The Imperial Princess's Surprise Visit (3)
The Third Princess likely already knew a fair amount of the truth behind the rumors about me, given that Greenjack had surely submitted a report.
However, since I had to play the part of an ignorant nobleman, I took great pains to school my expression.
"No. Rumors are merely rumors. I am neither a prophet nor a sage. I know nothing at all."
A calm, nonchalant voice flowed from my lips, addressing the Third Princess.
"……"
Without the slightest change in expression, she continued to study me. The boundary between her platinum irises and the whites of her eyes was so faint that, at first glance, she appeared to have no pupils whatsoever. It was an eerie yet undeniably mystical gaze. Wondering how much longer I would have to endure it, I watched as she exhaled a soft sigh, leaned forward, and rested her chin on her hand.
"A blend of truth and lies, Lord Stanasila Alzen. Are you perhaps unaware that I have the ability to see through deception?"
You're just making educated guesses based on voice pitch and subtle tremors, yet you speak with such absurd confidence.
"Is that so?"
"...Is that all you have to say?"
"I am not quite sure what more you expect from me."
"Haaah... Wouldn't it be better to lower your guard just a little, Lord Alzen? I won't bite, you know."
"My, if it seemed that way, you have my apologies. It appears I was simply nervous in the presence of Your Imperial Highness."
"……"
Confronted with an even more blatant display of wariness, she pouted slightly and shot me a sullen glare.
"Lord Alzen. Despite appearances, I happen to know quite a lot."
"Oh? How intriguing. And just what is it that you know?"
"According to my independent investigation, the credit for eliminating the high demon who attacked the ducal territory belongs entirely to you."
"You flatter me far too much. I hardly know what to say."
"Duke Urtega's breakthrough to a higher realm would also have been impossible without you. Even Duke Urtega himself has acknowledged this."
"My father is simply being overly modest. I possess no such extraordinary ability."
"Furthermore, you cleared an undiscovered dungeon within the Wyrm Mountains, didn't you?"
"……"
From that point on, a fervent heat began to smolder in the Third Princess's eyes.
"I even heard that with just a few words, you helped an ordinary knight of the Stanasila Knights achieve awakening. By all common sense, that is an impossible feat! What is more, countless visitors who have met with you have testified that there is nothing under heaven you do not know!"
"...You even investigated things like that?"
"Lord Alzen! Your power is real! Whether you truly catch glimpses of the past and future, or whether your vessel harbors a fragment of a deity as an incarnation, I cannot say! But you undoubtedly possess something extraordinary! You have attained it! Am I mistaken?!"
She slammed both hands down on the table, springing to her feet as an avaricious glint ignited in her eyes.
"So enter my service, Lord Alzen! Please, come work for me!"
"...I am deeply honored by your offer, but I must respectfully decline."
"I will grant you anything you desire! Wealth! Women! Alcohol! Cigarettes! You need only name it!"
"My apologies."
"Why?! What reason could you possibly have to refuse?"
"Well, you see... I hate working."
"...Pardon?"
"I dislike serving under anyone, of course, but even more than that, I truly despise working diligently. Therefore, I must refuse."
It was not a mere excuse. It was a core trait of mine that had shown its signs all the way back when I lived as Kang Han-gil in my previous life. Even back then, I had only worked because it had to be done—and because there was some sense of fulfillment and reward in doing it. But ever since I transmigrated into this body, any lingering shred of motivation had completely evaporated.
She blinked blankly for a second, then her eyes lit up with renewed fervor.
"...Th-Then! You don't have to work!"
"Oho...?"
Seeing my reaction, she clenched her small fists in mounting excitement.
"Y-Yes! All you have to do is place yourself under my name! As long as I have the guarantee that you belong to me, it doesn't matter in the least if you do absolutely nothing!"
"Truly? You won't withhold my salary just because I don't work, will you...?"
"Never! I give you my word!"
