Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: A Real Move Came Flying During WWE
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Humans are creatures of imagination, they say. Tell someone not to think of an elephant, and they'll picture one immediately. In ancient times, monsters people had never seen were passed down through oral tales, immortalized in cave paintings and stories.
So why am I spouting this nonsense all of a sudden? Because I'm bent over at a 120-degree angle, imagining my father's expression.
'Ugh... I don't want to look up.'
The silence dragged on like that, and finally, unable to bear the suffocating tension, I lifted my head just a fraction...
My father was trembling at the corners of his eyes, repeatedly drawing and sheathing his ceremonial sword.
'Eek!'
The chilling sight stole my breath. In moments like this, I had to desperately root for his rationality over his instincts.
Praying for a miracle in silence, I spotted my father's shadow creeping under my legs.
The tension spiked insanely...
-Thud
I looked up at the hand on my shoulder and saw my father, his brow deeply furrowed.
"Hoo... Explain yourself in detail first."
Thank goodness his rationality had won.
I started explaining with a bright, relieved expression.
"The first time I met her was in the garden of the First Prince's Palace. She must have taken a wrong turn; she was wandering around lost.
I offered my hand to guide her, and at that moment, it was like an electric shock—we both jumped and locked eyes. Her red eyes met mine perfectly, and boom... my heart started racing, you know, that pounding feeling. I asked her name, and she said she was Lady Jenia Ardell of the Duke's family, and her voice was just..."
-Thwack!
"Guhk!"
A budding grand archmage who's been single in past and present lives—what kind of romance tale was I supposed to spin?
My father finally drew his sword at the rushed, B-movie romance synopsis I'd whipped up on the way.
"What? The duke's lady?"
"Father, wait just a—guhk."
"I've given my prince too much free rein. I have no face left to show our ancestors."
"Kuhk! Father—no, Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Please, compose yourself!"
The telekinetic barrier around me was useless, and the hasty shield shattered.
Apparently annoyed that I was blocking, the force kept ramping up until an awful sound came from my body.
-Snap!
This is it! I'm dead! Definitely dead!
I screamed for my life.
"I'll take responsibility!"
-Halt!
"I'll protect her no matter what!"
My shout stopped Father's beating.
The arm holding the sword aloft in midair slowly lowered.
Rubbing his temple like he had a migraine, Father spoke.
"'Responsibility' is not a word to toss around lightly. How will you handle the helplessness when you fail to protect the one you swear to guard? And you're not even Crown Prince yet—can you even handle the Ardell family?"
"I'll make it work."
"How will you convince the duke?"
"That too... I'll make it happen."
"And what about those noisy pigs yammering about tradition?"
"In three years, before I come of age, I'll shut their mouths."
Father sighed and met my eyes.
"Do you remember that day?"
"...Which day?"
"The day the assassin came to your room."
"...Yes."
How could I forget? My outlook on life changed after that.
"Do you have any idea of the powerlessness and despair I felt when I opened your door?"
"..."
"I couldn't even prevent what happened right under my nose. The day the light faded from your eyes, I wanted to bring it back—I gave you everything I could, allowed as much as possible."
"Yes, I'm always grateful."
I really was. From some point on, I'd felt a taste of freedom.
"I thought you were slowly regaining that light. But today, your eyes shine brighter than ever."
Father gave a bittersweet smile and stroked my head.
"Thank you for growing up well. House arrest lifted. Do it your way."
'Damn... gonna make me tear up.'
I grinned brightly in response.
"You won't be disappointed!"
With the main mission complete, I returned to the Imperial Palace first. Because...
"Your Highness, you've arri—kyaa! Your face! Your face!"
"Wh-what... Your Highness! How dare anyone leave the future leader of the empire like this!"
Pfft... Master... hilarious...
"Mm, good. I've seen all sorts of reactions. Lily, call back those priests from earlier."
"Yes! Right away!"
For reference, the order was lady, Lily, fairy. Lily freaked out and ran to fetch the priests.
