shorts, he spotted me and waved his hand.
“Lord Veil--.”
The kid with a delivery bag slung around his waist.
Panting heavily once he reached me.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you…”
“What’s the matter?”
When I asked, he pointed to the badge of Berk Merchant Company pinned to his plain white shirt.
“The guildmaster just returned with the wagons and carts. He says it’s time to prepare to enter the capital.”
“Does he? Thanks for letting me know.”
“Hehe, no problem at all--.”
I crossed my arms by myself.
And looked approvingly down at the boy who had black hair just like mine.
“But what happened there?”
As I gazed down.
I noticed the red scrape on his knee.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I tripped while rushing over…”
The boy scratched the back of his head and grinned sheepishly.
His innocent smile was pleasant to see.
“No matter how rushed you are, you can’t treat your body so roughly, right? That must hurt.”
I gazed sympathetically at his wound.
However, contrary to that, the boy gave an unexpected reply.
“No, sir. My job is to deliver information as quickly as possible.”
His black eyes sparkled with intelligence.
He had a distinctive uprightness unlike the arrogant noble cadets.
“And in return, I get paid a monthly wage by the guildmaster, so I have to do my very best at my work.”
Tina and Lydia, listening beside me.
They smiled at the boy’s admirable answer.
“He’s an interesting little guy.”
“Indeed, he seems to understand how the world works at such a young age.”
I nodded in agreement.
“You’ve grown up too fast. Sometimes you need to value your own body.”
I pulled a gold coin from my pocket.
And placed it firmly in the boy’s palm.
“Uh, no… I can’t accept this…”
“Go get that wound treated.”
I cut off the boy’s words decisively and pressed the gold coin into his hand.
Just like my father Hans, who had been the orphanage director.
“Even if I had a son, I’d give him the same reward. So take it without refusing.”
“…”
Son.
At that word, Lydia and Tina glanced at me.
As if imagining something.
“It’s really fine. My village friends will treat it when I get back anyway.”
“Village friends?”
When I asked again, the boy nodded innocently.
“Yes, the girls in the village take good care of me. They’re always so kind.”
Hearing that, I looked at the boy’s face again.
Come to think of it, he did look a bit similar.
A strange sense of kinship began to well up.
I glanced briefly at the noble ladies standing on either side of me.
An intimidating aura like two beautiful beasts.
Emboldened by that, I gave the boy some advice that would serve him like blood and bone.
“Be careful.”
“Yes…?”
The boy, who looked about twelve, tilted his head at my words.
I chuckled and patted his shoulder.
“No, never mind. What am I saying to a kid…”
Little girls couldn’t possibly have ulterior motives.
They’re just looking after their friend.
I held back my words and simply gave the child the gold coin.
“Anyway, take this as a tip.”
I dropped the gold coin into the pocket of his white shirt.
“Buy something tasty for those kids who were kind to you and pay them back.”
And I left him with one piece of advice.
“No matter the size, it’s best to repay kindness as soon as possible.”
He looked up at me quietly after hearing that.
Then expressed his thanks with a fresh smile.
“Thank you, Lord Veil.”
“Now, can you show us the way? So we can get back quickly.”
“Yes, this way--.”
The boy confidently led us through a shortcut.
In response, I walked side by side with him at the front, heading back to Berk Merchant Company.
“…”
However, the princess and the imperial princess stood still for a moment, gazing intently at our backs.
Soon, they exchanged meaningful words.
“Doesn’t it look nice?”
“Yeah, like a father and son.”
Was it because their opinions aligned for once in a long time?
“In our Bakal, even parents don’t know how to express affection after having kids.”
“Same here. They don’t give advice like Veil does.”
The rulers continued their conversation in somewhat softened tones.
“In that sense, Veil embodies the ideal father.”
The two women stared intently at each other now that their views matched for the first time.
Then, as if remembering they were rivals, they cleared their throats and turned away.
“You two, hurry up!! The wagon train is already in sight!!”
I called out brightly to the two noble ladies.
They smiled and followed behind.
“Very well, Veil.”
“Coming right now--.”
As we neared the company, massive wagons and carriages came into repeated view.
