118. The Crown Princess's request for a second date
118. The Crown Princess's request for a second date
In a life-or-death situation, the first thing that popped into my head was the bright face of that pink-haired girl.
The culprit who turned my body into this state.
'I'll definitely kill her...'
My mind was filled with rage and embarrassment, but my body wouldn't listen.
-Beoldeok! Beoldeok! Peolleok peolleok...
"..."
"..."
"Si, Shinwon."
To be honest, if she called me a crazy pervert and slit my throat, I wouldn't have a leg to stand on.
I answered the mysterious woman who'd given me one more chance.
"I am Jang Ryu-o, Honorary Knight of the Duchy."
"Honorary Knight? This isn't a path a mere Honorary Knight can know about."
Should I say I'm the Honorary Knight who just came from making love with Hilda?
As I picked my words carefully, a chilling blade crept closer to my neck.
-Swuk...
"I hope there's no need for the smell of blood to waft around."
Is she talking about torture? I've got nothing else to say...
"I'm the joint disciple of Arin and the Heavenly Demon."
"......? You're a madman. Let's see if you keep spouting nonsense even after a few fingers fly off."
I knew it would turn out like this. That's why I didn't say it.
Just as I was thinking I might as well resist instead of letting my fingers get chopped off...
-Amber~ So who is it?
"...There's no need to dirty your ears, Your Highness! I'll handle it myself..."
-Eoheo~ You can't just handle a guest however you want from their perspective~! Bring him here!
"Ha, however..."
The person gripping me from behind looked over my shoulder at that place.
-Kkuguk! Peolleok!
"..."
The fishy yet sweet rose scent wafting from her hair pierced my nose...
-Peolleok peolleok! Beol! Deok!
"I'll just take the torture."
"...Tha... this... uh..."
-Bbal~rii~ cough cough! Aigo! It feels like I'm hurting even more because Amber won't listen...
So... Amber?
The dagger in Amber's hand started trembling violently.
-Deul deul deul... Deulgeureok!
"Resist, and I'll kill you."
"Just kill... Ah, yep..."
In the end, I was dragged off with my back ramrod straight.
And there...
"Amber, so who... wa..."
............What's with that reaction.
I waited for the verdict in a state where half my soul had run away.
Elaine Marshal Luperideon.
Born as the 1st Imperial Princess, a genius who snatched the Crown Princess position in an instant with her brilliance and special ability.
Her innate special ability was the power to read the light emitted by people.
This was an imperial legend that appeared once every 400 years.
The imperial retainers approved, but those who knew history and her secret didn't welcome it much.
Those who knew history trembled in anticipation of a chaotic era.
Her inner circle felt stripped bare and shunned her.
[Your Majesty, how could you pretend to love the 3rd consort?]
[.........]
The brilliant girl realized early on that she was different from others.
She never felt particularly lonely or resented her life.
She just actively used her ability to solidify her position.
She quite loved her ability.
Because when she used it, the world looked so beautiful.
Some flickered darkly and ominously, while others shone so beautifully they lit up their surroundings.
Some were so sticky you didn't want to approach, while others were so warm you wanted to get close.
A world of vibrant, colorful lights.
She couldn't see it well after contracting Mana Sclerosis, but she still thought the world was great.
And Amber had brought in someone who brightly colored her world.
"Wow... so dazzling..."
"........."
"Amber... who is it?"
Amber's light flickered instability, swallowed by the light of the person before her.
"..."
"It's okay, Amber. Tell me."
"He says he's an Honorary Knight of the Duchy and the joint disciple of Arin and the Heavenly Demon."
Elaine nodded and said.
"Yeah. I see. Have him sit by me for a bit."
"Ha, however..."
-Glimpse glimpse
Elaine couldn't see Jang Ryu-o's overwhelming pants hem.
"Amber~ Hurry~"
She just wanted to see that light up close.
Unable to defy her master's order, Amber nodded with a face full of frustration.
"As you command..."
-Swuk... Saek...
Elaine blankly stared at the brightly shining Jang Ryu-o for a while.
"Wow... my eyes sting..."
"I apologize. I'll calm it down right away."
"No, don't. Stay just like that..."
"...?????"
Their mismatched first greeting.
Jang Ryu-o's mouth moved, but it wasn't visible to Elaine's eyes.
She just asked out of mesmerized curiosity.
"How'd you become the joint disciple of Arin and the Heavenly Demon? And... Honorary Knight? Impressive..."
"? You believe me?"
"Did you lie?"
"No."
"Yeah. Okay."
"...??????"
Even though they were talking, Jang Ryu-o felt lonely.