"……"
For the briefest instant, I was sorely tempted. Getting paid handsomely and enjoying aristocratic authority while doing sweet nothing all day was, after all, the quintessential dream job.
"...Regrettably, I must still decline."
A dream job, however, was called a dream job precisely because it could only exist in one's dreams. Rumors regarding the third son of House Stanasila were already running rampant. If word got out that the Third Princess had taken me under her wing, the ensuing fallout would be astronomical. I could practically see every noble who had previously dismissed the rumors as ridiculous lies doing a complete about-face and swarming me like vultures. Even putting that aside, merely stepping into the Third Princess's faction would invite ceaseless scrutiny, political maneuvers, and relentless pressure. It was hardly a headache that could be solved by just sitting on my ass and doing nothing.
"Are you... truly turning me down?"
"Yes. Entering Your Imperial Highness's service would be an incomparable honor, but I fear the position is far too grandiose for someone like me."
Her eyes narrowed to slits. When I nodded with total nonchalance, sparks of indignation flared within her platinum pupils.
"In that case! I shall present you with a choice you cannot possibly refuse!"
"...?"
"Lord Stanasila Alzen! The—mph! Mmff-mmph?! Mmm-mppph!"
The words about to burst from the Third Princess's lips were abruptly cut short by a hand clamping over her mouth from behind. It was none other than Nazareth Nemeth, who had been standing guard in silence.
"Your Imperial Highness. That is quite enough."
"Mmm-mmph?! Mmph! Mmmph!"
The princess thrashed and shouted muffled protests, flailing in frustration, but Nazareth Nemeth's grip remained ironclad, completely immovable.
"...Is it really all right for you to do that?" I asked.
"Hahaha. It appears Her Imperial Highness has grown exhausted from the long journey. Let us conclude today's conversation here."
Having unilaterally terminated the audience, she hoisted the struggling Third Princess under her arm like a parcel and practically fled the room in the blink of an eye.
It was an act of blatant disrespect and impudence toward royalty that under normal circumstances would have easily warranted decapitation.
"...They must be far closer than I thought. Allowing her to get away with behavior like that."
"Hangil-nim. Her Imperial Highness was about to mention Greenjack just now."
"You could tell?"
"It was merely an inference based on the shape of her lips and her breathing... but considering she called it 'a choice you cannot refuse,' there can be no doubt."
"...Terrifying. The woman is completely out of her mind."
She had likely intended to lay all her cards on the table to cut off my retreat entirely. After all, if I learned the classified secret that the Third Princess had established a continental assassination ring, I would be left with only two choices: join her, or be silenced permanently.
"I never imagined she would go that far..."
"In truth, from Her Imperial Highness's perspective, it may well have been a gamble worth taking."
"What? What do you mean?"
"The Third Princess is widely renowned for having zero ambition for the imperial throne. Even if her founding of an assassin syndicate were exposed, she would face severe condemnation and political penalties, but they would remain well within a range she could comfortably endure."
"...Now that you mention it, that makes sense."
Assassins were viewed with a disdain similar to dark mages, but that was strictly a matter of similarity, not total equivalence. Naturally, if an ordinary noble were caught associating with an assassination organization, they would be stripped of honor and subjected to harsh legal punishment. Even so, it was rarely an offense that resulted in immediate execution, total confiscation of family estates, or the extermination of three generations of kin. For an ordinary noble lacking substantial power, the loss of prestige would lead to ostracization, exploitation, and financial ruin, effectively ending their aristocratic life. But for the Emperor's own daughter, the Third Princess, such consequences hardly applied.
"...So you're saying she might become even bolder from here on out?"
"Most likely."
"Tsk... How the hell am I supposed to deal with this?"
"I wonder..."
Watching Wendy offer a wry, helpless smile, I cradled my throbbing temples. I had never anticipated the Third Princess would take this kind of approach... Did she really covet me that desperately?
