Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: The Princess's Coming-of-Age Ceremony (1)
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Emperor Deus fell into deep thought.
"We demand an official apology and compensation from Crown Prince Reinhardt."
"King Rigel is viewing this matter with utmost seriousness."
Nobles from the Rigel Kingdom had come to lodge their protests.
It had been just one day since he'd thought to give Reinhardt a chance, and already the prince had caused an incident.
Reviving the Imperial Dragon Knight Order and drawing the spirit sword could be seen as a moderate success in solidifying his position.
The problem was Prince Flick.
He had split the tongue of Flick, the second prince of Rigel Kingdom, clean in two.
Not content with that, he'd dragged him across the floor and dumped him outside the palace like trash.
Countless nobles and commoners had witnessed it, so the prince's honor had plummeted as well.
'Is his mania not fully cured yet?'
In the past, he would have forcibly confined him to the Imperial Dragon Palace, but the situation had changed.
Deus intended to properly pit the crown prince against the other princes in competition.
He knew full well how much backlash the imperial family had faced from the arbitrary appointments stemming from his deal with Carlos Grand Duke.
But if Reinhardt demonstrated true ability and competed with the princes to produce results, Deus was even considering lending him support.
Of course, all this hinged on Reinhardt's mania being fully cured.
Yet Croft's words echoed in his ears once more.
He recalled Reinhardt boldly voicing his opinion without cowering before him.
What would he have done if another prince had committed such an act?
"Are you saying King Rigel views the crime of damaging imperial property within the palace and insulting the empire's crown prince with such 'gravity'?"
"Th-that's not... the prince..."
"We view it with equal gravity, so you should be grateful for the crown prince's mercy in ending it there instead of severing his head."
The nobles of Rigel Kingdom began to tremble violently.
It was unprecedented for him to defend and shield the crown prince like this.
It had never happened even once.
On the contrary, he was telling them to be thankful for the crown prince's mercy in sparing his neck.
"If you cause another disturbance over the same matter, we will reconsider our relations with Rigel Kingdom."
"...!"
The nobles' faces turned pale.
Rigel Kingdom was heavily dependent on trade with the empire.
If diplomatic ties were severed, it was Rigel that would suffer, not the empire.
But even they could never have imagined that Deus, known as the Guardian of Peace, would take such a hardline stance.
Sensing the situation turning against them, the nobles dropped to their knees and bowed their heads.
"N-no, Your Majesty. Upon reflection, His Highness Reinhardt's magnanimity is truly moving."
"King Rigel will surely be grateful for such a lenient resolution."
*
"...How long do you plan to trail behind me like this?"
He had just finished his schedule and was returning to the palace.
From early morning until late evening, Arel had been silently following me without a word.
And she was doing it in full armor and helmet.
I'd never seen her take it off even once.
It was enough to make me wonder if dark elves didn't even use the bathroom.
"...".
No answer.
A Sword Master as an escort—reassuring, as it should be.
I figured she wouldn't do anything foolish, but one could never be too sure.
There were limits to what my dragon armor could block.
With Croft absent, there was no one nearby to fend her off.
Not even the full knight order or Edis could guarantee survival against her.
Yet I had kept them all at bay.
My being here alone with Arel was entirely intentional.
"Do I look so weak that I need your protection?"
"Yes."
This time, an immediate reply.
Arel was protecting me right now.
She seemed to think I was weak and needed her strength to safeguard me.
'I've heard about dark elf instincts, but...'
Like cats, dark elves engaged in communal rearing. They would nurture and protect any young they saw, even if not their own.
Arel's current behavior was exactly like a mother cat with her kitten.
I'd checked just in case, and her response confirmed it.
Treating the empire's crown prince like a kitten.
Was this Persepho Grand Duke's influence, or her own inclination?
'He gifted me a powerful escort knight to protect me.'
A mighty Sword Master. Not even fully matured yet. A monster that would endlessly devour and grow stronger—what else could placing her by my side mean?
If it were simply to take my head, there were countless other ways.
If it were for surveillance, bribing someone would suffice.
No, the palace was already overflowing with his eyes and ears.
This was truly to protect me, to prevent me from being killed by anyone.
Persepho Grand Duke had placed Arel at my side for that reason.
'There's a reason he needs to keep me alive. Not as a future emperor, but because he sees that much value in me personally.'
Arel's answer carried no hostility.
Her attitude treated me like a kitten in earnest.
This couldn't be faked. Besides, Arel didn't seem particularly skilled at acting.
She was the type who would struggle to survive in the palace.
Attaching such a straightforward type like Arel meant she was to devote all her focus solely to protecting me.
'Awakening the spirit was a smokescreen. There must be another motive.'
Watching me summon the spirit, Persepho Grand Duke had put on an act.
He'd promised rewards and made requests.
If I hadn't known him from the old wars, I'might have fallen for it.
The spirit itself was a ruse.
