Chapter 96
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: The Great Date Operation (2)
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“Reveal your affiliation.”
“Judging by your dressed-up appearance, you look like a noble.”
“But you're not a lady I know.”
The Belverk sisters unleashed their sharp interrogation toward the Imperial Princess Lia, who stood dazed after her path was unexpectedly blocked.
“Was there ever a noble with pink hair...?”
Even Astridje, standing behind them, showed no intention of stopping it—instead, she joined in on the atmosphere.
'Fortunately, they haven't figured out my identity yet.'
The silver lining was that Lia Imperial Princess's disguise hadn't been exposed to them.
Of course, ordinary disguises were useless against the Belverk family's Crimson Eyes, but they couldn't easily see through the imperial family's signature transformation ability, in which no one was more proficient.
And Lia Imperial Princess, who had shown exceptional talent in such matters since childhood, had prepared thoroughly enough to keep things from spiraling into the worst-case scenario.
“How did you come to know Kairen?”
Of course, that didn't mean the situation was improving.
Unlike in ordinary families, this bizarre scene of a mother-in-law intimidating her son's girlfriend with her daughters in tow said it all.
“...Can I answer one at a time?”
“Hoo, so you've got confidence.”
But Lia Imperial Princess was no ordinary ten-year-old girl who would break down crying under such pressure.
“I am Lia of the fallen noble house of Ragnier.”
With that, she grasped the hem of her skirt, offered a polite curtsy, and recited her fabricated identity while quietly gleaming her eyes—just in case.
“Fallen noble.”
“Hehe, what an amusing excuse.”
“How did a fallen noble like you seduce our Kairen?”
However, Kairen's blood kin—now self-appointed gatekeepers—were no pushovers either.
“The Ragnier house did indeed have pink hair and blue eyes.”
“……”
“But did they have a daughter this young?”
Especially Astridje, who lurked behind her daughters, her eyes tinged red as she continuously observed the princess.
Skill Link Alert!
Activation of acquired skill detected.
Imperial Princess Lia: Dawn of the Imperial Family (EX)
As the atmosphere grew increasingly hostile, something suddenly brushed past Lia Imperial Princess's side.
“What, figuring out if it's a disguise or not is simple.”
Uriel had blocked Lia's escape with black mouths and was approaching her, licking her lips.
“You... mind if I take just a little bite?”
“……”
“I'll make sure not to use the black mouths.”
At her chilling whisper, Lia hesitated for a moment.
“...Do as you please.”
Realizing she had no other options, she replied with a resigned expression.
“Hah.”
And just like that, Uriel gently lifted Lia's hand—then swiftly bit her index finger with sharp fangs.
“Uh...”
The moment she activated her Predation ability, a dazed sound escaped Uriel's mouth.
“...It, it matches.”
How much time had passed?
“This person is indeed the last descendant of the Ragnier house.”
Uriel stared blankly at Lia for a moment before smiling with her eyes and lying to the clan behind her.
“Really, Uriel?”
“Why would I lie about this?”
Even under Astridje's suspicious gaze, Uriel calmly spun another falsehood, whispering lowly to Lia as she passed by her side.
“...This is all I can do for you.”
And so began the peculiar silence.
'...Guess I should say thanks.'
Lia wore a dubious expression, suddenly recalling her private meeting with Uriel at Kairen's birthday, and wryly smiled as she averted her gaze.
“Fine, so it's not a lie.”
Somehow, Lia had barely cleared the first hurdle.
“Yes, so...”
“But so what?”
“...Pardon?”
But the true crisis was only just beginning.
“You think we'll just step aside?”
Lilien, who had been leaking killing intent and glaring at Lia, finally reached the end of her patience and stepped forward with her ultimatum.
“Is it because I'm a fallen noble?”
“Hah, you think we discriminate for petty reasons like that?”
Lilien scoffed at Lia's glare.
“We discriminate against everyone beneath us equally anyway.”
“……”
“Even if you were a lady from a founding merit house, you'd get the same treatment—or worse.”
Lia was left speechless, her eyes glazing over at the quintessentially Belverk response.
“If you still insist on pushing past...”
Lilien aimed the knife she held at Lia, her already red eyes glowing even deeper crimson as she whispered coldly.
“Then try defeating us and getting through.”
Lia blinked at the words, then shot back incredulously.
