Surprise Visit of the Imperial Princess (2)
The news of the Third Imperial Princess's arrival had been delivered by courier a mere day in advance.
In short: make yourselves ready to receive imperial royalty.
From the perspective of the ducal castle, a bomb had dropped out of a clear blue sky. In a frantic scramble, mages and knights were mobilized to clear and pave the roads, maids and butlers were drilled mercilessly in court etiquette, and imperial protocols had to be organized and rehearsed at a breakneck pace. In an instant, the entire castle was thrown into utter turmoil.
Oblivious to—or perhaps utterly unconcerned by—the chaos she had caused, the Third Imperial Princess's procession made its leisurely appearance roughly a day later.
Flanked on all sides by knights, mages, and a sea of attendants and escort carriages, the dazzling eight-horse carriage at the center looked less like a travel party and more like a moving city.
"Behold the noble bloodline of the Galante Empire, the jewel of the earth blessed by the Goddess and protected by dragons! Her Imperial Highness, Galante von Kerkion Arpe, arrives!"
"Long live the Star of the Empire!"
Amid deafening cheers, beneath a rain of flower petals scattered by magic and a soaring canopy of erupting aura, the carriage rolled slowly forward, coming to a gentle halt before the castle gates.
Escorted by a familiar-looking attendant, the Third Imperial Princess stepped down from the carriage. Her mystical, shimmering platinum-blonde hair swayed softly as she offered a radiant smile.
"It has been far too long, Duke Stanasila Urtega."
Her voice rolled like polished jade, ringing clear and sweet. Yet, like a tyrant, it effortlessly silenced every sound in the vicinity, reigning over the courtyard in perfect melody. It was an intoxicating timbre, one that could ensnare anyone who dared let their guard down for even a fraction of a second. An unforgettable resonance—intense yet sensual, tender yet chilling to the bone—it ravished the eardrums and burrowed straight into the mind.
Phew...
Gifted with monstrous talent and boundless potential as a bard, her voice was both sword and shield. Simply hearing her speak meant stepping directly into her domain of influence.
This is heavier than I expected...
An unseen pressure weighed down upon my shoulders, threatening to make my knees buckle. In the game, anyone with low mental resistance would suffer from 'Charm' or 'Confusion' just by speaking with her. Fortunately, equipped with the Holy Guardian Fortress, I was entirely immune to such mental tampering.
"I pay my respects to Your Imperial Highness, Galante von Kerkion Arpe."
Urtega dropped to one knee in formal homage, and the princess graciously returned the gesture, bidding him rise. Then, with an elegance far beyond her tender years, she cast her gaze over the gathered members of House Stanasila.
Naturally, her eyes wandered in my direction, though our gazes met for no more than a fleeting second. Instead, it was the middle-aged man standing guard at her side who locked eyes with me in a lingering stare.
He was the one who had escorted her from the carriage—a handsome man with brown hair, brown eyes, a sturdy build, and a gentle, benevolent countenance.
"......"
That flawless disguise of a middle-aged man was none other than Nazareth Nemes, the head of Greenjack and a Sword Master assassin. I had anticipated her presence, but seeing her standing there in the flesh was still unsettling.
To avoid provoking her, I casually shifted my gaze away.
Meanwhile, the Third Princess concluded her greetings with the Duchess.
"Fufu, thank you for such an extravagant welcome. Shall we take our time with the rest indoors?"
"It would be our honor."
Led by Urtega, the Third Princess entered the castle and was guided directly to the grand reception room.
"Ugh... What a pain in the ass."
There was no need for me to tag along, so I ruffled my stiffly styled hair and loosened the suffocating collar of my formal uniform.
"Hey, Aljen. Don't you dare cause trouble. Go lock yourself in your room."
"I was planning on it anyway. Stop nagging."
"Would I nag if you actually behaved yourself? Please, just keep your head down for once, understand?"
"Sigh... Dear sister, worry about your own future, will you? When are you ever going to get married?"
"You little...! Ugh... damn bastard...!"
She raised a hand as if to blast me with magic as usual, but remembering the Imperial Princess's presence, she ground her teeth and shot daggers at me instead. Chuckling, I waved dismissively and beat a hasty retreat to my quarters.
"You have returned."
"Yeah."
