Chapter 113: Queen Maker (13)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 113: Queen Maker (13)
“I will not let this slide. I, Louis Sentry, swear on my family’s name that I will receive just compensation for this insult!”
Louis huffed, dusting off his clothes.
He had been moaning on the ground when Neria was here, but the moment I sent her away, he got up and started throwing a fit.
What’s with all this drama in the middle of the night?
I sighed and waved my hand dismissively.
“Alright. I’ll come to your room in a bit to talk about it, so let’s discuss it then.”
“...You’re saying you’ll come to my room? Tonight?”
“Why? Is there a problem?”
“No, not at all. I will be waiting, Hero.”
As if his childish whining had been a lie, he quickly changed his tune. He kicked his fallen knights awake and left the training grounds with them.
As I watched him go, Lorraine came up beside me.
“What are you going to do?”
“About what?”
“That guy is the legitimate son of the Sentry family. I heard the heir has a reputation for being a scoundrel, but aren’t they the most powerful family in the eastern part of your kingdom? You beat a guy like that to a pulp. It’s going to be a pain in the ass in more ways than one.”
I stared at Lorraine, who was explaining in an uncharacteristically calm tone. Just as she was about to give me a ‘what are you looking at’ expression, I spoke.
“Are you worried about me right now?”
“What?! Don’t be ridiculous! Why would I worry about someone like you!” she exclaimed, crossing her arms. Seeing her back to her usual self, I shook my head.
“Right, someone like you wouldn’t know the first thing about worrying.”
“What’s that supposed to mean, ‘someone like me’?!”
“Let’s just get on with the duel.”
I walked to one end of the training grounds and took my position.
Lorraine shot me a sharp glare before taking her place opposite me.
Her armor was as light as before.
Only the vital points were covered in metal, the rest protected by thin leather. It was gear that prioritized swift movement.
However, the armor itself had changed quite a bit.
“Come to think of it, you changed your armor.”
At the mention of her armor, the scowl on her face vanished.
“Ha! You’re only just noticing? You really are dense.”
She didn’t just brighten up; she puffed out her chest triumphantly.
Why does her mood change so fast?
“I noticed a while ago. I just didn’t say anything.”
“Oh? Then tell me what’s changed.”
I narrowed my eyes and scanned her from head to toe. Lorraine snickered as if to say, ‘I knew it.’ It was a laugh tinged with a hint of disappointment.
“I knew you were all talk...”
“You’ve changed your breastplate, pauldrons, and even your arm and knee guards. The breastplate went from divinely imbued silver to something else.”
“Huh? Oh, right.”
She looked surprised.
I continued.
“Your pauldrons went from plain to something shaped like a dragon’s head. Seeing as they cover less area, they must have some special effect. The arm and knee guards just look like you upgraded to better ones. And your clothes... that’s Behemoth leather. I heard someone bought it for a high price at auction. Was that you?”
“Uh, yeah. How did you know...”
“Your earrings changed from a star pattern to ones with blue gems. They’re prettier, actually. They suit you, too.”
“...”
“Let’s see, your ring is...”
“Ugh, arghhh!”
Lorraine, who had been trembling, suddenly let out a yell and charged at me. I was in the middle of examining her ring and had to hastily twist my body to dodge her sword.
“Attacking while I’m talking? You cowardly bitch.”
“Sh-shut up!”
*
Clang.
Lorraine’s broadsword fell to the floor. At the same time, the sword pointed at her neck was withdrawn.
“You launched a surprise attack and still lost? How pathetic.”
Lorraine glared at Cloud as he spoke in a pitying tone.
“I couldn’t fight at my full potential just now.”
“Oh, really? Making excuses now?”
“It’s true! This is all because you—”
Lorraine, who had been shouting, clamped her mouth shut.
It was true that Cloud had flustered her, causing her to lose her composure and fail to fight at her full potential.
But when she tried to put it into words, something felt off.
Why had a few words from him thrown her into such disarray?
It wasn’t like he had even provoked her.
Lorraine didn’t have the confidence to convince Cloud of something she couldn’t even understand herself.
And more importantly...
“Me? What about me?”
She didn’t want to tell the smug man standing before her. She didn’t know why, but she felt like she would die of embarrassment if she did.
So, instead of answering, she squeezed her eyes shut and tilted her face forward slightly.
“What are you doing?”
“You’re going to do it, right? Then just get it over with!”
“Get what over with? What am I supposed to do?”
“...Are you trying to play games with me right now?”
Cloud shrugged.
The sight of it inexplicably annoyed Lorraine. She clicked her tongue and whipped her head away.