Lady Ardell sat beside me, inspecting my face everywhere.
"Hng... Where did they hit you? Your Highness, what happened! Who did this to you!"
"Thanks for the anger on my behalf, my lady, but aren't you a bit too close..."
"This face is so important! Just tell me the name, and I'll get revenge..."
"My father."
"..."
I only have one father.
The lady clasped her hands in her lap, eyes darting around.
"S-sorry... because of me..."
Too early for apologies—there were more mountains to climb for this future.
Foreseeing the hassle ahead, I smiled wistfully and changed the subject.
"Don't worry about it. Did Lily take good care of you?"
The lady beamed goofily.
"Ah... yes! This kind of treatment is a first, hehe..."
Tears welled up again.
Serena's crying gave me headaches, but why did the lady's make me so anxious?
Feeling unnecessarily guilty, I told her.
"My lady... uh... don't cry."
"Sniff... sniff... S-sorry! I won't be a bother! Hehe!"
'No... if you react like that, I feel worse and don't know what to say.'
"No, my lady, just cry it out! Let it all out, nice and cathartic!"
I tried to lighten the mood with a bright smile, but it was like stepping on a landmine.
"Hic... gulp... waaah!"
'Huh...? She's really crying?'
So noisy... tsk!
As my hands flailed unsure where to go, the fairy flew over, grabbed them, and placed them on her back.
Naturally, the lady ended up in my arms, sobbing away.
"Hic! Hic! Sob! Waaah!"
"My lady, how can you cry already... We haven't even started."
I held the weeping lady until the priests arrived, patting her back soothingly.
After treatment, I dressed and prepared to leave the room. Lily was cutely wiping the lady's puffy eyes.
"I'm off."
"Take care~."
"Sniff! Take... sniff! care...!"
Now it was time to convince the duke. Pondering my bargaining chips, I headed to the banquet hall.
His... Highness the First Prince enters!
The knight, not expecting me under house arrest, flusteredly opened the door and shouted.
Sorry, house arrest just ended.
All eyes in the ongoing banquet turned to me.
As I entered, the First Princess—with blue hair and yellow eyes—approached.
My half-sister Sophia, brazenly eyeing the Crown Princess position.
"Oh my~ Brother! Did you come to celebrate my birthday?"
I raked into her with imperial etiquette forgotten, mask and all.
"Oh right, this is your birthday banquet? Happy birthday, Sophia."
Sophia, eyes twitching at my rudeness.
"Hohoho~ Brother, really~"
"Mm... Budget seems tight these days? It's nothing compared to Serena's... Short on funds? I can lend from the Prince's Palace."
-Crack!
"Brother... Even as imperial blood, how can you be so rude..."
"Sophia."
"..."
I just stared her down. She bowed her head.
The wench spreading rumors that I was cruel and blood-mad in high society.
No need to get along.
"First Princess, I have other business. I'm off."
"Yes... Your Highness..."
If not for Father, she'd be dead already.
Regrettable.
The nobles pretended not to eavesdrop, souring the mood.
'My image is bad enough as is.'
Still couldn't shake rumors and image concerns...
'Gotta put on a clown show before I go.'
To liven things up, I spoke.
"Looks like I ruined this fun day."
-Snap!
I flicked my fingers, and beautiful lights sparkled from the ceiling.
-Oh my god...
-Wow... so beautiful.
Image is everything... With bad rumors, no clowning and tomorrow the First Prince snaps over the princess or whatever...
Suppressing irritation, I patted Sophia's shoulder once, then headed to Duke Ardell and his son.
His eyes had been on me since I entered; as I approached, the duke greeted.
"Hoho... Greetings to the Starlight of the Empire. Impressive, such mana."
"Greetings to the Starlight of the Empire."
Polite bows, but the aftertaste wouldn't be sweet. I could tell he despised the man abusing his daughter right now.
No need for long talk.
"Duke, I will become betrothed to the Lady of House Ardell."