I gave a slight nod to Wendy, who greeted me as if she had expected me all along. Collapsing onto the sofa, I tipped back a bottle and took a deep draught of liquor.
Curled up in the corner of the couch, Leona lay fast asleep. Despite my repeated assurances that everything would be fine, the oppressive atmosphere sweeping the castle since dawn had sent her nerves through the roof, and exhaustion had finally claimed her.
Cecilia and Vivian were probably in the reception room facing the Third Princess right about now. Since they would be attending the Academy together, the idea was to start building rapport early.
"......"
A part of me worried, but with Urtega and Pitora present, nothing untoward was likely to happen.
"Haaah... Damn it, I really have no clue what that girl is scheming."
"Did the Third Princess show any particular interest?"
"None at all. Acted like she couldn't care less about me... Whether that was an act or not, I can't say. But I did have quite the intense staring contest with the head of Greenjack."
"...The Sword Master assassin?"
Wendy's expression turned rigid.
"Yeah. She was disguised as a kind-looking middle-aged man with brown hair and brown eyes... but that's just a cover. She's actually a woman. Name's Nazareth Nemes."
"A woman in disguise? Why would she...?"
"It's a complicated story... Or maybe not that complicated. Either way, you don't need to know. It's hardly important right now."
"...If she attempts an assassination, do you believe I could stop her?"
"No. Nobody here can, except Urtega."
"Then what should we... Do you have a plan in mind?"
"How could I? I never imagined she'd drop in so fast and without warning."
"Mm..."
"Well, there's no need to work yourself up. She won't leap straight to assassination. Probably."
Exhaling a quiet breath, Wendy rested a resolute hand on the hilt of her blade.
"I will do everything in my power. Even if it costs me my life."
"If you die, I'm pretty sure I'm the next one on the chopping block."
"That is..."
Seeing her at a loss for words, I let out a dry smirk and lit a cigarette.
"Well, whatever happens, happens. What's the worst that can happen, I die?"
I took another swig from the bottle and let my entire body sink limply into the cushions.
"...Leaving that aside, Lord Hangil, you must eat something first. You have consumed nothing but drinking snacks since yesterday."
"I'm not in the mood. I'm fine, so drop it."
"No, it is not fine. It happens to be time for Leona's meal as well, so please eat together."
Her stubborn insistence was starting to resemble Muriel's. Resigned, I let out a sigh and nodded. Experience had taught me that resisting in situations like this was entirely futile.
To put it bluntly, the dynamic between Leona and me was profoundly awkward.
To me, she was merely Rebecca's younger sister. But to her, I was her sister's superior and the benefactor who had cured her illness. Add the insurmountable barrier of noble status, and she looked thoroughly terrified just being in the same room with me.
As a result, our meal was dreadfully quiet and stiff.
"......"
"......"
I saw no particular reason to initiate conversation, while Leona clearly lacked the courage to speak first. Was this the part where I, as the elder, was supposed to strike up a warm, gentle chat?
"Hmph..."
"Ah—?!"
I hadn't even done anything, yet she flinched like a frightened kitten.
"...Forget it."
"Y-Yes?!"
Engaging children with gentle warmth or smoothly diffusing tension had never been my strong suit. I was far more accustomed to playing wicked pranks or navigating transactional small talk.
"D-Did I do something wrong...?"
"Yes. A truly terrible mistake."
I set down my cutlery with a sly grin. All the color drained from Leona's face.
"I-I am so sor—"
"BOO!"
"KYAAAH?!"
At my sudden shout, she shrieked at the top of her lungs, eyes wide as if she had seen a ghost, before slapping both hands over her mouth in panic.
"Don't go apologizing so carelessly. Saying sorry without even knowing what you did wrong is an insult to me."
"A-Ah, I... I'm so—"
"Didn't I just tell you not to apologize?"
"Ah, uh, b-but..."
"Still haven't figured out your crime, have you?"
"Ugh, w-well..."
Tears welled in her eyes. Her face began to crumple in distress. Oops, she's actually about to cry.
"Leona. Do you respect and love Rebecca?"
"Y-Yes? Ah... yes. I do. She is my beloved sister whom I revere."
"Do you like cheesecake?"
"Pardon...? Y-Yes, I like it..."
"What are your thoughts on flowers and trees?"
"Fl-Flowers and trees...? I don't dislike them, but I don't especially love them either..."
