Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Imperial Princess (1)
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“An audience with His Majesty the Emperor has been scheduled. It's for tomorrow.”
Erich delivered the news.
He was covered in bandages.
“...”
The guy had been hitting on Luciel every chance he got.
The fact that he was still alive must be a testament to the Saintess's compassion.
But why wasn't he getting treated?
A single healing spell would fix him right up.
It seemed he considered the judgment enacted by Luciel a wound of honor.
It was both pathetic and pitiful.
But since he was doing his job well, I decided not to meddle.
Just as I was enjoying some downtime, the thing I'd been dreading finally happened.
The First Prince had sent someone again, but this time, I couldn't ignore them.
“You must be the Hero and his party, correct? It's a pleasure. Allow me to introduce myself...”
A girl brimming with elegance offered a curtsy.
The First Prince's younger sister, Imperial Princess Louise, had paid us an unexpected visit.
Threat Level: Number One.
A fearsome presence who could ruin my relationship with Ceria...
I would have rather met the First Prince himself; her visit was simply perplexing.
She must have been on a secret mission from her brother.
Her intention to win over the Hero was clear.
I felt incredibly reluctant, but I couldn't let it show.
My guest was, after all, a noble Imperial Princess.
I feigned a pleased expression and greeted her.
“Your Highness, it is an honor. You are as beautiful as they say.”
“Ah, ahh...”
“...”
She suddenly blushed and acted shy.
What? Why in the world? Why that reaction?
I had only offered a standard pleasantry.
Though she did possess a beauty befitting a princess.
And for that very reason, she must have heard it a tiresome number of times.
That overreaction couldn't help but arouse my suspicion.
Hmm, this is strange...
From what I remembered, she wasn't the type to act.
Could that be her genuine reaction? If so, she might be even more dangerous.
She probably wouldn't mention a political marriage outright, but she was a formidable opponent, so I couldn't let my guard down.
The circumstances made it clear she was here to subtly coax me.
It was a crisis, but not a particularly severe one.
Her lovely appearance captivated everyone's attention.
Any petty tricks she tried with that face would only look cute.
As long as she didn't cross the line, I was willing to find it endearing.
I wondered how she would play this.
Rather than feeling anxious, it seemed this might turn into a form of entertainment.
“You're far too kind...”
She truly seemed at a loss for what to do with my compliment.
She even wore an expression of pure delight, and it looked very natural.
Her gaze was so favorable it was almost burdensome.
I didn't know her true intentions, but her outward demeanor passed the test.
A place for conversation was soon arranged.
The servants carefully brought out tea and refreshments.
There was no need to call the others.
They had somehow sensed the princess's arrival and all gathered.
“...”
What in the world is this? This subtle atmosphere...
The girls' attitudes toward the princess varied.
*So, the princess is certainly pretty.*
*Not as pretty as me, of course.*
The elf girl seemed triumphant with that thought.
In my eyes, they were about on the same level, but I had no intention of pointing that out.
Meanwhile, Luciel was her usual self.
As if only the Goddess was above her.
She acted as if seeing the noble princess didn't impress her in the slightest.
So far, so good, but the others' reactions were a bit different.
First, Ceria was more serious than ever.
She was overflowing with a tension that seemed to scream, *We must be wary of the princess.*
A likely candidate for a political marriage.
It seemed she felt the princess's elegance... that is, her combat power, was immense.
She might stand at the apex of countless noble ladies.
But the princess was on a whole other level, making her an undeniable threat.
*Hmm, she seems worthy of vying for Jace.*
*But still, this isn't right, is it?*
*I'll have to watch her. If she tries any of her foxy tricks in front of me, I'll just...*
She looked ready to take on the princess if it came to it.
*Well, it should be fine for now...*
I'd have to try to prevent any bloody tragedies.
And as for the princess...
She was suffering from a sort of inferiority complex.
*Ah, so this is the elegance of an Imperial Princess?*
*Even if I had remained a princess, I don't think I could have compared!*
Her pupils quaked as if she had witnessed a different dimension of being.
In terms of elegance alone, the Imperial Princess was certainly superior.
