Chapter 308: Bread and Dagger (6)
Chapter 308: Bread and Dagger (6)
The man’s face darkened gloomily.
Despite this, the Princess’s expression remained perfectly bright. The bizarre contrast created an atmosphere of light and shadow, polar opposites clashing in the same space.
It was because the Princess was incredibly slow on the uptake.
She was someone who had always read the emotions of others through the 'Dragon's Eye.' She never had a reason to walk on eggshells around anyone, nor did she feel the need to develop the social intuition required to do so.
Social intuition—or nunchi—was a facet of social skills.
Naturally, it was something that had to be learned from childhood, and a miserable upbringing had been more than enough to strip the Princess of her sociability.
Thus, the man found himself unable to speak easily.
It might have been because it was the first time he had seen the Princess wearing such a pure, innocent smile.
After hesitating for a long time, he forced out a faint question.
"…A 'Pet Dragon,' you say?"
"Yes! Since, well, Senior Lainella is already your pet dog…."
As she spoke, the Princess stole glances at the man’s face again.
Seeing this, the man fell silent once more.
His lips parted and closed several times in a futile attempt to speak, but in the end, he seemed to give up, letting only a sigh leak through his teeth.
The Princess grew restless at the negative atmosphere.
No matter how socially inept she was, she couldn't help but notice.
The look in the man’s eyes was, for once, quite pained.
The fact that he couldn't meet her gaze and was looking away was proof enough.
It meant he found it difficult to keep looking at her pathetic state.
Of course, the particularly dense Princess interpreted this in a slightly different way.
Before long, a glimmer of terror began to well up in the girl’s eyes.
"I-I’m sorry, Sir Ian… I was too presumptuous, wasn't I?"
It was a sudden apology.
The man couldn't fathom the reason for it, but her trembling eyelids bore witness to the storm raging in the Princess’s heart.
Ultimately, the man had no choice but to look at her again.
In those deep-set eyes, not even bewilderment or embarrassment could be read anymore.
There was only a mournful resolve, as if he were waiting to see just how far this would go.
Sure enough, the Princess immediately lived up to the man’s painful expectations.
"Someone like me… daring to offer to be a pet… after doing such terrible things to Sir Ian! I-I’m sorry, Sir Ian. I was wrong… I won't overstep my bounds again. S-so please, don't throw me away…."
The Princess clung to the man, sobbing. Tears were already pooling in her eyes.
The man clutched his forehead and let out a groan, seemingly nursing a headache.
It was the first groan he had uttered since coming to this world, but there was no way the Princess could know the monumental nature of that record.
The Princess’s mournful pleas continued.
"I did apologize to your younger sister separately… b-but I’m sure that’s not enough, right? Until your heart is at ease, Sir Ian, you can ask me for anything, no matter what it is…."
"…Anything?"
It was then that a strange light flickered in the man’s eyes.
Unfortunately, the Princess didn't notice the suspicious omen at all. She simply clung to his chest and wailed.
"Yes, yes! I’ll do anything! E-even if I have to spend my entire fortune…!"
The man was silent for a moment.
Fragments of emotion were gathering in his usually indifferent eyes. It was a sentimental reaction he hadn't shown in a very long time.
Soon, a heavy promise flowed from the man’s lips.
"Can you promise that? That you’ll do whatever I ask."
As if to say that went without saying, the Princess nodded with dewy eyes. Her frantic movements revealed her desperate sincerity.
"Yes, of course…."
"Then let’s go on a trip."
That single sentence was the signal.
The Princess’s body froze instantly, and her dazed, light-gray eyes turned toward the man.
Regardless, the man merely let out a sound that was almost like a lament.
"I said let’s go on a trip, Your Highness. Let us go together."
His voice was indifferent, but the impact of his words was comparable to a bomb.
The implication of a young man and woman going on a trip together was obvious.
There was no way a Princess raised in the Imperial Household wouldn't know what that meant.
The girl’s mouth hung open, unable to form proper words.
After being out of it for a long time, she finally cleared her throat and straightened her posture.
Then, she began to sneakily observe Ian’s complexion.
Her light-gray pupils were slowly slitting vertically. It was evidence that she was using the 'Dragon's Eye.'
She had said she wouldn't rely on the 'Dragon's Eye' anymore, but it was an ability she had used her entire life.
She couldn't help but lean on it in times of crisis.
And right now, it wouldn't be strange to call this an emergency, or even a catastrophe.
The Princess naturally had no choice but to use the Dragon's Eye.
However, this particular opponent was uniquely incompatible with her.
She couldn't read the man’s psychology at all. She couldn't even capture a faint hint of color.
This implied two possibilities.
First, the man’s level was so high it was comparable to a Master.
And second, his emotions were already so worn down that they didn't even manifest.
Either way, it wasn't something one should be discussing regarding a man in his early twenties. Thus, the Princess fell into even deeper confusion, her focus spinning wildly as she stammered.
Eventually, the Princess lowered her head, her face flushing deep red.
In a timid voice, the girl asked back.
"B-but if we do that, the rumors…."
"Is that why you can't?"
At the repeated question, the Princess tapped her index fingers together.
After stealing several glances at the man, Cien eventually had to lower her head even further.
Her face was already as hot as it could get. It was to the point where one could almost see the hallucination of steam rising from her head.
"I-it’s not that I can't…."
"Then get ready. We have to leave within two weeks."
At his continued, firm demand, Cien had no choice but to give a demure answer.