My chest swelled with emotion at the grand procession I’d never even seen in my previous life.
“Isn’t it amazing? It’s so huge, I didn’t even need to guide you.”
The boy pointed to the carriages bearing Berk Merchant Company’s emblem.
He seemed proud of his affiliation.
“You’re right. Even I’ve never seen a trade operation this large-scale.”
“To be in charge of something like this… You’re so cool, Lord Veil. Do you think I could have a day like that someday?”
He asked me with an excited expression.
In response, I encouraged him with a gentle smile.
“Of course. If you keep working hard like now, you’ll have your own merchant company named after you someday.”
As we walked while chatting.
We finally came face to face with Guildmaster Berk.
“Ooh… You’ve arrived, Sir Veil!!”
The guildmaster, dressed in a sharp suit.
Even he, a member of the Golden Apple and a local magnate, was tense and fidgety.
It couldn’t be helped.
Because of the two women approaching behind me.
Noble figures who would make anyone on the continent tense upon meeting them.
“I-I greet Your Imperial Highness the Princess and Your Highness the Princess. I am Guildmaster Berk.”
The two women instantly reverted to their dignified ruler faces.
Completely different from when it was just the three of us.
Their expression control was impressive, like flipping a switch.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Sir Berk. You pulled off a huge success.”
“Take good care of us all the way to the capital, Berk.”
The guildmaster beamed happily at the women’s enchanting smiles.
It was the start of the capital entry he’d dreamed of.
“We’ve already finished all preparations for immediate departure.”
He pointed to the ornate carriage for the women.
“Just give the order, and we’ll set off right away.”
Berk personally opened the carriage door and invited them in.
However, Tina preferred riding horseback like during the escort, so only Lydia boarded.
“The quality is certainly good. It’s fully separated from the driver’s seat too.”
“Yes, we’ve created a completely isolated space out of respect for Your Highness’s privacy.”
Berk answered proudly.
Relieved by that sight, I could focus comfortably on Tina’s side.
“Your Highness the Princess, will the horse you rode here be all right?”
“Hmm, it looks a bit tired.”
I looked at Tina’s black horse.
No matter how sturdy, it had to be exhausted from the journey from Bakal here.
So I requested to borrow horses from Berk Merchant Company.
“You truly are considerate, Lord Veil--.”
Berk gave me a sly, knowing smile.
I shuddered at the cheeky glint in the man’s eyes.
“We’re not like that, so hurry up and bring the horses…”
“Yes, we have an excellent pair ready just in time.”
The guildmaster introduced a pair of white horses with magnificent manes.
As expected of a caravan company, they had everything.
“They have longer legs than the others, so mounting is a bit tough, but the ride is incredible.”
“Really? Wow… They’re handsome.”
Tina alternated glances between me and the horses as she approached one.
Then, Lydia peeked her face out from inside the carriage to look at us.
“…”
A pair of white horses and a pair of man and woman.
Even me personally saddling the horse and carefully helping Tina mount.
Lydia stared intently with her characteristic red eyes.
At that moment.
――――――.
“Eut…?”
The imperial princess sensed a strange energy from the choker around her neck.
An artifact that heated her body whenever she felt certain emotions.
“W-What is this…?”
It wasn’t just for perception dampening. The imperial princess breathed deeply.
“Come on, take my hand. On one, two, three, you jump up.”
Oblivious to that, I was just helping Tina mount.
“One, two, three…!”
Tina lifted her ample thigh high and settled onto the horse.
At that instant, the saddle shifted, starting to slip.
“Uh-oh…! Be careful!”
In a flash, I thrust my hand under the saddle.
And as I tried to steady it.
“Hup…”
The back of my hand ended up pinned under Tina’s ample thigh.
“…!”
Thanks to the white stockings, it felt soft and tantalizing.
My hand pressed into the yielding flesh, her hot body heat transmitting directly.
“Oh, sorry.”
Tina gave an apologetic, awkward smile.
“Didn’t realize I sat on it.”
“I-It’s fine… Just, please get up…”
Tina was clearly apologizing verbally.
And she was skilled at riding.
But.
