Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Ulstro Kingdom - The Innocent Princess and the Vicious Knight (1)
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The carriage rattled along with a steady clatter.
Inside, only a man and a woman were riding. Despite the spacious interior, they weren't sitting across from each other—they were pressed so close together that no space remained between them. And it didn't seem to bother them at all, as their soft murmurs of conversation filled the remaining air.
"Phew, this mission was really tough."
"It was for me too. Even though this was only my second mission, I doubt we'll ever face one this intense again."
"Heh, you never know. Your performance this time was truly impressive, you know?"
"I just got lucky. If that man hadn't shown up there..."
"True. Who would've thought he was an inside man."
"I never imagined it."
"That's why no one knew. If it weren't for that missing soldier, we might've stayed in the dark forever."
"Right. And to think he'd use such vicious magic on top of it..."
"It was pretty dangerous."
"I'm just glad you weren't hurt, sis."
"Thanks to Valdes."
"......"
"......"
A brief silence fell inside the carriage, and without either prompting the other, the two leaned in for a kiss.
"Smack, muah... mmm, slurp..."
The kisses they'd shared frequently over the past few days weren't heated foreplay meant to arouse with deep tongue play and lip-sucking. But Valdes loved these innocent exchanges that simply expressed their affection and connected their hearts.
The woman felt the same. Princess Mercedes also adored these shows of love and often asked him for kisses without hesitation. They'd probably shared light pecks like this well over a hundred times by now.
"Mmm, haa... ahh..."
As the kiss stretched on, the princess's eyes grew hazy little by little. Her body began to tremble faintly with budding excitement as she pressed herself closer to the boy.
Just as she sucked on his lips, on the verge of slipping her tongue inside—
Screech—thud.
The carriage came to a halt.
"...Pwah, huh?"
"Haa, haa..."
As their lips parted, Mercedes stared blankly at his mouth with clouded eyes.
"Why'd we stop?"
He found it odd. There was no reason to stop suddenly. They still had half the distance left to the next village.
To capture the inside man from the Dezark Empire, they'd had to reveal their identities at the last moment. In gratitude and apology, the noble who ruled the city had provided this luxury carriage and escorts.
Since it was a knightly mission, he'd refused the escorts but couldn't turn down the carriage itself, so he'd accepted it with just the coachman.
This carriage from the noble was enchanted for superior stability and comfort compared to ordinary ones. Especially advantageous was how sounds from inside didn't leak out—though the reverse was possible, letting them kiss freely just now.
Knock knock.
"My apologies. I need you to come out for a moment."
The coachman's polite knock came with a trembling voice.
It wasn't the mere quiver of apology. Mercedes noticed it too, snapping her eyes wide as she exchanged a glance with Valdes. Each gripped the sword at their waist, ready for battle.
'An ambush? But why go through this hassle?'
"I'll go first."
"...Okay."
Valdes cautiously opened the carriage door, bracing for an attack. But instead of an assassin's blade, he faced a girl about his own size.
"Sis!!"
"...Huh?"
She threw herself into his arms with a whoosh. Valdes nearly blasted her away with magic but recognized her face and voice, holding still as he embraced her.
"Huh?"
"M-Marie...?"
His mind had raced through countless scenarios, but thankfully, none came true.
The girl who'd charged at him from outside was none other than Second Princess Marie.
Startled by her unfamiliar scent and build, Marie jumped back. She'd probably expected Mercedes to emerge first, leading to this awkward moment.
"Ahaha... V-Valdes, sorry..."
Marie blushed like a pubescent girl, scraping the ground with her shoe toe. The maids would have a tough time buffing out those scuffs.
"No, it's fine. And I'm not a knight yet, so you don't need to call me 'sir.'"
"B-But..."
"......"
His lover flashed a handsome smile at her little sister, who flushed and fidgeted in response. Mercedes swallowed rising jealousy as she stepped down from the carriage, wedging between them.
"You can't just charge in like that."
"Hehehe, sorry!"
Marie dashed in again, this time hugging her sister properly.
"Good, you know. But what happened?"
As the sisters reunited, Valdes looked around. Marie had come from the direction where Lady Etilene Profilene stood with two knights, and about a hundred others approached from a bit farther away.
"Surprised? I told the coachman to keep it secret for the scare."
"Ah, yeah?"
Too focused on kissing to hear? Even with some physical abilities sealed, missing that should've been impossible.
He subtly scanned the surroundings.
Etilene's gaze, the two knights' expressions, the coachman's demeanor, faint footprints on the ground, a smudge of dirt on the carriage. Plenty of clues let him piece it together easily.
The footwork passed down with House Profilene's swordsmanship made the body light and stealthy, aiding swift bladework.
