Chapter 62

Translator: penny

Chapter: 61

Chapter Title: Resolve

With tears mingled in their kiss and romantic fireworks once again embroidered across the sky, about five minutes later.

"……."

The Imperial Princess quietly slipped out of Kairen's room, glanced around cautiously, and soon set off.

"Hello, Your Highness."

"……?"

"It's been a while."

But just then, someone suddenly appeared beside her and spoke.

- Swish….

Spotting Uriel standing next to her before she knew it, the Imperial Princess began rummaging in her bosom, but she soon had no choice but to stop.

"No need to take out pen and paper."

"……!"

"I know your secret."

It was because Uriel, who had been silently staring at the princess, whispered those words with an unusually serious expression.

"From quite a while ago."

After eyeing her warily for a moment, the princess realized there was no point in hiding it further and opened her mouth with a cold expression.

"...What do you want?"

"Let's go inside first."

Uriel opened the door to the room right beside them and beckoned her in.

"Do you want to know how to extend Kairen's lifespan?"

After a moment of hesitation, the princess followed behind her, only to widen her eyes at Uriel's next words.

"Is that... possible?"

"The method is simple."

Uriel, who would normally speak in riddles and euphemisms, gave a remarkably direct answer.

"Just put Kairen in the family head's position."

At the same time, the princess's body began to tremble.

"Because the Belverk clan..."

"……?"

"...Ah, you're not direct imperial royalty."

Uriel, who had continued with a slightly pitying expression upon seeing her reaction, suddenly changed tack as if realizing something.

"Anyway, if Kairen becomes the Belverk family head, his lifespan will return to normal."

"Ah...."

"No, it might even increase. This can be cross-verified. If you have time, look up the lifespans of past Belverk family heads in the imperial library."

And right after her words ended.

- Drip….

Hot tears began to flow once more from the bloodshot red eyes of the princess, who stood silently in place.

"Do you understand what this means?"

Uriel quietly turned her gaze aside at the sight and continued in a low voice.

"What you need to do to increase the chances of Kairen becoming family head, even a little."

The princess wiped her streaming tears with her sleeve and murmured with a look of realization.

"...Emperor."

Uriel nodded approvingly and continued her explanation.

"It'll be difficult, of course, but just entering the competition and building a faction would be a huge help."

"……."

"Isn't it obvious which has more political power—remaining a puppet of the imperial family or stepping out as a successor?"

The princess, who had been listening intently, began to regain her usual sharp gaze.

"I now clearly know what I must do from here on."

And ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠soon, that gaze turned several times more resolute than usual.

"So, you'll hear some interesting news from the imperial family soon."

As the princess spoke in a dignified voice, Uriel smiled faintly and whispered softly.

"I'll help you all as well."

"Thank you."

"...No need."

In that instant, the two girls' gazes crossed.

'It started because of lifting my curse in the first place.'

'It happened because I stole his lifespan in the first place.'

Though their thoughts differed, an alliance unlike any in imperial history had just been forged.

"Ah, by the way."

As the princess, having sealed this unofficial alliance, turned to leave without delay, Uriel's subdued voice came from behind.

"...Watch out for the Second Prince."

"My second brother?"

"There's intel he's been in contact with the Holy Church recently."

The princess's eyes flashed golden for a moment as she murmured coldly and stepped out of the room.

"I'll be careful."

Leaving those words behind.

"...Kairen."

The Imperial Princess Lia, back in the corridor, approached the window, looked down at the garden, and murmured.

"You gave me this chance, so I'll definitely seize it."

"To be worthy of the Belverk family head, I need to be emperor at the very least."

Though it was a small vow with low odds of success and few to aid her, it was enough.

It was a momentous occasion when the bird that had confined itself in its cage finally spread its wings and took flight.

My birthday party successfully wrapped up as we spent the night surrounded by fireworks-like magic shot into the sky by the maids.

"What? It didn't grow at all?"

"Waaah!"

Of course, despite coughing up blood, my height had only grown by the length of an ant's claw.

Running it for just a day seems pointless, so I should train my body to boost stamina first, then try neutralizing it again.