“Fine. Don’t do it if you don’t want to. It’s better for me anyway. How wonderful, not having to touch lips with a mere commoner. Ah, so wonderful. From now on, I’ll just... Mmph?!”
Cloud grabbed the back of her head as she was grumbling and planted a surprise kiss on her lips. Lorraine was slightly taken aback but soon smiled with her eyes.
Just as I thought.
As if a commoner would ever refuse a royal’s lips.
He must have kissed her so urgently because he was afraid his little joke would cost him the kiss.
He’s such an idiot.
Just as she was chuckling to herself, Cloud’s hand snaked around her slender waist.
?!
Startled, Lorraine slapped his arm away, but it wrapped around her waist again moments later.
She was about to pull away and protest when she remembered what he had said right before accepting the duel.
‘He said he’d do more than just kiss me, didn’t he...?’
The blood had rushed to her head, and she’d momentarily forgotten.
Of all the things to forget...!
As she was cursing her own stupidity, the hand caressing her waist slowly moved downward, toward her rear. It gently stroked her bottom, clad in tight leather pants.
Ugh...
The feeling of a man touching her ass was incredibly strange. Was it ticklish, and maybe a little thrilling? The sensation peaked when his hand suddenly squeezed her buttock firmly.
“Hngh?!”
She couldn’t help but let out an audible sound. Realizing her disgraceful display a moment too late, she looked at him with trembling eyes.
The corners of his eyes were curved.
He’s mocking me, just as I thought!
Flaring up, Lorraine grabbed his arm.
She was about to use her strength to pull it away, but...
“Mmph?!”
At that moment, Cloud’s tongue became more aggressive.
He devoured her tongue like a starving wolf.
“Mmph... slurp... schlick... hnn...”
Was it because it had been so long since they’d last kissed?
The kiss, now much more intense, made Lorraine’s mind grow hazy.
Ah... I shouldn’t...
She tried to hold onto her reason, but it was no use.
Her rationality melted away in an instant, like cotton candy in water.
Slip—
The strength drained from the hand gripping his arm.
Sensing this, he began to grope her bottom openly. Still, Lorraine didn’t react. She only flinched when he squeezed hard, but otherwise, she was completely focused on their kiss.
It was then that it happened.
With a dull thud, she felt her body suddenly become lighter. At the same time, she realized the sensation of his hand on her rear was gone.
Puzzled, she glanced down.
Her breastplate had been taken off.
...Ah?
Wh-why is this on the floor?
Did he undo the straps?
He undid those complicated straps without me even noticing?
Her leather attire looked like normal clothes, but it was tougher than most leather armor.
It was made of Behemoth hide, after all.
Thanks to that, she didn't have to wear heavy leather armor, allowing her to move more fluidly.
But now, that had become a weakness.
Because he could feel the softness of her breasts even through her clothes. He grabbed her chest. He squeezed and released his palm, kneading her ample breasts, too large to fit in his hand.
A-are you crazy!
Flustered, she balled her hands into fists and beat against him, but his solid body didn't budge an inch.
Not that there was much strength in her punches to begin with.
Though she didn't know that.
After continuing her resistance that wasn't much of a resistance, Lorraine finally gave up.
...Right. He said from the start he would do more than just kiss me. I accepted that condition. So this is just me, as a royal, taking responsibility for my words.
She didn't know how far "more than a kiss" would go, but since she had accepted, she had to take responsibility as a royal...!
Having rationalized it to herself, she began to slowly accept his rough touch—
“Hoo...”
Cloud pulled his lips away.
At the same time, he removed his hands from her chest and bottom and even stepped back.
The sudden change in the situation left Lorraine dumbfounded.
“Huh? Wh-what?”
“What do you mean? That’s it for today.”
“This is... it?”
“Why? Disappointed?”
Cloud’s follow-up question snapped her back to her senses, and her face flushed red.
She pointed a finger at Cloud and shouted.
“You, you bastard! Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?!”
“What did I do?”
“You’re a commoner, yet you dared to lay your hands on a royal’s body! You groped the breasts and bottom of an unmarried princess. Do you know what would happen if an ordinary commoner did that? Execution, that’s what!”
“But I’m not an ordinary commoner, am I?”
“That’s not the point!!!”
Lorraine trembled at his smug voice. He just laughed at her and turned his back.
Lorraine frowned.
“Where are you going? You’re not thinking of ending it with just one round, are you? I haven’t even shown you my true strength yet.”
“I’d love to play along more, but I made an appointment earlier.”
“An appointment? Ah.”
Cloud had promised to visit Louis. Knowing full well how important trust was, she couldn’t bring herself to tell him to break his promise.
