[No Title Provided]
Slave, bite. Imperial Princess Delvin Lehart. 16 years old. Total fucking pushover. The girl I beat. Pretty, sure, but the kind of character you don't wanna associate with—someone who'd drag you into deep shit if you got tangled up.
What the hell?
Why'd a girl like that come looking for me? I figured we'd never cross paths again. Made me wonder what the fuck she wanted.
I greeted her first, anyway. She nodded curtly at my hello.
"Took me forever to find you."
"Me?"
Why? This felt ominous as fuck—why track me down? Weren't we done? Why's she clinging like this? I scowled at her like some ex showing up at my door.
"...What's with that look?"
Shit. Right, this was the princess standing there. Tsk! I clicked my tongue and switched my expression in a flash.
"Nothing. Just surprised you'd come looking for me. So... what brings you here?"
"Got something to say. You got time?"
"Not really—"
"Even if you don't, you're coming."
"..."
Then why the fuck ask, you bitch? I couldn't spit that out loud, though. I swallowed it. Sure, I'd become the great Baron Aviris, but I knew better than to mouth off to an imperial princess.
"...Yesss..."
I drawled it out like a eunuch, my half-assed rebellion. But Golbin Delvin didn't give a shit. All royals were my-way-or-the-highway types. Fucking assholes.
Royalty plus mage—sociopaths and psychopaths, every last one?
She's gotta be a crazy character.
I'll play it safe. Getting more involved would be a headache I don't need.
That's what I told myself. But then...
"Become mine."
Fuck, resolutions don't always stick.
"Become mine."
"..."
I froze at the princess's words. My teacup halted midway to my mouth.
The tea she'd offered with a casual "make yourself comfy." The snacks. The cute garden setup. Knights lurking everywhere, making it awkward as hell.
In this utterly fucked-up situation, that's what she said to me.
"Must've misheard...?"
Gotta be, right? I tried saying it just in case.
"No. You heard right. Exactly what you think."
She shut that down. So I did hear it right? If that's the case, this is bad...
"That's way too weird...? Become yours, Princess?"
I'm not an object—what the hell kinda talk is this?
"Literal meaning. Become mine?"
"I mean, it's too vague. Care to explain in detail? Then I can refuse properly."
I emphasized it twice 'cause it mattered.
"Oh? Refusal's your answer, then?"
"Yeah. Pretty much."
"Why?"
She looked genuinely confused. How's this not obvious?
"Why? Why should I become yours?"
"Not a bad deal."
She crossed her legs. Smooth thighs caught my eye. Damn, that's tempting. Is she doing it on purpose? If so, mission accomplished.
"Become mine, and I'll give you whatever you want. Anything at all."
I stared at her legs like a trance, then looked back up.
"Whatever I want, huh."
"Yeah. Want Tower Master? It's yours. Duke position? That too."
I narrowed my eyes. Tower Master and duke—big offers. But something didn't add up.
"Didn't you say the throne doesn't interest you?"
"Right."
"Then how can you hand those out without becoming emperor?"
Can she really do that from her position? Right as I pondered that...
"I can."
Delvin met my eyes with total conviction.
"I don't wanna be emperor for a bunch of reasons, but mostly 'cause I'm not into it."
"...Not into it?"
"I like magic more."
"..."
"And I've got the power to make things happen without the throne."
Arrogant. Where'd that confidence come from? I stared at her, a weird feeling bubbling up.
"So, why me?"
What's fueling that desire for me in her confidence?
She smiled at my question.
"Your talent, Baron Aviris."
"..."
That pretty mouth saying "Aviris" made me flinch.
"My talent?"
"Chantless casting and full-affinity. Gotta admit talent where it's due. You're better than me. That's why Lady Elise picked you."
Mom's choice. Like it was some Solomon verdict—apparently a big deal to her.
"So, I'll sponsor you."
"...Sponsor? What do you get out of it?"
"Sponsorship's about gaining people. Accepting means you're on my side."
"Aha."
So basically...
"Pick a side?"
"Bingo."
Join her faction. She grinned as she said it. I nodded slowly.
Plenty of weird shit here. First off...
No throne ambition, but building a faction? Why bother if you don't care about power?
If positions don't matter, no need for a crew. And what she wants is odd too.
Why me, specifically?
Sponsoring me—what's the gain? Sketchy as fuck.
And above all...
That aura.
Her mana wavered as she spoke. It felt off. Really off. The way it churned and shook...
