Chapter 33
Chapter 33
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Ulstro Kingdom - The Innocent Princess and the Vicious Knight (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
'But annoying is still annoying.'
Etilene's sharp gaze pierced him. If looks could kill, he would have died several times over.
Everything about him—his words, his actions—grated on her nerves without exception.
"The best thing to do with a guy like that is just ignore him...!"
But she couldn't help paying attention to him. It was impossible not to care.
How had things ended up like this?
It probably started after he caught Mercedes's attention at the martial tournament.
Mercedes, the cool-headed yet warm-hearted knight and the kingdom's first princess.
She had looked at Valdes instead of her during the match, her face even flushing red. When Etilene had caught that out of the corner of her eye, she'd been so shocked she nearly made a mistake. Luckily, her opponent was weak, so no real harm done, but she still considered it a stain on her record.
That's why, in the finals, she'd lashed out at him with venomous words.
Of course, her attitude wasn't solely because he'd stolen the princess's interest or because she'd almost slipped up.
'Oh, that boy who was your opponent. He really looks like Sir Pedro.'
"......"
Her father, Marquis Profilene, had shown up at the arena on the final day of the tournament despite his busy schedule. She'd been sure she'd earn his praise.
Not just simple compliments, but something more—like how she'd brought honor to the family, or that the tournament finally had a winner from their house. But the first words out of his mouth were about Valdes.
Her father was a man without greed.
So even though he secretly regretted not winning the tournament himself, he never showed it to others. Knowing that, she'd entered in his place to claim victory for him. Yet his comments had skipped right over her to focus on Valdes.
As she inwardly cursed the boy, Etilene suddenly felt pathetic.
"...Am I being a bit petty?"
After careful deliberation, she reached a conclusion.
No, she wasn't.
This was righteous anger.
He was weaker than her, a half-demon commoner. There wasn't a single thing he had over her, so wasn't it strange that the two people she admired most were paying attention to him?
She wasn't bullying him or tormenting him. She was just expressing her honest feelings.
What she wanted wasn't to drag him down, but to rise above him herself. Just to have her father and Mercedes's attention shift from him to her. That was all.
"Right. I'm not in the wrong."
But Etilene failed to notice.
That she was lavishing more attention on the boy than she realized she wanted.
And that it was growing closer to the feelings she had for Mercedes.
The princesses' procession continued without incident.
Ulstro Kingdom was beloved by its people, with excellent public safety and strong royal authority. Aside from the ever-ambitious Dezac Empire, its international relations were solid. No fool would dare touch a carriage bearing the royal crest.
The same went for monsters. After the war, to bolster the national treasury, countless monsters had been hunted and their byproducts sold to neighboring countries. Regular subjugations to train new knights meant monsters were scarce outside remote areas.
One reason the people especially adored the queen.
"We'll have to camp here tonight."
A bald knight knocked on the carriage and announced.
He was the highest-ranking among the escorts excluding the princesses—one of the three vice commanders of the Pedro Knight Order.
"Camp?"
Marie blinked her bright eyes in surprise.
"Yes, since we took a bit of a detour midway..."
"Ah."
"Marie? Don't tell me..."
"Hehehe."
It seemed they'd taken a detour to meet Mercedes.
'Of course.'
Thinking back, it had seemed odd. Even if both were heading to the capital, the timing was too perfect. Without intent, it would have been impossible.
"Got it. Then we'll camp tonight. Sorry for the trouble."
"Not at all, Your Highness. ...Everyone, prepare to camp!"
Even if she wasn't on guard duty, she couldn't slack on camp setup. The heavy lifting was left to the laborers anyway.
While helping out, Valdes subtly pitched his sleeping bag near the princesses. It was still by the other escorts and at a distance from them, but close enough to eavesdrop.
"Your Highness, we found a pond a short distance away."
"...A pond?"
"Yes."
Marie's eyes sparkled. Magic tools could provide bathwater, but soaking in a natural pond was far more fun and romantic. She'd asked just in case, but it was really there.
"Sis, come with!"
"Huh? Oh... I'll join later."
"Why?"
"I usually train every evening."
Mercedes smiled warmly at her sister, then glanced slyly at Valdes with a mischievous grin.
"...With Vald."
Marie missed the smile but caught the direction of her gaze and the nickname.
"Va, ld?"
"Yeah. Vald."
"......"
Their deep blue eyes met in the air. A strange tension crept into the sisters' once-harmonious bond. Only the two sisters, nearby Etilene on guard, and Valdes secretly listening noticed it.
'This is getting interesting.'
Pretending to rest with his back turned, he confirmed his suspicions from their atmosphere.
'Marie likes me more than I thought.'
Valdes had been so focused on Mercedes that he'd overlooked Marie. It had been over a month since they'd last met. From her shy demeanor upon reunion to now, she acted like a girl before her crush.
'We've only met two or three times, so is the charm magic working well? Or was there another trigger?'
Intelligence from the spy unit focused on public info. Demon limitations prevented getting closer.
Thus, personal details like Marie's personality or tastes were scarce.
'Come to think of it, Mercy avoided talking about Marie too.'
