Chapter 132
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: Crown Prince Selection Battle (3)
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"M-Maid big sisters!"
"Young Master?"
"S-Sorry, but I have a request!"
The moment it was revealed that the Imperial Princess Lia had infiltrated the territory, the office burst into frantic activity. Amid all that, I rushed back to my room and desperately asked the maid big sisters who'd returned for help.
"P-Please dress me up a bit!"
The room fell silent for a moment at my words.
"F-First, some wax in my hair, and some makeup.... And also...."
Reading the mood from the maid big sisters, I tried to put on the most pitiful expression possible and opened my mouth.
"We're busy."
"Hmph!"
"I hate you, Young Master!"
Maybe because of the karma from what I'd done earlier, the maid big sisters puffed out their cheeks and ignored me.
"Young Master, how can you make such a request of the maids while we're preparing for battle?"
"Hing...."
"Well, if it's okay, I could help...."
Just as I was regretting my earlier tyranny and making a sullen face, Schwarz sidled up to me flirtatiously from the side.
"...I-It's fine!"
But I knew well about the time in the past when Schwarz had "managed" the new maids' hair by cutting it all into short bobs, so I shook my head in horror.
"Eek...."
I tried doing my own styling, but holding a mirror and trimming my hair myself turned out to be full of difficulties for a delicate guy like me.
"...Um, elite maid big sisters."
After struggling with the scissors for a while, I finally put on a teary expression and called out to the elite maids who were peeking out from the shadows.
"Can't you dress me up?"
"......"
"Is... is this also a rules violation?"
Of course, I'd said it grasping at straws, so I wasn't expecting much.
"Adornments to intimidate the enemy. Deemed official business, not personal."
"Furthermore, since we won't make direct contact, it's not a rules violation."
"Kairen Nox Belverk. Take a seat."
But surprisingly, the elite maids' atmosphere had shifted slightly from before, and they seemed willing to grant my request.
"Heehee! Thank you!"
To be honest, I was a little worried, but figuring it was better than doing it myself, I obediently sat in the chair.
"Then, first we'll trim the hair a bit...."
"Commencing execution."
"...Huh?"
Wait, did I just hear something?
- Whiiiiiing....
For some reason, it felt chilling, like the sound of a saw blade spinning and countless blades flashing.
I should probably check what's going on....
"Kyaaaaaaaah!"
...Yeah, I shouldn't have looked back.
About an hour later. Near Belverk territory.
"Your Highness, does this please you?"
"Shall we change the hairstyle a little?"
Despite having no command experience, the Imperial Princess Lia had set up a fairly convincing camp and was gazing at the distant Belverk mansion. Two handmaidens were constantly fussing with her hair by her side.
「No, this is fine.」
But the Imperial Princess Lia, wearing her usual cool expression, pulled out a sketchbook from her bosom and showed it to the handmaidens.
"Shall we apply some perfume?"
"We have Eastern Continent snow white flower leaf extract ready."
Even so, the handmaidens persisted relentlessly with their questions beside the Imperial Princess Lia.
「Kairen hates perfume smells.」
The Imperial Princess Lia, looking somewhat annoyed, tapped the sketchbook a few times to change its contents.
"Then, a scent that he likes...?"
"......"
"Your Highness?"
Of course, these handmaidens weren't so naive as to miss a chance to impress the promising candidate Imperial Princess Lia over something like that.
Unlike Belverk, where hierarchies were established even before becoming servants and everyone had equal rights to kill each other, the imperial handmaidens—composed of ladies from the nation's top noble houses—were long accustomed to bloody politics and factional struggles.
"Haa...."
But that also meant they had vulnerabilities.
「Kairen likes my body scent.」
For handmaidens accustomed to political marriages and contract engagements, ignorant of free love, it was too much to accept the Imperial Princess Lia's casually written answer at face value.
"...Uh, ahem."
"Cough, cough...."
Thanks to that, the handmaidens choked and coughed, their faces flushing as they stepped away. Then, the dedicated handmaiden who'd served the Imperial Princess Lia for a long time quietly approached her side.
"You get it, Your Highness!"
"......"
"Today is the day to fully utilize the 'Love Theory' you've honed all this time.... Mmph!?"
But before she could finish, the Imperial Princess Lia covered her mouth.
「I'm not going to Belverk to play today.」
"Then...?"
「I'm going to claim the Crown Prince position.」
Seeing the sketchbook the Imperial Princess Lia held out with a solemn expression, the handmaiden slyly lifted the corner of her mouth.
"Even with that excited look, it has no persuasive power.... Eek!?"
Then, this time stomped hard on the foot, the handmaiden glared at her mistress with teary eyes and finally shut her mouth.
"Your Highness, Belverk has sent a negotiation team!"
