Chapter 173: Dragon's Eye, Human Heart (37)
Chapter 173: Dragon's Eye, Human Heart (37)
It didn't take long for the Princess to lean in and whisper to the man, her voice meant for his ears alone.
She issued a warning in a voice that had sunk to a chilling depth.
"…There is no turning back now."
Despite that eerie prophecy, the man’s reaction remained utterly indifferent.
The emotions captured in the Princess’s eyes were much the same. If there was any sentiment that held a hint of color, it was—just as it had been not long ago—nothing but sympathy and pity.
Cien could not stand that fact.
Sympathy and pity were the rights of the strong. Consequently, those emotions could only be directed toward the weak.
In other words, Ian currently viewed the Princess as someone beneath him.
What frustrated her even more was that, deep down, Cien felt his assessment wasn't wrong.
Ian Percus was strong.
Whether it was his skill or his mental fortitude, he was superior in every way. He remained composed even amidst the hostility of countless people and stood tall even under the shadow of the Imperial Household’s power.
Had it not been for the memories of her childhood, the Princess might have cleanly admitted defeat.
But unfortunately, she still could not escape the nightmares of her youth.
It was for this reason that her trembling voice announced an irreversible future once more.
"If I say just one word, your younger sister’s merchant guild will be ruined. And the Percus Territory will suffer the same fate… So, even now, get on your knees and beg for my forgiveness."
Several more words followed, but the intent behind them was singular.
She was telling him that this was his last chance.
The man listened to the Princess’s plan in silence for a long time.
There was even a sense of desperation in her voice as she enumerated exactly what means she would use to bring down the Percus family.
However, after hearing the entire story, Ian’s response was nothing if not plain.
"…Your Highness."
With a low voice, her pale gray eyes, harboring a faint glimmer of expectation, turned toward Ian.
He wore a bitter smile.
"You’ve increased your escort. Good. You did well."
That was all he said.
Without adding another word, Ian simply stepped forward and walked away from the Princess.
He was sincere. The only thing radiating from Ian was a sense of relief.
Confirming this, the Princess was left dumbfounded, standing frozen in place for a long while.
How could he be so composed?
It might have meant that he looked down on Cien to that extent. The shoulders of the Princess, who had bowed her head, trembled violently.
The only person who could soothe the indignant Cien was the Head Maid.
She approached cautiously and advised the Princess in a hesitant tone.
"Um, Your Highness? Something feels suspicious. Perhaps it would be better to delay the execution of the plan for a bit—"
"…Start it now."
The Head Maid, who had been considering trying to dissuade Cien one more time, let out a deep sigh the moment she heard that voice.
The breath hot with fever, the trembling fists, and the eyes glistening with hatred.
There was no sign that she would reverse her decision.
"Destroy them now! Right now!"
With that shout, one of the escort knights bowed his head deeply and departed.
In Cien’s eyes, as she ground her teeth, streaks of blue grudge were spreading out.
She would make him pay the price, without fail.
Because she must not be underestimated.
Filled with that single-mindedness, Cien failed to notice several abnormal signals Ian had shown.
And so, she could not have known.
That this decision would become a lifelong regret for her.
The procession of the Homecoming Festival began.
The Homecoming Festival procession was a grand affair.
The top students of each department led the way, followed by the rest in order of their grades. However, as the march continued, the ranks gradually blurred, eventually turning into a disorganized mass.
As the passing students moved through the city, merchants would hand them snacks or alcohol.
The students at the tail end of the procession would continuously pass these items forward into the ranks. If someone felt peckish or thirsty for a drink, they would simply eat and drink as they went.
Today was no different.
Though they had only passed through half of the city after leaving the Academy, the air was already thick with the boisterous sounds of eating and drinking. Now that the grades had been announced, the prevailing attitude was to enjoy themselves with a light heart.
Even stray cats and birds flocked to the scene, eyeing the snacks dropped by the students, making the march even more clamorous.
However, even amidst that joyful commotion, there were a few groups that remained exceptions.
These were the groups containing those who had been notified of their failure and had to return to their hometowns.
They were the ones who received the most consideration during the Homecoming Festival; all snacks and drinks were given to them first. Even so, smiles did not return to their faces.
The Academy was difficult to enter, but even harder to graduate from.
Thus, the world’s standards were always focused on graduation rather than admission. There wasn't much interest or mercy to be spared for those who dropped out midway.
For a commoner in particular, it meant they had blown their chance to overturn their life right before their eyes.
It would be strange if they weren't depressed. Though, among them, there were a few students who seemed to have let go of everything and were laughing and chatting.
And there was one more place where no commotion occurred.
Right around me.
Unlike the others who marched while rubbing shoulders, the area around me was deserted and quiet. Everyone kept a distance of at least several meters.
It was a scene that vividly illustrated how I was treated at the Academy.
Then again, to stay by my side when I was marked by the Imperial Household, several conditions would have to be met.