He was using it as an excuse to test my value.
And that value was so crucial that I absolutely could not be allowed to die carelessly.
Arel probably didn't know Persepho Grand Duke's true intentions.
Secrets were best kept from as few people as possible.
But what if I showed her I was strong enough not to need her protection?
"Is that because you're a Sword Master?"
Finally, a slight reaction.
She stayed silent, but couldn't hide the subtle tremor.
As expected, not the acting type.
Her eyes asked how I knew, but I could see it.
【Lv. 98】
The augmented reality Deep Dream had transferred to reality.
Level 80 or so was classified as Sword Master, so 98 made her an exceptional one even among them.
Only Croft and the North's top warlord exceeded 100.
Excluding those two, she was the strongest I'd encountered.
Of course, plenty of powerhouses hadn't appeared yet.
The Holy Church's 'Three Stars,' Surtmann Kingdom's 'Heavenly Wolf'... Persepho Grand Duke's dark elf legion too.
With war breaking out, hidden experts were emerging in droves.
Great Hero Malfiel, the Thunder God, was one of them—enough said.
In any case.
I generated psionic energy.
The surrounding air grew chillingly still.
Swords I'd prepared in advance began floating around me one by one.
"...Aura?"
Arel spoke warily.
Aura was the mark of a Sword Master. But aura had to be visible.
Swords were floating without any visible aura.
Magic then? Chantless?
She sensed no traces of others or foreign mana flows.
Only she and Reinhardt were nearby.
But she'd heard no rumors of the crown prince being a Sword Master or beyond.
"Surprised?"
...An unforeseen situation.
In her eyes, Crown Prince Reinhardt's skills were unimpressive.
There were signs of training, but none of that unique expert aura.
"Isn't it laughable that you're volunteering as my escort when you couldn't even properly gauge me?"
Her words dripped with mockery: volunteering after assessing me so poorly?
Arel's eyes wavered.
A power she hadn't detected.
Dark elves could discern others' true feelings.
Advanced ones could even read thoughts.
But not Reinhardt.
Because he was stronger than her?
Eyes as deep as an abyss.
Eyes only a true powerhouse could possess, impossible to fake.
Thus, no lie.
"I don't need an escort. Especially not a puppet without her own thoughts, merely dominated. Go back."
I turned and walked away coldly.
This time, Arel couldn't follow.
Her feet wouldn't move.
Clang! Claaang!
She could only stare at the swords falling to the ground, fists clenched.
*
The next day.
As I stepped out the door, Arel was at the entrance.
The presence I'd sensed since dawn must have been her.
Despite telling her yesterday that her escort services weren't needed.
I gazed at her silently, and she spoke.
"I will join the Imperial Dragon Knight Order."
Oh ho.
The longest sentence I'd heard from her in two days.
Seemed she'd put some thought into it.
Not just personal escort, but officially joining the knight order to serve.
I thought that would send her away, but her return was unexpected.
'She does have her own will after all.'
So she wasn't a mindless puppet.
I stroked my chin thoughtfully.
It wasn't without its unease, but having a powerhouse like her officially join the Imperial Dragon Knight Order meant more than just a gift.
Coming back after being told to leave was her way of proving she wasn't a mere puppet but a useful asset.
Dismissing someone offering to be useful to me would be odd.
"Start as an apprentice. Prove yourself step by step, and I'll allow you by my side."
Time would reveal her true nature.
With Croft managing her directly, even unlikely scenarios could be handled.
"...Thank you."
Arel bowed her head.
Was she really not hot in that?
Forget bathroom breaks—even sweat buildup must make it stuffy and hot, yet she never removed her armor.
Not a drop of sweat on her exposed face above the helmet.
Zero didn't react, so no AI or machinery.
Were dark elves truly fairies from ancient legends?
"Your Highness. Princess Carmel left a letter."
"Let me see it."
I took the letter from Germin and read it.
It was long-winded, but boiled down to something very short.
"Hm."
"May I ask what it says?"
"No noble pairs allowed. Entry denied otherwise."
"...The princess has devised a clever ploy."
She couldn't outright say not to come, so she set conditions.
Making entry impossible without a proper male-female noble pair.
Only fitting nobles entering together would draw attention, making it a tough assignment for me.
No noblewoman would want to enter with me anyway.
She must really hate the idea of me coming.
'What to do.'
I couldn't ignore my deal with the emperor; attendance was mandatory.
"...Why are you staring like that?"
As I stared intently, Arel stepped back and asked.
"Arel. Aren't you Persepho Grand Duke's adopted daughter?"
"Nominally... yes."
As his adopted daughter, she was nobility regardless of origins.
No rule barring non-human women.
"Germin, prepare the carriage. We're going to 'Laurel Suit Shop.'"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"...?"
Arel only showed a confused look, still not grasping the situation.
The Princess's Coming-of-Age Ceremony (1) End