Chapter 97
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: The Great Date Operation (3)
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“Meooow!”
“……”
“Meooooow!!!”
A red-eyed cat appeared from beyond the ominously tense forest path, its fur bristling all over as it let out a ferocious yowl.
“A cat.”
“It's a cat.”
“Cat.”
The three Belverk sisters watched the scene impassively.
- Fwhoosh…!
Among them, the first to move was, as expected, the eldest daughter, Edelasia.
“Hm…”
In the blink of an eye, she reached right in front of the cat, crouching down and sniffing.
“Smells like my little brother.”
“Meow?”
“What are you, really?”
She eyed it suspiciously, noting how it reeked of Kairen, her beloved little brother.
“I-it's my pet!”
Just then, the Imperial Princess Lia hurriedly withdrew her hostility and stepped forward, raising her voice.
“To be precise… it's a stray cat that Kairen and I have been taking care of.”
As all eyes turned to her, Lia broke into a cold sweat, glancing sideways at the cat before quickly adding.
“That's why it smells like my brother.”
“Give it to me.”
“Mm, alright.”
Fortunately convinced, the eldest nodded and handed over the cat she'd picked up by the scruff.
“Meooooow!”
“…Good kitty.”
Even in that moment, Lia gazed at the struggling cat with anxious eyes, stroking its head with slightly trembling hands.
“Grrr…”
Only then did it finally calm, nestling comfortably into her arms.
“So, shall we continue what we were doing?”
“There was a little uninvited guest for a moment, though.”
“Can't the cat just play with us too?”
But just as the Belverk sisters' patience was wearing thin again from staring at the scene…
- Zzzap…!
The cat in Lia's arms suddenly had its eyes glow red.
“Uh…”
“Ah…”
Immediately after, Lilien and Uriel wore confused expressions and staggered.
“Somehow, I don't feel like fighting anymore…”
“Yeah… no reason to get bored of battle.”
“…Battle? Weren't we just playing?”
About ten seconds later, aside from the eldest tilting her head in bewilderment, the other two had already half-lost their fighting spirit.
“Well, the cat's cute, so whatever…”
“Yeah… I guess so.”
A few more seconds passed in that state, and Lilien and Uriel fully slumped their shoulders, walking past Lia.
“Uh, um.”
“……”
“It does look like my brother, so it's cute.”
The eldest scratched her head from behind, then followed her sisters, muttering as she glanced at the cat in Lia's arms.
“……Huh?”
And silence fell.
“What in the world…”
Lia, bewildered by the sudden bizarre turn, clutched the cat tighter and stepped back when…
“…Come inside.”
“Pardon?”
“And don't forget the cat in your arms.”
Astridje, who had been silently observing, wiped the smile from her face and whispered that before turning away.
“……???”
Lia stared blankly at Astridje's retreating back as she wordlessly headed to the picnic spot, her expression growing even more dazed.
“Hehe. Look, its nose is wet.”
“Look at that puffed-up fur.”
“…Hey, when are we gonna play?”
How much time had passed like that?
‘What the heck is going on?’
Imperial Princess Lia broke into a cold sweat, lost in thought as she sidelong-glanced at the three Belverk sisters sitting side by side on the red panda-patterned mat Kairen had prepared, petting the cat.
‘That's definitely Kairen.’
Her own ability left no room for doubt; she knew it all too well.
No matter the method, Kairen had borrowed her power to transform into a cat.
“Looks like it wasn't on purpose.”
But that realization offered no solution, leaving her at a loss—until then.
“Isn't that right, little Imperial Princess?”
“…Pardon?”
“Did you think I wouldn't know?”
Astridje, sitting beside Lia and quietly watching her daughters, whispered those terrifying words.
“I've seen the current Emperor in disguise countless times.”
“……!”
“I know every trick your imperial family uses for disguises perfectly.”
Cold sweat beaded on Lia's forehead again as she listened blankly.
“And I know you've been disguising as a new maid, coming and going from Kairen's room.”
“……”
“You're no mute as the rumors say, and quite ambitious too.”
Astridje knew far too much for any excuse to work.
And for Lia, well aware of Astridje's infamous reputation and the horror stories across the Empire, there was only one choice.
“…What happened to Kairen?”
Essentially admitting her identity, Lia swallowed dryly and asked.
- Goooo…
Ready to use her ability and escape at any moment.
For an imperial to sneak alone into Belverk territory, hiding her identity, was practically suicide.
