Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: The Second Princess
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“A demon beyond standard specs that appeared in Icicle territory... and a black mage who showed up in Solaria... You've been through quite a lot, haven't you?”
After reading through the entire report, Bellatrix gazed at me and Ariana with a faint smile.
‘Those glasses suit her well.’
She was wearing her glasses—a magic tool—since she was in the middle of work, and they blended perfectly with her sharp features, giving her the air of a stern yet beautiful boss.
I nodded along with that thought, and her lips curved up just a little more.
“Let's see... a demon with power rivaling Northern Duke Polar? Is this really true?”
“Yes, I swear to the Goddess—every word is nothing but the truth.”
It all sounded like pure fabrication to anyone reading it, but with the Saintess Ariana swearing on the Goddess herself that it was all true, Bellatrix had no choice but to believe.
A statement like that from the Saintess was as good as a cheat code. Even the First Princess couldn't ignore it.
In the game, too, Ariana could never easily utter a lie aloud.
She thought it would shame the Goddess.
And so, Ariana and Bellatrix spent some time discussing the events in Icicle territory and Solaria, while I chimed in occasionally when given permission to speak.
-Tap tap.
Bellatrix gathered the reports and tapped them against her desk.
“I think this needs to be brought to His Imperial Majesty's attention as well. Duke Polar is one of our empire's greatest assets. If a mere demon could match him—someone who's no devil—this situation might be even graver than we thought.”
‘She's right; it really is a serious matter.’
Right now, black mages and demons were spreading across the empire, kingdoms, beastman lands, dwarf realms, elven forests—without distinction.
This game world I'd possessed was spiraling so badly that without the protagonist, it would have met total annihilation several times over.
“And that black mage known as ‘Sacrificial Offering’... I've seen mentions of him in the records before. The most dangerous kind, who sacrifices anything—friend or foe alike—without hesitation. He's elusive, so intel on him is scarce, but that's more than enough reason to stay on guard. Sir Is? You did exceptionally well.”
“Not at all. As one who follows the Goddess's will, I simply couldn't stand by and watch evil unfold before my eyes.”
It might sound pretentious, but every word was sincere truth.
“Hehe, as expected of the Saint Kingdom's people—such kind hearts. I should take notes.”
Bellatrix said with a soft chuckle.
Her smile seemed casual enough, but having played the game, I caught the faint bitterness hidden beneath it.
I knew her circumstances all too well and wanted to say so much... but regrettably, we were little more than strangers who'd only just met.
“Your Highness need only walk Your Highness's own path.”
That was the most I could offer.
“Hm? What do you mean by that?”
She asked with an enigmatic smile, so I gave her the most concise version of what I'd always wanted to tell her upon seeing her in the game.
“It's heartening when more people follow the Goddess's will, of course. But some shine brightest when they forge their path with their own strength, unbound by Her guidance. The scriptures even say, ‘The Mother lays down those who have lost the way to rise by their own power.’”
Coming from a Holy Knight like me, it must have caught her off guard—her smile faded in surprise.
But Ariana beamed all the wider by contrast.
“Exactly. There's a common misconception, but our Saint Kingdom doesn't urge everyone to believe in the Goddess. Our Mother... She always watches over Her children, ready to let them stand on their own.”
It was a statement only Ariana—as the Saintess closest to the Goddess—could make.
She extended a mother's hand to those in need, but withdrew it from those who could stand alone.
At our words, Bellatrix fell silent for a moment, at a loss.
“...I see. I'll keep that in mind.”
She smiled at us once more.
But this time, unlike before...
It was a smile of genuine joy.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “...And so, it seems the time has come to retrieve the treasures listed in the imperial vaults.”
After Is and Ariana departed, she scheduled an audience with the Emperor and delivered her report before him.
Her briefing grew ever more somber as the situation worsened by the day.
Yet the Emperor responded in his usual steady tone.
“I leave it to your discretion. However, the First Vault remains off-limits, as always.”
“Understood, Your Majesty. My deepest gratitude for Your boundless mercy.”
Bellatrix finished her routine report, received permission for the vaults, and turned to leave.
Then, unusually, the Emperor spoke to her retreating figure.
“You've changed, ever so slightly.”
“...Your Majesty?”
Bellatrix turned back, puzzled.
The Emperor continued, facing her.
“The wandering in your heart seems to have tilted toward a single direction. As Emperor and as a father, this gladdens me.”
“...Your Majesty, I don't follow.”
Refusing to admit she'd ever wavered, she cleared her throat and feigned ignorance.
“...Is that so. Very well, then.”
She bowed and turned to go once more.
To her back, the Emperor murmured softly again.
“On your way, visit your sister. She misses you dearly.”
“...I shall remember, Your Majesty.”
Stepping into the corridor and closing the door, Bellatrix let out a quiet sigh no one else could hear, then set off at once.
She headed somewhere with her attendants trailing from the doorway.
After a long walk down the hall, she arrived at one of the imperial residences.
-Knock knock.
“It's your big sister, Serea.”
It was the room of her sister, the Second Princess, Serea.
Bellatrix had been buried in paperwork amid the empire's deteriorating state.
The Emperor's suggestion to see her sister gave her an excuse to visit after so long.
-Creak.
The door opened smoothly.
She donned a gentle smile for her sister.
“...H-Hello.”
“Hi, big sis!”
She recalled the Holy Knight Is giving her sister a piggyback ride.
Her first words upon witnessing that scene...
“...I'm sorry.”
Had been an unconditional apology directed at Is.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next morning, early, after reporting to Bellatrix.
“Sir Is, the Second Princess summons you.”
I received word through an attendant that the Second Princess was looking for me.
“...Understood. Please wait a moment; I was in the middle of training.”
I'd been training, so I washed up quickly and headed to the Second Princess's private chambers. The attendants parted like they'd been waiting.
‘It'll be over before I have to meet Ariana, right?’
I knew of the Second Princess, but details were scarce—pure speculation.
Soon, one attendant knocked and announced my arrival.
-Come in!
A bright, childish girl's voice rang out cheerfully from inside.
The door then opened gently.
“I pay my respects to Serea Oberia, the Empire's Golden Tulip Princess.”
“Wow! We finally meet!”
I came face-to-face with the Second Princess, Serea Oberia.
Her golden locks were typical of imperial blood, and her eyes leaned more yellow than gold.
Unlike her sister Bellatrix, her soft, round features were utterly endearing. She was probably fourteen—coming of age next year?
‘This is the one who...’
A fleeting event character who popped up briefly while romancing Bellatrix, then vanished.
‘These feelings I hold... A leader has no need for them. But today, at least, I want to be with you not as the Empire's First Princess, but as Bellatrix, one woman.’
Right as she leaned in for a kiss with that rotten line...
“No way! Why do I have to go to bed early? I wanna stargaze too!”
“P-Princess...!”
Serea burst in suddenly, startling Bellatrix into halting the kiss.
And that was her only appearance.
Her illustration was cute enough to stick in my mind, though. What did she want with me?
Pondering that, I stepped into her room, and Serea pointed at the bed.
“Lie down.”
“Pardon?”
I hadn't seen that coming at all.