First, they would have to be an eccentric willing to stay by my side even at a loss; second, they would have to be someone who didn't belong to the Empire; and third, even if they satisfied the first two conditions, they would have to hold a position high enough that the Imperial Household couldn't touch them.
And surprisingly, a person who satisfied all those conditions was standing by my side right now.
It was the Saintess.
I thought I had told her to stay at the Temple because it might be dangerous, but it seemed she had stubbornly followed me out anyway.
My gaze immediately turned lukewarm.
"Saintess, have you perhaps lost your touch? I can guarantee that staying by my side right now will bring you nothing but trouble."
Of course, it was a problem that could be resolved within the day, but I couldn't help but prepare for any possibility.
As a high-ranking official of the Holy Kingdom, the probability of the Imperial Household touching even the Saintess was low.
However, that was only in a diplomatic sense; the Imperial Household wouldn't care what happened within the Academy.
For example, the hostility toward me could affect the Saintess’s public perception.
For a Saintess who managed her reputation with all sorts of pretenses, that would be fatal. Despite that, she showed no sign of leaving my side.
Instead, she merely teased me in a nonchalant voice.
"If you had done just a little better, you could have been the runner-up, if not the top student. Aren't you a little sad?"
"…Tell Yuren, the runner-up, to stay on his toes. While you're at it, tell our third-year top student as well."
At my joke, the Saintess only let out a deflated "Pfft." She poked me in the side.
"The third-year top student of the Swordsmanship Department? I heard they have quite a personality. I'll pass on someone that difficult. Having just you by my side is already more than enough."
Difficult, my foot. Where else could you find someone as gentle as me?
I grumbled inwardly but didn't say it out loud. I felt like if I did, the Saintess would look at me with eyes full of disbelief.
It was truly an unfair treatment.
After staring at the Saintess with an absurd look for a moment, I suddenly remembered and asked her.
"So, why did you come out? I told you to stay holed up in the Temple."
"Hmph, for whose benefit?"
The Saintess narrowed her eyes and glared at me. There was even a faint hint of resentment in her gaze.
Unable to guess the reason, my eyes clouded with suspicion.
"You were planning to go around playing with other women while leaving me out again, weren't you? You Playboy Prince."
"It's Hand Axe Young Master."
"And I heard you use that hand axe to mark the woman you're going to seduce that day. Is that true?"
"That is obviously a false rumor."
It was while I was sharing such trivial conversation with the Saintess.
The procession was already reaching the turnaround point. On the path heading back toward the Academy, I felt a sudden sense of incongruity.
It felt as if time had stopped for an instant.
My eyes hurriedly scanned the surroundings. But no matter how much I looked, I couldn't find anything suspicious.
Did I imagine it?
What snapped me out of it was the Saintess’s voice.
"A-A cat…!"
The Saintess, who had been pushed to the edge of the procession, spoke in a slightly trembling voice. A cute-looking stray cat was sitting by the roadside.
A "meow" tickled my ears.
It was asking for food. It was a truly arrogant animal.
However, the Saintess, already a captive of its cuteness, volunteered to be a willing sucker. She cautiously approached the stray cat, holding a piece of fried shrimp she had received from somewhere.
Seeing the Saintess’s sparkling eyes, I thought she was a woman through and through.
She just couldn't resist cute things.
But I, who found the Saintess acting that way lovely, was also a man through and through. Just as I was about to shake my head with a bitter smile, I froze.
It was a bizarre sensation.
My eyes met the stray cat’s. Slit pupils reflected both me and the Saintess.
It happened right after that.
Spin. Those pupils rotated once.
A movement impossible for a normal creature. Realizing this, I immediately threw myself forward, wrapping my arms around the Saintess as if to shield her.
A fragmented cry of confusion escaped the Saintess’s lips.
"Kya—Kyaaaah! W-What all of a sudden…!"
And in the next moment.
BOOM! An explosion roared. Along with screams, a shockwave swept through the procession. Fragments of shattered stone scattered in all directions.
The body of the cat the Saintess was about to feed had suddenly expanded and exploded.
Splatter. Shredded flesh and blood rained down. They were the remains of the stray cat.
The explosion didn't end with just one.
Several more explosions followed, and with the erupting outcries, the surroundings turned into a scene of carnage. Every time a shockwave brushed past, it slammed into my back.
Thanks to me holding her tight, the Saintess was unharmed.
She was just looking up at me with a dazed face. I gave her a faint smile to reassure her.
"Your Pouch of Divine Power… it's nice and soft."
The Saintess’s supple breasts were perfect for absorbing shock.
I wanted to savor that soft sensation a bit longer, but there was no time.
I immediately stood up and drew my sword.
Only then did the Saintess realize the meaning of my words, and her face turned beet red.
"W-What are you saying…! T-That’s sexual harassment, seriously!"
Of course, whether it was sexual harassment or not was not my concern right now.
The attack had finally begun.