“Kairen can absorb others' abilities.”
Noticing her intent but without reddening her eyes, Astridje explained coldly.
“…Like the ancient Demon King.”
“Pardon?”
“Ah, you wouldn't know. You're ostracized in the palace too.”
Lia clenched her teeth, listening intently.
“Has Kairen healed you recently?”
“…Ah.”
“He probably absorbed your ability then.”
But her face paled momentarily at Astridje's words.
“Why the sudden change?”
“…N-no, it's nothing.”
“Hmmm…”
Astridje frowned suspiciously for a moment, then resumed coldly.
“As far as I know, your imperial family can transform into animals suited to them and use matching abilities.”
“……”
“…And for Kairen, it seems his desire for affection is maximized.”
Realizing what happened from the explanation, Lia quietly gazed at Kairen being petted by his sisters behind her.
“And you're the only one besides family that he's opened his heart to.”
“……”
“Quite the interesting tale.”
Astridje's voice grew even chillier in Lia's ear.
“My son is kinder and more naive than you think—easy to exploit.”
Her tone now carried a subtle fury.
“Isn't that right?”
“……”
“A powerless youngest princess has few options.”
Their eyes met.
“Did my son seem that easy to you?”
Astridje's killing intent swelled, visible as a red aura.
“…Yes.”
But Lia calmly accepted it, nodding frankly.
“Honestly, at first, that's what I thought.”
“……?”
“I planned to turn a chance kindness into something I could claim as a right.”
Astridje blinked in surprise, momentarily withdrawing her hostility at Lia's boldness.
“But what came back was kindness doubled.”
“……”
“It was the first selfless goodwill I'd ever received.”
Her sincere voice reached Astridje.
“I was captivated by that goodwill.”
Lia's voice trembled now.
“So now…”
“……”
“…I truly like him.”
Finishing with that quaver, she bowed her head slightly and bit her lip.
“Anyone can say words like that.”
“……”
“Proving them is what matters.”
Astridje gazed down at her, her eyes flashing red as she spoke again.
“…How can I prove it?”
Lia looked up and asked.
“Very simple.”
It seemed a profoundly difficult question, but Astridje's answer was straightforward.
“To love someone is to protect them with your life.”
She added with a cold smile.
“For reference, I failed ten years ago.”
“……”
“If not for Kairen, I'd still be consumed by that failure.”
Rising, Astridje turned back midway.
“So, can you avoid my mistake?”
As their eyes locked, Astridje's red eyes flickered—
- Rumble…!
The ground beneath them shook violently.
“Do you know why Kairen chose this picnic spot, little Imperial Princess?”
“…I do.”
Lia kept her balance calmly and answered softly.
“Because it's where we first met.”
She could never forget that day, fleeing an ambush from some mysterious force and landing in the Mist Forest near Belverk.
“Then this will be quick.”
“……”
“It's safer now, but this place originally teemed with monsters.”
Of course, Lia knew the Mist Forest's dangers from that day with Kairen.
“And one of the Belverk house head's powers is…”
But what was coming now made that day seem like child's play.
“…Controlling mindless monsters.”
As Astridje finished, ferocious auras surged from all directions.
- Groooaaar!!!
- Grrrrr…
- Kik, keekik…
Monsters hidden throughout the Mist Forest raised their heads, radiating killing intent.
“If you love him, prove it.”
“……”
“Prove you can protect the Kairen you adore, with your own power alone.”
The culprit signaling all those monsters, Duchess Astridje, looked down appraisingly.
“Succeed, and I won't interfere with you two anymore.”
She paused.
“Or abandon Kairen and leave now.”
“……”
“What's your choice, little Imperial Princess?”
With that, she awaited Lia's intent.
“…It's Lia.”
The youngest Imperial Princess's reply was astonishingly concise.
“Call me Imperial Princess Lia.”
“My lady.”
“Full of vigor.”
Astridje smirked coldly at the princess standing defiantly amid the monsters' killing intent pouring from all sides, then turned away.
“But the test has already begun.”
As Lia whipped around at those added words, eyes widening—
“Hng, what's this?”
“Sorry, but I can't hand over this cat.”
“Hey, when are we gonna play…?”
The Belverk sisters, utterly engrossed in petting the fully cat-transformed Kairen, began showing hostility toward Lia.
“First, reclaim him from Belverk's little monsters.”
Astridje bit her lip watching, then vanished after her final words.
“The one you love so dearly.”