Chapter 60
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: The Princess and Fate (5)
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I finally slipped out of the teahouse quite some time after dusk had settled over the world.
The streets, where the midday heat was gradually fading away, carried an eerie chill despite the approach of summer.
“Luke, shall we head back?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Erje took the lead with her steps, and I followed a short distance behind her.
Even though we'd exchanged quite a few words back at the teahouse, she seemed no different from usual. She simply walked with elegant strides, a playful smile gracing her lips.
‘Keep her by my side...’
I recalled the conversation we'd had just before leaving the teahouse.
Erje had clearly said she would keep someone by her side if they were immune to her mind-reading. And that essentially meant keeping me close, in some form or relationship.
Of course, she'd told me not to overthink it afterward...
But how could I not dwell on words spoken by the princess herself? My mind was already a whirlwind, and it wouldn't fade even after years.
‘This is driving me insane...’
Maybe it was all just a joke. A prank meant to fluster me.
Yet her demeanor had felt far too serious for that.
If Erje was truly serious about keeping me by her side, then what about Elena...?
Haa-.
I let out a sigh laced with my tangled thoughts. No amount of pondering would yield answers, so it was better not to think at all.
That was when Erje suddenly stopped and turned to look at me.
“Luke, I just had a fun idea.”
“What do you mean...?”
“You don't need to know.”
If I didn't need to know, why bring it up in the first place...?
...Ah, right. She can see everything.
As I hurriedly cleared my mind, Erje suddenly grabbed my wrist.
“Your Highness...?”
“Quiet.”
Was her "fun idea" some minor mischief? Erje quickly veered into the alley beside us, dragging me along by the wrist.
The alley we'd entered was quite dark, with no light reaching inside. The streets had magic stone lamps at least, but the depths of the alley had nothing of the sort.
The humid air and musty smell typical of back alleys hung heavy.
Erje released my wrist and stopped in place.
“Doesn't it sound fun? What reactions would they have if we suddenly vanished?”
“By any chance, Your Highness, are you...?”
“Yes, I thought I'd give Elena and Ibi a little scare.”
Erje smoothly stole the words right out of my mouth. I'd heard she could read minds, but having it used so openly was disorienting.
Well, I'd better get used to it. I'd be with her for at least two years until she graduated.
“Oh? I'm not planning to settle for just two years, you know?”
“...Didn't you tell me not to worry about it?”
“Do you really not worry just because I said so? I might get a little hurt.”
Erje pouted, sticking out her lower lip.
‘...What rhythm am I supposed to dance to here?’
I let out a long internal sigh and took a step forward. No matter what, I couldn't leave the princess in a place like this for long.
“I'll escort you out, Your Highness.”
“Okay, sounds good.”
Erje replied in a brighter tone and followed close behind with quick steps.
I was starting to feel like I'd acquired someone even more troublesome than Elena. My future days didn't look easy.
But what could I do? She was the pillar of the empire in name and truth. If she wanted to dive in, I'd have to follow.
How much time had passed since then? We reached a corner in the long alley.
Suddenly, whispering voices began to drift over.
“Is this really the stuff...?”
“Are you saying you don't trust me, my lord noble?”
“N-No, I never said I didn't trust you...!”
“Oh dear, of course not. I always trust you, my lord noble.”
Two men were conversing beyond the corner. From their tones, one seemed to be a noble, the other a vagrant.
Where there was light, there was inevitably shadow. I knew vagrants lurked around the academy. They were everywhere, so no need to pay them much mind.
The issue was what a noble and a vagrant—who should have no connection—were doing meeting like this.
‘Eh, honestly, none of my business.’
Whether they were playing house or committing crimes, it had nothing to do with me. Unless I was the victim, anyway.
Better to turn a blind eye than get dragged into something annoying.
The only concern was what Erje thought of this...
As I glanced her way with that thought, Erje smiled and lifted her eyelids.
Like cat's eyes gleaming in the dark. Her pupils shone brilliantly, repelling the surrounding shadows.
‘No helping it...’
I let out another long internal sigh and stepped around the corner. Erje opening her eyes like that meant she intended to peer into their minds directly.
The eyes that see truth, was it? The princess seemed awfully curious.
“Eek?!”
“Wh-Who’s there?!”
The two in conversation spotted me and went wide-eyed.
But it was only for a moment. The one who looked like a noble hurriedly tucked a small pouch into his bosom. I couldn't tell exactly what it was, but it was suspicious enough.
Yeah, up to here, it was within expectations. A noble and vagrant meeting in a dim spot like this was bound to be something shady.
However...
‘Why are there so damn many of them...?’
I hadn't expected this many people. They filled the alley without gaps—easily thirty at least.
Of course, that didn't mean I couldn't handle them.
No matter how many, they were just numbers.
“...Please choose, my lord noble.”
The vagrant, having regained his composure, bowed to the noble and stepped back.
I didn't know why he thought he had a say, but no need to argue. Ultimately, Erje would decide.
Emboldened by his vagrant backup, or perhaps stepping up as a noble? The nameless noble approached me.
“M-M-Magic Department second-year Julius Xenon. You're from the Swordsmanship Department, right?”
“Swordsmanship Department first-year Luke Nineheart.”
“I've heard the rumors about you. Top of your year, closest to Sword Saint. It's an honor to meet such a great person here.”
Such rumors about me...?
I didn't know who'd spread that, but next time I saw them, I'd torment them with a carrot or something. They were threatening my peaceful academy life.
“Pleased to meet you. But what brings you here, Sir Julius...?”
“Ah, w-well...! It's nothing much. The materials for a magic experiment are hard to come by, so I took an easier route.”
“An easier route...”
“You nobles should understand. Getting tangled with these types leads to bad rumors, which stains the family honor.”
He'd been chatting fine with them moments ago—what was this now?
I couldn't tell if it was true or not, but it didn't sit well.
The vagrants probably felt the same. Some of their faces twisted visibly.
“Could you keep quiet about what you saw today? I beg you.”
He grabbed my hand and slipped something into it. A cool metallic feel against my palm.
Looking down, it was a gold coin. He was trying to bribe me into silence.
For a baron's son like me, one gold coin was a hefty sum, but...
Unfortunately, I wasn't particularly interested in money. I could get pocket change like that from our amazing Lady Elena with a simple ask.
More importantly, the person with me was far too intimidating to accept bribes from.
“No need for this.”
The moment I said that and tried to return the gold coin,
A presence stirred behind me, followed by a voice.
“Julius Xenon, that item you just received is a drug banned by imperial law. What did you plan to do with it?”
Erje's golden eyes fixed on Julius, colder than ever.
“P-Pr-Princess Erje?! W-Well, as I said earlier...”
“Hmm. Shall I take a guess?”
At that instant, clouds veiled the moon, plunging the alley into darkness.
A chilling silence stretched out...
And as the moon emerged, illuminating Erje, the silence shattered. A voice, cold as ice, echoed through the alley.
“The assassination of Princess Erje.”
It seemed I'd gotten tangled in something quite troublesome.