I lobbed the straight fastball abruptly, and the duke's eyes shook violently.
The expressionless heir's eyes widened hugely.
The surroundings buzzed, of course.
-Murmur murmur
-Did you hear?
-What the hell?
Grasping the point, the duke composed himself and spoke.
"Your Highness... This isn't the place for such talk."
"To the banquet lounge."
I and the duke left the dazed heir and headed to the lounge.
Door closed, we sat facing each other.
"Your Highness... You mean the lady...?"
"You heard right. The one who entered the palace today."
"...I beg your pardon, Your Highness, but none of our house's daughters came to the palace today."
"...What?"
Sudden ghost story vibe.
No wonder she came from the third floor, red eyes so pretty, heart racing looking at her—turns out a ghost.
Barely holding my sinking sanity, I asked.
"Red eyes?"
"...Yes."
"Pink hair?"
"...Yes, that too."
"Lady Jenia Ardell?"
"Y-yes."
"Pretty?"
"Pardon?"
'What? It matches? How'd she get here?'
Putting aside stray thoughts, I said.
"Ahem... Seems correct. I will become betrothed to Lady Jenia Ardell."
He must think it's absurd. But I'd prepared tons of incentives: business support for the duke's house (from Prince's Palace budget), loan of weather-measuring magic tools, waived dowry, heretic subjugation merits under duke's name, tax cuts... not yet.
'Come on! Irresistible gains! But someday I'll collect!'
Resolved to counter any offer like a businessman, the duke suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahaha... uhahaha! Pardon, Your Highness! Heh heh... Of course! We accept gladly!"
'Huh?'
Way off my expected reaction... I thought it'd be 'Impossible without proper procedure!' or such, but he looked pleased.
"We'll prepare a generous dowry from our house! Uhahaha!"
"Uh... thank you."
"Oh, and our daughter is still lacking in palace etiquette—how about she stays in the palace for training?"
"...We'll do that."
It matched my wishes so perfectly, I wondered if spies had gotten to him.
"Soon, I'll send one maid who attended her. She'll need a familiar face in unfamiliar surroundings."
'Spy territory.'
I planned to purge spies first.
'Gotta concede this much; cleaning them up is nothing.'
I smiled and said.
"Looking forward to working with you, father-in-law."
The duke grinned refreshingly, like he'd shed a huge boil.
"Hahaha! The house's honor, Your Highness!"
Satisfied, we returned to the banquet.
All eyes on us again, and the duke kicked off the WWE.
"Haha! Our daughter must have completely captured His Highness's heart."
'Tsk.'
What could I do? Play along for now.
"I've never seen a lady so wise, versed in etiquette, and beautiful."
"Hahaha! Overpraise."
Amid the clumsy WWE moves, someone tackled seriously.
"You can't do this!"
'What? Who?'
While prince and duke WWE'd, some insolent fool interrupted—it was the heir, face twisted, glaring at me.
The punk with no standing swung wildly, so I gave a subtle hint.
"...Duke's Heir Ardell, His Majesty and the duke already know."
Want me to bring your dad and my dad for a ring setup?
Expressing displeasure, the duke's face warped as he yelled.
"Heir! Who gave you leave to raise your voice! Do you mean to tarnish the house's name?!"
The duke was heated too, interrupted mid-hype.
"Duke! No procedure, no notice, sealing a betrothal like this! They'll mock us for pimping out our daughter!"
"Wh-what?!"
The heir's shout turned the duke's face beet-red, mustache quivering.
'But seriously, what now...'
What could we do? It was done.
I had to visit Mother and ask the lady about hidden palace infiltration routes.
"It's settled, heir. Nothing changes."
I brushed past him toward the exit.
Then something hit my nape and fell.
A white glove on the floor.
"..."
"First Prince Liam Luminaria of the Luminaria Empire! Duke's Heir Raphael Ardell challenges you to a duel of honor!"
I learned for the first time that sheer absurdity leaves you speechless.
Sorry, Father... How did you raise me until now...