Like emotions.
Like feelings inside her. I hesitated, staring at it.
Yeah. That's it.
Why she sketches me out.
I narrowed my eyes and said,
"Need time to think."
"Oh?"
Her eyes curved into crescents.
"At least you're considering it?"
"A beauty's sponsorship is tempting."
"You know how to sweet-talk. Not bad."
She stood.
"Anyone else, and it'd be disgusting."
"..."
Chilling words. I chuckled awkwardly.
"You mean that in a good way, right?"
"Sure."
Click.
A knight pulled out her chair as she rose.
"Waiting for a good answer. Tomorrow deadline?"
"...You coming here tomorrow too?"
"Who knows. Up to His Solar Majesty. If not, I'll send a letter."
She turned away. That shocked look from before? Long gone.
Oh...
Changed my mind watching her. Not someone to underestimate just 'cause she's a pushover.
Confirmed it looking again.
Steer clear.
Tangling with her type is exhausting. My past life knew that well.
"Perfect timing. Escort arrived. Safe travels?"
She beckoned. There...
"Duke."
...stood Duke Colton Clay and Iris. The duke bowed to the princess.
"See you later, Duke."
She lightly lifted her skirt in a graceful curtsy. And the golden princess vanished.
"...Let's head back."
Colton Clay said to me.
"Yes."
Music to my ears. Totally.
Riding in the carriage, heading away from the capital back to the duke's estate. According to Colton Clay, I might have to return to the palace tomorrow.
World Tree relic. That's why, apparently.
What hit me wasn't the hassle of going back, but...
"So I can move freely at least until then?"
Meant I had till tomorrow. Clay nodded.
"Yeah."
"Mind if I sightsee a bit?"
"Sightsee?"
He raised a brow. I pointed out the window.
"Wanna check that out."
The capital. Wanted to wander it.
Clay said,
"Back by evening. Know the way?"
"Yes. Got it."
This precious brain of mine remembers paths after one go.
"Alright."
Cool approval. Worked for me.
Back by evening. I nodded. Carriage stopped, door opened, hopped out. It left right after.
"Sweet. Let's go."
I could finally explore the imperial capital, Lehart. At last.
Rustle.
Rustle.
Petals scattered in the air. I walked calmly, gazing at the floating flowers. Cool, detached eyes. High-rise city slicker vibe. Something like that.
"H-His... H-Honored... B-Baron... A-Aviris has arrived...!"
Someone mumbled behind a covered face. Brown-haired maid. Incompetent saintess Erhia.
"H-He has arrived...! E-Everyone... make way...!"
"Louder!"
"...H-He has arrriiiived!"
Choked-up voice drew stares. Erhia felt them and pleaded,
"P-Please... have mercy. Why are you doing this...?"
Face burning with shame. I looked at her dumbfounded.
"What? Can't even announce a baron properly?"
I'm a baron, y'know? The great Baron Aviris Ruin, age 13? Pumped full of smug as I said it, Erhia covered her face with both hands.
"Goddess... this can't be real..."
She muttered. I peeked behind her. The angel wore the same expression, head bowed low.
That one's still out of it.
"Ugh..."
Erhia groaned.
"...Where the hell are we even going?"
She gathered the petals carefully. Her saintess mindset—no littering even now—shone bright.
"Shopping or something?"
Iris approached from a distance. She'd kept away like she wasn't embarrassed.
"Almost there."
Somewhere around here? Honestly, not sure. Info was scarce. Just scraps from the original novel.
That's all I had, so I poked around forever.
Only a couple clues.
Next to a flower shop. Second building down the alley. Info I'd read and memorized from the novel.
Might've changed by now.
Too much time passed. Dozens of years off from what I knew—hoped it wasn't gone.
But had to check. Prodded and searched.
"Ah."
Found it. Poll Blanc's Flower Shop. Familiar name.
Good thing I escaped illiteracy.
Orphan no more—could read the sign. That's it. Definitely.
A place I swore to visit if I ever survived to the capital. Jotted it down the second memories returned.
The prophet's secret space.
Hidden spot in Lehart capital. Only the original protagonist knew. Where you could get future info.
By offering specific items.
Kinda like a...
'Game update leak site.'
Stepped inside thinking that. Then...
Rustle.
Hm?
Presence behind. Erhia still hiding her face in shame. Behind her...
Angel?
The angel stared at me with a weird look. Troubled eyes, somehow.