The princess’s thigh remained seated on my hand, mischievously rubbing against it ever so slightly.
As if teasing me on purpose.
“T-That…!”
Lydia, who had been watching the whole thing.
The petite girl’s brow furrowed.
“How dare she… touch what’s mine…”
The youngest imperial princess glared at Tina like a beast without realizing it.
At that moment.
“Hngh…”
The choker around her neck reacted to her jealousy, heating her body even more.
Her already tight cheongsam constricted her whole body.
With the necklace tightening her neck too, her entire body felt hypersensitive.
“W-Why is this happening now…”
Lydia slipped her fingers between the choker and her neck.
She tried to pull it, to loosen the grip.
“Khuh…”
A soft gasp escaped her.
I turned and glanced at the carriage.
“…”
But the imperial princess’s face had long since vanished back inside.
I tilted my head, finally extracting my hand from under Tina’s thigh.
Soon after, the merchant company carrying mithril set off.
The massive carriages and wagons filed out of Cornell toward the imperial capital.
The procession was so grand that men, women, and children came out of their homes to watch.
“Maintain speed!!”
Berk’s mercenaries were plentiful for escort duty, so security was no issue.
It was solid enough that I didn’t even need to act as guarantor.
But for some reason.
I still felt uneasy.
Just before, when I helped Tina onto the horse.
I’d suddenly sensed a sinister energy from Lydia’s carriage.
‘I hope she’s okay…’
With needless worry nagging me, I spurred my horse toward Lydia’s carriage.
I lightly knocked on the curtained window.
“Is the ride comfortable, Your Highness?”
When I asked, Lydia only replied after a long pause.
“It’s fine…”
‘Her voice sounds a bit off…’
She seemed out of breath.
Feeling something amiss, I took a deep breath.
Then, I handed my horse to a mercenary riding alongside.
“Hold this for a moment. I need to see Her Highness.”
“Understood. Pass me the reins.”
I gracefully swung my leg over the saddle.
And leaped onto the carriage steps, landing lightly.
“Your Highness, I’m coming in for a moment.”
“…”
No reply from inside, so I opened the door.
And cautiously entered.
“…!”
The carriage interior was steamy like a sauna.
As if heated by someone’s fervor.
“Lydia, Your Highness…?”
I approached Lydia, who lay on the seat with her back turned.
Was it because of the cheongsam clinging to her body?
Her dizzying hips came fully into view.
“…”
At the sight, saliva pooled in my mouth involuntarily.
But I swallowed hard and slowly tapped her shoulder.
“Are you all right…”
Then I saw her face as she turned.
And I began to sense a strong artifact energy from the choker I’d gifted her.
“What is this…? It wasn’t just for perception dampening?”
As I furrowed my brow.
Lydia slowly turned her head and looked up at me.
“Veil, you’re here…?”
I stared blankly at the imperial princess’s face.
Because…
Her eyes looked more seductive and mature than usual.
Her canines protruded as if awakened by instinct.
Her mouth overflowed with clear saliva, dripping down.
“This look is just like…”
A female beast in heat.
“What the hell did you gift me…?”
Lydia muttered, breathing hotly.
The sight of me touching Tina’s thigh.
Ever since seeing that, she hadn’t known what to do with her rapidly heating body.
Like a jealous female.
“This necklace has made me feel strange since earlier…”
The imperial princess rose from her seat.
She stared down at me sitting beside her and said.
“Gifting me something so lewd means…”
Her cheongsam clung tightly, accentuating her bust line.
The long fabric trailed from her navel curve down between my legs.
“You wanted this too, didn’t you…?”
From the sides of the trailing cheongsam, her pale hips were visible.
There, a knot of stringy, provocative underwear was tied.
“Y-Your Highness… This is the artifact’s doing…!!”
I shouted urgently at her.
I’d never dreamed the artifact had this function.
“I must have misunderstood its purpose. Take it off now!”
But the imperial princess, already tamed by the choker’s constricting feel, smiled instead.
“Gifting me something like this… And then fondling a foreign princess’s thigh behind my back…”
The imperial princess drew the curtains over the window even tighter.
“I shall begin my interrogation, Lord Veil.”