She could only click her tongue with a displeased look.
“Fine. I’ll let it go for today. But don’t even think about bailing next time.”
“I won’t. Why would I need to bail when I’m going to win anyway?”
Before she could retort, Cloud added one more thing.
“And next time, I won’t stop at just feeling you up over your clothes.”
With that, he left the training grounds.
Lorraine couldn’t say another word, simply watching his retreating back.
Her heart was pounding furiously, surely because she was angry at his audacity.
*
In the district where Rufus’s wealthy residents lived.
Lorian and his noble entourage were staying at the most luxurious inn in the area.
The same went for Louis Sentry, who had aligned himself with him.
Despite the late hour, he was sitting in a chair, wide awake.
He had a reason to be.
Knock, knock—
“What is it?”
“Young Master. The Hero, Cloud, has arrived.”
Ah, he’s finally here.
The reason he had stayed up so late.
It was because of the promise he’d made with Cloud a few hours ago.
The promise to discuss compensation for the damages inflicted by Neria in his room.
How much can I get out of him?
This concerned the honor of Cloud’s party.
Depending on how he played his cards, he might be able to gain something substantial. He forced down the corners of his mouth, which kept trying to curl into a smile, and spoke.
“Show him in.”
The door opened, and Cloud entered with the knight who had been standing guard.
“I’ve been waiting. Please, have a seat.”
Louis gestured to the chair across the table from him. However, Cloud walked past Louis and sat on the edge of the bed behind him.
Louis clicked his tongue inwardly.
That bitch, this bastard... they’re both equally rude.
He didn’t let his displeasure show on his face. Maintaining his composure, he turned his chair to face Cloud. As he did, Cloud scanned Louis’s face.
“You haven’t treated that yet?”
“It would be a nuisance to visit the church at this hour.”
“You could just use a potion.”
“I left my potions at the military camp outside the castle. I never imagined something like this would happen...”
It was a lie, of course.
There was no way a noble of Louis’s standing would be without a single potion.
Ironically, the reason he hadn’t treated his face was because this injury was his only proof.
I can’t erase it until I’ve milked this for all it’s worth.
Cloud nodded as if he understood.
“More importantly, about Sir Neria...”
Louis’s smile vanished, his expression hardening slightly. If he kept smiling, he’d look like a pushover. He had to be firm when necessary.
As Louis brought up Neria, Cloud asked a question as if it were the perfect opportunity.
“About that, let me ask you one thing. What the hell did you do to make Neria beat you to a pulp?”
“...Did Sir Neria not tell you?”
“Nope. She wouldn’t say.”
“Is that so?”
Louis was a little surprised by Cloud’s words.
Why didn’t that woman say anything?
He didn’t know the reason.
But if he used this situation well, things might become much easier.
Louis barely suppressed a wide grin. Instead, he put on the bitter expression of a victim who had been unilaterally assaulted.
“To be honest, I’m not entirely sure myself. Perhaps something in our conversation touched a nerve with her... That part may have been my fault. However, even so, that does not excuse violence. Don’t you agree, Hero?”
Louis deliberately phrased it to seek his agreement.
The moment Cloud agreed with him, they would establish common ground, making the conversation easier.
However, instead of answering right away, Cloud just stared at Louis.
Time passed in silence.
What? Why is he just staring at me?
Just as Louis was starting to feel inexplicably anxious, Cloud spoke.
“Hey. Be honest. You mentioned that bastard Gis’s name, didn’t you?”
At Cloud’s cold words, a muscle in Louis’s face twitched.
What? I thought he said she didn’t tell him.
Was that a lie?
No, he’s just guessing.
He had to deny it.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“She wouldn’t do that just for mentioning his name... Did you mock her by connecting her with Gis?”
“I did no such thing. How could I possibly mock a member of the Hero’s party...”
“Bullshit.”
Cloud’s hand shot out and grabbed Louis by the throat. It happened so fast that his escort knights couldn’t react.
They belatedly reached for their swords, but—
“The first bastard to draw his sword dies.”
They flinched and froze, crushed by the menacing aura flowing from Cloud.
From that aura, the two knights understood.
That wasn’t a simple warning; he meant it.
The moment they drew their swords, they would die without being able to resist.
The gap in power they felt from Cloud was that immense.
Louis didn’t even have the luxury of scolding his knights. He was too busy struggling to breathe as his throat was being crushed.
“Kgh... Hero... if you do this to me... there will be... consequences...” Louis managed to choke out.
“Says the traitorous bastard.”
Cloud tightened his grip on Louis’s neck.