Chapter 6
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Another Tough Day Pretending to Be Human
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Oh no, I pulled back my fist, but it was already too late—the incident had happened.
Fortunately, the curse was gone, but Loreil, who had taken an even greater shock, was the real problem.
"D-Did something just explode?"
"Princess? Are you all right?!"
The maids, having heard the commotion, began frantically searching for me.
What do I do now?
I had no idea how to explain this.
Should I just say there was a fly right in front of my face and I swatted it? And that the explosion was a bolt of lightning?
As my mind grew more tangled, Loreil spoke up.
"That was... mana just now, wasn't it?"
"Y-Yes?"
"Did you use mana? Your Highness, don't tell me..."
Ordinary humans can't sense holy power or mana.
Just as humans can't see the air they breathe, mana and holy power are components of nature itself.
Of course, a priest might sense my mana, but that would be more accurately described as detecting demonic traits.
Yet Loreil, who wasn't a priest, had sensed my mana. Which meant...
No way—he really has demon blood flowing through him?
But aside from his appearance, I couldn't sense any demonic aura from him at all. As he pressed me in his agitation, I scolded him.
"Why aren't you answering? I'm asking if it was really mana!"
"It was..."
"And that sinister mana—it wasn't from an ordinary human...!"
The moment Loreil grabbed my shoulders to interrogate me further—
"Cough!"
I coughed violently. Sure enough, black blood welled up again.
Just from using that much mana...!
I hurriedly covered my mouth, but this time the hemorrhage was worse than before. My breath caught, and before I knew it, I collapsed to the ground.
"Cough, cough!"
"What—Princess, Your Highness! Hey! Someone, help!"
My vision blurred from lack of air. As I toppled over, Loreil caught me.
He scooped me into his arms and urgently demanded,
"Answer me first, then pass out!"
You bastard—is that what you say at a time like this?
After all I'd done to save him from the curse, and not even a word of thanks!
Vowing never to save him again, I closed my eyes.
In the distance, I heard Liribel and Emma's voices...
In the quiet carriage, Loreil gazed out the window at the setting sun, arms crossed as he let out a short sigh.
What the hell was that?
The events had unfolded in an instant, leaving his mind in disarray.
He had been explaining the marquis family's situation to Deyna, who was confined to the annex and ignorant of the world outside...
I thought I was done for.
Her fist had flown toward him.
He had no idea why she swung it.
Was it her way of saying she didn't care about the marquis family's affairs? Or had some destructive impulse from being the devil's reincarnation, as the rumors claimed, taken hold?
The biggest mystery was the powerful, ominous mana emanating from her slender arm.
It wasn't my imagination. No human arm could produce that kind of power.
Loreil rubbed his still-tender nose. She had passed out right after, oblivious to the chaos in the garden.
The shockwave from her fist had half-snapped the tree behind him, and the surrounding flowers had shattered into petals that soared into the sky.
Loreil getting away with just a nosebleed was sheer luck.
Is she really a demon?
Demons—devils.
Humanity's ancient enemies, monsters that disrupted peace.
Though many dismissed them as fairy tales these days, high nobles like Loreil knew demons existed—and that they were as powerful as the myths described.
Once the thought that she might be a demon crossed his mind, he even suspected her final hemorrhage and collapse were an act.
Demons were said to exploit human weaknesses, after all.
Come to think of it...
Loreil glanced down at the arm he had used to hold her.
Compared to that immense mana, her body had felt light and frail. Yet the moment he held her, he hadn't wanted to let go...
Enough.
Loreil shook off the thought. The fact that he was entertaining such strange notions proved she possessed some inexplicable power.
Though he hadn't sought the role, now that he was her secretary, he needed to investigate her thoroughly.
She might be a monster threatening the marquis family—and the empire itself.
In the speeding carriage, as Loreil inflated his solitary suspicions, he suddenly patted his shoulder as if realizing something.
My shoulder feels strangely light.
He still didn't know that Deyna's mana had expelled the curse tormenting him for years.
The moment I opened my eyes, I was met with Liribel's tear-streaked face.