Etilene had likely spotted the carriage first, reported to Marie, then approached alone. Hearing rumors of Mercedes and Valdes, she'd snuck closer hoping it was them, ear pressed for sounds inside.
But the magic only amplified her anxiety, making him chuckle at the thought.
"Long time no see, Lady Etilene."
"...Yeah. You too."
Etilene replied with a glare of displeasure.
Her tone remained curt, but Valdes didn't mind.
'Mercy's already mine anyway.'
He'd even planned to use Mercedes to break her in.
Etilene was persistent. In the knight order, she'd eyed him steadily, spitting venomous words.
Of course, her inability to go further was endearing. The Pedro Knight Order wouldn't tolerate it, and she lacked that cruelty anyway.
"Looks like we'll all head back together. Looking forward to it."
"Whatever."
Her reply sounded half-hearted, but her eyes stayed glued to Valdes.
She was that wary of him. From her perspective, always watching Mercedes, the circumstantial evidence overflowed.
Yet she couldn't ask outright, just observing.
'Not sure if her instincts are sharp or dull.'
In any case, Valdes and Mercedes ended up returning to the capital with Marie's group.
The larger party slowed their pace, but conveniences improved greatly. Among the hundred were not just escort soldiers and knights, but maids, cooks, porters—specialists handling every task.
Valdes could've escorted too, but under the excuse of resting after a grueling mission, he relaxed. Mercedes had insisted, and Marie agreed readily.
This group's leader was Marie, not Mercedes, and both princesses knew it well.
"Kinda disappointing..."
On his horse, walking a bit briskly, the boy muttered.
Riding felt less confining than the carriage. Practically escort duty, but he could move freely—a big plus.
"Mercy must be even more bummed than me, though?"
He glanced at the royal-crested carriage beside him.
Twice the size of their luxury one, but only the two princesses rode inside.
Sisterly bonding was nice, but he figured Mercedes preferred steamy nights over cozy chats.
'Won't get any for a while.'
Since leaving on mission, they'd coupled every night.
Mercedes refused camping outright, always stopping in villages or cities—likely why they'd met Marie's group, slowed as they were.
Surprisingly, the princess wasn't wholly lost to pleasure. For the mission, she limited herself to three times max daily, venting in their room.
Valdes accepted. That sufficed to tame her. Three full romps daily.
Plus daytime secrets: teaching fellatio on the sly, groping breasts or butt where unseen.
'Wonder if she's flustered.'
Mercedes was probably thrilled the mission ended but annoyed by Marie.
Plans for endless lovemaking derailed. Hidden identities let them pretend lovers for touches; now, even that was off-limits.
'How to turn this around...'
"...Shouldn't you focus more?"
"Pardon?"
Etilene picked a fight out of nowhere.
"What do you mean?"
"Even if the princesses said you can rest, as a squire, shouldn't you watch for threats?"
A plausible yet absurd jab. A fun idea popped into his head.
"...Are you saying to disobey Princess Mercy and Princess Marie's direct orders?"
"No, that's not—huh?"
Unprepared for backtalk, Etilene floundered, then blinked wide at one word. She hadn't misheard.
"......Mercy?"
"Yes, Mercy."
"......"
His brazen attitude muddled her thoughts.
She knew Mercedes preferred "Mercedes ma'am" or "Knight ma'am" over "Princess" from knights. Etilene used honorifics too.
But this was leagues beyond—a pet name.
"H-How do you...? D-Do you know 'Mercy' is a n-nickname...?"
The nickname Serennia slipped publicly once, now coveted by Mercedes's admirers. Reserved for true intimates. And now from this half-demon commoner boy.
"Of course. Mercy her-self told me to call her that. Di-rect-ly."
"Uh... uh..."
His casual delivery left Etilene stammering, speechless. If not on horseback, she'd have stopped dead.
Finally, she blurted the question she'd bottled up.
"W-What... are you to Mercedes...?"
"Me and Mercy?"
Valdes glanced meaningfully at the princesses' carriage.
As if wondering if he should say, worried they might overhear. Her heart pounded at the implication.
"That's..."
"That's?"
As he trailed off teasingly, Etilene unwittingly fixated on his lips, swallowing hard.
"A secret just between me and Mercy."
"Eek!"
His finger-to-lips grin was infuriating. She wanted to hurl her left gauntlet for a duel right then.
If he'd claimed lovers or mutual feelings outright, it'd irk less. But a "secret"? It felt like mockery.
"You okay?"
"...Sigh, what a weird question."
She reined in her emotions. More reaction might seem suspicious.
She knew it herself.
Her admiration for Mercedes bordered on excessive, unnatural. Beyond respect or envy—not quite love either.
'Still annoying as hell.'
Etilene's sharp glare pierced him. If eyes could kill, he'd be dead multiple times over.
Every word and gesture grated on her nerves.