Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Prophet (4)
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As I moved away from the prophet, the scenery changed immediately.
The distorted puddle vanished, returning us to the original back alley.
It wasn't even the spot where I'd just escorted the old lady moments ago.
It was the very entrance where I'd first stepped into the alley from the main street.
I was standing right there.
"Wow."
That thing called the back world had said it liked me.
Was this part of it too?
I walked along the main street toward the imperial palace.
Quite some time had passed, and the crowds had thinned out considerably.
There were no more carriages heading into the palace now.
Everyone must have already gone in to prepare for the Cluster of Stars.
While heading back, I organized what the prophet had said.
'She said I'd twisted fate.'
Heaven-Defying.
True to its name of defying the heavens, I'd changed both my fate and Ariel's.
The predetermined fate was probably the affair between Kline and Ariel in [Shardia Academy].
By altering that, Ariel's inhuman side had blossomed.
That part worried me a little.
'How should I correct Ariel?'
The word "correct" felt a bit off.
Sanding down Ariel's sharp edges so she could adapt to society.
If that was my job, I'd have to come up with my own plan.
There was still time.
It would be decided once we returned to the Leonhart Ducal Lands.
For now, one vague idea that popped into my head.
"How about going on a trip together?"
Such an experience might be good for her.
I returned to the Lotus Palace.
I was about to head straight to my room, but in the first-floor lobby, I saw a crowd of nobles buzzing around.
-The item's serving me well. Thanks to it, the mirror's been kind lately.
-Your beauty rivals ours without losing an inch. What's your secret?
-Do you have any other accessories? The quality's far better than what other merchants offer.
A group had surrounded one woman, all chattering away.
It was a strange sight. These prideful nobles, all flocking to a single person.
Curious who it could be, I peered inside and spotted an unexpected figure.
A mature age, yet her beauty didn't yield to the teenage young ladies.
Round glasses perched on her face.
It was the leader of the Red Mask Merchant Guild.
"Hee hee hee. Thank you. Your support gives me even more energy."
Her elegant voice carried a seductive undertone.
A sultry allure no teenager could imitate.
Whoaaa... The young ladies who hadn't even reached adulthood sighed in admiration.
"You're truly beautiful."
"If you'd attended this social gathering, the competition would have been even fiercer."
"Oh my. Is that so?"
The guild leader 'Bloodied' smiled faintly, as if the hot attention was the most welcome thing.
To me, it looked like she was thoroughly enjoying it.
She seemed to revel in the praise from these young ones.
"She doesn't even lose to the princess in beauty."
At that moment, a young lady's unwitting mutter brought a sudden hush.
No matter how beautiful the guild leader was, comparing her to royalty?
Bloodied wasn't even nobility. It could come off as terribly rude.
As everyone clammed up like folding fans, Bloodied chuckled softly.
"Thank you for the overly kind words. But please, no more comparing me to Her Highness. How could a commoner like me stand beside the princess?"
"N-No, that's not it. Lady Bloodied, you're plenty charming."
"Hee hee. Thank you. But keep this in mind: I deeply respect Her Highness. If I could have even a fraction of her beauty, I'd be over the moon. So please refrain from such comments."
"Yes, of course!"
Thankfully, the tense atmosphere passed thanks to Bloodied's quick wit.
For some reason, though, her words didn't sit entirely right with me.
What was it? The nuance felt off.
That line about being truly happy if she had that beauty.
Why did it feel so sincere, not just polite flattery?
Ding-
At that moment, the elevator doors opened, and two people stepped out.
Step-step-
A girl in a pink dress strode out confidently.
A single attendant walked beside her.
It was the Third Imperial Princess, Adelheit, whom I'd met not long ago.
-Her Highness.
-Her Highness has arrived.
The nobles began drifting toward Adelheit.
No matter how much of a rising star Bloodied was these days, she couldn't compare to a princess.
Yet Adelheit ignored the gathering crowd entirely and kept walking.
Straight from the elevator to the exit.
As the nobles who hadn't dared approach were pushed aside,
"A pleasure to meet you, Your Highness."
It was none other than Bloodied who spoke up.
"......"
Adelheit's steps halted.
Her eyes flicked toward her.
Colder than the look she'd given me last time.
She'd seemed fairly emotional and lively back then.
Was that her true face?
"What is it?"
"I am 'Bloodied,' leader of the Red Mask Merchant Guild. It is an honor to introduce myself to the renowned Third Imperial Princess of the Empire, Adelheit."