"Yah!"

Anyway, about two days later. Feeling perfectly refreshed as Big Sis System said, I picked up the sword Marquis Sharhen gifted me and was dueling in the garden.

"...Ngh."

For reference, my opponent was the so-called strongest, Duchess Astridje. In other words, Mom.

"Take this!!!"

Seizing the opening as Mom faltered against my valiant swordsmanship, I dashed into her embrace and swung my sword fiercely.

- Crackle…!

My sword, arduously slicing through the air for about five seconds, finally struck Mom's wooden sword away, dropping it to the ground.

"Waaah, Young Master's victory~!"

"You're amazing, Young Master!"

"This is family head succession match level~!"

As I mounted the fallen (I only hit the sword, so why'd she fall?) Mom and flashed an innocent smile, cheers erupted from the maids behind.

"My son... is too strong."

"...Really?"

"Ugh, my complete defeat...."

Meanwhile, Mom, mercilessly crushed by me, averted her gaze with an expression screaming 'Urgh, just kill me.'

"Heehee."

I felt like a conqueror for some reason, but playtime's probably over now?

"I know you went easy."

So, the moment I extended a hand to Mom, who was dramatically acting on the ground without further embarrassment.

"No, kid. Even seriously, you'd have won."

Big Sis Lilien, who had been quietly watching our duel(?), suddenly smirked and spoke up.

"I've never seen Mom swing a sword."

"Really?"

"Yeah, no matter how strongest she is, her sword skills are definitely infant level."

At those words, just as I started wondering if I really beat Mom at swordsmanship.

"Lilien, take a sword."

"Oh?"

"Your usual knife is fine too."

In the blink of an eye, Mom scooped me into her arms, stood, picked up the wooden sword, and beckoned Lilien.

"No regrets?"

Before I could intervene, Lilien drew a knife from her bosom, gripped it, and charged at terrifying speed.

"I'm a dagger ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠master, after all…."

But the moment she infused red energy into the knife with a confident expression.

- Zzzap…!

A brown trajectory flashed across the sky in an instant, and Lilien's knife flew off to embed in a distant tree.

"...Infant level indeed."

Lilien froze with a blank expression as Mom smirked and murmured, her body starting to tremble.

"Ugh…!"

"Your knife hand is too rigid. You need to release force at the right timing for fluid counters."

"I-I know that!?"

It felt like a skit, but to me, it was spine-chilling.

'...Big Sis Lilien, who excels at close-quarters knife fighting, got disarmed with a wooden sword before even adapting with her Unique Ability?'

How strong is my mom exactly? Is there a limit to her power?

- Rustle….

As I spaced out with those thoughts, the bushes where the knife lodged shook wildly, and a girl with a pale face bolted toward the mansion.

"...Um, who was that?"

"Marquis Sharhen's granddaughter, I think."

As I stared puzzled at her retreating figure, Mom sheathed the wooden sword at her waist and explained.

"The youngest princess left this morning, but ladies from meritorious houses, including that girl, are staying at Belverk for a bit."

"Ah."

"Well, she got my permission first... but her intentions are unclear."

But my dazed mind, hearing Mom absently, fixated on the princess leaving in the morning.

'...Don't think about it for now.'

The events two days ago were too overwhelming for a ten-year-old me, so I'll mull it over gradually.

"Anyway, we should prepare soon."

"Yeah."

Just as I blushed and averted my gaze, Mom and Lilien suddenly exchanged meaningful words.

"Where are you going?"

I asked, puzzled, and after glancing at me, Mom gently stroked my head and began.

"Kairen, Lilien, Uriel, and I are going out briefly."

"Huh?"

"We'll be back within two days, so no worries."

Mom aside, Lilien and Big Sis Uriel too? Sounds like no ordinary outing.

"Where to...?"

Sensing something, I narrowed my eyes and asked, and Mom hesitated before confessing.

"To an auction house in the imperial slums."

"Gasp."

"Masks are mandatory for anonymity. And it's somewhat dangerous."

As my jaw dropped, Big Sis Lilien whispered in my ear with a grin.