"Good."
Nodding in satisfaction, I reached out and patted her head.
"...Huh?... Ah?! Uh...?!"
Watching her freeze in utter confusion, I chuckled and took another sip of alcohol.
"Leona. What deep meaning do you think was hidden in those questions?"
"...S-Surely, there is profound wisdom far beyond my comprehension..."
"None at all. It's just entertaining to see you panic, so I spouted the first nonsense that crossed my mind."
"What...?"
"From now on, I'm going to keep doing this until I feel we've become close."
"...!"
Every drop of blood vanished from Leona's face once more.
"So you'd better put your absolute all into befriending me. Understood?"
"Uh, w-well..."
I snickered as she squirmed, completely lost on what to do. Honestly, this is pure genius. If approaching her from my end is too much hassle, I just have to force her to approach me. It's far more entertaining this way, too.
"Haaah..."
In the corner, Wendy buried her face in her hands with an exasperated sigh, but I chose to completely ignore her.
The Third Princess paid a visit to my quarters in the early evening.
Because her arrival came entirely unannounced, I hadn't made the slightest preparation to receive her. That is to say, I met her with disheveled hair, an unbuttoned uniform, and in a state of half-drunkenness.
"Fufu. You truly are just as the rumors describe. In fact, it is quite refreshing. It is exceedingly rare for anyone to display such an unsightly spectacle in my presence."
"...Ah, my apologies, Your Imperial Highness. Had you sent word in advance, I would have at least tried to make myself presentable."
"Think nothing of it. I came without notice precisely because I wished to see you in this state."
With that, she seated herself across the table from me.
Nazareth Nemes took up a natural stance behind her, while Wendy positioned herself vigilantly behind me. Leona had long since been sent back to her room; there were only four people present.
"Sir Stanasila Aljen. Would you care to play a simple game of riddles with me?"
"I'd rather not."
"...Pardon?"
The princess's face went blank for an instant, and Nazareth Nemes's eyebrow twitched with a subtle spasm.
"May I ask why? Do you have a reason?"
Of course I had a reason. As far as the world was concerned, I was supposed to have no idea that she was the founder of Greenjack. I couldn't afford to drop even the slightest unconscious hint, nor could I allow her to develop a shred of suspicion. The ideal solution was to avoid talking to her altogether. If that proved impossible, the next best thing was to aggressively shut down any dialogue that might accidentally betray what I knew.
"Because I simply don't feel like it?"
Shrugging, I took a hefty gulp from my glass.
"Phew... Is that all your business, Your Imperial Highness? As you can see, I'm slightly intoxicated. If you have nothing else to discuss, I'm afraid conversation will be rather difficult today."
Faced with an explicit dismissal, the princess's expression shifted into sheer disbelief. In all likelihood, this was the very first time in her life she had ever been subjected to such blatant irreverence.
"...You overstep your bounds, Stanasila Aljen."
Unable to remain a passive bystander, Nazareth Nemes scowled, unleashing a sharp wave of pressure. In response, Wendy released her own aura to counter it. While I couldn't discern the finer details, Wendy didn't appear to be getting completely overwhelmed. Whether Nemes was holding back or deliberately concealing her true strength—or perhaps a bit of both—was hard to say.
"Haaah... My apologies, Your Imperial Highness. The drink seems to have gotten the better of me."
"...It is fine. I was merely startled, not angered."
"I am deeply humbled by your mercy."
I gave a perfunctory nod. Out of habit, I reached to light a cigarette, but seeing the princess staring blankly at me, I clicked my tongue and lowered my hand.
"...Your Imperial Highness. It seems you had a specific purpose in coming here."
"I did."
"I will not play games of riddles, but I am willing to hear you out. What brings you to my room?"
"...Your abilities."
The princess's voice dropped to a low, velvety register. That voice carried an indescribably mystical power, vibrating through the eardrums with an insidious sweetness that burrowed deep into the mind. Seductive yet threatening, it sought to twist and manipulate perception and thought itself.
"I wish to test them. Are the rumors concerning you true? Stanasila Aljen. Are you a prophet? A sage who holds all the knowledge of the world? Do you truly know everything?"
"......"
Throb!
A sharp ache pounded behind my temples. Gripping my head with one hand, I raised the other to hold Wendy back, then slowly opened my mouth.