Despite conversing with the woman right in front of him.
It felt like he'd been shoehorned into a conversation topic only he couldn't understand.
No, they hadn't even introduced themselves properly—what the hell was this situation?
"Uh... first off, who are..."
"Hey."
Elaine's beaming smile had vanished, replaced by the look of someone blinded by the sun.
"I... I really want to hear your story."
"?? ...I'm Jang Ryu-o. Name... ha... if I tell you, will you let me live?"
"Huh? Who'd dare kill you? Who said that?"
-Flinch!
"???? I, uh..."
"Ah~ Amber? It was a joke. She's not like that."
Jang Ryu-o started piecing together what the fuck this was...
"From the moment I first opened my eyes..."
He gave up.
What could he do with an overwhelming powerhouse he couldn't read with Ki Sense standing right behind him?
And so, Jang Ryu-o's Labyrinth City tale began.
An abridged version with secrets conveniently omitted.
"Slave trader..."
"Wow! That must've been tough?"
"Picked up by Master..."
"Yeah yeah. From then on? Hehe..."
"At the bar..."
"For real? So that's how you became their joint disciple?"
"And so, after rescuing the Second Duke's Daughter, I met the 1st Princess-nim..."
"Kyahahaha! Ah, Hilda's so~ consistent. Right? Hehehe!"
People naturally like talking about themselves.
And you can't help but grow fond of someone who listens well.
Not love, but feeling friendly, Jang Ryu-o nodded as he finished his story.
"And that's how I ended up here..."
"Aha! I see!"
Jang Ryu-o tilted his head at Elaine's sparkling eyes.
"You... believe all of it?"
"Huh? You skipped some details in the middle, but it's all true, right?"
Jang Ryu-o's eyes went wide in surprise.
"Wow... you're amazing. Did you infer it?"
Matching Jang Ryu-o, Elaine's eyes went wide too.
"Amazing? Doesn't it creep you out?"
"What?"
"Most guys say it gives them chills."
"Chills?"
Why is she so innocently pure?
Elaine grew curious about the expression on the man before her.
She was dying to know what it took to shine so brightly.
For the first time, Elaine felt interest in a human itself.
The moment she turned off her ability...
"Wow..."
"???"
"Turned off the ability... but the light's still there?"
Elaine witnessed yet another light and burst into laughter.
Seeing Elaine's sparkling face, Jang Ryu-o's heart skipped a beat.
"Ahahaha! Wow... you're seriously handsome. This feeling's a first for me!"
My face heated up at the pure goodwill from the girl before me.
"Thank you. Uh..."
Come to think of it, I still didn't know her name.
As I pondered what to call her, the girl nodded happily with a laugh.
"Me? Hmm... My name's Hilde! Hilda's cousin, from the branch family! Just here for a visit~"
Hilda, Hilde... the names are pretty similar.
"Yes, Hilde-ssi. Thank you for the compliment."
"Not a compliment?"
"Huh?"
No, she'd been calling me amazing this whole time and now she's pulling a drift?
My words jammed up, and Hilde clutched her stomach laughing.
"Kyahahaha! Ah~ Now I get it. Why Hilda's so head over heels."
"!!?!!?!!"
"What~ After spilling all those stories. Ah, don't worry about most of the issues and worries you're thinking of. I'm the tight-lipped type, you know?"
I'd talked about Hilda plainly, so how'd she know...
Just then, Hilde poured out words like a waterfall.
"Usually, in a situation like this, people desperately explain their relationship with Hilda. Like, 'I'm someone with a solid identity to this extent.' But three people deliberately avoided mentioning it as much as possible? While holding the strongest card? Hiding it that tightly means... you've got a special relationship..."
So... hiding it actually made it obvious?
Hilde, showing off insane deductions from tiny clues.
She was like a detective from that British drama.
I really enjoyed it... but didn't have time for more than season 1.
Anyway... this person's incredible!
"Then how should I have explained it? Lately, I've been feeling like I'm getting read too easily..."
Hilde blinked at me.
"Huh?"
Ah, I thought we were buddies and got too cocky.
"Ah... sorry..."
"Ahahaha! Haa~ Wanna know?"
Hilde grinned mischievously and gestured for me to come closer to her ear.
As I leaned in...
"Ah. Never mind. Don't come too close. I might fall for you if you do."
"..."
She really knows how to leave you speechless.
As I shut my mouth in embarrassment, Hilde spoke up.
"I'm someone who can't fall in love with anyone~ Hmm... anyway!"
"..."
"Come again next time, and I'll tell you!"