“You all?”
“To date our little brother, you don't even have that much resolve?”
“I'm ten years old.”
“Our little brother is ten too.”
But their reason had long evaporated at the sight of their pampered baby brother's girlfriend right in front of them.
“Belverk is a place where might makes right?”
“...This isn't Belverk territory.”
“With Belverk itself here, how is it not Belverk?”
Even Uriel, who had once taken her side, now shone with red eyes and spouted such twisted logic.
“Little brother's girlfriend.”
And delivering the final blow was the eldest daughter, who had remained silently observant.
“Let's all play together.”
She muttered it toward Lia, her eyes glowing red as a chilling smile spread across her face.
“It'll definitely be fun.”
For an imperial princess well-versed in the monstrous feats Astridje had etched into the empire's modern military history, it was a statement to make one's blood run cold.
“If you want to have a picnic with my son...”
In the mounting tension, Astridje spoke up in a low voice.
“At least show the sincerity of defeating all my daughters and reaching me.”
Hearing that, Lia let out a deep sigh, tightly closed her eyes, and drew in a long breath.
'I didn't want to use it here.'
And in that instant, the flow of air shifted dramatically.
- Goooo...
The three sisters smirked sinisterly, igniting their hostility upon sensing the massive aura surging from Lia Imperial Princess.
“What, you really gonna try?”
“She's got fire.”
“Interesting.”
The red energy radiating from the Belverk sisters soon mingled with Lia's own aura, forming a storm of pre-battle tension.
- Crackle...
It evoked the atmosphere of the Great Founding War—no, the Human-Demon War itself.
Meanwhile, at the promised picnic spot.
“The Princess is a bit late...”
Kairen waited with a bright expression on the lesser panda-patterned mat the maids had prepared, tilting his head in worry.
'I hope nothing happened.'
The appointed time had long passed, yet there was no sign of her.
'I need to learn more about the Princess this time...'
Growing needlessly anxious, he fidgeted while peering toward the entrance—
This ability is unsuitable for the user!
Side effects: Cannot deactivate voluntarily, real-time intelligence decline.
—when a system message suddenly appeared before his eyes.
'Ah, she must have arrived.'
Kairen read it with a blank expression before realizing she was nearby and clapped with a beaming smile.
'Come to think of it, what exactly is this ability?'
But curiosity soon overtook him as he examined the floating skill of the princess.
He had a grasp on the other abilities, but hers remained a complete mystery.
'Should I try it out a little?'
Thus, a spark of curiosity.
Side effects concerned him somewhat, but through secret practice, he could now use even his mother's ability for a few seconds without vomiting blood.
Convinced he could test the princess's without issue, Kairen reddened his eyes—but
- Puff...!
Before he could fully read the message, red smoke billowed, and a warm energy enveloped his body.
“……”
A brief silence followed.
“Wh-what is this.”
Looking around blankly in the quiet, Kairen tilted his head and muttered.
“Nothing happened?”
But right then, a familiar aura surged from afar.
- Gooooooo...
“...!!!”
From repeated experiences, he knew it was the sensation of his sisters and mother emitting killing intent. Pouting, he stood from his spot.
'I warned them...'
His eyes reddened as he bolted toward the visible path ahead.
'Alright. Time to show them.'
But momentarily, he muttered inwardly with a puzzled expression.
'...My vision feels weird, though.'
Shaking it off as the aura ahead intensified, he quickened his pace.
- Rustle...
In the razor-sharp tension where bloodthirsty strikes seemed imminent, the sound of footsteps on fallen leaves suddenly broke the air.
“Hm?”
“Huh.”
“Little brother scent?”
The Belverk clan, senses on high alert, whipped their heads around in unison.
“...?”
Lia, who had been watching them warily, now fixed her gaze on the figure emerging from afar.
“I clearly told you.”
It was Kairen, covered head to toe in leaves and dirt, wearing a ferocious scowl.
“If you follow me, I'll hate you!”
His savage shout echoed through the wooded path.
“Everyone, go back!”
But to those watching him, his appearance looked... a little off.
“Aeng.”
Suddenly emerging from the path ahead, its black-and-white patchy fur bristling fiercely, red eyes aglow, letting out a mighty cry toward everyone.
“Aeooooong!”
In the form of an utterly adorable kitten.
“Haaaaak!”
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