The difference between an incomplete A-rank and a near-perfect S-rank.
I could understand how she felt, but it was still a bit much.
Hey, why is the main character feeling intimidated by a supporting character?
The princess is just making a brief appearance this time!
Esterize is the protagonist and the main heroine.
The princess, on the other hand, was just a minor sub-heroine.
Considering reality, it wasn't that strange a situation, but from my perspective, I wondered if this was right.
The princess, feeling self-loathing on top of her inferiority complex.
It seemed she would need more time before she could regain her confidence.
That aside...
Our little cutie, what's with you?
She stared at the princess, her mouth agape in a daze.
*Can someone like this really exist in the world?*
I wasn't sure, but she seemed to be stunned with a sentiment along those lines.
That might be a common reaction, but it wasn't the attitude a beastkin should take.
Considering Aruru's usual behavior.
‘Wow, amazing! Now I know exactly what it means to be princess-like!’ That's how she normally would have reacted.
The funny thing was, the princess's reaction was similar.
Her eyes wide, she stared endlessly at the world's cutest fox beastkin.
*Ah, what in the world is this adorable creature?*
*A fluffy tail, triangular ears... I want to pet her like crazy!*
As if she couldn't care less about her imperial dignity, she couldn't seem to close her mouth.
Hmm, so it turned out like this after all.
I had expected it to some extent, but this was more than I'd imagined.
Her favorability rating was skyrocketing.
As always, Aruru was earning her keep just by existing.
However, as if on cue, she committed an unexpected act.
“Right, this was the real deal.”
The fox beastkin suddenly nodded.
For some reason, she looked relieved.
What was the 'real deal'?
Just as everyone was tilting their heads in confusion.
Aruru delivered a sharp jab to the girl who was once a princess.
“Now you get it, right?”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“I think you need to be at least this level to claim to be a princess.”
“—??”
“Well, this one is an Imperial Princess, so maybe it can't be helped? The gap is probably to be expected...”
“—!!”
Was it because she couldn't deny it?
Esterize didn't lash out at the unexpected attack.
She just clutched her chest as if in pain.
The girl, suddenly confronted with the cruelty of reality.
Her pitiable state made my own heart feel like it was tearing apart.
Our little cutie.
Why would you poke at your comrade's sore spot? You shouldn't do that!
“Huh? It's the truth, isn't it?”
“...”
*I did nothing wrong.*
*I just stated the facts as they are.*
She projected her inherent innocence with that sentiment.
She may not have had any ill intent, but a factual assault often hurts more...
The princess was already pitiful enough.
She was just starting to regain a little confidence...
And with one girl's remark, all that effort had come to nothing.
What should I do about this?
I couldn't bring myself to resent our little cutie.
Right, the source of this whole mess is the princess!
I decided to turn the blame toward the Imperial Princess.
But...
It was impossible to resent the girl who looked utterly confused.
“—??”
*What in the world is going on?*
*This is so random, I can't keep up.*
She gave a look that pleaded for someone to explain.
Aruru had already spilled the beans.
We were planning to reveal it soon anyway, so it wouldn't hurt to do it now.
I told the Imperial Princess about Esterize's identity.
It was hard to believe, but she accepted my words as if they were gospel.
“Ah, so that was the situation...”
The Imperial Princess looked at the princess with a pitying expression.
I could feel her desire to offer some comfort.
But clumsy words of comfort were worse than none at all.
The princess seemed to know this, as she didn't open her mouth rashly.
The princess of a fallen kingdom.
The Imperial Princess of a thriving empire.
They were truly polar opposites.
One wrong move, and Esterize could fall into deep despair.
Was it because she found the princess's gaze burdensome?
The princess looked like she was about to die from discomfort.
*Please don't say anything...*
*Anything you say will probably make me lose my mind!*
Her emotions seemed to be escalating.
Her plea was in vain as a development unfolded that left the girl utterly dumbfounded.
“That's absolutely amazing!”
The Imperial Princess suddenly grabbed the princess's hand.
Not only that, but her eyes sparkled with excitement.
“You're a Hero, too, right?”
“Yes. For now...”
