Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: The Lady Heart Slayer
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Serena bounced off excitedly to get ready, and I washed up before heading to the training grounds.
"Brother! You're here!"
The only one greeting me like this right in front of me was our Second Prince, Andrew.
Thanks to my desperate corrections, the word order had improved, but that lingering awkwardness was still there.
"Yeah~ Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, Brother!"
"Puhaha! You're so disciplined! Puhahaha!"
The guy laughing next to Andrew was Lancelot Verstappen, son of the Knight Commander.
From our first meeting, he'd bluntly told me my swordsmanship sucked. What an insolent punk.
"For the record, I never asked for this."
"Anyone can see you've got some spirit! The imperial family sure is intimidating!"
"Insolent punk..."
"Puhahaha! Yeah, yeah~"
This same-age rascal was the first friend I'd made in this world.
Everyone else found me hard to approach, but this guy talked to me like we were equals.
'An insolent punk who only knows the sword.'
I pondered how to deal with this irreverent fool when Maxim arrived, and we began our basic physical training.
Once the conditioning was over, Lancelot and Andrew faced each other and saluted.
"I'll definitely win today!"
"Last I checked, it's 121 wins to 43 losses~ Doesn't 'today' quite fit?"
"Hraaaah!"
Maxim watched the sparring pair with a pleased smile.
Then he glanced at me resting on the side with an ambiguous expression.
They were like slam dunkers, while I was stuck doing sky castles.
'This is awkward.'
I ignored his gaze as best I could and spoke to Maxim.
"Ahem, Maxim, same as always today."
"Yes, Your Highness."
What I requested was sense training.
To expand the range of my coloring magic, I'd asked Maxim for help.
Using magic in detail was tough because the world's info I perceived felt endlessly limited.
Detection magic alone wasn't enough, so I'd devised combining it with sensing.
Maxim helped whenever I lost my grasp.
But months into training, it still wasn't easy.
Still, I steeled myself, knowing it was essential.
Closing my eyes and focusing, sounds grew clearer.
Clash of swords, rustling branches in the wind, birds crying.
I sorted the info flooding my mind.
Next, smell.
To take in more, I slowly inhaled. Cool morning air filled me, and hazy images began forming around.
These shapes briefly marked positions.
Then Maxim's low voice.
"...Try focusing on touch as well."
Following his guidance, I concentrated on touch, and soon a breeze brushed my neck.
Where did this wind come from? Why was it there? Pondering, I realized it blew from the shape ahead.
Tracing the source... Lancelot and Andrew were huffing and puffing into the wind...
'These punks?'
Two flicks to the forehead later, I refocused harder. Thoughts faded as I felt the air on my skin.
Sunlight on the grounds smelled, and insect chirps tickled my neck.
"Now, extend your mana."
At his words, I spread my mana around.
Imagining a bat.
Like echolocation, I cast it wide. But it felt lacking...
"Now open your eyes."
Opening them, the info sharpened, pouring vividly into my head.
No need to bounce mana like ultrasound for data.
Existing mana flows and senses gathered all surrounding info.
Dazed by the vertigo, Maxim tossed a candy into my mouth.
The sweetness numbed my tongue.
Melting sugar eased my head. Sweeter than usual palace desserts.
"Seems you've got the knack. Congratulations."
"Brother, that was amazing focus!"
"Father! I wanna practice that too!"
Maxim grinned and patted the heads of the two kneeling with hands raised.
"Haha! Incredible concentration! But why not swordsmanship, Your Highness..."
'Swordsmanship what?!'
A bit annoyed, but the candy's sweetness let it slide.
Training done, I washed up and ate.
It was nearing 2 PM, as our little devil requested.
Normally I'd lounge reading, but lacking the guts to defy house rank one, I trudged to prepare.
"Lily~ Clothes!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Lily pulled outfits from the wardrobe.
"Hm... Meeting Serena's friends, so keep it casual."
"Yes, Your Highness! Leave it to me!"
Lily held pieces to me, deep in thought.
'This is too flashy for masked balls... This is pretty but for ladies... Oh no.'
Before her brow furrowed deeper, I prodded.
"Lily... Just pick anything, I gotta go."
"Wait, Your Highness! This is important!"
Her eyes gleamed with dress-up mania.
Overpowered by her vibe, I shut up. After agonizing, she presented two options.
"Your Highness! Pick one!"
Both gray-ish, I chose the right one.
Dressed, I circulated mana in the mirror...
"Lily... Do I look like the Little Prince?"
"Heavens! Prince? You're a prince of the empire!"
"Ah."
She gasped like I'd said something horrific, but I shrugged and headed out.
"Greetings to Your Highness."
"Kyaa! Daisy, Laura, Evelyn! You all look so pretty today!"
