Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 78. Family Affairs (3)
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“Are you… mocking me right now?”
The princess’s usually pale skin flushed red.
She spoke in a trembling voice, as if angered by the choice between siblings or lovers.
“How dare you use such vulgar words…!”
The twin tails hanging at her sides shook as if trembling with rage.
But I paid it no mind.
This was a strategy to shake her off from the start.
“There’s no helping it. Disguises are all like that.”
I pressed her even harder to push her away.
“Assign Tauna and Batsch to me instead. We’ll track down Hakim’s hideout together.”
I calmly brushed off the princess’s hand.
Then, straightening my collar, I prepared to leave indifferently.
“Ugh….”
Lydia clenched her fists tight.
She watched me take off my uniform jacket with a very frustrated expression.
Then….
As if she’d made up her mind, she opened her mouth wide enough to show her fangs and shouted.
“Fine! I’ll do it!”
When I looked at her puzzled, Lydia sidled right up next to me.
Hiding her frustrated face as best she could, she said as haughtily as possible.
“I could never call a wretch like you ‘Oppa,’ so….”
Her ears turned red.
The princess stammered with trembling lips.
“L-Let’s go as lovers!”
The moment I heard that, a chill ran down my spine.
I thought she’d refuse on her own at this point.
To bend her pride like this herself.
“Uh… You don’t have to. I was just joking….”
I waved it off, saying it was fine.
But Lydia showed no sign of taking back her words now that they were out.
Instead, she stood on tiptoe and thrust her face close to mine, pressuring me.
“Since I’ve gone this far, you have to take responsibility!”
Take responsibility.
At those words, I made a troubled face.
I’d thought she was just a girl with strong pride.
To step forward so boldly against enemies threatening the East.
It was truly admirable.
“Alright, but you have to act the part properly.”
The princess snorted at my words.
Then, crossing her arms alone, she said.
“You’re the one who better not mess up.”
Lydia walked past me with her head held high.
She headed to her room with her attendants to prepare for going out in earnest.
“Wait a moment. I’ll come out once I’m properly ready.”
“Understood.”
I waited alone in the garden, changing clothes until she came out.
Then, I looked down at the cat that had slyly approached.
Maybe because I suddenly remembered someone saying it looked like me.
I stroked it while waiting for the princess.
After petting the cat dozens of times like that.
The princess finally emerged after a long wait.
“Let’s go now.”
She wore a black dress that fully exposed her shoulders,
and my eyes went wide at the sight.
The fabric clung tightly to her body, showing off her slim waist perfectly.
Even the short hem revealing her thighs.
No matter how you looked at it, she was flaunting her maturity as an Eastern imperial noble.
“Um… You’re not planning to go out in that outfit, are you?”
Ignoring my gaze, the princess tried to slip out casually.
She glanced back at me primly and said.
“For a date with a lover, of course you have to pay attention to this much. It’s all perfect for the disguise.”
“No…, I get that, but it’s too eye-catching.”
When I objected, the princess pouted.
She shot back at me with eyes like she wanted to devour me.
“What’s your problem now?”
I approached the growling girl, like a cub leopard.
Draping the perception-lowering robe from the table over her, I said.
“I mean, if you go out like this, you’re too beautiful and you’ll attract attention.”
“…”
Only then did the 3rd Imperial Princess clear her throat.
She glanced up at me and said.
“Even in your eyes?”
“Yes, so please restrain yourself from showing off like this in the market.”
I adjusted the robe I’d put on the princess.
Smiling brightly, I added.
“Her Highness’s real spouse wouldn’t want to show this side to others, after all.”
Hearing that, Lydia pulled the robe up a bit.
Her red eyes widened round as she asked.
“What’s the reason for that?”
I slowly stepped back.
Gazing at the princess, now mostly hidden by the robe, I replied.
“Because a spouse would want to monopolize such a beautiful sight all to himself.”
“…”
The princess fell silent at my answer.
She merely wrapped the robe softly around her neck.
“Let’s go. He should be showing up on the streets around now.”
Lydia stared blankly at me as I walked ahead.
Then she snapped to and hurried after me with quick steps.
Fortunately, the Eastern capital was a city of lively nightlife even at midnight.
Our appearance didn’t particularly stand out because of it.
I guided the princess to an outdoor café near a tavern.
Sitting with her on the terrace, I said.
“If we wait here, we’ll spot him soon.”
She nodded quietly, hooded in her black robe.
But contrary to expectations, the targets didn’t appear easily.
We had no choice but to sit silently at the café until our ordered tea went cold.
“They’re late.”
Perhaps because of that.
To soothe the bored youngest princess, I tossed out a light comment.
“As expected, the East has so many people even at night.”
The time neared 8 o’clock.
Office workers heading home had all come out to the streets instead, enjoying the night.
“Since ancient times, the East has been hot during the day, so events are mostly at night. That culture has taken root here too.”
The princess lifted her chin proudly, as if proud of the vibrant territory she’d built.
Then, the robe slipped a little.
I quickly approached and redraped it over her.
“Be careful. There are lots of eyes around.”
The princess stared at my body, now so close.
My V-neck T-shirt in Eastern commoner style.
She gazed blankly at the shirt, then blinked.
“I made a mistake….”
Lydia placed a hand on her chest.
She cleared her throat falsely and scanned the surroundings.