“A princess who overcame adversity and hardship to become a Hero... that's such a wonderful picture!”
“—??”
The princess, bewildered, as if she didn't understand the meaning.
I had a feeling I knew what was going on, so I watched comfortably.
“Me... wonderful?”
“Of course. A princess raised in luxury striving to rebuild her kingdom... It's a theme bards would go wild for.”
“Wait, how did you know...”
She hadn't revealed her plans to rebuild the kingdom.
But the princess gave a gentle smile as if it was obvious.
She seemed to be asserting that it was a standard, predictable narrative.
“From now on, you'll vanquish the Demon King's Army with your comrades, right? After playing your part as a Hero, you'll finally become the queen of a new kingdom.”
Hmm, how should I put this.
At this point, it was less a prediction and more of a spoiler.
Perhaps it was because she was so intelligent?
Indeed, just like her character in the original story, she seemed to possess both beauty and brains.
Anyway.
The situation I had been worried about didn't occur.
In fact, things were proceeding in an exceptionally positive direction.
“I've only just become a Hero, I don't know what the future holds...”
The princess showed a disheartened attitude.
She seemed to find dealing with the Imperial Princess very difficult.
*What is this? Some kind of high-level bullying?*
*This is so burdensome and embarrassing! Stop it already...*
Just as I could hear those inner thoughts, the Imperial Princess spoke firmly.
“No, things will definitely work out.”
“...”
“I believe they will.”
“Why would you go so far as to...”
“Because you're a Hero. A being more special than anyone else. So special that an Imperial Princess is nothing in comparison.”
“—!!”
To use an analogy.
From Esterize's perspective, the Imperial Princess was the final boss.
The difference between the two girls was roughly this:
The daughter of a baron who was a noble in name only, versus the daughter of a high-ranking duke.
In other words, an insurmountable wall existed between them.
If you excluded the fact that she was a Hero, it wasn't much different from that.
The princess must have felt many things from the Imperial Princess.
A flower in a greenhouse.
The Imperial Princess had blossomed in the best environment without any trouble.
Had her kingdom remained intact, Esterize would have done the same.
Things she couldn't have.
The Imperial Princess had everything she had lost forever.
Envy, jealousy, self-loathing, and so on.
A complex mix of emotions would naturally arise.
The Imperial Princess's very existence made the princess feel miserable, but...
As if such things didn't matter, Louise confidently stated her thoughts.
“I've never accomplished anything. I've only lived comfortably in the Imperial Palace. You, on the other hand, have striven tirelessly to finally become a Hero. There's no need to even debate who is the more wonderful person.”
She praised the princess, even by putting herself down.
It wasn't wrong, so it was quite logical.
Was it because she had been acknowledged by the final boss?
The princess's demeanor changed for the better.
She straightened her shoulders, as if she'd never been cowering.
Her self-esteem, after a moment of bewilderment, was now soaring.
“Thank you for saying that...”
She even managed a faint smile.
It seemed her spirit as a princess had been more or less restored.
Wow, it turned out like this?
The Imperial Princess did the job I was supposed to do.
The process was so clean that I could probably leave the princess to her own devices for a while.
I had unexpectedly received help.
I couldn't help but feel grateful.
The princess was starting to look quite lovely to me; I could overlook some unexpected behavior.
That is...
...as long as it's not about a political marriage. That would be a bit much...
Our little cutie.
It's your turn to make a sacrifice.
Go get hugged by the princess and completely distract her.
I was about to give the order, but the Imperial Princess was a little faster.
“Actually, I admire the Heroes. That's why I've been talking so much. Anyway... there were two Heroes, weren't there?”
She finished her sentence and turned her head toward me.
I wasn't sure if it was my imagination, but her vibe was a little different from when she was talking to the princess.
Her gaze had softened, now holding a hint of affection.
I could even detect a subtle trace of excitement.
Sensing the danger, Ceria also got worked up.
She sharpened her senses, as if what she had been expecting had finally arrived.
It was a situation where the two girls might clash head-on.
I silently started running my happy-thought circuits.
I just hoped the Imperial Princess's feelings for me would end at mere admiration...