"Princess! Are you okay?!"
I pushed away her hovering face—it was too close for comfort—and sat up in bed.
"What time is it?"
"A full day has passed since you fainted! You have no idea how scared I was. They said a bolt of lightning struck the garden out of nowhere..."
"Lightning?"
"Yes! That young lord said so."
I listened as Liribel recounted how Loreil had explained the situation.
I had supposedly fainted from shock after a sudden bolt of lightning.
It matched the flimsy excuse I'd thought up perfectly.
"I-I didn't spit up blood?"
"You did! Head Maid Emma even called a doctor last night, thinking it might be your chronic illness. But actually..."
Liribel, who knew the truth about the hemorrhage, hesitated. I shook my head to reassure her not to worry.
"It's not a sickness—it's from the magic. I'm all better now."
"I knew it! The doctor couldn't figure out the cause. I was worried he might suspect something..."
No, Liribel. That quack wouldn't say anything even if I had a real illness.
I smiled wryly to myself.
He had prescribed useless herbs even when I was suffering from poison and curses. He was probably a plant from someone hoping I'd die.
No doubt he'd botched the checkup this time too.
"So why did you use magic? Was the lightning really something you summoned?"
"No, nothing like that. It was just a little incident."
It was a dangerous curse that activated just from speaking of it. I couldn't tell Liribel, so I vaguely changed the subject.
"Liribel, how did Sir Loreil seem?"
"Hmm, the same as when he arrived. Just his nose a bit red..."
After grilling me like that, he showed no reaction in front of Liribel? It felt off.
Does he have some ulterior motive? Or...
As I pondered, Liribel cautiously asked,
"Princess, what about this afternoon's schedule? Should we cancel?"
"Schedule?"
"The young lord said he'd come back..."
Right—we agreed to tour the event venue together.
I recalled the promise to inspect it jointly.
I'd love to refuse, but it'd only deepen his suspicions.
Besides, to gauge his intentions, it was best to meet him soon.
"No, I'll go. How much time until the appointed hour?"
"About three hours."
"Plenty of time. Prepare a light meal and some clothes."
Thanks to Liribel's quick preparations, I was ready before Loreil arrived for our appointment.
She seemed worried about my condition, but I actually felt healthier after the deep sleep. My mana had stabilized too.
As long as I don't use mana, he won't notice again.
Calmly considering it, even if Loreil suspected me, he had no proof. Sure, reporting to the temple would cause trouble, but would he go that far against a princess?
As I settled my nerves, Loreil's carriage pulled up in front of the annex.
He opened the door, his expression far gentler than yesterday, and said,
"Good afternoon, Your Highness. I hope I'm not late."
"No, you're right on time."
He smiled brightly and offered his hand to escort me.
"Then please, allow me to guide you to the venue."
"Yes, if you'll excuse me..."
...As I smiled back and reached for his hand, I sensed something off.
These gloves are soaked in holy power!
He wore pristine white cotton gloves, reeking of holy power.
They seemed dyed with holy water.
And the interior of the carriage behind his shoulder was even worse.
Sun God fragment, sacred runes, cushions infused with holy water...
Even an idiot could tell.
This was a trap.
The carriage brimmed with holy power strong enough to incinerate a weak demon on entry. At the sheer audacity of it, a hollow laugh escaped me.
I understood the suspicion, but trying to kill me right off the bat?
Loreil was far more aggressive than expected.
Or just an idiot.
I misjudged him.
His demeanor made it clear he suspected I was a demon. Backing down here wasn't an option.
I stared him straight in the eye and gripped his hand firmly.
"...!"
As he flinched in surprise, I curled my lips upward.
I'm not falling for a trap like that.
I strode boldly into the carriage and approached him. The intense holy power enveloped me, but I didn't bat an eye.
Once I was close enough to hear his breathing, I said to the ungrateful wretch,
"Thank you for the kind escort, Sir Loreil. That aside, your nose looks a bit... crooked today. Was it cold outside?"
"..."
The corner of his mouth twitched faintly.