And around that time, a spy knelt before them, breathing heavily.
「Negotiation team?」
The question was brief; soon, its identity revealed itself.
- Rumble rumble rumble....
Leading an aura more chilling than a horde of beasts, appearing alone before the Imperial Princess Lia's forces...
"H-Hello...."
It was none other than Kairen, sporting a slicked-back hairstyle thanks to the elite maids' help, dressed not in his usual clothes but in the Belverk clan's signature black suit uniform.
"......"
Aside from his inevitably youthful and innocent eyes that no styling could fix, his appearance was almost worthy of being called a cool handsome guy. The Imperial Princess Lia's pupils shook wildly for a split second.
"......Hello."
But she quickly regained her composure, glanced around briefly, and greeted Kairen in a voice as small as an ant's.
"Um, even if I look like this, I'm the supervisor."
"......"
"From now on, I'll be monitoring Your Highness 24 hours a day, up close."
Toward the Imperial Princess Lia, Kairen put on the sternest expression he could muster and began conveying the instructions.
"By the way, attacking or taking the supervisor hostage means immediate disqualification!"
"...I understand perfectly."
However, midway through nodding, the Imperial Princess Lia suddenly turned her back to Kairen.
"So, what I'm saying is, I'm heading back to the outpost now."
"Pardon?"
"This is against Belverk, after all. Instead of charging blindly, we need to devise a strategy."
At her words, Kairen scratched his head with a completely unexpected expression and hurried after the Imperial Princess Lia with short steps.
"...Th-Then. I..."
"You said it yourself. 24-hour close monitoring."
Right then, the Imperial Princess Lia turned back and whispered to Kairen.
"If you can.... Try it."
As she said that, gently caressing the back of Kairen's hand, the Imperial Princess Lia's eyes were already glowing golden.
"...Monitor me. Kairen."
Leaving those words, as she started walking back to the camp, Kairen stared blankly at her for a long while before letting out a weak hiccup.
"Hic."
"Ex-Excuse meee...."
After agonizing for a while, Kairen made his way right in front of the Imperial Princess Lia's camp and cautiously peeked inside.
"Cr-Crown Prince Selection Battle super... hic."
"......"
"...visor Kairen reportinggg."
Looking around the interior, he finished his teary-voiced greeting.
"Um, if I may...."
As he spoke to the handmaiden who'd been standing by the Imperial Princess Lia moments ago...
"Her Highness is currently bathing."
"...Pardon?"
"However, since this is Belverk territory, Her Highness said she would respect Belverk's rules...."
The handmaiden cut him off first, politely gesturing with both hands toward the cloth partition inside the camp.
"Would you like to enter?"
"Th-That is...."
"We'll step out, so please choose freely."
Thanks to that, Kairen's face turned beet red, and as the handmaiden smiled softly and even stepped aside, he began sweating profusely.
"Uw...."
"Oh my?"
"...Hic?"
Right then, someone grabbed Kairen's shoulder, startling him into nearly jumping out of his skin.
"Who is this cute little boy?"
A noble lady who clearly looked delicately raised was peering down at Kairen, her face half-hidden by a fan.
"Looks like a lost Belverk servant!"
"Oh my, how cute...."
"Little one, you can't just barge in here."
Trailing behind her, entering the camp, were none other than the tea party members handpicked by the Imperial Princess Lia herself.
"Ah, um, I'm...."
At the appearance of these core members and subordinates representing the Imperial Princess Lia's current forces, Kairen fidgeted and tried to speak up.
"Come this way."
"Don't catch Her Highness's eye unnecessarily."
"Lost your way? How pitiful...."
But the ladies grabbed Kairen's hands from both sides, smiling with their eyes, and began dragging him deeper into the camp.
"...A great chance to analyze Belverk's forces."
"A bit disappointing that he's just a kid servant...."
"Still, he might give us some grasp of the current situation...."
Hearing their whispers, Kairen realized something was wrong and urgently opened his mouth.
"Um, wait!"
"......?"
"I'm the supervisor!"
However, the ladies who heard him stared at Kairen for a moment.
"Pfft."
"Puhaha."
"Heehee...."
Instead of being flustered or polite, they just giggled as if he were adorable.
"Yes yes, little supervisor. Want to have some tea with big sisters?"
"Oh my, scary."
"Sorry, but we know Belverk clansmen have black hair."
Realizing something was off at those words, Kairen glanced at his reflection in a glass nearby.
"...Huh?"
For some reason, even though he'd reddened his eyes to reveal his identity, his pupil color was still white.
"Eh?"
Even as he was forcibly dragged along, ending up seated at the head of the impromptu tea party table surrounded by the ladies, Kairen blankly opened his mouth.