"Hehe, Your Highness looks beautiful too."
Today was their first time in the palace.
I recalled getting off the family carriage onto the imperial one, then zoning out appreciating scenery.
But seeing the princess's flushed cheeks snapped me alert.
"Listen! Brother's coming to our tea party today!"
"Um... Your Highness, 'brother' means...?"
"The First Prince!"
"Eek!"
Blissfully unaware, she beamed purely.
The First Prince—me, with innate magic talent, reaching 4 circles young.
Issue was, at five, I'd shredded an assassin intruder—earning rumors of emperor-like cruelty young.
Post-healing, whispers of slight head issues persisted.
"Come on in! Everything's ready!"
"Y... Yes! Your Highness, hehe..."
Simulating polite responses, we walked till my mind blanked white.
An angel... an angel approached!
Pure white uniform with subtle gold accents, golden epaulets like readying wings. Face outshining the garb.
"Brother!"
"Serena, ah! Charming ladies, welcome to the palace."
Angelically white hair cascaded like a beautiful river, golden eyes in soft folds met mine—heart skipped.
Gaze dropping to the bewitching mole below...
Further down, pale skin framing pink lips... those lips!
Forgetting greetings, the ladies stared at the ground.
"Um... Ladies?"
"Ah... Ah! G-Greetings... to His Highness the First Prince!"
"Oppa! This is Lady Daisy Elaine, Lady Laura Smith, and Lady Evelyn Hillenia!"
"Ah, Serena's friends—no need for excessive formality."
"..."
"Ahem... Shall we head out then?"
'Our Serena... already so many friends...'
The 12-year friendless loner jealously eyed his popular sis arm-in-arm.
'Wish I had more friends...'
Daydreaming, I escorted them to the lakeside tea table.
Seeing colorful treats, I inwardly thumbs-upped the palace patissiers.
Servants poured herbal tea as we sat.
"Hehe! Thanks for coming, everyone! Dig in!"
"Yes... Thank you, Your Highness."
They were quiet.
'Palace is intimidating. Elder should loosen things up.'
"Lady Elaine, how's the Marquis?"
"P...? Ah, yes! Very well!"
"Haha, your house's perfumes amaze even me. Great quality—I use them too."
"Ah... Ah! Your praise humbles us!"
"No excessive formality, remember?"
"S-Sorry! No, thank you, Your Highness."
Hm... Need more rapport.
"That perfume suits you—your hair shines. Daisy scent? I use it too."
"S-Same... scent... my fragrance..."
"Lady?"
"Y-Yes... hehe, I use daisy too."
She smiled. Good vibe! Excited Serena beamed.
"Right! I love daisy perfume too, Daisy!"
"Ah, Your Highness, thank you, hehe..."
"If it's good, use it!"
The two fiddled with cups, speechless.
'My mistake... No outsiders at this table! Watch this, sis—bro's high social and info skills!'
"Lady Smith, I owe Count Smith much. Exemplary as vice-commander, role model for knights."
Her face flushed with a smile.
"Yes! Always... so proud of Father."
"Rightly so. Your posture shows family grace."
"Aa... Thank you, Your Highness!"
She gazedfully, then back to cup. Hehe, touched?
"Ah! Saw Count Hillenia at the tower recently. Praised his pretty daughter endlessly—true today, Lady Hillenia."
"Wha... What? Pretty...?"
"Mm! You take after him—eyes full of spirit."
"Your praise humbles me!"
"My friends are pretty, right, Brother?"
"Sure~ Must break young hearts everywhere."
Home run? At least a hit.
"Brother! We wanna do that thing!"
'Alright... special service.'
"Everyone up! Hurry!"
Perplexed at Serena's urging.
"Y-Yes? Your Highness, what...?"
Serena led the flustered ladies to the lake.
"Hehe... I'll demo first!"
I cast magic on Serena; she skipped across the water.
Maintaining poise before friends.
'No eyes, she'd bounce—haha...'
All stared shocked at her antics.
"Kyaa! Your Highness...? Huh?"
"Heavens!"
"Walking on water?"
"Come on over~"
Ladies hesitated at her gesture.
I helped them join the fun.
"Pardon me."
"Eh... Your Highness' ha-hand..."
"It's fine, trust me."
Holding hands and shoulders lightly, I sent them one by one to Serena. Soon four held hands, peering below.
"Waa..."
"Heavens!"
"Hehe, pretty, right?"
I stepped onto the lake, sunset behind. It dyed lake and surroundings ecstatic hues; backlit, I smiled proudly.
"Ah..."
"Haaa..."
"..."
All pleased—good.
That night, the ladies told fathers they loved them, sleepless with pounding hearts.