"It's illegal, by the way. Don't go blabbing."

"Th-then isn't it bad?"

"Kid, what're you saying?"

As I glanced warily and asked, Lilien gave me an exasperated look.

"We're the Demon King's army."

"Aha."

"If we don't do bad things, who will?"

Come to think of it, we're the fearsome monster villain ducal house. They were all so kind to me, I forgot for a sec.

"We've done far worse than this countless times... Mmph."

Excited by my reaction, Lilien kept chattering until Mom's telekinesis sealed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her mouth and flung her backward.

'Anyway, a masked auction house?'

Only then did the weight of Mom's words sink in.

'Isn't that the must-see, guaranteed-fun reserved episode in romance fantasies?'

For romance fantasy fans, masked auctions are unmissable.

Secret auctions trading treasures, illicit goods, or creatures are prime spots for protagonists to get involved in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠incidents.

And not just incidents—tons of fun scenarios unfold.

I can already picture a haughty noble bidding 100 million gold, only for Mom to flatly call 10 billion, chilling the room.

But the highlight of 'masked auction' episodes is the guaranteed climax.

'It always ends in chaos, cliche!'

Like a disguised abducted royal or world's protagonist bound and battered at the final auction...

Or an OP prodigy rampaging just before a bargain sale, or a secret org raiding the place...

'...But somehow, I doubt that'll happen here?'

Our world's protagonist and youngest princess is in the palace, and Peep naps with chicks in my shadow.

Plus, no secret org, however strong, could beat Mom and my sisters, undisputed strongest across the continent.

"I wanna go too!"

But that's that, and this is this. Can't miss a romance fantasy's guaranteed fun arc!

As a fan, skipping this would be lifelong regret!

"Kairen, that's..."

"Kid, you don't even have a mask?"

I pleaded with sparkling eyes, Mom looking troubled, Lilien glaring to block me.

"I have a mask!"

But I have a white mask I picked up in the secret garden a week ago!

"I'll grab it quick!"

Before they could stop me, I dashed to my room for the mask.

"Haa... Knew it'd turn out like this."

"But did Kairen have a mask?"

Something'll probably happen at the end, but nothing crazier than what I've seen so far...

"Hehe."

And romance fantasy child protags don't bend to such things anyway!

"Oh, you've arrived."

Meanwhile, at that time. The heart of the imperial slums.

"The promised merchandise."

A veiled woman arrived in the secret zone with knights in white armor bearing black heart crests, smiling at the groveling auction owner before her.

"Wow, truly an honor."

He bowed to her, then inspected the girl in the iron cage the knights dragged in.

"This is the one who stirred up the sanctuary..."

As he cautiously opened the cage door, eyes gleaming darkly, the veiled woman covered her mouth and whispered with a laugh.

"The Holy Church's fake saintess."

In contrast to her noble appearance, the girl in ragged, filthy clothes lifted her dead eyes slowly at the words.

"She destroyed a kingdom with false prophecy, dared impersonate God's will—the villainess of the century..."

As the owner murmured lowly at the sight.

"N-No, that's not true!"

The girl suddenly shot up, frantically clinging to the cage front, pale-faced and raising her voice.

"I-I'm the real saintess! Please! Believe me!"

"……."

"You're all being deceived! So please..."

But the moment the owner's eyes turned icy.

- Slap….

The girl's head snapped to the side.

"Haha, we'll handle the merchandise management from here."

"Yes, yes."

The owner, silencing her with practiced skill, groveled again as the veiled woman turned away satisfied.

"Just enough so she doesn't die."

"Would we dare otherwise, Saintess?"

Finishing that, the owner gestured coldly to his waiting underlings.

"Boys. Take her inside."

"Yes!"

"Don't touch her. Lots of big bidders for this one."

Thus, the girl was dragged into the auction house by the owner's men.

"Ugh, ugh...."

She shed tears in despair, then looked up at the sky and murmured.

"Please, anyone...!"

But before she finished, a blindfold covered her face.

"...Help me."

Even so, she quietly bowed her head after finishing in a low voice.