"…Yes, Sir Ian."
Only then did the man turn his back, seemingly satisfied.
It looked as though he intended to head somewhere else immediately.
He was about to step away when he added something as if he had just remembered.
"Ah, and one more thing."
"Y-ye-yes!"
The hesitating Princess was startled into answering like that.
Perhaps she found her own response ridiculous, as she lowered her head once more. The man, however, didn't seem to care in the slightest.
"…Tell His Majesty the Emperor to watch out for the Old Lion."
With those cryptic words, the man departed.
Left alone, the Princess could only tilt her head in confusion for a while.
The 'Old Lion'—who was he talking about?
Of course, her contemplation didn't last long.
She had a more pressing problem at hand.
A trip with the senior she had a crush on.
Though there was a two-week deadline, there was still time to prepare. Cien fell into deep thought with a fluttering heart.
T-then, what should I do about my underwear?
No matter what, as a Princess of the Empire, there were lines she had to maintain. Yet, she found herself thinking of her drawer, which was filled with nothing but bear-patterned underwear.
She remained completely unaware of the man’s true intentions.
"…I won't be the one dealing with the fallout anyway."
Leaving behind that bitter murmur, the man walked away.
He was truly looking forward to how the Emperor would react when he heard the news.
It was a small revenge from a man whose memories had been tainted.
*
After hearing the whole story, I left Seria’s sickroom.
Leaving Seria behind and taking the Princess instead.
As of now, it was a decision whose intent I couldn't fathom. Objectively speaking, it was clear that Seria was a superior combatant to the Princess.
She had plenty of real-world experience, and we had even worked together through life-and-death situations.
In terms of raw skill, she had to be considered a step above the Princess as well.
Even if the Princess was the top of the first-year Magic Department, Seria was the top of the second-year Swordsmanship Department.
But there was something else that was even more annoying.
It was the fact that he had used the word 'trip' with the Princess.
The place I and my party had to head to was not some peaceful, quiet resort.
It was a battlefield where we would have to put our lives on the line.
Common sense dictated that if you're heading into a wilderness teeming with all sorts of dangers, telling someone it's a 'trip' would only lead to massive disappointment. Furthermore, the Princess was still just a green first-year student.
She likely had never risked her life, nor taken one.
Either way, it was a task that required significant resolve.
The only consolation was that the rumors hadn't spread much yet.
Since Seria only knew because she heard it from the 'me' who came from the future, it seemed my untimely honeymoon with the Princess wouldn't be known until later.
Just thinking about the people who would react to that news was terrifying.
First, I was most worried about the Emperor, and besides him, there were quite a few people who would come storming in to verify the truth of the rumors.
It was a coincidence that I ran into one of them just then.
No, to be precise, it was an inevitability disguised as a coincidence.
Because the other person clearly looked like they were searching for a specific individual.
A head wearing a pointed hat looked around here and there, and as soon as she saw me, she ran toward me with a bright smile.
Then, without hesitation, a small body dove into my arms.
"…Master! Ehehe."
It was Senior Elsie.
Ever since she confessed to me, Senior Elsie had been making contact with me without any restraint like this. Sometimes she was so close that it actually startled me.
Even now, wasn't she burying her face in my chest and nuzzling against me?
I let out a deep sigh of predicament.
It didn't feel bad to have a beautiful woman like Senior Elsie like me. However, I had a small wish that she would choose the right time and place.
This was a temple.
It was one of the most inappropriate places to discuss passionate affairs between a man and a woman.
In fact, a few passing priests were already scowling at us.
I tried to soothe Senior Elsie by stroking her hair.
"Senior Elsie, it’s good to see you. But first, please step back a bit…."
"Ian, pets aren't allowed inside the temple."
But before I could even stop Senior Elsie, a haughty voice tickled my ears.
From the end of the hallway, a woman with silver hair came walking toward us.
As one could tell just by the impressive curves of her figure, it was the Saintess.
It was the sudden appearance of a formidable rival. Senior Elsie’s eyes immediately turned cold.
She soon clicked her tongue and pulled herself out of my arms.
Even so, Senior Elsie absolutely refused to let go of my arm, clinging to it tightly.
"Hey, Tits. Who are you to interfere? I’m trying to have some quality time with my Master…."
"It’s just a bit pitiful to see you clinging so desperately even after being rejected."
With that, the Saintess traced the Sign of the Cross with a faint smile.
"Could you please consider Ian’s feelings? I’m sure Ian isn't enjoying this either…."
"…Aha."
However, Senior Elsie’s reaction was lukewarm at best.
It fell far short of the Saintess’s expectations.
When the Saintess turned her pinkish eyes toward her in wonder, Senior Elsie wore a thick sneer.
"You haven't heard? I confessed again. And I wasn't rejected."
She wasn't wrong.
Since I had decided to give my answer to her confession later, it couldn't be said that she had been rejected yet.
To be honest, I didn't even know how my heart would feel when that time came.
However, it was a joke so prone to misunderstanding that I could only manage a bitter smile.
She was being far too mischievous.
I belatedly tried to fix the situation.
"No, you shouldn't say it like that. The Saintess might misunderstand…."
But I couldn't finish my sentence.
It was because I felt no movement from the Saintess.
Yes, not even a twitch.
I turned a questioning gaze toward the Saintess.
There stood the frozen image of a beauty.
She had hardened with a smile still on her face, paralyzed by an excessive shock.
The misunderstanding was slowly triggering a butterfly effect.