Nearby, guests were celebrating someone’s wedding.
Amid them marched a young couple.
In the East, it seemed there was a tradition of parading through the streets after marriage to receive everyone’s blessings.
“Thanks to the lively city atmosphere, we won’t stand out. No need for perception-lowering magic at all.”
Perhaps because we’d waited so long with no sign of the target.
I gazed leisurely at the wedding procession to relieve the boredom.
The princess turned her head, suddenly interested.
She gazed intently at a woman her age happily holding a bouquet.
“The bride looks young.”
“In our East, the coming-of-age ceremony is usually at 18. This might be just the right age for marriage.”
The princess’s lips curved up fondly, perhaps recalling her recent coming-of-age rite.
“Then Lady Lydia must be a full adult now.”
“Of course. You always look down on me, but I’m a proper adult handling state affairs alone.”
Lydia declared haughtily, arms crossed by herself.
But….
Her eyes soon went wide.
“Then, as a mature adult, you must be fielding marriage proposals.”
She panicked at my casual remark.
“M-M-Marriage proposals….”
She averted her gaze, hesitating.
I’d just said it out of concern, but her face filled with deep thoughts.
“Not yet. I’d need someone I like first.”
She clicked her tongue, recalling the proposal letters she’d received so far.
She dismissed them as pathetic fools.
“Not even worth meeting in person. I like strong, reliable men.”
Lydia said, gazing at the receding newlyweds.
“That’s troubling. If none of the royals appeal, who will you marry?”
At my words, the princess glanced over.
As if boasting of their progressive marriage culture, she declared confidently.
“No, we’re not as closed off as the Empire. We’re much more open.”
“Open, you say…?”
When I asked back, the princess pointed at the groom with a finger.
Rough-looking face, muscular build.
Not nobility—looked like a soldier.
“Yes, even commoners can naturally become nobles if they excel in battle and rise to centurion.”
I pursed my lips into an O.
Envious of the fairly egalitarian Eastern system, I said.
“That’s intriguing. In the Empire, even receiving a knighthood doesn’t erase commoner discrimination.”
“Not us. Anyone with centurion-level ability or higher can marry into the upper class.”
Her shoulders rose as I praised her kingdom and system.
Gazing fondly at her, I relaxed.
“Even commoner knights like me could become nobles there.”
The princess lightly gripped the robe on her head.
“Yes—. So strive for it. You never know….”
She tightly covered her face and added.
“You might gain public recognition and receive a proposal from someone very high up….”
Hearing that, I rested my chin on my hand.
Grinning, I said.
“Got it. To earn recognition, I’ll have to work my butt off—.”
The princess pressed her lips tight.
She averted her eyes to the bustling street.
“Do as you like.”
Lydia’s lips twitched.
As if she had more to say.
“If things don’t work out, just come be my guard….”
But.
I cut her off, pointing at the street with a finger.
“He’s here.”
More importantly, today’s target had appeared.
“W-Where?”
Lydia lifted her robe slightly, snapping to attention.
She peered intently where my finger pointed.
A young man with a rough face and hood.
He radiated mana well above a basic soldier—elite guardsman level.
The two accompanying him were the same.
As expected, they headed into the tavern.
“Let’s go. From now on, we have to be extremely discreet.”
As I stood, the princess swallowed hard and rose too.
We walked side by side, quietly toward the tavern.
“…”
The moment the door opened, the tavern madam greeted us first.
Sensual figure, flaunting it in a low-cut shoulder dress.
Seeing me, she gave a suggestive look.
“You’re here. I’ve been waiting.”
The princess’s eyes flashed as she saw the madam and me, looking acquainted.
She glared at the madam with quite a menacing gaze.
“You two know each other?”
The somewhat flustered madam.
She looked at me, asking who my companion was.
“She’s an agent joining me for the operation.”
To clear the misunderstanding, I introduced them.
Only then did the madam regain her composure and greet the princess.
“Nice to meet you. You two look perfect together—great for the disguise.”
The madam with the beauty mark under her eye looked down cutely at Lydia.
“Of course. I’m always perfect in everything.”
But her red eyes still held a glint of hostility.
She clung tightly to my sleeve, glaring at the madam.
“Haha…. I’ve prepared the best-view seat. Right this way.”
The madam felt both cuteness and fear, like spotting a leopard cub.
She guided us to the couple’s booth as nonchalantly as possible.
‘Already making me anxious.’
The princess sat across from me.
But stiff and awkward as stone.
We were close to the targets already, and it was very unnatural.
Moreover, Hakim’s guards scanned the restaurant frequently even while eating.
Oddly, they hadn’t ordered drinks, observing with sharp, vigilant eyes.
Sensing it, the madam signaled me with her finger.
‘You’re too awkward! We’ll get caught!’
I agreed.
I could rush their table and knock them all out.
But losing even one of the three would be trouble.
So we had to act naturally to avoid blowing the disguise.
Truly like lovers.
“Um, Lady Lydia?”
I whispered softly to the princess.
She blinked.
“Yeah?”
“You’re too unnatural, so excuse me for a moment.”
Lydia tilted her head at my words.
“Excuse you…?”
Then she realized what I meant by ‘excuse’ and her face flushed red.
So shocked her lips parted, fangs showing.
Because I plucked a green grape from the table…
and offered it to her mouth.
“Lend me your lips for a bit.”