"I see."
A curt reply.
The kind that could easily embarrass the other party.
But Adelheit showed no particular concern.
To the point where the other nobles felt awkward for her.
Bloodied, however, proved no different from the princess in resolve. She pressed on steadfastly.
"When I heard Your Highness would attend this social gathering, I was thrilled. To think I'd get to see the beautiful Princess Adelheit. Before I knew it, I'd prepared a gift."
With that, Bloodied pulled out a pair of glasses.
The kind so refined and expensive even in my past life that you'd have to pay top dollar.
What status did glasses hold in this world that someone would offer them as tribute?
All eyes in the room turned to Bloodied and Adelheit.
Bloodied took a step closer, then another.
The attendant tried to step between them, but Adelheit raised a hand to stop him.
"......"
Step.
Finally, the two faced each other up close.
They were strangers, yet an odd tension hung in the air.
"Will you accept it?"
Bloodied offered the glasses politely with both hands.
As if a vassal state presenting tribute to an emperor.
Adelheit said nothing.
She merely glanced from the glasses to Bloodied's face, seemingly lost in thought, then...
"Ha."
She laughed out loud, as if it were utterly trivial.
"No thanks. I don't like glasses anyway. You wear them."
The moment Adelheit finished speaking, the room erupted in murmurs.
The nobles exchanged glances, tilting their heads.
Truth be told, the princess wasn't obligated to accept the gift.
Tribute to the imperial family was optional at best, especially from a commoner.
But to the nobles, Bloodied was an alluring woman and the head of the popular Red Mask Guild.
The princess surely knew that.
Which made her blunt rejection all the more puzzling.
"......Is that so?"
Bloodied said nothing more.
She just gave a wry smile and tucked the glasses back into her bosom.
"My apologies. It seems it didn't meet your standards."
"Yes. Truly."
Adelheit snorted and turned to leave.
No, as she turned, she lightly bumped into me.
Our shoulders brushed, bringing our heads close.
"......Why aren't you acting like you know me?"
"Pardon?"
"I said act like you know me."
"Ah."
Her whispered mutter carried a petulant tone.
Strange. She'd seemed so cold, yet this brimmed with emotion.
Or had she acted cold because I didn't acknowledge her? Hard to say.
"My apologies. I was lost in admiration of Your Highness's beauty."
"Ha. What nonsense."
Adelheit shook her head and walked out.
Was it my imagination, or did her ears flush slightly pink?
"......"
I headed to the elevator to return to my room.
As the doors closed, the last sight was...
Bloodied staring intently at the spot where the princess had left.
Tomorrow, the Cluster of Stars would finally begin.
To prepare for the social gathering that would take no small number of days, I loosened up my body.
I was about to lie down and sleep when I picked up my fountain pen.
I should at least chat with my little sister. Especially since I hadn't even seen her face.
[Asleep?]
The reply came quickly.
[No.]
[Why are you still up this late? You won't grow tall.]
[It's fine. Short girls are more attractive, they say.]
She'd picked up some odd knowledge while I wasn't looking.
How did she end up spouting such nonsense?
[Where'd you hear that?]
[In a book Dad gave me. I remembered it because it was interesting.]
[I see. When I get back, I need to have a word with our father.]
[Why?]
[Don't you think it's a bit early for our little sister to be reading that?]
[No. Not early. I'm gonna read it. Don't touch it.]
[Fine, whatever.]
Her rebellion was fiercer than expected.
I thought she'd drop it if I just said no.
She was surprisingly conscious of such feminine poise.
Hmm.
Was even this part of the 'blossoming' the prophet mentioned?
Should I ask?
[Ariel.]
[Yeah.]
[What if your brother lived with you forever?]
[Isn't that obvious?]
Obvious, huh.
Why didn't I know that?
Since when was it obvious?
[Um...... What I meant was, what if we got married? Do you know what marriage is?]
[Yeah. Read about it in a book recently.]
[Right. So, if we did, what do you think?]
....
......
.........
The reply was late.
Unlike usual, she seemed to be pondering.
After a long wait, Ariel finally sent one word back.
[For real?]
[No. Just a hypothetical. Don't take it seriously yet.]
[Then I won't answer.]
[Why?]
[If you're serious, I'll answer.]
[That's a shame. How much does your brother love you? Isn't this enough?]
[Then write a marriage vow.]
[......]
Sometimes I think Ariel's seriousness is too much.