He'd thought it was worry he'd take interest in her sister.
But the current vibe suggested she was subtly wary despite being siblings—knowing Marie's feelings all too well.
"Vald, let's train."
"Ah, yes. Lady Mercy."
Valdes decided to fan the flames a bit.
Replying with the nickname made her lips twitch. She wanted to beam, but held back to avoid ruining things with her sister.
Marie stared blankly as the two headed toward the pond's opposite side, then spoke.
"......Let's go."
"...Yes, Your Highness."
Three knightesses accompanied them this time. Marie usually stuck with Etilene, closest in age.
"......"
"......"
Heading to the pond with her maids in tow, Marie said nothing. Seeing her uncharacteristically downcast expression, Etilene ground her teeth inwardly.
'Her Highness has talked about that commoner a lot, but I never imagined she'd fall this hard for him...'
During the journey, they'd shared many chats—mostly Marie initiating, but her sweet, cute, almost spoiled-sibling charm had won Etilene over.
Clueless about romance, she'd only now realized Marie's feelings. Both princesses of a nation crushing on the same guy? Unthinkable.
'That guy... I'm really starting to hate him!'
Her earlier vague unease reignited into fury toward him.
"Lady Etilene."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"...What exactly is between Sis and Valdes?"
Cooling off in the pond, Marie spoke flatly, but her voice dripped with melancholy anyone could hear.
"...Just a close knight and squire, probably."
"You think so?"
"Yes... I'm sure of it."
A comforting lie for the princess—and Etilene's own hope.
"Yeah... probably... But if..."
She trailed off, sinking deeper until the water lapped at her nose, most of her body submerged.
The pond felt strangely not cold, despite being chilly. Not from body heat, but a colder, sinking heart.
"Gasp...!"
Marie inhaled sharply through her nose and dunked her head under. Her long hair to her waist soaked fully as she splashed around before resurfacing.
It was long enough that a few more seconds might have sent Etilene rushing in.
"...Pha!"
Her beautiful blonde hair sparkled, flung through the air as she burst out.
"Are you alright?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm fine."
To Etilene's sisterly worry, Marie smiled brightly.
In a world of magic and monsters, unknown threats lurked. Even in a shallow pond not reaching her waist standing, princesses couldn't linger long—who knew what traps awaited.
Refreshed, Marie inspected her body. Water droplets gleamed under moonlight, creating a mystical aura.
'Yep. I definitely don't lose out.'
Compared to Mercedes, she was shorter, smaller-chested, slimmer-hipped. But objectively beautiful? No contest, she thought.
She had other strengths.
Like her skin.
Mercedes's training-toughened, sun-kissed skin was firm. Hers was porcelain-smooth and soft. She'd confirmed it by touching both multiple times.
Her face was prettier too, if only slightly. Mercedes was famed for beauty, but Marie had inherited the queen's—once called the kingdom's top beauty—looks fully.
Plus petite charm from her small frame, cuteness from being the baby, and aegyo she'd wielded since childhood to win nobles and servants' love—unlike her aloof sister.
'What else?'
As Marie exited the pond, listing advantages over Mercedes, her maids diligently dried and prepped her for bed.
"If I give up like this, I wouldn't be Mother's daughter."
"Pardon?"
"Hehe, nothing."
Her mutter was soft—even nearby maids missed it—but knight Etilene heard clearly.
'No way? What could that half-demon commoner have going for him!'
If Marie weren't a princess, she'd have shrieked to stop her.
"...You seem in better spirits."
"Yeah. My motto is shake off the negative quick and think positive."
"I... see."
Etilene felt relieved yet pondered worst-case scenarios.
Two sisters fighting over one man? Nobles, commoners, foreigners—they'd gossip forever. She prayed it wouldn't happen.
After bathing, Marie returned to camp.
"Good work. Time to switch. Lady Etilene, you should wash up too."
"Ah, yes."
Switching close guard with another knightess, she prepared to bathe when she noticed something odd.
"Um, Lady Mercedes...?"
"Huh? Oh, she hasn't come back yet."
"Hasn't... come back?"
Her eyes widened—brown irises expanding to unprecedented size.
"Yeah. Probably deep into training."
"Shouldn't we check?"
A princess alone with a male squire. Yet no one else worried.
"She said it was secret training and no one should approach. Rumor is she's restoring some sword art—probably that."
"......"
"Don't worry too much. Some find the half-demon off-putting, but everyone here knows he's the strongest after the vice commander. Us fretting over Her Highness is kinda silly, honestly."
Fair point.
Spying on a knight or mage's secret training was grave offense. Mercedes's sword restoration was an open secret among the knowing.
And her skills were no concern. Still, Etilene couldn't shake her inexplicable unease.
Mercedes's sly smile toward Valdes replayed—that seductive, womanly face unlike the princess or knight.
"Um, I'll... p-pick some flowers real quick."
"Huh? Hehe, sure. Be careful."
"Ugh... Yes."
The senior knightess's knowing look embarrassed her, but she couldn't hold back.
Not bodily needs, but this anxiety.
Bracing for punishment if caught, she hurried toward where the princess and boy had gone.
Very
quickly.