Chapter 62
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: The Princess, and Fate (7)
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The moment I faced Elena, my body instinctively flinched.
Her expression was like a gathering of every negative emotion imaginable. It was a look I'd never seen in the ten years I'd served her.
Well, it was only natural. If someone borrowed a cherished possession and returned it splattered in blood, even a saintly paragon would have veins bulging on their forehead.
The only reason she was holding onto her reason was probably because the borrower was the princess.
If it had been anyone other than Erze here? The situation would have been far more dire.
'This time, what method should I use to soothe Elena's mood...'
I sighed inwardly and stepped forward alongside Erze. It wasn't long before we emerged from the alley.
Elena, naturally, was standing right in front of us. She'd already concealed the expression she'd shown earlier behind her mask.
"Princess, are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Luke protected me well."
"I'm relieved you're unharmed. Then, may I clean the bloodstains from your body and clothes?"
"Yes, please."
"Excuse me for a moment."
Elena drew up her mana. A strange energy rippled around her body, and soon a blue magic circle formed at the tip of her index finger.
The magic circle then glowed with light, and the impurities staining Erze's body and clothes floated up into the air.
The floating impurities transformed into small crystals at Elena's gesture, then vanished in a burst of blue flames.
Magic that erased bloodstains unremovable even by modern detergents was nothing short of miraculous. In that other world, one could make a living just from spot removal.
"It's done, Princess."
"Thank you, Miss Elena."
Erze smiled and expressed her gratitude. It was impossible to imagine she'd just been at a gruesome scene; she looked utterly normal.
Watching her, Elena worked her mouth for a moment before speaking in a low voice.
"If it's not too rude, may I ask one thing?"
"Yes, go ahead."
"What on earth happened in that alley...?"
"Well, it's certainly something to wonder about. But..."
Erze trailed off, shifting her gaze to me standing beside her. She did so while veiling her brilliantly golden eyes with her eyelids.
"It seems better to hear it from Luke. He was with me the whole time, so he'll explain it well."
"Understood."
"Also, I promised to bring you back not too late, but it's gotten late anyway. I'm sorry, Miss Elena."
"It's fine, Princess."
"Then I'll be on my way."
Erze gave a light bow in farewell and promptly set off.
This wasn't a situation where any imperial citizen could stand idly by while the princess wandered alone late at night.
Just as Elena, watching her receding figure, was about to speak,
Ibi shot out like an arrow and positioned herself at the princess's side.
"Princess, allow me to escort you."
"Oh, that's alright."
"Please don't worry about it. I'm doing this because I want to."
"Then very well. Let's go together."
The sound of their footsteps carried on the chill air, growing fainter and fainter until it vanished completely.
With Ibi there, there was no real cause for concern. Erze had her own guard knight assigned anyway.
Now, the issue was on this end...
I turned from Erze and Ibi's backs to look at Elena.
A coincidence? She turned to me at the exact same moment.
Our gazes met in midair, birthing an awkward atmosphere.
But it was fleeting. Soon enough, Elena narrowed her eyes and glared at me.
"Luke, you know what I'm about to say, don't you?"
"...I'm sorry."
"I'm not after an apology. I'm curious what happened in that alley."
"Well, it was like this..."
I explained everything that had gone down in the alley to Elena.
From Julius Xenon dealing with the vagrants to severing his wrist and destroying the beast heart in the end. I left out not a single detail.
Handing the explanation to me meant she wouldn't take issue with whatever story emerged. No need to glance at Erze's reaction.
Elena nodded along to my account, then pointed a finger at me. More precisely, at my chest.
"So that mark came from those vagrants too?"
"If you mean the bloodstain, obviously..."
I trailed off and dropped my gaze, only to be struck suddenly speechless.
For some reason, a vivid red lipstick mark had appeared on my chest. Unlike the dark bloodstains, this one stood out in stark crimson.
"Was there a woman among the vagrants?"
"I, I don't actually know how this got there..."
"You'd better remember, Luke."
Elena's tone came across chillingly cold. As if she'd tear the memory out of my head if I couldn't recall it.
I seized my muddled thoughts and rummaged through my memories.
And fortunately, I remembered. The source of this lipstick mark.
"Princess Erze nearly tripped on a bloodstain, so I steadied her—and it must have happened then."
"Oh-, so the lipstick mark landed perfectly in a spot with no bloodstain? Does the princess's lip have some kind of magic on it?"
"Uh... yeah. I'm a little curious myself..."
"Curious?! Who else is going to know if you're curious?!"
Elena strode right up to me and grabbed both my cheeks, yanking them wide.
The pain level called for emergency alert level 3.
For reference, level 1 was mildly annoyed, 2 annoyed, 3 very annoyed.
Countermeasure: bow the head first. Absolutely no backtalk to Elena in this state.
"I, I'm sor..."
"Why do you do things you have to apologize for?"
"Th, that is..."
"Making excuses now?!"
No, am I supposed to answer or not?
It was so unjust. The lipstick mark was Erze's doing, not mine, which made it all the worse.
Of course, voicing that sentiment was out of the question.
Pulling that in emergency level 3 might earn me three months of turned backs.
"Really, how do you..."
Instead of finishing, Elena let out a sigh and released my cheeks.
My cheeks still stung, but it was manageable. She'd yanked my hair before, after all.
'At least it looks like it's wrapping up.'
As I thought that and started to relax, Elena's hand suddenly touched my chest.
Her slender fingers parted the cool air, transmitting warmth through my clothes.
"Your hand will get dirty. If possible, please..."
"Doesn't matter. A little dirt is nothing magic can't handle."
Well, nothing more to say then. Whatever she chose to do was her call, as my lady and master.
Still, the embarrassment was unavoidable, so I gazed up at the moon instead.
Tonight's moon shone exceptionally bright.
"I was worried. After you and the princess vanished, strange noises started coming from there."
"Sorry for making you worry. If you want to know about the alley, I'll tell you anything."
"That doesn't matter. As long as you came back alive, the rest..."
A long breath escaped Elena's lips. In the late-night quiet, it resonated thick with concern.
I gained a fresh understanding of what a secret friend meant. It had to be an irreplaceably precious bond for her.
"I won't stray from your side anymore, Duchess."
Even if it wasn't by choice, I'd caused her worry all the same. I felt nothing but sorry toward her.
Elena's hand on my chest slid slowly downward, naturally releasing near my abdomen.
"Then let's head back too. Staying out this late is improper."
"I'll escort you."
"Yes, please."
Elena and I stepped off simultaneously, neither leading.
The steady rhythm of our footsteps brought a calm, soothing comfort.
"Duchess, if it's not too much, could you handle my clothes too...?"
"Wash them yourself."
"It's not that simple. The bloodstains won't come out easily..."
"But you're fine leaving the princess's lipstick mark?"
"N, no such thing...!"
A princess's lipstick on my clothes? Why on earth would I keep something like that? It was practically a cursed talisman drawing trouble.
I wouldn't take it even if offered.
Time flowed on, and that day finally arrived.
From the academy's main gate to the buildings, even the club rooms. The entire academy looked markedly different from usual.
It was only natural.
Today was none other than...
"Luke, all set?"
"Yes, preparations are complete."
The long-awaited festival day.