"Damn it all. What a colossal pain in the ass."
Out of sheer exasperation, I gulped down a mouthful of liquor, setting my brain spinning for a solution, but no convenient answer presented itself.
Apart from the Third Princess's visit, preparations for the grand banquet celebrating Berick's triumphant return proceeded without a hitch.
I wanted nothing more than to dismiss it as none of my business, but I could not simply ignore it. As a member of House Stanasila, I had to show my face at the gathering at the very least, which meant there were mountains of preparations to endure beforehand. Clothes, shoes, accessories, and even my hairstyle. Everything had to be selected and coordinated in advance, which meant I was currently reduced to the humiliating fate of a living mannequin.
"Haaah..."
Over a dozen maids surrounded me, constantly asking my opinion as they draped one outfit after another over my shoulders, held up various pieces of jewelry, slipped shoes onto my feet, and meticulously deliberated over color combinations. What suited me best, how to dress me in a manner that would preserve and elevate the prestige of House Stanasila... Personally, I would have preferred to just throw on whatever, but that was strictly forbidden.
"Lord Alzen. Please try on this garment next."
"...Do you have any idea how many times I've changed already? Can't we just call it good enough?"
"That is out of the question. Lady Pitra gave strict orders that your preparations be nothing short of flawless."
"Haaah..."
Backed by the Duchess's absolute authority, the head maid orchestrating the entire process maintained an icy, uncompromising demeanor that rendered all my grumbling and complaints utterly useless.
"What an absolute nuisance..."
Sighing, I allowed the attending maids to strip off the current layer of clothing when a diminutive figure bustling about the periphery of my vision caught my eye.
"...Feels like it's been a while, hasn't it? Everil."
"Y-Yes?! Ah, yes! I-I am sorry!"
Everil, the timid young maid whose face I had come to know back when she used to clean my room during my early days of possessing this body, was as skittish as ever. When I beckoned her over, she darted quick, nervous glances at the senior maids before pattering over to my side.
"D-Did you summon me?"
"Is this the first time we've spoken since Muriel took over attending me? How have you been holding up?"
"Uh... Just, normally..."
"Is that so? Living normally is a fine thing... Nothing giving you a hard time?"
"Ah, yes! Everything is fine!"
Her loud, overly rigid response made her look just like a terrified private walking on eggshells around senior officers, which brought an amused smirk to my face.
"Everil. How old are you again?"
"Pardon?! Ah, well... I-I am thirteen!"
"Oh. The same age as Vivian, then."
When I patted her lightly on the shoulder, she flinched, her small face crumpling into a terrified, tearful pout. Looking at an expression like that... it really brought out my urge to tease her.
"...Ah, right. Everil. Starting today, come back to tending my room."
"Wh-What?!"
"Muriel has stepped out for a while, you see. I'll need you to look after my needs for the time being."
"U-Understood! I will do my absolute best!"
"Right, right. Ah, the liquor's all gone... Run over to the table and bring me another bottle, will you?"
"Right away!"
Chuckle escaping me, I picked up the next garment offered to me and let the surrounding maids dress me once again.
"Hmm... Not bad. However, it lacks a touch of elegance and nobility. I believe a deeper, more dignified palette would be appropriate."
"...Please, just give me a break already..."
"That is quite impossible."
"Haaah..."
It was only after a grueling two hours had elapsed that I was finally released from my mannequin duties. It would have been wonderful if I could have simply rested after all that, but unfortunately, Her Imperial Highness the Third Princess had no intention of granting me any peace.
"Lord Alzen! I have come to see you again today!"
"...You've returned. Your Imperial Highness."
Though I let out an overt, theatrical sigh, she paid it no mind, happily unloading the mountain of gifts she had brought along with her.
"These are top-grade spirits and hand-rolled cigarettes that I personally prepared just for you!"
"Oh..."
Now that was something I could get behind. Fine liquor and good tobacco were always welcome in my book.